Santa's Sweetheart (The Christmas Tree Ranch #4)(12)

“But Stella’s getting married, Daddy. What’ll we do if she closes the place?”

Sam raised an eyebrow. “How do you know she’s getting married, Maggie?”

“I saw the diamond ring on her finger the last time we were there. Didn’t you notice it? You’re the sheriff, Daddy. You’re supposed to notice everything.”

Sam gave her a smile. “I can’t notice everything. That’s why I have your sharp eyes to help me.”

The tenderness between father and daughter tugged at Grace’s heart. She remembered how her father had always made her feel like his special princess. Then everything had changed. She could only hope that Maggie would never have to feel the sting of betrayal she’d experienced as a child.

“Maybe I can learn to bake as good as Stella,” Maggie said. “Then we won’t need to spend money at the bakery.”

“Do you know how to cook, Maggie?” Grace asked her.

“Not yet. But we have this big red and white cookbook that was my grandma’s. It has everything in it—even pictures. I figure that I can read what to do and then just do it. Next year I’m going to make Thanksgiving dinner, with turkey and real pumpkin pie.”

“This year we had TV dinners,” Sam admitted. “And frozen pumpkin pie—still frozen.”

“But that was ’cause Daddy had to work.” Even with so much talking, Maggie had managed to finish her shake. “What did you do for Thanksgiving, Miss Chapman?”

“My roommates and I fixed a little dinner and invited a few friends. If I’d known, I would’ve asked you both to come.”

“Maybe we can ask you to dinner next year,” Maggie said. “Daddy, I’ve got an idea. When we leave here, we can go get our Christmas tree. I bet Miss Chapman would like to come with us.”

Oh, no! Grace felt the pull of the adorable little manipulator reeling her in. She laid her fork next to her empty plate and shrugged into the coat she’d left to rest on her shoulders. “I really need to get home. I’ve got lessons to prepare, laundry to do . . .”

“Oh, please come!” Maggie begged. “It’ll be so much fun! There’ll be Christmas lights and music and everything! And you can pick out a tree for our class. You know that all the kids want a tree in the room.”

The part about the tree got Grace thinking. The school would have a tree in the front hall, but the budget didn’t cover trees for the classrooms. Any teacher who wanted a tree would have to provide her own. Grace knew her young students were excited about decorating a class tree, and she didn’t mind the idea of paying for one. But with only a small car—a small wrecked car, she reminded herself—she had no way of getting a tree to the school. Maggie had just offered her a solution, but it would mean spending more time with this appealing father and daughter—the last thing she needed.

As if she didn’t need another reminder, Sam opened his wallet to pay for their food. Grace couldn’t help noticing the photo of a pretty woman with red hair like Maggie’s. The photo in its plastic sleeve had been placed where he would see it anytime he opened the wallet. She remembered what Wynette had mentioned—that the sheriff was still mourning his wife.

No, this man was definitely not available.

And neither was she.

*

Sam had yet to weigh in on Maggie’s request to go tree shopping. “We can always go tomorrow, Maggie,” he hedged. “We can even pick up an extra tree for your class.” He gave Grace a meaningful glance. “Miss Chapman doesn’t have to be there.”

“But Daddy!” Maggie argued. “Didn’t you look at the sky outside? It’s going to storm tomorrow, or maybe even tonight. It’ll be too cold to go to the tree lot. Anyway, you’ve got that meeting tomorrow after work.”

“Meeting?” Sam looked blank.

“You know. The one to plan the town Christmas party.”

“Oh, that meeting.” Sam suppressed a groan. “It’s bound to go on half the night. Those ladies on the committee can spend hours just arguing about the decorations.”

“See? You’ll be too busy to get trees tomorrow,” Maggie said. “We need to go now. Come on, Daddy. I’ve been good. I promised no more strikes.”

Sam caved in with a sigh. “Okay, you win. We can drop your teacher off on the way unless . . .” Sam’s pulse quickened. “Unless, of course, she’d like to come along.” He turned to Grace. “We’d be happy to have you. But if you need to get home, we can still pick up your tree.”

“Actually, I’d like to buy the tree myself,” Grace said. “Are you sure you don’t mind my coming along?”

“We don’t mind a bit, do we, Maggie?” Sam felt an unaccustomed lightness as he ushered his daughter and her teacher outside and helped them into the vehicle. He was only doing a favor, he reminded himself—a favor he certainly owed Grace after damaging her car. He was being helpful, that was all. Wasn’t it?

*

Maggie smiled as she fastened her seat belt and settled into the rear seat. So far her plan was working like a charm. Her father and Miss Chapman really seemed to like each other. And shopping for Christmas trees would be just the thing to help the romance along. Tonight wasn’t what you’d call a real date, but that would be the next natural step. Maggie could hardly wait.