Christmas Baby for the Cowboy (Sweethearts of the Rodeo #4)

Chapter Six

Loretta

A s Loretta and Taylor stepped into the retreat center, they were immediately enveloped by the glow of twinkling lights and the rich scent of cinnamon and pine. The spacious main room was a flurry of activity, with familiar faces from around the Three Sisters Ranch bustling about, their arms full of tinsel and ornaments.

Kelly spotted them from across the room and waved enthusiastically, her face flushed with excitement. “Loretta, Taylor, you made it.” She weaved her way through the crowd, narrowly avoiding a tangle of lights being unraveled by her husband, Trent.

“Wouldn’t miss it,” Loretta replied, hugging her friend. Taylor’s hand on the small of her back was a comforting presence as they surveyed the cheerful chaos around them.

“We’ve got quite the to-do list,” Kelly explained, gesturing around the room. “The tree needs trimming, garlands need hanging, and don’t even get me started on the outdoor lights. But first things first. Hot chocolate or mulled wine?”

“The wine,” Loretta said.

“Definitely the wine,” Taylor agreed.

As Kelly led them to a table laden with festive drinks and snacks, Loretta took in the enormous Christmas tree dominating one corner of the room. It was a magnificent Douglas fir, at least twelve feet tall, its branches still bare but promising a canvas for holiday cheer.

“That’s quite a tree,” Taylor said, then whistled, clearly impressed.

“Isn’t it?” Kelly beamed. “Trent and some of the guys cut it down this morning. We thought about using an artificial one, but there’s just something special about a real tree, you know?”

Loretta nodded, inhaling deeply. The crisp, piney scent brought back memories of childhood Christmases, of her sisters squabbling over who got to place the star on top. “It’s beautiful,” she agreed. “Where do you want us to start?”

Kelly handed them each a steaming mug of mulled wine. “Why don’t you two tackle the lights? There are strands over there, and I think Emily is around here somewhere with the boxes of ornaments.”

As Kelly rushed off to coordinate another aspect of the decorating, Loretta and Taylor made their way to the tree. They found Janice, the owner of the retreat center, carefully untangling a long string of white lights.

“Oh, thank goodness,” Janice said when she saw them. “I was beginning to think these lights were sentient and actively fighting against me. Want to give me a hand?”

For the next half hour, Loretta and Taylor worked in tandem with Janice, weaving the lights through the branches of the massive tree. It was painstaking work, but Loretta found herself enjoying the simple task and the easy conversation that flowed between them.

“One more set of lights should do it,” Janice said. “I’ll go see if we’ve gotten everything out of storage. Why don’t the two of you refresh your drinks and get some snacks?” She bustled away.

“I’ll be right back,” Taylor said, kissing Loretta. “Going to take advantage of that bathroom that’s the size of the Winnebago.”

She snorted. “Don’t fall in.”

Loretta wandered over to the refreshment table, stopping to talk to Emily and her husband Donovan briefly. As she was trying to decide between something sweet or savory, Loretta overheard Trent and Taylor’s voices nearby, their conversation drifting over the soft strains of “Silent Night” playing in the background.

“You’re making good progress, Taylor,” Trent was saying, his tone encouraging but serious. “But remember, winning at bull riding isn’t just about staying on for eight seconds. It’s about style, control, and making it look effortless.”

“I know, and I’m working on it. I want to be the best, Trent. I want to prove that I can do this, that I’m more than just Barney Keating’s son.”

Loretta’s stomach tightened at Taylor’s words. She understood his desire to prove himself, but a part of her couldn’t help but agree with Barney. Bullfighting, while still dangerous, offered steadier money and a more stable career path. It was what Taylor knew, what he excelled at. Giving up the weekly paycheck seemed like an unnecessary risk, especially now that they had Georgie to think about.

But she bit her tongue, not wanting to voice her concerns. Taylor had been so supportive of her art. How could she not support his dreams in return?

“You’ve got the raw talent, that’s for sure. But it takes time and a lot of practice. And it’s not cheap, either. Make sure you’re balancing your training with your other responsibilities.”

The fees for Taylor’s bull-riding lessons were expensive, but how could she bring that up without seeming ungrateful to the Campbells, who had been so generous in letting them stay at the ranch?

“I’m managing,” Taylor assured Trent, though Loretta could hear a note of uncertainty in his voice. “It’s tight sometimes, but it’ll be worth it in the end. The prize money from even one good ride could set us up for months.”

Loretta took a sip of her wine, using the mug to hide her frown. She knew Taylor was right about the potential payoff, but it was the “potential” part that worried her. Bull riding was so unpredictable, so dangerous. One bad fall could end not just his newfound bull-riding career, but potentially his bullfighting career as well.

“Just be careful,” Trent cautioned. “I’ve seen too many good riders push themselves too hard, too fast. It’s not just about the physical toll. It’s the financial one too. Make sure you’re not sacrificing your family’s stability for the dream.”

“I hear you. Loretta and Georgie come first, always. I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t think it could provide a better future for them.”

Loretta’s heart ached at the sincerity in Taylor’s voice. She knew he meant every word, that everything he did was with their family in mind. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that there might be safer, more reliable ways to secure that future.

Loretta took another sip of her wine, pushing her worries aside for the moment. Tomorrow, she decided, she would sit down with Taylor and have an honest conversation about their finances and their future. But for tonight, she would enjoy the holiday season and the company of their friends.

She went back to the Christmas tree and helped Janice set up a sturdy ladder so she could reach the top of the tree safely. Taylor soon joined them and helped feed the strand of lights up to Janice as she wound it around the last few inches.

“So, Taylor,” Janice said. “I hear you’ve been taking some bull-riding lessons from Trent. How’s that going?”

Loretta tensed slightly, her hands pausing in their work. Taylor shifted beside her, clearing his throat.

“It’s going well,” he said, his voice carefully neutral. “Trent’s a great teacher. Still got a lot to learn, though.”

Janice wound the last of the lights around the top. “Well, you couldn’t ask for a better instructor. Trent was one of the best in his day. Just be careful out there, you hear? We need you in one piece.”

As Janice climbed down, Loretta snuck a glance at Taylor. His jaw was set, and he was having difficulty looking at her.

“I’ll be back with the ornaments,” Janice said, oblivious to the tension her casual words had created.

“I was going to tell you,” Taylor said.

Loretta’s first reaction was to say bullshit . But she didn’t want to ruin the evening. She was surprised at how much it hurt that he had kept this from her. “It’s your money,” she said with forced casualness.

He frowned and looked at her. “I’m doing this for us.”

“Bullshit.”

Okay that one slipped out before she could catch it. The gremlin in her head cackled maniacally.

“What?”

“You’re doing this because Barney said you weren’t good enough.”

“No,” he said. “Not really. I mean, yeah, he said that. And he’s probably right. But I’m taking lessons from Trent because they’ll pay for themselves and then some the first rodeo purse I win next year.”

Don’t argue. Don’t argue. Loretta took a gulp of the wine instead. It had been pleasant before; now she thought it was going to give her heartburn.

“You don’t think I can win, do you?”

Before Loretta could answer him, they were interrupted by Emily and her husband Donovan. They were juggling several boxes of ornaments. Loretta and Taylor moved in quickly to help them before there was a catastrophe.

The next hour passed in a blur of glass balls, hand-painted wooden figures, and delicate icicles. She hated that there were words unsaid between them. Did she think that Taylor could win a bull-riding purse? Yes, of course she did. Did she think he could be the number-one rider? That one was more of a stretch. From what she’d gleaned from listening to LeAnn, the man to beat was Finn Laker and even professional bull riders who had been doing this for years couldn’t touch him. But she didn’t want to tell Taylor not to chase his dreams. She didn’t want to hold him back, like Connor had said she was holding him back from the lifestyle he’d wanted.

They worked together in grim silence as the other couples laughed and shared stories about Christmases past. She hadn’t wanted to ruin this night. They didn’t have opportunities like this very often. Loretta had wanted one perfect Christmas season with him and Georgie. A bunch of beautiful romantic memories that she could look back on fondly. She could revisit them in her mind as the time before it all went to shit, like she did with the good times with Donny and Connor. Suddenly, it was all too much to be around this happy family, in this beautiful place.

“Excuse me,” she muttered and hurried to the restroom.

The retreat center didn’t have any guests at the moment, so it was wonderful to have a bathroom to herself, especially since this one could really be called a powder room. There was a line of sinks and toilet stalls of course, but there was another small room lined with mirrors and a long shelf with various toiletries and soaps lined up. Loretta sat on the plush bench and put her head in her hands and began to cry.

When the door opened, Loretta straightened and hastily grabbed tissues to blot at her eyes. Maybe she could blame it on an allergy to the pine needles or something. Then she saw it was Taylor.

“You can’t be in here,” she hissed. “This is the ladies’ room.”

“It’s just us,” he said, sitting down next to her on the padded bench. “I’m sorry. I should have told you.”

She fiddled with the tissues in her hands. “I’m sorry I made you feel that you couldn’t tell me.”

“It’s not that.” Taylor closed his eyes. “It felt selfish, and I was a little ashamed.” He opened his eyes. “It didn’t stop me from doing it. But I was trying to find a way to tell you I signed up for lessons without consulting you.”

Loretta dabbed at her eyes. “I think you can do anything you set your mind to. I would never stand in your way.”

“I know that.” He started to say more, but she held up a hand to stop him. “Let me finish. You are a good father to Georgie. You put his needs first. You are a good provider.”

“Thank you,” he said hoarsely.

“You can do whatever you want with your money. We’re not married. We don’t have to make joint decisions.”

Taylor frowned. “Yeah but—”

She shook her head. “We have our own lives and our own dreams. I want you to succeed, just like you want me to succeed. As long as we are open and honest with each other and put Georgie first, everything will be okay.”

“Then why are you in here crying?” he asked.

Good question. “I’m tired. It’s been a long day. A long month.”

“Yeah,” he said and gave her a hug.

She hugged him back hard, needing his strength next to her. So this date wasn’t as romantic as planned. That didn’t mean it was ruined. “I should check with Sarah and see if Georgie is doing all right.”

“I already did. He’s sound asleep.”

Sagging against him, she let one worry go and pushed the others far down where she wouldn’t have to deal with them until tomorrow. “Then let’s get back to the party,” she said. “I saw a frosted Christmas tree cookie with your name on it.”

“Now, you’re talking.”

Loretta fixed her makeup while Taylor watched. “You’re already beautiful,” he said.

She smiled at him and let him mess up her lipstick when he kissed her. This was more like it.

No one seemed to notice they had been missing. And a few Christmas cookies later, Loretta was back in the holiday spirit.

“No, no, you can’t put the cowboy Santa right next to the regular Santa,” she said, reaching up to move the ornament Taylor had just placed. “They’ll start a turf war.”

Taylor caught her around the waist, pulling her close. “Oh yeah? And what makes you the expert on Santa politics?”

Their faces were inches apart, and Loretta’s breath caught in her throat. For a moment, the bustle of the room faded away, and all she could focus on was Taylor’s arms around her and the sexy glint in his eyes.

“Trust me,” she murmured, “I know these things.”

Taylor’s gaze dropped to her lips, and for a moment, Loretta thought he would kiss her again, right there in front of everyone. But then a crash from across the room broke the spell, as six of Janice’s dogs came rampaging into the room with her husband Nate chasing them, cursing up a storm. He said a few words that were new to Loretta.

“Nate’s a creative man,” Taylor said.

As the evening wore on, the retreat center was transformed into a winter wonderland. Garlands draped elegantly from the rafters, Christmas lights framed every window, and the tree stood resplendent in its finery. Loretta stood back to admire their handiwork, leaning into Taylor’s side as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

“It’s beautiful,” she said. “I can’t remember the last time I did something like this.”

Taylor pressed a kiss to her temple. “Me neither. It’s nice, though. Feels like…I don’t know, like we’re part of something here.”

Kelly appeared at their side, her cheeks flushed with exertion and holiday cheer. “What do you think? Are we ready for tomorrow’s photo shoots?”

“It’s perfect,” Loretta assured her. “The families are going to love it.”

Kelly glanced between Loretta and Taylor with a sly smile. “You know, if you two wanted to get a family photo done, I’d be happy to squeeze you in tomorrow. On the house, of course.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” she started to say, but Taylor surprised her by speaking up.

“That’d be great, actually,” he said. “If you’re sure it’s not too much trouble.”

Kelly’s smile widened. “No trouble at all. It’ll be my way of saying thanks for all your help tonight. How about we say seven o’clock again? That should give Taylor a chance to shower and change after a long day in the saddle.”

“Works for me,” he said.

As Kelly bustled off to make arrangements, Taylor slung an arm around Loretta’s waist. “We could use it on our Christmas cards this year.”

“I’d like that,” she said softly, reaching up to cup his cheek. This time, when Taylor leaned in, there was nothing to interrupt them.

The kiss was soft and sweet, filled with promise and shared understanding. When they parted, Loretta saw her own emotions reflected in Taylor’s eyes—love, hope, and a touch of uncertainty about the future.

“Come on,” Taylor said, taking her hand. “I think I saw some mistletoe over by the fireplace. Want to go investigate?”