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

Chapter 34

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

A nimated conversation and laughter poured from the library as Rance helped Lani off with her coat and hung it on the rack by the door. She straightened the hem of her Christmas green sweater. It had an applique of Santa and his sleigh in flight.

“Nice sweater.”

“I wore it to show you that I support the concept even if I don’t take it literally.”

“It’s only coming up on two o’clock. Plenty of time to change your mind.” He gave her a cute little grin.

What an irresistible guy. “If you say so.”

“Wait and see.” He gestured toward the library. “After you.”

When she walked through the door, the energy surrounding her felt familiar — creative people enjoying each other’s company. No posturing or pretense, just good fellowship and mutual respect.

The Wenches welcomed her arrival with hugs and favorable remarks about her sweater, which prompted her to check out theirs, which had to match their signature color. They’d all accomplished it, too, even Teresa, whose orange sweater featured Rudolph on the front.

“Good choice,” Lani said. “I’ll bet it was hard to find.”

“ So hard to find. I used to have an orange one with Santa on it, but all that red clashed something terrible. Rudolph’s nose is the only thing that clashes. Big improvement.”

“And Rudoph’s the hero of the story, after all.”

“That’s what I say. Way more important than that chubby guy who gets all the publicity.”

“I ignored all the Santa-themed outfits and went with Christmas angels.” Nancy showed off her yellow long-sleeved shirt that sported a heavenly choir above the words Joy to the World.

Desiree’s elegant sweater was covered with Christmas ornaments that blended with the purple background. Lani made a note to ask her later where she’d found it.

Colleen and Jess had the easiest task since their colors fit the season. Colleen’s red sweater featured Christmas trees and Jess’s green shirt portrayed Santa standing beside a brick chimney. Annette’s Santa design was like Lani’s, except it was set against an indigo twilight sky.

“Alrighty, everybody!” Desiree clapped her hands. “Fashion show’s over. Let’s take our seats. Rance and Lani, you’re up front.” She gestured toward two dining chairs facing the semi-circle of wingbacks.

“On the hot seat,” Cindy said with a laugh. “Just kidding. We’ll be gentle, Rance.”

“Not me.” Jess gave Rance a smile. “Beau said I should hold your feet to the fire.”

“I expect no less.” He glanced around the room. “From all of you. No pulling your punches.”

“We won’t.” Annette leaned forward in her chair. “But I was designated to start off this critique by saying that we all agree you’ve blown us away with this badass book. It’s amazing.”

He flushed. Adorable. “Wow, thanks. I don’t know what to say.”

“That’s a first,” Teresa called out, which made him blush even more.

“Before we give this boy a swelled head, let’s address the story’s biggest missed opportunity.” Nancy gazed at him. “Why set it in November, when you can move the action to December and grab all those tasty Christmas sales?”

Lani blinked. She’d expected comments about pacing and suggested dialogue changes. But Nancy had zeroed in on a marketing issue. The way everyone nodded in agreement confirmed they’d discussed this in advance.

After Nancy broached the subject, the ideas began to flow. A Christmas tree in the bar. A ratty one because Dooley wouldn’t bother getting a nice one. Sophia would get rid of it and replace it with something way better. Sophia would try to get him to wear a Santa hat. He’d refuse, then finally do it on Christmas Eve. He was down on Christmas. Why? More ideas about that.

Finally she had to interrupt. “Is anybody writing this down? It’s great stuff.”

“I am. I’ll email both of you with this when we’re done.

Lani glanced at Annette. Sure enough, she was typing away on a tablet in her lap.

“But you don’t want to overwhelm the core story with holiday references,” Colleen said. “That’s solid.”

“Right, right.” Desiree turned in Colleen’s direction. “Let’s move on to the other major thing.”

“Yeah.” Annette stopped typing. “Rance, we adore Sophia so much. She’s savvy and she’s ballsy. And she would have investigated the hell out of Dooley before making a move on him.”

Lani sucked in a breath. Holy moly. These ladies rocked.

“I think Lani needs to talk about that.” Rance shifted in his seat and gazed at her. “I know we were gonna wait but they need to know we’ve already worked in the concept.”

“By all means,” Desiree said. “If you’ve added something that addresses this, we’d all love to hear it.”

“Okay, sure.” She quickly outlined the changes they’d made without saying when and where they’d done that edit. But Desiree’s thoughtful expression said she’d likely figured it out.

“Oh, and you know what?” Cindy bounced on her chair in excitement, making her red and green ringlets quiver. “I just thought of this. What would bookend Sophia investigating him is if he investigates her later in the book and we find out something we didn’t know about her.”

“I like it, Cindy.” Rance looked over at Annette. “Did you get that?”

“Sure did.”

“I loved the book,” Teresa said. “I only have one request. Could Dooley have a horse? You have a stable in town. I just think he needs a horse.”

“You’d have to find places to work it in.” Lani spoke without thinking. “He could—wait, sorry. This isn’t my?—”

“Go ahead.” Desiree gave her a nod.

“Well, he doesn’t sleep well, so he sits in the bar thinking about a case, or about Sophia. It might be more interesting if he goes on solitary rides in the wee hours of the night.”

“And he sees things,” Annette said. “Sometimes significant things.”

“And the stable owner is used to him taking his horse out at weird times,” Teresa said. “Eventually Sophia finds out. Or doesn’t. She might not find out until the next book.”

“I could give him a horse.” Rance smiled. “I have a bunch to choose from.”

Lani hadn’t thought of putting a horse in the series but it was brilliant. The lone rider was a Western trope. This session was worth its weight in gold.

Ideas continued to fly around the room and finally Desiree called a halt. “You know what? Let’s not have Rance stuff all these good ideas in the first book. He’s writing a series. Let’s save some for later.”

“Like the dog,” Colleen said. “Dooley also needs a dog, but not yet.”

“Or maybe Sophia needs a dog.” Nancy tapped her finger against her chin. “One that doesn’t take to Dooley. Dooley has to win him, no her , over.”

“I’m putting that into a list for future books.” Annette typed quickly. “Desiree’s right. Maybe the horse should be for later, too.”

“No, I want to put the horse in. Unless Lani thinks that’s too much.”

He’d said it as if she had some authority, but she’d resigned from being his editor. Not a subject to bring up now, though. “I like the horse. I’d say leave that in. It’s a great trope.”

“And that’s a wrap.” Desiree stood. “We’re at the hour and we’ve done some great work. Thanks for coming over on short notice.”

“No kidding.” Rance got to his feet. “I can’t thank you all enough. I love the suggestions.”

“Thank you all for letting me sit in on a meeting.” Lani glanced around as everyone left their chairs. “It’s been a privilege. And productive. And fun.”

“We loved having you.” Annette held up her tablet. “Give me your email so I can send you the notes.”

Except she didn’t need them. “That’s okay. You can send a copy to Rance and he can share them with me… later. He’s the one who’ll be making the changes.”

“Anyone who’d like to stay for a drink is welcome,” Desiree said, “but if you need to get home, I understand. It’s not like we won’t all get together again tonight.”

“For the sleigh ride!” Cindy threw her hands in the air. “I can’t wait!”

As everyone began filing out of the room, Desiree walked over. “So that’s a Wenches meeting. What do you think?”

“You have a fabulous group, Desiree. My brain’s still spinning. What a resource you’ve created.”

She smiled. “Co-created. It’s a partnership.”

“Even better.”

“It was terrific, Mom. I knew it would be, but it was even better than I expected.”

“Good. I know you’ve got your shift coming up, but would you like to come sit by the fire for a while?”

“Thanks, but Lani and I will hang in here for a bit. We have some things to discuss.”

“Understood. See you both later. Clint’s promised me you’ll get time to take a sleigh ride tonight.”

“Counting on it.” He watched Desiree walk out the door and close it. Then he faced her. “So.”

“So.”

“Want to sit?”

“Should I? Will I need the support for whatever you’re about to reveal?”

“I don’t know. It’s pretty simple. First question, was this Wenches meeting anything like a staff meeting at Square Glasses?”

Her chest tightened. “What if it was?”

“They’re the editorial board for a new publishing company called DezAndy Press. It’ll be publishing M.R. Morrison, Oksana Jones and… me. If you’d like to head up that outfit, you have the job.”

She stared at him, her ears buzzing. “What have you done?”

“It’s not just me. Everybody’s excited about it — Lucky, Trent, Mom and Andy?—”

She folded her arms and tried to stop from shaking. “This is Irving Quick’s doing.”

“I’ll admit he planted the seed, but?—”

“Rance, he’s not thinking of you . Or your mother! This is all about him eliminating his competition!”

“I don’t give a damn what his motives are. He showed me a way that we could be together and I took it.”

“You gave up your dream!”

“My dream is you! The Times list, books in the front of the store, none of that means anything to me if I can’t have you.”

“I can’t let you do this.”

“Lani, I’ve done it. I’m hoping you’ll see how exciting it would be to build this thing together, to make a life together, to have those babies you?—”

“You’ve let a self-involved idiot with half your talent twist your brain into thinking this is your best option. It’s not.” She clenched her fists, yearning for something or someone to punch.

But not Rance. He’d been talked into sacrificing everything. For her. She knew exactly who she wanted to punch, but this ranch house was a peaceful retreat. And it was Christmas Eve Day. “Please take me home.”

“You won’t even consider it?”

She shook her head. “I won’t be a part of this gigantic mistake.”

“Then I’ll take you home.”

The despair in his voice tore at her heart. “You don’t have to do this. Just because your mom and Oksana want to, you can go ahead with your original plan. It’s not like you’ve signed a contract.”

He took her by the shoulders. “Look at me.”

She lifted her gaze to his.

“Without you, that glittering path you see holds no allure. I don’t want some other editor in some other publishing house. If I can’t work with you, then I’ll work with my family.”

She swallowed. “That’s your choice.”

His grip tightened and his brown eyes blazed. “Come with me, Lani-lou. Come with me. ”

“No.”

The light faded from his eyes. “Okay, then.”