Held tightly in her father’s arms, Ivy clapped her hands, the sound muffled by her mittens. “Hooray! We get to go on a sleigh ride!”
Lauren turned to Seth. “I’ve seen these in old movies, but I never thought they still existed.”
Seth smiled. “Are you up for a ride?”
“Are you kidding? Of course I am.” Lauren started toward the steps, but was stopped by Seth’s hand on her arm.
“Wait here. I’ll get Ivy settled and then I’ll help you. The steps are icier than they look.”
Though the air was brisk, warmth flowed through Lauren. She’d grown up in an egalitarian household where her father wouldn’t presume to take care of her mother. Still, Lauren had to admit that Seth’s solicitude made her feel special. She understood this behavior was just the Montana way. Men here were taught from a young age to take care of women. It wasn’t anything personal. Yet somehow Seth’s chivalrous behavior felt very personal.
“Ready to go?”
Lauren lifted her gaze. When Seth held out a hand, she realized with a surge of pleasure that he was wearing the gloves she’d given him for Christmas. She placed her hand in his and smiled. “Let the adventure begin.”
Chapter Six
Seth slowed the sleigh to a stop in front of the Nordstrom ranch house and his Christmas spirit took a dip. This year there was no lighted star at the top of the stable. Because there was no one left who cared enough to put it there. His neighbor and friend Lars Nordstrom had passed away shortly before Thanksgiving. The home was now occupied by the rancher’s son, Adam, who had arrived last week to settle the estate.
Though they hadn’t run with the same crowd, Seth remembered the math genius from high school. Back then Seth had been into rodeo, sports and girls, not necessarily in that order. Adam had been more of an intellectual who’d made no secret of his hatred for all things Montana. It hadn’t surprised anyone that once Adam had left Sweet River for college, he’d rarely returned.
The barking of Old Ben, Lars’s golden retriever, must have alerted Adam he had visitors because the light flipped on before Seth had even gotten out of the sleigh.
A man dressed in khakis, a navy sweater and an open ski jacket stepped onto the porch. Tall and lean with a messy mop of dark hair and thin wire-rimmed glasses, Adam looked very much the up-and-coming college professor.
Definitely Lauren’s type.
Seth’s hands tightened on the reins. “Merry Christmas, Adam. We brought you Kringle.”
“Kringle?” The professor’s serious expression eased into a smile. “That’s always a welcome gift.”
Adam’s reaction was just what Seth had expected. There wasn’t a person alive who didn’t like the buttery, layered, almond-filled pastry. Jan’s recipe was the best. Although many traditionalists insisted Kringle be shaped like a pretzel, his wife had always made hers in an oval to eliminate the unfilled, overlapping parts.
For years, Seth had helped Jan make the pastry for friends and neighbors. Though the skill was usually passed from mother to daughter, Ivy would have to learn from him. It was important to him that his child embrace her Norwegian heritage.
Today’s lesson had gone surprisingly well. Ivy had been an apt pupil. It helped that she and Lauren had learned together. In fact, having Lauren there had made the lesson more fun for all of them, Seth included.
“Come inside.” Adam approached the sleigh. “Warm up. Have a cup of coffee and some Kringle with me.”
Seth hesitated. It was almost Ivy’s bedtime. Still, he didn’t want to be rude. And this was their last stop. He turned around to where Lauren sat with Ivy on the backseat of the sleigh. His eyes locked with hers and for a second the world tilted sideways. It was the same craziness that had been happening all day.
Electricity sizzled in the air whenever he glanced her way. Desire shot through him like a bull out of a chute every time her hand brushed his. He wasn’t sure why any of this was happening. It was damned annoying.
Lauren’s voice broke through his thoughts. “A cup of anything hot sounds good to me.”
“You can put the horse and sleigh in the stable, if you’d like.” Adam gestured toward the building Seth had helped Lars shingle just last summer. “It’s empty now so there’s plenty of room.”
Seth inhaled sharply. “You got rid of Hoss?”
Adam’s head cocked. “Boss?”
“Hoss. The palomino.” Seth snapped. Didn’t he even know the name of the aging gelding that had been Lars’s pride and joy?
A light of recognition flashed in Adam’s eyes before he chuckled. “It wouldn’t surprise me if that one was already at the glue factory.”
Seth bit back a harsh reply. Hoss may have been long in the tooth but he had many good years left in him. The horse had been more than a means of transportation—he’d been the lonely man’s friend. Adam would have known that if he’d visited his dad more than once every five years.
Of course, even if Adam had been aware of the fact, it might not have made a difference to him. While Lars loved all living creatures, his son had never cared about the animals or the ranch. Seth settled his gaze on the well-kept house. It was difficult knowing that everything Lars had worked so hard to build, everything that he’d cared so much about, would be sold off piece by piece. Seth forced the depressing thought aside. The ranch was Adam’s now, to do with as he wished.
The wind kicked up from the north. Out of the corner of his eye, Seth saw Ivy duck her head and cuddle close to Lauren. Guilt clogged his throat. Worrying about Hoss and Lars’s legacy was no excuse for neglecting his responsibilities.
Seth hopped to the ground. “Let’s get inside where it’s warm.”
“I’d forgotten how cold it gets here.” Adam zipped his coat before
