Page 57 of Cowboy’s Christmas Baker

“Gert,” her husband said, chuckling.

“It looks yummy, Howard,” Gert said with a smile. “I want to try it.”

“It’s not for sale,” Mal said. “But I’d love to bring you a free sample, if you don’t mind letting me know what you think.”

“I’ll never say no to a free sample,” Howard said with a smile.

Mal and Katie hurried back to the kitchen. Mal grabbed another pretzel and drizzled chocolate over it. Then Katie sprinkled on a spoonful of candy cane.

Mal cut it in half and gestured for Katie to bring it out, expecting the reserved little girl to shake her head and follow in Mal’s shadow.

Instead, she took it proudly and rushed back to the front.

“Here you go,” Katie said, placing it on the table for the Allens without a hint of shyness.

“Thank you, young lady,” Gert said.

The couple lifted their pretzel halves and touched them together in a pretend toast before they each took a bite.

“Oh, that’s magnificent,” Gert said a moment later. “You know, it makes me think of the peppermint ice cream in a chocolate dipped cone my mother used to buy me after ballet class when I was a little girl.”

“Tastes like a baseball game to me,” Howard said. “The guys would love this. How much for a dozen?”

“She just said they’re not for sale, Howard,” Gert scolded him before taking another bite.

“What do you call it?” Howard asked.

“A jingle bell knot,” Mal said impulsively. “And I’d be glad to take an order for you, Mr. Allen.”

“A jingle bell knot,” Katie echoed softly, looking up at Mal with a wondering smile.

By the time Harrison came for Katie, they had given out several more samples, and taken three more orders for the new treat.

“How did the gingerbread go?” Harrison asked.

“We’ll make that next time,” Katie said dismissively. “Try this.”

She handed him a sample from the platter at the counter, and Mal found herself holding her breath again, though by now everyone who had tried the new treat loved it.

Harrison popped it in his mouth and then hummed over it as he chewed.

“So good,” he said, shaking his head. “Makes me think about Christmas when I was a little kid for some reason.”

“Do you think they’re good enough to be the signature holiday treat?” Mal asked.

“Yes,” he said, his face breaking into a rare smile. “This is it, Mallory. You did it.”

“It was just a snack,” Katie said, jumping up and down a little. “It was just a snack for us during our gingerbread making.”

“I got lucky,” Mal agreed. “All those times I tried to come up with something special and I couldn’t. I guess all I needed was a day with my baking partner for the right inspiration.”

She looked over at Katie, who offered her a smile, and Mal felt happiness bubble up in her chest.

Did I really earn smiles from both of the dead-serious Laws today?

“This was a good session,” Harrison said.

“I had another idea,” Mal told him. “But if you guys have other plans, it’s not a big deal.”