It's a Christmas Thing (The Christmas Tree Ranch #2)(51)

“Tracy, there’s more than one way to become a parent,” Maggie said. “There’s always adoption. And there are new medical procedures—”

“And there are attractive, fertile women in this town who’d jump at the chance to do it the old-fashioned way. In all fairness, I should step aside and give them a chance. After what happened with Clara, Rush deserves children of his own.”

Maggie glanced at her watch, finished her coffee, and rose from her chair. “I need to go,” she said. “But give Rush the benefit of the doubt. Tell him. The longer you wait, the harder it will be.”

Tracy walked her friend to the door. “Call me anytime you need to talk,” Maggie said, gathering up the spare gowns. “I mean it. I’m here for you, Tracy.”

“I know you are. Thank you so much.” Tracy hugged her and watched her drive away. Maggie was right. She’d already kept her secret from Rush for too long. She had to take a chance. She had to tell him.

But when would she find the time and the courage?

*

A few days had passed since Rush had mailed Clara’s letter to Santa. He’d taken her into the post office with him, bought stamps, and let her drop the envelope into the slot. “Do you think Santa will read it?” she’d asked him.

“Santa reads everything,” he’d replied. But even if Santa were real, with the power to fly through the air and deliver presents to every child on earth, there was no way he could give Clara what she wanted for Christmas.

Rush had racked his brain trying to figure out a way to make her happy. Bringing the kitten to the ranch wasn’t out of the question, especially since Travis had passed on Maggie’s news that Bucket would be fine with a cat. But Clara wouldn’t be able to take Snowflake back to Phoenix, and that would break her heart.

As for the rest, short of begging Sonya on his knees, which Rush was prepared to do, his hands were tied.

With Christmas a little more than two weeks away, the season peak that could make or break the tree business was upon the ranch. People from all over the county were swarming to Hank’s tree lot or out to the ranch to buy fresh, fragrant trees that had been cut within the past few days. Keeping the supply in stock was a full-time job for the partners, and Rush had his vet practice calls to make as well.

Fortunately, Clara had made friends with the family on the neighboring ranch. Jubal and Gracie McFarland had a nine-year-old daughter, a two-year-old boy, a baby, and a little white poodle that Clara had loved on sight. The McFarlands were happy to include her in their lively family while Rush was working. And Rush would repay them the next time one of their animals needed care.

Busy as he was, Rush called Tracy almost every day, even if the call was little more than a quick hello. They hadn’t seen each other since the day he’d picked up Clara at her house. He found himself missing her even more than he’d expected to. That was why, when a midday cancellation came up, Rush jumped at the chance to spend some time with her.

“How about a quick lunch date?” he asked when she picked up his call. “The crowd at Buckaroo’s should be thinning out by now.”

He sensed a beat of hesitation before she replied. But when she said, “Hey, that sounds great. I’m starved,” he dismissed his worry.

“I’ll be by in about ten minutes,” he said.

Buckaroo’s, a burger and pizza joint on the corner of Main Street, had a down-at-the-heels look about it. The bulbs on the string of Christmas lights above the counter were dulled with smoke and grease, and the aging speakers that blared country Christmas music needed replacing; but there was comfort in the sameness of the place. And the food was always good.

The lunch crowd had cleared, giving Rush and Tracy their choice of booths. They slid into the one in the farthest corner, where they could talk.

“So, have you found homes for the kittens?” he asked, making small talk as they sipped sodas and waited for their pizza.

“All but Snowflake. Maureen, from work, called me yesterday. Her little granddaughter wants a kitten, so Midnight is spoken for. Just like that. They’re so cute. I’ll miss them when they’re gone.”

“But you’re keeping the mother?”

“Oh, yes. Rainbow has found a place in my heart. She even caught the mouse that startled me under the sink.”

“You could keep Snowflake, too. The cats would keep each other company. And at least Clara would know where he was.”

“I’ve thought about that. Snowflake would be safer with me than on the ranch. But Rush, there has to be a way for Clara to keep him.”

“She asked for a miracle. That’s what it’s going to take.”

“Couldn’t Andre just take allergy pills, or stay away from the cat?”

“Maybe. But Andre isn’t the accommodating sort. Everything has to revolve around him and what he wants. He was the one who insisted that I be kept away from Clara. Didn’t want the competition.” Rush gave himself a mental slap. “Sorry, I promised myself I wouldn’t put him down. He is Clara’s father, after all.”

Just then the server appeared with their pizza. Tracy had said she was hungry, but she nibbled at the single slice she’d put on her plate as if forcing herself to eat. Something, Rush sensed, was wrong. He’d suspected it earlier but dismissed the thought. Now the worry returned.