It's a Christmas Thing (The Christmas Tree Ranch #2)(22)

After they helped clear the table and loaded the dishwasher, Rush kept his promise to show Clara the horses. The day was sunny, but the morning air was bitter cold. Realizing that her thin blue coat wouldn’t protect her, Rush bundled the little girl into a blanket and carried her outside in his arms.

Bucket came bounding out of the barn to meet them, wagging his tail and standing on his hind legs for attention. Clara reached down to pet him, giggling as he licked her fingers. “He likes me!”

“He likes your fingers,” Rush teased. “They probably taste like syrup.”

“Why did you name him Bucket?”

“We didn’t name him. That’s just the name he came with.”

“It’s a silly name.”

“I know. But he’s a smart dog. He can make the horses and cows go right where they’re supposed to. Ask Travis to tell you about the time Bucket chased a skunk under the back porch and got sprayed. That’s a good story.”

Clara giggled. “What happened to the skunk?”

“It ran away. Travis gave Bucket a good washing, but he smelled like a skunk for weeks.”

Clara giggled. “I want to see the horses,” she said.

With Bucket tagging behind them, Rush carried her into the barn and held her up to the gates of the box stalls to see Chip and Patch and stroke their necks with her small hands. She’d been around horses when Rush had his veterinary practice in Phoenix, but she was amazed at the size of the two huge draft animals. “They’re so big! Do they really pull Santa’s sleigh?” she asked.

“In the parade, they do.”

“But they can’t pull the sleigh on Christmas Eve ’cause they’re too big to fly. That’s why Santa needs reindeer. Right, Daddy?”

“Smart thinking.” Rush wasn’t about to shoot down her childish belief. She would figure things out for herself when she was older.

“Can we play in the snow now?” she asked as he carried her back toward the house.

“Maybe later.” Much as he wanted to spend time with Clara, Rush had appointments to keep—a follow-up on a pregnant mare, a litter of puppies that needed vaccinations, and a milk cow with an abscessed leg. And that was only for starters. He had yet to reply to the messages that had come in while he was away. He couldn’t let his work slide when people needed him. And he couldn’t ask his partners to watch her during this busy season.

“How would you like to ride around with me while I do my work?” he asked her. “You’ll get to see some animals.”

She sighed. After all, she’d spent most of yesterday in the Hummer. But Rush could tell she wanted to please him. “Okay. But I really want to play in the snow.”

“You’ll need warm clothes to play in the snow. For now, let’s go inside.” Rush carried her into the house, set her on the couch, unwrapped the blanket, and took her coat. In her fuzzy sweater and tutu skirt, with her ragged ponytail askew, she was an adorable waif. But how could he show up at his clients’ homes with a little ragamuffin who looked like a candidate for the child welfare office?

“We’ll need to change your clothes and do your hair before we go,” he said. “Let’s see what you’ve got in your suitcase.” He followed her into her tent and sat on the sleeping bag while she opened her suitcase. Finding her something to wear shouldn’t be a problem, Rush told himself. Surely Annie would have packed some sensible clothes for her.

One by one, she lifted out the contents of the suitcase—a pink Sleeping Beauty princess gown, complete with a little tiara; the black-cat costume she’d worn last year on Halloween; a red Ariel wig and a mermaid tail; a pair of child-size high-heeled sandals with elastic straps; a polka-dot swimsuit; a Minnie Mouse nightgown, and several toy-sized outfits for Snowflake. No socks. No underwear. No pants or coveralls. No toothbrush or hairbrush. Rush’s heart sank.

“Did you pack your suitcase all by yourself, Clara?” he asked her.

“Uh-huh. Annie was crying ’cause her dad is sick, so I told her I could do it.” She grinned, her gaze seeking his approval. “And I did. See, I brought all my favorite things. Can I wear my princess dress to go in the car with you?”

Rush surrendered with a shrug. Why not, as long as she was happy? “Sure,” he said. “But if you’re going to go outside and play in the snow you’ll need some new clothes.”

Clara clapped her hands. “We can go shopping! I love shopping. When can we go?”

Now what? Rush knew nothing about shopping for a little girl. How would he know what to choose? And how was he going to help her try things on in the women’s dressing room?

“When can we go shopping, Daddy?” Clara repeated her question, more urgently this time.

Rush did his best to stall. “I’ll have to figure that out. I’ve never shopped for girl things. I might need to get some help.”

“Why don’t you call Maggie?” Travis had come into the house just in time to overhear their conversation. “I told her about your getting Clara for the holidays. She said to let her know if you need anything. Clothes shopping for a little girl should be right up her alley.”

“But has she got time?” Rush asked. “Being mayor isn’t a job you can just walk away from, especially with the Christmas celebration coming up.”