Lone Star Christmas. Jolene Navarro

sound like she was any better with her own son. “Okay, here’s the deal. Extra chores for everyone, and Ethan’s in charge. I’ll make up a list, and each day for the next week you’ll make sure everything gets done before bedtime. Got it?”

      Ethan looked at him. “I get to stay and keep my phone?”

      “Yes, but you’re going to have limited use of the phone. It’s going to be hard work.”

      “That’s okay. It’s not like I have anything else to do.”

      He wanted to give them more than chores and work. “I also need each of you to make a list of your favorite things to do that don’t include electronics.”

      The younger brothers started talking over each other about swimming, food fights and playing fetch. Which they pointed out would require a dog.

      Jackie pulled up to the elaborate iron gate that marked the entrance to the Delgado Ranch. When Max had first arrived with the boys, he’d found the electric rollers jammed. It had taken all four of them to push both sides back. Now the rusted curves and cattle cutouts sat lopsided in the tall weeds. He should have turned back then and there.

      He needed to call Vanessa about the dogs. In the meantime, he was going to find ways for them to have fun. Glancing at the woman driving, he thought back to that summer so long ago. He wanted to see that smile again. When had she become so severe?

      Behind him, Isaac and Tomas had fallen asleep. Something else he needed to do. Make sleeping arrangements. They couldn’t stay in the house tonight. If it were just him, he’d sleep in his truck. He’d done it several times. He glanced behind him at his three brothers. But for now, it wasn’t just him.

      How had this become his life? He leaned his head back and shut his eyes. He could do this. It was temporary.

      Jackie pulled up behind Sammi’s truck at the Delgado ranch house. “The boys fell asleep. I have a few blankets in the back of the car. If you want to get Tomas, I’ll grab Isaac.”

      Max nodded before he got out of the SUV. “I think it’s gotten colder.” They leaned in at the same time and unbuckled the boys. She avoided looking at Max. They were too close, and parts of her heart were stirring. Not acceptable. She had forced him out of her heart years ago; she couldn’t allow him back in.

      She turned to Ethan. “Grab those blankets behind the seat there.”

      Just like the family she used to fantasize about, they made their way up the front walkway carrying the sleeping boys into the house. Of course, in her daydreams the furniture wasn’t covered in dust and neglect and her heart in guilt.

      For years, it had been Max she saw in those dreams. It took persistence and hard work to get him out of her head. Unfortunately, he had grown up even better looking than her imagination, but he still wasn’t the right one for her.

      Her feelings had to be buried the moment her father informed her who he was. He lost his mother because of her. Even if he could still like her, she didn’t deserve his love.

      If he ever found out the accident was her fault, he would hate her. That might be better. Now that he was back, those long-buried dreams had found their way to the surface.

      Ethan opened the door. Inside, they settled the boys on the sofas and covered them with the clean afghans and quilts. She said a soft prayer for the little guys and their big brothers. Looking up, she found Max staring at her and quickly turned away.

      She needed God’s guidance in all of this. It felt as if she was walking on dangerous ground with hidden trip wires ready to blow everything up.

      In the washroom, they found the ladder from the crawl space pulled down. “Sammi? Are you up there?”

      After a few thumps and some other noises, the youngest Bergmann sister peeked over the edge of the trapdoor. “Yep. It’s a mess up here. You got a whole colony of squirrels that need to be relocated, and they’ve been chewing on the wiring.”

      She disappeared.

      Max sighed. “This is all I need. Squatter squirrels and a house that has to have all the wiring redone.”

      Sammi’s boot appeared on the top of the ladder. “It’s not the whole house, but I do suggest you get a licensed electrician to check it out.” She hopped off the last step and turned to face them. “Hi, I’m Sammi Bergmann.” She held out her hand. “Pleasure to meet you.”

      Ethan had come up behind Max. “Really? You know we’re Delgados, right?” Bitterness laced his words.

      Sammi chuckled. “That’s okay. My last name might be Bergmann but everyone around here, including my family, refers to my mother as—” she lifted her hand to make air quotes “—‘that other woman.’ Or ‘the mistake.’”

      Jackie gasped. “No one blames you or loves you any less because of what your mother did to Daddy. She left you, too.”

      “Right. I know that. I’m just saying I don’t blame people for things that happened in the past or what other people did. Unfortunately, for the most part small towns don’t follow that train of thought. I think it’s from the lack of real entertainment.” She turned back to Max and Ethan with a smile. “How long are y’all in town?”

      “Until Christmas. Or sooner. Depends on when the boys’ aunt can pick them up, and how long it takes to get the ranch ready for the market.”

      Her eyes went wide. “You’re selling this place? Hasn’t it been in your family like, forever?”

      “Yes. But my uncle wants the ranch gone. He and my father argued all the time. Now that my father’s dead, there’s nothing to stop my uncle Rigo from cleaning house and getting rid of any properties not contributing to the family coffers.”

      “Sorry to hear about your father. So close to the holidays, too.”

      “Thanks.”

      Jackie leaned on the edge of the old washer. “You’re a Delgado. Don’t you have as much say as your uncle? You know, donating the buildings would be a great Christmas gift to the town. I just don’t understand why your uncle is so set against retaining Clear Water’s history.”

      Ethan snorted. “Our uncle hated our dad.” He looked at Max. “Can we go see the buildings? There have to be some creepy stories in an old abandoned town. I’m going to put that on my list of fun stuff to do. Maybe someone would want to open a dude ranch in a ghost town.”

      Sammi chuckled and headed into the kitchen. “That sounds entertaining, but I need to get back to the lumberyard. Sorry I wasn’t more help.”

      They followed her into the large kitchen. She reached into her back pocket and pulled out a small pad of yellow paper. With a pencil, she wrote something out. “Here’s the name and number of a guy that can help you with the wiring. I’ve also added Danica’s number. She does animal rescue, so she’ll know the best way to move the family in the attic.” Handing him the paper, she tucked the pad back into her pocket. “With the house in this shape, I don’t think you’ll be in before the holidays. With it only being five days away, it’ll be hard to find people to come out. What are your plans for Thanksgiving? It’ll be a hard one. The first family holiday without your father.”

      Max shook his head. “I don’t remember ever spending Thanksgiving with my father, but I’m worried about Tomas and Isaac. They’re little and haven’t had time to be ignored by him yet.” He looked at Ethan. “What do y’all normally do?”

      Leaning on the counter, the teenager frowned. “I don’t know what they do. I was three when my parents divorced, and I’ve never been invited to spend it with the Delgados.”

      Sammi laid her hand over her heart. “Oh, no! That’s not right. My family might be a little rough around the edges, but we’re always together for the holidays. You should join us. Our nieces are about the age of the boys. No one should be alone for Thanksgiving. Jackie, they should come over, shouldn’t