The Rancher's Christmas Song. RaeAnne Thayne

know, it might be time to say goodbye.”

      Ben Caldwell spoke gently as he ran a calming hand down Frisco’s neck. “He’s tired, he’s cranky, he can’t see and he’s half-lame. I can keep coming out here and you can keep on paying me, but eventually I’m going to run out of things I can do to help him feel better.”

      Beckett was aware of a familiar ache in his gut. He knew it would be soon but didn’t like to think about it. “I know. Not yet, though.”

      The vet nodded his understanding but that didn’t make Beck feel any less stupid. No doubt Dr. Caldwell wondered why he had such a soft spot for this horse that nobody had been able to ride for five years. Frisco had always been bad-tempered and high-spirited, but somehow Stephanie had loved him, anyway. Beck wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye yet.

      He shook the vet’s hand. “Thanks, Ben. I appreciate you coming by.”

      “You got it.”

      Sal, one of Beck’s border collies, waddled over to them, panting a welcome. The veterinarian scratched her under the chin and gently patted her side.

      “She hasn’t had those pups yet.”

      “Any day now. We’re on puppy watch.”

      “You’ll call me if she has any troubles, right?”

      “You know it.”

      He had great respect for Ben. Though Beck hadn’t been too sure about the city vet when the man moved to town a handful of years ago, Dr. Caldwell had proved himself over and over. He’d also married a friend of his, Caidy Bowman, who had gone to school with Beck.

      They were finishing up with Frisco when he heard a vehicle pull up outside. Beck’s heartbeat accelerated, much to his chagrin.

      “You expecting somebody?” Ben asked.

      “That would be Ella Baker. I, uh, forgot to pick the boys up from rehearsal at The Christmas Ranch and she was nice enough to bring them home for me.”

      “That Christmas program is all the buzz at my place, too,” Ben said. “My kids can’t wait.”

      Ben had been a widower with two children, a boy and a girl, when he moved to town. Beck sometimes had Ben’s daughter babysit the twins in a pinch.

      The two men walked outside and Beck was again aware of his pulse in his ears. This was so stupid, that he couldn’t manage to stop staring at Ella as she climbed out of her SUV.

      Ben sent him a sidelong look and Beck really hoped the man didn’t notice his ridiculous reaction.

      “I’ll get out of your way,” Ben said. “Think about what I said.”

      “I will. Thanks again.”

      Ella and the boys both waved at the veterinarian as they climbed out of her vehicle.

      “Hey, Dad! Hey!” His boys rushed over to him, arms wide, and he hugged them, wondering if there would ever come a time in his life when they didn’t feel like the best damn thing that had ever happened to him.

      He doubted it. He couldn’t even imagine how much poorer his life would be without Trevor and Colter. Whenever he was tempted to regret his ill-conceived marriage, he only had to hug his boys and remember that all the rest of the mess and ugliness had been worth it.

      “Hey, guys. How was practice? Did you behave yourselves?”

      “Um, sure,” Colter said.

      “Kind of,” his brother hedged.

      Which meant not at all. He winced.

      “We’re gonna do better,” Colter assured him. “We promised Miss Baker. Me and Trevor thought maybe we could run around the building three times before we go inside to practice, to get our energy out.”

      “That sounds like a plan.”

      It was a strategy he sometimes employed when they struggled to focus on homework at night, taking them on a good walk around the ranch so they could focus better.

      “I’m starving,” Trevor said. “Can I have a cheese stick?”

      “Me, too!” Colter said.

      “Yeah. You know where they are.”

      The boys ran into the barn, heading for the fridge inside the office, where he kept a few snacks.

      He turned to her. Like his father always said, better to eat crow when it was fresh. It tasted better hot and was much easier to swallow.

      “How big of an apology do I owe you for the boys’ behavior?”

      To his surprise, she smiled, something she didn’t do around him very often. For some reason, the woman didn’t seem to like him very much.

      “On a scale of one to ten?” she asked. “Probably a seven.”

      “I’m going to take that as a win.”

      Her smile widened. It made her whole face glow. With a few snowflakes falling in her hair and the slanted afternoon sun hitting her just right, the universe seemed to be making it impossible for him to look away.

      “It’s hard for two seven-year-old boys to be in school all day, then take a long bus ride, then have to sit and behave for another hour and a half,” she said. “I understand that. They have energy to burn and need somewhere to put it. Today was hard because there was a lot of sitting around while we practiced songs. Things won’t be as crazy for our next practice, I’m sure.”

      “It really does help if they can work out a little energy.”

      “We did elf jumping jacks. You’re right, things were better after that.”

      She paused, her smile sliding away. He had the feeling she was uncomfortable about something. Or maybe he was the only uncomfortable one here.

      “Do you need me to give the boys a ride to the rest of our practices?” she finally asked. “I can take them with me to The Christmas Ranch after school and bring them back here when practice is over.”

      Her generous offer startled him. The night before, he had wanted to ask her the same thing, but in the light of day, the request had seemed entirely too presumptuous.

      “Are you sure that wouldn’t be a problem?”

      “You’re right next door. It’s only five minutes out of my way, to bring them up here to the house. I don’t mind, really.”

      “That’s very gracious of you. If you’re sure it won’t be an inconvenience, I would appreciate it.”

      “I don’t mind. I should warn you, they might be a little later coming home than some of the other children, since I have to straighten up our rehearsal space after we’re done. Perhaps they can help me put away chairs after practice.”

      “Absolutely. They’re good boys and will work hard, as long as they have a little direction.”

      The wind was kicking up, blowing down out of the foothills with that peculiar smell of an approaching storm. She shivered a little and he felt bad for keeping her standing out here. He could have invited her inside the horse barn, at least.

      “I really do appreciate it,” he said, feeling as big and rough and awkward as he always did around her soft, graceful beauty. “To be honest, I wasn’t sure how I would juggle everything this week. I’m supposed to be going out of town tomorrow until Monday to look at a couple of horses and I hate complicating the boys’ schedule more than I have to for Uncle Dan and Jax.”

      “No problem.”

      “Thanks. I owe you one.”

      “You do,” she answered firmly. “And here’s how you can pay me back. We’re signing up drivers for the night of the show to pick up some of the senior citizens who don’t like driving in the snow. Add your name to the list and we can