Holiday in a Stetson: The Sheriff Who Found Christmas\A Rancho Diablo Christmas (9 page)

Jess looked forward to that.

But first, she needed to dig up a last-minute date.

It wasn’t going to be easy, because all the guys she
knew she’d grown up with, and none of them—absolutely none—made her dream of sleeping in a cold cave with them.

She had eyes for Johnny Donovan, that was all there was to it. Because she would run to spend the night with him again—wherever it was.

She wasn’t just thinking about horses anymore—but of a big tall man from Wyoming who couldn’t ride that well, yet held her like a prince.

“Thanks for getting Pete’s horse. He’s Rancho Diablo’s finest stallion.” Rafe put Bleu away as he sent Johnny a grin. “Lucky you, getting stuck in a cave with Jess.”

“I guess. I’m not a fan of caves, to be honest.” Johnny thought his voice sounded pretty smooth for a fibber. He hadn’t minded the cave a bit—not with Jess there, at least.

“So, what happened?”

Johnny shrugged, aware that Rafe was digging at him, in a friendly way. “Rain and more rain. So cold I about froze my—”

“Coffee!” Fiona called, coming into the barn with a thermos she handed to Johnny. “Figured you could use this.”

“Why are you out in this rain, Aunt Fiona?” Rafe asked. “We’ve got coffee in the barn office.”

“But not fresh, and not piping hot.” She smiled at Johnny. “I hope this incident doesn’t make you wish you were back up north. We generally go a little easier on our guests.”

“No, ma’am,” Johnny said. “Rancho Diablo is a great place to be.”

“So you found a cave?” Fiona asked, her gaze probing.

“Quite by accident. It was good luck—we would have drowned otherwise. And I don’t know what would have happened to Bleu if he hadn’t made his way there. But it was almost like he knew about the cave.”

Fiona smiled. “I guess it was empty?”

He blinked. “I noticed a rug. Does someone camp there?”

“Do you know about this cave, Fiona?” Rafe glanced from Johnny to his aunt.

“Actually, it’s not really a cave,” she said, “it’s more of a dugout in the wall, wouldn’t you say, Johnny?”

He wouldn’t have said that at all, but by the intense gleam in her eyes and the fact that Rafe wasn’t familiar with a cave on his own property, Johnny decided it was best to agree with his hostess. “I guess you could say that.”

“It would mean a great deal to me if you didn’t tell anyone in town about this. Our neighbor to the west loves to churn up tales about hidden silver and whatnot. The idea of a cave would really set off Bode Jenkins, and we’ve got trouble enough with him.”

“Bode’s trying to run us off our place,” Rafe said. “We’ve been battling with him for a few years now.”

“I won’t mention it,” Johnny promised.

“Thank you,” Fiona said. “By the way, is Jess all right?”

“She seemed fine enough to me, except for freezing all night. It was awfully cold in the ca—ledge.” He noted Fiona’s steady gaze again, her eyes twinkling
just a little, and decided to heed Jess’s cautionary words. “Did she say she wasn’t fine?”

“I just wondered,” Fiona said. “I noticed she wasn’t wearing a shirt. Plus she was wearing your jacket. I’m sure you’re frozen, so there’s warm gingerbread and more coffee in the bunkhouse.”

Fiona departed, and Rafe laughed.

“You son of a gun,” he said, and Johnny shook his head.

“Nothing happened. Sorry.”

Rafe looked at him. “Freezing cold, wet to the skin, and somehow Jess loses her top?”

“She used it to dry the horses,” Johnny said, making his voice matter-of-fact, and putting on his best poker face so he wouldn’t give away the fact that he’d gotten a slight introduction to Jess’s soft, smooth breasts. “Like I said, it was cold.”

He met Rafe’s gaze with a shrug.

“She
would
use her blouse on the horses,” Rafe said sheepishly. “If we trust anyone with Bleu, it’s Jess. Sorry about that, man.”

“It’s okay,” Johnny said. “I’ve been warned about you Callahans and your matchmaking.”

Rafe laughed again. “No, sorry she had her top off and it wasn’t for you, dude. Come on. Let’s hit that gingerbread.”

Johnny followed Rafe, wishing gingerbread could warm him up half as effectively as Jess had.

B
Y NIGHT FALL
, Johnny was amazed by how Rancho Diablo came alive. Christmas seemed painted on the sky. Fiona had silvery and gold decorations every
where. There was even a Santa’s village jump house for the children.

“Santa will be by later to visit,” Fiona said. “Don’t tell anyone.”

Johnny took a grapefruit-size silver ornament from her and hung it on a yucca plant. “I won’t.”

“You don’t mind keeping my secrets?”

He hung a silver-and-red candy cane from the eave she indicated. “Your secret is none of my business.”

Fiona nodded. “Can you pass the word to Jess about keeping the cave under wraps?”

“Ah,” Johnny said, “actually, you might want to do that. I may not get much of a chance to talk to her tonight.”

“Oh?” Fiona’s bright gaze latched on to him.

“I’ll probably be busy with my date. It’s hard to talk about caves when you’re with a date.”

Fiona’s face fell. “A date!”

He shrugged. “Just a girl from town.”

She handed him another candy cane. “Any friend of yours is welcome at Rancho Diablo.”

“Thanks.” He could practically feel her good manners cracking as she tried not to demand who his date was. “I decided to bring Wendy Collins. I met her at the library.”

“Wendy Collins!” Fiona blinked. “I just
bet
you met her at the library!”

He tried not to smile. It was the same thing he’d thought about the gorgeous brunette when she’d thrown herself at him
outside
the library. So it was a bit of a stretch.

“Oh, Johnny.” Fiona looked at him sadly. “I am so
sorry Wendy got her hooks into you. She’s been married four times. Maybe five. No one is really sure.” The older woman shook her head. “We tried to tally it up through the marriage license department, but she’s pretty wily. Anyway, I thought you were squiring Jess to the party?”

“I think she had other plans.” Johnny hung another candy cane and grinned. “Don’t worry about me, Fiona. I’m a dedicated bachelor.”

“So I’ve heard.” She patted him on the back and trundled off, looking a bit deflated.

Which took a little of the fun from the evening for him, but he wasn’t sure why. He didn’t want to be a matchmaker’s victim.

Although he was willing to admit he’d probably enjoy the Christmas party a lot more with Jess than Wendy. Still, a man did what a man had to do to please a girl—and Jess had wanted no part of them going together.

“So I’m off to pick up Wendy,” he muttered, hoping the much married, flirty librarian didn’t intend to try to make him husband number five.

A
N HOUR LATER
, Johnny arrived at the party with a very enthusiastic, scantily clad Wendy the librarian. She had thrown herself into his arms the second he’d walked into her entryway, declaring herself so attracted to him that maybe he’d like a pre-party appetizer. She’d kissed him like she meant business, and while the experience hadn’t been awful, it was one he didn’t want repeated.

He couldn’t stop thinking about Jess, who had
likely never offered herself to a man she’d just met.
I wouldn’t say no if she offered, though.

“Mulled cider? Champagne? Something I can fix you, Johnny? Wendy?” Rafe asked, walking by with a silver tray full of drinks he was passing out to guests who’d already put in an order.

“Whiskey?” Johnny asked, and Wendy giggled.

“Yes, get my date nice and loose,” she told Rafe. “Make it a double. And I’ll have a Bloody Mary, please.”

Johnny’s scalp did a little dance under his hat. He felt as if he were in the presence of a black widow spider. “Save me,” he muttered to Rafe when he returned with their drinks.

Rafe laughed. “She’s harmless,” he said comfortingly.

Johnny took a big gulp of his whiskey. “I’m pretty sure she’s not. And I think she’s got plans for me later. If you don’t find my body, please look for it in the library stacks or something.”

Rafe chuckled and moved on with his tray. Wendy pasted herself up against Johnny’s side, smiling with Christmas-red lips, and batting her big eyes at him. “We should take a walk under the stars, big guy.”

He was about to reply something to the effect that he needed to stay close by to watch his nieces before they went to bed, when Jess walked in with a big, tall man dressed in a uniform. At first Johnny thought perhaps the guy had dressed in costume for the party—then he realized Jess’s date was some kind of law enforcement officer.

And she looked gorgeous.

Johnny scarfed down another slug of his whiskey.

Some men might not like redheads, but he sure did. Jess’s fiery hair was up in a ponytail, twined with tinsel. She was smiling at everyone, seemingly relaxed. Her deep green skirt was short and sexy, her white blouse cut to reveal her arms and a little bit of freckle-speckled chest.

The whiskey wasn’t helping. She was with another man—and Johnny was pretty certain his Christmas Eve was going to be more like Halloween, replete with unfortunate tricks.

“D
ON’T TELL ANYONE
you’re my cousin,” Jess said as Gage followed her to the party at Rancho Diablo. “At least not tonight.”

“Sure.” He grinned. “Is that the caveman over there?”

“Yes.” Jess turned to wave at Aberdeen so she wouldn’t stare at Johnny’s too-hot date. Wherever had he run across Wendy Collins? Oh, he was sleeping with her for certain. Wendy had never met a man she didn’t want to—

“Jess!” Fiona gave her a big hug. “You look lovely! And who is this big, strong man?”

Jess forced herself to smile. “Fiona, I’d like to introduce you to Gage Phillips. From Hell’s Colony, Texas.”

Fiona gave him a thorough once-over. Jess held her breath.

“Welcome, Gage Phillips from Hell’s Colony,” Fiona said. “I’m pretty sure we’ve bought a steer or two from there. I’ll have to ask my boys.”

Gage nodded easily. “We have a fair amount of ranchers around Hell’s Colony.”

Fiona studied him for a moment longer, then said, “Jess, I’m so happy you brought a date. Please make yourself at home, Gage. I’m certain my boys will be over to introduce themselves to you soon.”

Jess felt as if she’d passed the inquisition with flying colors. “Your house looks like a winter wonderland, Fiona. It’s beautiful.”

“Thank you.” Their hostess gave Gage another speculative glance. “And just so you know, the mistletoe is hung over that door.”

Gage followed her pointing finger, his smile steady. Jess felt as if her own smile was frozen on her face so hard it might crack.

“Yes, ma’am,” Gage said. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“And help yourself to the cheese ball and cookies, too. One of the fellows should be around with a tray anytime now. Have a good time. And remember, the scavenger hunt starts at nine!”

Fiona went off, and the tension slowly ebbed out of Jess. “Whew. That was awkward.”

“But just like you said. She is trying to fix you up. I think your hostess is disappointed you brought me.”

“That was the goal.” Jess’s gaze slipped over to Johnny. Wendy had her arms wrapped around one of his, practically cementing herself to his big, strong body. Jess began to steam as jealousy went snaking through her. The very fact that Johnny had suggested they bring dates made sense now. Wendy was perfect for him. Every man liked a woman who paid a lot of
attention to him, and Wendy was piling it on by the shovelful.

It rather hurt Jess’s feelings.

“Are you sure he didn’t want to come with you? He keeps glancing over here,” Gage murmured.

“I’m sure,” she said. “I was warning him about how the matchmakers would think they’d have a super-fast success on their hands after we’d spent the night together in a cave, when he suggested the obvious solution was to come to the party with other people.”

Johnny’s plan was succeeding wildly. Jess didn’t feel pressure anymore.

All she felt was jealousy stabbing her.

“Too bad,” Gage said. “With all this mistletoe around.”

“Very funny,” Jess said. “Let me introduce you to the wild boys of Diablo. No doubt you’ll fit right in.”

T
HE CHILDREN BOUNCED
in the bounce house, and got to sit in Santa’s lap. This year Santa was played by a recovered Burke, who seemed to be enjoying his role to the max, stuffed into a red suit with lots of colored candy in stockings to give out. Fiona stood by, a veritable Mrs. Claus, kissing each of her little girls as they tottered up to take their turn with the white-bearded Santa.

At the end of the visits, Santa stole a hearty kiss from his wife, and everyone cheered as Fiona fluttered off, a little embarrassed by all the attention.

“Warm cookies for everyone, and then the scavenger hunt begins!” she called, hurrying to the kitchen.

“You could do worse than marry into this place,”
Gage said, following Jess. “The lady knows how to have fun, even if she is a busybody, or whatever you called her.”

“High-stakes matchmaker.” Jess stole another glance at Johnny, who was lagging behind the group. Wendy was trying to pull him into another room. Jess could only imagine what was going on. Her spirits sinking, she went into the kitchen to eat gingerbread she didn’t really want. Not now. What she wanted was to be doing what Wendy was no doubt doing to Johnny at this very moment—planting one on him like Santa had just laid on Mrs. Claus.

T
HE CHILDREN WERE SENT
to bed down the road at Aberdeen’s house, and then the adult fun began.

“Welcome to our annual scavenger hunt,” Fiona told the gathering of about a hundred people. “There are treasures scattered all over the house, and even hidden on the grounds.” She grinned, loving the limelight. It seemed she glanced at Jess as she said, “Pay careful attention to the directions in the burlap stockings Burke is handing out. And I will warn you that over the years, there have been partygoers who haven’t been able to locate their treasure. So good luck!”

The guests dashed off. Jess sighed, then reached into her stocking. “Mine says ‘Go down in the darkness and pull out a plum.’”

Gage smiled. “Mine says ‘Up on the housetop, find your true love.’”

Jess’s brows shot up. “Who is your true love?”

“I don’t have one here. Clearly, my clue has a hidden meaning.” Gage grinned. “Good luck, cousin.”

“Shh!”

“Sorry.” He went off, whistling.

Curious, Jess glanced at her clue again. “The only place plums are in the darkness has to be the cellar.” She looked around the kitchen, but everyone had scattered. She hadn’t seen Johnny and Wendy when Fiona gave out the hunt instructions. No doubt he was still getting his face sucked like peppermint candy. Jess sighed, and pushed open the door to the basement.