“Merry Christmas, Mia.”
Even though the air was brisk, the day promised to be bright and sunny. A perfect Colorado Christmas, Mia thought as she fingered the charm on her necklace.
She glanced across the SUV at Jarrett. Christmas Eve had already been wonderful and this morning had started out close to perfect, too. Jarrett had showed up with a box of jelly donuts and they’d shared breakfast together. Just the three of them.
It could give a girl ideas. Ideas she had no business thinking when she should only be thinking about her son.
Although the man was definitely making this holiday memorable, especially when he’d insisted on taking her and BJ out to the ranch today. Were they a couple? No. She shook away that crazy thought.
“We’re here.”
Jarrett’s voice drew her attention as he turned off the main highway and drove under an arch announcing the McKane Ranch.
Mia felt the excitement as a large two-story house came into view. She smiled at the snowman in the front yard, then her attention went to the wraparound porch and the dark shutters that framed the numerous windows.
Jarrett bypassed the driveway and went around the house. “We’re pretty informal here,” he said. “I don’t think the front door has been opened in years. Everyone has always used the back door.”
That would never be allowed in her parents’ home. The service entrance was only for the hired help. “Sounds like my kind of place. I bet you had fun growing up here.”
His smiled faded. “Ranching is a lot of work. One of the reasons I left and went away to college.”
He parked next to Joe and Sylvia’s car at the small porch that overlooked the barn and corral. “So now the place belongs to Trace.”
He turned off the engine. “After our parents died, I was happy to sell him my half.”
She smiled. “You can still come back whenever you want, and the best part is seeing your family.”
There was a long pause, then he said, “There was a long time when I wasn’t exactly welcome. But a few years ago, Trace and I became partners in a natural gas lease. The money helps him keep the ranch and not worry about having to run cattle. And I can invest in business ventures. Anyway, then Jenna came along, and somehow I ended up calling by more and we sorted some things out.”
Mia was surprised by Jarrett’s admission. “Well, I’m glad you and your family have reconciled your differences.”
He nodded and turned toward the house. “Oh, look, here comes the welcoming committee.”
Kira and Trace stepped onto the porch. “Welcome and Merry Christmas.”
Mia got out and the cold breeze brushed against her cheeks. “Merry Christmas,” she called back.
Trace came down the shoveled steps and greeted his brother first, then walked around the car to her. “Welcome, Mia.”
“Thank you for inviting us. Your place is beautiful.”
“We think so.” He glanced at his brother. “There’s plenty of time before dinner so you can leave BJ with us while Jarrett shows you around.” He pointed toward a group of bare trees. “The cottage is just over there, if you’re still interested in seeing it.”
Mia turned around to see a small white structure about fifty yards from the house. “Oh, yes. I’d love to.”
Jarrett got BJ from the back seat while Mia handed a large poinsettia plant to Trace.
When Jarrett’s brother started to protest, citing the no-gift clause, she quickly said, “It’s from BJ.”
With a smile, she retrieved a salad and a pie and carried them into a huge country kitchen with maple cabinets and granite countertops filled with food. Several mouthwatering aromas surrounded her, making her hungry.
Nola and Sylvia were already there helping Kira with the meal. “Just put those things down, if you can find a spot for them.”
Kira beamed as she came up to Jarrett and gave him a kiss on the cheek, and then looked down at the carrier. “I’d love to get my hands on this little guy, if I could.”
“Sure,” Mia told her. “He loves being held.”
It took only seconds before Kira had BJ in her arms. “Now you two run off and see the cottage. We can handle things here.”
Jarrett came up beside Mia. “They seem to be trying to get rid of us.”
“Not at all, but I would love to have this little guy around more.” Kira smiled down at the baby and cooed, “Oh, yes I would.”
“Let’s go.” Jarrett escorted Mia out the door and across the yard, but she was distracted by the horses roaming around in the corral.
“Oh, what beautiful animals.”
Jarrett changed direction as they detoured to the corral fence. “Trace has been doing some horse-breeding the past few years. This guy is Thunder Road.” When he whistled, the horse trotted over as Jarrett climbed up on the fence railing so he could pet the spirited animal. “Hey, Roady.” He rubbed the horse’s face and neck briskly, then glanced at Mia. “This guy was sired by Midnight Thunder, a champion cutting horse.”
“He’s beautiful.” She could see how much Jarrett loved animals. “He seems to like you, too.”
“He knows me. I come out here sometimes.”
There was so much about this man she didn’t know, that he kept hidden. She glanced around. “I still can’t see how you’d want to give this place up. I love the peace and quiet.”
He shrugged and released the horse and they watched him run off. “When I was younger, I called it boredom. I wanted excitement and fun.” He looked toward the horses. “After my mother died, my father and I didn’t get along much.”
Mia understood that. “He’s gone now?”
“Yeah. When his wife died, he wasn’t much for living alone.”
“What about your mother?”
He continued to stare toward the corral. “She’s been gone since I was a kid.”
“I’m sorry, Jarrett. How old were you?”
“Six.”
“Oh, God, you were just a child.”
He turned toward her. She could see the pain before he quickly masked it. “I grew up fast.”
“What about your stepmother?” She wanted him to tell her that she’d been a caring and loving woman. “Did she help you through that time?”
“I don’t remember much.” He shifted. “She was just there, and soon, so was Trace.”
“At least you had a brother to share things with.”
“Yeah, right. I did everything possible to let him know how much I hated him.”
Jarrett stepped up to the small cottage porch and turned to see if Mia needed help. Damn, he hated that he’d spilled his guts to her. He’d never told anyone about his childhood. Why her?
He inserted the key into the lock. “I know Trace and his foreman, Cal, redid the entire inside.”
“The outside is well-maintained, too,” she said, coming up beside him. “I can’t wait to see the rest.”
He swung open the front door, and they stepped into a living room that had a small sofa and two chairs. An area rug covered part of the shiny hardwood floors.
“Oh, this is nice.”
He gestured