Saving the Cowboy’s Christmas (Rowdy Ranch #12)

Chapter 19

CHAPTER NINETEEN

R ance gave his mom a big hug and stood. “I should probably check with Clint about whether he’s opening the Buffalo at eleven this morning. If so, I need to take Lani back home so I can give myself plenty of time to drive that two-lane.”

“I know what I’ll be doing for most of the day,” his mom said. “I’ll be reading your book.”

“That makes two of us.” Andy stood. “Time to build up this fire and get cozy.”

And now Rance had himself a problem. His foolproof excuse for spending time with Lani tonight had a fatal flaw. If he told his mom and Andy that Lani had suggestions for improving the manuscript, they’d be looking for flaws instead of reading for pleasure.

Andy might be able to ignore that information as he read. But his mother wouldn’t be able to. She’d dive into the story with one goal — to find the issues that Lani had identified. Her reading experience would be completely altered.

He needed another excuse and he needed it fast. Tonight had become more critical than ever now that his worthless father would be in town tomorrow.

“I’m finally putting all this together.” His mom tapped the manuscript. “This was the manuscript you took over to Rance’s last night to get Granny’s opinion on some Irish dialogue.”

“It was.” Lani glanced up at him. “How much should I say?”

“I don’t think we’re giving anything away by admitting the book has Irish dialogue and you wanted to have Granny confirm that it was accurate.”

His mom laughed. “Great minds, son. I’m putting an Irish character in my next book. Listening to Granny inspired me, too.”

“That’ll be fun, seeing how each of us handled it.” Okay, he had a potential plan. “Oh, and Granny made her famous Irish pound cake for dessert last night, and Lani fell in love with it.”

Andy adjusted the fireplace screen on the hearth. “She does a good job with that.”

“Anyway, Lani’s coming over again tonight so Granny can show her how to make it.” He flashed her a smile and said a little prayer that she’d go along with his off-the-cuff brainstorm.

Her eyelids quivered for a nanosecond and then she was off and running. “I am. Our family’s big on homemade Christmas gifts, so this’ll be the perfect thing to give my folks.” She avoided looking at him, though.

“I’m a fan of homemade gifts, myself.” Andy returned to his seat. “A homemade gift is what brought Dez and me together.”

“Oh, yeah?” Lani turned to him. “Who made the gift, you or her?”

“We made it together. We built a playhouse for Maverick.”

“What fun!”

“It was that.” His mom sent Andy a fond glance. “But I confess I didn’t know what I was getting into.”

He grinned. “With the project or me?”

“Both, but at least with you I didn’t need instructions. What you see is what you get.”

“That’s Andy, all right.” Rance loved that about the guy. The same couldn’t be said of him. He’d always been a shapeshifter, a secret-keeper.

He’d planned to send a group text about his book, not because he couldn’t wait to tell his siblings, but because it was part of an elaborate plan to buy time with Lani. He’d been forced to use pound cake production instead.

Subterfuge came easily to him, maybe too easily. He justified the current scheme as protecting Lani. She didn’t want her folks to know they were getting chummy.

But intrigue was in his DNA, and he took pride in exercising his talent for it. That said, did he want to stage a big reveal about the book on Christmas Day like he’d originally envisioned?

Nope. Most likely Irving Quick would be there poisoning the air he breathed. He pulled out his phone. “Just so you know, you don’t have to keep the book a secret.” He started composing a message. “I’m writing a group text.”

“Hang on a sec,” his mom said. “Wouldn’t it be more fun to save it for Christmas Day? We can keep it under wraps until then.”

“We sure can, son. Seems like the kind of thing you’d want to tell them in person.”

“I’d planned to, but…”

Andy swore softly. “It’s Quick-dick, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. Have you sent out the word about him, Mom?”

“No. I had to tell you first. And I agree the timing sucks.”

“When’s he getting into town?”

“Probably around eleven, depending on traffic.”

“Fortunately I’ll be at work.”

“Probably just as well. Anyway, I hate to say it, but you shouldn’t announce this on Christmas Day, after all. I didn’t think of Irv when I suggested it. I don’t trust him to be kind and I definitely don’t trust him to keep the news to himself.”

“Then I’ll send the text and tell them it’s to stay in the family for now.”

“Or you could make the announcement on New Year’s Eve,” Lani said. “Surely he’ll be gone by then.”

“God, I hope so.” He looked up from his phone and glanced at her. “But I don’t want to wait that long.”

“Are my folks on that group text?”

“They are. Don’t you want them to know?”

“I absolutely want them to know. I just wasn’t sure you thought of them as….”

“Family?”

“Yeah. I mean, Dallas has been around a while, but the rest of us only showed up less than a year ago.”

He looked over at his mother. “Want to take this?”

“Nah, you go ahead.”

He turned back to Lani. “Time’s not a factor. Lucky became family in minutes when Mom brought him home from the hospital along with me. When Angie chose Dallas, all the Armstrongs instantly became family. That’s how we do things.” He smiled. “Whether you like it or not.”

“I like it.”

“Good to know.” He held her gaze too long. He realized it when Andy chuckled. Returning his attention to his phone, he finished the group message and hit Send. Then he excused himself and walked into the library to call Clint.

His big brother answered on the first ring. “Hey, you beat me to it, bro! Congratulations! Way to fly under the radar. Been keeping a laptop under the bar?”

“I promise I didn’t write while I was on duty. That wouldn’t be fair to you and Tyra.”

“Then when did you write it?”

“Before work. After work. Whenever I got some extra time.”

“Since when?”

“February.”

“That’s impressive. While I’ve been dinking around with our kitchen cabinet remodel, you wrote a whole book. I want to hear all about it when you come in today.”

“That’s why I called. I—uh-oh. That’s Lucky trying to get me. I didn’t think about what would happen when I sent that text.”

“Your phone’s gonna be ringing all day. Wish I could give you the time off, but I need you here.”

“You’re already at the Buffalo?”

“Yessir. Tyra and I came in early to prep for Christmas Eve. Lots to do before then. We wondered if we’d get snowed in, but the plows are out, both in town and on the two-lane. You should be able to make it, no problem.”

“Then I’ll see you soon.” He disconnected and called Lucky back.

Lucky didn’t bother with a greeting. “You wrote a whole damn book and didn’t tell me until it was finished? What the hell? Did you tell anybody, because if you told anybody and didn’t tell me, I’m gonna?—”

“Granny. I told Granny. I had to since she was living with me. I didn’t let her read it except the parts with Irish dialogue.”

“Okay, Granny, then. I get that, but bro! You had to be writing it for a while, months, if not years. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.”

“I’ve been writing since February. You of all people should know why I didn’t tell anybody. Oksana kept hers a secret even after it was finished. She’d already started the second book before she told you.”

His brother exhaled. “Yeah, but she’d only known me for something like a year. You, on the other hand… we’re… dammit, you could’ve trusted me with this.”

The hurt in Lucky’s voice hit him hard. “I’m sorry. The truth is, I was scared shitless. I didn’t trust myself… to keep going, to follow through. I didn’t know with absolute certainty I’d finish it until I did. Even then I kept tweaking it, looking for weak points, rewriting dialogue to make it snappier.”

“What made you call it good and announce it to the family?”

“When Lani read it and didn’t puke.”

“You gave it to Lani ? When I could’ve?—”

“I decided my first reader should be someone who didn’t love me, someone who would tell me the unvarnished truth.”

“I would’ve done that! Mom would’ve?—”

“Would you? Would she? C’mon, bro. You would have sugarcoated it.”

“Would not.”

“Would so. Admit it. You worship the ground I walk on.”

“Not anymore. Damned turncoat.” But his muttered words had lost their bite.

“By the way, I did just give it to Mom about fifteen minutes ago. And I told her I was submitting to a small publishing house, specifically Lani’s, because I want to do this on my own, not through her, her agent or her publisher. I need to know?—”

“All right, all right.” He heaved a sigh. “I’m starting to see the method to your madness. Mom and I might be slightly prejudiced.”

“You think?”

“And there is a difference between Mom helping Oksana move up the ladder and anointing you as the prodigal son.”

“Big difference. Oksana’s not writing Westerns. I am. I could easily piggyback on Mom’s career. That wouldn’t work for me. And… and now Angie just popped up on my screen. Shoulda known she’d be next. I’ll call her back.”

“Who were you talking to when I called?”

“Clint, to find out if the Buffalo’s open today.”

“Is it?”

“Yep. The roads are gonna be clear and I need to get going.”

“Then the four of us will see you in town.”

“The four of you?”

“Kieran and Sara are over here helping Oksana and me decorate our tree.”

“Right. I knew that.”

“We were gonna hang out here, but I see a trip to the Buffalo in our future. I’m not through chewing your ass, and the other three have a ton of questions.”

“I can’t stand around gabbing. We’ll be busy.”

“We’ll chose our moments carefully. By the way, when do I get my copy?”

“As soon as I have a chance to print more.”

“You’ll need a bunch and chances are you’ll run out of time, ink and paper.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence, bro.”

“Ah, but I have a solution. Bring a copy with you, give it to me when we get there, and we’ll hop over to the shop and make copies while you’re bartending. My printer’s better and faster.”

Rance laughed. “You’re getting ballsy in your old age.”

“Damn straight, and it’s your fault. Yours and Oksana’s.”

“That makes me proud. I’ll take a copy to work. See you soon.” He disconnected and checked the time. Calling Angie back would likely make him late for work. And after promising Lucky a copy of the book, he’d have to ask Granny for hers, after all.

Lucky had quickly figured out everyone would want copies. But printing out that many would be asking a lot. He’d suggest to Lucky that one copy per couple was enough. His phone lit up again. Beau.

Somehow he’d failed to consider that his group text would create a tsunami of phone calls. He let Beau’s go to voice mail and sent another group text apologizing for getting everyone riled up when he had to leave for work and couldn’t respond.

Lani came to the door of the library. “We should go or you’ll be?—”

“I know. Let’s do it.” He turned off his phone and tucked it in his pocket, “Mom, Andy, we’re leaving!” He started toward the entry.

“See you later,” his mother called back. “Drive safely.”

“I will!”

Lani kept pace with him. “You look stressed.”

“I didn’t plan this very well. I didn’t anticipate that the text would create so much excitement.”

“Didn’t you?” She shoved her feet into her boots.

“I know, I know. I should have, but I didn’t, and now everybody wants to talk to me. Or in Lucky’s case, give me hell for not telling him sooner.” He helped her on with her coat and shrugged into his own.

“Lucky’s upset?”

“He was. I think he’s okay now. But stirring up my sibs might give us a logistical problem.” He tugged on the brim of his hat, opened the door and ushered her out. The snow on the porch was already starting to melt.

“They’ll want to get together?”

“They might, especially after Mom sends her text about Irving Quick.” He took her hand as they started down the steps but released it at the bottom. “Just follow the path I made when I fetched the manuscripts. While I was at it I created one around to the passenger side.”

“Good thinking.”

“On that subject, at least. On others I’m not doing so hot.” He followed her to the truck while mulling over the complications he’d added to what used to be a sweet little scheme.

While she walked around the tailgate, he climbed behind the wheel, started the engine and cranked up the heat. She wasted no time hopping in and buckling up. He shifted into reverse and Thunder did the rest, digging through the snow until they were headed back out the way they’d come.

Lani glanced at him. “Sounds like our plans might have to change.”

“They might, except no matter what, I’ve obligated you to make a pound cake.”

“Fine with me. When did you figure out that we couldn’t use the other excuse?”

“Late in the game, I’m ashamed to say. Not until I handed over the manuscripts and mom said she’d spend the day reading.”

“I realized it when she wanted me to give her the scoop on your book while you guys were outside. It would have been the perfect time to mention I had suggestions. And by doing that I’d taint her reading experience, even if I didn’t tell her what they were.”

“You were way ahead of me on that score. Thanks for jumping on board with the pound cake idea.”

“I thought it was ingenious, assuming Granny wants to.”

“I’m pretty sure she will. She keeps trying to get me to make one, but much as I love her, I don’t wanna. I hope you’re at least mildly interested.”

“I’m totally interested. I wasn’t kidding about giving it to my folks. They can buy whatever they want which makes finding the right gift a challenge.”

“Glad to hear it’s not a lame idea.” He took a steadying breath. “And I’ll figure out a way we can spend some time together tonight, no matter what.”

“Hey, this is your big moment. Your family wants to be with you and celebrate this achievement. Seems to me that should be the priority.”

“Logically, you’re right.” He glanced at her. “But I’m on fire, Lani-lou. Burning like I’ve never burned before. Logic doesn’t stand a chance.”