The scents of the chili dogs made Claire’s stomach cramp. They all settled down to the meal with a side of potato chips and some icy beers. When they were finished, she cleared the table and Tucker presented a small stack of presents.
Christian’s eyes glittered as he looked between them. “You didn’t need to get me anything.”
“Hush,” Letty said. “Open mine first.” She nudged a package that was wrapped in plain brown paper and twine.
With a grin, he grabbed it up, shook it and plied it until Letty smacked him on the arm. “Just open it.”
He peeled off the paper with enough ceremony to woo Letty. When the square object fell into his hand, he stared at the cover.
“A Guide to Horses for the Smart Cowboy,” he read the title of the book aloud.
“Guess that means you’re a smart cowboy,” Tucker said.
Christian looked so pleased, Claire couldn’t help but swoop in and lip-smack his beard-roughened cheek. Weeks had passed since the mess with Leon and Dale, and they’d all settled in to ranch life. Claire had quit the diner, but she and Letty had planned a new venture. After the fair, two restaurants in the area had requested Letty’s special sauce be featured as part of their menus. And she and Letty had agreed to provide it.
Tucker and Christian had been hard at work on the ranch, repairing broken fences. And a huge pile of timber was settled outside near the place they’d raise a new barn on the old fieldstone foundation, with the help of several area ranchers.
“Thank you, Letty.” Christian’s eyes shone with affection. Letty patted his hand.
“Mine now.” Claire passed the present into his hands. It was wrapped in green foil paper and no bow. She hoped what was inside was manly enough to match the exterior.
He reached up and cupped her face with one broad palm. “Sweetheart, you’re gift enough.”
She wrinkled her nose in a way that made him chuckle. “Open it.” She hummed with nervousness.
When he unwrapped the present to reveal the navy blue velvet box within, she held her breath. Everyone was silent as he popped open the box. Inside laid a band of black leather. She’d spent hours hand-tooling it with a rugged design and fitting it with a silver buckle-type clasp.
“Whoa,” he breathed. He pulled it out and unclasped the silver. Then he wrapped the band around his wrist and stared at it. “Did you make this?”
“She did,” Tucker said with pride tingeing his deep voice.
Christian tipped his head back to look at Claire, who still hovered over his shoulder. “Sweetness, you’re thebest. Thank you so much.” He drew her down for a lingering kiss. The barest touch of his lips sent tendrils of heat straight to her core. Between him and Tucker, she was always burning. But they wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Now, now,” Letty scolded when their kiss extended past the time she thought proper.
Tucker gave Christian the final gift. Inside a plain white box was a gold belt buckle, as gawdy and Wyoming rancher as Claire had ever seen. Christian burst into laughter and stripped off his old belt buckle then and there to replace it with the new.
Suddenly, the phone rang. Tucker snagged it, as he was closest.
“Oh, hey, Jake.”
Claire froze. Letty’s eyes grew round. He’d called but Claire had never returned it.
Tucker flicked his gaze to Christian, then Claire. “Yeah, she’s here. I’ll let you talk to her, of course. I would never come between you and your daughter. But first there’s something Christian and I want to ask you.”
She groaned and buried her face in her hands. What now? The last thing she wanted was a phone battle on Christian’s birthday.
“That’s right,” Tucker continued. “You see, Chris and I have been talkin’. Claire’s a perfect woman, as you well know.”
Her head snapped up.
“A wonderful listener, smart, good cook and the nicest gal we’ll ever find. Seems she also has two hands.” There was a pause. Then, “We both want one of them. Not in marriage but in acknowledgment that we both love her and intend to spend the rest of our lives with her.”
There was a long silence while Tucker listened. Claire scoured her lover’s face for a hint as to what was being said. Finally, a grin spread across Tucker’s face so broad that the sun might have dropped from the sky and hit the ground in front of her.
Christian gave a whoop and shoved back his chair. He grabbed Claire and spun her around. Tucker said a hasty thanks and goodbye then shoved the phone at Letty. “Here, you talk.”
Tucker grabbed both Christian and Claire and towed them down the hall to the master bedroom. He kicked the door shut behind them even as Christian placed his rough hands over her eyes.
