Once Touched (27 page)

U
NLIKE HER FEELINGS
for Thanksgiving, Quinn wholeheartedly loved Christmas. She adored the gleeful rush of furtive shopping, decorating the halls and trees, stringing lights, consuming platefuls of decadent treats, and listening to the glorious music hailing the blessed birth.

This year she appreciated even more the joyful chaos that accompanied her parents' Christmas. In the midst of the laughter that accompanied unwrapping some of the silly gifts they'd found one another—a set of animal wine stoppers for Mia; bride and groom toothbrushes for Tess and Ward; for her, a flask of caffeinated maple syrup for those days when she needed to be extra wired, Ward teased; a model tractor for her dad; a roping skills book for Reid; soap in the shape of goats for Ethan; and for her mother, a signed head shot of Neil Sedaka. In the midst of all the laughter, teasing banter, and expressions of thanks, no one, Ethan included, noticed her comparative quiet.

Guilt sure could do a number on a person.

Ethan had said he loved her. Would it be enough?

The thought drummed in her head as they finished their Christmas breakfast and then, leaving the dishes for later since Tess and Ward needed to stick to a schedule in order to make their evening flight to New York, they moved on to the presents piled beneath the Christmas tree.

“I think I remember some of these ornaments,” Ethan said. “That one of Rudolph, definitely.”

“One of Quinn's,” her mom replied. “It's great, isn't it?”

The decoration dated from when she was four, a fertile artistic period. Rudolph's nose was almost as big as his head and her pre-k teacher had allowed her to use so much glitter, the red blob still sparkled mightily twenty years later. The rest of the ten-foot tree was decorated with many other of her handmade ornaments, as well as Ward and Reid's efforts—cowboy Santas and snowmen. The others, such as the blown and painted eggs suspended from thin velvet ribbons, were gifts from family friends. The tree shone with love and generosity.

As if following her train of thought, her mother pointed to the delicate glass icicles hanging from the tips of branches. “Your parents gave us these, Ethan. Cheryl brought them back from a trip they took to Prague.”

“That must have been about ten years ago.”

Her mother nodded. “I think of them both every year when I hang the icicles. I can't wait to see them in New York. Cheryl called earlier. Your surprise news about coming to the wedding made her Christmas—she sounded as happy as the day she called to tell us you'd sold your first photograph.” Her comment was delivered in a light, casual tone, though Quinn knew it was anything but. Her parents were aware of Ethan's talent. They weren't the sort who'd be willing to see him waste it. Even if Ethan ended up staying and working as a ranch hand, they would make sure his work at Silver Creek posed no obstacle to his returning to his photography. They would accommodate his need to pursue his passion just as they did with Reid, who currently divided his time between his duties at the guest ranch and helping Mia with the vineyard.

Quinn was careful not to look at Ethan, but she could picture his guarded expression. He'd have shut down his emotions the way he always did when his art was mentioned—except for when the terror of his nightmares broke down the barriers.

In true diplomatic fashion, her father saved Ethan from replying to her mother's comment by saying, “Let's sit down and get these presents opened.” He picked up the tray laden with coffee mugs and passed it around as her mother settled into her favorite chair by the window. They all followed suit, Tess and Ward sitting close enough on the sofa to hold hands, Reid and Mia choosing the two matching leather poufs by the crackling fire, and Quinn and Ethan taking two armchairs at the end of the sofa.

The unwrapping began.

She smiled as her mom and dad thanked her for the tickets she'd bought them to the San Francisco Opera. The performance was Bizet's
Carmen,
one of her mom's favorites.

She chuckled at the T-shirt Reid gave her, which read,
IF HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF, I'M SO GETTING A DINOSAUR
.

Holding the shirt so everyone could see it, she asked, “How'd you guess my next move? I was thinking I'd like to have a microraptor so that Alfie could have a buddy. Thanks, Reid. I love it.”

Mia and Quinn had bought Tess a navy blue garter belt that had a satin ribbon threaded through it, its color an exact match of her wedding gown. Embroidered on the ribbon were the initials
T & W
and the date of their wedding.

“We realized you needed something blue to wear on your wedding day,” Mia said.

“You guys, thank you so much. No, Ward, you cannot see this. On our wedding night, yes,” Tess said, holding the small box off to the side so he couldn't steal a peek.

After she'd closed the lid and set the box on the coffee table, Ward leaned over and whispered something in Tess's ear that had her laughing and blushing furiously and then leaning in for a kiss.

When her brother's hand slipped beneath the dark curtain of Tess's hair, Quinn cleared her throat. Loudly. “Save it for the plane trip, Ward,” she said. “We still have loads of presents to unwrap.” Her present for Ethan was lying directly under a big hand-painted ball ornament that she'd made in fourth grade. It had Santa on one side and Frosty on the other. She went to reach for the present, but Ethan moved first. He dropped to his knees and chose a small, flat box tied with baling twine. He'd even tied a little bow. And there was an envelope attached to it.

He handed the box to her. “Not that I have anything against dinosaurs, but here's something else to consider. Merry Christmas, Quinn.” His voice was easy, his tone the one he used when speaking to Tess or Mia. Quinn doubted it fooled anyone gathered in her parents' spacious living room.

She stared at the package, her heart hammering against her ribs as if the box she held were square and velvet and its interior satin lined to protect a gem-studded ring.

How much more could he give her today when he'd already whispered his love? How much more could her heart take when it alternately felt close to bursting and ready to break?

She opened the box. Coiled in a nest of tissue paper lay a braided bracelet, its strands black, white, and flame-red chestnut. A sterling silver clasp connected the ends. She looked up.

“It's from Domino and Tucker's manes?”

“Yeah.” Ethan nodded. “I had it made by the lady who owns the jewelry store on West Street.”

“Maeve Gowan? She makes wonderful pieces,” her mother said when Quinn lifted the bracelet for her family to see.

“Good gift, Ethan,” Reid said. “Exactly the sort of thing Quinn will wear.”

“Maeve said she could expand the bracelet, adding new manes whenever you want, which brings me to your next gift. It's in the envelope,” he said to her.

“Now you've got me curious. I love the bracelet. Thank you.”

She tore open the envelope. Inside was a gift certificate from the equine rescue center where she'd adopted Glory and Tucker.

“Ward gave me the center's name. I thought that now that Tucker's doing better, you might be ready to adopt another horse.”

Her heart squeezed tight. Her “Thank you, Ethan,” came out in a choked whisper as she blinked away a fresh round of tears.

“You're welcome,” he replied huskily.

She continued to stare at the certificate through a film of tears, managing to pull herself together—and even snort with laughter—only when Ward drawled, “Hey, Quinn, think we can move on? Tess and I have a plane to catch this evening.”

She straightened and met her brother's grin, saw it matched everyone else's, and sniffed audibly. “They're good presents, okay?”

“They are indeed. Well done, Ethan. So who's next?” her dad asked.

“I have something for Ethan,” she said quickly before anyone else could offer up a gift. She went to the present lying below Santa's grinning face and brought it to him.

“Here you go. Merry Christmas.” As she spoke, she felt a blush crawl over her cheeks.

Seeing her color, Ethan crooked his lips in a half grin. She knew that had they been alone, he'd have grabbed her around the waist and hauled her close for a very thorough kiss.

“What'd she get you?” Reid asked.

“Still working on untying the bow for Adele's collection…”

Her mother reused bows and wrapping whenever possible.

“There,” Ethan said. “I've got it.” He removed the lid. He lifted the silver belt buckle and cradled it in his hands.

She watched his thumbs move over the chased design. He looked up. “It's beautiful, Quinn.” His eyes said much more.

She swallowed. “Merry Christmas.”

“Let's see it, Ethan,” her mother said.

He stood and brought it over to her.

“It's lovely. The tooled leather belt is, too. Quinn must have guessed what Daniel and I intended to give you. Daniel,” she said, angling her head, “do you want to do the honors?”

Quinn's father stood and picked up an oblong box nestled by the base of the tree. He handed it to Ethan. “Merry Christmas, son.”

“Thank you, Daniel and Adele,” Ethan said, and proceeded to open it. Slowly he lifted a steel-gray barn coat with a black corduroy collar.

Quinn recognized it immediately. It was the jacket given to all the ranch hands, and yes, embroidered beneath the stitched Silver Creek Ranch logo was Ethan's name.

“We hope you'll join the ranch crew, Ethan,” her dad said.

“Come calving and lambing season, we're always in need of good, steady men,” Ward said, rising from the sofa to shake his hand.

“And the salary comes with good benefits. Even a 401(k). Of course the downside is, now Quinn will really be able to boss you around,” Reid joked.

Ethan arched a brow. “Worse things in life.”

“True. Then again, you're not a man who scares easily.” Reid looked over at their father. “Dad, you should give him a signing bonus.”

“I'm way ahead of you, Reid. It's in the contract I've drawn up for you, Ethan, though it's not your typical bonus. We'll go fifty-fifty with you on the cost of a stock horse. Reid has a lot of contacts in the area.”

“We'll find a beaut for you, Ethan,” said Reid.

“And in the meantime, I'd be grateful if you rode Rio for these next few days and then while Tess and I are away on our honeymoon. I don't want him getting fat and lazy.”

Listening to the men launch into a discussion of some of the horses currently on the market and whether Ethan might also want to look at some of the ones at equine rescue centers, Quinn wondered what they would say if they knew of her plans, plans being set in motion even as they spoke. Their enthusiastic embrace of Ethan into the fold made what Quinn aimed to do even harder, and yet she drank in this moment, so happy to see Ethan accepted by those she loved most in the world.

When Ward and Tess left to finish packing, Reid and Mia gathered up their presents as well so that they could spring Bruno and call Mia's uncle before the hour got too late in France. Her father announced a desire to get some fresh air in his lungs before spending several hours behind the wheel when he and Adele drove Ward and Tess to the airport.

“I'm going to stay and set the house to rights,” Quinn's mom said.

“I'll help you, Mom.”

“Thank you, darling.” Her mother smiled and then turned to Ethan. “Go ride Forester for me so I won't feel guilty about not giving him a Christmas Day run. And don't let Kane beat you if Daniel challenges you to a race.”

Her dad picked up the tray of coffee mugs and her mom followed him into the kitchen, leaving Ethan and her alone.

Ethan moved closer. Reaching out, he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Everything good?”

“Yeah. I just want to spend some time with my mom and then take care of the animals.”