Laura Altom - A Daddy for Christmas

“This little fella’s looking better,” Gage said, turning his attention to the colt. “Doc called my cell while you were refereeing the girls. Gave me a list of warning signs to watch for, but he looks good.”

“How long have you known Doc?”

“Long as I can remember,” he said, coming out of the stall for a handful of oats he fed the mare. “When my parents lived here, I guess they were friends with Doc and his wife. Over the years, they kept in touch.”

“That’s nice,” Jess said, stroking Honey. “My parents have a few couples they’ve known forever. Every so often, they get together. Meet up for fun weekends in Dallas or Kansas City.” He grabbed a pitchfork, and scooped manure into a wheelbarrow. “You look like you’ve done that before. Been around horses much?”

“All my life.” After spreading fresh straw on the floor, he moved on to the next stall. “Well, all of my life, that is, save for recently.”

“Right. I remember you saying you live in Dallas. But does your family still have a ranch?” She grabbed a second pitchfork so she could help.

“Yep.”

“In Texas?” Jess probed.

“Uh-huh.”

“So that’s where you learned to work with horses?”

“Yep.”

They both moved on to other stalls.

“How come you’re not with them for Christmas? Your family?” Despite the barn’s chill, beneath her heavy coat and sweater she was already working up a sweat.

“Long story.”

“Thanks to the weather, looks like we’ll be together a while.”

“Ha-ha.” He jabbed his pitchfork in the wheelbarrow’s rapidly growing manure pile.

When Gage made no further conversational attempts, Jess prompted, “Well? Christmas? Your family?”

“Truth is, if it’s all right by you, I’d rather not talk about it.”

“Fair enough.” She jabbed her fork alongside his. Lord knew, she had plenty of her own issues she’d rather not discuss. Still…Who voluntarily left their loved ones this time of year? “But why aren’t you still working for them?”

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