Healing the Cowboy (Christmas in Redemption Ridge)

19. Nora

19

NORA

N ora drove past the main house and made a beeline for Clint’s cabin. Working on Thanksgiving wasn’t ideal, but somebody had to do it. She always ended up volunteering to work the holiday so others could have the time off. Without any kids or family who lived out of town, it would be selfish to take the day off when she saw her family every day.

Sickness and injury didn’t observe the holiday, so the clinic had been packed as usual. It was a full hour after her shift ended before she parked in front of the cabin.

The phone in her pocket buzzed as she stepped inside.

Clint: You okay?

She fired off a quick response before throwing her scrubs off and slipping into her favorite jeans and oversize sweatshirt. Pulling her hair up into a ponytail, she hurried to the kitchen. The side dishes she’d made the night before weren’t in the refrigerator. Good. Her dad took them to the main house like she’d asked.

Grabbing Clint’s jacket, she slid it over her sweater and pushed her feet into her boots. Ten minutes later, she parked next to Caroline’s car in front of the Taylors’ house.

Laughter greeted her as she opened the door. Her dad stood with his shoulder propped against the stone fireplace listening to whatever Clint’s dad was saying. Running water and womens’ voices drifted from the kitchen, and Clint, Jordan, and Alicia crowded around Caroline where she sat on the couch showing something on her phone that was the cause of all the laughter.

Clint’s attention lifted to her as soon as she stepped inside. The smile on his face only grew when he saw her.

She could keep telling herself the lie that she’d been rushing home from work because it was Thanksgiving, but it wouldn’t do her heart any good. She spent every day with Clint, but she couldn’t get enough.

Good grief, she couldn’t control her own grin or the heart hammering in her chest. He’d always been in her life. Shouldn’t the excitement die off at some point ?

Caroline jumped to her feet. “You’re here!” she shouted with her arms open wide.

Nora saw Caroline multiple times a week too, but Clint’s sister never greeted her with half enthusiasm.

Alicia waited for her hug next and gave Nora a big squeeze. Alicia left her life as a high-profile singer to settle down on Taylor Ranch last year, and the light in her eyes said the change of scenery was working for her.

“We’re planning to get together on Tuesday around lunch to decorate for Christmas. Want to join?” Alicia asked.

“Shoot. I have to work,” Nora said.

“What time do you get off?” Caroline asked. “We can start with Jordan and Alicia’s place, and you can jump in while we’re decorating here at Mom and Dad’s.” She clasped her hands in front of her chest. “Pretty please with a cherry on top.”

“I get off at five. You’ll probably already be finished by then.”

Alicia laughed. “Don’t worry about that. I have big plans for the first Christmas in our new home. We might still be working on my place at that time.”

“Oh, wow. You’re not kidding when you say big plans,” Nora said.

Jordan moved to Alicia’s side and placed a hand on her back. “Since Nora is here, can we eat now?”

“You haven’t had supper yet? You didn’t have to wait on me. ”

Vicci stepped out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish towel. “Yes, we did. We had lunch without you. Supper without you too was unacceptable.”

Clint stepped up beside Nora and whispered, “Mom said we couldn’t touch the food until her last baby was here.”

Nora’s chest ached. Vicci thought of her as one of her own kids, and it was a balm to her broken heart to be claimed by someone who had no obligation to her.

But Vicci’s last baby still wasn’t here. Clint, Caroline, and Jordan’s brother, Dom, was serving a prison sentence half a state away. Knowing how much Vicci loved her family, it must be tearing her up inside to miss one of her own on the holiday.

“What about Dom?” Nora whispered.

No one talked about Dom. Vicci used to talk about him all the time, but she ultimately forbade the topic after one too many heartbreaking conversations where she was forced to defend her flesh and blood. She’d never been able to come to terms with Dom’s guilty plea.

“Mom and Dad are leaving Saturday morning. They’ll be back on Monday.”

Nora had two days to do everything she could to keep Vicci’s mind off her missing son and hopefully put together a gift basket for Dom. Murderer or not, he was loved in this family, and if there was one thing the Taylor family did well, it was love everyone.

Nora’s dad was still talking to Clint’s dad as they made their way to the dining room. Vicci and Grant not only opened their home to Nora and her dad, they made them feel welcome, despite the mistakes they brought with them.

Vicci stood in the doorway, and she reached for Nora as she passed, wrapping her up in a rib-crushing hug.

Nora relaxed into the embrace. With no mother to hold, she craved this connection with Vicci more than the woman would ever understand.

“I love you, sweetie,” Vicci whispered against Nora’s hair.

Oh no. The tears were pressing against the wall holding them at bay, and the last thing she wanted to do was cry from a simple hug.

“I love you too,” she whispered back. Unable to say anything else without opening the floodgates of tears, she swallowed and stepped back.

Vicci had mercy on her and let Nora move toward the waiting food.

“Let’s pray,” Grant said as he adjusted his stance and clasped his hands behind his back.

Everyone bowed their heads as Grant thanked the Lord for every blessing in their lives. A rush of gratitude threatened to choke Nora as she silently added her own blessings to the list .

Everyone joked and chatted as they heaped food onto plates and started eating. Clint waved Nora over to a seat he’d saved beside him, and he grabbed the roll off her plate before she even sat down.

His mom’s hand slapped against the back of his head. “Leave her plate alone.”

Clint put the roll back on Nora’s plate and rubbed the sore spot. “I was going to put butter on it for her.”

“I’d like some butter,” Nora said. Maybe Vicci wouldn’t throttle her son if he did what he said.

In truth, Nora didn’t want the roll. She’d gotten it for Clint anyway.

When Vicci moved on, Nora leaned over to whisper, “You can have it.”

Clint winked and pointed to his plate. “I got extra okra for you.”

Sure enough, a mound of the fried vegetable sat on one side of his plate. Clint hadn’t eaten okra since he was eight years old and his mom quit making him eat them before he could get up from the table, but it was her favorite.

She ate way too much of the delicious food before resting back in her seat. There were three different discussions going on around the table, but she hadn’t inserted herself into any of them while she devoured her supper.

After a few minutes, she grabbed her plate, Clint’s, and Caroline’s from beside her and headed toward the kitchen. She’d just scraped the last bit of food from the plates as Clint hobbled in on his single crutch with another handful of dirty dishes.

“Hey, you okay?” he asked as he rested the plates on the counter.

Nora picked up the first and pushed the leftovers into the trash. “Yeah. Why?”

Clint shrugged. “You just look a little down in the dumps.”

She had no reason to be walking around like Eeyore from the old Winnie the Pooh stories. She had everything she could possibly want and more right here, but the loss was always hiding, waiting until she was perfectly happy to remind her of what she was missing.

“It’s stupid,” Nora said as she continued cleaning the dishes.

Clint placed his hands over hers, stilling her until she looked up at him. He stood close enough that she could smell the hint of his natural scent beneath the aroma of the food.

“Whatever it is, it’s not stupid.”

Nora huffed. “I was thinking about my mom. It is stupid because I doubt she’s thinking about me.” She threw her arms out at her sides. “And I have all these awesome people in my life, and I shouldn’t care about her at all.”

Clint rested the plate on the counter and wrapped Nora up. Resting her head against his chest, he covered her in his warmth and protection.

“I know you’re going to think this is cheesy, but you care because you have a good heart.”

Nora groaned. “That is cheesy.”

“But it’s a good thing. You know that people make mistakes, but they still need love. I’m just glad you haven’t kicked me to the curb for all the stupid stuff I’ve done.”

Nora’s throat constricted. She could never push Clint away. He was the light in her life. He was her anchor and her protector, even though she wanted to be able to protect herself. He was her safe place and her home.

“I think I’ll keep you,” she whispered against his chest.

“And I thank God for that mercy every day. Your mom missed out. You’re the best person I know, and it’s her loss that she isn’t around to see the amazing woman you are.”

Nora buried her face in his shirt. How could she ever think she wasn’t good enough when Clint was always here to lift her up? “Stop laying it on so thick.”

“I’m serious. You’re stronger than anyone I know, and it’s one of the many things I love about you.”

So what if she didn’t have a mother? She had plenty of love just in this room.

Nora lifted her head and looked up at Clint. They’d hugged as friends plenty of times, but lately they’d been holding each other more. It was intimate–too intimate for just friends.

Clint smiled down at her as his gaze trailed over her face. “You okay now?” he asked in a soft, deep voice.

She nodded, but neither of them pulled away. Why would she let go when all she wanted was to stay here?

Caroline stepped into the kitchen and jerked to a halt when she saw them. Nora released Clint, but he kept his hold on her as Caroline’s cheeks lifted with her grin.

“Hey, um, Hollis is here. Just thought you’d want to know.”

Clint let his arms fall from around Nora, letting his hands brush against her all the way down. “He said he wasn’t coming.”

Caroline shrugged and slipped back out of the room.

Nora pushed her hands into her back pockets, unsure what to do with them now that she wasn't wrapped around Clint anymore.

“His dad isn’t doing well,” Clint said.

“Maybe he needs a friend. I can’t imagine how hard it is to see your dad declining so quickly.”

Clint nodded. “I know we were planning to go work in the woodshop, but would you mind if Hollis comes? ”

“Not at all. How about you two hang out, and I’ll help clean up around here.”

“But–”

Nora raised a hand to stop him. “Your other friend needs you. I think I can survive one evening without you.”

Clint smiled and put his arm around her shoulders. “Don’t worry. You’re still my number one.”

Nora clicked her tongue. “I hate to break it to you, but I think Bella is my number one right now.”

He stopped mid-reach for his crutch. “What? Why?”

“She brought me lunch today.”

Clint scoffed. “I can’t drive, so I asked her to bring you something.”

Nora stood frozen in place. She couldn’t even joke with him anymore without being reminded of how much she wanted more than their amazing friendship. “Thanks.”

He gave her a wink and limped toward the doorway on his crutch. “Anything for you.”

Watching as he disappeared into the dining room, Nora bit her lips between her teeth and silently prayed her wayward feelings didn’t destroy the best friendship she’d ever had.