One Hundred Humbugs (Aspen Cove #25)

Chapter 23

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Ruby stood by the Christmas tree, absently adjusting an ornament as the late morning sun streamed through the windows of Uncle Peter’s old house. Her mind wandered to the events of the previous night, replaying every touch, every kiss, every word. Becket had made love to her with such tenderness, such intensity—as if it might be the last time. The thought sent a shiver down her spine, equal parts thrilling and unsettling.

She closed her eyes, remembering the feel of Becket’s calloused hands on her skin, the gentle brush of his breath against her neck. He’d held her like she was precious, something to be cherished and protected. It had been passionate, yes, but also tinged with a desperation that Ruby couldn’t quite shake.

Was he planning on leaving? The question nagged at her. Becket had only ever been meant to be temporary help, a kind stranger lending a hand with Uncle Peter’s house. When he arrived, the goats had been an unexpected addition, but somewhere along the way, Becket had become so much more. He’d become the first person she thought of in the morning and the last person she wanted to see at night. He’d become ... everything.

The back door opened, snapping Ruby out of her reverie. She turned to see Becket stamping snow off his boots, his cheeks flushed from the cold. Her heart did a little flip at the sight of him, even as anxiety gnawed at her stomach.

“How are they doing?” Ruby asked, trying to keep her voice casual despite the tumult of emotions inside her.

Becket’s eyes met hers, his gaze filled with tenderness. “They’re good. Daisy and the kids are settling in nicely. Houdini tried to eat my shoelaces, so everything’s normal there.”

Ruby laughed, the sound easing some of the tension that had been building since they’d woken up in each other’s arms. They hadn’t talked about the deepening of their relationship, both seemingly afraid to disrupt the delicate balance of their growing intimacy.

“I made some fresh coffee,” Ruby said, gesturing towards the kitchen. “Thought we might need it before ... well, before we open gifts.”

Becket nodded. “Sounds perfect.”

As they moved to the kitchen, Ruby studied Becket’s profile. How had this man, who’d started as a stranger, become so essential to her in such a short time? The way he moved with quiet confidence, the gentle strength in his hands as he poured their coffee—it all spoke to a depth of character that drew her in.

They sat at the small table, their eyes meeting over the rims of their mugs. The air between them was charged, filled with unspoken words and new possibilities. Ruby wanted to ask him about his plans, about whether he intended to stay in Aspen Cove or if last night had been a beautiful goodbye. But the words stuck in her throat, fear of the answer holding her back.

“So,” Becket began, his voice a little rough. “Last night was...”

“Yeah,” Ruby agreed, her cheeks warming. “It was.”

They just looked at each other, both searching for the right words. Becket reached across the table, taking Ruby’s hand in his.

“I don’t regret it,” he said, his thumb tracing small circles on her palm. “Not for a second. But I need you to know that I don’t expect anything. If you’re still planning to go back to Chicago...”

Ruby’s heart constricted. Here he was, giving her an out, when what she really wanted was to understand where they stood. She squeezed his hand. “I don’t regret it either,” she said. “And as for Chicago … that feels like another life. I don’t know what the future holds, but right now, I’m here. And I’m happy.”

Becket let out a small breath. “I’m happy you’re here too.”

They finished their coffee in comfortable silence, hands still linked across the table. As they stood to rinse their mugs, Becket’s arm brushed against Ruby’s, sending a jolt of awareness through her. She turned to face him, acutely aware of how close they were standing.

For a heartbeat, it seemed like Becket might kiss her. Ruby’s breath caught in her throat, torn between wanting him to close the distance and needing to understand where they stood. But then the moment passed, and he stepped back .

“Should we ... open presents?” he asked, a hint of nervousness in his voice.

Ruby nodded, both disappointed and relieved. “Yes, let’s do that.”

As they moved to the living room where the gifts waited under the tree, Ruby’s mind raced. What did Becket’s gift mean in light of last night? Was it a parting gift or a promise of more to come? And what would her own gift reveal about her feelings, her hopes for the future?

With trembling hands, she reached for the messily wrapped package Becket handed her, her heart pounding with anticipation and a touch of fear. Whatever was inside this package, she knew it had the power to change everything.

Ruby’s fingers trembled as she began to unwrap Becket’s gift. The paper crinkled, the sound unnaturally loud in the quiet room. As she peeled back the last of the wrapping, she revealed a large mason jar filled with folded pieces of colorful paper, accompanied by a basket brimming with local treats.

“It’s a memory jar,” Becket explained, his voice soft and a touch nervous. “I wrote down all the moments we’ve shared here in Aspen Cove. And the basket ... well, I thought you might like a taste of the town to take with you. Or ... to enjoy here. If you want.”

Tears pricked at Ruby’s eyes as she lifted the jar, seeing glimpses of Becket’s handwriting on the folded papers inside. She opened one at random, reading aloud, “The way you laughed when Houdini stole your scarf.”

The memory flooded back, vivid and warm. It had been a crisp afternoon, not long after she’d arrived in Aspen Cove. Becket had been showing her how to feed the goats, and she’d been so focused on not dropping the feed bucket that she hadn’t noticed Houdini sneaking up behind her. The goat had snagged her scarf right off her neck, prancing away with his prize. She’d been startled at first, but Becket’s laughter had been infectious, and soon they were both doubled over, watching Houdini parade around the garage with the scarf trailing behind him like a royal train.

Ruby looked up at Becket, her heart full. “This is perfect, Becket. Thank you.”

She reached into the jar again, pulling out another slip of paper. “The look on your face when you tasted Maisey’s apple pie for the first time.”

Another memory washed over her. They’d stopped at the diner after a long day of sorting through Uncle Peter’s belongings. Ruby had been feeling overwhelmed and homesick, but one bite of that pie had transported her. The rich spices, the perfect balance of tart and sweet—it had felt like home in a way she couldn’t explain. She remembered looking up to find Becket was watching her, a look in his eyes that made her heart skip a beat.

“I can’t believe you remembered all these moments,” Ruby said, her voice thick with emotion.

Becket moved closer, his hand coming to rest on her shoulder. “I remember everything about our time together, Ruby. Every smile, every laugh ... every moment I’ve fallen a little more in love with you.”

Ruby’s breath caught in her throat. Hearing him say it so openly still felt like a milestone, even though they had both hinted at it before. Now, the word “love” hung between them, full of promise and possibility.

She turned to the basket next, exploring its contents. There was a jar of local honey, a package of Katie’s famous brownies, a bag of coffee from the Corner Store, and various other treats that represented the flavors of Aspen Cove. Each item sparked another memory—lazy mornings sharing coffee, and late-night snacks as they pored over Uncle Peter’s papers.

“Becket, this is...” Ruby trailed off, overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness of the gift and the emotions it stirred.

“Too much?” Becket asked, a hint of worry in his voice.

Ruby shook her head emphatically. “No, it’s perfect. It’s just ... last night, when we were together, it was like...”

“Like what?” Becket prompted when she hesitated.

Ruby took a deep breath. “Like you were saying goodbye. Like it might be the last time. And now this gift... Are you planning on leaving, Becket?”

Becket’s eyes widened in surprise. “Leaving? Ruby, no. I thought ... I thought you might be the one leaving. Going back to Chicago. That’s why I wanted you to have these memories, these tastes of Aspen Cove. So, you’d have a piece of this place—a piece of us—wherever you went.”

Relief flooded through Ruby, followed by a wave of affection for this man who had so thoroughly captured her heart. “Oh, Becket,” she said, reaching out to cup his cheek. “I don’t want to leave. I don’t think I could, even if I tried. This place, these people ... you. It all feels like home now.”

Becket leaned into her touch, his eyes shining with emotion. “You have no idea how happy I am to hear that.”

They stayed like that, savoring the newfound certainty between them. Then Ruby remembered her own gift. “Oh! You still need to open yours.”

She reached for the neatly wrapped package under the tree, nerves fluttering as she wondered how her gift would compare to Becket’s thoughtful offering. “It’s not as elaborate as yours, but I hope you’ll like it.”

Becket took the package, unwrapping it to reveal a leather-bound notebook. He opened it, his eyebrows rising in surprise as he flipped through the pages.

“It’s a business plan,” Ruby explained. “For expanding our little yard-based goat farm. I’ve been doing some research, and I think there’s real potential here—artisanal goat cheese, soap made from goat milk, even goat yoga classes. I know it might seem presumptuous, but I thought ... well, I thought maybe we could build something together. Here in Aspen Cove.”

Becket looked up from the notebook, his eyes shining. “Ruby, this is ... it’s incredible. You’ve put so much thought into this. But are you sure? This would mean staying here, changing your whole life.”

Ruby nodded, feeling more certain than she had about anything in a long time. “I’m sure. Last night, being with you ... it felt right, Becket. Like everything in my life had been leading me here, to you, to this place. I want to see where this can go. I want to build a life here, with you.”

Becket set the notebook aside, then pulled Ruby into his arms. “I love you,” he said. “I think I’ve loved you since the day you let me and the goats camp in your yard ... or maybe it was when you brought me those old crackers and rancid peanut butter for a meal.”

Ruby laughed, wrapping her arms around him. “I love you too. Even if you do smell like goats most of the time.”

They stayed in each other’s arms for a long moment, the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree casting a warm glow over them. Eventually, Becket pulled back. “Speaking of goats, it’s a good idea to check on Daisy and the kids. Make sure they’re not feeling neglected on their first Christmas.”

Ruby nodded, smiling. “Lead the way, Goat Whisperer.”

Hand in hand, they strolled to the garage. The air was crisp and cold, their breath forming small clouds in the fading light. Inside, warmth greeted them, along with the gentle rustling and soft bleats.

Daisy was curled up in her corner, her two kids nestled against her side. Houdini and Sir Chomps-a-Lot were huddled together nearby, looking for all the world like they were plotting their next coup.

“Merry Christmas, you troublemakers,” Becket said fondly, reaching out to scratch behind Houdini’s ears.

As they tended to the goats, refilling water and providing some holiday treats, Ruby was struck by how natural it all seemed. The rhythm of this life, once so foreign to her, now seemed like second nature. She watched Becket move around the garage with effortless familiarity, as if he could do it in his sleep. There was something comforting in his ease, and it gave her a quiet surge of love and certainty.

This was where she belonged. Here in Aspen Cove, with Becket, building a life surrounded by the close-knit community and the unconditional love of a herd of trouble-making goats.

She looked back at the scene—the contented goats, the warm glow of the single bulb hanging from the ceiling, Becket giving Daisy one last pat—and knew she’d made the right choice.

“What are you thinking?” Becket asked, coming to stand beside her.

Ruby leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. “I’m thinking that this is the best Christmas I’ve ever had. And I can’t wait to see what the new year brings.”

Becket pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Whatever it brings, we’ll face it together. You, me, and a bunch of goats. ”

Ruby laughed, the sound echoing in the crisp winter air. As they walked back to the house, hand in hand, a sense of peace settled over her. The future stretched out before them, full of possibility and promise. And Ruby knew, with absolute certainty, that the best was yet to come.