Secret-Santa Cowboy (The Buckskin Brotherhood #6) - Vicki Lewis Thompson
Chapter One
Closing at 8 PM for Private Event. The sign hung next to the Choosy Moose entrance. Leo Marston stomped the snow off his boots and breathed in the scent of pine from the wreath on the heavy wooden door.
As Mannheim Steamroller’s Deck the Halls filtered out to the sidewalk, he glanced at the cowboy standing beside him, his collar turned up against a cold wind. “I look forward to this night all year. You’ll love it, Garrett.”
“I surely hope so, since nobody’s seen fit to tell me what I’m in for.”
“Trust me, this is a good surprise.” Garrett had hired on at the Buckskin Ranch in April and was still learning the Brotherhood traditions. Leo had the honor of introducing him to this one.
“Whatcha waiting for, Leo?” Jake called out.
He looked over his shoulder at the five guys standing behind them. “Just building the suspense for our first-timer, bro.”
“I don’t know about Garrett, but I’m on pins and needles. Oh, wait. That’s frostbite.”
“Okay, okay.” Reaching for the brass handle, Leo opened the door with a flourish, waved Garrett inside and stepped in after him.
Garrett stopped dead in his tracks. “Holy moly! Where did all this come from?”
“The good people of Apple Grove.” Gratitude warmed Leo’s chest as he surveyed the bounty. Stepping away from the entry, he made room for the others. “We have our work cut out for us, guys.”
“Whoa.” Matt thumbed back his hat. “Looks like twice as much as last year.”
The white-haired owner of the Choosy Moose, Ben Malone, leaned against the bar. “Folks have been generous.”
“They sure have.” The sight got to him every time, but tonight’s display triggered more throat-clearing than usual. Every table in the place was stacked high with shiny new toys—dolls, trucks, games, trains, stuffed animals, footballs, basketballs, action figures, paints, crayons and blocks. “I hope you picked up extra paper and tape.”
“I did. It’s on the bandstand.”
Garrett’s eyes widened. “We’re wrapping all these?”
“Yessir.” Ben straightened and hooked his thumbs in his belt loops. “The townspeople bring in the toys. I donate the hard cider, wrapping supplies and a late-night supper. You boys contribute the labor. Operation Santa is in its tenth year.”
“I was here for the first one.” Leo shoved his gloves in his coat pocket. “Gets bigger each time, but this…it’s way more.”
“So many toys.” Garrett looked dazed. “I’ve never seen…”
Leo grinned. Garrett’s reaction tickled him. “I can’t wait to get started. I’ll take your coat and put it on the bar. We generally wear our hats.”
“Why?”
“You’ll see.” He laid both coats in a pile with the others.
“Don’t forget to lube up, boys.” Ben grabbed a couple of plastic bottles with pump nozzles that had been sitting on the bar. He tossed one toward Leo and the other at CJ.
Leo filled his palm with lotion before passing the bottle to Garrett. “Thanks for remembering, Ben. Whoever found that tip online—”
“That would be me.” Jake took the bottle from CJ, squirted out a liberal amount and gave the bottle to Rafe. “Always looking out for you guys.”
Garrett sniffed the nozzle and handed the bottle to Matt. “I’ll pass.”
Matt handed it back. “Better take some, buddy.”
“Why? It smells flowery. I don’t want to—”
“Paper cuts. The lotion protects your hands.”
Garrett snorted. “Paper cuts? I’m not worried about—”
“You will be if you don’t put this on, big guy.” CJ worked the lotion into his hands. “Before Jake found this hack, I’d have bloody guitar strings for at least a week afterward.”
Garrett shrugged and took the bottle from Matt. “Then I guess I’ll smell like a rose garden.”
“They had the unscented kind,” Ben said. “But this was cheaper and contrary to what you might think, it doesn’t subtract from your manliness. In fact, Henri likes the smell when I put it on my hands. Or on—”
“Hold up, there, Ben.” Jake gave him a warning glance. “I’m cool with you dating our boss lady, but I don’t want details.”
“I put lotion on my face, son. I’m not about to tell you what else I do with it.”
“Good. Let’s change the subject. I saw a video online with a new technique for wrapping odd-shaped objects. I’ll be happy to share.”
“About time.” Leo crossed to a table and picked up a football. “My wrapped balls still look like a five-year-old did it.” He sent the football spiraling toward Nick.
Nick caught it one-handed and threw it to Jake. “Balls are tough to wrap.”
Jake laughed and tossed the ball to Matt. “I could say something.”