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No, and I have no plans on doing so, please stop.
The best moments in life aren’t planned. Keep that in mind. Have to go, love you.
I wasn’t surprised. My sister and I were night and day. She was the reason my parents put so much pressure on me. Summer Manchester did what she wanted, when she wanted. After she dropped out of law school to pursue a career in freelance photography, of which she had no skill or training, my parents went on a rampage. they quickly got over it then placed all of their hopes, dreams, and aspirations for having at least one successful daughter on my shoulders.
So of course Summer thought nothing of me having a fling with a cowboy. It was exactly what she would do. I had a good mind to consider it because my sister was happy while I was stressed. Wound so tightly from self-imposed anxieties that I couldn’t sleep most days. Before I landed in Miller’s Point it was progressively worse as I tried to decide how to tell my parents I too was going to be a disappointment.
Exhaling a sigh, I was about to go to see what the plans were for dinner when a call came through.
Melvina.
“Hello?”
“Hey there, Shore.”
“Hi, how are you?”
“Fairing pretty well. Thought I’d check in to see how your first day on the ranch was?”
“Good actually.” I smiled genuinely. The dayhadbeen perfect. “I helped feed the horses, did turn out, and cleaned the stalls. Tomorrow we’re going for a ride. We were gonna do it today, but Wilde ended up having to help the guys because they had some last minute add-ons.”
“I’m gonna thump that boy on the ears. You’re not supposed to be working the ranch. You’re supposed to be relaxing, enjoying the Christmas week. I thought I made that clear to Wilde.”
I smiled, imagining how she was going to thump him on the ears. I had never met Melvina a day in my life but could picture her doing so and Wilde suffering through it because he loved and respected her too much to object or argue.
“You made it very clear because he was adamant about me not helping out, but I was adamant about getting the full ranch experience. No ear thumping will be necessary. I insisted and he fought me, arguing his point and yours, but somebody raised him right because he decided it was best to let me have my way in the end.”
“That would be his mama, Adel. She raised those boys to be well-mannered, respectful, and chivalrous. Glad to know it all stuck. Now their daddy, Archer, raised them to be hard workers, protectors, and smart asses but I guess everything balances.”
I grinned and nodded. “I suppose it does.”
“And what about everything else? You two do any of the Christmas stuff yet?”
I frowned a bit. I hadn’t really given a second thought to this being the week of Christmas. Not since I’d been out here on the ranch. There were no decorations at all, not even a tree, which I kinda missed. I wasn’t thrilled about not going home for Christmas but avoiding my parents’ scrutiny was a better option. That didn’t mean I wanted to be a Scrooge. I loved Christmas a lot and felt a tad bit sad about not having the slightest resemblance of holiday cheer around here.
“Well no but I’m not expecting to. He graciously…”
“Don’t you dare. If you were here at the B&B you would have a tree and daily Christmas activities. At the very least he can get you a tree and if you get ta itching for the Christmas experience, you have him bring you here to the B&B. We might not have a room but you’re more than welcome to join in the festivities. We’re decorating gingerbread cookies tonight and having cocoa by the firepit.”
“Thank you so much but I don’t want to be a bother. He has a lot to do around here and driving me into town…”
“He’ll make it work. I’m gonna call Wilde to make sure he gets you a tree. Adel has plenty of decorations. Haven’t been pulled out in years but I know they’re around there. I helped her pack them up a few years ago right before they moved to Texas. Everything you need is somewhere in the house. Christmas just isn’t Christmas without a tree. You sit tight, honey. I’m gonna call Wilde, right now.”
“Wait, no?—”
She was gone. The line went silent and I exhaled a sigh. As much as I wouldn’t mind having a tree, the last thing I wanted was to force Wilde to get one or be the reason why Melvina forced him to get one.
I lifted from the bed, feeling the ache in my muscles again as I extended to my full height. The hot shower I had after Wilde left to go help his guys had worked some but I had a feeling this soreness was going to get worse. And my damn feet hurt like hell. New boots all day on a ranch was just plain stupid but I survived.
As soon as I reached the living room, the front door flew open and Wilde walked in removing his hat and jacket, which he hung on the stand near the door. He stood clutching a cellphone to his ear, nodding as he listened and I knew it was Melvina on the line from the tightness of his expression.
I walked to him, stopping a few feet away and he lifted his face, brows tight and expression pulsing with irritation.
Oh shit. She was demanding that he get me a tree.
“No ma’am. I do. Yes ma’am. No, I wouldn’t want that. If that’s what she needs. Yes ma’am, I will. No ma’am, I won’t. I give you my word. Yes ma’am. Alright, I have to go, Ms. Mel. Okay, will do.”
The second he ended the call, his eyes flashed with amusement. “I guess we’re going to Beauden’s tree farm tomorrow then.”
