Christmas Showdown (14 page)

She jerked her hand, but Trey held tight. “I
don’t want TJ on a calf.”

“Darlin’, I rode professionally for a while
and I’m still here.”

“Trey.” Her voice firmed.

“Okay. I won’t put him on a calf
today
.” But he couldn’t wait for the day his son wanted to
ride. Then Kelly would change her mind, he was sure of it.

As they passed his mother sitting in her
favorite rocking chair, she gave them a quiet nod and went back to
crocheting something light blue laying on her lap. Trey figured it
was a blanket for TJ. She made all her grandchildren one. On the
end table next to her, the receiver blinked and he could hear TJ’s
soft breathing.

Yeah, they needed to get a monitor.

Opening the door, he held it wide for Kelly
to pass through before he pulled it shut behind them. Trey squinted
against the bright sun spreading its warmth upon them. An earlier
breeze must have chased the clouds away because the blue above them
was crystal clear.

Nearing the barn, he heard hoots and hollers
of encouragement. As they drew closer to the arena, he saw that Jay
wore a helmet with a full facemask and a chest guard. Through the
slats, Trey could see his nephew’s head tucked low as he checked
his rigging like Trey had taught him. Beneath the boy the calf
stirred, mooing sorrowfully.

“Dad purchased a half a dozen of the small
beasties just for Jay to practice on.” He’d also bought a new load
of sheep, but Trey didn’t share that information with Kelly as they
joined Melissa, Suz, and Paula, who watched safely beyond the
fence.

Placing a boot on the last wrung of the
metal, he leaned in, resting his arms against the top bar.

“Were your mother and father involved with
all of you when you were younger?” Kelly asked.

“Dad and Mom were at every one of our school
and extracurricular activities. They still attend mine. I play
basketball,” Melissa said.

“Though they prefer not to go to my nightly
wet t-shirt events.” Suz smirked.

Paula chuckled while Trey shot his sister a
discouraging frown. The woman would be the death of him and his
brothers. She was as wild as a Northern wind.

“Suz and Mel both ride the barrels and other
events at the rodeos,” Trey added. Both were damn good, too.

“John and Barbara also participate in Jay’s
athletic and rodeo events and the girls’ dance and piano recitals,”
Paula added.

Trey glanced down at Kelly. “I know my father
has rubbed you the wrong way, but he really thought he was looking
out for the family—for me.”

Kelly remained silent, her eyes focused on
the boy in the chute. It saddened Trey to have this barrier between
her and his family, mainly his father, but he understood. If he
were in the same position, he would feel as she did.

“Do you have any brothers or sisters?”
Melissa asked.

“I have a brother. He’s in Iraq.”

Trey looked down at her. “You two close?”

“Somewhat, but he’s been gone for a
while.”

She sounded wistful. He recalled she hadn’t
called her parents to wish them Merry Christmas, so he wondered if
they were still alive. “Your Mom and Dad?”

“Let’s say we’re estranged and leave it at
that.”

Suz and he shared a glance before the gate
swung wide and the calf burst out into the arena. The family went
wild, including Trey. Jay held on like a champ for the first couple
of seconds, but a sharp spin to the left sent the boy flying the
opposite direction. He bit the dirt, hard.

Lance and Jason ran out to check on him while
Paula’s knuckles turned white as she clutched the fence.

The boy jumped up before his father and uncle
got to him, pumping the air with a fist. “Yeah. Let’s do that
again.”

As Jason dusted off his son’s jeans, Paula
released an audible breath.

His grandfather jumped down from where he
sat, smiling proudly. “Trey, did you see that? Almost looked like
you at the Greeley Stampede in Colorado.” He laughed before he
headed down the way to herd another calf into the chute.

“Thanks, Dad. Like I needed that memory
brought up again. I think the Brahma celebrated more than I did
that day.”

“You really did this?” Kelly asked.

“It was one of the best times in my life.” He
watched with longing as Jay climbed aboard a black-and-white
calf.

“Why did you quit and become a policeman?”
she asked.

“Riding is hard on the body.”

“He means head.” Suz tittered.

“Both, actually. And sleeping out of a
suitcase gets old. So when a friend of mine suggested we try out
for the force, I thought I’d give it a try. Been doing it ever
since.”

“Mom and Dad aren’t happy with his
occupation,” Melissa added. “They’d rather him work the ranch.”

“I hear being a bank teller isn’t a safe job
either,” Paula said.

“It had seemed like a rather uneventful
occupation until a couple of days ago,” Kelly stated.

“Have they caught the guy?” Suz asked.

“Shortly after his getaway,” Trey
responded.

The gate opened and the calf leaped out of
the chute. Again shouts and words of encouragement came from all in
attendance, even Kelly as she cupped her hands around her mouth and
hooted.

When Jason announced that was enough, his son
moaned.

“Hey, buddy, how about a race? I’ve got a
couple of remote control trucks in the car and I’m dying to see how
they take the berms on the track your grandfather made for the
quads and dirt bikes.”

“Yeah. Let’s do it,” Jay yelled.

When they headed back to the house, the front
door sprang wide. Samuel and TJ burst through the opening, breaking
into a run when they saw them, their grandmother hot on their
heels. Barbara was laughing when she finally caught up with
them.

Kelly watched with interest the Burstyn
family dynamics, which were very different from her own family.
They were the true definition of family—loving and supportive. She
glanced toward John, who had Samuel in one arm and TJ in the other.
He chatted with them both as Trey and Jay retrieved the toys from
the truck. When John laughed at something Samuel said, she realized
that even with what the man had done regarding TJ it showed his
determination to keep their family tight and together. She couldn’t
fault him, but he did scare her.

“You don’t have to worry about TJ. John is
good with the boys,” Barbara said, drawing a chair close to where
Lance had set a lawn chair for Kelly to watch the races.

“I’m not concerned, I can see that he enjoys
his grandchildren.”

“After that little spat in the kitchen, I
think John realizes what you and TJ mean to Trey. I’ve never heard
my son raise his voice in rage at his father.” Barbara narrowed her
gaze on Kelly. “None of us have seen him act this way over a woman.
Because believe me, when you walked out on him earlier, I swear
I’ve never seen him so frightened. My gut says it wasn’t that he
thought he’d lose only his son.” She tilted her head and paused as
if considering her next words. “He’s different with you. If I had
to wager a guess, I’d say Trey has fallen for you or is on his way
down that path. I trust you won’t break his heart.”

Shocked speechless, Kelly could only stare in
disbelief at the woman. Her sudden shortness of breath held her
back from forming words as dizziness swept over her. Surely she
hadn’t heard Trey’s mother correctly.

Barbara patted her hand. “That’s what I
thought.” Releasing a heavy sigh, she said, “I feel much better,”
and then turned her attention to the track.

The spinning hum of the trucks started and
the children in John’s arms fought to get down. Trey and Jason held
the controls as their boys started to chase the moving trucks.
There was a moment of laughter as the men kept the vehicles just
out of the reach of their running sons. Then the two men looked at
each other and something sparked between them and the race was
on.

Both of the trucks hit the first mound of
dirt at the same time, soaring over it and landing on two wheels
before settling on all fours and zooming down the worn path.
Melissa, Lance, and John took Trey’s side cheering his truck on,
while Jay, Paula and Suz shouted for Jason’s.

Each team exchanged smack talk as Trey’s
truck would take the lead and then Jason’s. TJ didn’t know what all
the fuss was about, but he jumped and hollered as if he knew
exactly what he was cheering for.

Mix emotions assailed her. As hard as it was
to admit, the Burstyns were TJ’s family, too. They offered a life
she could never give him.

Barbara must have read something in Kelly’s
eyes or expression, because the woman leaned over and gave her a
hug that almost made Kelly cry, but she held on to her control,
barely.

When Jason’s vehicle flipped over on the next
berm, Trey’s team threw their hands in the air and roared. Jay ran
over to Trey and he handed the boy his control, his gaze roaming to
where Kelly sat. He took one look at her and headed her way.

His troubled gaze slid to his mother before
returning to Kelly’s. “Something wrong?”

“No,” they both said at once.

“C’mere darlin’, and give the winner a
victory kiss.” He extended his hand and she took it, walking into
his arms. Instead of the peck she expected, he captured her mouth
in a wild, frenzied kiss, one that left her blushing, while
everyone’s eyes were pinned on the exhibition.

“Uncle T,” Jay groaned. “Do you have to do
that around us kids?”

“Yeah,” Lance agreed with a smirk.

All the adults laughed while Heather and
Janice, who had just walked up, giggled softly.

Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, Trey
led her to where the rest of his family stood watching father and
son race the trucks. Kelly knew Jason was taking it easy on his
son. If she didn’t know better she’d even say he gassed it at the
right moment so the truck took a flip. Jay pumped the air with his
fist as everyone cheered.

“I suppose you want a kiss, too,” Kelly
teased.

“Oh yuck. No.” The boy pulled a face.

“Give me that control,” Lance said. “If the
prize is a kiss from the fiery redhead I want a go at it.

Again a burst of merriment prevailed.

“Hey, y’all. It’s time for dinner,” Barbara
called out.

“Well, damn,” Lance huffed. “Maybe later?” He
wagged his brows at Kelly, receiving a shove against his shoulder
from Trey. “Hey, bro, I was just kidding.”

***

The juicy scent of prime rib roast filled the
dining room where an additional table had been set up for the
children, with the exception of the highchair that was given to TJ,
who sat between his parents.

Trey’s mouth watered at the spread before
him. His mother and all her little helpers had outdone themselves.
Along with the biggest roast he had ever seen, there was au jus and
gravy, crockpot garlic smashed potatoes, a green bean casserole,
Paula’s marshmallow-covered yams, Suz’s pecan pie, and Mel’s
special watercress salad with miso-lime dressing. Knowing his
mother, she had a pumpkin pie and an apple pie cooling on the racks
in the kitchen.

As everyone took a seat, his father bowed his
head. “God, of all the gifts received, we thank you for the many
ways you have blessed us this day. We are grateful for those who
are gathered around this table, especially the new additions to our
family. We ask you to bless us and our food and those we love who
are not with us today. Amen.”

A choir of amens followed, but while everyone
dug into the offerings upon the table, Trey shared a look with
Kelly. Misty-eyed, she sniffled and then began to dish food up on
TJ’s plate.

As a cherry tomato soared across the table,
bouncing once before landing in his father’s plate, Trey gently
grasped TJ’s hand and gave it a shake. “No, buckaroo. We don’t
throw food.”

“I’m so—” Kelly started to apologize, but his
father interrupted her.

“Thank you. How did you know Grandpa wanted a
tomato?” Then he popped the pulpy fruit in his mouth and began to
chew.

After that, Kelly seemed to relax and even
appeared to enjoy the company, including his father’s as they
chatted about the weather and how she was actually looking forward
to the hot summers.

Trey’s heart swelled. His father’s attempt at
making amends meant everything to him, especially when he saw the
genuine smile on Kelly’s face. She was so beautiful. What he
wouldn’t give to take her into his arms and feel that grin form
beneath his lips, but the high chair kept him from touching
her.

“Uncle T, will you go with Dad and me dove
hunting? I’m a pretty good shot.” Sitting at the children’s table,
Jay pushed a piece of meat into his mouth.

“When is dove season?” Trey asked.

“Duh. Now. It goes through January, huh,
Dad?”

Jason nodded, his mouth full of his wife’s
yams. He always took an extra serving just to please her.

Trey caught TJ’s wrist before he could chuck
a green bean at Lance, who was making faces at him across the
table. “No, TJ. Dammit, Lance, stop. So when do you and your dad
plan to go?”

“
Well
, I thought maybe—”

“Not today,” both of his parents said at
once.

“Maybe next weekend. Do you think we could go
next weekend, Dad?”

“That sounds like a plan, son. Maybe we
should ask Uncle Lance and Grandpa to go too.”

“Yeah. That’d be great.”

The rest of the meal went well, no flying
projectiles from TJ. As Trey anticipated, Suz’s pecan pie was to
die for. He had two slices before it felt like he’d bust if he took
another bite. Leaning back in his chair, he began to chat with
Lance and Jason about their last hay harvest. The crop had been so
large they had to hire additional people to assist this year.