Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2
K nowing Jim, Ellie wasn’t sure what to expect when the bus arrived. Her heart galloped as they wound up the highway to Christmas Tree Hill. When they hit Main Street, she let out the breath she had been holding. Christmas lights wrapped around the poles of the old logging town and drooped across the road, lighting up the giant wreaths holding electric candles that they drove under. No other town did Christmas like Christmas Tree Hill.
“I’ve missed this,” she whispered, craning her neck to see all the Christmas cheer of downtown.
“You don’t look like a gal from this small mountain town, miss,” the bus driver commented, eyeing her from the oversized rear-view mirror. “You visiting family?”
“Not sure if I’m just visiting or coming home,” she answered distractedly, because they slowed to a stop in front of the General Store and there was Jim, waiting in front of his old pickup. His smile widened, and he lifted a hand while the other held a blooming Christmas cactus, her favorite plant.
“Well, it looks like a warm welcome at least,” the driver said as the air brakes whooshed them to a halt. He opened the door, watching as she lifted her suitcase and made her way to the front. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas,” she returned to the driver, but her eyes were only on the skinny cowboy waiting for her with his lopsided smile. Except, he wasn’t near as skinny as he had been when she left. In fact, his shoulders had broadened and he had filled out, turning out to be lithe and muscular. “Jim!”
She hadn’t known what to expect from him, but what she should have worried about was what to expect from herself. For surely she hadn’t expected she’d be so overcome with homesickness that she’d drop her suitcase and run to Jim sobbing.
He set the plant down and opened his arms just in time to catch her. “Welcome home, Ellie-bird.” He soothed her hair and clutched her to him almost as tightly as she clung to him.
The scent of horse and leather embraced her, soothing the anxiety that had built over the long trip home. Home. Right here, in Jim’s arms, she did feel at home, and the realization left her almost choking.
She pulled back, heat filling her cheeks as she realized that the bus driver had left the door open to watch the spectacle, and Billy Murphy sat on the porch, a silly grin on his face as he watched as well. “I-I’m sorry. Guess I didn’t realize just how homesick I was.” She wiped away the tears from her cheeks and looked at him closer. “You’ve changed.”
His grin turned even more lopsided. “So have you.” He lifted a long, straight lock of her hair, and touched under her eye delicately as she realized that her mascara had probably run during her ridiculous show of emotion.
“Do you like it?” she asked, picking up a lock of her hair and looking at it.
“Ellie, I don’t think it will ever matter how you do your hair or your makeup,” he stepped back and took her in her tight jeans that flared at the bottom, “or what you wear. You’ll always be the most beautiful girl in the world.”
Ellie’s jaw dropped and by the time she closed her mouth, her cheeks were flaming and her eyes welled again. “Jim…you’re…that’s…” She sighed. “Thank you.”
“Just stating facts, Ellie-bird,” he said as he reached down to pick up the forgotten Christmas cactus. “I’ve been taking care of it for a year now, and look, it’s blooming just for you.”
“It’s gorgeous, Jimmy. Thank you,” she said, lifting one arm of the plant delicately. “You’ve really been taking care of it for a year?”
He lifted one shoulder and handed her the pot before picking up her bag. “You hungry? I thought we could grab a bite before I take you home.”
“Home?”
“I mean to your parents’ house, of course.” He winked and opened the passenger door to his truck. “Have you missed Joe’s burgers?”
“Actually, I have,” she said, her stomach growling at the thought of the good old-fashioned food that Joe served up at the diner.
They drove the half mile down Main Street to the diner in relative silence, each taking brief glances at the other, but looking away as soon as the other turned to meet their eye. Jim had been her best friend, confidant, and sweetheart for a good portion of their lives, but now she felt as shy as a new girl to the county.
“Don’t worry,” he said as he parked in front of the diner. “I bet it’ll be like old times by the end of dinner.” He squeezed her hand, then rushed out of the truck to open her door before she could even get her seatbelt off.
He was right, of course. By the time she had finished the most delicious hamburger she had eaten since she left town, they were back to sharing stories easily, laughing, and touching in small, harmless ways.
When he drove her to her parents’ house and lifted her suitcase back out of the truck, he sighed. “I am so glad you’re home. I know it’s selfish of me, but I don’t want to share you with everyone.”
Ellie giggled, stealing a glance at the activity at the window of her childhood home. “I’m not sure they’d be okay with that.”
“I gather not,” Jim said, his hand barely brushing her cheek. “After morning feeding, I’ve got the day off. You’ll spend the day with me tomorrow?”
“That’s why I’m back, isn’t it?” She lifted an eyebrow, wondering just how much making these cookies for Mama really meant to him. From the beginning, she knew it was more of a ruse to get her home, but she went along with it, so what did that say about her?
“Oh, to figure out that cookie recipe…of course. Yes. I’ve only got a toaster oven in my cabin. Will that work?”
“Hmm…that will be more trial and error, but I bet we could figure out something.” She bit her lip, thinking about a way to use an oven. They couldn’t ask her mom…she was always so stressed about having people over or in the kitchen. They couldn’t use Mama’s oven, cause then it wouldn’t be a surprise.
Jim gasped, his eyes going wide. “I bet the Christiansens would let us use their kitchen.”
“That’s an awful lot to ask your boss, isn’t it?”
“Nah, they always have me over for dinner. They’re more like family now, and Mrs. Christiansen loves Mama.”
“Everyone loves Mama. How could they not?” She turned toward the house where her four younger sisters piled into the doorway and her mom shooed them out of the way as she wiped her hands on her apron.
The girls ran toward Ellie, swarming her with hugs and kisses and questions. Her mom finally fought her way up to gently kiss her cheek. “Happy to see you’ve made it safely, honey.” She turned to Jim. “Thanks for bringing her here, Jimmy. Will your mama be judging again this year?”
“No, ma’am, not this year,” Jim said, scuffing his boot and holding the suitcase so tightly his knuckles turned white.
Her mom paused and turned back to him. “Oh, everything alright?”
“Sure, ma’am. She just has to stay away from too much sugar.”
“I see,” her mom said, ushering the girls back inside. “Well, it’s late, honey. Say goodnight and come inside to say hi to Pops.”
The silence that filled the air around them after everyone went inside seemed tense with expectation. It had been two years. She couldn’t expect him to step right back into courting her…and she didn’t know if she wanted him to. Emotion had carried her away at the bus station, but here reality crashed around her. Could she really come back to stay? She glanced at the house, unable to stop the grin from pulling at the corner of her lips when she saw the girls with their faces pressed against the frosted glass.
“‘Til tomorrow then, Ellie-bird,” Jim said, pulling her attention back to him. He cupped her face gently, but let his fingers trail off her cheek rather than lean in for a kiss. He gave a telling glance toward the house. “Not sure you’ll get much sleep tonight. Would ten be too early to pick you up?”
“Ten?” she asked, unsure if she could last that long in the chaos of her family. “Of course, whatever works for you.”
“Ten it is. Sweet dreams and welcome home,” he said, lifting her fingers to his lips. His warm breath left her skin tingling as she took her suitcase from him and opened the front door.
He waited by his truck until she was inside and waved from the window, just like he always had.
J im had finished the feeding by eight and fiddled with things until the time came to pick Ellie up, the whole time wishing he had told her eight thirty rather than ten. He didn’t want to seem too eager, but he was. With one last twist of the wrench, he tightened up a loose bolt on the paddock’s gate.
“You take such good care of this place, Jim,” Mrs. Christiansen said as she came out of the chicken coop with a basket full of eggs.
“Just doing my part, ma’am,” he said, reaching to take the basket from her.
“Thank you, dear. I sure do hope that Watkins gal knows what she has in you.” She patted his arm as they walked up the steps to the ranch house. It wasn’t that large, but it was the perfect size to raise a family just like they had.
“That’s kind of you,” he said, opening the door for her and taking off his hat and boots before walking the basket of eggs to the kitchen. “I’m headed over to pick her up in a few minutes.”
“Oh, what have you two planned for the day?”
“Well, she’s helping me with a recipe for cookies for my mom.”
“I thought the doctor told her no more sweets.”
“Well, yes, ma’am, that’s why I asked Ellie to help me find a recipe in the parameters my mama can have. It’s awfully hard on her to go without Christmas cookies.”
“I would imagine so, poor dear.” She wrapped a half dozen eggs in a towel. “Here, to go towards the cause.”
“Oh, thank you,” Jim said, carefully taking the eggs.
“Wait, where are you two going to do this baking? You don’t have an oven, and I can’t imagine Mrs. Watkins having space for…” She clamped her lips shut. “Jim, if you two need an oven, you feel free to use mine. I only need it at dinnertime.”
Jim’s smile widened. Everything was aligning perfectly, just as he had hoped. “Why, thank you, ma’am. We’d be most appreciative for the use of your kitchen.”
“You just bring her right back here, dear, and make yourselves at home.” She patted his arm. “Go ahead and give those eggs to Mrs. Watkins. We have enough here should you need them. My hens are being uncommonly prolific this winter.”
“It hasn’t snowed just yet. They’ll slow down then.”
“Maybe, but that new heated lamp is sure doing wonders. You have the best ideas, Jim. Go on now.” She waved him out the door.
Ellie must have been watching for him out the window because she came flying from the house the moment he pulled up.
“You that eager to be baking?” He smiled as he rounded the truck and greeted her. “Mrs. Christian gave me eggs for your mom.”
“Oh, I’m sure she’ll appreciate them. She told me last night that her hens haven’t been laying.” Ellie took the eggs and headed back to the house, waving at one of the girls watching from the window. It was Jenny, the youngest.
Jenny came swooping out of the house. “Hello, Jimmy!”
“Good morning, Miss Jenny. How are you this fine morning?” Jim smiled at the young girl of ten.
“Very well, thank you.” She took the eggs from Ellie.
“Tell mother they are from Mrs. Christiansen.”
“I will, but I wish I was coming with you. All we do at home is chores and reading and sewing.” Jenny stuck her lower lip out.
“Well, that’s just a part of growing up.” Ellie mussed up her hair. “When you’re old like me, the work continues. You just do it for someone else and you get paid for it.”
“I like money,” Jenny squealed.
“Don’t we all,” Ellie said, rolling her eyes. “But once you start making money you have to start paying for things like a room to rent and food and your own clothes.”
Jim wondered at Ellie’s practicalness and her admission of liking money. How much had staying with her rich aunt changed her? He shifted his weight, watching his gal closer as she said goodbye to her sister.
“I’m sorry. She’s still young, I shouldn’t have told her the harshness of growing up.” Ellie climbed into the truck as he held the door for her.
“Not at all,” he said as he climbed in. “You’re never too young to know that you’ve got to work hard, but there are rewards to hard work. You’ve found those too?”
“Yes, for sure.” She sighed and looked out the window. “I guess, it’s just, well, it sounds selfish, but working hard for someone else feels a bit, well, like they’re making money off my hard work.”
Jim laughed. “Well, I gather they are, but you’re making a living too, aren’t you?”
“A small one,” she said in a way that made him think she wished it were more.
“A small one is all that is needed, right? Money doesn’t equal happiness.” He glanced at her as he pulled to the stop sign.
“No, it most certainly does not,” she said, her brow furrowing, “but it does help with things.”
“Like what?” Jim asked, licking his lips and focusing on the road.
“Well, like if I wanted open my own bakery, I would need money to start it up.”
“Why?” he asked. “Couldn’t you just set up shop in your own home?”
“Well, I don’t have a home, now do I?” She crossed her arms.
“Are you unhappy at your aunt’s, Ellie?” He glanced at her as he drove out of town. “You could just come home.”
“No,” she shook her head, and his heart fell. “I can’t. That house is so crammed full of people and stuff. You know where I slept last night? On an old comforter on the floor. I could have slept in bed with Jenny, but she sleeps like a fidgeting elf.”
Jim swallowed and kept his eyes on the road.
“I’m sorry, Jim. I don’t mean to complain. It’ll be fine. Everything will be fine.” She nodded, as if trying to convince herself. “You passed town, though. Don’t we need to stop for supplies?”
“Yes,” he choked out. “Mama asked for us to come by first. I hope you don’t mind?”
Ellie blinked rapidly. “No, I don’t mind, Jimmy. I’d love to see Mama, too.”
“Then,” he glanced at Ellie, “Mrs. Christiansen offered the use of her kitchen. I didn’t even have to ask, she just offered.”
“Wow,” Ellie said. “That awfully kind of her. Guess they really do see you as family now.”
“I think so.” Jim smiled, feeling the tension ease. “I think you’re going to love the ranch. Mr. Christiansen even said I could take you for a ride. Would you like that?”
“You mean horseback riding like you used to take me?” And there was the excitement he had been longing for, the old Ellie that he missed. She still wore the strange city clothes, but her makeup was less today and her hair twined into two long braids. It made her look slightly more like herself, too.
He hadn’t expected her to have changed so much, though he realized he should have. Two years of living with a rich aunt in the city is bound to change a person, but would it be too much of a change?