It's a Christmas Thing (The Christmas Tree Ranch #2)(20)

“Hang on.” Setting the suitcase on the porch, Rush scooped a handful of snow off the railing and held it for her. She let go of his coat and poked it with a small, pink finger.

“It’s cold!” She giggled, pulling her finger away, then poking it again. “Does it taste good?”

“It tastes cold and wet, like ice, and it might not be good for you.” Rush tossed the snow away, put Clara down, and picked up her suitcase. “Come on, let’s go inside and meet my friends.”

“Are they nice men?”

“Very nice. Come on.”

She shrank shyly against Rush’s legs, holding Snowflake close as he opened the door and ushered her inside. Travis and Conner were waiting in the kitchen. They greeted her with friendly smiles. “Howdy, Miss Clara.” Conner was all Texas charm, melting away her shyness. “Welcome to the ranch. I’m Conner. Did you have a nice trip?”

“Uh-huh. But it was long.” Clara looked him up and down. “Are you a real cowboy?”

Conner grinned. “I’m as real as they come. Travis here is still learning but he’s coming along. Would you like to be a cowgirl?”

“Uh-huh. But not tonight. I’m kind of tired. Where’s my room?”

“We’ve got a little surprise for you,” Conner said. “Do you like camping?”

She glanced up at Rush, then back at Conner. “I don’t know. I’ve seen people camping on TV. It looks fun. But I’ve never done it. Will we camp in the snow?”

“We don’t have to,” Conner said. “Take a look at this! Your very own cozy camp!”

Travis, who’d been blocking her view of the darkened living room, stepped aside and turned on the light to reveal a blue nylon dome tent pitched in a corner. Rush had never seen the tent before. Conner must have brought it in his trailer when he’d moved to the ranch last year.

Clara hesitated, still uncertain. Glancing at his partners’ faces, Rush could tell how much they’d wanted his little girl to like their surprise.

“Come on, let’s look inside.” Rush took her suitcase, held her hand, and led her to the tent. It wasn’t tall enough for an adult to stand full height, but for a child, there was plenty of room. Inside was a sleeping bag with a pillow, laid on a cushiony air mattress. Next to the makeshift bed was a flashlight and a water bottle, with enough space left on the floor for an open suitcase.

“We wanted you to have your own space,” Travis said. “But the house doesn’t have a spare room. So, we thought the tent might work. You can zip the flap shut when you want to close it. Check it out.”

When Clara hesitated, Rush laid her suitcase on the floor of the tent and nudged her inside. She looked around, then sat on the sleeping bag and bounced up and down on the air mattress. Her small face transformed into a grin. “I like it!” she said. “It’s like my own little house!”

Rush could see relief in the faces of his partners. Making her feel at home had mattered to them.

“So, take off your coat and stay a while,” Conner said. “Would you like some hot cocoa and cinnamon toast before bedtime?”

“Yes, please.” Clara’s manners were impeccable. She was a little princess who’d landed among rough-living cowboys, like Snow White wandering into the cottage of the dwarves.

She handed Snowflake to Travis, shed her coat, and laid it next to her suitcase. She had just stepped out of the tent when the sound of furious scratching and barking came from the far end of the hall. Clara’s dark eyes widened. “Is that Bucket?”

“Yup, and he’s really anxious to meet you,” Travis said. “I locked him in my room because I didn’t want him to knock you over. Hang on, I’ll get him.” He strode down the hall and came back with the wriggling, wagging dog in his arms. Bucket had been bathed and brushed until his black-and-white coat gleamed. Rush hadn’t seen him so clean since last year’s Christmas parade.

Travis tried to hold on to the dog, but Bucket was too much for him. Squirming with eagerness, he worked loose from Travis’s clasp, jumped to the floor, and came bounding to greet the newcomer.

Here comes disaster, Rush thought. But he couldn’t reach Clara in time to snatch her away. Bucket barreled into her, wagging, licking, and making happy little whimpers.

Alarm flashed across Clara’s face. Then, recovering from her fear, she laughed. Reaching out, she hugged the dog, giggling as he licked her face.

It was strange, Rush thought. Bucket didn’t know Clara. There was no reason he should be so happy to see her. He was an older dog—maybe he had loved a child in his unknown past. Or maybe he’d recognized a kindred spirit—small, openhearted, and eager to play.

“Can Bucket stay in my tent with me?” Clara asked.

“Not a good idea,” Travis said. “Tonight, Bucket’s had a bath. But if you let him sleep by you, he’ll think he can do it anytime. You won’t want him in your tent when he’s been rolling in the mud. I’ve moved his bed to my room so he won’t bother you in the night.”

“One thing more,” Rush said, holding up the toy cat. “You’ll need to keep Snowflake in a safe place, or Bucket will want to play with him. Snowflake wasn’t made to be a dog toy.”

“I’ll tuck him in the sleeping bag. He’ll be there when I go to bed.” She took the toy. With Rush keeping Bucket outside the tent, she stuffed it into the sleeping bag.