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“Don’t be hasty, Fireman Jake!” Cade hurried over. “Hey, Amethyst. Good to see you.” He touched the brim of his hat.
“Good to see you, too, Cade. I don’t think we’ve run into each other since the last time I saw you at Rangeland Roasters having coffee with Lexi.”
“I know. Sheridan’s a small town, but you can go months without meeting up with folks who live here.”
“And I’m on the road a lot.”
“Yeah, I know! Love your music. Lexi and I listen to you all the time. Anyway, I don’t want you two to give up on the sleigh ride just yet. Finn’s unhitching Navarre so we can get to work on the chassis.”
Jake shook his head. “It’s no use, Gallagher. It might be salvageable but it’ll take days.”
“I’m not promising it’ll look brand new in five minutes, but Damon and Phil are here and they never go anywhere without tools. It’s possible with their help we can clean this baby up, tighten a few screws and she’ll be good enough for a little ride down the Forest Service road. Have you had lunch, Amethyst? Rosie always has plenty to eat and you could relax inside while we work our magic.”
“Yes, I’ve had lunch. And, really, we can skip the sleigh ride. I don’t want anyone to go to a lot of trouble on Christmas Eve day.”
“Me, either,” Jake said. “Maybe Amethyst and I could just—”
“Jake, I’m telling you, it won’t take much. I’m sure Mom filled in Damon and Phil over lunch. They’d probably be insulted if we didn’t ask them.”
“I doubt it,” Jake said. “They just got back from Florida, dude. And Phil’s not in any shape to help.”
“All the more reason not to bother them,” Amethyst said. “Jake can give me a tour of the place. I’ve heard so much about it over the years but I’ve never visited.”
“Hey, Jake Ramsey!” Damon’s deep voice carried through the crisp air as he strode toward them. “What’s this I hear about a fixer-upper sleigh?”
“Hey, Damon.” Jake went to meet him. “Just my latest idiotic move.”
Amethyst was touched by their warm embrace. She’d always had a soft spot in her heart for the Thunder Mountain boys. Most of them had some tragedy in their background and Jake was no exception. When they were dating she’d learned that his mom had died when he was a toddler and his father had turned into an abusive alcoholic. Jake used to spend his nights wherever he could get away from the beatings, sometimes at the home of a friend and sometimes hidden in the storeroom of Scruffy’s Bar.
Jake didn’t trust easily. She’d learned that when he’d broken up with her over a stupid misunderstanding. He’d never quite believed that she cared about him and he still might not. But at least they had a sexual connection that made them both happy.
She watched as Jake and Damon walked over to the sleigh. They were both laughing as Damon examined it from all angles. She turned to Cade. “I love your can-do attitude but, seriously, let’s forget about the sleigh ride, okay? It was a cute idea but I can live without it.”
“But that would mean giving up,” Cade said. “Besides, Damon likes to show off his manly carpentry skills.”
“That may be true but—”
“In these situations, it’s best to sit back and let the Thunder Mountain Brotherhood do its thing.”
She let out a breath. “Okay, I’ll try.”
Damon and Jake continued to joke around as they walked back over to where she stood with Cade.
“Damon’s convinced me we need to give this sleigh a chance,” Jake said. “So I’m prepared to work with him on it if you’re willing to allow us a little time.”
“Sure, why not? What do you want me to do?”
“I’m not going to put you to work, if that’s what you’re thinking. While Damon’s assessing the job, let’s go inside and see Rosie. I know you’ve had lunch but she’ll have a pot of coffee going and I happen to know there’s some German chocolate cake left over from last night.”
“That sounds great.” Amethyst hadn’t known what to expect from this afternoon but she hadn’t planned on much alone time with Jake, anyway. She’d popped an antihistamine before driving out here in case she ended up in the same space with Ringo the cat.
“I’ll go in with you,” Cade said. “I’m starving and I can only imagine your hunger pangs, Fireman Jake. From what I’ve seen, you need fuel and plenty of it. I’d hate to see you grow weak from lack of food.”
“So you all missed lunch?” Amethyst was overwhelmed by the group effort to provide her with a sleigh ride.
“Yeah, but Finn’s probably in there wolfing down a sandwich by now,” Cade said. “Sad to say, Jake and I haven’t taken any sustenance since breakfast.”
“Then, by all means, let’s all go in so you guys can get fed.”
Shortly thereafter Amethyst was seated at Rosie’s kitchen table with a mug of coffee and a slice of cake. Jake and Cade each had hefty sandwiches to go with their coffee. Finn had already left to help Damon, but his fiancée Chelsea was there along with Philomena, Damon’s redheaded and exceedingly pregnant wife. Ringo, a gray tabby, was curled up in a bed in the corner, but the antihistamine was working so Amethyst was fine.
Jake paused between bites to address his foster mom, who’d joined them with coffee and cake. “Where’s Dad?”
“In town, Christmas shopping.”
“He still waits until the last minute?”
Rosie laughed. “He claims that’s when he feels the Christmas spirit, when everyone in town is racing the clock.”
“What he feels is frantic desperation,” Cade said. “You couldn’t pay me to be in town today.”
Jake laughed. “How does two grand sound?”
“Okay, I’d do it for that.”
“Case closed.” Jake finished his sandwich and pushed back his chair. “Mom, that was wonderful.” He glanced over at Amethyst. “Will you be okay for a little while? This shouldn’t take long.”
“Are you kidding? You’re leaving me with interesting women and German chocolate cake. I’ll be more than fine.” Amethyst discovered she liked seeing him in this setting, surrounded by his foster family. He seemed emotionally stronger and more confident here. She wished he’d brought her to the ranch when they’d been dating but there’d been no reason.
Cade went with him, which left Rosie, Chelsea and Phil at the table with Amethyst.
She knew a little about Phil, who’d worked as a contractor in Sheridan for several years before meeting and falling in love with Damon. But Chelsea was a complete stranger so Amethyst started the conversation by asking about her work and how she’d happened to meet Finn. Turned out they’d been in line for coffee and had started up a conversation that had led to a business relationship and eventually love.
“Chelsea’s been so good for him,” Rosie said. “He’s still very focused on his work, but he’s not as driven as he used to be.”
“The more I’m around the Thunder Mountain guys,” Phil said, “the more I’ve noticed that most of them have a strong urge to succeed. Considering the crummy background they had, it’s not surprising. Damon’s mellowing out, finally, which is good. I want him to be able to relax enough to enjoy his kid.”
Amethyst had abandoned the idea of having children when she’d decided on her career path, but she was curious all the same. “How’s motherhood so far?”
“Disconcerting.” Phil laid a hand over her big belly. “Normally, I work side by side with Damon on our renovation jobs, but in the last month that’s been increasingly difficult. Life should be easier when she’s born. I plan to pack her along on jobs, at least until she’s mobile. Then I might need day care.”
“So you’re having a girl?” Amethyst asked.
“Oh, yeah, and I’m thrilled about that.”
“So am I.” Rosie sipped her coffee. “This ranch is loaded with testosterone, in case you hadn’t noticed.”
Amethyst smiled. “I’ve noticed, but I’m not complaining. I grew up with a sister.”
Rosie’s gaze warmed. “How’s Sapphire doing? From a sister’s perspective, I mean. Grady says everything’s going well, but I had a little something to do with her decision to move to Cody and I dearly hope it’s working out.”
“It definitely is. You’ll see for yourself tonight when they come to your Christmas Eve party.”
“Are you coming?” Chelsea asked.
“Or more to the point,” Phil said, “are you staying? You’re here for this major-deal sleigh ride, so unless you have plans you might as well stay for the rest of the evening.”
Amethyst was struck by the logic of it. She’d considered coming over later with Grady and Sapphire but that might not make any sense. She glanced at the kitchen clock. If the sleigh was cleaned up and ready before three, she’d be amazed. And dusk came early in December.
Then she looked down at her simple top and jeans. “I’m not dressed for a Christmas Eve gala.”
Rosie laughed. “Honey, you’re at Thunder Mountain Ranch. Around here we pay more attention to the people than the clothes they’re wearing. Besides, you look very nice.”
“All righty, then. I’d love to stay.”
“Great!” Chelsea smiled at her. “Now that we have that settled, I’m dying to ask about your career. I understand you’re a professional singer.”
“I’m working at it. So far my gigs have all been in Wyoming and that’s where I get the bulk of my music sales, too.”
Chelsea’s expression was animated. “Have you sent out demos?”
“I have, but no takers yet from the studios. I hoping for a big break eventually, but in the meantime I’m giving private voice lessons, mostly to kids. That’s fun.”
“I’ll bet it would be,” Phil said. “I love hearing little kids sing. Warms my heart.”
“Mine, too.” Amethyst smiled as she thought about Jenny, her favorite. “I have one little eight-year-old who has real promise. Cute as a button and that girl can sing. I can’t wait to see what happens with her. Then there’s a little guy who’s only five but he really belts out those tunes. It’s adorable. He could go places.”
“I wonder if singing is like acting,” Chelsea said. “You have to actually be in LA or New York in order to make something happen. Or Nashville if you’re doing country.”
“Maybe. I’m pop, not country, so it would be New York or LA for me.” Amethyst always grew uneasy when this subject came up. “And I would go if I had some interest from one of the major studios. You know, a serious nibble. Moving to the city without that seems pretty darned risky. Sure, I could wait tables, but those are pricey places to live. I’d go through my savings in no time. At least here the cost of living is lower so I can support myself between the gigs I pick up and the private lessons.”
“It is risky.” Rosie got up to bring them all more coffee. “I was worried sick about Finn when he took off for Seattle to open a microbrewery. He didn’t know a soul, but he’d researched the market and was convinced that was the best place to be.” She gave Chelsea a fond look. “Then he met the right woman and it all worked out.”
“He was really lucky,” Amethyst said.
“So was I.” Chelsea leaned back in her chair. “I’m grateful that he took that risk. I can’t imagine my life without him.”
“Finn’s not the only one who’s done that kind of thing,” Rosie said. “One of my boys is out in LA right this minute trying to make it as an actor.”
“Oh, yeah?” Phil looked over at her. “Who’s that?”
“Matt Forrest.”
“I remember him from high school!” Amethyst put down her mug and stared at Rosie. “He was a skinny kid one year behind me.”
“Well, he’s not skinny anymore,” Rosie said. “Got a growth spurt, filled out, took some acting classes at the community college. Then he headed to LA. He’s been there almost three years now. Like you’d expect, he’s had to wait tables and take jobs making commercials. He had one bit part in a small-budget movie and I guess somebody from a major studio liked what they saw. The other day he called to say he was up for something much bigger.”
“Wow, I hope he gets it. He seemed like a nice guy the few times I was around him.” Amethyst cradled her mug in both hands as she imagined buying a one-way plane ticket to LA or New York and toughing it out for three years. She just didn’t like the odds. “What I’m hoping is that I’ll have some talent scouts in the audience one of these times. Entertainment folks often vacation in Wyoming.”
“They do,” Phil said. “They even buy homes here. Damon and I have done some renovations for some Hollywood types. Behind-the-camera people, not anyone you’d recognize.”
“I’ve had some celebrity spottings in Seattle,” Chelsea said. “It’s always a thrill.”
After that the conversation turned to actors, movies and which ones might win an Oscar, but Amethyst kept thinking about Matt Forrest. Maybe she was making a big mistake by not relocating to LA and hiring an agent. New York seemed like a different country to her, but LA wasn’t that far from Wyoming.
“Sleigh’s ready!” Cade came into the kitchen grinning. “Come on down!”
Amethyst glanced at him. “So where’s Jake?”
“He’s still fiddling with it, but Damon has declared it operational and Finn’s hitching up Navarre.”
“Then let’s go take a look.” Phil groaned as she rose from her chair. “At times like this I wish the stork brought the kid, after all.”
Cade helped her on with her coat. “Aw, Phil, last I heard you loved being pregnant.”
“That was last month. I’ve revised my opinion.”
Once they were all bundled up, they walked down to the barn. Finn was hitching a brown horse to a sleigh that Amethyst thought didn’t look half-bad. The rack Jake had been holding in place when they’d pulled in was gone and the dust and grime had been wiped away. If the sleigh didn’t exactly sparkle, at least it looked clean.
Blankets had been piled onto the seat and allowed to spill over the edges, which covered some of the more faded parts of the chassis. Damon and Jake crouched near the back, each with a screwdriver as they tightened the struts attached to the runners.
Damon stood as they approached. “Your chariot awaits, milady.”
“It’s a huge improvement.” She smiled at him. “Thank you for all the hard work.”
“It didn’t take much to make it serviceable. Making it pretty will require a lot longer.”
“But we’ll do it,” Cade said. “Before we’re finished you won’t recognize this sleigh.”
“We could put the Academy students to work on it,” Rosie said. “That’s if Damon or Phil would be willing to supervise.”
“What a brilliant idea!” Phil beamed at her. “I volunteer to supervise. I’m going crazy sitting at home while Damon does all the fun stuff.”
Damon rolled his eyes. “Yeah, she is. Great suggestion, Rosie.” Then he turned back to the sleigh. “Your passenger has arrived, Ramsey. The runners are fine for now.”
“Just making sure of that. Don’t want us taking a header into a snowbank.”
“You won’t if you drive slow and easy.”
Cade laughed. “You don’t have to worry about it. Enter the word cautious into your browser and Fireman Jake will be staring back at you.”
“Okay, okay. I get the point.” Jake stood and walked over to Damon. “Here’s your screwdriver, bro. Thanks for stepping in.” Then he turned to Amethyst. “Ready?”
“You bet.” She let him hand her into the sleigh while everyone stood around watching. She had the oddest feeling, as if they were a newly married couple leaving on their honeymoon. To her great surprise, she wasn’t horrified by the image.
When he walked around the sleigh, climbed in next to her and took the reins, the feeling grew stronger. This was only a sleigh ride, she reminded herself. They’d be back in an hour or so.
“Have fun!” Rosie called out as Jake slapped the reins against the horse’s rump and the sleigh began to move.
