Christmas Catch-Up IX (River's End Ranch Book 63) Read online

  Copyright © 2018, Caroline Lee

  [email protected]

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author.

  First edition: 2018

  This work is made available in e-book format by Amazon Kindle at www.amazon.com

  Printing/manufacturing information for this book may be found on the last page

  Cover: EDHGraphics

  Have you missed the couples from River’s End Ranch? Want to know what they’ve been up to since they got their happily ever after? Here are six little episodes to show you what they’re doing this holiday season and how their lives have changed since falling in love. In this volume, you'll read about Marybeth and Mack, Lin and Brandon, Okie and Nick, Jackie and Coop, Cait and Archie, and you’ll get a sneak peek at some future characters as well! These are not complete books, but the short stories are meant to “catch you up” on where these couples are at Christmas of 2018. Merry Christmas!

  Contents

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  EPILOGUE

  Other works by Caroline Lee

  River’s End Ranch and Quinn Valley Ranch:

  Check out Caroline’s bestselling historical romances:

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  Christmas Catch-Up 9

  River’s End Ranch

  Book Sixty-Three

  Dedication:

  For the fans.

  Jackie and Cooper

  Stepdad Surprise

  From the other room, the squeal of eighteen-month-old Kalli Jo made Jackie wince slightly, but Cooper’s arms tightened around her and he nuzzled her ear.

  “She’s fine. That stoic brother-in-law of mine brought his latest litter, that’s why she’s so happy.”

  Sure enough, the little girl soon began chanting, “Puppy! Puppy!”

  Jackie grinned and wrapped her arms around her husband’s neck. “I’ll bet that’s going to make for some adorable photos, especially with her in her pretty dress for the Christmas Eve service.”

  Cooper’s grin was still just as heart-meltingly gorgeous as the day she’d fallen in love with him. “Why do you think I asked him to bring the little fuzzballs?”

  “You think of everything,” she murmured, pushing herself up on her toes to brush her lips across his.

  There in the kitchen of his parents’ home, she showed him how much he meant to her. When they pulled apart, Cooper pressed her head against his chest and hugged her. She sighed, content to let him hold her—and hold him in return—knowing their daughter was safe and sound in the other room with the rest of their family.

  Between his job with the construction company—although since the snows started, they’d been mainly working on the interiors of the buildings the television crew needed—and hers at the spa, it was rare to find time for just the two of them. Kalli was always with them, and although Jackie adored knowing how close of a family they’d all become, she treasured the time alone with her husband.

  “Thank you for setting all this up.” She sighed against his chest. “I know Kalli loves seeing your family, and the puppies will be an added bonus.”

  He grunted softly. “I just hope Mom doesn’t mind the excitement.”

  “I’m sure she won’t.”

  In the months since Jackie had met Susan Weston for the first time—when she gave Cooper her wedding ring for him to give to Jackie—she’d fallen in love with this family.

  It was impossible not to love Cooper’s younger sister Marybeth, who was a real sweetheart. She and her husband Mack ran a kennel and boarding business on the ranch, as well as bred champion sled dogs. Cooper’s twin brother Kenneth was the more serious of the two, but he was determined to become Kalli’s favorite uncle—that was him singing nonsense songs to her in the other room now.

  And Jackie’s father-in-law Wilfred was devoted to his granddaughter. It had meant so much to Jackie, how this family had opened up their hearts and homes to her and her daughter when she’d married Cooper. She still didn’t believe she deserved this much happiness, and sometimes needed to pinch herself.

  Against her cheek, Cooper’s chest rumbled slightly. “That was a good sermon tonight.”

  She hummed in agreement. “I always like the way he’s talking right to us. I thought it was really special, thinking about birth and rebirth and salvation and stuff.”

  They’d attended Pastor Kevin’s Christmas Eve service and the tree-lighting right after, but had left before everyone started exchanging ornaments, in order to get to his parents’ house in time for dinner. Marybeth had been cooking all day.

  “Yeah…” Cooper squeezed her a little. “It’s an important reminder.”

  With his mom’s health getting steadily worse over the last months, it was impossible not to think about that sort of stuff. But it was as if her three children—because of course Tripp wasn’t there anymore—and their spouses had made a point to ensure his mom’s last few months were going to be special. They were all as full of joy and light and laughter as they could be, even if it ate them up inside to see her so near the end of her life.

  And Jackie would know; she’d held Cooper often enough as he’d mourned.

  That was why her throat was a little thick when she squeezed him as well. “I love you, Cooper,” she whispered.

  He dropped a kiss on her hair. “Not as much as I love you. Thank you for bringing me everything I never knew I needed.”

  “Thank you for sharing your family with me. They mean the world to me, I hope you know.”

  She could hear his smile; that’s how well she knew this man.

  “I do. And I hope you know how much you mean to them. Having you and Kalli Jo has meant a lot to my parents, and I think Marybeth appreciates not having to answer the when-are-you-having-babies question more than once a month!”

  Jackie chuckled. “And Kenneth?”

  Blowing out a snort of laughter, Cooper shrugged. “Who knows, when it comes to that knuckleheaded brother of mine? He’s probably too busy sorting his fortune to worry about emotions. Are you sure you fell in love with the right Weston twin? He’s the richer one.”

  “Yeah…” she drawled out her agreement, just to irritate her husband. “But you’re the better-looking one.”

  “And the smarter one. And the funnier one.”

  “And the humbler one,” she teased.

  When he lifted her off her feet, she squealed as loudly as her daughter, but turned it into a hum of appreciation as he kissed her.

  Too few heartbeats later, he pressed his forehead to hers. “Well, Mrs. Weston, shall we go rescue our wayward daughter from the clutches of those puppies.”

  She’d probably never get tired of hearing him call Kalli Jo “our daughter.” So she smiled.

  “You might be right, husband. We can only take so much Christmas cheer.”

  “Impossible, my love!” He tugged her towards the other room, where Kalli and Kenneth were singing together. “Merry Christmas!”

  Marybeth and Mack

  Yukon Yuletide

  Marybeth was toasty warm under her husband’s arm. Mack wasn’t paying any attention to her, but that was okay. His watchful eye was keeping a sharp look-out on the two pups he’d brought to play with little Kalli. They were precious at this age, but he’d begun training them to voice commands last month with their sire Rudolph, so Mack was also using this as a chance to make sure they’d follow directions.

  So far they’d done a great job of obeying when he told them “down” or “halt”… better than their niece at least. But the little one seemed to be having the time of her life, running between her uncle Kenneth and the two balls of fluff wrestling in front of the fireplace.

  On Marybeth’s other side, her mother made a noise like a breathy huff. Marybeth turned and took the weak hand lying limply on the chair’s arm.

  “She sure is cute, isn’t she, Mom?” she asked gently, having understood her mother’s way of laughing.

  It took a few seconds for Susan Weston to turn her head—even that effort seemed to exhaust her—to face Marybeth. Her smile was slight, but it lit up Marybeth’s heart to see it.

  She blinked away tears, not wanting Mom to know how heart-breaking it was to see her like this. She’d been fighting so many different diseases for so long, and the whole family knew there wasn’t any hope for a recovery.

  This would be Marybeth’s last Christmas with her Mom—with her complete family—and she was determined to make it beautiful. All of them had gathered in their childhood home, just like old times, and were celebrating with all their old traditions. Marybeth had it on authority Santa would
be laying beautifully wrapped presents under the tree tonight—thanks to Kenneth—and Mack had already volunteered to make his famous French toast tomorrow morning.

  This Christmas celebration was going to be as close to perfect as Marybeth could manage, so they’d have beautiful memories of Mom’s last Christmas.

  “I love you,” she whispered to her mother.

  Without her voice, Mom’s only way of acknowledging and agreeing was the slight pressure on her fingers, but it was enough.

  From the other armchair, Dad’s laugh was booming. He was in the best of health, as always, and was doing his best to make his wife’s last months comfortable. It was uncanny how well he understood Mom’s thoughts and desires, and could express them for her.

  “I’m just glad one of you got around to giving us grandchildren!”

  Coop was in the kitchen, finishing up the dishes, but Jackie smiled happily from her place on the couch. “We’ve been so blessed to be a part of this family!”

  Dad flashed a look at Marybeth. “We love each of you, but could always go for some more babies!”

  Without looking away from the pups, Mack said in that stoic tone of his, “Grandpuppies count.”

  When Dad snorted, Marybeth hid her smile in Mack’s shoulder. He seemed to enjoy teasing her father, but he’d never admit that, of course. When she’d met him—last Christmas—he was such an old grumpy grinch. But they’d been stuck together in a small cabin throughout a blizzard, and by the time it was done, she’d known he was a kind and gentle man with a tortured past. Together, they’d helped one another heal, and were both so much stronger because of their love.

  And one of the things they were both very much in agreement about was they didn’t need kids right away. It was something Marybeth was sure of, especially given her battle with anxiety and Mack still going to physical therapy because of his missing leg; they weren’t ready to be parents yet.

  But every time she held her own mother’s hand, every time she realized Mom wouldn’t be there to hold whatever future babies did come along… Well, Marybeth’s surety had wavered a few times.

  She knew this was the right decision, to wait another year at least before having kids, but it was also heart-breaking.

  Mack had pointed out her mother understood, even if she couldn’t communicate, and Marybeth held fast to that knowledge as tightly as she held Mom’s hand.

  From his spot in front of the couch where Jackie sat—his legs splayed in front of him to catch little Kalli when she was near him—Kenneth spoke up. “If puppies count, can I get one too?”

  “Not one of mine,” Mack drawled, his humor as dark as ever.

  Jackie nudged him with her foot. “Cooper has been bragging he beat you to it, you know.”

  Kenneth twisted. “Beat me to what?”

  “Becoming a dad.” She nodded solemnly, but the twinkle in her eye was obvious.

  Marybeth’s usually serious older brother just snorted. “I don’t need to be a dad. I’m spoiling my niece. That should count.”

  Kenneth was the oldest of them all, although he only beat Coop by a few minutes. He’d always been the one to herd them all along, to watch out for his siblings. His “take charge” attitude had been part of what had driven away Tripp, although no one ever mentioned that. Tripp had been a wild-card, a free spirit, and chafed under Mom’s rules and Kenneth’s watchful eye.

  But now it seemed that maybe Kenneth was loosening up a little…at least when it came to Kalli.

  “Actually, about that…” Dad cleared his throat, and waited until Kenneth was looking at him. “Your mother and I…” He glanced at his wife, then took a deep breath when she smiled slightly at him. “We’d like to see you settle down, Kenneth. You’re our oldest, and you need to figure out what you’re doing with your life.”

  Kenneth frowned, his handsome features slipping too-easily into the familiar expression. “I know what I’m doing. The firm is successful, my bank account is solid, I have a wonderful family.”

  Mom’s other hand was shaking when she lifted it and made a little move towards Dad. He understood, and leaned forward to take it. Together, they both turned to Kenneth.

  “We mean a wife and a family of your own, son,” Dad said softly. “Your mother…” He took another deep, painful breath. “She’s waiting. She wants to know you’re happy, and so do I.”

  She’s waiting.

  Kenneth’s blue eyes slammed up to Mom’s, his expression panicked. “I am happy, Mom, I swear.”

  It was hard to tell how much of her nod was intentional and how much was just part of the constant tremors, but Kenneth seemed to take it as understanding. He slumped back against the couch, his brows drawn in worriedly, as he watched Mom.

  One of the pups got too close to the fire, and Mack barked out a command. The suddenness of it seemed to diffuse the tension in the room, and soon they were laughing at the way Kalli was chasing the black pup all over the place.

  But Marybeth kept her hand around her mother’s, and Kenneth kept glancing thoughtfully at her as well.

  It might not be a Merry Christmas for all of them, but it was going to be a Christmas to remember, that was for sure.

  Cait and Archie

  Chasing Change

  (Note: the epilogue from Cait and Archie’s book—their wedding—took place in February…two months after this short story.)

  “I heard from Jack today.”

  Cait swallowed her shrimp noodles and nodded at Archie, sitting across from her at the small table in one of Bangkok’s five-star restaurants on the top floor of their luxury hotel. “Oh really? What did he have to say?”

  Archie leaned back in his chair and studied the remains of his dinner. He’d chosen a western-style beef dish for his Christmas Eve fare, while Cait’s dish was one of the local specialties.

  “He’s spending Christmas with his sister in Riston, so I heard all about them. Apparently his niece Nellie has suddenly gotten into acting.”

  Cait’s brows went up as she put down her chopsticks and rested her chin on her palm. “Really? This is Joshua Hardy’s kid, right?” Anyone who knew Jaclyn knew Joshua. “I didn’t know she was theatrical.”

  “Jack thinks it might have something to do with a boy who’s in the local school’s theater group.”

  She chuckled and rolled her eyes. “Teenagers. Still, I’m glad he could help.”

  “Yeah, I think he might be considering sticking around a bit.” Archie shrugged. “He hasn’t been particularly happy in Hollywood, and I think his sister adopting those kids has affected him. Like he’s suddenly got a family.”

  “Oh!” Cait sat up a bit. “What about—you know, that television show?” It had started being filmed at the ranch before she’d quit her job. “The one about the historical ranch. Could he get a part in that?”

  When Archie frowned, she could see the lines around his mouth, now that his beard was neatly trimmed. When they’d met, he’d worn what she’d jokingly called a “mountain man” beard for the role he’d been playing, but now he tended to maintain it better, since he was in between shoots.

  “You don’t think it’s a little stereotypical; the Native American in the cowboy show?”

  She shrugged and picked up her chopsticks once more. “I don’t think the show was that cowboy-y. But yeah, not nearly as many explosions as Jack is used to.”

  Archie planted his elbows on the table. “Have you been secretly watching Jack Raven action flicks without me?”

  Her impish grin was probably answer enough. “I pull them up on my laptop,” she whispered conspiratorially, “after I finish one of my favorite Archibald St. John movies.”

  His return smile was soft, gentle. That’s what she loved about him; Archie could be hard and dangerous or soft and thoughtful or any combination of attributes. He was all those things, and more. She loved how he was constantly changing, constantly keeping her on her toes.

  The last few months, traveling around the world with him, had been the happiest of her life. Only one thing would make her happier, and he hadn’t given her any indication he was ready to make a life-long commitment…yet.