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“Then get that mess cleaned up. Are the cinnamon rolls ready?”
“Everything it done as soon as Sawyer makes the hot chocolate.”
Jake went to the stove and looked at the pot of hot milk. “I’ll take over the hot cocoa. You clean up your mess, Sawyer.”
“Yes, sir.” He grabbed some paper towels and soaked up the milk on the floor.
Jake spooned hot cocoa into the cups on the counter. “We’ll wait to pour this until Genny and Lucy get here.”
Sage looked at him. “Lucy’s coming?”
“Yes.”
She smiled. “How cute.”
“Don’t say that to your granddad.”
“I’d never.” She nodded at Ember when she came into the room.
“Is it safe to come in?”
Jake smiled. “Yes. Just a little misunderstanding.”
Genny and Lucy arrived a few minutes later and everyone sat at the table.
Jake picked up the bottle of Irish Whiskey and poured a shot into his cup, then passed it on to Jacob. When everyone who wanted to spike their cocoa did, Jake raised his cup.
“To Christmas tree day. May we find the perfect trees.”
Genny nodded. “We always do. In fact, every year they get better and better.”
They all took a drink of cocoa. Ember, who had added a half-shot to hers, sucked in a breath. “Oh my. That’s good.”
“It’ll keep you warm for the first few miles.”
After breakfast, they all went to the barn. A couple of the ranch hands had saddled up the eight horses. Jake hovered near Jacob as he mounted his horse, just in case. But Jacob was able to get up without assistance.
He looked down at Jake. “Worry about getting your own ass in the saddle.”
“Yes, sir.”
Even though Lucy was only a year or so younger than Jacob, she’d been riding all her life, and she also had no trouble mounting her horse. Once everyone had saddled up, they headed across the field toward a hillside covered in pine trees. They reached the base of it after thirty minutes, then began ascending it along a pathwandering through the trees. It was narrow and they rode it single file, with Jake in the lead and J.T. bringing up the rear.
When they’d gone about halfway up the hill, Jake stopped and dismounted. “Okay. This looks like a good place to start. Team up and let’s find us some Christmas trees.”
Jake and Ember went one direction with Jacob, Lucy, and Genny going another. And J.T., Sage, and Sawyer going a third. Each group had a small saw with them.
Jake took Ember’s hand. “Are you warm enough?”
“I was starting to get a little cold. But this walking will warm me right up.”
He stopped and pulled her in for a hug. “Let me jump start that.” He kissed her.
“Hmm. I’m warmer already.”
“Okay. Enough of that. Let’s find you a tree.”
It took about twenty minutes, but they found the perfect tree for Ember’s living room. Jake sawed it down and then dragged it back to the horses. Jacob, Lucy, and Genny showed up next with two trees. The women were dragging them, and Jacob was scowling.
