Peppermint Proposal Read online

  “Wow. That’s so soon.” She bit her lip, thinking about what it would take to get away before nodding. “I’ll call Kelsi right now, if you don’t mind. That way I can arrange for her to cover my shifts. I’ll fly out Tuesday, meet with him Wednesday, and fly back Wednesday evening. Then I only need to miss two days of work .”

  “I don’t mind.” He spotted a bench and brushed off the snow that had fallen overnight so they could sit down .

  She sat down in the spot he’d cleared, pulling her phone from her pocket and tapping Kelsi’s number. “Kelsi, it’s Joni. I need to take Tuesday and Wednesday off. I’m going to Texas for a job interview .”

  “No! You can’t leave me !”

  Joni frowned. “I have to. I feel like I’ve given you lots of time. You can train someone to take my place .”

  “I’m just kidding. That’s my way of telling you that you’re very valuable, and I’ll miss you terribly. I will arrange for the days off. I guess you’re flying?” Kelsi asked. Joni could hear one of the babies babbling in the background .

  “Yeah. I’ll get a flight out of Lewiston on Tuesday and fly back in on Wednesday afternoon. My interview is Wednesday morning .”

  “For social work ?”

  “Yes! I’ll be going to the ranch where Pastor Kevin grew up. It’s a boys’ ranch that does foster care.” Joni didn’t add that Kevin’s foster brother was there, trying to lure her away. She wasn’t quite sure what Kelsi would think of that .

  “All right. Consider it done, and good luck. I’ll send some prayers up for you, and tell Jaclyn to have the fairies sprinkle a little extra dust your way .”

  “I think Jaclyn’s fairies are working overtime.” Joni grinned. “I’ll see you in the morning, boss-lady. And thanks for making this easy for me.” She ended the call and looked at Max. “I guess I’m really going to Texas .”

  “Have you ever been ?”

  She shook her head. “Never. Should be interesting .”

  “You’ll want to fly into San Antonio. It’s an hour and a half from the ranch, but the flights are cheaper. Want me to make the arrangements ?”

  She nodded. “Sounds good. Just let me know what I owe you, and I’ll pay you for it .”

  “Sounds good.” He got to his feet and offered her his hand .

  For a moment, Joni wasn’t sure she should accept it, because it was almost like taking out a billboard that they were dating in a place as small as Riston, but would that be so bad? They were obviously spending a lot of time in each other’s company. Anyone with eyes could see that. Slipping her hand into his, she said, “I’m walking toward the restaurant because you didn’t give me your preference .”

  “That works. Do you think they could get Bob to come in and cook my meal ?”

  “You’re obsessing over Bob’s cooking. This isn’t good for you or anyone else !”

  “I understand why it’s not good for me, but why isn’t it good for anyone else ?”

  Joni frowned. “You have to know Bob to understand. He’s the best cook I’ve ever known. He really is fabulous. But if you pay him any kind of compliment, he just kind of looks at you, and tells you you’ve stated the obvious. He’s so annoying and big-headed. He can’t know! But if other people find out, it’ll get back to him and he’ll be impossible to work with .”

  Max nodded. “I get it. We can love his cooking, but we can’t be vocal about it .”

  “Exactly.” She frowned. “Miranda wasn’t at church this morning. That’s not normal for her. I wonder where she was .”

  “No idea. I’m a fan of his cooking, not his wife’s keeper .”

  Joni shook her head at him. “You’re a pain sometimes, Max Logan .”

  “It’s one of my more endearing qualities .”

  They got to the restaurant, and they went to an open table in one corner. “It’s busy here on Sundays because the café is closed, but Kelsi is adamant about keeping the hours her grandmother had when she first opened it .”

  “So Kelsi’s grandmother was Kelsey as well ?”

  “Yes! They spelled it differently, though. Our Kelsi spells it with an I. The grandmother was E-Y at the end .”

  “Ah. I think that makes sense .”

  Barbie stopped by their table to get their order. After exchanging pleasantries with Joni for a moment, she took their drink orders and gave them time to go over their menus .

  “Do you know everyone on the ranch?” Max asked after Barbie walked away .

  “I really do. It’s like the ranch itself is a very small town. There are some guests whose names I never learn, but usually I get to know them as well. We’re a ranch that people come back to year after year, so I’ve made a point of learning as many names as I can. It helps with the feel of the ranch .”

  “It really is an amazing place. I didn’t understand why Kevin was always going on about how wonderful it was, but I do get it now.” He looked at his menu, chose something, and closed it. “I’ll have to get the western burger for lunch tomorrow. I’m so annoyed the café is closed today .”

  “If it was open, I’d have to be working, because the twins can’t go back to the Kids’ Korral until Monday. I’m the only manager besides Kelsi, which means I’d have to work. I’ve been working a lot more shifts than usual since the babies were born .”

  “You talk about Kelsi as if she’s a friend, and not just a manager .”

  “Oh, everyone feels that way about all the Westons, I think. They own the ranch. The kids were just given the deed to the ranch at the Halloween party. Their parents have been holding it over their heads for a very long time. Kelsi and Shane are building a house on part of the land that was given to them .”

  “That’s cool. Did they all grow up here ?”

  Joni nodded. “I wasn’t around then except as a guest, but the way I understand it, the kids were all expected to work on the ranch from a young age. It was a given that it would be theirs someday, but they had to jump through a whole lot of hoops to get there. They’ve managed to do it, finally. Some of the cousins have even started to hang around a lot .”

  “That’s great. Sounds like they’re a big happy family .”

  “They fight amongst themselves at times, and there are always practical jokes played, but when it comes down to it, the Westons look out for each other. I’ve never seen a family that I wanted to be part of so badly .”

  “Wait until you see the McClains.” Max took a sip of the water Barbie had brought him. “They’re amazing people. They have this huge ranch, and they spend their time making sure kids in foster care who no one else wants are happy. They have turned around kids I never would have thought could stay out of prison. It’s amazing to me .”

  “You have a lot of respect for them, don’t you ?”

  “Think about the respect you have for the Westons, and then think about how it would be if you had been taken in by them when your mother decided you were too difficult to mess with. They opened their home to you, gave you food and clothes, a sense of purpose, and love like you’d never believed was possible. That’s what the McClains did for me. I have a lot of respect for them. I always will .”

  “That’s really cool. I can’t wait to meet them .”

  “Oh, and Adam said you could stay with his parents. They still live on the ranch, but they have little to do with the day-to-day operations. Lillian is the best cook in all of Texas .”

  “Sounds good.” Joni felt a little nervous about the trip. She was going to a place she’d never been, staying with strangers, and interviewing for her dream job. How was she supposed to stay calm ?

  After lunch, they went to the vehicle barn to rent snowmobiles. As an employee, she got a discount, so they weren’t much. After spending a few minutes showing him how to ride, they took off toward the lake. Their lake was small enough that it completely froze over in the winter, but she didn’t think it was quite frozen enough for them to ride across yet. That wouldn’t happen until January or so .

 
; She led the way until he overtook her, laughing as he did. She shook her head, not at all worried about it. If he had to show her he could drive a snowmobile faster than she could, then so be it. She wasn’t about to drive crazily, even on the small vehicle .

  When Max spotted a small house with statues surrounding it, he stopped, looking at it curiously. He looked over at Joni, who pulled up beside him. “What is this place ?”

  “Oh, this is Jaclyn’s house. She’s the manager of the RV park.” She didn’t add that Jaclyn was the resident matchmaker and fairy-whisperer, because who would believe such a thing? Besides, she was thinking about stopping to see Jaclyn, and she didn’t want him to realize who it was if he spotted her .

  “You know who I am, Max. We’ve talked the last two nights. Why are you pretending not to know me?” Jaclyn stood beside them, fairy wings in place. “Park your snowmobiles and come on inside. I have tea and snickerdoodles ready for you. I tried a new recipe. I put toffee in the cookies, and I need you two to let me know if they’re good or a failed experiment.” She turned and walked toward her house, and Max looked over at Joni with wide eyes .

  Joni shut off her machine and obediently stood up. “We can’t deny her. She’s pretty much the boss of everyone .”

  “I thought you said she ran the RV park .”

  “I didn’t say she was really the boss. She just bosses us all around, and we obey.” Joni waited as he got off his snowmobile. “Rumor has it she was the best friend of the first Kelsey, the grandmother of the kids who run this place now. She demands everyone’s respect, and we give it .”

  “She’s come to my cabin the past two nights. She’s always wearing her fairy wings, and she is walking a rabbit on a leash. Are you supposed to walk rabbits on leashes?” Max shook his head, not wanting to follow, but very curious about the strange woman. He’d been half-afraid he’d made her up .

  “What does she say when she comes to see you ?”

  “She—”

  “Will you two quit dawdling? An old woman shouldn’t be able to walk that much faster than young people. Do you think I have all day to stand around here and gab with you? Well, I don’t. The fairies are ready for me to give you their message, and I’m as obedient to the fairies as always.” Jaclyn stood with her hands on her hips, waiting for them, her front door open. Max could see at least a dozen bunnies hopping around her living room .

  “I’m sorry, ma’am,” he said quietly. No matter how crazy she seemed, he knew enough to respect his elders. Southern manners had been drilled into him from the time he moved to the McClain Ranch .

  He walked over and stood next to the couch, looking over at Joni. Where were they supposed to sit? There were at least four bunnies on the couch .

  “Just push them off or hold them. Your choice. But if you push them, be gentle. Mrs. Dopeyface just got fixed a couple of days ago, and she’s not feeling very well .”

  Max blinked a couple of times, carefully moving two bunnies to the floor and putting one on his lap. “I didn’t know bunnies got fixed, ma’am .”

  “If I don’t want them breeding like bunnies, then I have to get them fixed, don’t I?” Jaclyn shook her head, addressing her next comment to Joni. “I’m not sure what you see in this one. He’s a bit dense, if you ask me. The fairies do seem to approve, though .”

  Joni choked on a laugh. “I think he seems fairly intelligent. You just fluster him with your bunnies and fairy wings. I do like how they look, though. Have you decided to always wear them now ?”

  “Well, I don’t wear them to bed or in the bathtub, but I think they’re fitting the rest of the time. The fairies told me to be one of them for Halloween, because I’d earned my wings. If I’ve earned them, well, I’m darn sure going to wear them! Wouldn’t you ?”

  Joni nodded. “Oh, yes, ma’am. If you’ve earned your wings you should wear them. Fairy or otherwise .”

  “Well, I brought you two in here to give you a message from the fairies as I said. But first you have to give me your opinion on the snickerdoodles. I’ve never made them with toffee before, and I’m not sure I like them as much this way. What do you think ?”

  Joni obediently picked up a cookie and bit into it. “I like it. Maybe not as much as your other cookies, but it’s good .”

  “Max?” Jaclyn asked, obviously wanting his opinion as well .

  When Joni looked over at Max, she couldn’t hide her laughter. He had four bunnies on his lap, and all of them were vying for his attention. “I don’t see how I could possibly get a hand free to try one .”

  Joni picked up a second cookie and held it out to him. “Here, try it .”

  Max’s eyes were confused as he opened his mouth and accepted a bite of the cookie. “I like it. I haven’t tried your other cookies, but these are wonderful .”

  “Good. Thank you for your opinions. Now are you both ready to hear what the fairies have to say to you ?”

  7

  J oni looked over at Max, wondering how he was taking this whole thing. He looked a bit skeptical, but she really wanted to know what the fairies were saying to them. Maybe it was strange, but she’d heard enough stories about Jaclyn and what the fairies were saying that she almost believed the woman really did talk to fairies !

  Leaning forward, Joni said, “Yes, please tell us what message they have for us .”

  Max looked at her as if she’d lost her mind, but he said nothing, instead taking her hand in his and squeezing it. If she believed Jaclyn really did talk to fairies, then he could help her find the right sort of medical help after she got to Texas .

  Jaclyn frowned at him for a moment before responding. “The fairies said to embrace new challenges .”

  Joni frowned. “That’s all?” She’d been certain the fairies would have a more interesting message. That was absolutely boring, and not even a bit cryptic. She wanted a cryptic fairy message !

  “What were you expecting? Don’t travel to anywhere in the South during the full moon?” Jaclyn shook her head. “The fairies tell me what they want to tell me and not a single word more .”

  “I don’t know. I’ve heard so many people talk about the messages you give them and how much better you make them feel. And then you tell me that I need to embrace new challenges? I kind of feel…well, cheated is the only word I can think of to describe it.” Joni didn’t want to risk making Jaclyn angry, but she really wanted a better message .

  Jaclyn sighed heavily. “Okay, don’t use a toaster if there’s a blizzard forming in Montana .”

  “So never, huh ?”

  Jaclyn laughed. “That’s right. Never !”

  Joni looked over at Max, who was watching her as one of the bunnies tried to climb up his chest. “I think Max likes your bunnies .”

  “Oh, I’m sure of it. It’s the eccentric old woman wearing fairy wings who talks to fairies he’s still trying to figure out.” Jaclyn abruptly got to her feet. “Put down the bunnies and go. That’s all the fairies had to say to you .”

  Max carefully set each bunny on the floor, wondering why the creatures seemed to like him so much. “Thank you for the cookies .”

  Jaclyn nodded. “The fairies told me you needed tea and cookies. I’m glad they weren’t wrong, but they never are. Have a good day, you two. Joni, don’t get too close to the water. The ice isn’t thick enough yet .”

  Joni wasn’t sure why Jaclyn found the warning necessary. She wasn’t exactly known for being foolhardy, but she knew she needed to thank her regardless. “Thanks, Jaclyn. I’ll be careful .”

  “Good. I don’t know that this guy would be able to handle it if you fell through. I think he might just mourn you for the rest of his life. Sudden deaths do that to a person.” Jaclyn looked sad for a moment, as if she was remembering something. “Now go on! I’m done with you .”

  Joni saw that Max was finally bunny-free, so she stood up. “Thanks for taking the time to give us the fairies’ message .”

  As soon as they were outside, Max looked at Jon
i. “Please tell me you don’t really believe she talks to fairies !”

  Joni shrugged. “I don’t know what to believe, but I do know that Jaclyn thinks she talks to fairies, and that’s good enough for me. She doesn’t hurt anyone, and she gives good advice if people bother to listen at all.” She walked back to her snowmobile and threw one leg over. “I think I want to take you through the Old West town next. I know you’ve seen some of it, but I want to show you the tree where we all hang ornaments every year. It’s beautiful .”

  Max got onto his machine and fastened his helmet on. “After you .”

  Joni led him back to where they’d started their day, at the tiny little church where she worshipped most Sundays. She loved being with him, but her mind was on other things today. What Jaclyn said bugged her, as well as thinking about the interview she was about to have…in Texas of all places .

  She parked her snowmobile beside the church, and got off to walk through the Old West town. “The whole town is covered with lights every Christmas, and on Christmas Eve, we do a huge tree lighting ceremony. Legend has it that the first Westons to settle on the ranch started the tradition, and now it’s shared by Westons, employees, and guests alike. It’s my favorite thing .”

  “Do you stay here for Christmas, then?” Max was surprised by that, because she spoke so highly of her family. He’d have thought she’d want to spend the holidays with them .

  “It’s strange, because I never thought I’d want to spend the holidays here, but the ranch family becomes your family at Christmas. It doesn’t matter if it’s your first Christmas here, or your twentieth. We have families of guests that come year after year so they can take part in the ranch festivities, which are pretty amazing .”

  “And you don’t go home to your family ?”

  She shrugged. “Sometimes they come up for the holidays to see me, but no one really minds if they don’t. They know I’m happy here. We usually celebrate Christmas while I’m there for Thanksgiving.” She looked over at him. “Who do you celebrate with ?”