Page 83 of Cowboy’s Christmas Baker

Meanwhile, Mal’s jingle bell knots had been selling like wildfire. Just as she had hoped, people came in to try them and left with boxes of muffins, cakes, and pies. Her savings account was looking more impressive each week. It felt good to see her profits soar without having to stop providing large donations to Carla’s Place and the Heroes Center.

Best of all, she was interviewing part-time helpers to come on once Annie Williams went back to college. Nowadays, she wanted time off for things like baking lessons, and dates.

Harrison had outdone himself for their first off-the-farm date, bringing her to the nicest restaurant in town, making her laugh and smile, and even ordering one of each dessert when he saw her intently studying the dessert menu.

They’d been out twice more for simpler meals and bundled up walks around town.

He’d been right, of course. They didn’t feel like early dates because the two of them already knew each other so well. And Mal, who had gone on a few nerve-racking dates in the past, found herself looking forward to time spent with Harrison as the most relaxing part of her day.

The only night they hadn’t seen each other was when the snow came down so hard and fast that most of the shops in town had closed and the reporter on the radio cautioned folks not to leave the house.

One afternoon at the bakery, her friends had both stopped by for a bit, even though it was a busy time for everyone.

“It feels like we’ve been together forever,” she’d whispered furtively to Ana while Valerie grabbed herself a muffin.

Ana had nodded, her eyes twinkling like she knew from experience.

“What’s going on with you?” Mal whispered to her friend.

But Ana had only pressed her lips together and shook her head, looking like she had a doozy of a secret.

“I can’t wait for New Year’s,” Mal said, laughing.

“Don’t be silly,” Valerie said with a smile, returning to the table. “Let’s talk about our work and our families and what we’re reading. Let’s celebrate us.”

They all raised their mugs to that, and Mal felt like the luckiest woman in the world to have such good friends, women who reminded her that she was enough all on her own.

But Mal still suspected that both of her friends would have a lot to share when it was time to talk about romance again.

And that would come soon enough. But for now, it was Christmas, and Mal hadn’t been this excited since she was a kid.

She practically jumped out of bed, then showered and dressed in her favorite jeans and a pretty Christmas sweater. Harrison and Katie were planning to come by for her at some point this morning so that they could all go over to her dad’s house together.

She headed down to the bakery to make herself a nice coffee and spotted Harrison and Katie crossing the street.

“Merry Christmas,” Mal said, throwing open the bakery door.

Katie’s serious face broke into a happy smile, and Mal knew she would never get tired of seeing that small miracle.

“Merry Christmas,” Katie said, hugging Mal around the waist. “Are we going to see your dad now?”

“Once we get some treats put together,” Mal told her, giving her a hug back and a quick peck on the top of her head. “And after we’ve dropped off some at the Heroes Center and Carla’s Place, of course.”

“Hey,” Harrison said, his deep voice sending a happy tingle through her. “Merry Christmas.”

She glanced up at him, feeling her cheeks heat. Even though they had been spending just about every free moment together, she just couldn’t seem to get used to his company.

“What treats are we bringing?” Katie asked excitedly.

“Let’s go see,” Mal told her.

Half an hour later, they arrived at the house on the corner of Oberlin and Lafayette, carrying a bag of presents and a box of treats.

The vets had been happy to see them and the few folks at Carla’s Place even more so. Mal always worried about anyone who didn’t have family to spend holidays with, but there had been plenty of friendly faces in both places and lots of smiles and happy greetings.

Katie ran up to knock at the front door before Mal and Harrison could join her.

“She loves him,” Harrison said with a smile.