Christmas with the Cowboy by Tina Radcliffe

Author:Tina Radcliffe
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2018-07-05T15:28:31+00:00

Chapter Eight

Zach tugged open the door to the chow hall against the brisk wind and stopped just inside, slightly stunned by the scene before him. The Big Heart Ranch staff and children filled the room for the Thanksgiving celebration. This gathering was bigger than the Christmas party of weeks before, no doubt because there was a surplus of children. All ages and sizes.

Delicious food aromas mingling with whispers of excitement drifted to him, confirming that today was special. A meal of thanks followed by the lights-on ceremony. Anticipation sizzled in the room as folks chatted, laughed and hugged each other. Though the room was packed, nobody seemed to care.

The only easy day was yesterday.

The words from his training days failed to dispel the strong desire to quietly step back and retreat out the door to safer ground. Alone. There was safety in alone.

He was trained for one-on-one, not this crowd. Zach surveyed the landscape and released a pained breath.

Before he had a chance to act on a primal urge to bail, his little niece Rachel slammed into him and wrapped her arms tightly around his kneecaps in a mini bear hug. “Unca Zach!”

His heartstrings were yanked at the simple words.

“Rachel!” he returned with a grin.

She giggled with delight at his animated response.

Reaching down, he scooped her up in his arms and moved his grocery store shopping sack to the other hand.

“Your mommy dresses you in holiday cheer, doesn’t she?” Zach asked Rachel as he straightened her little red sweater.

She nodded and tucked her head under his chin.

After four weeks, he no longer required the color-coding handicap. He could easily tell Rachel and Elizabeth apart. The soft inflections in their toddler voices, the mannerisms. Rachel lit up when she saw him and jumped into his arms without hesitation while Elizabeth stood back assessing before she committed.

“How’s my girl?” he asked.

“Hungy. I wanna eat.”

“Okay, let’s get my girl food.”

Across the room, Emma turned as though she sensed his presence. Elizabeth was in her arms in a matching purple sweater. Emma’s eyes widened and though Zach didn’t have a clue about women, when a slow sweet smile touched her lips it sure seemed like she was glad to see him.

Emma’s smile was lethal. It knocked his heart sideways every time. Like a magnet, he felt the irresistible pull and started across the room toward her.

Then Tripp Walker stepped in his way.

“Got a minute?” the taciturn horse manager asked in his slow, measured voice.

Though about fifty pounds lighter, Tripp was the only person at the ranch who, at six foot five, stood eye to eye with Zach. The horse whisperer, as everyone called him, stared with intensity.

“Sure, Tripp,” Zach replied, his gaze drifting back to Emma.

“I’d like to get you on board to train the boys for the Big Heart Rodeo competition.”

“The summer one?”

Tripp nodded.

“Isn’t that Travis’s territory?”

“Some. Mostly he’s too busy.” Tripp shook his head. “Things haven’t been the same since he went and fell in love.”

“Yeah, I’m washing my hands constantly, praying it isn’t contagious.

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