Santa's Sweetheart (The Christmas Tree Ranch #4)(67)

She paused to stand at the window. Her room, on the ninth floor, gave her a panoramic view of the city lit up in a glory of Christmas lights. To the east, the moon rose over towering peaks blanketed in snow. It was a beautiful scene. But she was finished here. She was ready to fly back to the little Texas town that was becoming home.

Ready to fly back to Sam—if he would have her. But after the way they’d parted, she couldn’t expect him to want to try again.

Turning back to the bed where she’d laid out her things, she emptied her purse to organize it for the flight. The plane ticket and her ID would go in an outside zipper pocket. The used boarding pass, a couple of candy wrappers, and a crumpled tissue could go in the trash.

The envelope Maggie had given her lay on the bed with Sam’s torn check inside. She’d meant to mail it back to him. Maybe she could do that from here—one less thing to worry about.

A table in the room held some sheets of hotel stationery with matching envelopes. Sam’s address was on the check, and she had a few stamps in her purse. It would be simple enough to address an envelope and drop it in the mail slot at the desk on her way out in the morning.

She slipped the torn pieces of the check out of the envelope and was about to drop it in the wastebasket when she noticed something written inside the envelope, half hidden by the flap. It was just three simple words, but her throat tightened with emotion as she read them.

Grace, I’m here.





Chapter Sixteen


On Saturday morning, Sam took Maggie with him to run a few errands. He dropped some bills off at the post office, picked up bread, milk, and eggs at the grocery store, and filled the gas tank in his truck. His shoulder wound was improving with each day. By now he felt pain only when he made a wrong move or tried to lift something heavy.

“Daddy, don’t forget to stop at the bakery,” Maggie reminded him as they drove down Main Street.

“No way would I forget that.” Sam pulled into a parking place, helped her to the sidewalk, and held the door for her as they entered the bakery. He wanted to accustom his daughter to the way a gentleman should treat a lady. Hopefully, she would never settle for less.

They found Wynette working behind the glass counter in her pink smock. She was glowing like a woman in love. “Hello, you two.” She gave them a smile. “You’re just in time to try our fresh gingerbread men. We’re giving away free samples.”

She handed each of them a cookie. The warm gingerbread melted in Sam’s mouth. “So, what’s your pleasure today?” Wynette asked.

“That’s up to Maggie. She’s the boss.” Sam finished the cookie. “But we’ll want more of these gingerbread men. Say, a half dozen.”

“And doughnuts,” Maggie said. “A box of them, with lots of sprinkles. Oh—and some brownies.”

“You’ve got it.” Wynette bent to scoop fresh doughnuts out of the case and arrange them in a box. “So, are you two ready for the big shindig tonight? I hear you have a beautiful new dress to wear, Maggie.”

“Yes, I do. You’ll see it. I bet you’ll look pretty, too.”

“And Sam, I hear rumors that you’re going to be our Santa Claus.”

“I thought it was a secret,” Sam said. “Who told you?”

“Buck. He tells me everything.”

And Wynette had probably spread the word, Sam thought. If she knew, so would everybody else at the Christmas ball. “Have you heard from Grace?” he asked, trying to sound casual.

“Not a word since she left for her flight to Salt Lake City. She told us her father was dying. She was pretty emotional, as you can imagine.”

“Did she say when she’d be back?”

“She booked a return ticket for today. But who knows when she’ll make it home? Anything could be happening with her father. And her flight has a stopover in Denver. According to the news, there’s a big snowstorm expected there. Lots of flights are being cancelled.”

“Well, all we can do is hope for the best.” Sam tried to ignore a prickle of worry. Airlines didn’t take chances with their passengers’ lives. Grace was bound to be all right. But he wouldn’t breathe easy until he knew she was home safe.

Had she read the note in the envelope? Would it make any difference if she had?

But the answer to that question would have to wait. Even if she were to make it to the Christmas ball, there’d be no way for them to talk. For the sake of the children, he would need to play his Santa role the whole time.

Wynette bagged the baked goods and rang up the sale. Sam paid with his credit card, thanked her, and escorted Maggie back to the truck. He gave her the bag to hold, closed the door, and went around to the driver’s side. Before opening the door, he paused a moment to gaze up at the sky. Clouds were rolling in from the northwest, blown by a cold wind. Maybe the Denver storm would move south to drop Christmas snow on Branding Iron. But only one thing really mattered now—more than snow, more even than Christmas.

As he watched the changing sky, his thoughts sent out a silent message.

Come home to me, Grace.

*

Grace stood in the Denver terminal, gazing out the window at the flying snow. The short flight from Salt Lake City had landed ahead of the storm. But her connecting flight to Lubbock could be delayed for at least two hours. The plane had yet to come from Cheyenne, where the storm had already struck in full fury. For now, the plane was stuck on the ground, waiting for the runway to clear. By the time it arrived, the storm would be worsening here in Denver, causing more delays.