Christmas at Hope Ranch Read online

  Table of Contents

  Excerpt

  Praise for Loretta C. Rogers and…

  Christmas at Hope Ranch

  Copyright

  Other books by Loretta C. Rogers

  Quote

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Epilogue

  Aunt Nell’s Gingerbread

  Rum Whipped Cream

  German Glühwein

  If you enjoyed this book you may want to read Loretta C. Rogers’ book WHEN COMES FOREVER…

  A word about the author…

  Thank you for purchasing

  Also available from The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

  Her head was spinning. This was not a sensation she enjoyed. “My heart was ripped to shreds by Rowan… He mangled my soul and then had the audacity to laugh. So you’ll forgive me if I’ve closed the door on my trust department. I won’t be your latest fling.”

  He snarled. “My latest… What the hell are you talking about?”

  “Oh, don’t play coy, Wade. The other night, when you kissed me, you called me Gracie. She must be some deep, dark secret. Even Nell wouldn’t talk about her when I asked.”

  When he didn’t answer, Addison arched a brow. “Whoever she is, I won’t compete with her, and I won’t let you use me to hurt her.” Her heart was knocking against her ribs.

  Casually he lifted her hand and turned it to kiss the palm. “It’s not what you think, Addison.”

  She harrumphed. “No, it never is.”

  The radio in his cruiser crackled. A voice said, “Sheriff, everything a 10-17?”

  “Shit.” Wade hissed between his teeth as he opened the car door and leaned in to grab the radio’s mic. “Freddie it’s a 10-4. I’ll be in shortly.”

  Overhead, the sky was brooding and turgid with snow clouds pushed by the wind. Addison hugged the cloak closer as chills raced up and down her spine. Her teeth threatened to chatter.

  He stepped forward, and she stepped back. The lines that bracketed his mouth might have been carved with a knife. “Things are a bit hectic, especially with Friday being Freddie’s last day. I’ll be in touch.”

  Praise for Loretta C. Rogers and…

  MURDER IN THE MIST: “Lots of suspense, great characters, and some romance tossed in for good measure.”

  ~Coffee Time Romance

  BANNON’S BRIDES: “I was so taken with the story and characters I read this book in one day.”

  ~Reading for the Love of Books

  THE WITCHING MOON: “Part paranormal, part western, and part suspense romance. 100 percent enjoyable.”

  ~A Reader

  SHADOWED REUNION: “Action packed with a riveting blend of romance and suspense.”

  ~Book Lover

  WHEN COMES FOREVER: “A visual and engaging Historical with romance and suspense.”

  ~Netgalley

  MURDER IN THE MIST: “Fast paced suspense is a nail biter!!”

  ~Audible Audio

  LADY ADEL’S CAPTAIN: “Fast paced and filled with passion, a bit of mystery, a soldier’s sacrifice, and lots of love.”

  ~My Book Addiction and More

  FORBIDDEN SON: “This book is a keeper.”

  ~Night Owl Reviews

  Christmas

  at Hope Ranch

  by

  Loretta C. Rogers

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

  Christmas at Hope Ranch

  COPYRIGHT © 2020 by Loretta C. Rogers

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or The Wild Rose Press, Inc. except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

  Contact Information: [email protected]

  Cover Art by The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

  The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

  PO Box 708

  Adams Basin, NY 14410-0708

  Visit us at www.thewildrosepress.com

  Publishing History

  First Champagne Rose Edition, 2020

  Trade Paperback ISBN 978-1-5092-3187-4

  Digital ISBN 978-1-5092-3188-1

  Published in the United States of America

  Other books by Loretta C. Rogers

  also available from The Wild Rose Press

  ISABELLE AND THE OUTLAW

  MCKENNA’S WOMAN

  BANNON'S BRIDES

  FORBIDDEN SON

  LADY ADEL’S CAPTAIN

  CLOUD WOMAN’S SPIRIT

  MURDER IN THE MIST

  SHADOWED REUNION

  TAMING THE LYON

  FATE COMES SOFTLY

  WHEN COMES FOREVER

  BITTER AUTUMN

  “It’s not what’s under the Christmas tree

  that matters.

  It’s who is gathered around it.”

  ~Anonymous

  Chapter One

  Sheriff Wade Grey scanned the baggage carousel area and spotted her. Addison James’s gold bracelets glinted in the light as she raised her hand to brush a wayward strand of platinum blonde hair. The color of her hair accentuated the large bandage above her left eye. She wore a leather-trimmed cape that covered a navy blue pants suit, and high heels definitely not suitable for snow.

  She stood watching the carousel making its revolutions. He groped the corners of his mind trying to remember if he’d known her when they were kids. A woman of her beauty wouldn’t be someone he’d easily forget. Except for the pictures in the scrapbook Nellie Hopewell had recently shown him, and the few times he’d seen Addison on talk shows, he didn’t remember ever knowing her.

  The way she tapped her foot clued him that she probably wasn’t a patient person. Her internet profile had stated she was thirty-two. She looked younger. She also looked frazzled and like someone who never slowed down.

  What he did know was that she’d been one of Nell’s kids, and that’s all he knew. Aunt Nell wasn’t much on divulging information about the children she had fostered. He’d read about all the toes Ms. James had stepped on to become a successful model. His lawman curiosity made him question why a woman of her caliber would return to an out-of-the-way ranch in an out-of-the-way small Idaho town. Maybe she was hiding. If so, from whom or from what?

  The whirring vibration of his cell phone interrupted his mental meandering. Frowning, he read the text from his deputy: twins arrived safe at Nell’s. The frown changed to an inward smile as he replied with a thumbs-up emoji. Uncertain of how Ms. James might react, he decided to keep
the information about Nell’s two unexpected guests to himself, for now.

  ****

  If disaster happens in threes, then surely my life can’t get any worse. This thought rattled around inside Addison James’s head as she struggled to retrieve her large suitcase from the airport’s luggage carousel.

  “Here, let me help you.” A hand reached out to grasp the oversized piece of luggage.

  “Thank you…ah,” Addison’s gaze went straight to the gold badge pinned to the brown canvas jacket. “Sheriff…”

  “Wade Grey. I was told to look for a beautiful woman with a broken arm. I’m hoping you’re Addison James?”

  She felt him studying her face and hoped he wouldn’t notice the smudges that looked like dark bruises under her eyes and the pallor beneath the carefully applied blush on her cheeks.

  Addison’s shoulders squared and her chin lifted. She cradled the sling that held her throbbing arm. “I thought Nell was going to meet me.”

  “Too much snow on the roads and too far to drive.” He shifted his eyes toward the revolving conveyor. “This your only suitcase?”

  Addison pointed to three other large pieces of maroon-colored leather.

  Wade rolled his eyes when she declared she was traveling light. He collected the bags and set them on the rolling cart. “Would you like a cup of coffee, food, or to use the facilities before we leave? Meadow Creek is about an hour’s drive.”

  “No, I’m good.” She followed him through the airport and out the double electronic doors. A blast of frigid air tugged at her navy blue cashmere cape. Fingers of cold air nipped at her flesh. She shivered and pulled the wrap closer.

  “I hope you brought a warmer jacket. It gets pretty cold around Christmas time.” Wade lifted the luggage to the bed of his sleek black vintage Ford pickup truck.

  Her voice sharper than she’d intended, Addison said with a gasp, “That’s real Italian leather. It’s not meant to be in the weather.” She lifted the sling. “And in case you haven’t noticed, fitting a cast through a sleeve is next to impossible.” She grabbed the door handle and yanked.

  Addison stepped on the truck’s running board. With her right arm incapacitated and nothing to grab hold on to with her left, she found herself in the awkward position of not being able to get inside the cab. She stepped back to the ground. “Well, don’t just stand there. Do something.”

  She wasn’t sure why the blush creeping up the handsome sheriff’s neck gave her a morbid sense of satisfaction. Her list of disgruntlements was increasing.

  Before she realized what he was doing, Wade put his hands around her waist and lifted. “Sorry, I didn’t realize…well, I don’t generally use the department’s cruiser for personal business.”

  His warm palms jolted her. She swore to herself. He was looking at her too closely. His gray eyes were as gray as his name. She should have felt complimented, but the circumstances of her recent breakup had left her feeling cynical. Nonetheless, she settled in the seat and offered a conciliatory smile. “My bad. I shouldn’t have snapped.”

  He reached across Addison and secured the seatbelt in place. “Don’t worry about your luggage. I’ll cover it with a tarp.” He shut the door, then leaned over the side of the truck to grab a silver tarpaulin lying in the bed of the truck. He unfolded the canvas and spread it over the expensive luggage like a neat package, careful to tuck the edges underneath each piece before he secured the heap with bungee cords.

  Once inside the truck, Wade turned on the heater. “You’ll be warm as toast in a few minutes.” He also turned on the radio. “Jingle Bells” filled the interior.

  “Do you mind?” She spoke through clenched teeth. “I’m not in the mood for Christmas gushiness.”

  Wade stopped at the Exit Airport sign and checked both ways before pulling onto the highway. He looked into her eyes again. “Are you always so testy, Ms. James?”

  She expelled a loud sigh. “Perhaps I should have taken you up on the coffee offer. I haven’t had my usual dose of caffeine today.” She hugged her arm close. “It’s just that Christmas carols don’t exactly evoke the usual warm and fuzzy feelings for me that they do for others.”

  His eyes crinkled at the edges when he offered a baffled smile. “Really? What about Christmas parades, trimming the tree, gifts wrapped in pretty paper, and—let’s not forget—Santa Claus?”

  Addison shrugged. “Overly commercialized, all overrated, and as for presents…” She drew a deep breath and reminded herself that she was here to get away from all the recent upsets in her life and to forget about her fiancé. Ex-fiancé! But here she was, after fifteen years, returning to the place she had loathed as a teenager. Small town USA. The only secure place she had known and the only person who had taken care of her without asking for anything in return.

  “Perhaps I’ve made a mistake in returning to Meadow Creek. If you’ll drop me at the local hotel, tomorrow I’ll—ˮ

  Wade interrupted her. He flashed a frown. “No, ma’am. I won’t disappoint Nell by leaving you in town. You’re all she’s talked about for days. When we get to the ranch, if you don’t want to stay, you tell her.”

  Surprised by the harshness of his response, Addison blinked, noting the lines of irritation etched across his forehead. “Okay, I’ll stay the night.”

  Warmth from the heater settled around her, and Addison relaxed. Her thoughts turned to Ruby Raye. She had invited her best friend to join her at the ranch, more for moral support than company, and was disappointed when Ruby had gracefully declined, stating she planned to spend Christmas in South Carolina getting to know her fiancé’s family. Addison felt no warmth for the spirit of the season. Instead she was cold inside, as cold as the snow banked on both sides of the highway and as empty as the plains ahead of her.

  Her phone vibrated. She lifted it from the outer pocket of her purse, then smiled at the simple text from Ruby: Give Aunt Nell a hug. Relax and enjoy life. And she’d added, Merry Christmas! Don’t be a Grinch!!

  Wade’s voice startled her. “Better get all your business taken care of before we get to the ranch. There’s limited cell phone reception and no internet.”

  Addison lifted her eyebrows. “No internet! You mean Nell is still living in the dark ages?”

  He laughed. “Not in Nell’s mind. She doesn’t own a computer, says they are the ruination of the world. Although she won’t admit it, she enjoys the television Emmett gave her on her birthday. Oh, and just so you know, there’s no cable, so she’s limited to one, maybe two channels at the most.”

  “Emmett Oxbow? He must be ancient by now.”

  Wade harrumphed. “Well, you know, seventy is the new fifty, or so they tell me. At any rate, Emmett’s a good man. Solid as they come and can work circles around most of us.”

  Addison groaned at her own remembrance. “How long have you known Nell?”

  He looked as if he were doing a quick calculation inside his head, but he responded, “Long enough.”

  Addison touched the bandage. She didn’t know which ached the most—her arm, the laceration above her eye, or the emptiness in her heart.

  Wade offered a sympathetic smile. “The accident was on a few news channels. I’m sorry you were hurt. From the size of the dressing, that must be some gash.”

  “A scarred face is a career buster in my business.” Her voice came out more harsh than she’d intended. “Fifty-six stitches, in case you’re wondering.”

  She’d let sensitivity and pride rule her emotions, again.

  He nodded and concentrated on the road ahead.

  She shivered.

  “Are you cold?” Wade reached toward the heater.

  “No. Just anticipation, I guess.”

  He glanced at her. “Want to talk about it?”

  She bristled. “Is this a subtle way of interrogating me?”

  His jaw tightened. He noted the misery in her eyes. His cop intuition told him she was hurting—emotionally. “Sorry. I wasn’t trying to pry.” His voice soften
ed. “Is your arm hurting?”

  Addison shrugged, looking out the window. “Some. It’s bearable.”

  Wade kept his eyes on the road. Minutes later he huffed out a lungful of air. “My sister is a doctor. Her office is in Meadow Creek. I’ll point it out when we get to town.”

  “A country doctor. How quaint.” Addison let out a ragged breath. Her voice was apologetic. “I’m sorry. That didn’t come out right. I’m sure your sister is a fine doctor.”

  He stared at her for a long moment. “Forget it.”

  There was nothing in the blandness of his face to indicate he was angry, but the expression in his eyes spoke otherwise.

  The conversation played out. Wade once again increased the volume of the radio. Addison turned her head and gazed out at the lovely countryside. As twilight descended, the rest of the drive took place in silence except for the Christmas music.

  Addison sat quiet and stern, still cradling the sling, trying to ignore the throbbing in her arm. After her recent disasters, she needed a place to escape, a place to rethink her life, and her future.

  Wade’s voice interrupted her pensiveness. “Another twenty minutes and we’ll be at Nell’s.”

  When he spoke, Addison realized she had lapsed into a mental abyss, allowing time and scenery to wing past. She looked up just as they drove under the quaint town’s archway that welcomed visitors. Tears welled in her eyes and her throat tightened, just for a moment, though for the life of her she couldn’t explain either phenomenon. There was no room in her life for tears. She stared out at the festive decorations lining both sides of the street and at shoppers bundled in scarves and jackets, some laden with packages, bustling down the sidewalk to the next store.

  At the town’s center, Wade slowed to maneuver the roundabout that circled the courthouse. Several people called out a greeting and waved. He rolled down the window, allowing a blast of frigid air to collide with the heat inside the truck, and acknowledged each person by name.

  Addison shivered under her light wrap; while pretty and expensive, it didn’t exactly warm her. The town reminded her of a postcard, leaving her feeling as if she’d stepped into a time warp. The traditional twenty-foot ornately decorated Christmas tree graced the front courtyard. Seasonal banners hung from the street lamps, and pots of bright red poinsettias lined the sidewalk. Cora’s Beauty Shop, Flowers by Flo, BB’s Café—all looked the same as they had the day she boarded the Boise State Transit bus and left Meadow Creek, never to look back.