The Christmas Cowboy. Judy Christenberry
often.”
“Then thanks, I think. I’ll run this up to my room.” She started, then stopped. “I was wondering, is there a store nearby where I can pick up some jeans for riding? I only have designer jeans and somehow I don’t think they’re the right thing to wear.”
“There’s a good place in town,” Jessica said. “I suspect there’re other things you’ll need, too. We can go after dinner, if you want.”
“Only if you let me come,” Jim told his wife, wrapping his arms around her again and pulling her close.
Jessica grinned at him, then turned to Andrea. She smiled and wiggled her brows. “We’re newlyweds, you know what I mean?”
Andrea returned the smile, but truthfully she didn’t have a clue what she meant.
AT SIX O’CLOCK exactly Hank entered the kitchen. He’d managed to find chores to occupy his afternoon and had avoided his new guest. Now, freshly showered and dressed, he was hungry.
He sat down at the table in his usual spot and noticed the fourth place setting. “Who’s joining us?” he asked his sister, though he was afraid to hear the answer.
Before Jess could reply, a small voice said, “I am.”
He turned to find Andrea walking through the kitchen door.
“Is that a problem?” she asked when she took the seat across from him.
He shrugged. “Suit yourself. But guests usually eat in the dining room.”
“Andrea’s not a conventional guest, Hank,” Jessie said as she put a platter of corn on the table, followed by a bowl of salad, biscuits and a steaming casserole. “She doesn’t want a fuss. And I, for one, appreciate it.”
Great, Hank thought. Just what he needed. Another “member of the family.” The New York side, he joked to himself.
When Jim came in and Jess said the blessing, everyone served themselves.
“Where were you all afternoon?” Jess asked Hank as she filled her plate. “I was showing Andrea around the ranch and I thought we’d run into you.”
“I had some things to do to get ready for tomorrow.”
“Oh. Have you chosen a horse for Andrea?”
“Yeah.”
Andrea spoke up. “Are you going to tell me about him?”
“Her,” he corrected tersely. “It’s a young mare I bought last summer with an Appaloosa bloodline.” Not that she’d know what that meant.
Jess asked, “Is that the one you bought from Dan Peters? She’s—”
As she swallowed a forkful of salad, Andrea suddenly began to choke, coughing into her hand.
“Are you all right?” Hank asked, rising to his feet. “I could do the Heimlich on you, if you need.”
“No!” Andrea managed to get out between coughs. “I’m fine.” She cleared her throat and took a drink. “You were saying, Jessica?”
“I think she’s a good choice, that mare. I rode her once or twice last summer. She’s very gentle.”
Hank nodded. “I think she’ll be good for Miss Jacobs.”
“Please, Hank, call me Andrea.”
He looked at her in surprise. “Don’t you think that’s a little too informal for a New York socialite?”
Jim fairly groaned, but Andrea seemed unaffected. She calmly said, “It may surprise you to know that though my family is well-off, I do work. And I can actually cook and clean for myself.”
“Really?” Hank tried for nonchalance, but he was actually intrigued. He thought she was a rich girl taken care of by daddy’s millions. “What do you do?” he asked in spite of himself.
“I’m a graphic designer for a small advertising firm.”
Hank could imagine that. Along with her real femininity and poise, she had an artsy quality about her, and wasn’t that a perfect education for a rich girl? Art school. He could see her now, going to class dressed in her designer clothes and carrying her sketches in a designer bag. No doubt she took a cab to school or had the chauffeur drop her off. No public transit for this girl.
“And you managed to get a month off from work?” he asked skeptically.
He could swear Andrea hesitated just a second before she replied, “I had some vacation time saved up.”
“Nice company.” He took a forkful of chicken casserole and thought aloud as he chewed. “I can’t even remember the last time I had a vacation.”
“Think of this next month as one,” Jim interjected. “You don’t have to deal with the herd.” He shot Hank a grin, and Jess laughed.
True, but he had to deal with Miss Jacobs. He wasn’t sure which was worse.
After Andrea took her first bite of the casserole, she looked at Jessica. “This is delicious.”
Jess smiled. “Thanks. I went to college for home ec.” She laughed.
“Actually, public relations,” Jim said.
“Sounds like the perfect preparation for your job.”
“Oh, I don’t usually cook. Hank’s and my older brother, Pete, married our chef. Mary Jo does a wonderful job of cooking. They’re on their honeymoon.”
“Yeah, she does,” Hank said. He looked at his sister, “You’re not so bad yourself, sis.”
“Thanks, Hank.”
When Hank had finished his dinner, he stood up to leave.
“You don’t want dessert?” Jess asked.
“You made dessert? Well, I might have some now that I think about it.”
She brought a cake plate from the counter and lifted the lid, revealing a chocolate cake.
“Oh, my, and I was thinking about refusing dessert, but like Hank, I’ve changed my mind.” Andrea smiled at Jessica.
“Good. I hope you like it, because you’ll probably get it again tomorrow.”
“I’m a chocoholic. You can’t give me too much chocolate. Are you a chocoholic, Hank?”
“No, Miss Jacobs, I’m not. I have no addictions.”
Andrea shot him a look, but Hank dove into his cake. He wolfed it down, then pushed away from the table. “If y’all will excuse me, I’m going to town.”
Andrea looked up. “So are we.”
Hank was startled. “Why?” he demanded.
“I need to do some shopping.”
“You brought three bags! Isn’t that enough clothes for you?”
“Apparently not,” she said with a smile, refusing to be offended.
“Women!” Hank said as he stomped out of the kitchen. “I wouldn’t be caught dead shopping.”
“I THINK THIS STORE will have exactly what you need,” Jessica said as they entered a large western clothing outlet in Steamboat Springs.
Andrea was surprised by how busy the town was for a weeknight. Every store was crowded. Some people looked to be tourists like her. In their fur jackets and Ugg boots they stood out from the regulars.
“Let’s start with jeans,” Jessica proposed as she led Andrea to the appropriate section.
Andrea followed, along with Jim. She’d helped the couple clean up the dishes and the kitchen after dinner in return for their help with her shopping.
Jessica