Carousel Horse Christmas Read online

  “But we still haven’t forgotten how to give and be charitable,” Kris said lifting the hot cookies onto the recently vacated patch of brown paper.”

  “No we haven’t,” Holden agreed reaching out and touching his mother’s sleeve.

  “I think if I ever had to be snowed in anywhere, I choose here,” Audrey spoke absently.

  Holden looked over at her and once again something seemed to charge the air between them.

  “It’s almost like destiny,” Kris’s voice was a distant echo from where she stood rolling dough and cutting out new shapes to be baked.

  “Destiny,” Holden’s voice was soft, a low thrum that seemed to permeate Audrey’s heart.

  Did destiny really exist, or had simple chance allowed her to meet the man with the horse that exactly matched the carousel ornament that still had no tree to call home?

  Audrey shook her head clearing the silly thoughts. Life just happened that’s all. Sometimes odd coincidences existed, but that’s all they were.

  Tomorrow, she would head back to her life in the city only seeing Holden occasionally when she needed a western venue for a party.

  She was glad that the extra business would help the family, but that was all it would ever be; business.

  Chapter 12

  “You ready?” Holden asked the next morning as he carried his breakfast dishes to the sink.

  The snow had cleared the night before and the news had reported that all the snow plows had been out through the night to open the roads back to the city.

  “Ready,” Audrey chimed. She couldn’t wait to get home and climb into clean clothes. Kris had been wonderful loaning her sweats and a T-shirt, but she wouldn’t feel like herself until she’d been home.

  “Don’t forget this,” Kris called hurrying after Holden and Audrey with a thermos and a box. “You might need a nice warm drink if traffic is slow.”

  “Thanks mom,” Holden said dropping a kiss on her cheek and taking the items. “I’ll call on the way back.”

  “Audrey it was a pleasure meeting you,” the older woman said wrapping Audrey in a warm hug. “I hope we’ll see you soon.” Her dark hazel eyes turned toward her son as if trying to communicate something, but Holden was already pulling the door open and ushering Audrey outside.

  Audrey climbed into the big four wheel drive truck surprised that the engine was already running and the heat cranked up.

  “I’m sorry you have to take me all the way back into town,” Audrey said as Holden shifted the truck into gear and headed down the drive.

  “I’m happy to do it,” Holden admitted. It was nice to have just a little more time with the young woman who had impressed him in a way he couldn’t quite explain.

  “I’ve got a tow truck coming to get my car, but they said it could be up to three days before they can get it back, and even then I don’t know what condition it will be in.”

  “Will this affect your plans to visit your aunts for Christmas?”

  “No,” Audrey smiled her eyes twinkling with a cheery light. “This way Lisa will have to go with me.”

  Holden chuckled. He could only imagine how overwhelming it must be to deal with not one but for motherly entities.

  “I hope I’m not keeping you from anything,” Audrey said.

  “Handley’s got things under control right now. We had the horses up from the back forty, and we don’t have any crops in, so we’re good.”

  The drive toward the city was slow, but Holden and Audrey shared a comfortable comradery chatting and sharing about their daily lives.

  Somewhere near the half way mark Audrey broke out the coffee and cookies with a giggle noticing that Kris had packed the rather odd looking cookies that Holden had decorated the day before.

  “Are you making fun of my cookies?” Holden asked his face serious but his eyes bright.

  “Me? I’d never,” Audrey grinned opening her eyes wide in fained innocence.

  It was only a drive, only two hours of travel, and yet for some reason Audrey felt closeness to her companion that she’d never really known before.

  There was something intimate and cozy about sitting in the truck listening to the road whiz by beneath them and talking about life’s everyday grind.

  “Do you have anything else to do in the city today?” Audrey finally asked as she sipped her coffee from her travel mug.

  “Not really. I’ll probably check on the trailer and see how it’s coming along, but I don’t expect it’ll be ready. Between this storm and the fact that Christmas is less than two weeks away, I’m counting on a January pick up.”

  Audrey smiled, “Is that going to be a problem?”

  Holden shrugged, “Handley’s got us another trailer if we need it. We board a lot of horses and often need to pick them up or deliver them to their owners.”

  “You like what you do don’t you?” Audrey asked thinking of the life he must have. Days full of hard physical labor, juggling schedules, and keeping people and stock happy.

  “I do. I can’t imagine ever doing anything else.”

  Audrey thought of the two hour drive from ranch to city; the distance wasn’t long, but the separation was huge.

  Turning to look out the window at the mounds of snow sadness filled her heart. She liked Holden, felt comfortable with him, and there was no way she could deny the attraction she felt for him, but they were worlds apart.

  Holden pulled up to the apartment building where he’d first met the intriguing Audrey Alberton.

  For the last miles of the journey she’d been strangely quiet, and he could see her shifting back into the business woman she was.

  She sat mere feet away and yet they were miles apart.

  Shoving the truck into park he climbed out of the truck and hurried around to open her door, helping her over the dirty snow that had been piled along the side walk.

  “Well here you are,” he said awkwardly. “I guess we’ll hear from you when you’re ready to use the ranch.”

  “Thank you for everything,” Audrey said enjoying the feeling of his hand on her arm. “I’ll call you soon.” Her eyes seemed glued to his, and though she knew she needed to get to the apartment and start damage control with James she couldn’t turn away.

  Holden’s hand rested on Audrey’s arm feeling the softness of her winter jacket and he couldn’t seem to let her go. How had a few days with this woman turned his head around so far?

  “Audrey, Audrey Alberton?” A male voice cut through the haze the filled his brain, and Holden dropped Audrey’s arm as Colorado’s home grown celebrity waltzed toward them.

  Audrey turned gawking as Brad Bowlings walked toward her arms outstretched.

  Holden took a step back noting the look on Audrey’s face. If he’d had any hope before, it had all washed away like melting snow when Mr. Hollywood arrived.

  Audrey had a life in the city, one that included famous and wealthy people. There was no room for a simple cowboy in her life.

  “Give me a call if you need me,” Holden said tugging at the brim of his hat as he turned on his heel, climbed back into his truck and drove away.

  Chapter 13

  Still in shock Audrey twiddled her fingers at Holden as he said good-bye, not fully registering what he’d said as her brain tried to comprehend why Brad Bowlings was calling to her on the street.

  “Audrey right?” the man said, his pearly whites dazzling in the bright afternoon light as he reached out embracing her in a stiff hug.

  “Yes, I’m Audrey,” she said.

  “I’ve been trying to reach you for days,” the man said, “I’m in need of your services.”

  “Mine?” Audrey knew she sounded like a complete ninny, but couldn’t seem to make her brain catch up with her mouth.

  “I’ve been leaving messages for two days, but your assistant said you’d be home today, and that it would be best if I just stopped by here then you’d fix me right up.”

  Audrey beetled her brows, surely James would have call
ed her with something this important.

  “Oh, I’m sorry I got stuck out in the country and apparently didn’t get the call.” Audrey said finally getting her thoughts in order. “Won’t you come up stairs to my office, and we’ll see what you need.” She nearly groaned as she turned toward her building feeling gross in the same clothes she’d been wearing for the past three days.

  “Will your boyfriend be joining us?” Mr. Bowlings asked making Audrey stop, looking behind her at the empty parking space.

  “Holden? He’s not my boyfriend,” she replied suddenly feeling his absence as Mr. Bowlings flashed her a charming smile.

  Putting her key into her door Audrey opened it and gasped. Her entire apartment looked like Christmas had exploded all over it.

  “Is everything alright?” Mr. Bowlings asked stepping up to look over her shoulder. “Oh, isn’t it quaint,” he said turning to look down at her. “Now I know you’re exactly what I’ve been looking for.”

  Taking a deep breath and vowing to kill Lisa the next time she saw her Audrey ushered the star of film and T.V. into her once simply decorated home.

  “If you’ll just have a seat in the living room,” Audrey said through a strained smile, “I’ll just drop off my things and then we’ll get started.” She didn’t add after world’s fastest wardrobe change. As she walked past the artificial tree covered in ornaments that came from who knows where.

  “I’m sorry for keeping you waiting,” Audrey said five minutes later as she walked back out of her room in a pair of clean jeans and a fuzzy pink sweater.

  “I understand,” Mr. Bowlings said standing. “I seem to have caught you rather by surprise.”

  “I assure you that is not business as usual, Audrey said as she ushered him into her tiny office next to the living area.

  Somehow she felt that this visit required a strict business setting, and she didn’t feel comfortable speaking with the star of Colorado in the heart of her home.

  “So what can I do for you Mr. Bowlings?” Audrey asked slipping behind her desk and booting up her desk top.

  “Please call me Brad,” the man offered his voice deep and smooth. “I’m looking for someone to put together a Christmas party for me at my Colorado home. Nothing too big, just friends and family; two hundred people or so.” He said off handedly taking the chair in front of her desk.

  “When would this be?” Audrey asked pulling up her calendar.

  “This weekend?”

  Audrey’s mouth dropped open as her eyes grew wide. “Oh,” she stated peering at her calendar. “I’m afraid I already have three events this weekend, and at such short notice, I’m not sure you’d be happy with the results.”

  “No, no, I’m sure you can do it. One of my cousins had a party you organized and still raves about it, it has to be you.”

  Audrey tossed her hair off of her neck as it prickled down her spine. “What exactly did you have in mind?” she asked pushing aside the sudden quivering sensation in her stomach.

  ***

  “You did what?” James exclaimed over the phone an hour later as she dropped the news on him. “Audrey have you lost your mind? How are we supposed to pull a ‘White Christmas’ themed party together in three days?”

  “I know, I know,” Audrey groaned, “but I couldn’t pass it up. Think of the publicity, not to mention the cash. You’re Christmas bonus will blow your mind.”

  “It better pay for my ulcer treatments,” James said. “Who’s going to cater? Do you have decorations on hand? Where’s the house? What if the weather goes sideways again?”

  “James, calm down,” Audrey said calmly. I’ll call in a few favors and round up the off school college crowd.”

  “Audrey.” James voice was flat.

  “I’ll make it up to you. I promise. Let me get on the catering and crew while you see what you can do about decorations. Call in help if you need to, just the retainer should cover anything you need.”

  “On it,” James said now that he’d recovered from his shock. “Call if you hit a snag,” he finished clicking off.

  “I missed him didn’t I?” Lisa came swaning into the office her face falling when she saw that Audrey was all alone.

  “Lisa I hope you have the best lunch ever hidden somewhere because you are so in trouble right now.”

  “Uh oh,” Lisa said backing out of the room and hurrying to the kitchen to deal with her hangry friend. “I’m cooking.” She called as Audrey followed her into the room still glaring.

  “Lisa what in the world did you do? I know it was you posing as my assistant with Brad Bowlings. You should have called me.”

  “Yes, but then you would have done everything over the phone, and he wouldn’t have come here to meet you.”

  “You mean to meet you.”

  Lisa giggled. “You can’t blame a girl for trying,” she protested madly banging pots and pans to provide sustenance.

  “Lisa, I now have three days to organize one of the highest profile parties of my career. James is having conniptions and there’s a good possibility I’ll be doing the cooking myself.”

  Audrey dropped into a chair at the table placing her head in her hands.

  “It’ll be fine,” Lisa insisted pouring milk into a pan as bacon sizzled. “You’ll feel better with some of my corn chowder in you.”

  Audrey looked up at her dearest friend shaking her head. “Why are you still here anyway?” she asked.

  “Now they’re replacing the carpet in the apartment’s hallways. Don’t you love what I’ve done?”

  Audrey looked around her apartment bedecked in Christmas cheer, but she didn’t say anything as she noticed the little horse still sitting on her table.

  Tracing her finger across the little figure and thinking of Holden, suddenly realizing how rude she’d been to him after he’d been so helpful. She would have to call him as soon as she had a minute.

  “What’s wrong?” Lisa asked turning to place a steaming bowl of soup before her friend. “Are you mad about the decorations?”

  “No, though I’m not sure why you bothered. I’m going to see the L’s over Christmas anyway.”

  “You are?” Lisa grinned. “Road trip!”

  Audrey laughed. “That depends on if I can pull off this debacle you created for me.”

  “I was only trying to help,” Lisa protested. “Who doesn’t want to meet hotty like Brad Bowlings?”

  Audrey smiled as she took her first bite of soup. “Are you kidding that man’s been married more often than I change underwear.”

  “Eww!” Lisa joked. “Too much info girl.”

  Together they laughed both feeling better after a hearty meal.

  “You going to stick around?” Audrey asked hopefully as she scraped her bowl clean.

  “I’ve got nowhere to be. Tell me what you need.”

  “Coffee and someone to drag me out of the office when supper’s ready.”

  “Deal,” Lisa said. “And if you need me to pitch in with the party let me know.”

  Filling her mug with fresh Java Audrey retreated to her office and the phone. If she could get the catering sorted she knew this could be done.

  Chapter 14

  Audrey ran her hands through her hair disregarding the snarls as she put down the phone for the last time.

  Every single caterer she’d tried was booked through the New Year. There was no way she could make Christmas happen for Mr. Brad Bowlings, no matter how many times he flashed his million dollar smile at her.

  Looking up she was surprised to see that it had grown dark, and that she had been working by only the light of her computer screen.

  “You ready to eat,” Lisa’s voice was hesitant.

  “I guess,” Audrey said.

  “That bad?”

  Audrey nodded. “There is no one, and I mean no one available to do this gig.”

  Defeated she walked out and flopped down at the table where Lisa had a piping dish of Lasagna and a crisp salad on the table.
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br />   “Where’d this come from,” Audrey asked. She knew she didn’t have food like this in the house.

  “I’ve been shopping,” Lisa said. “Besides I feel like I owe you. You’d probably be fine if I hadn’t let Pretty Boy Brad be a surprise.

  Audrey shook her head. “Honestly Lisa, at this time of year, I don’t think two more days would have made much of a difference.”

  Digging into her food Audrey wondered if trays of frozen lasagna would impress Mr. Bowlings’ guests, but the phone ringing interrupted her meal and her thoughts.

  “Hello!” she answered on the third ring hoping it was a miracle in the form of a caterer’s cancelation. “Oh hi Aunt Lois.” She said her voice deflating with every word.

  “Well hello to you too,” the older woman snapped, her overly loud voice echoing out of the phone for all to hear. “If I’d known you’d be so disappointed, I wouldn’t have bothered to ring.”

  “I’m sorry,” Audrey placated. “I didn’t mean it like that it’s just a work issue.”

  “Oh. I see,” Lois’s voice made it clear that she didn’t see and that she’d hopefully raised Audrey to have better manners.

  “Hi Aunt Lois,” Lisa shouted across the table with a grin.

  “Hello dear,” Lois shouted back making Audrey hold the phone away from her ear.

  “So are you coming to visit?” Lois asked. “Bring Lisa or your new boyfriend.”

  Audrey rolled her eyes but thoughts of Holden Bays came to mind. “No dice and Lois,” she said. “I’m up to my ears in work problems and have not time for romance.”

  “What’s the problem?” Lois asked while Lisa chewed her cheesy dinner listening intently.

  “I’ve taken on a big party that’s scheduled for this Saturday, and I can’t find a caterer.”

  “Oh dear. That’s not good.” Lois’s voice was hushed then she raised it again so that Audrey held the phone out winching but could still hear every word. “Linda, Lou, Lydia we’re needed.”

  “No Aunt Lois.” Audrey tried to talk over the noise of her aunts all gathering around the phone.