Page 36 of Evergreen Christmas

Roxie drew to a stop inches from Jordyn’s knees, placed her small hands on Jordyn’s shoulders and grinned down at her. “Uncle Tucker said if we brought you firewood, you might let me meet Star.” She craned her neck, peering over Jordyn’s shoulder toward the white mare that frolicked in the back lot. “Is that her? Is that Star running?”

“Yep,” Jordyn said. “That’s Star, all right. And she’s pretty revved up this morning. This cold mountain air has put an extra kick in her step and she’s enjoying a good run.”

“How’s her time?” Tucker drawled as he ambled over to join his niece.

Jordyn shook her head. “I’m not timing her. We’re semiretired now, so Star just runs however far and fast as she likes, whenever she feels like it.”

“That’s a good life for a retired racehorse,” he said. “How long did you two tour the circuit?”

“Oh, I’ve been at it since I was eighteen, so seven years, give or take a month or two.”

“Same here,” Tucker said, grinning. “Don’t know if Nate told you or not, but I rode bulls for several years. Competed all over the country and placed in a few competitions before I settled back in Noel to help him out at Frosted Firs Ranch.”

“Really? I’m impressed.” Jordyn winked. “How many buckles did you win?”

“Oh,” Tucker drawled, a flirtatious gleam lighting his eyes as he wiggled his eyebrows. “It wasn’t actually the buckles I was after.”

Jordyn laughed. “I see. I tell you what, you and your brother couldn’t be more different if you tried.”

Tucker chuckled, but a wry note entered his voice. “Believe me, I’m aware of that.”

Oh, boy. The crestfallen look on Tucker’s face was enough to prove she’d hit a nerve.

“I . . . I didn’t mean anything by that,” Jordyn said hastily. “I’m sorry if I—”

“No worries.” Tucker’s charming grin returned full force and he waved off her concern. “I’m well aware that Nate and I are polar opposites and”—he cast a surreptitious glance at Roxie—“that’s the main reason I’m here. Aside from the fact,” he added in a louder voice, “that Roxie has been beggin’ to get an up-close peek at a famous barrel racer.” He reached out and ruffled Roxie’s blond bangs. “Haven’t you, kid?”

Roxie nodded, her eyes clinging to Star’s movements as the mare dashed across the back lot. “Yes, sir.” She peeled her attention away from Star and blinked up at Jordyn, a hopeful expression on her face. “Can I see Star up close, please?”

Jordyn tapped Roxie’s nose, a wave of affection washing over her at the eager plea in the little girl’s eyes. “Of course, you can. Star loves meeting new people and you’re always welcome to visit her anytime you feel like it.”

Taking Roxie’s hand in hers, Jordyn led her further into the back lot and whistled. Star, still galloping across the field, changed direction, then trotted over, slowing to a relaxed walk when she reached Jordyn. Stopping by Jordyn’s side, the mare nudged Jordyn’s chest with her broad head.

“She comes when you whistle!” Roxie’s wide eyes roved over the white mare slowly, a bright smile appearing.

“That she does,” Jordyn said. “Took me a while to train her, though. She was pretty ornery when I got her, but she came around eventually.”

“Is she fun to ride?” Roxie asked.

“You bet!” Jordyn reached out and tugged the little girl’s ponytail gently. “But it can be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing.”

“Do you think I might could ride her someday?”

Jordyn furrowed her brow and touched her finger to her lips as if in thought, then said to Roxie, “I think we might can make that happen. It’d be best if you two got to know each other first, though. That way Star’ll be familiar with you before your first ride with her and she’ll be much more relaxed.”

“When can I start getting to know her?”

“How about now?”

A full-blown smile, full of delight, broke out across Roxie’s face. “Yes, please!”

Jordyn reached into the pocket of her jacket, pulled out a small plastic bag of apple slices and handed one to Roxie. “Here.” She cupped Roxie’s hand in hers and raised it toward Star. “Let’s give her a snack, shall we?”

As she picked up the sweet scent of apples, Star’s nose worked overtime, searching for her favorite treat. She ducked her head and nibbled at the apple slice in Roxie’s hand, making the little girl giggle.

Roxie squealed. “That tickles!”

Jordyn laughed. “Yeah. I have a hard time keeping a straight face when I feed her, too. And you’re doing an excellent job, by the way.”

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