Shannon Taylor Vannatter - A Texas Holiday Reunion

“Just tell me.”

“As you know, I saw my doctor Friday.” Apology was thick in Juan’s voice. “He wants to do a knee replacement.”

Her jaw dropped. Please not until after Christmas. Not now. She couldn’t deal with not having a foreman. Not until Dad was here to fix it.

Stop being selfish. Focus on Juan. “Rest assured, I’ll take care of anything your insurance doesn’t cover.”

“I appreciate that, Miss Resa. It’s terrible timing. I wanted to tell you, but I knew if your folks knew, they’d cancel their trip.”

And they would have. It was just like Juan to know that. To worry about it.

“You just do what you need to do. When is the surgery scheduled?” Her ranch hung on his response.

“My doctor had a cancellation, so he can get me in Thursday. Or I wait for three months.”

Breath clogged in her chest. As in four days away. “I know how much pain you’ve been in. I don’t want you to put this off.”

“I need to go on leave as of now. Doc wants me to take six weeks afterward. I’m so sorry, Miss Resa.”

For a total of seven weeks, starting now. And what if the surgery wasn’t a success? What then?

But she tried not to let her distress show. “We’ll figure it out.”

“I took the liberty of doing that for you.” Juan turned to Colson. “I called Mr. Mac when I got the news.”

And that had what to do with Colson?

“Colson has agreed to fill Juan’s spot until your folks return. And if needed, until Juan can come back.” Mac’s tone was confident. As if all her worries were taken care of.

Colson. In Bandera. At her ranch. For three weeks. Maybe more. Her heart took a nosedive.

This could not be happening. She couldn’t let it.

Chapter Two

Resa’s mouth opened, clamped shut, opened again. “But what about your job?”

Colson was certain her anxiety came from being stuck with him for the foreseeable future.

“I’m on leave.” He tried for a reassuring tone. “King’s Ranch can handle my absence.” But could she handle his presence?

Curiosity sparkled in her eyes, her question clear—why was he on leave? “There’s no need for you to come here.” The muscles in her throat worked overtime. “Don’t we have a hand who can take care of things, Juan?”

“They’re not ready, and we need to move fast while prices are down and invest in more cattle. I planned to make the trip to Fredericksburg next week. We need someone who knows good stock when he sees it.”

“The timing is perfect, with Colson’s experience as a foreman at the largest ranch in Texas for the last two years. And he’s available.” His dad focused on Resa, probably pondering her panic.

“Are you on medical leave?” Her gaze bounced back to Colson’s. “Because if that’s the case, we can’t put you to work here.”

“No. Nothing like that.” The horse Felicity had died riding flashed through his mind. The one he’d supposedly broken. After the incident, memories of her death had caused him to be constantly distracted and that inattention had almost cost a ranch hand his life when Colson had underestimated a longhorn. “My boss thought I needed some personal time.” To get his head and heart together.

“Oh.” Compassion was mirrored in the blue depths of her eyes. Clearly, she thought he was still grieving Felicity. More like wallowing in guilt.

“But where will you stay?”

“Since Mac and his wife, Annette, will be house-sitting while your folks are gone—” Juan stretched his leg, as if he couldn’t get comfortable “—Colson could stay with them.”

Resa’s eyes went wide, empathy obviously forgotten.

“I can get a room here at the dude ranch if you prefer.”

“Nonsense.” Juan flexed his knee. “There’s plenty of room at the big house.”

“Good thinking.” Dad tapped his chin. “Colson can help keep an eye on the place while I’m at the store.”

“But I don’t need anyone to keep an eye on things,” Resa fisted her hands.

“I won’t bother you or disturb your space.” It was the least he could do. Watch out for her.

“All right. I guess.” Uncertainty hung in her words. “But once my parents return, Dad can handle the ranch while I see to the store. Can you stay and continue in the workshop until Juan’s return, Mac?”

“Whatever you need me to do.”

“Good.” She focused on Colson. “You’re only here for the next three weeks then.”

“Give or take a few days.” The muscle in his jaw flexed. Obviously she didn’t want him here any longer than he had to be.

“I need to go help take down decorations.” She stood.

His dad rose to his feet, as did Juan and Colson.

“You go home and rest that knee.” Resa pointed at Juan. “Don’t worry about a thing.”

“Yes, Miss Resa.” He bobbed his head and hobbled out of the room.

“I’m so glad you’re here, Mac.” Resa hugged the older man. She was so at ease with everyone—except Colson.

“If anything goes awry while your folks are gone, we’ll figure it out together,” his dad said.

“I’ll take you up on that.”

He gave Colson a warm hug next, with lots of back clapping. “You be a blessing here, son.”

“I will.” At least he’d try. If Resa would let him. “I’ll walk out with you.”

“I remember where I parked. Help Resa with cleanup.” Dad exited.

Resa shot from the room as if bloodhounds tailed her.

Colson followed her to the great room. All the chairs, pillars and candles were gone. Boxes full of red roses and ribbons lined the area.

There was a steady buzz of a vacuum, which Resa manhandled from another woman, taking over the chore.

“Can you help me move the furniture back in?” A familiar-looking man gestured toward a side room.

“Sure.”

“Great. Follow me.” He stopped after a few paces, turned and offered his hand. “Sorry. Chase Donovan.”

“As in Chasing Eden Dude Ranch. I remember you and your sister from high school. You were older than me and your sister was younger. Is she still around these parts, too?”

His mouth tipped down. “Eden died a year and a half ago.”

“Sorry to hear that.”

“You’re Colson Kincaid, right? Your dad’s a business partner of the McCalls?”

“Right. I’m filling in as ranch foreman while Juan has knee surgery.”

“Nice. Need a place to stay?”

“I’m staying at the McCalls’.”

The man’s eyebrow lifted.

“Not with Resa. At her folks’ house. My dad and stepmom are house-sitting while they’re gone.”

He noticed Chase visibly relax at that explanation. “You’ll have to forgive me. Resa and Eden were friends, so I’m a bit protective of her. Good to know she won’t be rambling around alone over there. Your dad’s a stand-up guy.”

“Is Emmett not staying?” Colson held his breath.

“Headed back to Dallas as we speak.”

He let out a lungful of air. If Emmett had stayed, there would’ve been no way Colson could have.

“I’m not sure why her mom thought he’d stay. But I guess moms only see the good in their children.”

Not his mom. She hadn’t seen anything in him worth staying for.

Colson surveyed the feminine room stuffed with wall-to-wall furnishings. “What needs to be moved?”

“Everything frilly stays. My grandmother decorated this room. And my wife insists it stay this way. Grandpa did the rest. Everything rustic goes back into the great room.”

“So which lady is your wife?”

“The strawberry blonde in the green dress is Landry.”

“Did she go to our school?”

“No, but she, Eden and Resa were college friends. Not from around here. Didn’t you get married?”