Mistletoe Rodeo (Welcome to Ramblewood) (11 page)

* * *

N
OLA
WAS
DUE
to arrive shortly. He’d asked her to stay over after the tree trimming party, but she hadn’t felt comfortable spending the night with Kay down the hall. He respected her decision, but it didn’t make missing her any easier. The last thing he wanted was for her to witness more family tension. Although maybe it would lessen her idyllic view of life at Bridle Dance.

A part of him couldn’t help but wonder if Nola was attracted solely to him, or to some fantasy version of his lifestyle. Chase knew she wasn’t interested in him for his money. That wasn’t even a second thought. But the fairy-tale aspect worried him.

She’d never said the words aloud. It was the look on her face when she was with them. Like a kid seeing the Magic Kingdom at Disney World for the first time. Maybe it was a result of having moved around so much as a child. There was something to be said for growing up in the same town with the same friends your entire life. It brought a sense of comfort he couldn’t imagine living without. But nobody was perfect, and Chase didn’t want to let Nola down. She’d come to mean more to him than he’d ever thought possible.

A week ago, he had felt horrible at the thought of turning thirty with no prospect of a wife and family. Now he was beginning to see a future with Nola. Chase laughed to himself. Maybe fairy tales did come true.

* * *

N
OLA
COULDN
’
T
BELIEVE
she was riding on the back of a buckboard with the rest of the Langtry women and their children. She was dressed in a sparkly blue satin cape and white faux fur Russian hat. Kay, dressed as Mrs. Claus, led a team of horses with silver headdresses through the center of town. Chase, wearing white sheepskin chaps and a blue Western vest matching her cape, rode horses alongside the wagon with his brothers as they waved to the crowd during the Winter Festival parade. Nola had been in plenty of parades before, but she’d always been in uniform. Today she actually felt pretty and feminine.

At the end of the route, Chase dismounted, handed the reins to one of the grooms and lifted Nola off the buckboard. Cupping her face between his hands, he kissed her softly. “I need to take care of the horses. Will you wait for me?”

“You two go and enjoy yourselves,” Shane said. “Lexi and I have this covered. Show Nola what Christmas in Ramblewood is all about.”

“Thank you.” After the argument Chase had told her he’d had with Shane, Nola was surprised he was willing to help them out this afternoon. Chase hadn’t offered up the details, but he had said he hadn’t given Shane enough credit.

“That was sweet of him.” Nola’s smile broadened at the thought of more time with Chase.

“Are you still free for the rest of the afternoon, or has work called?” Chase’s breath grazed her lips as he kissed her again.

“Don’t jinx it,” Nola warned. “I’m looking forward to today.”

Nola began to remove her cape and hat when Chase stopped her. “Oh, no, you don’t. They stay on. You are a part of the festival with the rest of us. Wear it proudly.”

Nola glanced around the street, feeling awkward until she caught sight of others still in costume. “When in Rome...”

Chase slipped his hand in hers, their fingers laced together as they strolled through the streets. Large crystallized snowflakes and icicles hung from above, while cloths in pale shades of ice blue and silver draped elegantly over tables, giving Ramblewood an ethereal feel. Everything glittered and sparkled, reminding her of the ice palace in
Dr. Zhivago.

“This is truly beautiful.” Nola spun around, attempting to commit it all to memory. Come Monday morning, once she was back to her daily grind, she’d wonder if today had truly happened or if it had been a dream. “I love how everyone in town comes together for these festivals. I’ve heard about them, but I never imagined anything to this extent.”

“I don’t understand why you’ve never come with your cousin.” Chase entwined his fingers with hers again.

“I think because when it was all over with, I’d have to go home on my own. Spending a day surrounded by laughter and happiness, then walking into the dead silence of my condo would only make me feel lonely. The absence of another beating heart can sometimes be a painful reminder of what we don’t have. Avoid the situation and avoid the pain.”

“What if I said you didn’t have to go home alone tonight?” Chase tugged her to him.

Warmth spread through Nola’s body, straight to her heart. “Are you volunteering?”

“When it comes to you, I’m always volunteering.” Chase dipped his head for a kiss. “I never want you to feel alone.”

“There’s my maid of honor.” Kylie’s high-pitched voice startled them both.

“We will definitely pick up where we left off later on,” Chase whispered in Nola’s ear.

“I love that color on you. If Aaron and I get married in the spring that would be the perfect color for your dress. I can’t wait to go shopping. Please tell me you’ll come with me—we can make a day of it. There’s a huge bridal shop in San Antonio I’d like to visit, but I’ll have to book us in. I guess you have to make an appointment to get into all the boutiques, don’t you? Why am I asking you? You’ve never been married before. But you will be. Just not before me.”

Nola shook her cousin’s shoulder. “Kylie, breathe.”

“I used to think she was wound up before, but ever since I proposed it’s gotten worse.” Aaron shrugged. “What am I going to do? I can’t imagine my life without her in it.”

“Hanson’s Hardware has earplugs.” Chase nudged Aaron. “You can get a ten pack for three dollars. I’ll get you some for a wedding gift.”

Nola slapped Chase’s arm. “That’s not nice. Funny, but not nice.”

“Keep it up and I’ll make you wear a big old Scarlett O’Hara dress to my wedding.” Kylie waggled a finger at Nola.

“Scarlett O’Hara, huh?” Nola looked at Chase and they broke into laughter.

“What’s so funny?” Kylie asked Aaron, and he shook his head in response.

“We’re not laughing at you.” Nola attempted to catch her breath. “It’s just an inside joke between Chase and me.”

It was funny how those words came so naturally to her.
Chase and me.
Nola had always been jealous when she heard other couples talk about their inside jokes because she had never experienced such a thing. She had never experienced any stable relationship—no sooner would she get involved with someone than she’d have to move away again. It had been the story of her life, and as much as she’d tried to convince herself she never wanted to be rooted to one place permanently, now she yearned for it.

She liked the idea of being close with the same friends ten years from now. She liked having family nearby, in a town where everyone knew everybody else. If the Langtrys weren’t in her life, she’d probably be at the studio at that very moment, editing a story to death.

“Nola, are you all right?” Kylie asked. “Why don’t you take a walk with me and we’ll let the men do their thing.”

“Chase.” Aaron deepened his voice. “What do you think of this year’s tuxedos?”

Chase shot Nola a questioning look, and she let him know she was okay with a wave of her hand as Kylie led her in the other direction.

“What’s going on?” Kylie asked. “One minute you looked like you were on top of the world, and the next you came crashing down.”

“Something like that,” Nola said.

“Are you worried Chase will find out about what happened?”

Nola’s eyes flew open. “Y-you know? You can’t possibly.”

Kylie nodded. “We knew when it happened. Nola, you were in the hospital for a long time. Of course your parents told us. We weren’t sure if you were going to make it.”

“You never said anything. Not a word. Why?” Nola asked, her mind reeling with bewilderment.

“It was a sensitive subject.” Kylie looked around to make sure nobody was listening. “Let’s head toward the park where it’s a little more private.”

Nola hadn’t thought her parents had told anyone about the accident—they’d barely spoken to her about it. Talking about it would mean admitting their daughter wasn’t perfect.

Nola followed Kylie to the top of the bleachers and sat down.

“How do you really feel about Chase? Put everything and everyone else aside. What are your feelings today about him?”

The joy she’d experienced only moments ago began to erode. “I like the idea of Chase, but I’m not sure I can be the person he wants.”

“How do you know that?” Kylie asked. “Have you discussed the accident with him?”

Nola shook her head. It wasn’t a subject she could easily slide into casual banter.

“I’ve known Chase and the Langtrys my entire life. They are nothing if not honest. Not confiding in him would hurt him more than knowing the truth. You two can get past it.”

Nola couldn’t believe who she was talking to. The airhead cousin she had always loved to pick on had grown into an intelligent woman. “When did you get so smart?”

“When you work the front desk of a salon all day, you have a ton of magazine articles to read. Plus I’m two years older than you are, so I’m always going to know more than you.”

Nola knew her cousin was right about sharing her past with Chase. “I just need to summon the courage to actually say the words.” If Chase truly cared for her, then he would accept her for who she was, scars and all.

“I don’t know how far you two have taken your relationship.” Kylie held Nola’s hands in hers. “And it’s none of my business, but before you get in any deeper, you need to tell Chase you can’t have children.”

Chapter Nine

Chase had been thrown a bit when Nola decided to go home alone after the winter festival. She’d just finished telling him how much she disliked doing just that.

He sat in the parking lot of Nola’s condo building the next morning, looking up at her window. Maybe the holiday overload was too much for her. Which would mean the surprises he had in the back of his truck might not be the best remedy.

He started the engine and shifted into gear. Chances were she wouldn’t even be up this early on a Sunday, and she might not thank him for calling her to find out. He could head back to the ranch and call her a few hours from now, but since he was already here...

Chase shut the engine off once again and climbed out of the truck. He’d buzz her unit and feel her out from there. If she was into the whole Christmas thing, then he’d run out to the truck.

A man exiting the building held the door open for Chase. Although he appreciated the gesture, he thought it defeated the purpose of having a secure building. Deciding against calling from downstairs, he made his way to Nola’s door.

Chase knocked lightly, figuring if she was asleep in the bedroom then she wouldn’t hear him. The chain on the lock clamored against the door a few seconds later.

“Chase, what are you doing here?” Nola stood in the doorway with her hair in a messy ponytail and wearing a T-shirt and yoga pants. She stepped aside as he entered her tiny kitchen area.

“I didn’t wake you, did I?” Chase noticed papers scattered across the dining room table. “I sat out in the parking lot debating whether it was too early.”

“Ah, so that was your truck I heard out there. Were you planning on leaving without stopping in?” Nola held up a coffee mug, wordlessly asking if he wanted a cup.

“Yes, please. And please tell me you have regular.”

“Sorry, only gingerbread and chocolate mint.”

Chase watched a slow smile spread across her delicate features. He liked Nola West without a stitch of makeup. “I sincerely hope you’re kidding.”

“The only coffee here is French roast. That’s all I ever buy.”

Nola poured him a cup out of a carafe, something he hadn’t seen in his mother’s house for years. He rather missed those days, especially when they had a crowd of people over. You shouldn’t have to wait in line to get a cup of coffee in your own home.

Chase walked toward the dining room table. “I didn’t mean to interrupt your work.” Chase noticed the name Scott David written across the top of one of the papers and turned it around. He picked up another sheet with his father’s name on it. “Nola, what is this? Why are you researching my family?”

“I don’t know if you could really call it research.” Nola handed him his cup and moved to the head of the table. “This guy came out of nowhere and began bashing your family publicly a year ago, but it escalated the minute you left the National Finals Rodeo.”

“Scott and my father have a history, and it’s not a very pretty one.”

“So you do know who he is.”

“In a manner of speaking.” Chase debated how much he should tell Nola. He wanted to trust her, but the sheer amount of information she had amassed on his family unsettled him. “We met with our attorney yesterday morning and discovered a few things. Over a period of twenty years or so, my dad and Scott battled for control of various pieces of land. One of those properties belonged to Scott’s grandfather.”

“But he didn’t steal it.” Nola made it more of a statement than a question.

“It’s not even about the land. Scott still owns the surface rights. My father purchased the mineral rights.”

“That land doesn’t even border your property.”

Chase shook his head for a moment. “How would you know that? I never told you where the property was.”

“It’s all a matter of public record.” Nola handed him a sheet of paper. “This is a list of Bridle Dance properties within the state of Texas that don’t border the ranch. When I checked the deeds on each one, I saw the previous owners’ names. Nate David was the former mineral rights owner on this one.” Nola pointed to the middle of the page. “I’ve been trying to figure out why your father purchased them.”

“I didn’t even realize we owned this much away from the ranch.” Chase placed the page back on the table and sifted through a few others. Here was yet another reason to get more involved in the family business. He should know all of this. The realization that Nola had enough information on his family for a feature story began to sicken him. “Are you doing a story on my father?”

“I considered it.”

The paperwork slipped from his hands to the table.

“The thought lasted all of two seconds,” Nola continued. “Then I decided against it. I’m hoping I can help you figure this all out.”

Chase gathered up a handful of papers and neatly stacked them. “Your investigation into my family makes me a little uncomfortable.”

Nola took the documents from him. “I think there’s more to Scott David than what’s in here. I wanted to give something back to your family by finding out more about him.”

Chase dragged his hands down his face. “I asked you the other day to leave this alone. You can’t help when you don’t have all the details.”

“So why don’t you fill me in?”

He stared at her. She honestly didn’t seem to think she was crossing the line. Chase was starting to understand Jon’s concern over Nola being a reporter.

“I get it now.” Nola gathered all her notes and thrust them against his chest. “You don’t trust me, do you? I can’t do this—I can’t be in a relationship with someone who has zero faith in me or my ethics.”

“You just said you had considered running a story about my father.” Chase clutched the papers. “What do you expect me to do with that statement?”

“I expect you to take it for what it was.” Nola bent forward, placing both hands on the table in front of her. “I thought about it, and I thought better of it. I didn’t do it.”

“But you continued to look into it.”

“Only to help you,” she argued.

Chase set the documents on the counter and took her hands in his. “This is personal, Nola. How would you like it if I dug into your past? Looking over who you are and all the business dealings you’d had over the years. Maybe I’d find a skeleton or two in your closet.”

“I don’t even know what to say to that.” Nola slipped past him and sat on the couch, drawing her knees to her chest.

Chase had obviously hit a nerve, although he wasn’t quite sure which one. He followed her into the living room and sat beside her. “What is this really about?”

Nola tightened the grip on her knees, causing her knuckles to turn white. “I’ve given you reason not to trust me, and while it was never my intention, I understand where you’re coming from.”

“I quit the rodeo.” The enormous weight that lifted from his chest when he said the words surprised even Chase.

“What?” Nola’s mouth fell open.

“This is me trusting you.” Chase wanted—needed—Nola to feel secure with him and if that meant baring part of his soul in order to prove himself, then he’d do it. “My agent doesn’t even know about it yet. Only Cole, Shane and my mother do.”

“But why?”

Chase spent the next hour filling Nola in on the full details of his injury and his desire to have a family like his brothers did. He admitted his shame not only for neglecting to carry his weight where Bridle Dance was concerned, but also for his utter failure to become the one thing his father had groomed him to be. A champion.

“I realize I never met the man, but I’d like to believe if your father were alive today, he would understand why you retired.” Nola rested her hand on his thigh.

“It’s not just my injury. I think I would’ve done it anyway to help my brother out.”

“You can’t know that. If your father was still alive, Cole might not have retired yet. Or maybe he would’ve won the championship already. In fact, you wouldn’t even have the business to worry about because your father would still be running it. If the operation of the ranch wasn’t in play, do you think you’d still be retiring today?”

Chase hadn’t looked at it that way. The reality was that his father
was
gone and the ranch
was
their responsibility. It had just taken him longer than Cole to realize it.

“I probably would. I don’t necessarily know if I’d go into business with my father. He was a very... I don’t want to say controlling man, but he could be difficult to work for. I can see where we would’ve butted heads. I don’t know. Let’s just say I’m retiring because I don’t want to do it anymore.”

“As long as it’s for the right reasons.” Nola turned to face him, resting her back against the arm of the couch. “If you truly don’t want to compete anymore, that’s a great reason to stop. If it’s your injury...again, a great reason. But if you’re quitting because you feel obligated to Cole, don’t. That will only make you resent him in the end and you’ll be doing a disservice to him and to yourself.”

“I understand what you’re saying and I promise to think it over.” Chase sighed, not sure he wanted to hear the answer to the question he was about to ask. “Nola, what happened yesterday? We were having a great time and then you shut down on me. I know I’ve been shoving Christmas down your throat, and I’m sorry if it’s been too much for you.”

“It hasn’t. Honestly, Chase, I’ve loved every second of it. You have no idea how much spending time with you and your family has meant to me. The way they’ve welcomed me— Your family’s amazing. I’m in awe of how much they’ve always supported you. I wish I had that, but my family is different and that will never change. I’ve accepted it. Yesterday I just needed a moment to let it all sink in.”

Chase noticed there wasn’t a single photo of anyone in her condo. There wasn’t even a painting or any wall decorations. The room was bare and cold.

“So you’re not against Christmas, then?” Chase asked.

“Not at all. I’ve just never had much of a reason to celebrate it before.”

“Wait right here.” Chase stood up and ran to the door. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

* * *

N
OLA
WATCHED
HIM
GO
,
kicking herself for passing up the opportunity to tell him the truth about her past. He’d confided in her, yet she hadn’t been able to summon the strength to do the same.

The entry intercom sounded and Nola buzzed Chase back upstairs. Holding the door for him, she couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw him carrying a Christmas tree in one arm and a variety of bags in the other.

“Chase, what is all of this?”

“This, my dear, is a Christmas tree. I don’t know how you are with plants because I don’t see any here, but you need to water it every day or else you’ll end up with a pile of needles on your floor within the week. Where would you like me to set it up?”

“I can’t believe you did this!” Nola followed Chase to the living room. “In front of the window, I guess.”

Chase set his armload on the floor and dug out a tree stand. “Will you help guide me in?”

Nola froze and then stared at Chase, causing them to break into laughter. “At least we know we both have dirty minds.”

With the tree firmly in place, they began to sort through the decorations he’d bought.

“Normally you would collect ornaments over the years but considering this is your first tree—well, at least your first tree with me—I figured we needed to start somewhere. Do you like your lights flashing or just a steady on?”

“Flashing lights give me a headache.” Nola laughed.

“Steady it is.” Together they wrapped the strands of lights around the tree, then added the ornaments until there were no bare limbs left.

Standing back, Nola admired their handiwork. “It’s beautiful.”

“We’re not done yet.” Chase removed a silver and gold star from a bag. “It’s not an official Christmas tree without a star or an angel on the top. After the other night, I know you’re definitely no angel, and the stars reminded me of the ones looking down on us through the skylights while I made love to you.”

“You most definitely are a hopeless romantic.” Nola took the star from his hands. “Thank you for doing all of this.”

“Get moving. You need to put that star on there before we move to stage two.”

“Stage two?”

“Nola, the star.”

Stretching all the way up onto her toes, Nola slipped the decoration on the very top of the tree. “Is it on straight?”

“Looks it to me. Come back here and see for yourself.” Chase held out his arm, inviting Nola to tuck herself against his body. “Do you like it?”

“I love it.” Nola wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, pressing her cheek against his shoulder. “I love everything about this moment.”

“Then, you’re also going to love what comes next.” Chase retrieved one of the shopping bags and held it open for Nola to peek inside.

“I’ve always wanted to make one of these!” She excitedly removed the gingerbread kit from the bag. “There’s a lot to this little house. It looks complicated.”

“If you can pass basic training, you can build a gingerbread house.” Chase took the box and sliced it open with his pocketknife. “Let’s clear off the table.”

For the next couple of hours, Nola and Chase built one of the most intricate gingerbread houses she’d ever seen. Not that she was an expert, but she thought they’d done a pretty good job. When it was completed Nola went to her bedroom to fetch her camera so she could take a picture. Turning around, she found Chase standing in the doorway.

“I was just curious to see where you slept.”

Nola followed his eyes around the room. There wasn’t much to look at. She’d learned over the years to travel light, and she didn’t own many personal possessions.

“Nice camera. My father loved photography. He took most of the photos displayed in our house.”

Nola turned the 35mm camera over in her hands. “It’s been all over the world with me. I guess you could say I’m a hobby photographer.”

“Yet you don’t have a single picture anywhere.” Chase tilted his head as if he was trying to figure her out.

“I like to look at them onscreen every now and then, but I don’t like a constant visual reminder of what once was.”