replied fervently.
She reveled in the knowledge that he’d loved her, even from afar, even though she’d held back. “Well, I think we should hang them in your room here. Deal?” She moved to the wall across from his bed, where a bulletin board with several pins hung. They should be strong enough to hold up empty stockings.
He picked up his burger and took a big bite. “We can’t forget to take them home for Santa to fill, though.”
Faith smiled over her shoulder as she worked to push the pin into the tired old cork.
“What? No protest that Santa is real?” Dad goaded her.
She shrugged. “I’m okay with a little Christmas spirit.”
Dad laughed. “There’s hope for you yet, girl.”
She finished and stepped back to admire the stockings. They hung straight and brought a sense of holiday to the room that was missing before. “Well, you’re out of hope, old man. Because I’m going to kick your butt at rummy.” She pulled a deck of cards out of her purse and plunked them on the table.
Dad grinned. “You haven’t beat me yet.”
“I let you win,” she countered.
“For twenty years? I don’t think so.” He finished his burger and cleaned off the table, shoving wrappers and garbage back into the sack so they’d have a place to play.
Faith grinned. “We’ll see. Don’t think I’ll take it easy on you because you have a weak heart.”
“I’d be mad if you did.”
She smiled as she shuffled the deck. They said Christmas was a time for miracles, and maybe this was hers. She’d not only gotten her dad back from a near-fatal heart attack, but she’d gotten him into her life in a way she’d never thought possible. If that wasn’t a miracle, she didn’t know what was.
And then there was Caleb. He’d become an important part of her life too. Undeniable after the way she’d turned to him tonight. But what was she supposed to do about it? He’d never leave that ranch, and her life—financial and otherwise—was in Grafton.
Sure, she and Dad would make this work; any time they spent together would be more time than before. But a romantic relationship would die a slow and painful death with the distance. As fun as it was to flirt with Caleb, she had a feeling he was going to be the one who got away. The thought was like a branding iron to her heart and made her want to cry out in pain.
If just thinking about letting him go caused this much sorrow, what would actually driving away do to her?
Chapter 23
Caleb
Lunch was an hour ago, but that didn’t mean that it was warm on the ranch. Caleb tucked his gloved hands in his pockets and leaned into the wind. Old Man Winter decided to wake up with a vengeance this morning and take it out on North Dakota.
Despite the freezing temperatures, Caleb was determined to get Rudy into the workout arena. Making a flying reindeer go slow was always a project. In the past, they’d used weights and sleighs and lead ropes. Since this was Rudy’s first time flying in a long time, he could be timid. Or he could be a complete idiot and go 0 to 1000 in a blink, slamming himself into the wall or bleachers. It had happened before.
Thankfully, the arena was heated enough that they wouldn’t freeze; it was getting there that was the hard part. His legs were numb and his cheeks burned from exposure. Next time, he’d bring a scarf.
He stumbled into the barn, his feet cold as bricks and making him trip over the smallest pebble. Banging his hands against his legs to encourage circulation, he ducked into the workroom, where Pax was working on the runner for the big sleigh. Pax wore a welding helmet, lifted so he could inspect the curve on the front of the long piece of steel.
“How’s it coming?” Caleb moved closer to the forge, grateful for the heat that poured out of it like warm caramel. The barn was kept at 50 degrees so the animals and humans would be comfortable in the winter, but he was cold enough he needed extra help.
“It’s coming. Those three days it took to set up, vaccinate, and take down put me off schedule. I’ll be lucky to get it done in time for the parade.” Using a sledgehammer, he pounded against the steel, then nodded that he liked the shape. Pax was in his own world out here, comfortable with himself and