Reunion at Mistletoe Lodge (Sweet Colorado Romance #3)

18. CHAPTER 18

CHAPTER 18

Barb

Barb sat on the edge of the bed in the medical room at Mistletoe Lodge, her heart still racing from the events of the day. She glanced over at Oscar, who was being examined by Jackie and felt a wave of relief wash over her.

He was safe. Barb pulled him close once more, hugging him tightly as if to reassure herself that he was really there. The sleepover plans she had made for Oscar and the other children were long forgotten; tonight, all she wanted was to have her family close.

As Barb looked around the room, she noticed Daven stitching up Zac’s arm with the precision and care of a seasoned professional. Despite the tension in the air, she couldn’t help but smile. Zac was calm and focused, and his unwavering composure was a stark contrast to the storm of emotions swirling within her.

“Barb, why don’t you all join us for dinner tonight?” Heather offered, her voice warm and inviting. “It’ll do everyone some good to be together after what happened.”

Barb shook her head gently, still holding onto Oscar. “Thank you, Heather, but I think we’ll pass this time. I just want to be with my family tonight.”

Zac nodded in agreement, his eyes never leaving Barb. “We’ll take a rain check, Heather. We could all use a quiet night.”

Paige, who had been quietly conversing with Daven, also declined the offer. “Daven and Jackie are coming over to the chalet for dinner with Max.”

Daven smiled, glancing at his sister, who was still busy tending to Herschel. “Yeah, I’m cooking us dinner as I’m getting a bit tired of omelets and scrambled eggs.” He grinned at the black look Paige and Jackie shot him. “That’s all Paige and Jackie are able to cook. ”

“Heather’s really good at catching rabbits and cooking them over a fire,” Giles told them, wincing when Heather walloped him with a pillow. “I was paying you a compliment, my love. At least if we ever get lost in the jungle somewhere with you, we know we won’t starve.”

As soon as Daven and Jackie patched everyone up and gave them check-ups, he allowed them to go. Barb and Zac gathered their children, said their good nights, and headed out of the lodge.

As they walked toward the bungalow, Barb asked Zac, “Are you going to have dinner with us tonight?”

Zac looked at her with a soft smile. “I’d like that. Besides, we still have to make the chili. Oscar says he knows Chef’s secret ingredient.”

He bent down and scooped Oscar up, lifting him onto his shoulders.

“She says it’s love,” Oscar whispered to them. “You have to put your love into making the chili. ”

“Oh!” Barb said, smiling up at her son while she pushed a sleeping Charlotte in the stroller. She looked at Zac. “We must remember that.”

“Of course,” Zac said. “As the three of us are going to make it, there’s going to be a lot of love in our chili.”

“I don’t really like chili,” Oscar admitted, shuddering. “It has weird stuff like beans and vegetables in it, and it burns.”

“That’s okay, buddy,” Zac told him. “We won’t make you eat it as long as you help us make it, as we need the extra bit of love.”

“Sure,” Oscar said, then pointed to the clear night sky sprinkled with stars. “Paige has been teaching me about the stars. She knows a lot about them and works with huge telescopes.”

“She does,” Zac told him. “It’s her job.”

“She said that one day she’ll take me to look through one,” Oscar said excitedly. “ Paige is so cool.” He looked down at Zac. “She told me all your family were cool except your brother Jared, who is an egomaniac.”

“That’s a big word!” Barb said, biting back a smile and looking at Zac. “Jared is the brother that’s two years younger than you and Liam?”

“That’s right,” Zac confirmed. “And Jared is not that much of an egomaniac.” He laughed. “Your Aunt Paige and Jared fight a lot. They are both so competitive.”

“Oh, no!” Barb sighed, rolling her eyes. “Another competitive Shield.”

“Aunt Paige says he’s a rodeo clown,” Oscar repeated, his voice filling with excitement. “Does he ride the bulls? Do you think he’ll teach me?”

“No!” Barb and Zac said in unison, their eyes meeting, and they smiled.

“He’s not a rodeo clown, son. He rides the horses and not bulls,” Zac corrected. “He used to ride bulls, but not anymore. ”

“That’s cool,” Oscar said. “I’d like to ride horses.”

“Well,” Zac looked at Barb. “If your mother wants to, your grandparents have invited us all to Montana to the ranch where I grew up for the new year.”

“Really?” Oscar asked in amazement. His eyes meet Barbs. “Can we, Mom, please?”

“We’ll see, honey,” Barb said, her heart picking up speed. “Now you’ll have to get off your father’s shoulders so you can get into the cabin. Then it’s bath time for you and your sister.”

“Can I watch on the tablet for a while before I get to sleep, please?” Oscar asked as they walked into the cabin. As always, one of the lodge’s staff members had lit a fire for the evening, so the bungalow was cozy and warm.

“Okay,” Barb said. “Now go get your pajamas out. I’ll start running your bath.”

“And I’ll take our little princess,” Zac cooed at Charlotte as she woke up .

As Barb went to start Oscar’s bath, she glanced back toward where Zac was making silly noises for Charlotte. Her eyes fell on the blood on his sleeve, and her heart squeezed. She could’ve lost him today if that bullet had gone more to the right. As she watched Zac for a few more seconds, Barb realized just how quickly things can change. Hanging onto the past didn’t get you anywhere, and the one thing she realized was that she didn’t want to have a future without Zac in it.

Three hours later, the scent of chili filled the cozy bungalow. Charlotte was asleep, nestled peacefully in her room, and the dinner dishes had been cleared away. Oscar was in his room watching his favorite cartoon on his tablet. Barb and Zac sat together in the lounge, a glass of wine in each of their hands. The warmth of the fire crackling in the fireplace added to the comforting atmosphere.

Zac took a sip of his wine, his gaze distant as he finally allowed himself to process the day’s events. “Barb, I’ve never been so frightened in my life as when I found out Oscar and Paige had been kidnapped.”

“You didn’t look frightened.” Barb turned to him, her heart aching at the vulnerability in his voice. “You seemed so calm under pressure, Zac. I felt like I was falling apart.”

Zac’s eyes softened as he looked at her. “You held it together, Barb. You were remarkable. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner in all of this.”

They sat in silence for a moment, the gravity of their shared experience sinking in. Barb reached out and took his hand, her fingers intertwining with his. “When I saw you get shot, Zac, my heart stopped. I realized then how much I love you. I was scared, so scared that I wouldn’t get the chance to tell you how I felt. I realized that I didn’t want to spend another day apart or without you in my life—I want us to be a family again.”

Zac set their wine glasses on the table and pulled Barb close, his arms wrapping around her in a protective embrace. “I love you too, Barb, more than I ever thought possible. I never want to spend another day without you.”

He leaned in and kissed her, a kiss that spoke of love, relief, and the promise of many more tomorrows together. Barb melted into him, the warmth of his passion washing away the last remnants of fear. She knew, in that moment, that no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them together.

The next morning was a crisp, clear day—the perfect day for the Christmas decorating competition judging. Barb felt a flutter of excitement as she joined the others outside their bungalow. The decorations they had put up sparkled in the sunlight, and she couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride in what they had accomplished.

When the judges announced the winners, Barb’s bungalow took first place. Heather and Giles came in second, with Emily, Hank, Paige, and Daven tied for third. Barb beamed with happiness, the victory a small but meaningful triumph after everything they had been through.

Oscar was ecstatic as he did a little victory dance on the porch before running off to join his friend as Zac and Barb made their way to the chili competition, a tradition at Mistletoe Lodge. Barb, Zac, Oscar, and Charlotte gathered around as the judges tasted the various entries. Despite their best efforts, Chef Nora’s Chili won for the third year in a row. Barb couldn’t help but laugh as Oscar pouted slightly before congratulating Nora with good sportsmanship.

“I guess she just has a whole lot more love for her chili than we all did, Ozzie,” Paige told him with a sigh. “And trust me, Chef’s chili is the best.” She held her bowl of food out to him. “Want to try some.”

Barb laughed as she saw Oscar recoil in horror. “No, thank you, I’m full.”

With the competition behind them and a hard day of helping out at the booths, it was nearly dinner time when Oscar found Barb and Zac closing up the candy cane booth.

“Mom, Dad, can I go meet Rosie and Max? Emily said we could stay over at hers tonight,” Oscar told them. “Can I, please?”

Barb exchanged a glance with Zac, who nodded. “Alright, but ask Jackie to take you to get your pajamas, clean clothes, and toothbrush.”

“Will do,” Oscar said, running off to join his friends .

Zac took Barb’s hand, and they walked together through the festival, enjoying the sights and sounds of the season. They stopped by a stall selling candy cane cocoa, a specialty that was impossible to resist. With steaming cups in hand, they made their way to the edge of the forest, finding a quiet spot to sit on one of the benches and watch the festivities.

Zac wrapped his arm around Barb, pulling her close. “This is how every Christmas should be spent,” he said softly, his voice full of contentment. “With family, friends, and a whole lot of festive fun.”

Barb leaned into him, feeling the warmth of his embrace and the steady beat of his heart. “I couldn’t agree more. This Christmas will be one I’ll never forget.”

They sat there together, watching the twinkling lights and listening to the joyful laughter that filled the air. For the first time in a long time, Barb felt at peace. The danger, the uncertainty, the fear—all of it was behind them now. What lay ahead was a future filled with love, family, and the promise of countless more Christmases spent together.

Later that night, when Barb switched off the lights to go to bed, she glanced out of the window and smiled at the stars twinkling above. The world outside was quiet as silvery white snowflakes fell from the sky. Barb’s smile grew, and her heart warmed as she knew that this Christmas was the beginning of something beautiful. A new chapter in their lives, one filled with love, hope, and the promise of many more Christmases spent together at Mistletoe Lodge.