I roll my eyes, playfully swatting his chest. “Please don’t tell me sleeping together has made you go all Hallmark on me. I rather like your grumpy side.”
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ll be cursing at the waffle iron in no time and we’ll be right back to normal.”
I wipe my brow with exaggerated flair. “Thank god. I’d have to stage an intervention if you started smiling all the time or, heaven forbid, traded in your flannel for matching holiday pajamas.”
He leans back, eyes wide in mock shock. “Whoa there. Too far.”
“Maybe there’s hope for you yet.” I laugh, draping my hands around his neck. “So what’s on the agenda after breakfast?”
I’m already giddy thinking about what he could have planned, especially since whatever it is will be Christmas-themed. When he smiles, his eyes shining with mischief and warmth, my stomach does a little flip. There’s nothing better than seeing him happy, and I’m lucky to get a front-row seat.
In Christmases past, I thought the key to a perfect holiday was family traditions, giving to those in need, and finding meaningful gifts for everyone I loved. Staying with Shep, surrounded by nature and living simply, has taught me that it’s much less complicated than that.
The heart of the season lies in finding joy in the small, beautiful moments. It doesn’t require grand gestures or flawless planning—just sharing it with someone special. And Shep has quickly become the one to teach me the beauty in slowing down and creating holiday memories I’ll treasure forever.
He kisses my forehead. “After breakfast, we’ll check on the animals, then head out. Our stop is close to the edge of my property.”
“Sounds ominous,” I tease. “You sure you can’t tell me what we’re doing?”
My mind races with possibilities—building snowmen, taking a sleigh ride, or making snow angels… The options are endless, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store.
“You’ll see soon enough,” Shep says, chuckling when my stomach rumbles. “But first, let’s get some food in you.”
I rise on my toes to kiss him. “Deal. I’ll whip up some hot chocolate to go with the waffles.”
“Sounds like a mighty fine plan,” he replies as he kisses me back.
“You’ve got this, Maple,” I coax with a gentle tug on her lead rope.
She plants her back hooves into the snow as though my pep talk personally offends her.
I huff, brushing my hair from my face. “Ten feet. That’s all I’m asking for. After those two apples I gave you, I’d say that’s more than reasonable, don’t you think?”
She tosses her head from side to side with a soft grunt. Great. I’m being rejected by a baby cow.
Unbelievable.
It’s no wonder she and Shep get along so well. They’re equally obstinate and resistant to change. Yet they’re both also irresistibly endearing, outweighing their stubborn nature.
After Shep whipped up a delicious batch of eggnog waffles this morning, he brought me to the barn so I could hang out with Maple while he chopped wood.
I was brushing her down when a wild idea popped into my head: What if I took her to the cabin? Sure, she’s the size of a Saint Bernard, but she deserves a cozy playdate. We could snuggle on the floor by the fire while we watch a Christmas movie, and I’d make us popcorn. I mean, I don’t know for sure if cows can even eat that, but I’ll check online. The last thing I want is her getting sick, and turning Shep’s living room into a buttery, slobbery disaster zone won’t win me any favors with the man.
The first step of my genius plan is getting her to the cabin, and the truck isn’t exactly cow-friendly. That’s why I’ve been trying to teach her to walk on a lead. Keyword:trying.
The problem is that when she’s told to come, she only takes a few steps, and at this rate, covering the half mile to our destination will take ages—not to mention the mountain of apples needed to bribe her.
I switch hands holding the rope and pull out another apple slice, dangling it under Maple’s twitching nose. “Come, Maple. Please?”
She eyes the treat with suspicion, acting as if she’s never obeyed the command in her life.
“Don’t you want to come to the cabin? It’s warm, and I’ll put together a yummy veggie-and-fruit tray for you. We can watchHow the Grinch Stole Christmas.Shep got the animated version, which is hands down the best.”
Not only did Shep task Stewart with decorating the cabin, but he also had him pick up a stash of holiday movies on VHS from the local rental store. It’s likely one of the last of its kind, but it’s fitting since Shep is old-school and still owns a tape player. I want to get him a DVD player for Christmas so he can catch up on the modern classics that never came out on VHS. I’ll have to ask Casey where to find one in town if I see him again.
Maple flops in the snow with a plaintive moo, acting like she’s totally wiped out even though she’s barely gone a few yards from the barn. She’s clearly unimpressed with my attempt at bribing her with snacks and a movie.
“You’re totally messing with me, aren’t you, girl?”
