Christmas, if you would like to try it. It’s kind of like mulled cider, only with black tea.”
“That sounds lovely. I’ll have that,” Maddy said. She looked longingly at the apple cinnamon pastries, but it would only be a few more hours and she’d have dinner. Besides, she was letting Cole buy her tea. She wouldn’t presume to order anything to eat.
He ordered coffee and Maddy added honey to her tea while he waited for his order. To her surprise, he came over to her and put down a plate with two pastries on it before reaching for the cream to add to his coffee.
“Don’t say it,” he said before she could even open her mouth. “My mom and dad left a few days ago for their trip and there’s no baking in the house.”
“Let me guess. Chronic sweet tooth?”
He stirred his coffee, dropped the stir stick in the trash and picked up both mug and plate. “Yeah. I think I’m spoiled probably, because my mom always keeps the kitchen well stocked for us.”
“Hungry boys working the ranch need good home cooking.”
“Yep.” He grinned. “And my mom’s is the best.”
They found seats not too far from the window. Maddy looked around. The Christmas decorations were up, with boughs and pretty white lights draped around the dark wood rails and beams. Someone had sprayed fake snow on the corners of the windows, and a huge poinsettia was on a small table in the corner. Some sort of new-agey Christmas music played on the speakers, with a bluesy-sounding saxophone and a reassuring bass line. Maddy took a sip of her tea—delicious—and let her stress levels drop another notch.
“See?” he said, pushing the plate toward her and handing her one of the forks. “Time out for Maddy.”
She laughed a bit. “I’ve been so cranky lately that you’re probably doing a public service,” she joked. Sort of joked, anyway. All work and no play and all that...
“Aw, darn, you saw right through me,” he quipped, cutting a huge corner of the pastry with the edge of his fork. “Of course not. I just realized last week at the library that you really had your hands full. It got me thinking, that’s all.”
Again she got the weird swirly sensation at the idea of Cole thinking about her.
“Well, whatever the reason, thank you. This is delicious.”
“That’s better. And you’re welcome.”
She took a bite of turnover and closed her eyes. The pastry was light and flaky and beautifully buttery. “This is going to ruin my supper, and I don’t even care,” she said, licking the caramelly residue on the fork.
“I’d say mine, too, but it’s Tanner’s night to cook. If he’s home. I’ll probably end up making myself a sandwich or something later tonight.”
“Your mom really does spoil you.” She met his gaze again and grinned.
“And I let her, so I’m as bad as she is.” He smiled, too. “Honestly, there are some pros to still living at home. And it doesn’t make sense to pay for two households when there’s more than enough room. But yeah, I’m a thirty-three-year-old man living with his parents. Whoo-ee, look at me.”
Maddy wondered why he’d never married, but she sure as shootin’ wasn’t going to ask. It was none of her business, and she didn’t like it when people pried into her personal life. Besides, Cole was hardly the stereotypical live-at-home type. The Hudson ranch was solid, respected in the town and state, with a reputation for quality stock and fair dealing. Definitely a family operation.
Before she could reply, he continued, “Of course, there are some disadvantages, too. Like no privacy. And it can be a little tough on the ego.”
“You’ve got big shoulders,” she said, cutting off another bite of pastry. “You can handle it. If I remember right from our school days, you always seemed to handle just about anything.”
He’d had a reputation then of being solid, stable, smart. Reliable. The girls all swooned over him, he was well liked in general and he’d never gotten into any trouble, to her recollection. His brother, on the other hand...
“Wow. Maybe I should check my back to see if I’ve sprouted wings.”
“Naw, you could just take out another hanky and polish your halo.”
He laughed again. “How is your head, anyway?”
She touched the spot gingerly. “Tender, but not bad. Just a teensy goose egg.”
“Good.”
They each drank again and then Maddy put down her cup and pushed the plate aside. “So, you said you wanted to ask me something about the festival. What can I do to help? I know I haven’t been much help on the committee.”
Cole nodded. “Well, we’re looking for volunteers. I don’t know what your plans are with regard to the boys, but I thought I’d mention a few things. If it’s too hard on your schedule, maybe you could suggest someone.”
“Okay.”
“First up is the night of the tree lighting. We’re planning a food drive and need someone to just keep things organized at the collection site. When it’s over, I’ve offered my truck to load up the food, and I’ll deliver it the following day.”
Maddy thought for a minute. “I’m going to take the twins, but I know my parents always go to it, too. I’ll double-check with them to make sure they can watch the boys.”
“That’s great. The volunteers are all parking in the side lot at the fire station to free up room for attendees.”
Maddy really wished she’d been able to sit in on the meetings. “That’s a good idea. It’s so close but will help with congestion.”
“It was Mike Palmer’s idea.” Mike was part of the fire department and sat on just about every committee in Gibson. Maddy wasn’t surprised.
“Your name came up when we were discussing another event, too.” He finished his coffee and put the empty mug down on the table. “The Duggans have offered a wagon and horse team to do a sleigh ride on the walking pathway.”
“A sleigh ride with wheels?” She smiled a little, and despite her earlier Scrooginess, she was intrigued.
“If we get a big dump of snow, Duke says they can drive the team down Main Street instead. So far there’s only about an inch on the path. The idea is to leave from the library, go past the bridge down to the park, turn around and come back, and then have hot cocoa and cookies and story time inside. You’re good with kids. Are you up for a sleigh ride and storytelling?”
It sounded magical. Maybe too magical. Still, the idea of bundling up the boys and taking them on a wagon ride with jingling bells and carols...maybe she couldn’t have piles of presents under the tree, but they could still enjoy the season.
“Someone would have to stay at the library to make the cocoa and set out the cookies.”
“Pauline’s offered to do that. She has it all planned out. Sleigh ride at two, cocoa at
