Jake glanced up, a three-pronged plug dangling from his gloved hand. “That’s awesome! Where is it?”
“The Emersons have one, but it’s too wide to fit in the back of a pickup. Their ranch isn’t that far as the crow flies, so it makes more sense to ride over and get it, anyway. It may not be in the best of shape, so I suggest you take Cade or Finn with you.”
“We’ll all go,” Cade said. “It’ll be fun.”
Jake gazed at her. “What do you mean, not in the best of shape?”
“It hasn’t been used in years. They offered to sell it to me for fifty bucks, so I said fine. I’ve always wanted a sleigh.”
“Um, if it’s only fifty bucks it could be falling apart.” Jake didn’t want to sound ungrateful but he also didn’t plan to take Amethyst out in a sleigh that could collapse any minute.
“I asked them and they said it’s functional.”
“But if they haven’t used it in years, how do they know?”
“That’s an excellent point.” She shivered and stomped her feet. “But I called everyone I could think of and this is the only one I found. If you’d rather not take a chance on it, I’ll call them back and say never mind.”
“Don’t do that,” Cade said. “We’ll make it work. I’ve always wanted a sleigh, too.”
“Then you’d better finish the lights and get over there. At the very least it’ll need to be cleaned up and Amethyst will be here before you know it.”
Jake glanced at the angle of the sun. “You’re right. Thanks, Mom.”
“You’re welcome. If the sleigh doesn’t work there’s a toboggan in the barn. I seem to remember some people hitching a horse to that once upon a time.” She winked and went back into the house.
“Nix on the toboggan idea,” Cade said. “You can’t make out with a woman on a toboggan.”
Finn brushed snow off his gloves. “Might be a safer bet than a fifty-buck sleigh.”
“That’s what I’m thinking.” Jake blew out a breath. “It’s liable to be a piece of junk.”
“Maybe not.” Cade came over and clapped him on the shoulder. “Think positive, bro. Maybe it’s a gem that’s taking up space they want for something else.”
“Or maybe the wood’s rotted out and the mice have made a nest in the upholstery.”
“One way to find out. I have a feeling we can rehabilitate this sleigh.” Cade glanced up at the Christmas lights strung everywhere. “Are we done here?”
“You tell me. You’re the one trying to impress your ladylove.”
Cade nodded. “I think it’ll do. If you two put the ladders away I’ll start saddling the horses. I’m betting you’re both out of practice.”
“I can saddle a horse just fine,” Jake said. “How about you, O’Roarke?”
“Never lost my touch. But if Gallagher wants to show off his horse whisperer technique, that’s fine with me. Saves me the effort.”
“Then I’ll get started on that.” Cade adjusted the fit of his Stetson and headed down to the barn, his boots crunching through the snow.
Finn collapsed one of the extension ladders with a loud clang before turning to Jake. “You know why he’s putting so much emphasis on the decorations this year, right?”
“Haven’t a clue other than he wants Lexi to think he’s a holiday illumination genius.”
“It’s more than that. Christmas would be the perfect time for Lexi to propose and the more magical the setting, at least in Cade’s mind, the more likely she’ll pop the question.”
“I see. Makes some kind of crazy sense.” Jake was well aware of the interesting dynamic between those two. Cade had asked Lexi to marry him a year and a half ago and she’d gently turned him down. So Cade had put her in charge of proposing. “I hope she does it.” He collapsed the other ladder and picked it up. “I’ve never seen a guy so eager to get married.”
“I don’t know about that. I’m pretty damned excited about marrying Chelsea. Can’t wait for April.” He picked up his ladder and they both started toward the barn.
“You don’t mind the monkey suit and all the fuss?”
“Not really. Chelsea’s family is pretty casual, so it won’t be stuffy and formal.” He looked over at Jake. “Any chance you can come?”
“You know I’d love to. I have to figure out the finances and then see if I can wrangle time off.”
“I understand. I don’t expect a lot of the guys will make it up to Seattle, but I’m hoping some do.”
“At least now I’ve met Chelsea. She’s terrific.”
Finn laughed. “You don’t have to tell me. Like I said, can’t wait for April.”
Jake pondered his two brothers and their anticipated marriages as he and Finn put away the ladders and helped Cade finish saddling up the horses. Both guys clearly wanted that kind of permanence. Jake had no such long-range plans.
He was eager for some private time with Amethyst, but he wasn’t thinking beyond that. She was perfect for this stage of his life. Before their hot night in Jackson Hole, he’d dated a few women who had been nice but needy.
His job asked a lot of him. He loved the sense of accomplishment it gave him, but he didn’t want to be emotionally responsible for someone on top of the demands at work. With Amethyst he didn’t have to worry about that. She was focused on her career and didn’t need anyone to take care of her.
That included her approach to sex. She asked for what she wanted more frankly than anyone he’d been with. He loved that about her. This sleigh deal might or might not work out, but tonight after the festivities, he’d—
“Hey, Fireman Jake, you gonna get on that horse or not?”
Cade’s voice cut into his libido-driven thoughts. Damn. Caught daydreaming about Amethyst for the second time in two days. He glanced up at Cade, who was mounted on Hematite, the black horse he’d trailered to the ranch summer before last. Finn was already up on Isabeau, Rosie’s mare.
Jake, however, stood beside Navarre, Herb’s gelding, while staring into space like an idiot. “Yep. Sorry. Just thinking about something.” He swung into the saddle.
“More likely someone.” Cade chuckled as he led the way to the Forest Service road. From there they’d cut across snow-covered open range to the Emerson place. “From what I remember about Amethyst Ferguson, I don’t blame you. I wasn’t at the high school Christmas concert where she sang ‘Santa Baby’ but I heard about it.”
Finn laughed. “Didn’t we all. Were you there, Jake?”
“I was.” The road was deserted so they were able to ride three abreast with Cade in the middle. It felt great to be back on a horse again, especially with two of his brothers along. “We’d stopped dating two weeks before that concert. Bad decision on my part.”
“You broke it off?” Cade glanced at him in disbelief. “I gave you credit for more brains than that.”
“Nope. I was young and stupid. I thought she’d looked at another guy in a provocative way. She denied it, but I had that idea stuck in my head and refused to let the whole thing slide. The truth is, she was too hot for me back then.”
“But not now, apparently,” Finn said.
“No.” Jake smiled. “Not now.”
Once