A Cowboy Under the Mistletoe (16 page)

Still, she missed him terribly. When she thought of his kiss, his touch and his beautiful body—and she thought of all those things on a regular basis—she ached for him.

Because she was resourceful when it came to beating the blues, she filled her spare time buying Christmas presents for her family, including something for the Secret Santa exchange they did every year. Then she contacted Phil to set up a time to tour Thunder Mountain Academy.

They played phone tag and didn’t find a time to get together until Thursday afternoon, the day before Ty was scheduled to drive back up from Cheyenne. That was just as well. She and Ty had managed a few phone conversations, but they always seemed to deteriorate into suggestive comments that created even more frustration.

When she had a little more than twenty-four hours before his ETA, any distraction was welcome. She met Phil at the ranch house, and Rosie joined them. As they walked from the house to the meadow where the cabins were located, Whitney glanced up at the sky and the gray clouds moving in.

“Don’t worry,” Rosie said. “This’ll blow through. I checked the weather this morning. Ty will make it up here, no problem.”

“I’m sure he will.” Whitney didn’t believe in buying trouble, but she’d lived in Wyoming all her life. Those looked like snow clouds. She’d been watching the forecast all week and what Rosie had said was correct according to the weather gurus. She hoped they were right because she was desperate to see that cowboy.

They toured the rec room first, the most recent addition to the meadow. The heat was turned way down in all the buildings to conserve energy so they all left their coats on.

“Damon should really be here for this part because the rec room is his baby,” Phil said. “But he made a quick run to Billings today. A guy’s selling a barely used table saw and Damon thinks we need a replacement for the one we have. The guy does love his tools.”

Whitney glanced around the mostly empty room. “This place is huge!”

“It seems that way now,” Rosie said, “but wait until we get a bunch of teenagers in it. We’ve ordered a second pool table that should arrive any time, plus tables and chairs for meals, but it’ll also double as a classroom.”

“I can’t wait,” Phil said. “I just know they’re going to love being at the ranch.”

“I’ll bet they will.” Whitney had no trouble imagining it. “A small group of kids around the same age, all focused on a subject they’re really interested in—what could be better for learning? It’s like Hogwarts for horse lovers.”

Phil laughed. “That’s a perfect description. I’ll remember that when I’m talking to people about it. No magic spells or incantations, but if you’re a kid who loves horses, this place will be magical.”

“It will.” Whitney gazed around the empty room and pictured it with classes in progress. “I have a cousin who would eat this up with a spoon. I’m not sure my aunt and uncle can afford it, though.”

“We’re looking into getting sponsors to donate scholarships,” Rosie said. “Boot and hat companies are on our list. We’ve had interest from feed companies, too. Ben Radcliffe’s doing so well with his saddle business he’s thinking of offering one scholarship per semester. Is your cousin a good student?”

“Oh, yeah, Dee Ann’s amazing. Honor student, into all kinds of school activities, loves horses. I’ll mention it privately to my aunt and uncle and let them know scholarships might be a possibility. A semester here would be an incredible opportunity for her.”

“She sounds like exactly the kind of young woman we want to enroll in the program,” Phil said. “Come on. Let’s go see the cabins. Then you’ll get even more excited.”

Phil’s enthusiasm was catching. Instead of simply looking around one of the cabins, Whitney climbed into a loft bed to check out the room from that angle.

“Good idea. I’ve wanted to do that ever since they were built.” Rosie took the one across from Whitney.

“They really are fun.” Phil claimed the bed next to Rosie’s and sat there swinging her feet. “I don’t think you ever outgrow your love of the top bunk.”

Whitney flopped onto the bare mattress. “Takes me back to my slumber party days, only the setting wasn’t as awesome as this. My sister and I—” She caught herself. She hadn’t meant to mention Selena to anyone in Sheridan, but maybe it was time to start. This might be as good a place as any.

“I didn’t realize you have a sister,” Phil said. “Does she live in Cheyenne?”

Propping herself up on her elbow, Whitney looked over at Phil. She wanted to be able to assure her new friend that the question and the necessary answer wouldn’t cause a problem. “Selena died in a car accident when we were sixteen. We were twins.”

“Oh!” Phil’s eyes widened and she flushed. “Whitney, I didn’t—”

“It’s okay.” She sat up. “Nobody in Sheridan knows, but it’s not a touchy subject at all.”

“Oh, honey.” Rosie gazed at her. “That must have been so tough, though.”

“Maybe it’s still tough,” Phil said. “I’m really sorry, Whitney. Your twin sister. Yikes.”

“It’s not as bad as it could be. My folks did the right thing and got us all counseling. When I’m with my family in Cheyenne, Selena’s not a forbidden subject. We reminisce about the good times. It’s a huge help.”

Rosie nodded. “That would be very healing. When I worked in social services, we encouraged people to do that.”

“It’s great, and I’m in pretty good shape emotionally. But I haven’t said anything since I moved here because I want people to get to know me first. I don’t want it to be my defining characteristic. In Cheyenne, everyone who was around back then remembers but it’s faded in everyone’s mind, so it’s not the first thing they think of when they see me.”

“I so get that,” Phil said. “Just like when I moved here I didn’t go around telling everyone that my mom died when I was a little kid. It’s part of who I am, but not the most important part.”

Whitney smiled at her. “Exactly.”

“So I’m guessing Ty doesn’t know this, either,” Rosie said.

“I haven’t told him yet. It’s not the sort of thing you bring up right away in a new relationship.”

“Of course not,” Phil said. “That reference to your sister probably slipped out by accident because we were reliving our slumber party days.”

“Yep. Although maybe it’s a good thing. Maybe I’ve been in town long enough that I can tell a few people.”

“But we won’t,” Rosie said. “Who you tell and when is your choice to make.”

“I appreciate that. And I don’t mind at all that you both know. But with Ty, it’s more complicated. I could be wrong, but I get the sense he hasn’t completely dealt with what happened to him.”

“He hasn’t.” Rosie sighed. “It’s difficult because he doesn’t have anybody to mourn with or reminisce with. His parents were older when they had him so the grandparents were gone on both sides. He has one uncle who dealt with his brother’s death by climbing into a bottle so he’s no help.”

“See, that’s another reason I have to tread lightly. Judging from what you’re saying, the way my parents and I have handled Selena’s death wouldn’t work for him. In fact, hearing about it might actually make him feel worse because he can’t go that route.”

“Are you sure he couldn’t?” Phil hopped down from the bunk. “His parents must have had close friends. What about them? They could reminisce with him, couldn’t they?”

Rosie shook her head. “The couple closest to them had hoped to adopt Ty. He turned into such a holy terror that they gave up and brought him to us. He was making their family miserable.”

“Wow.” Whitney couldn’t picture Ty as a holy terror.

“To his credit, he tried to find them a few years ago so he could make amends, but they’d moved and their last name is Brown, so they’d be hard to trace.”

“Like Jones,” Whitney said. “That’s why I have an unusual first name. Anyway, props to you and Herb for taking him in and calming him down.”

“Herb and I can’t claim all the credit. Listening to the other guys’ horror stories did the most good. Putting all those boys together was like tossing them in a rock tumbler. The rough edges came off.”

Phil nodded. “You can see that when they interact. They still tumble against each other sometimes. I thought Damon and Cade were going to come to blows at the Fourth of July party, but then they just went off and drank beer together.”

“Typical.” Rosie smiled. “Ty and Brant are like that with each other. I don’t know that Ty would have come around without Brant Ellison.”

“He’s mentioned Brant,” Whitney said. “I was hoping to meet him but I’ll be in Cheyenne when he’s here for Christmas.”

“You’ll meet everyone for sure at the wedding,” Phil said. “Right, Rosie? We’re inviting the world to this ceremony.”

“Everyone in Damon’s world, that’s for sure. I’m counting on you to add the names of everyone in your world. That’s the beauty of having it at the ranch. We don’t have to limit the guest list.”

“And I’m thrilled to be included considering I’m so new in town,” Whitney said.

Phil glanced up at her. “Funny, but you don’t feel new. It seems as if I’ve known you longer than five months.”

“Same here.” Rosie gave Whitney a fond glance. “You’ve made a big impression already. Everybody I know loves Rangeland Roasters.”

Whitney laughed. “Because everybody loves you and you talk me up.”

“
No
.”
Rosie’s cheeks turned pink. “It’s because you’re nice and you serve great coffee in a cheerful shop.”

“Which she tells people all the time,” Phil said. “So you’re right, she’s your best advertisement, but she wouldn’t do it unless she believed in you.”

“Aw.” Whitney’s throat felt tight. “Thank you both.”

“You’re welcome.” Rosie smiled at her. “And on that lovely note, I suggest we head back to the house and warm up with a cup of coffee. It won’t be as fancy as yours, Whitney, but I can offer you a touch of Baileys.”

* * *

W
HITNEY
ACCEPTED
THE
coffee and Baileys although Phil had told her privately she didn’t have to drink it if that wasn’t her thing. But Whitney liked it well enough, and Rosie seemed happy to serve it to her.

She ended up staying for dinner, and by the time she left around eight, big flakes of snow were falling. She switched on the radio and the forecast hadn’t changed—a few flurries tonight and tomorrow but mostly clear. She wished she believed it.

The snowflakes grew thicker and more numerous as she drove. By the time she’d parked and made it into her apartment, it was officially snowing hard, no matter what the weather folks claimed on TV. She wasn’t surprised when Ty called her cell.

“Don’t worry. This’ll clear up,” he said in a confident tone.

“I’m sure it will.” She refused to be Debby Downer when he seemed so positive. “I toured the rec hall and the cabins today.”

“Yeah? Pretty cool, huh?”

“It’ll be a fabulous experience for the kids. Rosie said there might be scholarships, so I’m hoping my cousin Dee Ann can go.”

“That’d be great. How many cousins did you say you have?”

“Fourteen. Six on my dad’s side and eight on my mom’s side.”

“Fertile family.”

“Thus the plethora of condoms I keep on hand.”

He laughed. “Okay, let the record show that tonight it’s your fault that the conversation veered toward sex.”

“You brought up fertility.”

“You could have let that comment go, but instead you linked it to the condoms in your bedside table drawer.”

“You’re right, counselor.” She smiled. “I miss you so much. I hope this snow doesn’t—”

“It won’t. Even if it does, the heat I’m feeling right now will melt whatever stands in my way. I’m coming for you, lady.”

Moisture sluiced between her thighs. “I suspect I’ll be coming for you, too, cowboy.”

“I guaran-damn-tee you will if I have anything to say about it. Which I plan to.”

“You realize we’re
this
close to having phone sex.”

“I’m holding out for the real thing, myself.”

“Me, too, but you’re supposed to stay at the ranch tomorrow night after dinner as I recall, while I drive home to my lonely apartment.”

He groaned. “Who dreamed up that stupid idea?”

“Me, because then you aren’t sneaking into town, and I’m totally on board with the plan.”

“Party pooper.”

“I really am in favor of you spending the night there, Ty. Rosie’s looking forward to it and she deserves to have time with you. We’ll have Saturday night to ourselves.”

“What color underwear are you wearing Saturday night?”

“What color do you want?”

“Black.”

“You’ve got it.”

“What color do you have on now?”

“I’m not going there, cowboy. We really are in the phone sex danger zone. See you tomorrow night at the ranch!” And she disconnected.

He texted her immediately.
I’m guessing pale blue.

Wrong. Good night, Ty.

Purple?

Nope. Sweet dreams.

I’d tell you what I’ll be dreaming except it’ll melt the phone.

Good night, Ty.
She switched off her phone because if she didn’t, they would keep this up until they were both frustrated as hell. Walking to the window, she cupped her hands around her face so she could see outside. Damn, it was snowing even harder.

Her alarm went off before dawn the next morning, and when she turned on her TV, the weather report finally admitted they were in for a blizzard. She left messages for all her employees to stay home. Then she threw on some clothes, drove to the shop amid buffeting winds and put a sign on the inside of the door.

Surely no one would come looking for coffee in this weather, but if they did, they’d learn that the shop would be open when the blizzard had passed, whenever that happened to be. The way the wind was howling, she didn’t expect it to be anytime soon. She didn’t expect Ty to drive up from Cheyenne, either, and disappointment curdled in her stomach.

Once she was back home, she texted him.
Don’t try it.

His reply was instantaneous.
I won’t until it’s safe.

Her shoulders sagged with relief. No matter how much she longed to have him here, she didn’t want him taking foolish chances. Thank goodness he wasn’t the type who would.