Christmas with the Rancher. Mary Leo

you could be there to sort of help her transition along.”

      “What kind of transition are you talking about?”

      “The kind where she decides to hang around for a spell, rekindle her love for Briggs and realizes this here inn is part of her heritage and can’t be sold...at least not now.”

      “And how am I supposed to accomplish this miracle when she’s so bound and determined to get her way?”

      “Show her what she’s been missing. Country’s part of her soul no matter how citified she might be on the outside. All you have to do is help bubble it up to the surface.”

      “Like that’s even possible.”

      “I have complete faith in you. Besides, you’re my only hope.”

      Travis saw the desperation in Nick’s eyes. The man was like a second dad to Travis and he hated to see him in this pickle with his daughter.

      “I’m not saying I’ll do it or that I’ll show up tonight, but if I do, don’t expect miracles. She’s not the girl who left Briggs fifteen years ago. That girl’s been replaced with someone I don’t recognize. And frankly, I don’t much like.”

      “All you have to do is help me delay her a bit. Remind her of all the good things she loved about Briggs. Get her to lighten up a little. Maybe that’ll change her mind.”

      “There ain’t nothin’ gonna change her mind. She always did have a strong will. Just like her mama.”

      “But she’s got her daddy’s heart. I know it. Give her a chance, Travis. She might surprise you.”

      “She already has,” he said and drove away thinking how he had no intention of showing up at any welcome-home party for Bella Biondi, no matter how sexy she looked in her tight jeans or how much he wanted to kiss those full lips of hers or run his hands... He couldn’t get that woman out of his head no matter what she did or said. She’d made a mark on his soul and there wasn’t anything he could do about it. He simply had to bide his time until she left, and stay as far away from her as possible.

      And that included her darn welcome-home party...at Belly Up...at eight.

      “Dang it all,” Travis said, slapping the steering wheel, knowing perfectly well he could no more stay away from her than a bronc rider could stop himself from riding an ornery, bucking horse.

      * * *

      THE SNOW HADN’T let up for two hours straight and Bella’s high-heeled boots were no match for what had accumulated on the ground. She knew better, but hadn’t brought any other shoes with her, never thinking she’d have to walk more than a few feet from her rental to the inn.

      Now, as she made her way through town, she focused on the delightful fact that she had been successful at changing their flight reservations. Takeoff was scheduled for 4:45 tomorrow afternoon and it couldn’t come fast enough for Bella.

      The shops were still open, and Christmas music filled the air as people hustled from one store to another. Moo Creamery still had the life-size heifer standing near the front door. The sparkly wreath around its neck seemed bigger than she remembered with a lot more lights. She preferred the smaller one. It seemed a lot less garish. Inside, every seat was taken with adults and kids enjoying sweet creamy treats. She hesitated for a moment, thinking of how luscious Moo’s ice cream had tasted, and thought about going inside and buying a cone until reason stopped her. She didn’t eat whole-milk products...way too much fat.

      She turned away from the window and continued on toward the tavern. If there was any type of retail slowdown going on in other parts of the country, it certainly wasn’t apparent in Briggs, Idaho. Everyone in town appeared to be spending money freely.

      The four long blocks to Belly Up not only seemed like ten, but she’d nearly fallen on her butt several times. Then there was the inordinate amount of white lights wrapped around every tree, railing and light post. More lights decorated each shop window and doorway, along with wreaths, mechanical Santas, snowmen and reindeer. When she passed the town square, she noted there was a decorated gazebo that hadn’t been there while she was growing up, and the Douglas fir in the middle of the square had grown substantially and now not only sparkled with colored lights and a bright star that adorned the very top, but fist-size brightly colored ornaments hung on almost every branch. She wondered how the town had managed to pay for all of this. It seemed like a complete waste of taxpayers’ money that could be better spent on something practical like snow removal.

      As that reasonable thought zipped through her head, her feet went out from under her and this time she landed hard, right on her butt. She sat there for a moment, trying to catch her breath. Fortunately, there hadn’t been anyone around to catch the embarrassing moment.

      “You might try the appropriate footwear next time,” Travis said as he offered his gloved hand to help her up. He had startled her and her embarrassment only increased now that she stared up at him.

      “My boots are fine. I tripped,” she said, knowing perfectly well she’d slipped.

      When she couldn’t get up on her own, he said, “Are you okay?”

      He looked genuinely concerned...or was that amusement?

      She gazed up at him as he stood under a streetlight looking all sexy hot in his black hat, red scarf and black wool parka. Snow had gathered on his shoulders and on the brim of his cowboy hat as if he’d been out in the elements for quite some time and Bella wondered what he’d been up to. Had he been following her?

      “You might have announced yourself, or were you purposely trying to scare me?”

      “Merely walking by and saw you take a tumble.”

      The smirk never left his face as he leaned over and grabbed her arm.

      For a second she felt that warm, sugary glow she’d felt when they’d shared their first kiss. How he always made her feel special, beautiful, as if she was the most important person in his life. Then the cold seeped in through her thin pants and that warm glow turned into the reality of her butt freezing as she sat on the ground.

      “I’m fine.” She jerked her arm out of his grasp. “I can get up on my own, thank you. No broken bones. But why are you following me?”

      He stood straight again, looking down at her. That sly smirk still caught on his lips. “That would assume you’re worth following, which you are not.”

      “Then why are you here?”

      “To help you up.”

      “I don’t need help.”

      “Suit yourself,” he said with a chuckle and strolled away, leaving her there to deal with the elements and her slippery boots.

      “Of all the arrogant, ill-mannered...”

      She sighed loud enough for him to hear her, but he didn’t turn around.

      * * *

      TEN MINUTES LATER, with her pride still stinging, Bella pulled open the heavy glass door to Belly Up Tavern. The one and only time she’d been inside, it was with her mom on the morning they’d driven out of town for good. It was Christmas Eve morning and Bella had had no idea they weren’t coming back.

      Her mom had stopped in to pick up her final paycheck. Not only had she kept the books for their inn, but she’d also doubled as a bookkeeper for a few of the businesses in town. That extra work had served her well, considering she landed a CFO position at a top company in Chicago a mere six years later.

      Dream Weaver Inn had been her dad’s dream, not her mom’s, and the inn always operated at a loss. Still did, thus the reason it was time to sell the place. Walking into the tavern now, with Christmas decorations hanging from every beam and light fixture only brought the memory full circle. She was finally going to be rid of that darn inn and all the memories that went along with it once and for all.

      She longed to get this thing over with. She’d