It's a Christmas Thing (The Christmas Tree Ranch #2)(49)

Minutes later, when Tracy answered the door, Maggie breezed in with her arms full of gowns. “I hope one of these will do,” she said, laying them over the back of a chair. “I’m a big girl, at least two sizes larger than you are, so it might take some stitching. Do you sew?”

“Nothing fancy. I don’t have a machine, but I can thread a needle and baste a hem.”

“That’ll do.” Maggie said. “Heavens, it smells wonderful in here.”

“Clara and I were baking cookies this morning, before Rush picked her up. I put a box aside for you to take home. Would you like to have some, with a cup of coffee?”

“Let’s try the gowns first.” Maggie slipped off her jacket and tossed it on the coatrack. “I was just going to leave them, but I’ve got some time and, if you don’t mind, I thought it would be fun to see how you look in them. I brought all three of mine, just in case.”

“These are beautiful.” Tracy lifted each gown from the stack. “Did you make them yourself?”

Maggie laughed. “Hardly. There are women in town who make their Christmas money sewing Western ball gowns. But you have to get your order in a couple of months early. You might want to think about that for next year.”

Tracy sighed. “Maggie, I have no idea whether I’ll even be here next year.”

Maggie looked startled. “But you and Rush—everyone who knows you both is hoping you’ll get together. The two of you make such a great couple. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing right now. But there are . . . complications.”

“Anything you want to talk about? You can count on me to keep things to myself.”

“I appreciate the offer, but I’ve got a lot to work out,” Tracy said. “For now, you can help me try on these lovely gowns.” She scooped them up in her arms and headed back toward her bedroom.

Following her, Maggie passed Murphy, dozing in his bed. The old dog raised his head and thumped his tail as she bent to pet him. “Hello, old guy. You’re a sweetheart, aren’t you?” She rose. “I didn’t know you had a dog, Maggie.”

“He was Steve’s dog. Steve had him longer than he had me.”

“He’s precious,” Maggie said. “I like dogs.”

“I’ve got cats, too, if you’re interested.”

“I know about the kittens. But as I mentioned before, I’m not a cat person. If you have any that aren’t spoken for, I’ll spread the word.”

“There’s just one, not counting the white one Clara has her heart set on. He’s a little black boy. Full of mischief. Somebody’s bound to love him.”

“If you want, I can put up a notice at work.”

“Thanks. I’ll write one for you. I promised Clara I’d save the white one until Christmas. She’s hoping for a miracle. But if she can’t keep him, he’ll be available, too.” Tracy spread the three gowns on her bed. “Oh, these are gorgeous. I can’t believe you’re letting me borrow one.”

Maggie gave her a smile. “What are friends for?”

The words touched Tracy with unexpected sweetness. She’d needed a friend—and the friend she’d needed had pushed through her resistance and found her.





Chapter 11


All three of the gowns were traditional Old West–style, with high necks, long sleeves, and nipped-in waists. “I have to wear a corset to look good in mine,” Maggie said. “Something tells me you won’t need that.”

Tracy slipped the first dress over her head. It was a sky blue calico with little yellow flowers and a wide ruffle at the bottom that trailed on the floor when she walked. Maggie stood behind her as she studied her reflection in the full-length mirror.

“Great color on you,” Maggie said. “But it’s too big in the waist, and that ruffle would take forever to shorten. Try the green.”

Maggie unzipped the back of the dress, helped Tracy out of it, and handed her the deep jade green gown with black piping. Tracy held it up in front of her. “I don’t need to try this on,” she said. “This is your gown, Maggie. It’s your color and cut to fit your curves. I’ll bet you look just stunning in it.”

“I just brought it for fun, and to give you a choice.” Maggie smiled. “All right, one gown to go, and I’ve saved the best for last. I wore this when I was in high school, and it’s hung in the back of the closet for years. It doesn’t fit me anymore, but I’m betting it will almost fit you.” She lifted a lavender gown, trimmed with ecru lace, from the bed.

“I don’t know what I was thinking, with that color and my red hair,” she said, slipping the gown over Tracy’s head. “But it’ll be perfect on you.”

Tracy gazed at her reflection as Maggie zipped the back of the lavender gown. She looked like someone from a long-past time, with the gauzy fabric floating around her and the high lace collar framing her face.

“Yes!” Maggie took Tracy’s hair, twisted it into a high pompadour, and held it there for effect. “Perfect,” she said. “You’ll just need to take up the hem a few inches. Since I’ll never get into it again, it’s yours.”

“Thank you! I can’t believe you’d give me this. I love it!” Tracy twirled in front of the mirror. “Now, what do you say we take it off and go have some cookies?”