The Rancher's Holiday Hope

“No, of course not. You’ve done everything for the wedding. I can’t even begin to thank you for all your help. Financial and otherwise.”

He stopped and waited. “Spit it out.”

“Coats for kids. I know you’re already invested in helping with the Christmas at the Ranch event. But the weather is getting colder and you’d be amazed at the number of kids who show up to school without a jacket.”

“I’ll bring it up to the planning committee at the next meeting.” And he’d take the curious, sometimes questioning looks that some of the older folks on that committee would give him. He’d been in town for a month and had gotten used to the fact that, to a lot of the people in Hope, he was still the kid who’d crashed a truck through the school. He was still the kid who had driven recklessly, drank too much and hurt the nicest girl in town when he’d left her sitting at home the night of the prom.

“Give me a few days to work on this. You and your friends start putting together names. If I have to, I can call in favors from friends in Dallas.”

“Yes!” Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “You’re the best, Max.”

“I try.”

She cocked her head to the side, the way she’d been doing since childhood. “Max, are you okay? I know it’s been hard for you, being here.”

“I’m thirty-three, Melody. I’ve put a lot of years between myself and my mistakes.”

“I know. I just think you’re still trying to make amends with everyone, and I hope you understand that the past is forgiven.”

“I do understand that. Don’t worry about me, I’m good. But I want you to know something. If Andrew doesn’t show up in town soon, I’m going looking for him and it isn’t going to be pretty when I catch him.”

“He was here when we first met with Sierra and he will be back soon. He just didn’t expect me to take this teaching job in Hope. He likes to have a plan and this wasn’t on the list.”

“If he’s marrying you, he’ll have to get used to spur of the moment.”

“You’re just trying to change the subject,” Melody accused her big brother. “And since we’re both good at that, isn’t Sierra the best? She’s on the planning committee for the Christmas event, too, isn’t she?”

“I think they’re asking for her help, yes.”

“I like her,” Melody continued. “She is much nicer than she lets on.”

“I’m sure she is. And before you continue this, I’m not interested. I’m only here until after Christmas and then I have to get back to Dallas. My company can’t run itself, you know.”

“You have Roger and you have an assistant. Give yourself a break. And I don’t know why you’re not interested in her.”

His little sister made him dizzy. “First, I’m taking a break while I help Dad get this ranch going again. Second, I’m not interested because I don’t have time for a relationship right now. And, third, I’m leaving in a month.”

She saluted and looked more determined than ever. “Whatever, Big Brother, whatever. I’ve got to run. Don’t forget the coats. And try being charming once in a while.”

He watched Melody walk away and couldn’t help but think about Sierra. The last thing she needed was a man who wouldn’t be sticking around. She had enough to deal with. He wasn’t going to add to the list.

Besides that, Sierra didn’t strike him as a woman seeking a relationship. Her expression was guarded and shadows lurked in her eyes, telling more about her past than words ever would. He’d met other wedding planners. They tended to be a perky bunch with great social and organizational skills.