I looked toward the others. Everyone else was far enough away that I didn’t think they would hear us, but this wasn’t the place to tell Ladd.
Turning to face him, I said, “Can we find a private place to talk later this evening?”
He winked. “We sure can. For talking, sure…a really private place for that…andotherthings.”
Laughing, I shook my head. “You’re terrible, Ladd Wilde.”
“You say that now.”
Once we got back to the barn, Ladd showed me what to do with the horse. As much fun as I’d had, taking care of a horse after the good times was serious work.
I put some hay in the hanging basket for Wonder Bread, then stroked down his neck a few more times. I’d fallen in love with this horse and was already counting down the hours until we could ride again.
I turned—and nearly screamed when I saw Ladd leaning against the door of the stall. He did that a lot.
“Didn’t mean to scare you.”
Walking over to him, I placed my hands on his chest. “Thank you so much for today. Thank you for bringing me home to your ranch. For loving me. I really am having the most amazing time, and it’s only been a day since we got here.”
He smiled. “You say that now, but my mother’s heading to the kitchen to prepare for what my brothers and father call the Great Christmas Bake-Off.”
I laughed as he put his arm around my shoulders and we made our way out of the barn and toward the house.
“And what is the Great Christmas Bake-Off?”
He let out a breath. “Oh man, it’s been happening since I can remember. Long before I was born, I’m sure. Anyway, my mother invites friends and neighbors over for the day, and they do nothing but bake. Everyone brings the supplies they need for what they plan on baking. Then, at the end of it all, they have these boxes they put together with all the heavenly baked items, and they give them away. To friends, co-workers, and first responders. They also make plenty for the kids on Christmas Day when they come.”
“That sounds like so much fun!”
“Yeah, I think my mother got it from Grandma Lilith.”
“Did she start the tradition?”
He thought for a second. “No. Well, kind of. My great-grandmother Sarah used to have women from town come out to the ranch, and they’d cook up meals to give to those who were alone on the holidays, kind of like the first soup kitchen in River Falls. They’d deliver them on horsebackor in their carriages. There weren’t too many families in town who didn’t have anyone or were poor, but those who were struggling, the ladies made sure they were taken care of.
“I remember my dad telling me and David a story once. My great-grandfather used to kill turkeys and would deliver them to some folks’ houses and just leave them in a basket. He’d knock, then take off running, so they couldn’t see who’d left it. Something about saving the man of the house’s pride or some nonsense like that.”
“It was sweet of him to do that.”
He smiled. “Yeah, he was apparently a great guy. My father said Lawrence had a vision of what the ranch would be someday. I think he would be really happy if he were alive right now to see it.”
“You’re so lucky to have parents who love and support you.”
He nodded his head as we’d almost neared the front porch of his parents’ house. “I am. Very lucky indeed.”
Ladd
The storm David had seen coming over the mountains moved in quicker than we thought it would. The snow was coming down at a rapid pace, but nothing that we hadn’t ever seen before, of course, living in Colorado. My mother, grandmother, Vivianne, and Liz spent most of the rest of the morning and early afternoon baking. David and I popped in every now and then to offer to sample the goods. Each time, though, we’d been roped into helping in some way. It was worth it, though, to get the samples.
Once most of the baking had finished, it was time to decorate the trees in the arena. My mother dished out orders and we all followed them.
“Ladd, would you mind bringing down the two remaining boxes of decorations?” my mother asked as she motioned for me to set the box of decorations down that I’d carried from the attic at the house.
“Just two left?” I asked.
“Yes, your brothers brought most of them out here. After you’ve gotten them, Vivianne is at the dog and cat tree now, so you can help her finish that one up.”
I looked past her to see Vivianne holding up a couple of decorations with a perplexed expression on her face. The ornaments were all handmade decorations that the kids at the elementary school made for the tree.
