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“When we were just little kids, Dad made Mama some ornaments out of wood. Three boys romping around in a house can be rough on things that break,” Lucas answered.
Every single time, without fail, that Vada reached for another stretch of lights, her hand brushed against this, and her touch jacked up his pulse a notch or two. His mama always said that whatever you do on New Year’s Day would be what you did all year. With that in mind, he hoped he could convince Vada to stay on the ranch until after that day. Then there would be the possibility that the three of them would be together for the whole year—if his mama’s superstition was right.
When the lights were finally on the tree, Lucas opened another box and brought out a long rope with bandanas tied to it about every six inches. “This is the garland that mama used when we were kids.”
“A cowboy Christmas tree!” Theron whispered.
“Yep, complete with one of my dad’s old hats to put on the top instead of an angel or a star,” Lucas told him.
“Can we make the one in the barn just like this?” Theron’s eyes were as big as silver dollars.
“We can, but we’ve only got one hat,” Lucas said.
“Why don’t you guys use the hat for the barn tree and let me create a topper with whatever I can find?” Vada suggested.
Theron looked so happy that Lucas was glad Vada had come up with the idea. He planned to go into town the next day and buy Theron boots and a hat as near to the ones he wore as he could find. Maybe he would need a work coat, too, to go with his gloves.
“What are you thinking about?” Vada asked.
“Christmas presents,” he answered. “What do you want?”
“I’ve got everything right here that I could possibly want,” she replied.
Lucas raised an eyebrow. “Oh, really.”
She raised her head and looked him right in the eyes. “Yes, Lucas Ryan, I really do.”
She blinked, picked up the rope garland and began to drape it around the tree, and then started hanging ornaments—small wooden boots, steer horns, bird houses, angel wings, and more than a dozen other shapes. Theron stood to the side and told her where each piece should go, and when she was finished, he crossed his arms over his chest and walked around three sides of the tree.
“This is a good tree,” he declared. “I like it better than the ones I saw on the Internet when I researched how to decorate one.”
“That’s great,” Lucas said with a grin. “You ready to go set up the barn tree?”
“Yes, I am.” Theron headed across the room to the sofa where he’d tossed his coat.
“I’m buying him boots and a hat,” Lucas whispered to Vada. “Want me to pick up a work coat like mine?”
“You don’t have to do that,” Vada argued.
“Nope, I don’t, but I want to,” Lucas said. “He’s made such good progress, and he’s a wonderful kid. A little too smart. Sometimes when he’s done his ‘research,’” he air-quoted the words, “he tells me things that are even above my head, but I love spending time with him.”
“Then, yes, I’d like for him to have a work coat,” Vada said with a nod.
The whole room lit up brighter than the Christmas tree when she smiled up at him. He wanted so badly to take her in his arms and kiss her, but there was no way when Theron was right there staring at them.
A knock on the door startled all three of them.
Theron stood perfectly still and locked eyes with his mother. Lucas hurried to open the door and let Pearl into the bunkhouse.
“Come on in, Mama,” he said. “Is something wrong?”
“No, I wanted to see your tree,” she answered. “It’s just like I remembered it. I’m so glad you could use all those ornaments. And I wanted to ask Theron if it would be all right if Sonny and I watch him decorate the one in the barn. You can say no and we won’t be offended, but Sonny wanted to get out a little while this evening. If that big winter storm hits us, he’ll be in the house for a while.”
“Yes, you may,” Theron said. “I liked your cookies, Granny Pearl.”
“I’m so glad,” Pearl said. “When you eat all of what I sent, you come on down to my house and I’ll give you some more. Poppa and I will go on down to the barn and be ready when you get there,” Pearl said with a smile and closed the door behind her as she left.
“Are you coming, Mama?” Theron asked.
