Chapter 5
5
Frankie pulled up to The Christmas Inn at Three Kings Ranch, her heart lifting at the sight of the lodge dressed in its festive best. Twinkling lights framed the windows, and garlands hung with care, creating a scene so inviting it was like stepping into a holiday dream. She parked out front and let herself savor the moment, the sense of holiday magic tugging a genuine smile to her lips. This was the kind of place that made everything else fade away — the perfect escape she didn’t realize she needed until now.
Inside, the inn buzzed with holiday cheer, a lively warmth filling the air. But behind the front desk, Joe was too absorbed in whatever was on his computer screen to notice Frankie approaching.
“Welcome to The Christmas Inn at Three Kings Ranch. Are you checking...” Joe’s voice trailed off as he finally looked up, his smile freezing into a look of surprise. “In? Frankie?”
“Hi, Joe,” Frankie replied, her voice softer than she intended.
Joe blinked, then quickly turned back to his computer, his fingers flying over the keys. “I don’t see a reservation for you.”
“That’s because I don’t have one,” Frankie admitted, shifting her weight awkwardly. “I, uh, flew out to surprise my gram, but it turns out the surprise is on me.”
Joe raised an eyebrow. “She’s in Mexico.”
“Right. I just found that out a little bit ago.”
Joe nodded, his brow furrowing. “She’s had that planned for a couple of weeks. I’m surprised she didn’t tell you.”
Frankie winced. “I sort of missed the message. Got distracted by the end-of-year business and wrapping things up for the holidays and...” Her voice faltered. “And you don’t care about that. I tried to get a flight home, but everything was canceled due to the storm rolling in. Can’t stay at Gram’s...”
“Right, because of the construction,” Joe said, nodding knowingly. “The pipes burst and flooded the place.”
“Yeah,” Frankie sighed. “Seems I missed that message too.”
Joe’s smile was tinged with something like amusement. “Too busy with work, huh? Then you must’ve missed the message that she’d been staying here the past couple of weeks.”
“Last couple weeks? Wow. Yep. Missed that one too.”
Joe leaned back slightly, studying her. “When’s the last time you spoke to Gloria, Frankie?” He paused, shaking his head. “Never mind, that’s none of my business.”
Frankie felt a twinge of guilt but brushed it aside. “True, but it is a fair question. I was hoping there was a room available. Just until I can get a flight out.”
“Right. Back to the city.”
“That’s where I live, Joe. So, yeah.”
Joe’s expression softened. “I’m sorry, we’re booked through the holidays.”
Frankie’s heart sank. “What about a cabin?”
“Booked.”
She forced a laugh, though it came out more bitter than she intended. “So, you’re saying there’s literally no room at the inn. How... festive.”
“No flights, huh?”
“None for the foreseeable future. Snow,” Frankie replied, frustration creeping into her voice.
“Train?”
“Cancelled. Lots of snow.”
“Rental car?”
She shook her head. “It would take days, alone, in a snowstorm. Probably not safe. And just like there isn’t anywhere else to stay in Bethlehem Falls, there’s no bus station either, but if there was...” She pulled out her phone, tapping quickly before turning the screen toward him. “They’d be canceled too because the mountain passes are closed due to...”
“Snow.” They said in unison.
“Right. I get it,” she said. “You know what. It’s fine. I understand.”
Frankie took a step back, pulling her luggage along with her. “I’m going to go. It was good seeing you, Joe.”
Joe let out a deep sigh, the kind that said he was weighing his next words carefully. “Frankie, wait.”
“It’s okay,” she insisted, waving him off. “You’re booked. I get it.”
“Where will you go?”
Frankie shrugged, trying to muster up some confidence. “I’ll figure it out. I’ll look for an Airbnb or something within a hundred miles or so.”
Joe frowned, clearly not convinced. “It’s almost Christmas. You aren’t going to find anything. Hang on. I might have an idea.”
“I’m listening.”
Joe steered the golf cart down a narrow, winding path, the trees closing in around them as they ventured deeper into the woods. When they finally emerged, the cabin stood before them — a hidden gem on the ranch, larger and more inviting than the others, exuding a sense of home that felt almost tangible. This wasn’t just another cabin; this was the heart of the place.
Joe parked under the snug carport, the silence between them filled with the weight of unspoken memories. He hopped out, quickly grabbing Frankie’s bags from the back, his movements automatic, like he’d done it countless times before. As he led her to the front door, there was a familiarity in his steps, in the way his hand rested on the doorknob for just a second longer than necessary, as if the door held secrets only he knew. He pushed it open, revealing a space that was more than just walls and a roof — it was a piece of Joe’s past, rich with memories that seemed to hang in the air, waiting to be discovered.
Inside, the cabin greeted them with a warm, rustic charm. Joe flipped on a light switch, the room instantly aglow with the soft amber of the gas fireplace he quickly ignited. The space was everything you’d expect from a cabin — exposed wood beams, a grand rock fireplace, and tall windows offering stunning views of the surrounding wilderness. It was outdoorsy and rugged, yet welcoming, with every corner whispering of a past well-lived.
Frankie’s gaze was drawn to a worn leather recliner near the fireplace, a crocheted blanket draped over its back. She moved toward it, running her fingers along the chair's well-loved surface, the texture familiar and comforting. There was something sentimental, almost sacred, about this spot.
“This is...” Joe began, but Frankie was already there, the recognition lighting up her eyes.
“Your grandfather’s cabin,” she finished for him, a smile tugging at her lips. “I knew it was familiar, but it’s been so long. The chair... it gave it away.”
Joe nodded a wistful smile on his face. “Yeah, I don’t remember this place without that thing.”
Frankie chuckled softly, the memories flooding back. “No one was allowed to sit in it but him.”
“He treated it like a loyal friend,” Joe agreed.
A touch of warmth filled Frankie’s voice. “You know he let me sit in it once?”
Joe looked at her, a fondness in his eyes. “He always did like you. The fourth King, he always said.”
“Yeah,” Frankie murmured, her heart full. “My gram reminded me of that today, actually. I’m sorry I didn’t make it back for his service. I was...”
“Working,” Joe finished for her. “I know. Gloria said you were on some kind of trip, a big business deal... a merger?”
“And I’ve regretted it ever since,” Frankie confessed, her voice thick with emotion. “I loved Gus like he was my own grandfather. He made me feel like I belonged. Like I was part of something here, ya know?”
Joe’s expression softened. “He would’ve understood. He knew you loved him. Even after all these years, I’m pretty sure you were still his favorite.”
Frankie laughed lightly, glancing around the room. “And I’m not even a real King.”
Joe’s gaze lingered on the chair, memories swirling in his eyes. “Nobody’s stayed here since his passing. I couldn’t rent it out with the rest of the cabins because...”
“I understand,” Frankie said softly. “It’s not like the others. It’s special. It was Gus’s.”
“Yeah,” Joe agreed, the words hanging in the air between them. “Stay here. At least until you have other arrangements.”
“Right. Until I have other arrangements,” Frankie echoed, though something in her tone suggested she wasn’t in a hurry to leave.
“Or... longer,” Joe added a hint of something unspoken in his voice. “It’s available for as long as you need. The boys are here for Christmas.”
“They are?” Frankie’s eyes lit up with genuine excitement. “I can’t wait to see them.”
Joe clapped his hands together, his mood shifting as he resumed his usual no-nonsense demeanor. “You still remember your way around?”
“Like the back of my hand — honorary King, remember?” Frankie teased.
“Right,” Joe said, managing a small smile. “Just call or come up to the lodge if you need anything. I’ll leave you the golf cart.”
With that, Joe turned and left, the door closing softly behind him. He left Frankie alone in the cabin, surrounded by memories and the warmth of a place that still felt like home.