One Tough Christmas Cookie - Lucy McConnell Page 0,91

“So you have her, then?” Caleb clarified.

“Weeeell,” Robyn hedged. “We had her. But when we popped up the chimney after the wedding, she’d taken off—with the sleigh.”

Jack leaned over Caleb so hard he shoved Caleb’s chest into his plate.

“Hey!” He shoved back, but Jack scrambled for the phone.

“You’re telling me we have a reindeer loose in Las Vegas?”

Forest shot a look at Dad. Dad’s jaw hardened.

“That’s the thing. I don’t think she hung around long. When Ginger and Joseph were delivering gifts last night, they swore they saw another sleigh over Idaho.”

Dad started clearing breakfast off the table, and Mom appeared with a huge map of the United States, which she spread out before them. “She wouldn’t like the warm weather; she’d head for something colder, and that means going north.” Mom traced her finger from Vegas due north. “She could be in any of these unpopulated areas.”

Jack shook his head. “She’s too much of a drama queen. She’d want an audience.”

“True.” Pax nodded.

“Maybe in this area.” Mom circled her finger around a town named Sandpoint. “You think?”

“It’s as good a place as any to start looking,” agreed Jack.

“Now that the holiday is over, we can help,” offered Robyn. “We’ll bring a couple of sleighs down and meet you there.”

“That would be great,” Forest answered. “Bring your brother-in-law. It would be a good opportunity for him to work with the reindeer.”

“He’d love it.”

Caleb checked the time on his phone. He left it on the table so the planning could continue but pushed out his chair and stepped away. Jack took his place, making notes in his own phone.

Dad saw Caleb get up and followed him to the coat room off the kitchen. “Where you headed?”

Caleb grinned. “I have a date.”

“You’re not going to stay and help us figure this out?”

Caleb shook his head as he sat on the bench to put on his warm winter boots. “I’ll be happy to help, but I’m not going to change my plans with Faith. Let me know what you need me to do when I get back.”

Dad looked him over. “One for the family, huh? Is that where this is headed?”

Caleb stood up and slipped his arms into his coat. “Yep.” He’d meant what he’d said to Faith: he was in this for the long sleigh ride.

“Hang on a second.” Dad hurried past the planning crew at the table and back to his bedroom.

Caleb continued to layer up. He had a couple bricks out by the fireplace in the barn and a big blanket waiting in the bottom of the sleigh.

Dad returned and held out a small black box. “If you want to make her yours, then I’d better give you this.”

Caleb took the box and cracked the aged hinges open. Inside was an engagement ring. The design was beautiful, with a medium-sized diamond surrounded by holly made from precious stones.

Dad put his hand on Caleb’s shoulder, and they looked at the ring together. “It was my grandma’s. She gave it to me the day you were born and asked me to hold on to it until you were ready to get married.”

Caleb stared in awe. “She did?” He had one memory of his great-grandma. She’d been smiling at him and handing him a cookie. That was it, but he remembered how it felt to be loved by her—that was how strong she’d loved.

“Yes sir. There’s another one for Jack when he finally figures out that he’s not the center of the universe.”

Caleb chuckled before sobering. “You’re okay with all this? It’s not freaking you out that I want to get married and start a family or anything, is it?”

Dad pounded him on the back. “It’s about darn time is what I say. And your mom is way overdue for some grandchildren.”

Caleb warmed at the thought of holding his baby in his arms. It might not be a manly thing to talk about, but he looked forward to the day when he would be a dad. He snapped the box shut. “Thanks, Dad. I was going to go shopping tomorrow, but now I don’t have to.”

Dad chuckled. “Just get that ring on her finger—don’t mess this up.”

“If I had a nickel for every time you told me that,” Caleb teased as he shoved his felt hat down on his head.

Dad smiled in a sad but pleased way. Bringing in a new daughter, sister, and wife was going to change life on the ranch—for all of them. He had no doubt they’d make it