Wild West Christmas: A Family for the Rancher / Dance with a Cowboy / Christmas in Smoke River. Kathryn Albright
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to seek advice on supplies and spent the following two days obtaining what she lacked in the way of foodstuffs and made several adjustments in her wardrobe, leaving much behind at Mrs. Pellet’s and supplementing her existing attire with several necessities that were lacking.
She planned to set out on Wednesday, but the sleigh was too small, so Alice had to hire a wagon, which then had to be set on runners to carry her, the boys and her supplies out to the ranch house. She suffered the delay by making some arrangements with the bank to hold her valuables. Just after lunch on Thursday, they were finally on their way.
They set out under crystal-blue skies. Several inches of new white powder had fallen overnight and the world looked brilliant and the air snapped with freshness as they left town. The boys began the journey tucked beneath a blanket in the back, but were too excited to stay put, and to keep them from mischief she entertained them with Christmas carols, singing the ones they knew and teaching them some they did not. Even Mr. Gulliver, their driver, joined along, his voice a wobbly baritone that occasionally strayed from the tune.
The horses trotted along, adding the jingle of sleigh bells to the music, and it was no wonder that both Dillen and Mr. Roberts were waiting for them as they drew into the yard.
The boys tumbled out first, and Dillen came forward to offer her a hand.
“No furs?” he asked.
She bounced down before him. Alice had exchanged her furs for a woolen shawl and wore a simple woolen bodice and skirts with no hoops or bustle whatsoever. Her jewelry remained behind in a bank safe. She felt lighter, freer, and she beamed her happiness at seeing Dillen again.
“We heard that you received a wire,” she said.
Dillen glanced in the wagon and then back to her. “That Tommy is going to get himself fired, yakking like a woman.”
“Perhaps so.”
Roberts limped forward, putting a hand on each of the children’s heads. “Boys, let’s get your gear unloaded.”
By midafternoon all her supplies and necessary possessions were stacked in the living room and Mr. Gulliver had left them. Dillen seemed glad to see her but somewhat reserved, rubbing his neck as he looked at the pile of gear. She feared she’d overwhelmed him again and shifted uncomfortably as she considered this latest misstep.
“I’ve got chores in the barn, getting those two horses trained, but I’ll be back in a bit to make you dinner.”
Make her dinner?
Mrs. Pellet was correct, Alice realized. He did not even think her capable of fixing a meal.
“What time will you be in?” she asked.
He glanced at the mantel clock, which read three in the afternoon.
“Around six, I think.”
“Would you like the boys’ help or would they be underfoot?”
Both Colin and Cody went totally still, and she could see them fairly vibrating with excitement and anticipation at the possibility of seeing the horses. They all knew Dillen’s reputation in town for being a fine horseman and were mad with desire to learn to ride.
Dillen hesitated and then glanced to Roberts, who nodded.
“They can come with me,” said Dillen. “Give you time to rest after the ride out here.”
Did he really think she would be going to her room for a nap? If he did, then he’d be wildly disappointed. Alice had used her time with Mrs. Pellet to good effect, recording some simpler recipes. But she still wasn’t sure how to prove she had desires like any other woman.
Alice threw back the shawl that had covered her head.
Dillen frowned as he studied her. “You look different.”
She smiled, wondering if it was the simpler chignon that he noticed, or her lack of jewelry. “Do I? I feel different. Perhaps it is the mountain air. It seems to agree with me.”
Dillen’s brow remained wrinkled as he nodded, and then shepherded the boys toward the front door.
“You rest now,” Dillen said.
She smiled as they headed out in the direction of the barn. The moment the latch clicked shut, she broke into a frenzy of motion, unpacking the boxes and setting up her kitchen before launching into meal preparation. Something quick, delicious and memorable. Something that would make Dillen Roach reconsider his opinion of Miss Alice Pinter Truett.
Dillen took the boys to the barn, wondering with each step if he’d just made the worst mistake of his life. He’d asked Mr. Harvey if his nephews could stay until after he got these horses trained and delivered. Even mentioned Alice and her willingness to help out until the holiday. He’d never expected his boss to say, Sure! Move the woman and kids into my personal residence. But Harvey had said yes and now Dillen was just stuck.
He had horses to train, a ranch to run, two boys underfoot and the temptation of Alice so close that he swore he could smell her perfume clear out here in the open. Dillen leaned forward and sniffed Colin’s collar, finding Alice’s scent. Had the boy spent some of the ride nestled up against Alice’s body? Dillen scowled.
“What?” asked Colin.
“Nothin’,” said Dillen.
At least he had one other option. Mr. Gulliver had delivered more than the boys, Alice and her gear today. He’d also delivered a reply to his wire.
Great-aunt Ethel had agreed to take his boys. But with Alice staying until Christmas, he could put off that decision until the holiday. He shoved the folded paper deep into his coat pocket. This was what he wanted, wasn’t it? What was best for the boys. They why did he feel so blue?
“Uncle Dillen?” said Cody.
Dillen forced a smile and rubbed his gloved hands together in anticipation.
“You two know anything about horses?”
His question met with silence.
“Riding?”
Cody’s eyes shifted and he looked uncomfortable. “I want to learn to ride.”
“That so?” Dillen scratched his head. He’d have to get in a training session with the twin ponies and then saddle up Dasher. If he didn’t have to cook dinner, too, he might manage. Steak and eggs, he decided. Fast and filling. “Follow me, boys.”
Once inside the barn, his nephews were surprisingly quiet and stayed out of the way as he led the two ponies from their stalls.
Dillen talked as he worked, showing the boys how to brush them and saddle them, pointing out the parts of the horse, describing the care of the horses’ hooves as he cleaned and inspected each leg.
The boys sat on the fence rail as he worked the two ponies round and round in the ring on lunge lines. Though the ring was snow covered, Dillen had added sand to the outer perimeter, and the ponies trotted, walked and turned on command. They did so well that he tried them with no line for the first time, using only the long whip to tap them when needed. As it happened, he didn’t need it as the pair already knew the verbal signals and could walk, stop, trot and turn on command.
When they returned to the barn, Dillen only had to remind the boys once to stay clear of the ponies’ hindquarters. He didn’t let them curry or brush the ponies. Just didn’t trust the green horses around his nephews. But when he brought out Dasher, he let the boys pet him and showed them how to feed a horse a sugar cube without losing a digit. Both Colin and Cody were brave, taking to Dasher like trout to a brook. Cody even managed to lift Dasher’s saddle, though Dillen couldn’t believe his eyes. The two boys seemed eager to please. It twisted Dillen’s heart.
There was so much of his sister in them. They had manners, smarts,