Mistletoe Mistake (River's End Ranch Book 35) Read online

  Mistletoe Mistake

  Cindy Caldwell

  Copyright © 2017 by Cindy Caldwell

  All rights reserved.

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  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Epilogue

  Chapter 1

  “I now pronounce you man and wife,” Pastor Kevin said, and it pulled Gillian Wharton out of her dreamy memories. Her beloved son had just married the woman of his dreams, and she wiped away a tear as they kissed and turned to the congregation with smiles that could light up the night sky.

  All through the ceremony, she’d felt the presence of Fred’s father with her. Had he really been gone almost a decade? She thought of how close Fred and his father had been and knew that he’d be smiling down on both of them now, happy that Fred and Olivia were starting their own life.

  As the happy couple started down the aisle, Gillian leaned forward and spotted Olivia’s father and sister on the other side, leaning forward in the pew. The sunlight—crisp in the December cold—streamed down from the stained glass windows high above, but she knew it wasn’t the glare that had Allen Hamilton wiping at his eyes with the back of his hand.

  As they stood to follow the happy couple, he smiled down at her and held out his arm. He, Olivia and Opal all looked so much alike. Both the girls had his jet black hair—although his was graying at the temples.

  “Well, they’re on their way now,” he said as he glanced through the doors at their children.

  She snaked her arm through his. “Yes, they are.”

  She hadn’t known him long, but his easy smile and cowboy manners weren’t a big surprise. She’d gotten to know her future daughter-in-law—well, now her actual daughter-in-law—quite well in the past month and would anticipate that her family was just as kind. And they were. Olivia’s sister, Opal, and her father were a pleasure to be with.

  Now, on this happy occasion, she squeezed his arm and said, “They look so happy, don’t they?”

  A wisp of the black hair that he shared with his daughters fell over his forehead as he nodded.

  “They absolutely do. I couldn’t have chosen a better husband for her myself. Fred is a fine young man. You did a great job raising him. Especially on your own.”

  A twinge tugged at her heart as she watched Fred pass through the doors of the chapel, wrap his arms around his new bride and swing her around, kissing her firmly as he set her back down to giggles from her and her sister.

  “I didn’t do it on my own. His father was as wonderful as Fred is,” she said softly.

  “Beg your pardon?” Allen said as he leaned in a little closer. The guests had broken out into applause and cheers, and as they passed through the doors into the cold afternoon, she shivered.

  “Oh, nothing,” she said as she reached out and hugged her son and new daughter.

  “Olivia, you look gorgeous,” Gillian said as she rested her palm on Olivia’s cheek.

  Olivia covered Gillian’s hand with her own and reached out for a hug.

  “Thank you, Mrs. Wharton. I think it’s mostly because I’m so happy,” she said as she stole a glance at Fred, who was shaking hands with his new father-in-law amidst much back-slapping and smiling.

  Gillian whispered, “And so is Fred. Thank you for that,” before their hug was over. “And you’d better call me Gillian from now on.”

  “Thank you, I will. I wish my mother could have been here, and that makes it more special. You two would have loved each other.”

  Olivia reached up and touched the emerald pendant around her neck and Opal did the same—the emerald matching her bridesmaid’s dress. Gillian knew it was the last gift she’d received from her mother, and her heart ached that she wasn’t there with them.

  Allen hugged his daughters and closed his eyes. “I know she’s here, girls.”

  “I know she is, too, Dad,” Olivia said as she kissed her father’s cheek.

  “Brrr,” Olivia said, wrapping her arms around Fred for warmth. The snow on the ground wasn’t too deep, but the weather was turning and more snow was expected soon. And there they all stood outside with no coats.

  They laughed and turned back in toward the chapel to get their coats and scarves before they headed over to the barn for dinner. Gillian had wanted to have a small reception at the house, but so much was going on—Christmas on its way and the Jingle-Bell Jam looming—Fred and Olivia hadn’t wanted her to go to the trouble. Instead, they’d opted to have a small dinner for the wedding party and guests at the barn across the way from the chapel at River’s End Ranch. Bernie had done a great job coordinating it, and as they walked into the barn, decorated with flowers from the new floral shop at the ranch, Pushing Daisies, and strung with beautiful lights and ribbon the color of Opal’s bridesmaid dress, Gillian sighed with relief. And when the music started and people began to dance, she knew for certain they’d made the right decision to have the reception at the ranch.

  “This turned out great,” Allen said as he slid into a seat beside Gillian and couples got up to dance. He set a glass of warm cider in front of her and covered her hand with his. “Thank you for putting this together. I’m new in town and wouldn’t have known where to start.”

  She looked around the room at lifelong friends and what the ranch had become. It was warm and friendly and just exactly where this celebration should be.

  “It was my pleasure. Besides, all I did is help coordinate. You contributed greatly.”

  Allen glanced downward but smiled.

  “Shucks, all I did was write a check. These girls are all grown up and don’t need much from me anymore.”

  She glanced quickly at him, completely understanding how he felt. It was a strange sense, having your children all grown and on their own. She and Fred still worked together at the bank and even lived together in separate wings of the same sprawling house, and she was suddenly grateful that she still had contact.

  Olivia, on the other hand, had moved away for college and then settled in New York, far from their home in Texas.

  She gave him a sympathetic pat on the arm. He turned to her and smiled, and he radiated gratitude.

  His phone rang and he reached into his pocket, smiling wide as he answered a FaceTime call.

  “Hey, brother, how are you?” came the voice from the phone.

  “Aw, Aaron, wish you were here,” Allen said as he clicked the camera to face the room and searched for Olivia and Fred. “Look at that girl.”

  The deep voice on the phone continued. “Oh, she looks radiant. She’s glowing. And he—“

  “His mother is right here beside me,” Allen cut in. He flipped the camera back around and turned it toward her. “Gillian, meet my brother Aaron. Aaron, this is Gillian Wharton, Fred’s mother.”
>
  “How do you do?” Gillian said as she peered over at the phone. Her eyes met through the camera with a man who looked strikingly like Allen—with a little bit more gray at the temples—and her heart tugged when she saw he was wearing a bow tie.

  “I’m fine, thank you. Very nice to meet you. I look forward to meeting you in person at the end of the week,” he said as he smiled and nodded.

  She smiled in return, but couldn’t help but lean in and watch as Allen continued the conversation.

  “You’re awfully dressed up for a cruise,” Allen said.

  Aaron laughed. “I would say I’m dressed for the wedding, in sympathy, but it’s one of those formal dinners here. No escaping it if I want to eat. At least I get to wear my favorite tie.”

  Allen laughed. “You’ve had that tie as long as I’ve known you.”

  “Maybe. Well, give my love to the girls and tell them I’ll see them at the end of the week. Can’t wait. Christmas is coming, and you know what that means.”

  Gillian’s eyebrows rose. Christmas was her favorite holiday, but she wondered what he meant by that.

  “Yes. Yes, I do. Talk to you later, Aaron, and thanks for checking in. At least you got to see the reception even if you couldn’t be here.”

  They ended the call and Gillian still wondered what he’d referred to, and oddly she looked forward to meeting him.

  An, “Ahem,” from across the table jerked her back to the present. She looked up into the smiling faces of Fred and Olivia, her stunning, velvet dress shimmering in the light of the barn, and she couldn’t remember when she’d seen Fred so happy—and handsome, just like his father.

  “Oh, hello, you two,” Allen said as he pulled his hands from Gillian’s. “Are you enjoying the reception?”

  “Of course,” Fred said as they sat down and he quickly glanced at his new wife. “Are you?”

  “Of course, darling,” Gillian said with a laugh, but it stopped quickly as she met Fred’s gaze and he wiggled his eyebrows, cocking his head toward Allen.

  Her hand quickly flew to her chest and she looked from Fred to Allen and back to Fred, quickly shaking her head before smiling when Allen looked her way.

  Olivia’s eyes sparkled and she covered her smile with her hand as her sister, Opal, plopped down beside her.

  “You two having fun?” she asked as she reached for a cup of cider.

  “Which two? Fred and me or these two?” Olivia asked as she gestured toward Gillian and Allen.

  “That’s enough, everybody,” Allen said as he stood and turned toward Gillian. “I’m sure they have something better to talk about. Would you care to dance?”

  He held out his hand to Gillian, and she took it as she glowered at Fred and followed Allen onto the dance floor.

  “I don’t know if dancing together is going to squelch whatever scheme they’ve got cooking,” she said as Allen smoothly led her across the dance floor to a relatively slow song.

  He laughed and glanced over his shoulder back toward the bride and groom.

  “They’re just caught up in love at the moment,” he said. “They have no idea what’s ahead of them, and certainly no idea what people our age are interested in.”

  Gillian was silent for a moment. She didn’t really know Allen so she couldn’t assume she knew what he was referring to. And it had been so long since she’d even thought about anyone besides Fred’s father that she couldn’t really even guess what she herself thought she was interested in. He’d been gone over a decade, and she’d been so busy at the bank, playing tennis and helping bank customers, that she’d never given it a second thought.

  “I suppose when you’re giddy in love, you expect that everyone should be. Can’t say I blame them. But goodness, for them to insinuate—even think—that you and I should—well...”

  He danced her back toward the table as the song wound down to its end. He smiled when the music stopped and took a step back, bowing slightly.

  “Don’t worry about them. We know what we know, what’s come with the years. Guess we’re related anyway, now,” he said as he held out his arm.

  She looped her arm through his. “Guess so,” she said as she let him guide her toward their table, where the young lovebirds had forgotten all about them.

  Chapter 2

  Fred and Olivia had decided to delay a honeymoon, but Gillian had gifted them a weekend at the ranch. Wade had arranged the Copper Cabin for them, so at least they had that.

  Opal and Allen were staying at the ranch also, where they’d rented a cabin through Christmas at least. Opal was between semesters in college and Allen had recently sold his hardware business. They’d arranged for a trail ride with Wyatt as the snow wasn’t too deep but more was expected. Allen had explained that he’d always wanted to be a cowboy but had never had the chance, and Opal jumped at the opportunity to join him.

  So she found herself alone and while she had a great deal to do in preparation of the charity Jingle-Bell Jam the following weekend, she’d stayed home, a bit surprised by her pensive and reflective feelings. She wasn’t, by nature, prone to dwelling on things, but something about the kids nudging her and Allen together had her rattled.

  She surprised herself by getting out the shoebox of wedding pictures she had hidden in the back of the closet when her husband died. She hadn’t looked at them since, and as she stared at the pink satin ribbon that held it closed, she wasn’t sure she should now, either.

  Just as she reached for the end of the silk bow, her cell phone rang. Looking at the display, she frowned.

  Mrs. Franklin, it read. She hadn’t spoken to the Franklins in months, but she did know that they’d been a little bit late on their mortgage payments for the last three months. They’d made up most of them, but with all the commotion with the Westons, she’d forgotten to check up on them and see if everything was all right.

  She pushed the box across the kitchen table and answered.

  “Hello, Mrs. Wharton here,” she said.

  “Oh, Mrs. Wharton, it’s Patty Franklin. I’m so sorry to bother you on Sunday evening.”

  “It’s quite all right, dear. I’ve been meaning to call and see if everything’s okay. We’ve been worried about you.”

  A sigh came across the line. “Thank you for that. You’ve been very understanding about our late payments, and I have no right to expect that. Thank you.”

  Gillian’s heart softened. There was something not quite right in Patty’s voice—she’d heard this tone more times than she could count.

  “Is there anything I can do to help?” she asked as she leaned back in her chair and reached for pen.

  Patty’s voice hitched. “I don’t know, Mrs. Wharton. We’re going to be late again, and with Christmas...probably a lot late.”

  “How late?” Gillian asked. “I’m certain we can work something out.”

  She stood and began to pace in front of the fireplace. She thought back to when the young couple had come in originally and applied for a mortgage to buy the old Watson Ranch after the older couple passed away. They had been searching for an affordable property and hoped to make it a working ranch. Their financials were a little lean, but Gillian and Fred had talked it over at great length. The young couple had been so excited about the property and their venture that they’d decided to take a chance on them.

  “That’s nice of you, Mrs. Wharton, but I’m not sure quite what to do.”

  Gillian tapped her pen on the table for a moment.

  “I have to coordinate the silent auction for the charity gala this coming weekend, but how about if I come out the Monday after—a week from this Monday—and we can take a look and see what we can work out?”

  “Oh, Mrs. Wharton, thank you. We won’t be coming to the gala, so I appreciate it.”

  Gillian heard the younger woman’s voice break again, and thought of Fred and Olivia and their plans to build a house eventually and how lucky they all were. It wasn’t easy to be young and starting out these days, and her h
eart went out to the Franklins.

  “Please don’t worry, my dear. I’m certain we can figure something out,” Gillian said, and she was relieved to hear Patty thank her and say goodbye, sounding a little calmer.

  She reached for a pad of paper on the counter and was jotting down some numbers and playing with some different mortgage scenarios for the Franklins when the front door swung open. She stood, and Fred walked in carrying Olivia, who was all smiles.

  “What are you two doing here? You weren’t supposed to be home until tomorrow,” Gillian said as the newlyweds kissed when they got over the threshold.

  Olivia tore her gaze away from Fred and hugged her mother-in-law.

  “I hope you don’t mind that we’re back early. My father called and my Uncle Aaron will be here at the end of the week. I was so disappointed that he couldn’t come to the wedding, but it turns out he can be here soon and I was just so excited I wanted to come back home. Get settled.”

  Gillian laughed at the sheepish grin on her son’s face.

  “We also wanted a little time to move Olivia into my suite from the guest bedroom before her uncle gets here. We actually wanted to see if you minded if Opal stays in it while he visits. The place Allen and Opal are staying in only has two rooms.”

  “And I haven’t gotten to see my sister much in the last couple of years. I’d love it if she and Fred could get to know each other better.”

  The happiness radiating from the two was palpable and Gillian couldn’t help but get swept away.

  “Of course it’s all right. You don’t even need to ask. It’s your home, too, you know.”

  “Thanks, Mom,” Fred said as he gave her a quick hug, followed by a longer one from Olivia.