Page 8 of Cowboy’s Christmas Baker

“It’s great for kids now too,” Mallory said, glancing over at Katie, who was walking along with her eyes fixed on the sidewalk in front of them. “Katie, what do you like to do when you’re not at school?”

Katie shrugged, her expression impassive.

“Well,” Mallory said, undaunted. “We’ve got a toy store, a bookstore, and a really good library here in town where they have tons of clubs and other activities. And there’s also a ballet school, if you like to dance, and plenty of sports clubs. There’s even a skating rink up on Route One.”

Katie nodded politely, but didn’t latch onto any of it.

To her credit, Mallory didn’t push. They walked on in friendly silence for a few minutes as the snow flurries swirled around them. Harrison let himself forget the present and remember what it was like to race his brothers down Park Avenue while their mom shouted out for them to be careful on the icy sidewalks.

Life had been so much simpler then.

“Here we go,” Mallory said, indicating a sweet little cottage with a sign out front that said Carla’s Place.

“This was Carla Bell’s house,” he realized out loud. “Wasn’t it? Her grandkids lived with her. My Aunt Alice was telling me they had turned Carla’s house into something.”

“They sure did,” Mallory said, getting a funny look on her face and hurrying up the front walk without telling him exactly what it had been turned into.

Katie looked over her shoulder at her dad, as if to say, What’s her deal?

Harrison winked at his daughter, glad she had actually been paying attention, even if she wasn’t participating in the conversation.

“Mal,” a couple of voices cried as Mallory let herself in the front door.

“I brought some leftovers,” Mallory said. “And some new friends.”

Harrison and Katie caught up, and he gestured for his daughter to go in first, but she predictably shook her head, so he stepped inside, trusting her to follow.

“Oh, you did it again,” an older gentleman said fondly, his eyes locked on the box Harrison was carrying.

“I always make too much,” Mallory said. “You never know when it’s going to get busy.”

She pointed to a short hallway and Harrison headed back to a cozy kitchen with a big pine table and pretty Christmas towels hanging on the rings by the sink and folded over the stove handle.

“Here we go,” Mallory said, patting the table.

Harrison set the box down and watched as Mallory swiftly unpacked it, with Katie hanging by his shoulder.

There were bakery boxes of fresh glazed doughnuts, bran muffins, and fruit pastries, as well as a couple of loaves of bread that looked like they had been pre-sliced, unlike the loaves in the display at the bakery.

“I try to bring different things every day,” she explained quietly. “That way hopefully everyone gets something they like.”

“I thought it was just leftovers,” Katie said.

Harrison turned to his daughter, surprised that she was engaging.

“It is,” Mallory said lightly. “But since I end up bringing my leftovers here most times, I try to have some variety when I’m making extra inventory.”

Katie narrowed her eyes, like she didn’t quite believe Mallory, but she didn’t say anything more. Mallory continued her work, grabbing trays from one of the cupboards.

To be fair, Harrison didn’t really believe her either. It was clear that Mallory had a soft spot for these folks. And based on their reaction to her, the feeling was mutual.

He’d been wondering why she had wanted to visit a place like this, but she’d obviously been planning to stop by anyway, and maybe she was hoping he’d want to volunteer too.

Between Katie and the farm, he knew he would barely have time to sleep. But maybe he could stop by now and then to help out with handiwork if there was a need.

“Oh, for heaven’s sake,” a pretty older lady in a pink blouse said, rolling up her sleeves as she headed in to help. “You’ve outdone yourself, Mallory. Do you see how she spoils us? I’m Mrs. Ying.”

But Harrison had no chance to answer or introduce himself, because the lady kept up a cheerful stream of conversation all by herself as she got out napkins and small plates and started the electric kettle for tea.