Winning Her Love (The Rocky Mountain Christmas Train)

11. Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

S eth wasn’t entirely certain how it happened, but to his surprise, they were standing just outside the area roped off for the bonfire.

“Can we go warm up?” Chantal asked.

As promised, she’d been the picture of obedience tonight. She’d done well at the lighting and exceptionally on stage. She was adorable and had stolen a piece of his heart. Joy, on the other hand, perplexed him. She was an upbeat woman who obviously cared about her child. She was generous and giving. He’d seen that a few times over the past two days. But she ran hot and cold. One minute she seemed attracted to him, the next she was backing away like he was on fire.

“Please, Mama. I’m getting cold.” She didn’t whine, she just asked nicely and waited.

Joy looked at her daughter and then at Seth. He shrugged. She was going to decline; it was written all over her face. She leaned close to Seth and raised on her toes. “Will you keep her safe?” she whispered; her breath warm on his cheek. He knew he should answer the question, but for a moment, he was caught up in the warmth of her breath and the desire to kiss her.

“Um. Yes. I’ll do my best to keep her out of harm’s way.” He turned slightly and looked down at Joy. “From my perspective as a firefighter, I’ll tell you what I see. firefighterOf course, there’s a danger here. There always is when fire is present. But look around, all those people in vests are here to supervise. I’ve seen at least five local firefighters as well. The crowd is calm. This is about as safe as a bonfire gets. It’ll be okay.”

She looked at him, her eyes doubtful. He wondered what she saw as she studied his face. After a moment, she nodded. “Thank you.” Her voice was filled with gratitude but still held a quiver of nerves. She turned away. “Come on, Chantal. You listen to me, and to Mr. Mathison, okay?”

“Yes.” She bounced in place without lifting her crutches from the ground. She had the winter traction spikes firmly dug into the snow.

Chantal’s sweet excitement and the trust on Joy’s face gave him a funny feeling in his chest. He rubbed at the unfamiliar sensation as they walked to the opening in the ropes surrounding the fire. A uniformed firefighter let them in after consulting a clipboard.

“Limited entry,” he explained. “We only allow a set number of people in at once. We ask that you limit your visit to fifteen minutes and to please leave if you see a line forming; that allows us to make room for everyone.”

“Thanks,” Seth said. “We’ll do that.”

“Okay, be careful,” he warned.

“We will.”

Joy led the way. Chantal followed her and Seth brought up the rear. They were able to get right to the chain fence surrounding the fire, and that was at least four feet from the fire to where they were standing. It was a neatly controlled fire and, at this distance, the perfect warmth. He wasn’t particularly cold, but the blaze’s heat was welcome.

Chantal laughed. “This is ah-may-zing.”

Seth had to agree. Joy smiled, but looked unsettled. He could tell every minute they spent here was agony for her. As much as he wanted to fully enjoy the fire, he barely paid attention to it. He kept his eyes open for potential dangers. Running kids, someone slipping, or an over-zealous log throwing could all spell trouble. He wanted to be ready. He had to protect the people he cared for.

Cared for? He blinked several times, but the thought was stuck. He did care for them. How had he come to love the courageous Chantal in only two days? She was a special kid and already dear to him. And Joy? Joy had somehow wormed her way into his heart as well. Love popped into his head. Did he love Joy? Naw, too soon for that, but he knew he was falling.

He’d been in love once before, but she’d left him when he spiraled out of control after his niece’s death. Six long months, and a lot of therapy later, he’d regained most of his equilibrium and she’d moved on. Surprisingly, he hadn’t missed her too badly. Maybe he’d been in love with the idea of being in love and having a family of his own. He couldn’t help but think that perhaps it was time to start thinking about the future again. Suddenly, he was eager to get home and call his mother and tell her he’d met someone.

Granted, there were a million pitfalls ahead. Not the least of which was the fact that Joy and Chantal lived in California, and he lived in Canada. He pushed the sudden enthusiasm down. He had the rest of the train journey to get to know them better, to figure out if the connection he felt was shared.

He tuned out his thoughts and after a long, slow glance at his companions, focused his attention back on the fire.

Someone to his left threw something at the fire. It hit with an audible thump and burst into an explosion of brightly colored sparks. People screamed and Chantal jerked backward. Seth lunged for her arm to hold her upright. He missed and in what felt like slow motion, she tipped backward and went down. Hard.

Joy screeched and dropped to her knees. “Chantal? Are you okay?” She glared at Seth. “Help me get her up. We’re leaving.”

“Mama, I’m fine. I was watching the carolers over there. The noise startled me. I’m fine.”

“I don’t care. Seth, help me,” Joy demanded.

He bent and lifted Chantal to her feet, though he was certain she could have done it herself, given the time to do so. “There you go,” he said, making sure she had a proper grip on her crutches.

“We’re leaving,” Joy barked.

Chantal looked crestfallen but didn’t argue. Seth was annoyed, but he understood Joy’s feelings. “Do you want me to lead or follow?” he asked.

“I’ll go first. You make sure she doesn’t fall again,” Joy growled.

Seth nodded. Chantal gave him a ‘my mom is nuts’ look but followed her mother out. The silence between them on the way out of the park and in the taxi to the train was arctic cold. Seth’s heart shriveled.

“Can we talk?” Seth asked as they crossed the platform to the train.

“No. It’s past Chantal’s bedtime and I won’t leave her alone.”

Okay, he could respect that. “What if I found a babysitter?”

“I should just trust some random babysitter?” She gave him a withering stare.

A lesser man would have been defeated. “How about I find someone, and if you approve of them, we spend a few minutes together?” He wasn’t above pleading. For all that their relationship ran the gamut from flames to ashes, he wanted to talk to her, see why she was so afraid of giving Chantal an inch, to learn who she was when she wasn’t in Mama Bear Mode.

“Maybe,” Joy snapped. “If I feel I can trust them.”

“Where can I find you when I locate someone?”

She gave him their room number and turned to go.

“Goodnight, Joy. Sleep well, Chantal. Maybe we can see each other tomorrow.”

Joy glared at him over her shoulder. One thing was for certain: the woman had spunk. He waved and winked when Chantal looked back at him. She grinned in return.

Joy pushed her hair back and furiously brushed it into a ponytail. She was exhausted. Chantal was in bed reading but showed no signs of going to sleep. Part of her hoped Seth found a suitable sitter. She couldn’t even remember the last time she’d gone out without Chantal. Even if it was with Seth, she could sure use a night out.

How could such a good-looking and helpful man be so infuriating? He made her crazy in more ways than one. She wanted to see more of him, and at the same time hoped never to see his face again. Maybe he’d get off the train now. She snorted at the ridiculous thought. She wasn’t about to give up a free train trip and three weeks of free side excursions. Why would he?

“Mama, there’s someone at the door.”

Really? She hadn’t heard a knock. She strode to the door and peered through the peephole. Seth. She might have known. She yanked the door open.

“Hi. You know Maddie, right?” Seth said instead of greeting her. “I ran into her in the lounge car. Chris is sleeping, and she has the night off.”

“I’d love to watch Chantal for you,” Maddie smiled warmly.

Joy debated with herself. A nurse would be the perfect babysitter. She twisted her lips together and clenched her fists. They were on a train and security guards patrolled the halls at night to make sure there were no uninvited passengers and to watch for potential problems. It would probably be safe.

“I brought my book and some coloring pages for us to do.” She pulled a sheaf of papers from her purse. A box of pencil crayons and a few other things clattered to the ground. Joy knelt and picked up a lip balm, a hairbrush, a bottle of spirit gum, and a tin of black shoe polish from the floor and passed them to Maddie, who was picking up other things. Maddie blushed. “Sorry. I carry a lot of stuff. Both mine and Chris’s.” She shrugged. “I probably should have dumped some of it out, but I wasn’t expecting to babysit. Well, what do you think? Can I babysit? I’ve been missing my sister’s kids since I started working for Chris.”

“I guess so,” Joy decided uncertainly. “Let me grab a sweater.” She gave Chantal her cell phone. “Seth’s number is in there. Call if you need anything. I won’t be long.” She kissed her daughter on the cheek and, with a confused heart, followed Seth out of the room.

“Where would you like to go?” he asked.

“The bar,” she said emphatically.

“There’s a jazz trio in the bar. Is that okay? Or would you prefer the lounge? It’s quiet in there tonight, or it was when I left.” He’d prefer someplace quiet, but he’d go along with what she chose.

“The lounge, I think. It’s closer and after tonight’s excitement, I could use some peace and quiet.” She ran a mental calculation to see if she dared treat herself to a glass of wine.

“The lounge it is, and drinks are on me.” He gestured for her to lead the way.

“I can buy my drink,” she said over her shoulder. What was with macho men ?

“If it’s all the same to you, I’d like to buy. As a thank you for a wonderful evening. I’ve really enjoyed spending time with you and Chantal.”

Did he mean that? She enjoyed his company, too. He was kind and solicitous; he didn’t bark back when she was upset with him. Chantal adored him. She hadn’t drawn a picture for anyone in ages. “Okay. One drink, then I’m back to my room,” she warned. She didn’t look over her shoulder, but she expected he was grinning.

“Hey, Twyla,” Seth greeted the buxom server who was behind the bar tonight. “How’s things?”

“Living the dream, Seth. Living the dream.”

What did that even mean? Joy wondered.

“How’s your husband?” Seth asked.

“He’s great. They’ve moved to a dig in Ethiopia. Some new major discovery.” She laughed. “I don’t know. He’s all about the past. I’m all about the people. Still, I wouldn’t trade him for anyone else. What’ll you have?”

“Irish coffee for me, please,” Seth said. He looked at Joy.

“Can I get that in decaf, please?” she asked. No way could she handle caffeine this late at night. She’d never get any sleep and while they didn’t have any set plans tomorrow, she didn’t want to be exhausted.

“Sure thing. I’ll have to brew a pot. Why don’t you find a seat and I’ll bring it out to you?” She slid a basket of potato chips and a bowl of dip their way. “Here’s a snack. On the house.”

“Thanks,” Seth said. “Put those drinks on my tab.” Outside spending and alcohol were the only items not included in their journey.

Joy looked around the car. It was her first time in this car, though she’d been in several others. Brass trim gleamed in the dim lights. Electric candles glowed on the cloth-covered tables. The seats were a blend of leather chairs and benches. Everything was set up in cozy settings to accommodate groups of two to six. A small tree glowed with red and white lights in the corner. There was a towering display of wrapped gifts in the opposite corner. Some shades were open, and the train’s bright Christmas lights shone in the snow. It was probably the most festive place she’d visited in years. Something about it took the edge off her anger and she found herself relaxing. Were the gifts real? If so, who were they for?

“You have a tab? I guess you come here a lot,” she said, trying to make conversation and snoop without being too rude.

Seth laughed. “Let’s see, once the night we boarded, last night, and earlier tonight. I’m a people person. I like watching and talking to them. I’ve met lifetime friends in the weirdest places.”

“Give me an example.” She leaned forward and folded her hands on the table.

“I met my neighbor while on vacation in Amsterdam. He’s a veterinarian. He came to Canada from Florida to visit the next summer and ended up staying and opening a clinic.”

“That’s pretty cool. I’m an office manager for a veterinarian. I love it. Animals are easy to talk to.” Seth’s chuckle warmed her to her toes. “I know you’re a firefighter. Is that why you chose the burn unit for your charity?”

His face crinkled up, and he closed his eyes like he was in agony. It was quite apparent that she had hit a nerve. He twisted his napkin between his fingers until it was shredded.

“I don’t talk about it much.” His voice was deep with emotion. “My niece was killed five years ago in a fire set by an arsonist.” He swallowed hard. His Adam’s apple bobbed three times.

“Oh, my gosh! I am so sorry.” She clasped his hand. “You must have been devastated.”

“I was. We all were. We still are. It’s tough to keep going. We manage.”

He sniffed discreetly, and she thought her heart would break for him. She couldn’t imagine how he could continue his job after that sort of trauma. Her admiration of him ratcheted up a notch.

“I hope we can split the money if we win.” A thought hit her. “How do we win?” she posed the question. “I mean, we aren’t the only ones to complete our task. How are they going to decide? Are there going to be more tasks?”

“I don’t know. Those are some things that bother me. The rules are clear, as far as they go, but they don’t mention ties or how the final winner is chosen. Or if we can share the prize.”

Twyla set their drinks on the table and pulled a sheet from her pocket. “Here’s tonight’s newsletter.” She slid the paper between them.

Joy picked it up. “Oh gosh,” she said after she scanned it. “Team Rancy is out. They were caught cheating and were removed from the train. I feel terrible for them.”

“Me too. But it’s good news for us,” his tone was wry.

She jerked her head up to look at him. He shrugged.

“Hey, it’s true. I don’t really feel bad for them. They knew the rules. I can’t imagine why they would cheat. If it were me, I think a failure would be better than the risk of being kicked off the train.” He sipped his coffee.

“I agree. If we had failed, we could still stay on the train and enjoy a free trip. I’d much prefer that than to try to win the wrong way.”

Seth agreed. They discussed the contest and other passengers for a bit.

She was starting on her second drink when Seth cleared his throat. “I asked you here for a reason.”

“I assumed that.” She tried not to think back on how many times he’d pushed her limits. She was enjoying the evening and didn’t want to ruin it with a fight.

“I wanted to apologize, again, for interfering in how you parent Chantal. I’ve encouraged her to do things you didn’t approve of. I let her take part in the play. She lied. It wasn’t her idea, it was mine. I can’t let her take the blame. Please don’t punish her for my misdeeds. She lied to protect me.”

Joy huffed. Another tough parenting call. Did she reprimand her daughter for lying or praise her for standing up for another person? Her shoulders sagged. Probably both, but that was a problem for another day.

“My sister has different rules than you. I don’t spend much time with my nieces and nephew. They don’t live close.” He grimaced. “And I find it hard to be around them. Gwyn’s passing stole my confidence and comfort around children. And kids remind me of how much I and my family lost.”

“Maybe initially,” Joy said. How could he not know how good he was with kids? He was amazing with Chantal, and he’d done a fabulous job with the kids at the concert . “You managed perfectly with the choir and got the older kids to take part willingly. I think you have more skills than you know.” He was so kind and gentle with the children. He’d be a good father…if he decided to become one. She might be too old to carry another child, but that didn’t mean he was too old to start a family, even if he seemed to be her age.

Her mind threw out an image of Seth, Chantal, and herself cuddled around a Christmas tree, opening gifts and laughing like a family. She’d be proud to marry a man like Seth. It was so weird that she was even having such a thought after only knowing him for a few days. Maybe they could spend more time together as the trip progressed. It would be less stressful now that their task was complete.

He really was a great guy, with genuine concern for family and strangers. He had a good job, was community-minded, he was kind and understanding. Okay, she admitted it. He was probably husband material. That he liked Chantal, and she liked him, was a bonus. She was about to suggest spending the day together at their next stop when he spoke.

“Chantal did great today.” He sounded proud.

“Yes, she did. She faced a lot of new things, but I wish she hadn’t gone on stage. And that fall scared the life out of me.” She trembled, thinking of her absolute terror and panic when Chantal slipped by the bonfire.

“She wasn’t hurt, and she wasn’t close enough to be in danger,” Seth placated.

“That’s not the point,” she snapped, slamming her mug down on the table. Coffee and whipped topping splashed over the rim and ran down her hand. Didn’t he care about the risks she’d taken?

“Okay. What is the point? Help me understand.” His calm tone sent her anger skyrocketing.

“The point is that she’s my daughter, not yours. You don’t get to put her in danger.” She clenched her teeth until her jaw ached. It was a wonder she didn’t crack her teeth.

“First, she was in no danger on stage. She walked and talked. Things she does every day. Second, we did what you wanted at the mall. I kept her safe by carrying her down the escalator. You agreed to the winter fair and the bonfire. Those are on you, not me. I was there, yes. But you agreed. I helped her when she needed help and, aside from slipping, she wasn’t in any danger at any point. Maybe you’re being over-protective.”

“Over-protective?” she screeched. She ignored the curious stares her elevated voice brought their way. “She’s my child. The only one I’ll ever have. I can’t afford insurance. Do you know what it would cost me if she were seriously hurt?” She didn’t wait for a reply. “She’s fragile and needs protection from a harsh world.” How could he not understand this? He’d lost someone dear to him, so he, of all people, should get where she was coming from.

“She’s not fragile,” Seth disagreed calmly. “She’s fully capable of doing almost anything. Don’t you think she’s ready to try new things? Sure, she’ll need to be extra cautious under certain circumstances, but she’s a normal child except for her crutches.”

“You know nothing about it.” She trembled in anger. “Mind your own business.” She jerked up from the table and glared down at him. Her height over him gave her the strength for one last shot. “I was going to ask you on a date tomorrow to get to know you better, but that train’s left the track. I know all I need to know. Don’t talk to me or my daughter again.” Head held high; she strode from the car.

Out of sight of Seth and the curious bystanders, she stumbled down the hall and locked herself in a public bathroom. How could she have been so wrong about him?

“Damn you, Seth Mathison.”

She sobbed until she had no tears, rinsed her face, and stared into the mirror.

If he was so awful, why did she feel like she’d just lost half her heart?