Page 68 of Cowboy’s Christmas Baker

Harrison stood in Mallory’s kitchen that Thursday, watching as she pulled out pans, towels, and finally a massive stainless bowl of the dough she and Katie had made on Tuesday.

Katie had been excited about today all week. Every once in a while, she would ask Harrison if he thought the other girls would have fun, and he would say yes. Or she would say, I think they’ll like eating the cookies when we’re done. And he would say yes.

This was the most excitement she’d had about connecting with anyone other than Mallory, or the little cat she now had eating out of her hand and sleeping in a cardboard box full of towels on the porch.

On the way over today, she had been quiet though. He tried not to overthink it, but worry tickled at his mind anyway.

“Okay, we’ve got everything we need to bake the cookies,” Mallory said, turning to Katie with a gentle smile. “Do you think we should start the frosting now, or let the girls help with that?”

Katie shrugged but didn’t speak.

Harrison felt a pang.

“I’ll just get the butter out,” Mallory said calmly, nodding to herself. “That will mean we can get it started faster when we’re ready.”

“I have a stomachache,” Katie said suddenly.

Harrison’s heart fell. He knew what was coming now, yet he was powerless to stop it.

“Oh no,” Mallory said kindly, turning to Katie. “Do you want to sit down for a minute?”

Katie shook her head.

“Would you like a drink of water?” Mallory asked.

Mallory waited, but Katie didn’t have anything more to say.

“Okay, then,” Mallory said. “I’m just going to get everything organized. First, I’ll get scoops for the dough and lay those out over here.”

She did as she said she would, moving at a calm, dreamy pace that had Katie’s eyes following her.

“Now I’ll set up the baking sheets so they’re ready for cookies,” Mallory said. “And I’ll put some spatulas out for lifting the cookies off the sheets when they’re baked.”

Please let Katie feel calmer, Harrison prayed.

“I’ll pull out the cooling racks,” Mallory narrated as she did. “And I think everyone will want to wear an apron. Don’t you?”

She headed over to one of the closets and grabbed a rainbow of pretty aprons in different colors.

“My mom got these for me when I opened this place,” Mallory said fondly as she set them down. “She said I should have a color for every mood. Now your friends can each choose a color.”

“I don’t want a cookie party,” Katie screamed suddenly, knocking the spatulas to the floor with a clatter and bursting into tears.

“Okay,” Harrison said, striding over. He knew there was no point trying to convince her. Things would only get worse from here on in. It was better to get her home where she could relax on her own terms.

But before he had a chance to do anything, Mallory bent down to Katie’s level, her hand up in the air to Harrison, palm out, telling him to hold off.

“You don’t want a party,” Mallory repeated softly as Harrison froze in place.

Katie’s sobs paused and she looked up at Mallory.

“Tell me,” Mallory said. “Tell me about why you don’t want it.”

“I don’t want them here,” Katie said loudly, her voice still shaking.

“You don’t want them here,” Mallory repeated, nodding, and then waited.

But Katie just stood there, looking at Mallory with tears sliding down her cheeks.