CHAPTER ONE
“Iwish ya luck, luv.” Granny Haggerty’s brow puckered as she gazed at Rance. “But she’ll be knowin’ ya tricked her. She’ll eat yer head off.”
“Probably.” When the McLintocks had welcomed Kieran Haggerty and his grandma to Rowdy Ranch back in October, Rance had engineered having Granny temporarily housed in his guest room until her cabin was built.
He had many reasons for it and this was one of them. She gave good advice. And she was solidly against his plan to rope Lani into taking a private sleigh ride. “But telling her Sara and Kieran were going was the only way?—”
“Apart from tellin’ her the truth, that you have a special gift for her.” Granny crossed her arms over the green checked apron covering her ample chest. A recent perm and a golden blonde dye job made her look like a cherub, especially since a lifetime in Ireland had blessed her with wrinkle-free cheeks. “You’ll be startin’ off with a lie.”
“A little white one. The only lie I’ve ever told her. I’ll confess the minute she questions me.” He took his jacket from the coat rack by the door and shoved his arms into the sleeves.
“Why wait? Tell her straight off they weren’t ever plannin’ ta go. Admit ya lied and promise never to do it again.”
“Hm.” He buttoned up and grabbed his Stetson off the rack. A full confession could be a wise move. “Okay, I’ll do that.”
Granny smiled, her blue gaze warm. “Good on you, boyo.”
“I’ll be back in time to take you over to the house for tea.” He slung a backpack over his shoulder and picked up a festively wrapped package from a table by the door. She’d helped him tie the fancy red bow.
“You’ll be back sooner than that if she refuses ta?—”
“I doubt she will.” He hefted the package. “I’m counting on this.”
“’Tis a precious gift, lad.” She paused. “Nervous, are you?”
“Like a paratrooper leaping into battle.” Bending down, he kissed her cheek.
She flushed and patted his arm. “Go on with ya. I’ll be lightin’ a candle after ya leave.”
“Thank you for that.” Picking up his keys, he opened the door and slipped out quickly to minimize the blast of cold air on Granny. She would never know how much he cherished her prayers.
The midday sun had warmed Thunder’s cab, but not much. Cold leather chilled his butt. He laid the backpack on the floor and the package on the passenger seat. His stomach felt like he’d eaten a handful of habanero chilis and washed them down with 100-proof tequila.
Two weeks ago, this plan had looked brilliant. At least to him. Sara and Kieran had agreed to help. They could hardly say no when he’d worked so hard to nurture their romance.
But they’d warned him Lani would back out the minute she sensed a trap. That’s why Granny’s suggestion was a good one. He’d disarm her first thing by explaining he had a top-secret Christmas present he didn’t want anyone else to know about.
Nobody except Granny. For almost two months she’d been his muse and accomplice. In exchange, he’d knocked himself out showing his gratitude.
Prior to her arrival with Kieran, he’d scoured antique stores to find a bed that looked like the four-poster she’d left behind. The matching dresser had been a bonus. On impulse, he’d bought a framed watercolor of the Irish countryside.
She’d cried happy tears when he’d shown her into her room, which he’d made up with the linens she’d shipped ahead. She’d also mailed a small collection of framed pictures and knickknacks. He’d unpacked and arranged those, too.
One was a picture of her late daughter, Kieran’s mother and Lucky’s, as it turned out. That lady’s spirit of adventure had been the source of so much pain, and now so much happiness. Including his.
Before making his bid to have Granny stay with him, he’d checked with Lucky and Kieran to make sure he wasn’t stepping on toes. Lucky was grateful. His busy schedule with the second bookstore meant he and Oksana would be forced to leave Granny alone in their cabin for days at a time.
Kieran and Sara were bunking in the kids’ wing until their cabin was finished. Granny could have done the same, which would have put her close to them. A mite too close, considering without her they’d have the wing to themselves now that the senior Armstrongs were in their new cabin and Lani was staying in their guest room.
Kieran and Sara would never have brought up the privacy issue, but evidently Granny had figured it out because she’d specifically asked to move in with Rance for the time being. Excellent choice. She had her own bathroom and free rein in the kitchen. Her pool game was coming along nicely, too.
Rance arrived at the barn thirty minutes ahead of the time everyone was supposed to meet. That way he could help Bucktack up Thor and hitch him to the sleigh. Yesterday they’d hauled it from the tractor barn to a spot close to the horse barn.
It looked damned good sitting there in the snowy yard. Over Thanksgiving Angie had given it a fresh coat of red paint, touched up the gilt trim and polished the fancy curved runners.
Once the caramel-colored Belgian was hitched to it, the sleigh became something out of a storybook. Just what he had in mind for this encounter with Lani.
As he shut off the engine, Buck came out of the barn leading Thor. The big guy’s ears barely cleared the lintel as Buck took him over toward the sleigh.
