Page 7 of Her Cowboy Christmas
I clear my throat.“Well, I may not be alone this year.”
“Cole Hunter!Did you meet someone?”she asks excitedly.
“Yeah.”I grin.
“What’s her name?Where did you meet her?What does she do?When can I meet her?”Mary asks, firing off questions faster than I can process them.
“Her name’s Blair.She works at the bank here in town, and that’s where we met.”
“Oh!I’m so happy for you!Where was your first date?How long have you two been together?Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“Well… we haven’t gone out yet.Not exactly,” I admit.
Silence greets me.
“I know it sounds crazy, but she’s it for me, Mary.I knew it as soon as I saw her.”
“I’m happy for you, Cole.”
“You think that I’m crazy,” I groan.
She chuckles.“No, I believe you.You were never interested in any of the girls in town.Never even had a crush on anyone.If you say that Blair is the one for you, I know she is.”
“Thanks,” I whisper.
“Let me know when I can meet her.”
I laugh.“I will.I promise.Now, tell me how things are going in Silver Bell Hollow.”
I sit in my recliner as she tells me about the ranch and the holiday preparations.I listen, smiling as she tells me about what’s been happening on the ranch where I grew up.
I was the youngest of the boys during my time with Mary and Christopher and don’t recall much of my life before I was placed there.I remember being worried and uneasy when I first arrived at the ranch, but that didn’t last long.Every other boy there was in the same situation as I was.We were all abandoned or orphaned.We were all alone… until the Maas’s took us in.
When I turned eighteen, I decided to leave Montana and see the world.I joined the Army and became a Green Beret.In the military, I found another family.I grew close to my friends during boot camp and deployments.I was happy.Settled.
I was an Army Green Beret until about a year ago when I got shot.I was deployed overseas when it happened and had to be flown to the base in Germany for treatment.When I came out of surgery, I knew my military career was over.I could see it on the faces of my friends in the room, and I ended up spending my recovery trying to figure out a new plan for my life.
So, I fell back on what I knew and bought a ranch.
“Love seems to be in the air,” Mary murmurs.
I raise an eyebrow, picturing her smiling.“Is that so?”
“Oh, yeah.Grady, Dallas, Nate, and you.Everyone seems to be falling in love this Christmas.”
“Really?Well, I can’t wait to meet everyone.”
“You know they’re all here for Christmas this year…” She trails off.
“Not this year, Mary, but soon.I’ll bring Blair home soon.”
“You’d better.All right, I’ll let you go, but don’t be a stranger.You know you’re always welcome here.Anytime.”
“I know.I love you.”
“Love you, too, Cole.Take care.”
We end the call, and I smile as I think about my found family and how different next Christmas might be if we’re all falling in love and settling down.
