Home for the holidays

A second chance at love on Big Heart Ranch

Former navy SEAL Zach Norman has been avoiding his ranching roots—and the woman he couldn’t have. Back to visit his brother’s widow, Emma Maxwell Norman, and her adorable toddler twins, the bah-humbug cowboy is roped into helping prepare the ranch for the holidays. Working side by side, can Emma and Zach overcome their troubled past…and receive the greatest Christmas gift of all—love?

TINA RADCLIFFE has been dreaming and scribbling for years. Originally from Western New York, she left home for a tour of duty with the Army Security Agency stationed in Augsburg, Germany, and ended up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her past careers include certified oncology RN and library cataloger. She recently moved from Denver, Colorado, to the Phoenix, Arizona, area, where she writes heartwarming and fun inspirational romance.

Also By Tina Radcliffe

Big Heart Ranch

Claiming Her Cowboy

Falling for the Cowgirl

Christmas with the Cowboy

The Rancher’s Reunion

Oklahoma Reunion

Mending the Doctor’s Heart

Stranded with the Rancher

Safe in the Fireman’s Arms

Rocky Mountain Reunion

Rocky Mountain Cowboy

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

Christmas with the Cowboy

Tina Radcliffe

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-08621-9

CHRISTMAS WITH THE COWBOY

© 2018 Tina M. Radcliffe

Published in Great Britain 2018

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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www.millsandboon.co.uk

“How could you leave all this?”

Emma wiped her face again. Despite her disheveled appearance, there was a wide grin on her face.

“I know you don’t understand, but it wasn’t easy. Toughest decision of my life.”

Their gazes connected and Zach swallowed hard.

“Then why did you?” she asked softly. “We’d been friends since I was seven years old, and suddenly you left without a backward glance.”

He kept his mouth shut, unwilling to open that particular can of worms here and now.

“I guess there’s no point asking why you’ve stayed away for three years, either,” she continued.

When another heifer released a loud, mournful wail, Zach turned his horse around. “Saved by the heifer.”

“You can run…” Emma murmured. “But it seems to me that you and I have a lot to talk about.”

Yeah, she was right; eventually he and Emma were going to have to talk.

Why was it that although he’d never given a second thought to heading into danger as a navy SEAL, the thought of going toe-to-toe with his brother’s widow terrified him?

Dear Reader,

I’m so delighted to return to Big Heart Ranch in Timber, Oklahoma. What a treat it was to weave a story of faith and love at the most wondrous time of the year, Christmas. A time when we celebrate the birth of our Lord.

This third installment introduces you to the third and youngest Maxwell, Emma Maxwell Norman. Along with her siblings, Lucy and Travis, Emma manages Big Heart Ranch for orphaned, abused and neglected children, where unconditional love and the good Lord reign. Widowed Emma carries the additional challenge of being a single mother to twin daughters.

A former navy SEAL with a troubled past, Zach Norman returns to Timber and lands right in Emma’s path. He’s the only man who can possibly win the heart of the fiercely independent whirlwind of a cowgirl. Zach and Emma must learn to trust and set aside their fears in order to find their happy ending. And isn’t that the way it always works? We must let go of the past to grab the future the Lord has for us.

I hope you enjoy this romantic and inspirational holiday tale. Do drop me a note and let me know your thoughts. I can be reached through my website, www.tinaradcliffe.com, where you can also find Emma’s chocolate muffin recipe.

Sincerely,

Tina Radcliffe

A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.

—Proverbs 16:9

Book three of the Big Heart Ranch series is dedicated to the Big Heart Ranch Wranglers. God gives us the story and readers bless us by reading that story.

A special thanks to wrangler Trixi Oberembt, who named Emma’s twins Rachel and Elizabeth, and wrangler Connie Saunders, who named the Big Heart Ranch Christmas celebration the Holiday Roundup.

A final bow to Rhonda Starnes for her helpful input, and to my deadline buddy on this book, SS.

I am blessed to have an amazing team that includes my agent, Jessica Alvarez, who is always on top of things, and the Love Inspired editors, including senior editor Melissa Endlich, who patiently mold me into the best writer I can be.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

Dear Reader

Bible Verse

Dedication

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

Epilogue

Extract

About the Publisher

Chapter One

“Woo-hoo! Go get ’em, cowboy!”

Emma Maxwell Norman pushed a stroller with her two-year-old twin daughters closer to the Big Heart Ranch main corral, where hoots and hollers of excitement filled the air.

“Excuse me,” she murmured while nudging her way past wall-to-wall people.

Western hats shaded faces against the glare of an early November Oklahoma sun, as the staff and kids of the children’s ranch crowded next to each other atop rungs of the rail wood fencing. Eager children had even settled on the shoulders of adults to view the action in the main ranch arena.

Roars of laughter went up at intervals and heads turned left, then right, following the activity.

“Hey there, Miss Emma,” Dutch Stevens said. The weathered cowboy tipped his hat and stroked his graying handlebar mustache. “Folks, let Miss Emma in.”

The group of male and female wranglers stepped aside.

Inside the stroller, Emma’s twins, Rachel and Elizabeth, barely stirred from their naps as another excited cheer went up. The toddlers had grown accustomed to life on the Timber, Oklahoma, children’s ranch and thankfully could sleep through most of the noise inherent to a ranch that was home to sixty children.

At the far end of the corral, Emma’s big brother, Travis, drove a small ATV in figure eights while pulling a dummy steer and kicking up a cloud of red dirt and sand. A rider straddling a chestnut gelding flew across the corral in an attempt to rope the steer.

There was no surprise at seeing her brother putting on a show, but who was the rider?

“What day is this?” Emma asked Dutch.

“Sunday, ma’am.”

“That’s what I thought.” She frowned. “I didn’t see an event on the schedule for today.”

“Naw, this wasn’t planned. Your brother and his friend are having some fun.”

“They certainly drew a crowd.”

“I’ll say. That big feller on the horse is mighty good. Knows how to rope and he’s faster than small-town gossip. He ought to go professional.”

Applause went up as the horse and rider moved to the right and his lasso caught the bright green mechanical animal below both horns.

Then he smoothly dismounted, pulled off his navy blue ball cap and took a bow, displaying short neatly trimmed brown hair. There was something hauntingly familiar about the cowboy in the denim jacket and Wranglers.

When he turned to face the south side of the corral, Emma’s head jerked back. For a moment, all she could do was stare.

Zach Norman was back.

A shiver ran through her, and she grabbed the weathered wooden rail for support.

Her brother-in-law. The last she heard, Zach was headquartered with his navy SEAL team in Coronado, California. Except for a brief visit after the twins were born, she hadn’t really spent any time with Zach since the death of her husband, Zach’s half brother, Steve, a little over three years ago.

“Miss Emma, you all right?” Dutch asked. “You’re looking mighty pale.”

Emma blinked and put a smile on her face. “Yes. I’m fine.”

As she turned back to the corral, her gaze met Zach’s. She knew the instant he saw her. His grin faded and the sparkle in his eyes was replaced by a shuttered expression.

Maybe it was the fact that they had different mothers, but Zach was nothing like his younger brother.

Both Steve and Zach were tall, with hair the color of toffee, though that was where any similarity between the brothers ended. Steve had clear blue guileless eyes. Zach’s eyes were silvery gray. When he simmered with emotion, they became the color of the sky before a storm.

While Steve had literally been the boy next door, easygoing and laid-back, Zach could only be described as complicated.

Big, capable and brooding, he could steal your breath with one sweeping gaze. Although she’d known Zach since the day she and her siblings were plucked from foster care, there were times when she felt like she didn’t know him at all.

When his gaze moved in her direction, it seemed he could see her soul. No one else could do that. Even now, as their eyes connected, she felt unable to look away. Emma swallowed and willed her pulse to slow down.

As he started across the corral, she noted a limp. Had he injured himself with his wild riding antics today?

Before she realized it, Zach stood in front of her.

“Emma,” he breathed.

At five foot four, Emma had to look up over a foot to meet his gaze. When she reached out for an embrace, Zach stood stiffly, arms at his sides.

“Welcome back,” she murmured, pained at the rebuff.

“Good to see you,” he said. “You’re looking well.”

“Thank you.” She focused on his denim-clad legs. “You’re limping.”

“My knee. No big deal.” He shrugged it off.

She frowned. It certainly didn’t appear to be “no big deal.”

“You let Travis talk you into the saddle when you have a bum knee?”

“That was my idea. Once I get up there, I’m fine. Riding isn’t a problem.” Zach’s mouth formed a musing half smile. “You know, I don’t think I’ve been in the saddle since...” He paused and met her gaze.

Emma instinctively knew what he was thinking. The two of them used to ride together when Zach stayed at his father’s ranch. Steve had no interest in horses, but she and Zach shared the same passion for riding. Things were simpler in those days.

He looked away, his attention landing on the double stroller.

“Whoa! They’ve grown. Those last pictures you sent don’t do them justice.” Zach half crouched down next to his nieces, his hand bracing his extended left knee. “Who is who?”

“Elizabeth has a tiny birthmark on her right arm and Rachel doesn’t. Other than that, they’re identical.”

“They look exactly like you,” he murmured. Awe laced his deep voice.

“Yes,” she said. The girls had her dark hair and brown eyes. “Except for their noses.” As if on cue, Elizabeth wriggled her snub nose in sleep. “That’s the Norman nose.”

Zach nodded and offered a genuine smile. “So sweet.”

“Sweet in slumber, yes.” She couldn’t help but chuckle. “And when awake, they’re an Oklahoma twister doubled.”

“Like me and Steve when I stayed with my dad in the summer.” Another almost smile touched his lips as he stood slowly, favoring his left leg.

“When did you arrive?” she asked when he faced her again.

“Just got in this morning. Travis invited me for the wedding.”

“The wedding was two weeks ago.” Emma’s glance went to where her older brother stood with his arm looped around his bride and assistant foreman, AJ Rowe Maxwell.

He shrugged. “I got hung up in red tape.”

“Red tape?”

“That’s right. Though, I suppose some might say that I’m trying to live up to my reputation as an absentee relative,” he murmured.

Emma would not respond to the dig. It was a reminder of their harsh exchange of words via email regarding his lack of involvement in his nieces’ lives.

“So you’re here to visit?” she asked instead.

“You sure ask a lot of questions.”

“Can you blame me? I’ve been trying to get you to the ranch for three years.”

He shrugged and offered an annoyed sigh. “I made it.”

“When are you due back?”

“I thought you were glad to see me.” His eyes narrowed a fraction. “Now it sounds like you’re trying to get rid of Uncle Zach.”

“That wasn’t what I meant.” Emma’s skin warmed under his scrutiny. Zach always managed to knock her off-kilter. She collected her thoughts. “I’m shocked, that’s all. In truth, you were the last person I expected to see in that corral.”

“Glad I could keep you on your toes.” He offered a thoughtful nod with no hint of a smile to be found. “And for the record,” he said, “the United States Navy and I have officially parted ways.”

Confused and stunned at his admission, Emma stood staring for a few seconds. “Your knee. Is that why you quit?”

“Separation, not quitting. It was time” was his flat response.

Time for what?

Aloud she simply said, “Okay.” Though, in truth, it wasn’t okay at all.

While Zach’s face remained expressionless, Emma’s gut said that something wasn’t right, and it involved his obvious injury. After all, this was the guy who ate, drank and slept navy for twelve years.

“What are you going to do next?”

“I’m tossing around a few options,” he returned.

Her eyes widened as she latched on to his response. “You have RangePro. That’s an option.”

In an instant, he tensed. Then he glanced around. “Really, Emma? You want to do this here? Now?”

“We’re only talking.”

He rubbed the dark shadow of a beard on his jaw. “Talking, huh? Feels more like an interrogation.”

“Don’t exaggerate.” She began to turn away, taking the stroller with her, when Zach’s hand caught her arm.

“Emma, RangePro is Steve’s company. Not mine.”

She eased from his touch. “Legally, you’re a partner. Fifty-fifty.”

Zach met her gaze. “I haven’t cashed a single check you’ve sent me. What part of ‘buy me out’ don’t you get?”

“Did you look at any of the paperwork I mailed you?”

“I’ve been all over the globe the last few years. I don’t have the time or desire to shuffle through paperwork about a company I don’t want anything to do with.”

She took a deep breath. “The terms of the will state we own together or we sell together.”

“Great. We sell. I’m sure the money will come in handy for you and your girls.”

“It’s not about the money. I am not selling what Steve worked so hard to build.”

“RangePro was Steve’s dream, and Steve is gone,” he returned, his voice sober.

Emma bit her lip as she glanced down at her daughters, but she said nothing.

“Come on, Em. I’m not interested in RangePro and you’ve got to be way too busy with the ranch and the twins to run a livestock software company.”

“If you’d give me a chance to show you—”

“Emma, it’s a desk job. No way am I riding the range behind a laptop.”

“That’s not necessarily true.”

“Not interested.” Zach raised both hands. “And not staying long enough to care.”

His eyes became steely and the set of his chin obstinate. The discussion was over. For now.

Frustrated, Emma turned away.

Three years after his brother’s death and Zach was back. Though the thought of him being around permanently unsettled her, Emma would do whatever it took to save the legacy of her children’s father. She knew what it was like to have your parents’ memory swept away as though they never existed. No, she refused to be the one to auction off Steve’s life work to the highest bidder, as though it meant nothing.

* * *

Zach tugged his leather gloves into place and adjusted the reins on the chestnut gelding. He had completely underestimated Emma. And her effect on him.

She was as beautiful as ever with dark tumbling hair that framed an oval face. If only he’d remembered not to look into her chocolate-brown eyes.

The moment he did, it was all over. He was lost. A teenager again, following her around like an overgrown Labrador retriever. The moment he realized that she had eyes only for Steve he’d respected her decision. Yet, that never stopped him from pining from afar like a sap. It wasn’t coincidence that he joined the navy soon after Steve and Emma called to announce their engagement.

Although it was a secret he kept hidden, the truth was that he had wasted too much of his life in love with Emma. He refused to allow this trip to dredge up feelings he had purposely tossed overboard years ago.

Her entreaty from this morning echoed in his head, making him feel like a jerk all over again.

He was here and Steve was gone. How was it his brother managed to shadow his life, even after death?

And why couldn’t she let it go? RangePro. Like he needed another guilt trip. The irony burned and had dogged him every single day since the car accident that claimed his half brother’s life.

The whys were doubling up on him.

Why was he still alive? Why had he made it out of Afghanistan and why hadn’t his best friend?

God hadn’t been forthcoming in the answer department of late.

Zach looked up at the jingle of tack and met Travis’s smiling face as his friend approached on a black mustang.

“How do you like Zeus?” Travis asked.

“A little headstrong. So we’re well matched.”

Travis laughed. “Our equine manager, Tripp Walker, is pretty intuitive. He paired you up with a horse that suits your disposition.”

“Quiet guy, that Tripp.”

“To say the least.”

“If you’re the boss around here, why are you working on a Sunday?” Zach asked.

“I could give you a dozen reasons.” He began to tick off on his fingers. “Getting married and going on a honeymoon put me behind on everything, for one. Then there’s fall calving season. Oh, and preparation for the Holiday Roundup. That’s gearing up here real quick, too.” Travis shook his head. “I start my days behind.”

“Holiday Roundup?” Zach asked.

“Christmas, pal. Huge around here.”

“Today is the fifth of November. Thanksgiving is two and a half weeks away and Christmas is a long way off.”

“Not when you’re planning Christmas for every child who has made their home at Big Heart Ranch. These are abused, neglected and abandoned children. Many don’t know what a real Christmas is. And I don’t mean gift giving. The true meaning of the season.”

“Who does the regular ranch chores while you’re busy making all these Christmas memories?” He knew his voice sounded cynical, but his interest in Christmas was right up there with his interest in RangePro.

Travis nodded. “Nothing changes. We add the Holiday Roundup to our regular workload. Emma spearheads the entire project.”

“Emma? Aren’t her hands full enough?”

“Both of my sisters are without boundaries when it comes to the kids and Christmas.”

Christmas. Zach squirmed. The holidays were nothing but a brutal reminder of the emptiness in his life. It had been that way since he was a kid. Pulled away from his father and half brother by a spiteful mother so he could spend Christmas all by himself. Yeah, one thing he didn’t need was another reminder of the past.

“So, how many head do you have?” Zach asked, changing the subject.

“Up to one hundred now.” Travis released a sigh. “And then there’s the bison.”

“You have bison? No kidding?”

“Definitely not kidding.” Travis raised a hand and grimaced. “It’s a long story. AJ is crazy about those shaggy beasts, and sometimes you do things you told yourself you’d never do all in the name of love.”

Zach stared at him. “Did you ever think back when we rode on my father’s ranch that one day you’d be telling me you were doing anything in the name of love?”

“I didn’t know half as much as I thought I did in those days.”

“How exactly did the cowboy who swore off love fall in love?” Zach asked.

“Not a clue. I sure wasn’t looking.” Travis offered a goofy grin.

Zach contemplated his friend’s words for a moment and hesitantly asked the question pulling at him. “How’d you know?”

“Know what?”

“That she was the one?”

“The real question is how did I not know.” He looked across the pasture to where AJ rode her horse checking cattle. As if sensing she was the topic of their conversation, his wife turned their way and raised a hand in greeting. In that moment, love shone in Travis’s eyes pure and true.

Zach ached for what his friend had found. What would it be like to have his love returned unconditionally? To find a partner to face life with? He couldn’t even imagine.

“You’ve got it real bad,” Zach murmured.

“Terminal, I hope.”

Zach chuckled.

“Quit your laughing. You might be next, so you better be careful.”

He gave a slow nod. “At all times.”

When Travis nudged his horse forward to inspect a group of heifers, Zach followed. Several had reclined in the pale brown grass and barely glanced up. “These mommas are ready for the whole pregnancy gig to be over,” he observed.

“Yeah. Got a bent tail here,” Travis said. “That cow is going to calve soon. We’ll keep an eye on her.”

Zach nodded.

“In a perfect world they’d all deliver in twenty-four hours and we’d be done counting calves before lunch tomorrow,” Travis said.

“Good to have dreams, because my guess is that in the real world they’ll be staggering delivery for the next two weeks and totally messing with your plans.”

“You’re right on.” He turned in the saddle to face Zach. “Do you miss this?”

“When I’m praying to God that I’ll make it out of a mission alive, yeah, I do.”

It was more than that. More than he could ever admit aloud. He missed those summers on his father’s ranch when he could pretend he had a normal family, instead of one where he was a bungee cord between divorced parents.

Zach leaned back in the saddle and inhaled the clean earthy fragrance of red dirt and golden autumn pasture grass. Seemed like he couldn’t get enough. “In truth, I miss quite a lot about ranch life.”

“You’ve got two months until you start the new job. What are you going to do until then?” Travis asked.

“No clue.”

“Are you staying with your father?”

“My father has leased out the Pawhuska ranch. He’s retired and is now circling the globe with my stepmother. Sort of a celebration because her cancer is in remission.”

“I knew they were traveling on and off, but hadn’t heard he’d leased. Any thoughts of taking over?”

“Never. Too many memories.”

“I hear you.” Travis frowned. “So where are you staying?”

“A bed-and-breakfast in Timber.”

“That’s no good. We have plenty of room in the bunkhouse. Why not stay with us until January?”

“Here?” Zach drew back slightly at the generosity of the unexpected gesture. “That’s not a sympathy offer, is it?”

“No way. We’re short staffed right now and having a jack-of-all-trades like yourself on staff to fill in the gaps here and there would help me sleep at night.”

Zach adjusted his ball cap as he considered Travis’s words.

“It’s not nearly as exciting as being a navy SEAL, or staying at the Timber B & B, but we are your family. The plus side would be you get to spend the holidays with your nieces.”

The mention of his nieces was enough to yank him right in. He was overdue for being a real uncle to Rachel and Elizabeth.

“I’m going to take you up on that,” Zach said before he had a chance to change his mind.

“All right.” Travis grinned. “Stop by human resources in the admin building tomorrow morning and fill out the paperwork. They’ll get you squared away with a security badge to get you in and out of the gate.”

“Will do.”

Travis snapped his fingers. “Oh, and before I forget. Monday evening, 6:00 p.m. Big meeting at the Oklahoma Rose in town. In the banquet room.”

“At a restaurant?”

“It’s the staff Christmas party.”

“Trav, I hate to beat a dead horse, but it’s November fifth. You haven’t even had a good frost around these parts.”

“You’re still not getting it. There’s no time in December. This place has nonstop holiday activities from the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve.”

“I’m trying to understand,” Zach returned, tucking away the information.

“You will, firsthand, and soon enough.”

The pounding of hooves, announcing a horse and rider approaching in the distance, had both men turning around.

“Uh-oh, Emma found us.” Travis raised his brows. “Or maybe she found you. Wait until she hears that you’re staying.”

“Could we keep his between us right now?” Zach asked. “Emma has her own agenda that I’m doing my best to dodge.”

“RangePro, right?”

“How’d you know?”

“She’s done nothing but talk about turning Steve’s company over to you since you got back.”

A groan slipped from Zach.

“Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me. That said, this is a female-dominated ranch, so you know the odds of anything remaining a secret long are slim to none.”

“Yeah. I figured as much, but if I can get even a short reprieve from her trying to lasso me into her plans for my future, I’ll take it.”

“Have you suggested selling?”

“She’s convinced that if she can tie me to a chair long enough for the RangePro spiel, I’ll change my mind.” He took a deep breath. “I’m telling you, your sister is the only woman I know who’s as stubborn as I am.”

Travis gave a chuckle. “I respect the fact that you admit that.”

“That only means that one of us is going to end up very unhappy.” Zach narrowed his eyes. “I’m committed to that person not being me.”

“I hear you.” He gave a nod toward his sister and called out. “You looking for me, Emma?”

“Yes. Dutch is bringing a breech to the barn and he needs your help.” She pulled her horse up next to them and adjusted the black Stetson at the back of her head.

“Can you two monitor the rest of the herd?” Travis asked.

“I’m good.” Zach nodded.

“Then I guess I am, too,” Emma said as Travis headed back to the barn. The grim set of her lips and the expression on her face offered an uneasy détente. She’d work with him for the good of the ranch.

“Where are the twins?” Zach asked as his gaze skimmed over her. Despite the tension between them Emma was relaxed in the saddle. She wore a long-sleeve black T-shirt with the ranch logo on the front pocket. With a gloved hand, she pushed a single plaited braid of long dark hair off her shoulder. He stared, mesmerized for a moment, before returning to his senses and quickly averting his eyes.

“I’ve hired a sitter for a couple of hours every afternoon so I can help out, since Lucy can’t ride,” Emma said.

“Everything okay with your sister?”

“Apparently, you haven’t seen Lucy yet. My big sister is having a baby.”

“Whoa. Is everyone getting married and having babies around here?”

Emma laughed. “There does seem to be an epidemic, now that you mention it.”

“Her first child?”

“Her first pregnancy. She and her husband, Jack, adopted triplets last year.”

Zach opened his mouth and then closed it again. “I have no words.”

“Most people simply say aw when they see seven-year-old triplets.” She gave him a long look. “You’re helping Travis out?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s hardly a vacation.”

“In my world it is.”

Emma shook her head and led her brown Appaloosa with white spots toward the outside of the pasturing herd. Zach followed, riding the flank.

“How long’s this one been in labor?” she asked, pointing to a heifer reclining near the fence.

“Not long.”

Silence stretched between them as they circled the pasture.

“Who’s your App?” he asked with a nod to the Appaloosa.

“This is Rodeo.” Emma patted the animal’s neck as she continued to ride at a slow pace, eyes never leaving the herd.

“Rodeo? Does that mean you’re still barrel racing?” Zach asked.

“No. I was never really much of a barrel racer.”

“I thought you were.”

Emma’s face pinked at his words and she shook her head. “AJ is our resident barrel racing expert, though I try to get in some practice when I can. Sometimes I bring the twins to watch. I want to get them comfortable around horses right away.”

“Good idea.”

She pulled up on the Appaloosa’s reins. “We have one dropping over there.”

“Where?”

“There.” She moved right and Zach followed. “The head is pushing through.”

They held back at a distance, waiting and watching.

“Come on, little momma, you can do this,” Emma murmured. “You were born to do this.”

“There she goes,” Zach said. The calf slid to the grass minutes later.

“That calf isn’t breathing,” Emma cried.

Zach’s pulse kicked into overdrive at the alarm in Emma’s voice. He made a clumsy dismount, forgetting for a moment that his knee had no plans to cooperate. Zach caught Zeus’s saddle, barely escaping a face plant.

“Are you okay?” Emma asked as she, too, dismounted.

“I’m fine. Worry about the calf, not me.”

Steps ahead of him, she slipped to the ground next to the calf. Pulling her shirttail free from her Wranglers, Emma swiped the animal’s face, and then tickled the nostrils with straw.

The calf sneezed, spreading a shower of fluid all over her.

“Oh, yuck.” She grimaced, wiping her face with her sleeve. “Thanks a lot, little guy.”

Zach laughed. “Nice job. He’s breathing all right.”

Emma stood and backed away from the heifer as the mother sounded a grunt of protest and took over cleaning her calf.

“Whoa. Momma wants you out of there, Emma.”

“Yes. I’m going.” Emma moved and kept moving until she could grab Rodeo’s reins and hoist herself back onto the horse.

Zach carefully swung his leg over Zeus’s saddle, his gaze already taking in the rest of the herd.

“How could you leave all this?” Emma pulled out a bandanna and wiped her face again. Despite her disheveled appearance, there was a wide grin on her face.

“I know you don’t understand, but it wasn’t easy. Toughest decision of my life.”

Their gazes connected and Zach swallowed hard.

“Then why did you?” she asked softly. “We’d been friends since I was seven years old, and suddenly you left without a backward glance.”

He kept his mouth shut, unwilling to open that particular can of worms here and now.

“I guess there’s no point asking why you’ve stayed away for three years, either,” she continued.

Another heifer released a loud mournful wail and Zach turned his horse around. “Saved by the heifer.”

“You can run...” Emma murmured. “But it seems to me that you and I have a lot to talk about.”

Yeah, she was right. If he was going to be here until January, eventually he and Emma would have to talk.

Zach shook his head as he carefully headed toward the birthing cow.

Why was it that although he never gave a second thought to heading into danger as a navy SEAL, the thought of going toe-to-toe with his brother’s widow in Timber, Oklahoma, terrified him?

Chapter Two

Emma sluiced cold water over her face and arms, rinsing the evidence of a day’s hard work into the industrial sink of the stables. She shivered and reached for paper towels to dry off. A glance down at her once shiny Ariat boots had her cringing. Something she didn’t want to think about now decorated the hand-tooled leather. Rubbing the soles against a boot scraper in the corner, followed by the hard stomp of her feet on the stable floor, she managed to kick off most of the offending debris.

Though exhaustion dogged her, Emma’s spirits remained energized. There was something satisfying about hands-on ranch work. She missed this. The last two and a half years had seen her cloistered in her office juggling the twins between therapy sessions with children and RangePro issues.

She glanced at her watch and then out the nearest window. The shadows of the day were closing in and she still had a riding lesson before she could head home to dinner and her girls.

“Miss Emma, can my brother, Mick, come with us for today’s lesson?”

Emma turned to meet the hopeful gaze of Benjie Brewer, a ten-year-old with bright red curls and a round face. She resisted the urge to correct his grammar. Her sister, Lucy, was a grammar stickler, whose comeback when they were growing up was always I don’t know, can you?

Emma favored example as the better teacher. “Isn’t Mick on the schedule?”

“Yes. With Mr. Travis, but he’s still working with some sickly calves in the barn.”

“I can take Travis’s lesson.”

The familiar deep rumbling voice had Emma whirling around. Her eyes widened at the sight of Zach standing in the doorway. With his shoulders nearly blocking the sun behind him, the man seemed larger and twice as imposing as usual.

His gait was slower and the limp more pronounced as he closed the distance between them. Her gaze went to his face. The tight jaw clearly said that he was in pain.

After four hours in and out of the saddle with calf birthing in the pasture, she was in pain, as well. But she knew her minor aches were nothing compared to Zach’s and yet he continued to soldier through. What drove the man?

“That work for you, Miss Emma?” he asked as he swiped at his brow with the back of his hand.

With a pointed gaze at his knee, she raised a brow in question.

“The knee is fine.”

“If you say so,” she murmured.

“And I do.”

Emma took off her Stetson and pushed damp and tangled strands of hair from her face before sliding the hat to the back of her head. “Mr. Zach, this is Benjie Brewer. His brother is no doubt hiding around the corner.”

“Mick, you can come out now,” Benjie called.

Where Benjie was pale, short and freckled, Mick Brewer was tall and lean with straight dark hair. His coloring and facial features hinted at a Native American heritage.

“Brothers?” Zach repeated.

Zach took the words from her mouth.

“We’re half brothers,” Mick said. “I’m older.”

“By a year is all,” Benjie returned.

Zach’s eyes rounded as he looked between the boys. He hadn’t missed the irony, Emma noted. They were as different as he and Steve were.

“Can you ride, Mick?” Zach asked.

Benjie blew a loud raspberry.

“I asked Mick,” Zach said drily.

Benjie’s eyes popped wide at Zach’s tone and he inched back.

“’Course I can ride.” Mick swelled up his chest and got in his brother’s face. “Better than this little runt can.”

“Naw, that’s not true,” Benjie defended himself. “You’re the one who rides like a scaredy-cat.”

“Do not.”

“Do, too.”

“Stop.”

All heads turned to Zach as the thunderous words echoed throughout the stables. He held up a large gloved hand. “First rule. Less talking. And there is zero tolerance for name-calling.”

“But...” Benjie said.

“Yes, sir, is the appropriate response,” Zach said, his voice low and nearly a growl.

Emma’s eyes rounded at the menacing tone in his voice.

Benjie blinked and swallowed. Then he inched back several paces. “Yes, sir.”

“Mick, do you have a horse?” Zach asked.

“Yes, sir. We’re all assigned horses to ride and groom.”

“Then I’ll trust you both to saddle up and wait outside.” He looked between them. “Quietly.”

“Yes, sir,” both boys repeated, eager to leave.

“Helmets,” Emma called after them.

“Yes, sir,” Mick said.

Emma laughed. “I’m ma’am.”

When she turned back to Zach, he pulled off his ball cap and then slapped it back on. His lips were twitching and his eyes sparkled with a humor she hadn’t seen in years.

“That was impressive,” Emma said as she grabbed her gloves and moved past Zach.

“Maybe I did get something out of the navy after all.” He turned to her. “You going to be using the round pen?” he asked.

“Go ahead. I’ll grab a fresh horse and take Benjie on a short trail ride and wear him out.”

“Thanks.”

“Don’t thank me just yet.” She lowered her voice. “You should know that Mick is one of our more difficult kids. He wears an attitude most of the time. When it comes to lessons, well, he’s nervous in the saddle. Then he freezes up, gets defensive and can’t hear a word you’re telling him.”

“And the horse?”

“We put him on Grace. My girls could ride Grace if I let them, but Mick hasn’t mastered proper saddling, much less riding.”

“How long has he been taking lessons?”

“Not long. He and Benjie arrived at the ranch at the end of the summer. City boys, in and out of foster homes.”

“Thanks for the heads-up.”

“No problem.” She gave his leg a fleeting glance as she headed to another stall.

“My knee is fine,” he called.

“Fine is a relative word,” she mumbled to herself.

Stubborn and prideful man. He wouldn’t admit he was in pain and he refused to discuss the injury. Maybe Dutch could make some headway. The old cowboy had a silver tongue and a gift for weaseling information.

An hour later, with Benjie’s lesson completed, Emma instructed the boy to head in to groom his horse before dinner. She led her own mare to the pen fence to observe Zach and Mick.

Mick finished adjusting the stirrups and turned to Zach, who stood several feet away, allowing the horse and rider to bond. “Done,” Mick called.

Zach approached and circled Grace, carefully checking all aspects of the tack job the young rider had completed.

“Nice job, Mick,” Zach said. “You groomed the horse, and the saddle is in place. Looks to me like you really know what you’re doing.”

Mick beamed for a moment then he stole a peek at his wristwatch. A frown darkened his face. “It took us so long.”

“Are we in a rush?”

Mick shrugged his thin shoulders. “I guess not.”

“This is not about clock watching, it is about learning how to do the job correctly. Grace’s life and yours depend on it.”

“Okay.”

“Yes, sir,” Zach corrected.

“Yes, sir.”

“Give Grace a nice soft rub on her nose and talk to her, real quiet.”

“I already did that.”

“Can’t ever give an animal too much loving. You’re building a long-term relationship here.”

Emma smiled at the words. He was so right. Zach might have spent the last twelve years in the navy, but he still remembered his cowboy roots.

Moments later, Zach nodded and gave Mick a thumbs-up. “You’re ready to get on the horse.”

Mick swallowed and his face paled. “But what if she bucks me?”

“Grace is your friend. Give her a chance. You trust her, right?”

He chewed his lip in thought before answering. “Maybe. But what if I fall off while I’m trying to get on?”

Zach raised his hands and stepped closer. “I’m right here. I’ll catch you.” He met Mick’s worried gaze. “You’re just going to sit in the saddle today. That’s all. Nothing to it.”

Mick didn’t appear comforted by the words.

“Do I look like I can catch you?” Zach asked.

“Yes, sir, but I don’t want to look stupid.” Mick frowned yet again, this time with a glance over at Emma.

“I hear you.” Zach pivoted around on his boot and narrowed his eyes. “Would you please excuse us, Miss Emma?”

“Oh, sure. Yes. Of course. Sorry.” Embarrassed, she turned away with the mare and headed inside to untack the horse.

Ten minutes later, the clop, clop of a horse plodding along on the stable floor had her peeking over the stall gate.

Zach offered a nod of acknowledgment as he and Grace walked down to the last stall on the left.

Emma took a deep breath. “I’m sorry for interrupting your lesson.”

“No problem. You know how it is. He’s a kid and he’s terrified he’ll humiliate himself in front of a beautiful woman.”

“Beautiful woman?” she murmured.

“Look in the mirror lately?”

“I...” She cleared her throat and concentrated on the smooth velvet coat of the horse. “Well, yes, but usually what I see is the mother of twins.”

“Look again.”

“So how did you do?” she asked, letting the comment sail past her for analysis at a later time.

“Are you going to harass me about my knee again?”

When her hand slipped midstroke and the brush clattered to the ground, the chestnut mare snuffled an objection. “I’m talking about Mick,” she clarified.

Minutes passed without a response.

Emma peeked over the stall, but couldn’t see Zach. “Come on. Aren’t you going to share?”

“I didn’t realize you were waiting for a report,” he called.

“Mick’s been challenging since he arrived and I’ve had a few therapy sessions with him. Naturally, I’m curious.”

“The lesson went well. Mick will be riding in no time.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I’m going to talk to Travis about taking over his lessons.”

“So what did you do?”

“Can’t say I did anything new. Went slow and acknowledged his fear. You’re the therapist, you know the drill.”

“Yes, but what did you do that Travis didn’t?”

“Probably nothing. Maybe I got through to him because I can relate to this kid.”

“Oh?” Emma cleaned off the brush and currycomb in her hand and gave the horse a pat to let him know they were done.

“Yeah. You might say we have a lot in common.”

“Might?” She patted the horse again, checked the water and feed before latching the stall behind her.

“Yeah, might.”

“Because both of you are big brothers with a chip on your shoulder, you mean?”

She thought she heard a chuckle but couldn’t be sure.

“Something like that,” he said.

Emma put the equipment away in the tack room across from Grace’s stall. When she came out, Zach was waiting for her. He’d leaned back against Grace’s stall gate with his weight on his right leg. “So tell me how this works.”

“How what works?” she asked.

“The setup with the kids at the ranch.”

Emma pulled her car keys from her back pocket and paused. “What do you want to know?”

“How the ranch helps the kids. What do you do that’s so special?”

“What we do isn’t special. It’s simple and consistent. We create a new normal for them at Big Heart Ranch. We have two ranches here, the boys’ ranch and the girls’ ranch, separated by a road. The children are placed in a real house with house parents, not a dormitory. It’s not a biological family, but it is a family of the heart. Their forever family from that point on. They have daily devotionals, lessons, homework, chores and all, like any other kid.”

“That’s it?”

“Zach, that’s more than most of these kids have ever had. Every one of them comes from a situation that includes neglect and abuse. Many are orphaned or abandoned.”

Zach took a deep breath at her words.

“When their heads hit the pillow at night, they no longer have the burden of worry or fear on their shoulders. We replace that with unconditional love and God’s healing grace. We promise them that we will never lie to them and that we will always protect them. In return, they follow the ranch rules.” She shrugged. “We free them to be children.” Emma sighed. “Being a kid is highly undervalued these days.”

For a long moment, Zach stared ahead as though unseeing. He was somewhere else, and she wished with all her heart that she understood where.

“Zach,” she murmured. “You okay?”

He turned slightly and met her gaze. “Never better.”

“Then I guess I’ll see you later. I’ve got to get home to the girls.”

“Thanks, Emma.”

“For what?”

“For letting me work with Mick.”

“Sure.” Emma walked slowly to her car, puzzling over the conversation with Zach. She was certain that something remarkable had just happened but what that was eluded her.

Had she spoken to the Lord about Zach lately, or had she relegated him to a forgotten place in her prayers because she was annoyed by his dismissal of RangePro? His dismissal of her. It was time to remember her words about unconditional love and give Zach Norman what he deserved.

* * *

Zach’s assessing gaze took in the Big Heart Ranch bunkhouse that would be his home for the next eight weeks. Though Spartan, the place had everything he needed. Small kitchenette and a little living room, complete with a love seat and recliner facing a television. Grabbing his duffel from the floor, he tossed it and his security badge from human resources onto one of the four empty beds.

Easing down onto the mattress, he closed his eyes a moment.

He was in pain.

Emma was right, and it totally grated.

His knee ached after a long day and he wasn’t sure which hurt most, the smooth dismount while roping the mechanical bull or the multiple awkward exits from the saddle while working in the pasture. There was definitely a learning curve to remembering to guard the knee. Should have worn his brace.

Except, he hated the brace. Sure, it was worn under his jeans but he felt like everyone knew it was there.

He also refused to take the narcotics or the muscle relaxers that the physician ordered. Instead, Zach grabbed the familiar tube of prescription analgesic cream from his bag.

With a dab of cream in his hand, Zach rolled up the pant leg of his sweats and massaged the scars with vengeance. Six months ago, after the last unsuccessful surgery, he had come face-to-face with his future. Like the ranch kids, he was exploring his new normal.

In his last covert reconnaissance operation, Zach not only lost his best friend, Ian Clark, but his career and life as he’d known it for twelve years had been buried.

No matter how many surgeries he endured, he would never be 100 percent fit for duty again. The military docs were big on reminding him that he was fortunate to be alive, much less walk.

Lately, he was feeling far from grateful. What would he say to Ian’s family when he visited them?

Sorry I made it and Ian didn’t?

No, that wasn’t going to cut it for parents with only one child, a child who was not coming home.

Zach hung his head.

He’d postponed meeting with the Clarks multiple times, waiting until he could figure that out. In the meantime, life as he knew it was over. A washed-up navy SEAL. Who was Zach Norman outside of the uniform? He didn’t know, but he was about to find out.

As if on cue, the bunkhouse door flew open and Dutch Stevens, the wrangler Zach met earlier in the day, strode into the room, his scuffed boots beating a rhythm on the oak floorboards. The wizened cowboy tipped back his well-worn Western hat and pointedly stared at Zach’s knee.

“That’s quite a few scars you got there.”

“A road map to the unknown after three surgeries.”

“Ouch.” Dutch grimaced.

“It looks worse than it is.”

“Not from where I stand, so I guess I’ll have to take your word for that.” Dutch shook his head. “Did you meet Tripp Walker, the equine manager?”

“Yeah. Talkative guy.”

Dutch chuckled. “Tripp believes that if more people would think before they spoke, they’d open their mouth a whole lot less.”

“He’s on to something.”

“Not sure I agree with him. But that’s our Tripp.” He rubbed his chin and kept talking. “Anyhow, he’s got weights and a bench set up for the staff in the back of the equipment barn near Travis’s office. Use them anytime you like.”

“Thanks, Dutch.”

“You looked pretty good out there roping with Travis. Like maybe you’ve done that before.”

“A time or two,” Zach admitted. “Did a little bulldogging in my time, as well as heading and heeling.”

“You don’t say?” The words held a tinge of awed respect. “A real cowboy then. I suspected as much.”

“My father used to run a ranch outside of Pawhuska. That’s how I met the Maxwell kids. When they were pulled out of foster care by a relative, they lived right next door.”

Dutch gave a slow nod. “Sure. That’s right. Jay Norman. Retired a few years ago. Steve was your brother?”

“Half brother.”

“Sorry for your loss.”

“Thanks.”

“I was out of town during the funeral. I guess I missed meeting you then.”

Zach nodded. He’d been in and out on the day of the funeral. Arrived on the red-eye and left before sunset.

“Shame for Emma and those babies. She and Steve weren’t married very long, either.”

“No, I guess not.”

“I know she’s glad to have Steve’s family here.”

“Maybe so,” Zach murmured.

“You’re gonna need linens if you’re staying.” Dutch walked over to a closet and pulled open the door. “They’re in here.”

“Thanks, but who said I’m staying?” Zach asked.

“Aw, don’t worry. Travis said to zip my lips. I can do that on occasion.”

“I appreciate it. So where do you bunk?” Zach asked.

“Over yonder.” He raised a thumb. “Couple of bunkhouses to the right. This here is the guest bunkhouse.”

“I’m the only guest?”

“For the moment.” Dutch gave a nod, obviously still thinking and sizing up Zach.

“So you grew up with the Maxwells?” Dutch continued.

“I did.” Zach smiled as he recalled the first time he saw Emma. Five years old, with long dark braids, a big grin, full of sass and already riding. He hadn’t thought about that in a long time.

“Must have been pretty young, huh?” Dutch said.

“Too young. No one should have to deal with the death of their parents and then have their foundation ripped out from under them like they did.”

“Yet, that’s exactly what our kids here on Big Heart Ranch deal with. All of them.”

Zach paused. “I hadn’t thought of it like that.”

“Sure enough. That’s what has made Lucy, Travis and Emma so determined to turn around the burden of their past. They took the land their mother’s cousin left them in Timber and started this ranch. A new beginning.” He shook his head. “Those three bring good to everything they touch.”

“I believe that.” Zach put the cover back on the jar and tightened the lid. “How long have you been on Big Heart Ranch, Dutch?”

“Oh, a while and a half, for sure.”

“That long, huh?”

Hand on the doorknob, Dutch hesitated before he headed out. “You know, I was just like you, once upon a time. Came for a visit and ended up staying.”

Zach blinked at the bold statement. “I’m not staying. This is only temporary.”

“Oh?” The old cowboy stared him down. “Just sticking around until you finish mending?”

“My knee, you mean?”

He shook his head and offered a sly smile. “Don’t take offense, but I got a feeling the good Lord put you in the path of Big Heart Ranch for a reason and it’s got nothing to do with your knee.” Dutch tapped his own chest and placed a hand over his heart as his gaze met Zach’s.

Zach narrowed his eyes. “Though that isn’t my plan, I wouldn’t rule out the possibility.”

A grin lit up Dutch’s face, and he offered a nod of respect. “I expected an argument.”

“Not from me. I’ve learned to never say never. Life has tossed me into too many situations where my next move was completely a walk of faith.”

“Wise man,” Dutch murmured.

“I don’t know about that. Not so much wisdom as it is lots of experience making mistakes.” He rolled down the leg of his sweatpants. “Where’s that meeting I’m supposed to go to tonight?”

“Meeting? It’s a party. One of the biggest of the year.”

“Okay, where’s this mandatory fun I’m required to attend?”

“Downtown Timber. Oklahoma Rose restaurant. Across from the Timber General Store. There’s a parking lot behind the restaurant. Might make it easier on your leg.”

“Thanks.”

The door closed softly and Zach pulled out a bandanna to wipe his hands while thinking about his conversation with the wrangler.

Easier. He wasn’t handicapped. It was a simple knee injury. So he couldn’t jump out of planes anymore. That wasn’t a good enough reason for the world to keep trying to turn him into a desk jockey.

Zach paused. Unless they were right. If so, he wouldn’t be much use to Travis on the ranch either, would he?

Once again, the urge to leave rose up strong. What was he doing here anyhow? Had the Lord led him here or had he come to Oklahoma simply to clear his conscience?

Twice he had changed his mind during the long drive from California. The only thing that kept him from making a U-turn on I-40 eastbound was the promise made to Ian’s folks. He was determined to keep that promise. Their son was gone and they needed closure only Zach could provide. He was willing to relive the anguish of that mission to do that.

Besides, where would he go? He didn’t have a home anymore. His apartment in California had been cleared out and his few possessions put into storage until January.

Zach took a ragged breath and ran a hand through his hair. His gaze landed on last year’s photo Christmas card Emma had sent him that peeked out of his duffel. Elizabeth and Rachel.

His brother’s children. Family. They deserved so much more from him. He owed Emma and Steve that. In truth, he was long overdue for facing the past. It was time to man up. Maybe if he did he’d find the path to his future, however uncertain that future might be.

Chapter Three

“Candy canes?” Emma asked.

Lucy Maxwell Harris held up the plastic shopping bag that dangled from her right arm. “Check.”

Emma pulled open the door of the restaurant for her sister, who waddled past and headed into the Oklahoma Rose with a protective hand on her large abdomen.

“Whew.” Lucy ran a hand through her dark cap of hair and adjusted the Santa hat on her head. “Is it hot in here?”

“No. The female air-conditioning system is a little overworked during pregnancy.”

“Is that it?”

Emma nodded. “Any success finding mistletoe?”

“Got that, too. I bought extra to take home to Jack.”

“Isn’t Jack coming?” Emma asked.

“I wish. He’s in charge of the papier mâché volcano the kids are making for the science fair.”

“Hmm.” Emma shook her head. “Difficult to say who got the better assignment.”

Lucy sniffed appreciatively and glanced around. “Oh, this place smells wonderful. Is that steak? You know, I haven’t had anything to eat in over an hour.”

A hand to her mouth, Emma stifled a chuckle while grabbing a menu from a nearby empty table. “Here you go. We won’t let you starve. I promise.”

“They have sweet potato fries.” She shot Emma a conspiratorial glance. “Do not tell Jack, but it’s apparent that I got the better deal tonight.”

“May I help you?” the smiling hostess asked.

“Big Heart Ranch Christmas party,” Emma said. “I was here this morning. The manager said you could unlock the room for us.”

“Christmas? And here I thought that was a typo,” the woman murmured.

“We like to get a jump on the holidays at Big Heart.”

“I guess so. Do you want to schedule Groundhog Day now, as well?”

Emma choked on a laugh. “I’ll get back to you on that.”

They followed the woman through the restaurant, weaving past tables toward a banquet room. As they passed the small dance area where a band was setting up, Emma nudged her sister.

“Look. Live music tonight,” she said.

“Those are the Dixie Hens,” the hostess said, excitement lacing her voice. “They’re almost famous around these parts. Last year they went on tour with L.C. Kestner.”

“Who?” Lucy mouthed to Emma.

Emma shrugged and rolled her eyes.

“I’m happy to ask the band to play Christmas dance tunes for your group,” the woman continued.

“Thank you. That would be great,” Emma said.

“Planning to dance?” Lucy asked.

“Perhaps. I am, after all, highly skilled at the hokey-pokey. Ask my daughters.”

Lucy grinned as the hostess unlocked the door to a private room. Taking a step in, she paused to look up at the ceiling where glittering snowflakes suspended on clear fishing line gently swayed.

“Emma, this is beautiful.”

Emma peeked over her sister’s shoulder at the long tables covered with red tablecloths. Burlap runners decorated the center of the tables and were dotted with mason jars tied with red and green ribbons and filled with berried greenery. In the corner of the room, an artificial Christmas tree complete with ornaments and twinkling colored lights stood proudly. Red and green envelopes with the staff’s holiday stipends tucked inside also hung from the branches.

“I love Christmas.” Emma sighed with pleasure and inspected the room once again. “It did turn out nice, didn’t it?”

“Come on, Em. Nice? This is perfect. Rustic and Christmassy. This is the perfect way to launch the Holiday Roundup.”

“That’s what I thought, too.”

“What’s in those shiny silver favor boxes next to each place setting?”

“My secret recipe truffles to take home.”

Lucy did a double take. “You’re amazing. When did you have time to decorate if you were baking?”

“I snuck over here this afternoon after the cutout cookies were done.”

“Of course you did. I forget that you inherited the family gene for OCS.”

“What?”

“Overcommitted syndrome. Emma, do you ever relax?”

“Sometimes.” Relaxing only gave her time to think. She didn’t need more time to think than she already had.

“Try to remember the D word that Jack taught me when he hired Iris as my admin.”

“D word?”

“Delegate, Em. Delegate.”

“Delegate, huh? That certainly sounds odd coming from the queen of micromanaging.”

“Be nice. I’m still a work in progress.” She glanced at Emma. “What happened to your admin?”

“It turned out she was allergic to the ranch. I’ll get around to hiring a new one, soon enough,” Emma said. “So did you bring your gift to trade?”

Lucy gasped. “The gift exchange!”

Emma reached into her tote bag and handed Lucy a wrapped box. “No worries. I brought several in case someone forgot theirs.”

“Okay, this time your OCS saved the day. What’s inside?”

“I can’t tell you. That spoils the fun of the exchange.”

“Ow,” Lucy moaned. “Junior just kicked me.” She placed one hand on her belly and one on her lower back.

“How are you feeling, Luce?”

“Large.” She sighed. “And don’t you dare laugh.”

“Trust me, you are not large. Not like I was, expecting twins.”

“Tell that to my lower back. And my feet are so swollen that I can’t wear my red cowboy boots.” She grimaced. “Aren’t you glad you asked?”

“Think positive. You’re having a Christmas baby.”

“I am thinking positive. I’m positive that my back is killing me.”

“Turn around.”

Lucy obliged and Emma massaged her sister’s lower back with the heel of her hand.

“Bliss,” Lucy murmured. “Oh, look, our staff are arriving.”

The band began to play an upbeat and popular Christmas tune at the same time the front door of the restaurant opened and the party guests began to pour in to the small foyer. The scene seemed straight out of a holiday movie. Everyone was smiling, laughing and carrying gaily wrapped presents. Snow falling outside would have made things complete, but the November weather continued to be unseasonably warm.

“Look,” Lucy said. “Dutch is already on the dance floor.”

“It’s hard to resist a rousing chorus of ‘Frosty the Snowman.’”

Shivers swept through Emma and she immediately turned her attention back to the front door of the restaurant. Zach had arrived. He wore a nondescript gray dress shirt and charcoal slacks. Nondescript on anyone but Zach.

“Zach is here,” Lucy commented.

“I see him,” Emma murmured. She swallowed and put a hand to her chest where her heart beat wildly.

Lucy tilted her head and blatantly stared at the tall former navy SEAL. “Why was it you fell for Steve instead of Zach?”

For a brief second the answer stumped Emma. Then she remembered. Steve had courted her. Zach had never made a single overture beyond friendship. She’d fallen for the Norman brother who’d first loved her.

“I’ve always preferred my life simple,” Emma said aloud. “Zach is anything but simple.”

“He’s simply handsome.” Lucy sighed.

“Definitely hard to ignore,” Emma admitted.

“Yes. Which would be why every woman in the restaurant is checking him out,” Lucy said.

“The man is completely oblivious.”

Lucy grinned. “Just like my Jack. I like that in a man.”

Emma laughed. “You’re incorrigible, Lucy.”

“Do you ever think about dating, Em?”

“Women with small children don’t have time to date. What is dating anyhow? It’s auditioning husbands. I’m not looking for another husband.”

“That’s not all it is. It can be cultivating a friendship with someone with the same interests as you.”

“I don’t have time to cultivate anything but dirty laundry and mold in my refrigerator.”

“While I can relate to that, I’m guessing your house is spotless.”

“All the same, the last thing I need is a man in my life. I’m not ready for that kind of challenge. I may never be ready.”

“Zach was always your friend. You could do worse than Zach Norman in your life in any capacity.”

Emma’s hand froze. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m just saying.”

“Well, don’t. Zach is like a brother to me.” She silently corrected herself. He was never a brother to her. A best friend? Yes. Though that bond had disappeared once she married Steve. She had struggled many times over the past few years trying to figure out why they couldn’t at least be friends.

“Zach? Like your brother?” Lucy echoed Emma’s words. “Um, not exactly.” She turned and met Emma’s gaze, then released a small gasp. “You’re afraid.”

Emma glanced away and didn’t answer her sister.

“Em,” she said softly. “Steve died in a car accident. Three years ago. You’re entitled to grieve in your own way and in your own time, but please, don’t let fear get a foothold in your life.”

“I won’t have the rug pulled out from under me again. I might not survive the next time.”

“There are no guarantees for any of us, Emma. You and Travis and I know that firsthand. In fact, every child on Big Heart Ranch knows that lesson.”

“Lucy,” Emma warned.

The eldest Maxwell sibling was silent for a long moment staring across the restaurant at Zach. “Do you ever wonder why Zach has stayed away?”

“I assumed it was something between him and Steve. I’ve asked. The man circles any sort of substantial answer with vague responses.”

“You have eight weeks to find out what’s going on in that navy SEAL head of his.”

“Eight weeks?” Emma’s hand shot to her lips, setting the decorative red and green sleigh bells on her bracelet into tinkling motion. “What are you talking about?”

“He’s here until January.”

“Says who?”

“Me. I signed off on his HR paperwork this morning.”

“I’m confused. Why would Zach have paperwork with Big Heart Ranch?”

“Travis hired him.”

Emma’s jaw dropped. “Zach?”

“Yes. He picked up his security badge this morning.”

“Why would Zach...? Why would Travis...?” she sputtered.

“Uh-oh. Don’t look now, but Mr. Navy SEAL has his eye on you,” Lucy said.

“What?” She turned toward the door.

“He’s sort of lost out there in the crowd. Go save him,” Lucy said quietly.

Emma blew a soft raspberry. “Zach Norman does not need saving.”

“Everyone needs saving, Emma.”

“Fine. Whatever.” She started across the room, pausing at intervals to greet the staff.

Zach’s gaze followed her the entire time.

“I heard you’re staying until January,” she said when she was finally standing in front of him, looking up at all six feet five inches of solid muscle.

Zach offered a silent scrutiny, his expression shuttered.

“Well?” she prompted.

“Hi to you, too, Emma.” He nodded and stared at her. “Blinking reindeer earrings, huh?” His gaze moved to assess her holiday party outfit. “Interesting sweater.”

She glanced down at the knit vest with the ornament embellishments. “Ugly sweater contest.”

“I’m guessing you’re going to win.”

When Zach winked, Emma’s eyes widened with surprise.

Focus, Emma.

She pushed the hair back from her face, setting her jingle bell bracelet into motion. The sound was a welcome distraction.

“Nice bracelet,” he said.

She began to smile and then remembered that she was annoyed. The man had bested her. Again.

“So is it true? Are you staying?” she asked.

“Who told you?”

“The source is really not important.”

“I’m working for Travis.”

“You are so stubborn. You’ll work for Travis, though your knee says otherwise, but you refuse to even discuss RangePro.”

When Zach just stared at her, Emma almost backed down from the stormy gaze. Instead, she stood her ground and refused to look away.

“Could we call a truce on this whole RangePro thing? At least until the holidays are over?” he finally said. “I mean, isn’t this time of year supposed to reflect peace on earth? Goodwill to all men?” Zach paused. “Even me?”

Emma wilted at his quote from the Bible. Suddenly, she recalled the kid next door forced to return home to an apathetic mother for the holidays when he longed to stay at his father’s ranch for Christmas.

Ashamed of herself, she took a deep breath. Why was it the man brought out the cranky and uncharitable in her?

Big Heart Ranch staff continued to enter the restaurant, pushing Emma closer to Zach as they tried to make their way to the banquet room.

Emma stepped back, struggling to overcome with a smiling face and a positive attitude. “You’re right. I apologize.”

“A holiday truce, then?”

When Zach held out a hand, she nodded and stared at his hand, afraid to actually touch him. “A truce it is. The party is this way.” She started toward the back of the restaurant.

“Excuse me, Emma,” a woman said from behind her.

She turned. “Oh, Zach, this is Josee. One of our wranglers.”

“Pleased to meet you, ma’am.”

“Zach, is it?” the pretty blond-haired woman asked.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Would you like to dance?”

“Pardon me?” Zach’s eyes widened as his gaze skimmed the dance floor.

“I wondered if you’d like to dance,” Josee repeated.

“I’m so sorry, ma’am. I already promised this dance to Emma.”

“Another time, then.” Josee smiled and looked from Zach to Emma with curiosity before she turned away.

“You didn’t promise me this dance.”

“I fully intended to.” Laughter filled his gray eyes. “Besides, isn’t this your favorite song?” he asked.

Emma cocked her head. “That’s ‘Jingle Bell Rock.’”

He held out his hand. The hand she’d avoided only minutes before.

“As if you really want to dance,” Emma mumbled.

“Are you going to turn me down in front of all these people?”

Emma glanced around at the speculative gazes turned their way. He had her and he knew it.

Leaving her no choice, Zach took her hand. “It’s a two-step,” he said. “Your other hand goes to my shoulder and then you step.”

“I know how to dance.” She hesitantly placed her left hand on his shoulder. “What about your knee?”

“Let me worry about my knee.”

“But...”

Zach shook his head. “You’re a substitute mother to sixty some kids at Big Heart Ranch. That’s plenty, don’t you think? Besides, I don’t need a momma.”

“I... I...” What was he saying? Didn’t he realize that she could not concentrate on the conversation while her hand was enveloped in his?

A long silence stretched between them as Emma worked hard not to tangle her feet and fall on her face.

When Lucy walked past the dance floor and her gaze connected with Emma’s, her sister stopped and did a double take.

“Lucy sure looks, um, ripe,” Zach said. “When’s she due?”

“Christmas.”

“Christmas. Everything seems to revolve around Christmas.”

“Only for eight weeks of the year.”

“Only eight weeks,” he murmured.

Emma turned her head and stared at her hand in his. His hand was so large, yet hers seemed to fit perfectly.

“This is quite the crowd,” he observed.

“This is nothing. Wait until Thanksgiving.”

“Was I supposed to bring a present?” Zach asked with a nod toward the guests who walked past with gifts tucked under their arms.

“They’re fun white elephant exchanges. I brought extras.”

He glanced toward the banquet room filling up with people. “Tell me about this Christmas party.”

She shrugged. “It’s a party. Eat food, make merry. Mingle.”

“I don’t—”

“Mingle,” she finished for him. “Somehow I thought you might say that.” Emma sighed. “But you know Dutch and Tripp and Travis. Chat with them.”

“Travis has his wife.” He raised his brows. “And it looks like they found the mistletoe.”

She turned in Zach’s arms to see Travis kissing his new bride beneath the mistletoe that he had hung in the doorway of the banquet room.

“Young love,” Emma said. “You know how it is.”

“Can’t say that I do.” He glanced around. “Looks like the single men are outnumbered around here.”

“That’s true. Tonight it’s just you, Tripp and Dutch.”

“No dates invited?”

“Dutch’s sweetheart is the ranch physician, General Rue Butterfield. Rue is out of town at the moment with a family emergency.”

“And Tripp? What’s his story?”

“Tripp? Oh, he’d never bring a date. He’s even more private than you are.”

“Am I private?”

“As locked up as a clam. If you want to pass the time, ask Dutch to tell you about the John Wayne impersonator he saw in Tulsa last week. By the time he finishes with his tall tale, dinner will be served, then we’ll get down to business.”

“What business is that?”

“The Holiday Roundup.”

The song ended and Emma stepped away from him, wrapping her arms around herself. Relief and disappointment crowded her at the same time.

“The Holiday Roundup,” he repeated. Zach rubbed a hand over his jaw. “It seems apparent that I showed up at Big Heart Ranch at the wrong time of year.”

“Or maybe it’s the right time, and you just don’t know it yet.”

When his dark eyes met hers, Emma’s heart stopped and everything seemed to be in slow motion as the words she had just uttered echoed through her while Zach Norman turned away.

Maybe it was the right time, and she just didn’t know it yet.

* * *

Zach downed his eggnog and turned to Dutch. “We’re doing what?”

Around them, holiday music continued to play as the party wound down. The old wrangler had just dashed his high hopes of slipping out of the party soon. Zach was certain he had a rash over most of him from being social tonight. He didn’t do social, and yet here he was.

Dutch grabbed the last broken cookies from a tray that only a few hours ago overflowed with Christmas cutout cookies and popped them into his mouth with a loud smack of his lips. “I’m telling you, Miss Emma makes the best cookies. Her chocolate muffins would take a blue ribbon anywhere.”

“Dutch, quit eating and answer me.”

“I told you. It’s chore-pickin’ time.” He nodded to the large box wrapped like a Christmas package that sat at the end of the banquet table.

“Miss Lucy and Miss Emma divide up the chores for the Holiday Roundup and you pick yours from that big box there. Everyone gets two.”

“I never heard of anything so unorganized. This is worse than being voluntarily told in the navy.”

“The gals say it keeps the program fresh. New ideas and perspectives and everyone owns the event.”

Zach released a breath. “I can guarantee there is nothing that resembles my skill set in that box.”

“Don’t matter. It’s the spirit of the season that counts. Making memories. Having fun.” Dutch’s gaze scanned the room. “Did I ever tell you how I was Mary in the living nativity one year?”

“Now you’re messing with me.”

The seasoned cowboy offered a slow shake of his head. “Wish I was. I had to shave my ’stache.”

Zach ran a hand over his face and swallowed.

“Come on.” Dutch nodded to the box. “Best get it over with.”

“You first,” Zach said as he followed.

Dutch put a hand in the box, pulled out two papers and stepped aside to allow Zach to do the same. “What did you get?” Dutch asked a moment later.

“I haven’t opened them yet,” Zach returned.

“I’ll trade you. Sight unseen.”

“Not a chance.” Zach gave a nod toward Dutch’s slips of paper. “What did you get?”

The cowboy grimaced. “Porta potty duty and horse-drawn carriage driver.”

“That doesn’t sound too bad.”

“Depends on which direction the wind is blowing.”

Zach stared at the seemingly innocuous papers in his own hand.

“Hurry up and open yours,” Dutch said. “Miss Emma’s coming around with her clipboard to document your assignment.”

“Then I better get moving.”

It would be a very good idea to keep his distance from both clipboards and the youngest Maxwell sibling. He was still trying to figure out what got into him earlier. Dancing with Emma. That came out of nowhere.

He was beginning to realize that if he wasn’t on guard at all times, history would be repeated. His history...of acting like a love-struck idiot when Emma was nearby.

Dodging around the buffet table, Zach headed to the other side of the room. He stooped behind greenery to examine the Christmas tree decorations, though his height made it nearly impossible to hide.

“Your envelope is near the back of the tree.”

She found him.

“I wasn’t looking for an envelope.”

“What were you doing?”

He raised a hand and decided against explaining. “How did anyone know to give me an envelope?”

“That’s a very good question,” Emma said. “Lucy’s admin, Iris, reads minds. You can thank her later.” Emma plucked a green envelope from the tree and handed it to him.

Zach shook his head. “This is really not necessary.”

“Deal with it. It’s a Christmas present.”

“Presents are for little kids.”

She scoffed. “Who told you that?”

My mother when I turned six and my parents divorced.

“It was understood at my home.”

“Oh, Zach, I’m so sorry. While the holidays aren’t simply about presents, certainly a child should experience the joy of giving and receiving.”

“It’s really a moot point, Emma. I don’t do Christmas.”

“You don’t believe in Christmas?” She offered a dramatic sigh. “Sort of makes you like Scrooge, doesn’t it?”

“Does that make you Tiny Tim?”

She cocked her head in thought. “I’d like to think of myself as one of the benevolent characters who show you the error of your ways.”

“Right. Right.” He stared at her ridiculous blinking reindeers. “For the record, I never said I don’t believe in Christmas.”

“Could you elaborate then? What is it about Christmas that you have a problem with? I mean besides presents and Christmas parties. And by the way, I don’t know if you’ve noticed but you sure have a long list of things that you have issues with.”

“Emma, you’re sort of an overanalyzer. Anybody ever mention that?”

Her eyes rounded. “You have issues with me, too?”

“Now you’re putting words in my mouth.”

“I’m a therapist. I analyze. It comes with the territory.”

“You’re a child therapist and I’m not a child.”

Emma shrugged. “The same principles apply to grown-up children.”

“You aren’t my therapist.”

Her lips formed a thin line, and Zach could practically see the steam coming out of her ears.

“What are you thinking?” he asked.

“You don’t want to know.”

“I asked, didn’t I?”

“I’m trying to figure out what happened to make you so disillusioned. And why does it seem like you’re angry with me? We used to be friends.”

“That was a long time ago. We were kids.”

She jerked back as though she’d been slapped.

Zach immediately regretted opening his big mouth. Emma was everything good and right in the world, and he had managed to dim her light with his special brand of darkness.

“May I see your assignment slips?” The words were clipped and flat.

“Sure.”

He pulled the crumpled papers from his pocket, smoothed them out and glanced at the words. What harm could come from putting up lights and greenery?

“Oh.” She released a long-suffering sigh.

“Oh?”

“You’re on my team.”

“I’m sorry,” he said.

“There’s no need to apologize.”

“Sure feels like I ought to.” He shrugged. “So where do I start?”

“Excuse me, Emma, Zach. I hate to interrupt.”

Both Zach and Emma turned to find Lucy standing close with a concerned expression.

“What’s wrong?” Emma asked her sister.

“I’ve maxed out. I’m so sorry, but I’m going to have to bail on you.”

“Do you need a ride home?” Zach asked.

“Oh, how sweet of you to offer, but Travis and AJ are dropping me off. They live right down the road.” She glanced around at the room and frowned before she put a hand on Emma’s arm. “I feel horrible leaving you with cleanup.”

“Go, Lucy,” Emma said.

“Are you sure?”

“Cleanup is my specialty. You of all people know how true that is.”

“I’ll help,” Zach said. The words slipped from his mouth before he had a chance to outrun them.

Lucy and Emma turned to him, startled expressions on their faces.

He offered an embarrassed chuckle. “Come on. I think I can handle a little disaster recovery, ladies.”

Emma bit her lip, saying nothing.

When Lucy stood on tiptoes from her five-foot-two-inch height and planted a kiss on his cheek, Zach froze.

“What was that for?” he murmured.

“Just to say thank you.” She offered him and Emma a benevolent smile. “Take good care of my sister.”

“Oh, good grief,” Emma said. “Lucy, will you please go home?”

“I’m going.”

“Call me in the morning to check in,” Emma called after her. “And stay home if you need to.”

“I just might.”

“Good.” Emma grabbed a trash bag.

“Let me help with that.”

“Zach, you really don’t need to stay,” Emma said.

“I’m on your team.”

“That’s the Holiday Roundup.”

“Let me help you get out of here and home to your children.” He paused. “Besides, I just promised your sister...”

She crossed her arms and tapped her foot on the vinyl floor tiles. “Do I look like I need to be taken care of?”

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