Page 32 of The Cowboy's Miracle Baby

She nodded. “Or why she was here. Alone.”

“Do you think they ever adopted her? The Simons?”

“No idea,” Cami said, “but if not, she must have been close to aging out of the system. I’ll try to track them down tomorrow. Obviously, figuring this out isn’t going to be a straight line. But enough about Tara. I’m sorry for sidelining our decorating! Please. Let’s just enjoy the evening and get these trees done!”

“Good,” Sarah said. “Dinner’s almost ready. Oh, that tree is looking so beautiful.”

Indeed, Gus thought, many hands made quick work of tree trimming. One tree had all the popcorn strings and family ornaments on it, one with relics of Hardesty Christmases past and the other was a collection of hand-blown glass animals, in all different shapes and sizes, representing the ranch and everything on it. There were cattle and horses, chickens and goats, cats, dogs, and even rabbits. All interspersed with delicate ribbon that glistened in the white LED lights.

Eloise was in heaven, finishing up hanging her candy canes as the puppies followed her around the trees, occasionally knocking ornaments off with their wagging tails. She would brush their faces with a gentle pet before rehanging the ornament and then gently lecture them about their miscreant tails.

He’d thought about getting her a dog as a companion for years and had put it off because of their constant traveling. But dogs were technically as portable as children, and he’d put it off for long enough. This Christmas was as good a time as any to find a pup for her. And Lissa would approve. Dog lover that she was, she’d always planned on having a few dogs to raise alongside what should have been their big family. Now, down to just the two of them. Three if he counted Luke.

The older she got the more Ella looked like her mother. Only recently had that hot, quick sting when he noticed stopped happening. In fact, he was grateful now that so much of her mama still lived inside Ella.

“If I were to guess,” Cami said with a warm smile, “I’d say you were thinking about stealing one of those candy canes.”

“You think anyone would care?” She shook her head as he placed the last ornament in his hand on the tree—a clear, glass-blown goose. “Actually, I was just pondering the perfect present for Ella this year.”

“And did you decide on one?”

“Nailing it is not easy. You know how it is with kids. And after church today, she wanted to go see Santa at the Graff.”

Cami tilted a look at him. “But…really? I thought—”

“No, you’re right. Shedoesn’tbelieve. She went for the sake of a friend who does. But the odd thing was what happened once she got there. She actually told the old coot what she wanted. She whispered something in his ear about her Christmas wish, even though she advised him in no uncertain terms that she knew he wasn’t real.”

“Huh. I know that Santa. Don Knowles. He’s really good. He’s been there at the Graff for years.”

“Good, as in authentic-looking?”

“Real beard, twinkle in his eye,” she said. “All that.”

“Yeah. That’s the one.” A disconcerted frown creased his brow. “He actually winked at me.”

“Really?” Cami laughed. “And after Ella told him what she wanted? I don’t suppose he shared that information with you?”

“No. No, I have zero idea what she told him. Some deep, between-them secret. I mean, is that even ethical? And she refused to tell me.”

“But you think you’ve figured out what it was she wished for? I mean, I don’t mean to brag, but I do have a mainline to what little girls her age are playing with these days.” She grinned. “Teacher.”

“Maybe. I think I know something she’d like. Something she’s been asking for a long time.” He turned to look at Ella, who was having a deep conversation with both Lolly and Pippa.

Sarah called them all to dinner then and the group started moving in the direction of the dining room and the long table laden with food.

Cami leaned conspiratorially closer. “TBC. To be continued. Whatever it is, if it’s from you, I’m sure she’ll love it.”

They gathered for a long, unhurried meal that was every bit as delicious as it smelled. Smoked, roasted beef, something called Yorkshire pudding that he’d never had before, mashed potatoes and gravy; vegetables that Sarah claimed to have grown in her kitchen garden last summer. And to top it all off, there was a cinnamony apple crisp and gingerbread cookies for dessert.

The dinner conversation had ranged widely from Izzy and Will’s upcoming wedding to Ray’s plans to move in with Sarah when Will and Izzy would take over his old ranch house, to the upcoming dress rehearsal for the pageant Cami was directing. And the grown-ups included Ella in the conversation, asking her opinion on the angel costume she would be wearing.

Gus watched her interact with the Hardestys. It felt easy. It was a rare thing she felt this comfortable with strangers. Sitting beside her, Ryan entertained her with the adventures of the puppies and the trouble they inevitably found themselves in.

When everyone had finished eating, Gus moaned, polishing off the last bite of apple crisp. “Let me guess, Sarah. You’re going to be doing the cooking for this guest ranch enterprise here on the Hard Eight this spring. I can’t imagine you’d find a better cook.”

She laughed. “No. A cook is all I am—self-taught at that. And honestly, I love doing it for my family and friends, but as a full-time job?No.” She took Ray’s hand, and he rubbed his thumb over hers. “I have other plans. But we’re looking to hire a real chef to create and execute gourmet menus for the guests. If you hear of any.”

“We’ve got some feelers out,” Will told them. “Just a matter of time before the right one comes along.”

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