Cowboy Unwrapped

“It will.” Cade tucked into his cake.

Jake was glad he’d bought the smoke alarms as gifts and the cords and lights could be slipped into the mix without making a big deal of it. But he had more than Christmas lights on his mind. Before they’d all finished their dessert, he brought up the subject that had been nagging him since making the plan with Amethyst. “I’m looking for a sleigh to rent or borrow. Do any of you know of one?”

Cade paused, his fork halfway to his mouth. “What, now you’re Santa Claus? Although if you keep eating like that you’ll eventually fit the part.”

“I invited a woman for a sleigh ride tomorrow afternoon.”

Silence descended on the table as all attention swiveled in his direction.

He hadn’t worked through this very well. He’d blame the shock of seeing Amethyst in the hardware store, but now he realized that he couldn’t ask for a sleigh without offering more of an explanation.

He cleared his throat. “I made a quick run into town before dinner so I could pick up a few...things.”

“It’s Christmas.” Rosie waved a hand as if to relieve him of giving the details. “We all have secrets. But who’s the woman?”

“I ran into her when I was in town. Amethyst Ferguson.”

Rosie’s gaze sharpened. “You dated her in high school.”

“For a while.”

“You know she’s a professional singer now.”

“Yes, I know. Now, about this sleigh, I remember we used to hitch Navarre up to a wagon.”

“And a couple of times to a toboggan.” Finn exchanged a grin with Cade.

Jake ignored him. “I thought he could probably pull a sleigh.”

“He could,” Herb said, “but there’s the slight problem of not having a sleigh for him to pull.”

Cade put down his fork. “You know, that takes cojones, bro, inviting a woman on a sleigh ride when you’re not in possession of one. I’m impressed.”

“Do you know of anybody who has one?”

“Nope, can’t say as I do, but I’m still impressed.”

Jake figured there was no point in asking Finn and Chelsea. They didn’t live here anymore. In desperation, he turned to Rosie. “Mom, do you know of anyone around here who has a sleigh?”

“Not at the moment, but if you need a sleigh, I’ll find you one.”

3 (#ufcc001ab-7ea1-5b22-93af-8c71063a0220)

LUCK BLESSED JAKE with a clear sky the next morning. If a snowstorm had blown in, which was always possible in December, reconfiguring the lights would have been impossible. As it was the task wasn’t simple, especially wearing gloves. Cade and Finn had woven a complex tapestry of dangerous cords and substandard lights.

Cade had apologized for his screw-up and had tried to take the blame, but Finn had insisted on sharing it. He, Cade and Damon were the triumvirate who’d called themselves the Thunder Mountain Brotherhood in the early days of the foster program. Their loyalty to each other ran deep.

Jake respected that. He’d arrived at the ranch later and, although every guy was now considered part of the brotherhood, the bond wasn’t the same as the one shared by the first three. When those boys had come to the ranch there had been no tradition, no sense of belonging to something greater. They’d had to create that for themselves.

His buddies at the fire department had a unique connection because they faced life-and-death situations every day, but again, it wasn’t the same. Firefighters could choose to quit and sever that connection. The kids who’d been brought to the ranch after the Thunder Mountain Brotherhood had been established could thank Cade, Finn and Damon for creating a positive and lasting identity for all of them. Once a Thunder Mountain brother, always a Thunder Mountain brother.

They’d nearly finished reconfiguring the lights when Rosie walked out onto the porch. She’d pulled a knit cap down over her ears and held her coat closed instead of zipping it, which meant she was making a brief visit. “I think you boys can quit, now. It’s not as if the Pope is coming for a visit.”

Jake had to laugh. She still called them boys, probably always would.

“But Lexi will be here.” Cade arranged the net lights more evenly on a bush. “That’s enough motivation for me.”

“I’m sure she’ll be very impressed. That’s more lights than we’ve ever had on this house. But you need to finish up. I’ve found Jake a sleigh.”

Jake glanced up, a three-pronged plug dangling from his gloved hand. “That’s awesome! Where is it?”

“The Emersons have one, but it’s too wide to fit in the back of a pickup. Their ranch isn’t that far as the crow flies, so it makes more sense to ride over and get it, anyway. It may not be in the best of shape, so I suggest you take Cade or Finn with you.”

“We’ll all go,” Cade said. “It’ll be fun.”

Jake gazed at her. “What do you mean, not in the best of shape?”

“It hasn’t been used in years. They offered to sell it to me for fifty bucks, so I said fine. I’ve always wanted a sleigh.”

“Um, if it’s only fifty bucks it could be falling apart.” Jake didn’t want to sound ungrateful but he also didn’t plan to take Amethyst out in a sleigh that could collapse any minute.

“I asked them and they said it’s functional.”

“But if they haven’t used it in years, how do they know?”

“That’s an excellent point.” She shivered and stomped her feet. “But I called everyone I could think of and this is the only one I found. If you’d rather not take a chance on it, I’ll call them back and say never mind.”

“Don’t do that,” Cade said. “We’ll make it work. I’ve always wanted a sleigh, too.”

“Then you’d better finish the lights and get over there. At the very least it’ll need to be cleaned up and Amethyst will be here before you know it.”

Jake glanced at the angle of the sun. “You’re right. Thanks, Mom.”

“You’re welcome. If the sleigh doesn’t work there’s a toboggan in the barn. I seem to remember some people hitching a horse to that once upon a time.” She winked and went back into the house.

“Nix on the toboggan idea,” Cade said. “You can’t make out with a woman on a toboggan.”

Finn brushed snow off his gloves. “Might be a safer bet than a fifty-buck sleigh.”

“That’s what I’m thinking.” Jake blew out a breath. “It’s liable to be a piece of junk.”

“Maybe not.” Cade came over and clapped him on the shoulder. “Think positive, bro. Maybe it’s a gem that’s taking up space they want for something else.”

“Or maybe the wood’s rotted out and the mice have made a nest in the upholstery.”

“One way to find out. I have a feeling we can rehabilitate this sleigh.” Cade glanced up at the Christmas lights strung everywhere. “Are we done here?”

“You tell me. You’re the one trying to impress your ladylove.”