The Rancher's Holiday Hope. Brenda Minton

on my way to breakfast with Maria when I saw lights on and thought there might be coffee.”

      Sierra headed back to the kitchen to put the cakes in the oven. “You know I don’t drink coffee. Come up with a better reason for knocking on my door in the middle of a storm.”

      “I saw the lights on and thought you might be up, and I wondered, again, why you won’t accept a service dog.”

      “They’re messy. They shed. They require too much.”

      “A Labradoodle doesn’t shed, or not much. They give more than they take.”

      “I’m afraid I would forget to feed it, or water it. That would be terrible. That’s also why I don’t babysit those cute kids you all seem to like bringing into our lives.”

      “You’re not as unaffected by them as you like to pretend. I’ve watched you holding Eve’s little Tori when they come to visit.”

      “She’s not as stinky as some. And Glory’s little bundle of joy, Cara, is okay. When she isn’t smelly or crying because she’s teething. When did Mercy Ranch become a home for wayward teens and their babies?”

      “You’re such a phony. You love babies and dogs.”

      “Make yourself a pot of coffee,” Sierra offered. “I’m baking.”

      She ignored the “Aha! I knew it!” look on Kylie’s face. It wasn’t easy having a therapist for a best friend. She’d had best friends in her life. Everyone had a best friend in grade school, then high school. But Sierra had never invited friends to her home, not with her parents being how they were. Kylie was the first friend she’d ever been completely honest with. It was refreshing, to have a relationship where she didn’t hold back a part of who she was.

      It was the reason she didn’t date. She didn’t want to have a relationship where she couldn’t share her true self. She was tired of fighting the past. She’d made huge strides at Mercy Ranch. She had a life here that she loved. She had friends.

      Kylie made herself at home, because she’d once lived here. She pulled out the aging coffeepot, got it started, then helped herself to the banana muffins Sierra had made the previous day.

      “I thought you were going to breakfast with Maria? Shouldn’t you be at your house with your lovely doctor husband and two precious children?” Sierra asked as she poured batter into another cake pan.

      “He took them to Holly’s Diner for breakfast.”

      “I see. And...?”

      “I wanted to visit with you. I know the last few days have been rough, and then this storm hit.”

      Sierra placed the two round cake pans in the oven and grabbed her tea to join Kylie at the kitchen island. “I’m fine. Really.”

      “How’d it go yesterday, serving dessert at church?” A knowing look lit up Kylie’s expression. Sierra’s friend did not have a poker face.

      “Oh, you mean with Nonni?” She wouldn’t mention Max St. James.

      “Yes, Nonni, of course. She’s a sweet lady. The family lived here for years, until they sold the farm and moved back to Tulsa. I’m glad they’ve returned.”

      “They seem to be a part of the community already.”

      Kylie got up to pour herself a cup of coffee. “Yes, I guess they are. And Melody getting married at the ranch seems so right. How are the plans going?”

      “She wanted a Christmas wedding. Her fiancé pushed it back to Valentine’s Day.”

      “Why do you seem upset about that?”

      Sierra closed her eyes, wishing for once that Kylie had a different job. Why couldn’t she be friends with an accountant, a schoolteacher, maybe a nurse? Anything but a therapist?

      “Could we have a normal conversation?” Sierra asked.

      “Oh, sorry. I’m doing it again, aren’t I?”

      “You are,” Sierra agreed. “So, church was nice yesterday. I enjoyed the music.”

      “It was. Do you have plans for Christmas?”

      Sierra laughed a little. “Same as every year. I’m joining all of you on Christmas Day and hiding the rest of the time.” She paused. “Except I seem to have been invited to make cookies with Nonni and I’m also supposed to help sew a honeymoon quilt.”

      “How fun.” Kylie grinned at her over the rim of her coffee cup, trying to hide her amusement.

      “Really? Fun?”

      “Of course,” Kylie agreed. “I have to leave soon, but save me a piece of cake.”

      “I would, but I’m taking it to Lakeside Manor since it seems some Scrooge is trying to steal Christmas from the residents. I’m going to bake cupcakes for Patsy Jay’s children to decorate. I’ll make extra for you and the kids.”

      “Oh, you don’t have to. But since you insist...” She flashed another quick smile. “I saw you talking to them yesterday.”

      Sierra got up to make herself another cup of tea. “Patsy invited Max St. James and me to her house for dinner. She thinks she needs to repay us, although I don’t think we really did that much. The little girl wandered onto Mercy Ranch then the police took her home. Has she done this before?”

      “I think one other time. I’m glad she had her dog with her.”

      “Yes.” Sierra thought back to her own childhood and the long walks she would take to escape her parents and their fights.

      Sierra glanced at the digital clock on the oven. “I need to finish up here and head to the Stable.” The Stable, a common name for a very uncommon wedding venue. “I’m going to decorate for Christmas.”

      “Don’t you have another Christmas wedding coming up?”

      “Yes, and they want twinkle lights and white poinsettias and trees. White trees! It’s a winter wonderland theme.”

      “Are you going to decorate in here for Christmas?” Kylie asked.

      Sierra got up to check on the cakes. The aroma of sugary vanilla goodness filled the kitchen. Aromatherapy. The storm forgotten, she inhaled deeply.

      “I am. Glory and Cara are living here, too, and they deserve a tree and gifts.” Sierra admired the young mother. She’d started out as a teen mom from a dysfunctional home. For a time Kylie and Carson West were foster parents to Glory’s baby. The Wests mentored Glory, helped her to get her life back on track, and she’d regained custody of her daughter.

      “Does it bother you that Jack is allowing them to stay? I know Mercy Ranch is designated for military vets, wounded warriors, and Glory is just a teenager who made mistakes.”

      “She’s a wounded warrior of another kind. She battled abuse, addiction, and won. She deserves to be here, too.”

      Sierra didn’t look at her friend. She didn’t need a pat on the back or kudos for being kind. She’d spoken the truth.

      Knowing Sierra as she did, Kylie merely cleared her throat and moved on. “So about this dinner Thursday, with Max...”

      “Stop.”

      Kylie laughed and didn’t look at all ashamed. “You know he’s fabulously wealthy, right? Software, a social media platform, government contracts and so forth.”

      “You know I don’t care about the man’s financials, right? He was nice enough to help look for Linnie, and her mother is kind enough to want to thank him.”

      “He’s also handsome.”

      And he smelled amazing. She cringed at her thought. “I’m not interested.”

      “Of course not. But someday you will meet someone.”