31. Nora
31
NORA
C hristmas day at the Taylors’ house was everything she’d dreamed of and more. The fireplace cast a soft glow and warmth throughout the living room where the whole family gathered after a big breakfast.
Jordan and Alicia were cuddled in a recliner, Vicci and Caroline shared the love seat, Nora’s dad sat on the couch with Clint and Nora, and Grant sat on the edge of the hearth with a Bible open on his lap.
Clint’s arm rested around Nora, and she leaned her head on his shoulder as his dad read the story of Christ’s birth.
When Grant closed the Bible, silence settled in the room around them as peace hung in the air.
“That never gets old,” Jordan said.
“Amen,” Vicci said .
Grant rested his Bible on the bookshelf by the fireplace. “Keeps the real meaning of Christmas alive. If we don’t, who will?”
Grant was right. If they didn’t remember to live every day trying to be more like Jesus, what was the point? In a world where commercialism had overtaken the holiday, it was more important than ever to keep their focus on the Lord.
“Let’s pray, and then we can open gifts,” Grant said.
Everyone bowed their heads, and Nora closed her eyes, breathing in the warmth and comfort of Christmas with family.
“Lord, we humble ourselves before You. We thank You for creating us, loving us, and guiding us. Thank You for sending Your only Son, who paid the ultimate price for our sins. May all that we do bring glory to You. In Jesus’s name we pray. Amen.”
Nora opened her eyes just as Caroline gave her mom a tight hug. This family was so full of love that it couldn’t be contained within these walls. They lived and breathed a life in service to Christ, and she hoped to do the same.
Clint pressed a kiss to Nora’s head. “You want to go first?”
Nora shook her head. “No, I don’t want to be first.”
“Come on!” Alicia squealed.
Rolling her eyes, Nora stood to find her gifts underneath the branches of the decorated tree. “Fine, but Vicci has to go next.”
“Done!” Clint shouted. He was eager to see his mom open her toilet coffee mug too.
Nora found four gifts with her name on them, and she resumed her place beside Clint to open them. The first was a leather belt from Grant and Vicci. The second was a gift certificate to The Cakery where Caroline worked. They had the best hot chocolate in town next to the kind Nora made at home. The third was a devotional book from Jordan and Alicia.
Finally, Nora picked up Clint’s gift. It was long and thin, similar to a jewelry box for a necklace, but Clint knew Nora wasn’t impressed with jewelry.
She ripped the paper back, revealing a white box with no writing on it. When she opened it, a few pieces of folded paper rested inside.
Nora unfolded the pages and stared at the document. “What is this?”
“It’s a deed,” Clint said.
“For… what?” she asked as she scanned the words on the page. Bit by bit, pieces of the description fit together in her mind.
“Is this… Clint, what is this?”
“It’s your ranch. Jordan and Alicia made a deal with the bank last month. They made a cash offer and sped up the closing. Right now, it’s theirs, but they’re letting me make payments to them. I already made a downpayment.”
The words on the paper blurred. She hadn’t seen a foreclosure or for sale sign at Blue Sky Ranch, and she’d been too afraid to ask if someone had purchased it.
“You’re buying it?” Nora asked low like a whisper.
“We’re buying it. I’d like for your name to be on it too,” Clint said.
Nora lowered the papers and turned to Clint. Her breaths were coming quicker now, and her chest tightened. “Really? Are you serious?”
Clint nodded. “I’m sure.”
“What about the therapy center? You’ve been saving to build new stables.”
Clint shrugged. “We might do that eventually. Jordan and Alicia want in on it when we do.”
Jordan sat forward. “Since I moved back home, I’m realizing my injury doesn’t really restrict me from most things.” He rubbed his knee where his prosthetic connected to the remaining part of his leg. “I want other people to know their potential. Clint is a good trainer, and Alicia has the business sense to make sure the finances and permits are in order. Between the four of us, we should be able to run a top-notch operation.”
Nora gasped for air as her gaze darted back and forth between Clint, Jordan, and Alicia. “Are you serious? ”
“Nothing is set in stone, but we’ve been brainstorming ways we could make the ranch into a business we love. We could make it a cattle ranch like it has always been. It’s up to you. I’m sorry I didn’t talk to you before asking Jordan and Alicia to buy it, but I wanted it to be a surprise.”
“It’s a surprise all right!” Nora shouted. The pressure in her chest begged for an outlet. “I can’t believe this! You bought the ranch!”
Clint straightened. “Is that a good surprise or a bad surprise?” he asked tentatively.
“It’s amazing!” The tears pooling in Nora’s eyes broke free, and the papers dropped from her lap as she wrapped her arms around Clint’s neck. “Oh my goodness, this is amazing. I can’t believe it!”
Alicia pumped her fist in the air. “Yes!”
Nora pulled back and gasped. “Wait. Are you still going to work here? What about Jordan? What about this ranch?”
Clint rested his hands on her shoulders. “Jordan and Alicia will still live and work here. I’ll still help out when I can.”
“Don’t worry about us,” Vicci said. “The ranch can afford to hire a hand if we need one.”
Nora turned to her dad who sat quietly. The small smile on his face said he knew about all of this before today. “Dad, what do you think?”
“I think it’s in good hands. Don’t worry about me. I’m happy to be doing what I love without having to manage a business.”
Nora wrapped her arms around her dad’s neck. “I love you.”
“I love you too, sweetie. Merry Christmas.”
She released her dad and turned back to Clint. “This is awesome. I can’t believe it!”
Clint grinned. “I have another surprise.”
Nora’s eyes narrowed at him. “I swear, if you bought me a toilet mug, I will drive it down to the landfill myself.”
Everyone in the room burst into laughter, but Clint stretched out his leg to reach into his pocket and pull out a simple gold ring.
Nora gasped and covered her cheeks. “Clint! What are you doing?”
“Proposing. Just act like I’m kneeling because this is awkward enough as it is,” he said, pointing to his braced leg.
Her heart hammered at a million beats a minute. “You’re proposing? Now?”
“Yes, please stop shouting. You’re making me nervous,” Clint said as he held out the ring.
“Oh my goodness, you’re proposing!”
Clint continued as if she wasn’t still freaking out. “Nora St. James, I love you so much. I can’t imagine my life without you. You’re the bright spot in every one of my days, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I know it’s soon, but it’s not really since I’ve known I wanted to be with you for a long time now. We can have a long engagement, and take as much time as you–”
“Yes!” Nora shouted. “Yes! Yes! Yes!”
“Really?” Clint scrambled to get to his feet. “Are you serious?”
“Yes!” Nora waited until he got his balance, then wrapped her arms around him. She wanted her entire life with him, and not even that would be enough.
“Sorry the ring is small. I’m kind of in the process of a big land acquisition.”
“Shut up, I don’t need a fancy ring,” Nora said as she nuzzled against his neck. “I love you.”
“I love you too. My life is only complete with you in it.”
“My turn!” Caroline said.
“Give them a minute!” Jordan added with a glare at his sister.
Caroline bounced on her toes. “No, I’m getting a sister, and I’m too excited to wait.”
Nora turned to Caroline and wrapped her up. She’d been so excited to accept Clint’s proposal, she hadn’t realized she’d just said yes to a new family–the one she’d always wanted.
After hugging everyone and getting piles of congratulations, Nora made her way back into Clint’s arms.
“I don’t want to wait,” she said confidently .
Clint’s brows pinched together. “You don’t?”
“No. I want to get married as soon as possible.”
Clint wrapped her up and lifted her off her feet. “Let’s get married!”
“Wait,” Nora said as she scrambled out of his hold. “We have to wait until your leg heals.”
“Whyyy?” Clint drawled.
“Because I want you to carry me over the threshold,” Nora said.
Clint’s eyes brightened. “Oh, I can handle that, but where are we going to live? You have options now.”
Nora glanced out the window where Blue Sky Ranch waited just over the hill. Snow fell softly onto the already white expanse. “My dad’s old place is bigger, but I think your place feels more like home. I guess we have time to decide.”
Clint brushed a strand of hair from her face and smiled down at her as if she’d made all of his dreams come true. “My home is wherever you are.”
Nora pressed up onto her toes and kissed him hard. She’d found a home, a family, and more love than she could have ever imagined, and it had all been right in front of her the whole time.