Justin came from around the back side of the boys’ bunkhouse and waved when Levi parked his loaded truck out front. While he stepped out and stretched the kinks from his back, Justin picked up two boxes. “Prop that door open so we can go back and forth easier,” he said.
“Appreciate the help.” Levi nodded.
“I’m bored so it gives me something to do. Took a walk out to the barn and back,” Justin told him.
“Make you feel better?” Levi asked.
“Nope.” He carried the boxes inside and came back for more.
“What’s your problem?” Levi stacked three lightweight ones up and headed toward the porch with them.
“It’s Retta and Cade. They’re so damned happy, and now you’ve got Claire, and I…well hell, Levi, I’m beginning to think about a permanent-type relationship. But I don’t even know where to begin,” he admitted.
“I’m in love with Claire,” Levi blurted. “I want to spend the rest of my life with her, and I’m scared to death to tell her. It’s too soon, and I’m afraid I’ll scare her off.”
“And that leaves me as the fifth wheel for sure.” Justin sighed.
“Hey, just when you give up ever finding someone, she’ll fall right in your lap. Trust me because I’m speaking from experience. Look at what happened with Cade and Retta and”—he crossed his fingers like a little boy—“I’m hopin’ for me and Claire.”
Levi and Justin had finished unloading and were on their way back to the ranch house when Claire drove up in her vintage car. She honked, and they both turned around and headed right back toward the girls’ bunkhouse.
“I will marry you tomorrow if you’ll give me that car,” Justin teased as he opened the door for her.
“What have you been drinkin’?” she shot right back at him.
“I’m sober as a judge, darlin’. I want to ask first because when Buddy and some of the other cowboys see this car, they’ll be lined up outside your door with engagement rings in hand. We can go pick out whatever kind of ring you want tomorrow,” Justin joked. “This is a beauty of a car, worthy of any man’s proposal.”
“Thank you.” She giggled. “But when I accept a proposal, it will be for me, not my car.”
“You’ve broken my heart. I may never get over this.” Justin threw a hand up to his chest.
“You’ll forget me and the Lincoln when a tall blonde offers to make breakfast for you,” Claire told him.
Levi eased the back door open and picked up Zaylie. “Shhh, don’t wake the baby,” he told them.
“Levi!” Her blue eyes popped open. “Riley has a bunny.”
“Is that right?” He carried her toward the bunkhouse.
“Yep and it’s white. I’m hungry. Is it time for a snack?”
“No, sweetheart, it’s supper time. Soon as me and Justin get things unloaded, we’ll go up to the ranch house and eat,” he said. “But while we get that job done, there’s three little kittens who want to see you.”
Zaylie squirmed out of his arms and ran across the porch and into the house. “My poor babies. They missed me.”
Levi kissed Claire on the cheek and whispered, “Not as much as I’m going to miss her when Grant takes her away from us.”
Claire leaned into his shoulder. “I don’t even want to think about it. I always get sad when I have to give her up, but this time it’s permanent.”
“Put your worries in my pocket,” he said.
“I can’t thank you enough for everything,” she told him.
“Don’t thank me, darlin’. Just love me as much as I do you,” he said.
“I do,” she said simply.
Retta and Claire were sitting at the table having a cup of hot tea when Mavis arrived that Monday morning. As usual she talked the whole time she hung up her coat and poured a cup of coffee. “I thought maybe us girls could go to Bowie today and do a little Christmas shopping. I’ve only just gotten started. I need to hit the western wear store for sure.”
“I was about to ask Retta if I could sneak away for an hour to sign the papers on the house,” Claire said.
“And I know how much you value your time with Zaylie since this is the last week before her daddy comes home, but I was going to ask if I could have her this morning. I need to do some shopping also,” Retta said.
“Looks like you girls are on the same wave. Retta and Zaylie can come with me, and you can go do your legal business. Let me finish this cup of coffee and we’ll all get this show on the road,” Mavis said.
“I can call you and pick her up when I’m done,” Claire said.
“Good friends share their toys,” Retta said. “Let us keep her for a few hours. We’ll have her home by lunchtime.”
“Thank you,” Claire said. “I can use the time to finish up a few little dolly outfits I’m sewing for her and Teresa’s Christmas. It’s been a chore to get them done without her realizing what I’m doing. But a word of warning. She tells everything, so if you’re getting presents for the guys you better hide them well.”
“I’m buying a few things for the guys on my list, so thanks for the heads-up,” Mavis said. “You’ll have to distract her for me, Retta.”
“I’m shopping today for my in-laws. They’re arriving right before Christmas Eve and staying through New Year’s. Thank God you’ll be here to help me get through those days,” Retta said.
“First time they’ve been here since you became the lady of the house?” Claire asked.
Retta nodded.
“I’ll be here to support you. We’re friends,” Claire said.
Retta smiled. “I knew the minute that you came into the house that we’d get along like a house on fire.”
“You were right. Do they stay in the guest room?” she said.
“No need,” Mavis said. “They always bring their big old motor home and park it in the backyard.”
Retta started out of the room. “Will that make it easier? Will Gloria still want to take over like the ranch is still hers?”
“Honey, Gloria is a force,” Mavis said. “But she’s got a good heart and her family comes first, so don’t worry about it.”
Claire patted Retta on the back. “Hey, it doesn’t matter. Together we’ll show her that we’ve got everything runnin’ smooth.”
Zaylie was so excited to get to go shopping with Mavis and Retta that she didn’t even ask why Claire wasn’t going with them.
Claire waited until they were completely out of sight before she left driving her grandmother’s old Lincoln. When she arrived at the lawyer’s office the receptionist pointed toward an open door. “If you are Claire, they’re waiting for you. They got here a little early.”
“Thank you.” Claire squared her shoulders and went in with a smile on her face. “Hello, I hope you didn’t have a long wait.”
“Not at all. We’ve already done our part of the signing. So now it’s your turn,” Delores said. “The insurance on the house is paid up until January first. That will give you time to take care of that.” She told her the name of the company they’d used. “They’ll have all the information about the place.”
“Thank you. I’ll go talk to them when we get done here,” Claire said.
“It’s right next door. This won’t take long, but please have a seat.” The lawyer slid papers across the table. “Your signature goes where the orange tabs are.”
She read through each paper carefully before she signed at the bottom. “Will a personal check do, or should I go get a cashier’s check at the bank?”
“Personal is fine,” Delores said.
Their trust amazed Claire, but she carefully wrote out a check for the most money she’d ever spent at one time. When she handed it over, the lawyer separated the pages and handed Delores and Claire each a copy.
“That’s it?” Claire asked.
“Yes, ma’am. Cash sales don’t require nearly as much work as when you have to go through the bank. You are now the proud owner of a house in Sunset, Texas.”
“And we wish you happiness and good luck with your store,” Delores said. “Got time for an ice cream to celebrate?”
“Thank you, but I’d better go on to the insurance company, and then I’ve got a full morning ahead of me,” Claire answered.
Delores stood up and opened her arms. “A hug from someone who had good days in that house and hopes that you prosper there?”
Claire moved around the desk and hugged the lady. “I just know I’m going to be happy in Sunset. You come see me when you’re in town.”
“Oh, honey, I will. Quilting is what keeps my mind active and my fingers nimble. First thing I did when I moved was start a quilting bee at my church. I miss Mavis and the old group, but this new one is pretty lively,” Delores said.
“Well, then I’ll look to see you at my store before too many months pass,” Claire said.
“I’ll bring cookies.” Delores moved toward the door with Joe and Frank behind her.
Thirty minutes later Claire had written a check to cover insurance for a year. And she was on her way back home to the ranch. When she went through Sunset, she pulled into the driveway of her house and sat there for a few minutes staring at it. Something was missing. It looked the same, and it was empty so there was no way anything had been stolen.
Then she realized what was wrong. She didn’t want to go inside alone for the first time as the owner. She wanted to share the experience with Levi. She fished her phone from her purse and sent a text.
Are you busy?
Immediately her phone rang.
She answered, “That was fast. I’m sitting in front of my house.”
“Papers signed then?” Levi asked.
“No problems there, but I know you are busy…” She paused.
“I’m never too busy to take a few minutes or even longer for you.”
“This is going to sound silly, but I want you to share the experience of going inside the first time that I own it with you,” she said.
“I’ll be there in ten minutes,” he said.
The call ended and she turned on the radio. Ten minutes wasn’t so long—it was only three songs.
Before the second one ended, Levi had pulled his truck in behind her. He opened the door for her and placed his hands on her waist. But when she was on the ground, he didn’t let go like usual. He pulled her tightly to his chest.
“This makes me so happy,” he said.
“I was afraid that I’d be interfering with your work.”
“Darlin’, don’t you understand? There’s a priority in a cowboy’s life—God, his woman, and then his work.”
Tears welled up in her eyes. She’d always wanted to have first place with someone—anyone—but taking second place behind God? Well, it didn’t get any better than that.
She expected a kiss, but instead he took her by the hand and led her to the porch. He waited patiently for her to find the key in her purse and unlock the door. Then he scooped her up in his arms like a bride and carried her over the threshold. Once inside he shut the door with the heel of his boot, set her down, and claimed her lips in a scorching kiss.
“Welcome to the quiltin’ house,” he whispered softly in her ear when the kiss ended.
“That will be the name of the business,” she said. “The Quiltin’ House. I love it even more since you said it.”
A grin spread across his face. “You’re going to do great here. I just know it.”
Two blessings in one day. But the most important one was from Levi. He supported her, and that meant the world to Claire.
On Tuesday it rained all day, and Zaylie was cranky. She whined because she had to leave her kittens in the bunkhouse and then because Beau didn’t show up to follow them to the ranch house. Not even talking to her dad helped that afternoon. It was like a kid the day after Christmas or their birthday when all the excitement was over. She’d had the fun of the ranch party and then seeing her little friend on Sunday, followed up by a day with Retta. And now it was just a normal day, until Levi popped his head in the back door in the middle of the afternoon.
“Hey, anyone here want to go out to the barn and see Nomie and Little Bit? Poor little things are beggin’ for some little girl company,” he hollered.
“Me, me, me!” Zaylie came alive and danced on her tiptoes all the way across the room.
“And me, me, me!” Claire giggled.
“Great!” Levi winked. “Get your coats on, and we’ll race to the truck. If we run between the raindrops we might not get wet.”
“Silly Levi, you can’t do that,” Zaylie said.
“I thought he could walk on water.” Claire zipped up her coat and pulled a stocking hat down over her hair.
“He can when he’s a grandpa, but he’s too big to run between raindrops,” Zaylie declared, and took off in a flash across the yard.
Levi took a moment to brush a brief kiss across Claire’s lips, then grabbed her hand, and they ran like kids through the rain to the truck. “I don’t feel like a grandpa,” he said as he got Zaylie into the backseat.
“You ain’t one yet.” Zaylie sighed. “You gots to have kids first.”
“I see, and that makes me a grandpa?”
“No, silly!” Zaylie giggled. “That makes you a daddy.”
“When do I get to be a grandpa?”
“When them kids has babies,” she told him.
He shut the door and hurried around the back end of the truck, crawled inside, and shivered. “How did you get to be so smart, Zaylie?”
She sucked in a lung full of air and let it out in a whoosh. “Aunt Claire tells me stuff and I ’member. If she tells you stuff, then you can be smart.”
He’d brought the calf and the miniature donkey both into the barn, but he hadn’t put them in stalls, so they were romping around playfully when they arrived. Zaylie ran right to Little Bit and threw her arms around his neck. After she’d given the little donkey kisses and hugs, she went over to the calf to hug her.
Levi sat down on a bale of hay and pulled Claire into his lap. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she grows up to be a vet or do something with animals.”
“Me either,” she said. “I could kiss you for rescuing her today. She’s had so much excitement these past three days that it’s tough just having a normal day.”
“No day with you in it could ever be normal,” he whispered. “And I’ll take that kiss whenever you want to deliver it.”
She brought his lips to hers in a sweet kiss but ended it quickly when Zaylie tugged on her hand.
“Why are you kissin’ Levi? Is he still your boyfriend?”
“What do you know about boyfriends?” Claire asked.
“Me and Riley both like Jason. He’s our boyfriend. I wanted Justin to be my boyfriend, but he said he’s too old, but Jason is only six so he’s not too old. When can I kiss him?” she asked.
“When you are twenty-one,” Claire answered.
“Okay, I’ll tell Riley and Teresa.” She ran off to play with the animals again.
“Well, that was easy enough, and you sure know how to sidestep questions,” Levi said. “Am I your boyfriend?”
“Do you want to be?” she asked.
“Yes, ma’am, I sure do. I may be old fashioned, but I like sayin’ that you’re my girlfriend more than sayin’ that we’re in a relationship.” He nodded.
“Me too.” She nudged him with her shoulder. “It just sounds more personal, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, darlin’, it does.”
In the next three days there were hours the clock refused to move and then others when the day sped by so fast that Claire wondered how time could pass so quickly. Suddenly it was the last night that she’d have Zaylie. She was thinking about maybe a movie and a trip to Zaylie’s favorite burger shop, when Levi came up with a better plan.
“Let’s drive over to McKinney and take her to see the festival of lights. We can leave early enough to have burgers, see the lights, go let her see Santa Claus—I checked and he’s at one of the department stores tonight—and then have ice cream at Culvers,” Levi suggested.
“I like that idea,” Claire said. “You want to take the car or your truck?”
“You’d trust me to drive the car?” Levi asked as if he was stunned.
“Sure I would. It’s just a car.”
“Naw, let’s take the truck. That’ll let Zaylie sit up higher so she can see everything better.”
“You’re a good man, Levi Jackson,” she said.
He muttered something that sounded a lot like, “I hope I’m good enough.”
When they got home from the light show, Grant called, and Zaylie talked the whole time about seeing Cinderella’s pumpkin coach and Rudolph and Mickey Mouse and “Oh!” she gasped. “We got ice cream and I went to sleep on the way home and Levi carried me in the house.”
When she finally wound down, Grant asked if he could talk to Claire.
“I’m jealous of Levi tonight, and I’ve never even met him,” Grant said.
“He adores her.” Claire yawned. “But tomorrow she’s all yours.”
“Go to bed, sis. You sound tired.”
“I’ve got less than one ounce of energy left, for sure. See you tomorrow.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, and the call ended.
On Saturday morning Claire awoke with a settled heart. Her brother was on his way home, and she’d never have to worry about getting a knock on the door from two uniformed airmen sent to deliver the most devastating news possible.
Grant called in the middle of the morning to tell her that they were an hour away and would be there soon. She started to pace the floor of the ranch house. Everything was packed and ready. Levi had bought a carrier for the kittens so the girls could take them home with them. She was so anxious to see Grant but even more so to see Zaylie’s reaction when she heard that her daddy was home for good.
Levi came through the house, and without a word, he took her in his arms and held her tightly. “I’m here for you always. Where is Zaylie?”
“In the living room. She’s been cranky all morning. I’m glad you’re here, Levi. You give me strength,” she told him.
“Just lean on me, and we’ll get through this together,” he said.
“I will,” she said simply.
“Aunt Claire, there’s a red car outside. Oh! Oh!” Zaylie clamped a hand over her mouth. “That’s Teresa and my daddy.” Every word got higher as she ran toward the door to sling it open and throw herself into Grant’s arms.
“It’s selfish to be sad when I look at that happiness.” Claire watched Grant hug her so tight that she squealed and then twirl her around until they were both dizzy. To begrudge him a single moment of being a full-time father would be downright hateful.
“Keep that picture in your mind while you go out there and do some hugging of your own.” Levi led her to the door with his hand in hers.
Grant rushed up on the porch, picked her up in a fierce bear hug, and said, “I owe you so much.”
“Just be happy,” she said, and laughed.
Angela followed him onto the porch. “Thank you for keeping this a secret. We haven’t told Teresa yet.”
“Then it’s time, and I’m glad that we’re sisters.” Claire wrapped her arms around Angela. “See that second little house down there. Y’all put the girls in your van and take them in there and tell them. Her things are all packed up, and there’s a carrier for the kittens. When you come back we’ll have lunch ready.”
“Thank you for everything,” Angela said.
She was a beautiful woman—almost as tall as Grant, with her dark hair and skin the color of coffee with lots of cream.
“You could come with us,” Grant offered.
“I’ll stay right here with Levi.” She slapped a hand over her mouth. “My manners just escaped in all the excitement. This is Levi Jackson. Levi, meet my bother, Grant, and Angela and that little dark-haired girl out there talkin’ a mile a minute with Zaylie is Teresa.”
Levi stuck out a hand. “Pleased to meet you. Claire has talked a lot about you.”
“And you as well.” Grant shook with him and then took a step back. “You look happy, sis.”
“I am,” she told him.
“I’m glad. That makes this easier for me. So you sure you don’t want to join us?”
“Positive. Go make a family, and then come back and eat with us before you go home,” she said around the lump forming in her throat.
“Would it be terribly rude if we just grabbed a to-go burger at the next town? We want to get unpacked and get our tree up tonight,” Angela asked. “There’s so much to do and so many decisions to make.”
“Not a bit,” Claire answered. “I understand.”
“We’re anxious to settle in. Do you think you and Levi could visit some evening this next week? I grill a mean steak, and we could get to know each other a little better,” Grant asked.
“Of course we can. You just name the day and we’ll be there,” Levi answered. “I’ll bring the beer.”
“Sounds good.” Grant slipped an arm around Angela’s waist and yelled out across the lawn, “Hey, you two beautiful ladies. Get in the van. Claire says that Zaylie needs to show us some kittens down in the bunkhouse.”
The girls scrambled into the backseat.
But I wanted just a little more time. Not all day. Just one more meal with her. One more hour to listen to her and Teresa giggle together.
Levi drew her close to his side, and suddenly it was all right. A clean break would be better for everyone, including Zaylie. Claire would see the whole new little family in a week or so when she went to Randlett for Christmas.