Epilogue
EPILOGUE
T he air on the ranch spoke of spring with the scent of wild asters and lupin, and Ellie put her face in the breeze coming from the window to smell them. Movement near the barn caught her eye as Jim and their oldest two boys, one at six and one a preschooler, followed him about. Her lips quirked as she watched the boys mimic their dad with their little hats and cowboy boots.
A soft whimper called her away from the window. She placed a hand on her swelling stomach, giving it a comforting caress as she made her way to the room off the kitchen where their toddler had been napping.
“Mommy’s coming, sweetie,” she said, waddling through the door and wondering if this baby would come as quickly as the little guy calling out for her now did.
“Here I am,” she said, pulling the almost two-year-old into her arms as she sat on the bed. “Did my little cowboy have a nice nap?”
He nodded and snuggled deeper into her for a moment until he pulled back and sniffed the air. “Mommy, what that smell?”
She lifted her nose and breathed in, expecting the smell of spring again, but instead, the sweet, rich scent of salted chocolate coconut cookies filled her senses. “Oh, Gama’s on her way over.”
“Gama cookies!” Her youngest boy pushed off and excitedly hopped around the room.
The little one in her stomach kicked and squirmed as if it didn’t want to miss out. As she rubbed her baby bump, she wondered if she’d finally get a girl, but she carried low and this one was just as active as her other three. More than likely, it’d be another boy.
She sighed, but the sound held contentment. It would all work out like it was supposed to. Knowing how much work her little sisters had been, especially through their teenage years, she didn’t regret having a passel of boys. They might be rougher and more energetic. They might have had to replace more dishes and boots and jeans than if they had girls, but the drama was less…or so she hoped.
The front door creaked open and two pairs of little stocking feet came pattering into the kitchen. “Mommy! Gama is here!”
“I smell cookies! Gama cookies!”
The timer went off right then, and she shooed the boys back as she pulled the large tray of chocolate cookies from the oven, their scent filling the house with heaven.
“Is that what I think I smell?” Mama came into the kitchen only to get clobbered by a mass of little boy hugs. Her laughter, thick and rich, filled the room with happiness.
Pops and Jim came in behind her, Jim sneaking around the welcoming party to kiss her on the cheek. “How is Mommy doing? And little one?”
“We’re great,” she said, leaning against him, feeling exactly like she said. Her life had worked out more perfectly than if she had planned it.
“Mmm?” Mama said as Ellie passed out gooey, warm cookies. “You know, even after eight years, these are still my favorite cookies ever.”
Had it really been eight years since she developed that recipe? Eight years since Jim convinced her to come home to Christmas Tree Hill and proceeded to convince her it was where she belonged.
“Ever? Even real cookies?” Jim asked.
“These are just as real as any cookies, dear.” Mama took a bite, making appreciative sounds. “And yes, best ever. That’s why they were your top sellers, you know.”
Ellie smiled, a small longing for the first years of her bakery days. She had continued special orders through the first pregnancy and delivery, but by the time her second boy was born, she had too much to juggle and had burnt too many cookies. At the time, it hadn’t hurt too badly to quit the bakery business. Her hands were full, and they still were.
“Don’t worry about it,” Mama said as Jim took Pops and the boys out to see their new horse. “You don’t need a business to create a legacy.”
“A legacy?” Ellie asked, rubbing her belly as she sat on the porch swing with Mama, a great place to watch the boys romp around and play.
“Sure, honey. Look at your spread here. Your Christmas Tree Ranch is growing, not only in trees but in boys. Boys to carry on your name, your ranch, and your dreams.”
Ellie watched as they played and wondered if any of their boys would grow up to want to take on their dreams. The Christiansen’s kids hadn’t, but something told her not to worry.
“Jimmy always says everything aligns just as it should, and he hasn’t been wrong so far. So, maybe you’re right, Mama. I just want them to grow up happy and follow their dreams.”
“They will, dear, they will. Then they’ll bring your grandkids here and your big ranch house will feel small with all the children running around. Just you wait, dear. You’re going to love having your little cowboys at Christmas Tree Ranch.”
Ellie loved the sound of that and looked forward to it, though for today, she’d just enjoy the little one squirming in her stomach and her boys chasing after their daddy. Life was good, almost as good as her first chocolate-covered Christmas on the ranch.
I t sure was fun to follow Jim and Ellie as they found their way back to each other!
For more small town Christmas romance full of swoon worthy cowboys and snowy romantic scenes, follow Jim and Ellie’s grandkids in Cowboys at Christmas Tree Ranch series.
Start binging these sweet holiday romances HERE
Keep reading for a special recipe featured in The Cowboy’s Chocolate Covered Christmas.