Santa's Sweetheart (The Christmas Tree Ranch #4)(2)
When she’d brought up her idea on Thanksgiving Day, while they were watching TV, he had shut her right down. “I’m not ready to think about that, Maggie,” he’d told her. “Maybe I’ll never be ready, but that’s my choice. So please don’t mention it again.”
Fine, Maggie told herself. She wouldn’t mention it again. But that didn’t mean she was giving up. If her father wasn’t ready to find a lady friend, she would find one for him. And when she found the right one, she would work on a way to get them together.
Keeping her scheme to herself, she started her search the next day. Stella Galanos, who owned the small bakery on Main Street was a pretty woman, with dark hair and eyes. Besides being nice, she was a wonderful cook. But when Maggie talked Big Sam into stopping by for a batch of glazed doughnuts, she noticed a sparkly diamond engagement ring on Stella’s finger. Too bad. With a sigh, Maggie crossed Stella off her mental list.
On the way home, the same day, they paid a visit to the Branding Iron Public Library. Both Maggie and Big Sam loved to read, and they loaded up with books—mystery and action for him, and Beverly Cleary’s Ramona books for her. They were above her grade level, but Maggie had discovered that once she’d learned the basics, she could read anything she wanted to. The librarian, Clara Marsden, was a lovely woman. She would have been a perfect choice. But Maggie knew she had a husband. Their son, Ben, was in Maggie’s class at school.
That night, as she watched Big Sam make chili with hamburger, canned pork, beans, and a little chili powder, Maggie tried to imagine the kind of woman who’d be right for him. She wouldn’t have to be a beauty like Maggie’s mother. But getting Sam interested might be easier if she was at least pretty. Of course, she would have to be nice. Being smart would help, too. And if she liked to laugh and sing and cook, she would be perfect.
But as Maggie was learning, finding a woman like that, who was single and might like to date her dad, was not as easy as she’d hoped it would be.
On the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend, Maggie’s father had to work all day. When he was working, and Maggie wasn’t in school, she usually stayed with the neighbors, an older couple who were happy to have her as long as she kept herself entertained with reading, schoolwork, TV, or petting their grumpy ginger cat. She was always glad to see the big, tan Jeep Cherokee, with its oversized tires and the sheriff’s logo on the door, pull up in front of the house.
Today, when Big Sam arrived home, Maggie was waiting on the neighbors’ porch with her coat on and her book bag over her shoulder. She ran down the steps and across the bare grass to meet him.
“Hey,” he said. “How’s my best girl?”
“Did you remember, Daddy?” she asked.
“Did I remember that we’re going to Buckaroo’s for burgers and shakes? You bet I did. Come on. Let’s get in the truck. You can put your bag behind the seat.”
Her father backed the pickup out of the driveway and headed downtown. Buckaroo’s was Branding Iron’s only restaurant. Its menu consisted of burgers, fries, hot dogs, pizza, sodas, shakes, and wonderful pie from Stella’s bakery. The décor hadn’t changed since the 1950s but the food was the best.
Maggie loved being at Buckaroo’s with her dad. Everybody in the place seemed to know Big Sam, and he knew them. People often stopped by their booth to chat or just to say hello. Some had questions or even problems, and Sam was always willing to listen. That was part of his job, even when he wasn’t on duty, he’d told her. Talking with people helped him know what was going on in his town and who might need his help.
Today, when they walked into the restaurant, the loudspeakers mounted above the counter were playing Christmas music. Elvis Presley was crooning the words to “Blue Christmas.”
A pained expression flickered across Sam’s face as they found their booth. Maggie remembered that her mother used to play that song. Back then, Maggie had liked it. Now it only made her sad. It probably made her father sad, too. Christmas was going to be a hard time this year. It would help if she could find Sam a new lady friend before the holidays. But with Christmas less than a month away, that wasn’t going to be easy.
“Hi, Sam. Hi, Maggie. What can I get you?” Connie Iverson, the waitress, was young with dishwater blond hair and a smile that made her thin face almost pretty. But she was barely out of high school, too young for Sam. And everybody knew she had a boyfriend—Silas Parker—who was in the army now.
Sam ordered burgers, one loaded and one with just meat and cheese, fries, and two chocolate shakes. “How’s Silas liking the military, Connie?” he asked her.
Connie’s smile widened. “Fine. Silas always did like tinkering with cars. Now he’s learning to be a mechanic. When he comes home next year, he wants to open a garage.”
“That would be great,” Sam said. “People in Branding Iron could really use a good place to take their vehicles. He’ll get plenty of business. Next time Silas calls, tell him I said hello.”
“Will do.” Connie bustled off to give their order to the cook.
“Maybe you should run for mayor, Daddy,” Maggie said.
“Why’s that?” Sam asked.
“Because you’re always looking out for people, and you know everything that’s going on in town. Besides, if you were mayor, you wouldn’t have to get up in the night to go out on calls when something bad happens.”