It's a Christmas Thing (The Christmas Tree Ranch #2)(58)

“All right. Just be careful. Pick him up gently so Rainbow will know she can trust you.”

Clara tiptoed over to the chair, eased the white kitten away from the others, and gathered him into her arms. Rainbow raised her head. “Don’t worry, Rainbow, I’ll bring him back,” she said.

Tracy walked with her back to the bedroom, helped her onto the bed, and covered her with the small quilt. A few minutes later, when she went back to check on her, Clara was fast asleep with Snowflake curled in the spoon of her body.

Moving quietly, Tracy went into her home office and sat down at her computer. Something Clara had said earlier had given her an idea for a gift.

A quick search on her computer brought up just what she wanted—a beautiful snow globe with Santa and his sleigh inside. Using her credit card, she chose express shipping and placed the order. The snow globe would be something that Clara could have in Phoenix. When she made the snow swirl, she would be reminded of Christmas Tree Ranch and the people who loved her.

*

It was after 3:00 when Rush parked outside Tracy’s house and climbed the front steps. Between cutting and hauling trees, grooming the sleigh-ride trail, repairing the harnesses, and polishing the hardware on the sleigh till it gleamed, he ached in every joint and muscle. The snow was a blessing to the ranch. But the popular sleigh rides, which would continue through the New Year if the snow lasted, doubled the season’s workload.

He rapped lightly on the door, hoping that Clara would still be napping. This morning’s brief time with Tracy hadn’t been enough.

She opened the door, dressed in jeans and a faded sweatshirt, her hair loose and her face glowing. Just seeing her smile made the drive on treacherous roads worth his time.

He was head over heels in love, and it felt damned good.

Stepping inside, he closed the door softly behind him, shed his coat on the floor, and caught her in his arms. Their kiss was long and sweet, leaving them both hungry for more. But what they really wanted would have to be saved for another time.

She stepped back with a mischievous smile. “I see you still have your head,” she said.

It took a beat for him to remember what he’d said about Conner that morning. “Just barely,” he said. “I threatened him with mutiny if I didn’t get a break. How’s Clara?”

“Still napping. I think we wore her out.”

“Yes, I saw the snow angels and the Fox and Geese game. I haven’t played that since I was a kid.” His gaze wandered to the couch and the fire. “Now that looks inviting. I can’t stay long, but I’ve been fantasizing about you and that couch and that fireplace all day.”

“So have I,” she said. “But first, come down the hall with me. You need to see something.” She touched a finger to her lips. “Not a sound, now.”

Walking quietly, he followed her down the hall to her bedroom. The door stood partway open. From where he stood, Rush could see Clara sleeping like a little dark-haired angel, with her arm around the white kitten. The sight of her raised a lump in his throat. There was nothing he wouldn’t do to make that little girl happy. But considering what she wanted, she might as well have wished for the moon.

He followed Tracy back to the couch and settled her next to him with her head on his shoulder. The fire lent a cozy glow to the room. Rush rested his boots on the hearth and let the tension of the day ease out of him.

“I can get you something to drink,” Tracy said. “Would you like a beer?”

“Don’t you dare move,” he said. “I could stay just like this forever.”

Tracy snuggled closer. “Clara spent half the afternoon making Christmas cards for everybody. You, Travis and Conner, Maggie, the McFarlands . . . I think she even made one for Bucket. I put them in a bag for her to take home. Don’t let her forget them.”

“I won’t.” Rush sighed. “Damn it, I wish I could give her what she wants. I hate to see her heart broken on Christmas morning when Santa doesn’t deliver her wish.”

Tracy stirred and looked up at him. “But she understands that it’s only a wish, Rush. That’s what she told me today. She’s not expecting it to come true.”

Rush gave her a surprised look. “Then why did she write the letter?”

“She wanted to tell Santa her wish. But as she said to me, Santa can only bring toys and things. He can’t make people change.”

“Damn, I had no idea,” Rush said.

“She’s a very wise little girl. You should be proud of her.”

“I am.” Rush shook his head. “I was just wondering how two people as shallow as Sonya and Andre could have produced a child like Clara.”

Tracy squeezed his hand. “She had you to give her a good start. And she had Cecil and Annie. She made cards for them, too. If you have their address, maybe you could help her mail them.”

“I do, and I’ll be happy to. Cecil and Annie would love those cards.” Rush sat in silence for a long moment, gazing into the fire.

“Are you all right?” Tracy asked. “You look perplexed.”

Rush exhaled slowly. “I’m fine. It’s just that I’ve wasted time beating myself up because I couldn’t give Clara what she wanted. Now I need something real to give her. I want her to remember this Christmas forever. Something tells me I’m going to need your help.”