A Grand Teton Sleigh Ride: Four Generations of Wyoming Ranchers Celebrate Love at Christmas (33 page)

“I’m listening.”

“I think you know what I’m about to say, Son.”

“I’d like to hear you say it, just the same.”

The man grinned at Ty, really grinned at him. “I knew I liked you.”

Huh?

“I don’t want to say too much,” he said, “but I was wrong to try to come between you and Hayley. She’d kill me if she knew I was here, but I hope I’m not too late.”

Ty offered his own grin. “You mean you don’t care that I’m just a ski bum with no future?”

The man kicked at the snow then looked at Ty. “You can’t blame me for wanting the best for Hayley. But you’re a good man, Ty. I see that now. And you’re mighty important to my daughter.”

“Well then, sir, it’s not too late at all. In fact, I’m on my way to a meeting I think you might be interested in.”

Her father arched a brow. “Is that so?”

Though somewhat humbled, the man was still intimidating.

Ty wasn’t sure what he was doing. Not sure at all. But he had a feeling that letting Hayley’s father in on his plan had been what he’d hoped to do all along. To prove himself to the man. He hadn’t intended to share things until he was well on his way, but then again, he hadn’t expected her father to apologize and to give his blessing, of a sort, on their relationship.

Here goes nothing
.

Or everything.

O
n Christmas Eve, Hayley finished preparing the last casserole—cheesy broccoli and rice—ahead of time so she could simply pop it into the oven with all the dishes for their Christmas dinner tomorrow.

While her two sisters, Kate and Sarah, and her cousin Cindy and Aunt Cheryl, Daddy’s sister, chattered away and baked more pies, Hayley tried to sneak out of the kitchen. She needed to catch her breath. Grab a moment alone. She’d received a call from Ty and let it go to voice mail. She couldn’t talk when he’d called, and now she couldn’t wait to hear the message.

For the first time, Hayley knew that no matter what Daddy said, she had made her own decision about Ty. If he felt the same way about her, then she needed to somehow get him back. She listened to his voice mail. “I’m skiing in the Ribbon of Lights tonight. I know you have family obligations, but I wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas Eve.”

That was it. He didn’t ask for a call back. She whirled to look at the big clock on the wall. Three o’clock.

Barely enough time to get there and find a place to watch the skiers make their way down the mountain with the lights.

“I’m going to watch the Ribbon of Lights at Teton Village. Who is with me?” Hayley asked.

Cindy was in, but her sisters, aunt, and uncle declined, and of course, Daddy and her sisters’ husbands declined. Hayley smiled. This would be just like old times, her hanging out with Cindy, though her sisters had been around then, too. Giggling about boys and life and just having fun. But Kate and Sarah had husbands now. Families and children. Hayley thought the kids would like to see the lights, but everyone grumbled it was too cold. And it was Christmas Eve, after all.

Christmas Eve or not, if there was any way she could see Ty tonight, she had to find him.

At Teton Village, just twelve miles north of Jackson, Hayley and Cindy almost didn’t find a place to park. She stole a spot half on the road, half on the snowplowed curb, right up against a berm.

“You sure this is okay?” Cindy asked.

“It has to be.” Hayley got out.

In her thermal ski jacket, she hugged herself and searched the area, large snowflakes caressing her face. Anticipation hung in the air with the crowd of people who gathered to see the Ribbon of Lights, along with the children’s parade. A current of excitement charged through her.

“Let’s go.” She motioned for Cindy to follow. They tromped between the buildings that made up the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and made their way up the slope and found a place to wait.

And watch.

Cindy ran off to buy hot chocolate and returned just as dusk began to fall. “Thought I’d never find you out here, I just kept looking at that one tree so I wouldn’t get lost. I’m glad you didn’t move.”

“Thanks for the hot chocolate.” Anxious to see the skiers, Hayley took a sip, letting the creamy warmth slide down her throat as she watched the mountain. She wasn’t sure if she’d be able to pick out Ty among the skiers or even connect with him tonight. But she had to try.

Finally, she spotted the lights at the top of the ski run, carried by a line of skiers who crisscrossed down the mountain. A brilliant, awe-inspiring sight, Hayley watched with wonder—her heart filling with the joy that was Christmas. Although she wanted to watch the flow of torches streaming down the mountain, she looked closely at each skier that skied passed.

Which one was Ty?

She wanted to surprise him.

But it was dark, and the skiers wore facemasks, completely understandable given the temperatures. When all the skiers had come down the mountain and the Ribbon of Lights display had concluded, Hayley was disappointed she hadn’t seen Ty. The crowd began dispersing, many making their way toward the café and restaurants in the resorts before heading to the streets for the children’s parade.

“Hey, let’s go inside. Grab something to eat,” Cindy said. “You rushed us out of there so fast we didn’t get supper.”

“Hayley,” a voice called. She looked around, skimming the area. Someone snatched her from behind a tree.

Ty’s laughter caressed her ears, and he hugged her to him, kissing her neck.

“Okay, I’m outta here,” Cindy said. “I’ll catch you later. I’m assuming you have a ride home. But how about me?”

Hayley tossed her the keys. “Thanks, Cindy.”

On the drive to Jackson, Hayley had shared everything with Cindy, so her cousin understood what was at stake.

Aware her cousin was leaving her alone with Ty, she playfully pushed him away. “What are you doing?”

Smiling, his gazed roamed over her face and landed on her lips. “What am I doing? Kissing you.”

Hayley never wanted anything more. Ty leaned in and kissed her thoroughly. Passionately. When he released her, he let his ungloved thumb trace down her cheek. “You came to see me.”

“I …”—a knot grew in her throat—“I had to see you on Christmas Eve.”

She almost didn’t care, but on the other hand, she had to know. “Where are we, Ty? You and me, I mean? Our relationship.”

“Well, I’m not sure where you are, Hayley Covington, but as for me, I’m in love with you.”

And Ty kissed her again.

Christmas morning, Hayley woke up with a smile on her face, feeling like she hadn’t slept that well in far too long. She stretched, dreamy with the memory of kisses. Of Ty’s profession of love.

She didn’t care what he did for a living. And best of all, neither did Daddy. As for Ty, he was an honorable man who tried to abide by Daddy’s wishes, loving her from a distance. Ty explained that her father had given him permission to see her, so he’d called her. Hayley still wasn’t sure how she felt about that. She’d wanted him to fight for her, stand up to her father, and yet she wasn’t anyone’s property. Neither of them had any right to talk about her, make decisions for her, like that. On the other hand, she found it endearing that Ty would adhere to her father’s old-fashioned ways. That Ty had wanted to please her father, and somehow he’d done just that.

She got up and dressed then glanced out the window at the snow-blanketed earth. Would that sight ever get old?

Hayley bounded down the stairs, the aroma of bacon and eggs wafting around her. Soon everyone would gather around the tree to exchange gifts. Her two nieces and nephew were already playing with the toys that Santa Claus had left under the tree, though they understood perfectly the true meaning of Christmas, celebrating the birth of Christ the Lord and their Savior. Daddy would read the scriptures from Luke,
chapter 2
, after breakfast.

Hayley loved that the whole family gathered for Christmas here at the ranch. She never wanted to leave this place, with its legacy of Covington family memories.

Yes, she’d made the right decision to stay here, close to Daddy and his beloved Covington Ranch. Her ranch.

When a knock came at the door, Hayley left the table and opened it to see Ty standing there, a grin on his face. He could have made The Sexiest Man Alive on the cover of
People Magazine
with that look.

Hayley just wanted to stare at him.

“What?” he asked. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

She giggled and opened the door wide.

“I come bearing gifts,” he said.

“Oh, you didn’t have to.” She grabbed the bags, loving this moment—yet another Covington memory.

Loving this man.

She tucked his gifts under the tree, and Ty joined them for breakfast. He’d promised his grandmother he’d be back for lunch, but Hayley hoped he would just bring her out to the ranch. They had plans to fly to Texas the day after Christmas to see his folks in Dallas. Hayley would miss him.

After breakfast everyone opened presents. They’d chosen names well in advance, and each person got two gifts for the name they’d drawn. But of course, Hayley got a few extras for Daddy, the only man in her life until … well, until Ty. She opened a gift from Aunt Cheryl, a wonderful crocheted Afghan, and a new ski suit from Ty. She loved her gifts.

Hayley pulled out a big box she’d wrapped and handed it over to Ty. “I didn’t know if I’d see you again, but I’ve been working on this for a while. I wrapped it and put it under the tree, hoping things would work out between us.”

When Ty opened it to reveal a large platter, skiers on a mountain etched in with sgraffito, admiration infused his expression. He ran his fingers over the image that she’d scratched into the clay, then he looked at her, seeming to absorb her very essence.

Love flowed from his eyes. “Thank you, Hayley. I’ll treasure this, always.”

He set the platter on a table, safe and out of the way, then tugged her aside. “Can I talk to you alone?”

“Sure.”

“Um, I need you outside, actually. So go get dressed in something warm.”

She looked at him for a couple of seconds then ran upstairs to gear up in her winter wear.

Back downstairs, Ty opened the door for her and they went outside. “What’s going on?” she asked.

Bells jingled, warming her heart even more, if possible, as the Covington horse-drawn sleigh—pulled by one of Daddy’s favorite horses—made its way to the front of the house. Daddy lifted his Stetson, greeting them, and climbed down.

“I’ve seen Ty drive one of these at the Elk Refuge, so I’m confident he’ll be fine,” Daddy said, his smile genuine.

“Or I could do it,” Hayley offered.

“You could, sure, but that would ruin my show.” Ty assisted her up, and she let him, though she didn’t need any help.

“Your show?”

“The ambience. Magic. You know, the romance.” He winked.

After he placed a blanket over their knees, he urged the horse to pull the sleigh down and around the trail the Covingtons had used in years gone by, as though he’d done this a thousand times before. Hayley wanted to ask how he knew where to go.

But then she knew. Daddy. Had to be.

She leaned her head on Ty’s shoulder, her arms wrapped through his, and imagined what it might have been like to ride in this sleigh fifty years ago, or even when Zeb, her great-grandfather, first came to the valley, built this sleigh, and proposed to his bride in it.

Ty slowed the horse, reining to a stop.

Hayley sighed her contentment and took in the Tetons in the distance behind the Covington spread, the small cabin Zeb built, now a beautiful home filled with the memories of generations of Covingtons. The image on this Christmas morning would make a perfect postcard.

Ty turned to face Hayley. “You warm enough?”

“I couldn’t be warmer.”

He cleared his throat, unusually nervous. “Hayley, I know we’ve had a rocky relationship lately.”

Ty removed his gloves. “I can’t stand these things.” Then he took her hands in his. “I want you to know that I backed off from you because your father said I wasn’t good enough for you. From the moment he said that, I have been working to change it. And, I have a surprise for you.”

“Shh,“
she said, pressing her finger against his lips. She’d removed her gloves, too, so she could feel his hands. “I don’t need you to be anything but who you are, Ty. I don’t care about any of that.”

“I believe you. But I care about it. You made me remember I had big dreams. You inspired me to not let them die. I’m working on building a ski lodge and resort on Walker Mountain, my grandmother’s land.”

Hayley gasped. “Ty, that’s … huge.” But it scared her. What if all this changed the Ty she’d fallen in love with?

“If you’re willing, I’d like to include a Hayley Covington Art Gallery in the resort, dedicated to your work. But you’ll still hold the reins to the Covington Ranch.”

She cupped her hands over her mouth. “All this for me? But …”

It seemed like too much, and she realized that despite all the effort he’d put into proving himself to her father and to her, she had been expecting something much different from him just now. She’d obviously gotten ahead of herself, the Covington sleigh proposal stories getting the best of her. Still, he’d mentioned something about her holding the reins to the Covington Ranch.