Her Christmas Family Wish Read online

  “I notice you left me out of that admiration society.” Ellie felt the sting deep inside and chided herself for it. Why did Wyatt’s opinion of her matter so much?

  “Not true. In fact, you’re at the top of my People-I-Most-Appreciate list.” Wyatt’s eyes twinkled. “I like how you challenge me to do more with my faith, Ellie.”

  “Ah, you’re talking about this morning and how I roped you into helping with the church kids’ Christmas program.”

  He nodded, not even pretending to hide his grin.

  “Well, you did agree to meet me at the church,” she defended. “And since you were there already, who else would I bug about figuring out how to get their angel to hover over the manger?”

  “Yeah,” he said with a chuckle. “You go with that excuse.” His face grew pensive as he swirled his lemonade before taking a drink. “But actually I meant how you challenged me to forgive Ted.”

  “I challenged you? How?”

  “I forget your exact words.” Wyatt stared directly at her. “The part that lodged in my brain was that if I expect God’s forgiveness for the messes I’ve made in my life, I owe others some forgiveness, too.”

  “I don’t think I said anything of the kind, but it is a precept that’s worth remembering. ‘Do unto others,’ right?” Ellie had a hunch that if he could break free of the blame, he’d find it much easier to move ahead with his life. “The one thing I too often forget is that God loves us, warts and all. He sees into the depths of our hearts, knows our worst secret and loves us in spite of it.”

  “I have a lot to be forgiven for,” Wyatt mumbled.

  “I believe we all do.” She liked his humility so much.

  “You don’t understand.” He sighed. “I wish I could undo the past. I made so many mistakes in my marriage, broke so many promises to Taryn.”

  Wyatt’s admission forced the realization that she’d never had this kind of conversation with Eddie. He’d never been this open with her about his past or his mistakes. In fact, he’d hated to discuss anything truly personal. Further proof that their marriage could not have worked. Thank You, God that You saved me from that failure.

  Wyatt wasn’t like Eddie, but it was now clearer than ever that, despite her feelings for him, there could be nothing between them. God had given her the job of raising Gracie. The older her daughter got, the more attention and love she would need. Ellie couldn’t get sidetracked by her own wants. Often God called people to sacrifice, especially moms. Wincing at the pain of that, she tuned back in to what Wyatt was saying.

  “I never loved my father the way I should have.” His chin rested on his chest, his lowered voice revealing his shame. “I still feel like I failed him. I’m sure not the best parent for Cade. I make mistakes, get frustrated…”

  “Wyatt.” She placed her hand on his arm to draw his attention, cherishing the intimacy of these confidences he shared with her. When he lifted his head to look at her with his deep, dark gaze she smiled. “Welcome to the human race.”

  He rolled his eyes.

  “I’m serious. I haven’t been a Christian for very long, and there’s much I have to learn,” Ellie admitted. “But the one thing Sophie has drummed into me is that none of us is perfect, but God loves us anyway, and the important thing is that we keep trying to do His will.”

  “And forgiving Ted is His will.” He nodded. “Got it. So that’s not in question. What is in question is whether or not I can do it.” He stared at Cade. “Every time I think about Ted, I get furious. He took Cade’s mother. How do I forgive that, Ellie?”

  There was so much pain in Wyatt’s face that it took Ellie’s breath away. She longed to wrap her arms around him and comfort him. But she couldn’t do that. Wyatt had made it clear long ago that he did not want a romantic relationship. And neither did she, despite the overwhelming attraction she felt for him. Yet she had to help him. Somehow.

  “No answers?” he said, managing a weak smile.

  “I don’t know how you find forgiveness, Wyatt,” she admitted. “But God does. I think you’ll have to ask Him to show you, because I’m pretty sure forgiveness is your only way out of the pain.”

  Ellie left Wyatt with his private thoughts, stepping away. She’d never known anyone like him, and she wanted to know more. In that moment she regretted her promise to Albert. Of course she still wanted to see where the boy lived and with whom, only not today. Not now when Wyatt was finally opening up to her. If only…

  “I guess we’d better get going.” Wyatt rose, collected their glasses and carried them inside. A few moments later he returned with a light jacket for Cade.

  He walked over and swung the boy into his arms, gently shaking him to free the excess sand from his clothes. “I probably should bathe him.”

  “Why bother?” Ellie called Gracie to come. “You’re the only one who looks model-perfect. Besides, I have some wipes.” With her hand midway into her backpack to reach for the package, she stopped at his shout of laughter.

  “Of course you do,” Wyatt guffawed. “Shades of other messy meetings.” He winked at her, then held out a hand. “Okay, give me some and let’s mop ’em up.”

  He made cleaning the children’s hands and faces into a game, and by the time they were finished, both Gracie and Cade were giggling. On that happy note they set out for the address Albert had given them.

  “It’s a rough-looking section of town,” Wyatt muttered as they searched for the right house number. “I don’t like the way those two guys on the corner are watching us.”

  Neither did Ellie, but there was nothing to do but keep going.

  “There’s Albert.” Ellie waved at him. When Wyatt had parked, she opened her door and climbed out of the truck. “Hi. Ready to go?”

  “I guess.” The boy glanced behind him hesitantly, then left the front step to walk toward them.

  “I tried to call and ask permission from your mom for you to come with us, but I couldn’t get an answer at the number you gave me. Is there someone else I should speak to?” Ellie noted the curtain twitch in the front window.

  “My mom doesn’t live here.” Albert climbed into the truck. “This is my uncle’s place.”

  Ellie was about to say she’d ask his permission, but Albert assured her that it was fine for him to go and that no one but his older cousin was at home anyway.

  “Your cousin knows you’ll be with us?” After Albert nodded Ellie debated a moment longer, then gave up when Wyatt urged her to get into the truck.

  But as they drove toward the restaurant, Ellie had second thoughts. She should have put this outing off until she’d been able to contact Albert’s guardian. But her need to know, to help him or at least get him away for a time, had overtaken good sense. All she could do now was apologize to whomever was at his house when they returned and hope the person she believed was maltreating him realized that she and Wyatt were looking out for Albert.

  Within minutes they were seated in a booth in the restaurant. Gracie soon had their guest talking freely and laughing at Cade’s antics. They all ordered, except for Albert who wouldn’t choose anything.

  “I don’t need to eat,” he kept saying, though it was obvious from his rapt attention to other guests’ meals that he was hungry.

  “It’s been a while since breakfast time, right?” Wyatt guessed. “Order another, or lunch if you’d rather. I had kind of a late start to the day and missed my breakfast so I’m famished.”

  “So am I.” Ellie grinned at him, enjoying the camaraderie.

  “I didn’t know you were married,” Albert said, his glance moving back and forth between them.

  “We’re not married!” Too aware of Wyatt’s shoulder rubbing hers, Ellie shifted away, then felt suddenly bereft of the contact. Why had she chosen this booth instead of a roomy table where they wouldn’t have to sit so close? “I drove out to Wyatt’s ranch this morning so we could come together in his truck because my car is too small for all of us. Now what will you have to eat?”
/>   Gracie finally persuaded Albert to match her pancake order.

  All during the meal Ellie used every tactic she could think of to coax Albert to talk about himself, but he offered little response. Only with Gracie and Cade did he seem perfectly comfortable, again mentioning his late grandmother.

  Ellie reached across to pat his hand. “It’s good you had some family you could come to.” She’d said that deliberately, ignoring Wyatt’s nudge under the table while she watched Albert, trying to gauge his reaction.

  “I guess.” Albert didn’t look at her, and Ellie grew more worried.

  “I thought after breakfast we might take a drive out to the Sonoran Desert Museum.” Wyatt wiped the sticky pancake syrup off Cade’s face. “I haven’t been there in a while. I wouldn’t mind seeing the raptor flights again.”

  “Would you like to go, Albert?” Ellie asked.

  “Doesn’t matter to me,” he said, showing no emotion.

  “Maybe we should stop by your place and make sure it’s okay with your uncle,” Wyatt offered with a meaningful glance at Ellie.

  “He won’t care.”

  It wasn’t the words; it was the way Albert said them that bothered Ellie. As if it didn’t matter to him that his own uncle didn’t care where Albert went or what he did.

  “I’ll try calling him again.” Ellie pulled out her phone and dialed, but there was no response. “I guess there’s still no one home.”

  Did Albert look relieved? She wasn’t sure. She kept close watch on him as they walked the paths at the Desert Museum, noting his interest in the animal displays, especially the javelina pigs.

  “Okay, let’s keep going,” Wyatt urged after a prolonged viewing. “There’s a lot more to see.”

  Ellie wondered how silly and schoolgirlish it was to like the way he kept them together, to enjoy his hand on her back as he shepherded her past some youths that were roughhousing. Was it wrong to revel in his arm looping through hers and tugging her in a different direction than she’d intended? Well, if it was, so be it. Because Ellie was delighting in this day more with every passing moment.

  Until she read the sign that said what lay ahead.

  “Reptiles?” she hissed in Wyatt’s ear, squeezing his arm.

  “Of course.” He flashed her his Hollywood smile. “That’s my favorite exhibit. Why?”

  “Oh, no reason.” She forced her fingers to unclench and waged combat on every nerve that screamed no way.

  In the dim underground display where the others ogled reptiles wriggling and writhing, the truth crawled up Ellie’s skittering nerves and smacked her in the heart.

  She was willing to be here, even to endure snakes, to be with Wyatt Wright.

  Because she was in love with him?

  *

  Wyatt wasn’t exactly sure where or when it happened, but somewhere along the way the fun of their trip to the Desert Museum lost its enjoyment for Ellie.

  No matter how he explained the features of the different animals, he couldn’t hold Ellie’s attention. Albert and Gracie were avid pupils while he enthused about toads, turtles and tree frogs, but when they neared the rattlesnake display he noted Ellie shy away, keeping a good distance between herself and the glass.

  Because she was terrified, he suddenly realized and wished he’d noted her aversion earlier. What a good sport she was to stay there and let everyone else appreciate what she hated. He wanted her to have fun today. He had to do something.

  “I’m thirsty,” he announced. “Let’s go to the restaurant. Ellie?”

  Stirring as if from a fog she nodded. “C-coffee sounds g-good,” she stammered and immediately headed for the exit.

  Wyatt felt a tug on his pant leg and glanced down. Gracie motioned to him to bend over.

  “Mommy doesn’t like snakes,” she whispered in his ear. “But don’t tell her I tol’ you. ’Kay?”

  “Our secret,” Wyatt agreed and glanced at Albert, who nodded.

  “Girls are usually scared of snakes,” the boy said as if he possessed much worldly knowledge about the female of the species.

  Wyatt hid a grin as he followed them out. He found Ellie waiting far down the path, as if she couldn’t get enough distance between herself and the reptile enclosure.

  “Albert was just telling me that girls often don’t like snakes,” he said to Ellie. He winked at Albert. “Was your grandmother one of those girls?”

  “Yeah. Gran hated snakes.” A smile lit up Albert’s thin face. Was this the first time the boy had been able to share his memories of that woman? “If Gran thought there was a snake nearby, she’d get out this big old garden boot, and she wouldn’t let go of it until the snake was dead or gone. She even took that boot to bed once. Kept it on the pillow right next to her head.”

  Gracie hooted with laughter. Wyatt joined in. Even Cade gurgled with amusement. Only Ellie seemed to think such an action was perfectly logical.

  As they walked up the path to the café, Gracie pestered Albert for more stories about his grandmother, and Albert obliged, apparently enjoying sharing his memories, especially about her cooking.

  The restaurant was very busy so Wyatt suggested they quickly choose a table on the deck outside before everything was filled up.

  “Sitting in the shade up here and savoring this amazing view of the valley is the perfect accompaniment to iced coffee.” Wyatt handed Ellie Cade. “What would the rest of you like?”

  “Iced tea for me, please.” Ellie tickled Cade. “Maybe milk for this guy?”

  “Ice cream?” Gracie asked Ellie.

  Ellie wrinkled her nose. “Milk?” she suggested. Cade swung his arms wildly, as if to disagree.

  “Ice cream’s like milk,” Albert said thoughtfully. “Only thicker and colder.”

  “An’ lots better to eat,” Gracie agreed. She turned to Wyatt. “Me an’ Albert an’ Cade would like ice cream, please.”

  She did not, Wyatt noted as he hid a smile, check with her mother. But when Cade started bellowing as if he agreed with Gracie he howled with laughter. After a moment Ellie joined in. Her lovely musical laugh echoed across the balcony, turning many heads. He knew exactly what the people who studied them were thinking; here was a family truly enjoying their day at the museum.

  And for some strange reason Wyatt didn’t mind them thinking that. Because, in some weird kind of way, maybe they were—a family of stragglers who’d banded together to have some fun. That’s what Ellie did, he realized. She brought people together and helped them laugh.

  That’s exactly what she’d done for him.

  While Ellie stayed at the table with Cade, Wyatt took Gracie and Albert inside to help carry the ice cream. While they waited he glanced out the window and found he couldn’t look away from the vision of Ellie playing with his son. She was so pretty, a real natural at motherhood with her generous, nurturing spirit. Ellie was the kind of woman most men dreamed of having for a wife.

  Whoa!

  Wyatt forcibly reined in his thoughts. Forgiving Ted, that made sense. He needed to get past that hurdle to fully live his Christian faith.

  But starting another relationship, even with someone as great as Ellie, was something Wyatt could not allow himself to consider. Too many broken promises blocked that path, too many memories of how he’d failed.

  So for the rest of the afternoon Wyatt worked hard to stop the myriad images of Ellie from engraving in his head. And failed. Ellie laughing as she tried to photograph a darting roadrunner, smiling when a bee kept buzzing Wyatt, teasing Cade out of his grumpiness and making everyone’s day a little happier. His brain captured and stored a thousand images of sweet, generous, earnest Ellie.

  After they’d shared a barbecue dinner at his ranch, after they’d driven Albert home and Ellie had left, after he’d put Cade to bed, poured himself a fresh lemonade and sat on his patio—when the world had fallen silent around him—Wyatt let those images play like a recording that he couldn’t erase. Didn’t want to.

  Because Ellie
Grant was a very special woman.

  Chapter Ten

  “He said what?” Ellie couldn’t believe the words she just heard. Maybe she was in a Monday morning fog.

  “This morning Wyatt told Tanner he accepted his offer of full-time employment at Wranglers Ranch.” Sophie hugged her in a burst of exuberance. “Isn’t it wonderful? A true answer to our prayers.”

  “Wonderful,” Ellie repeated, feeling dazed. When Sophie left she passed the morning preparing for Albert’s group to visit this afternoon while her mind repeated one question. What in the world had happened to change Wyatt’s mind about breaking the promise to his father?

  She’d seen him at church yesterday, and he hadn’t said a word. She’d sat beside him at the Christmas potluck afterward, and he hadn’t mentioned closing his office. She’d gone back to his ranch to do another batch of baking yesterday afternoon, with Albert lending a hand decorating the cookies, and still Wyatt hadn’t said anything. Though she repeatedly searched her brain, Ellie found nothing to suggest that Wyatt had been considering this action.

  She had tons of questions to ask the handsome veterinarian, but Wyatt never appeared.

  “He asked for the morning off to make some phone calls about his practice.” Tanner answered her question about his whereabouts when she joined him and Sophie for lunch on the patio. “He’ll be here for the class after lunch.”

  “What about Cade?” She blushed at Tanner and Sophie’s shared glances of amusement.

  “Cade will have a sitter every morning and every other afternoon. If I have to call Wyatt in, I told him to bring Cade along, and we’d figure out something.” He kept a straight face as he asked, “Is there a problem if I ask you to care for him?”

  “Of course not.”

  “Truth be told, you’d relish the opportunity to hold that little guy in your arms again, wouldn’t you?” Sophie teased.

  “So I like kids.” Ellie concentrated on eating.

  “Cade’s a cutie, all right.” Tanner swallowed the last of his coffee and rose. “Say, did you ever get to speak to Albert’s uncle?”