Santa's Sweetheart (The Christmas Tree Ranch #4)(58)

“When will your shoulder be better?” she asked, sitting next to him. “Do you think you can drive your truck?”

“I don’t know. The Jeep might be easier to shift. But we’ll figure it out. I do plan to go to your Christmas program on Wednesday, even if I have to walk.”

“Our class is supposed to be stars. We made star hats. They’re kind of lame.”

“That’s all right.” He slipped an arm around her shoulders. “So, what did you learn to cook this weekend?”

“You know about the cookies and lasagna. But Miss Chapman showed me how to make scrambled eggs and cook bacon in the microwave. I already know how to make toast, so I can fix breakfast now. I can even make instant coffee for you.”

“And what did you do besides cook? What did you do at the mall?”

“We looked at decorations and ate giant pretzels. And Miss Chapman bought me a pretty dress to wear to the Christmas ball. Let me show it to you.” Maggie jumped up and hurried into her room. She had intended to take the dress to show Sam, but then decided to put it on. She waltzed into the living room and made a slow circle, like a model, in front of her father.

He gave a low whistle. “My, don’t you look beautiful,” he said. “You’ll be the prettiest girl at the ball. Come here. There’s something I want to see.”

Maggie walked to the couch where he sat. A paper tag showing the brand and price dangled from the sleeve of her dress. Sam frowned as he studied it.

“Maggie, this dress was expensive.”

“But Miss Chapman said it was on sale. See that red sticker?”

“Yes, but even on sale the dress was expensive. I can’t allow Miss Chapman to spend that kind of money on you.”

Maggie clutched at the dress, thinking how pretty it made her feel. “Miss Chapman said it was a present. You aren’t going to make me give it back, are you, Daddy?”

“Nothing like that, Maggie. You can keep the dress. But I’m going to see that your teacher lets me pay for it.”

Your teacher. That’s what he’d called her—not Grace or even Miss Chapman. Yes, something had gone wrong. And this time, Maggie didn’t know how to fix it. She had run out of ideas.





Chapter Fourteen


Grace waited until after 10:00 to call Nicky. By then she had built up a cold, quiet rage. Nicky had bent the truth to get her in trouble. He had wanted to damage her reputation, or worse, get her fired. But the trap she’d set to shut down Ed Judkins had caught Nicky, too. What he’d done—calling her boss from his work with a damaging lie—had been highly unethical. She had the evidence to prove he’d done it. But she didn’t care enough to punish him. She just wanted him to leave her alone.

She punched in his number and waited for his answering machine to come on. “Nicky,” she said, “I have my principal, Ed Judkins, on tape, saying that you called and told him I’d been arrested for drug use. If you ever contact me again, even once, I will send a copy of the tape to your supervisor. Good-bye.”

She ended the call and waited, half expecting to hear the phone ring. When it didn’t happen, she sank onto a kitchen chair and rested her head between her hands.

What if she’d married Nicky Treadwell? What if she hadn’t listened to the inner voice that told her to cut and run before she made the worst mistake of her life?

She hadn’t cancelled her wedding because she was a flighty, damaged woman who couldn’t commit. She’d cancelled it because, at some gut level, she’d finally realized that behind the charming fa?ade he’d shown her, Nicky was a jerk.

But what had happened today with Sam was a different story. The most wonderful man she’d ever known had offered her his heart—and she had panicked.

What was wrong with her? Why couldn’t she heal and put the past behind her?

She heard voices from the porch. A moment later, the front door opened and closed. Wynette came dancing into the kitchen after her date with Buck. Her face was flushed, her makeup smeared. She was the picture of glowing, giddy happiness.

“Hi, Grace. We missed you. How was your weekend of babysitting?”

“Fine. Jess told me your exciting news. She said you were walking on air.”

Wynette giggled. “That’s how it feels. Back in school, I had a crush on Buck for years. But I was too young for him. I guess I finally caught up.” She dropped a pink box on the table. “These doughnuts were left over from work. Help yourself.”

“Thanks, but I’ll pass. I don’t have much appetite tonight.”

“Oh, no.” Wynette studied Grace’s face. “Did something happen with Sam?”

“What happened with Sam was . . . a great big nothing. We barely got out of the starting gate before it was over. All I can do is wish him well.”

“And here I am, gushing all over the place while you’re hurting. I’m so sorry, Grace.”

“Gush away, girl. You’re entitled. I couldn’t be happier for you.” Grace stood. “And now, I think I’ll turn in. It’ll feel good to sleep in my own bed again.”

Too bad it isn’t Sam’s bed.

Fifteen minutes later she was turning off the light and nestling under the covers. After four days and nights of worrying about Sam and taking care of Maggie, along with the Christmas crazies at school, she was bone weary. Only one full day and one half day of school remained before the start of Christmas break. Two empty weeks stretched before her, without Sam and without Maggie. What would she do with her time?