Page 24 of Cowboy’s Christmas Baker

“I was there,” Harrison said. “But I wasn’t much help. Mostly I just reached stuff that was up high in the cabinet and checked the oven for her.”

“She’s got a gift,” Mallory said, that sweet smile back on her lips.

“She’s interested,” Harrison said. “And I love seeing her get excited about something.”

“When does she want to start?” Mallory asked.

“I haven’t talked to her about it yet,” he admitted. “I didn’t want to get her hopes up if it’s too much for you.”

“I could do two days a week after school, if she wants,” Mallory offered. “Annie Williams is here Tuesdays and Thursdays in the afternoons. We could start tomorrow.”

“Really?” Harrison asked.

“Absolutely,” Mallory replied. “Just text me to let me know what time works best.”

“Okay,” Harrison said, nodding.

“I know she wants to do baklava,” Mallory said. “Any idea what else she has in mind?”

“Well, she wants to do all the cookies her mom used to do,” Harrison said, pulling a worn and folded piece of paper from his pocket without thinking.

“Is that a cookie list?” Mallory asked, her eyes lighting up as she held out her hand for it.

“It’s, uh, a Christmas cookie list,” he said, watching himself place it in her open palm, though he had never allowed anyone else to touch it. “Her mom had it in with the decorations. But I couldn’t find the recipes, just the list.”

“Oh, wow,” Mallory said, holding the paper so gently, as if it were something precious. “Is it okay for me to look at it?”

“Sure, of course,” Harrison said gruffly. “I’ll text you a photo too, if you want.”

“That would be amazing,” Mallory said, her eyes sliding down Penny’s neatly written list of cookies. “This is so special. I’ll do my best to help Katie make every single cookie here. If she wants to.”

Harrison wanted to thank her, to tell her he was sure whatever she did would be good for Katie.

But emotion rose up in his chest and he couldn’t speak at all.

He could only watch the young woman fold Penny’s list back up with something like reverence in her eyes.

6

MALLORY

The following afternoon, Mallory stood behind the counter of the bakery, feeling surprisingly nervous.

She had set up a few more of the Christmas things today and the place looked amazing, with garlands of pine boughs strung on red velvet ribbons along the plate rail, and a small cream-colored candle surrounded by a tiny holly wreath adorning each table.

The pine scent mingling with the spice of the gingerbread pound cake in the oven made her feel like it was Christmas already, but the feeling wasn’t all sweetness.

It was hard for Mal to even imagine Christmas without her mother. Lila Fisher had been famous for her holiday spirit. Of course she had loved to bake, but she also brought in lots of decorations for her classroom and treats for her math students.

One of Mal’s favorite memories was delivering plates of Christmas cookies to their neighbors on Oberlin Avenue. Her own family wasn’t very fancy, and their house was the smallest on the block. But every kid was jealous of Mal when her parents began the yearly task of hauling the Christmas decorations out of their one-car garage and into the yard. There were so many that they couldn’t keep a car in there, but her dad said it was worth it to see how happy all those elves, reindeer, snowmen, and the big manger scene made the little kids on the block.

Gingerbread pound cake with a citrus glaze was her dad’s favorite. She planned to stop by tonight and share some of what was in the oven with him. A little family time was sure to get her feeling more like herself again.

She’d also made another attempt at a signature treat today—a simple vanilla spice muffin with a gorgeous candied-ginger topping. But it hadn’t really worked out. It turned out that candied ginger was a love-it-or-hate-it kind of ingredient.

The door opened up, sending the bells jingling and snapping her out of her thoughts. Katie marched in with her Dad right behind her.

“Hi,” Mallory chirped a little too brightly. “Great to see you.”