Chapter 6 The Thing About Secrets

The Carson brothers' cowboy comedy routine was an instant success. Willa and Angel Castellanos had done an incredible job of getting the word out about the new show on such short notice. The dinner theater was packed to capacity every night for two weeks straight. Tickets were quickly selling out for the third and last week of their performance. Particularly heartwarming was the steady number of special needs attendees in the audience — kids on crutches, kids in wheelchairs, kids wearing casts and braces.

The line for autographs after the show took nearly as long for the Carson brothers to work their way through as the show itself. In true Pinetop style, however, the local businessmen and women rose to the occasion.

One of the gift boutiques on Main Street worked straight through the night after the first night of the show, printing out commemorative rodeo t-shirts and ball caps. The next day, they negotiated a deal with the Carson brothers to produce a line of merchandise branded specifically to their Dude Ranch Central show.

"Bro! We have our own merch," Flint crowed the moment he saw it.

Nash was excited about it, too, but he was even more excited about another project in the works — a custom designed gift for Noelle. The Music Box theme of her Air BB suite had served as the inspiration behind the idea. Since the Merry Woodmakers were the master designers behind the holiday BB suites, they were the ones he'd asked to commission the gift.

This morning after breakfast, he was scheduled for his second super secret consultation with them to finalize the sketches for it and make his first down payment. He was hoping the gift would be finished in time to give to Noelle for her birthday in June.

As he, Noelle, and his brothers had fallen into the habit of doing, they met on the sidewalk outside Santa's Toy Factory to head to breakfast together. Though they kept saying they were open to trying new places, they usually ended up at the Gingerbread House.

To Nash's dismay, Noelle was dressed in riding clothes, which probably meant she would soon be on her way to Bear Mountain Ranch. Though she made frequent visits to Shelly out there, she usually didn't do it in riding clothes. Apparently, something was different about today's visit, something that already had his teeth on edge.

Before he could ask about her plans for the day, Flint announced, "I'm in the mood for chicken and waffles." He raised his arms over his rangy frame and did a few funky twists this way and that to pop his back.

"Do you mind?" Ames gave him a dirty look as they started walking down the sidewalk. "You sound like a bag of potato chips breaking."

"I don't think they serve waffles at the Gingerbread House," Noelle mused in an airy voice. "Just breakfast danishes, muffins, and croissants,"

Nash knew she was hoping to distract his brothers from yet another bickering session. He wasn't sure she would succeed, but he had to applaud her for trying. During his brothers' last disagreement, Flint had nearly ended up with a black eye. He and Ames were growing more edgy and restless by the day, making Nash worry that their indoor rodeo gig in Pinetop wasn't enough of a challenge for them. As former bronc riding champs themselves, they were accustomed to bigger cities, noisier crowds, and much higher stakes — the life or death kind.

As am I.

Nash was still adjusting to the slower pace of their respective careers, as well. It was a big change for all of them. He thought he was doing a pretty good job of it so far. His patience with his brothers was the only thing running a little thin.

He could only hope they didn't spend so long debating this morning's breakfast venue, that they might've already been seated and placing their orders. Though it was shaping up to be a warm day, he and his brothers were rarely caught in anything other than their jeans, boots, and Stetsons. Today was no exception. Though they'd never specifically agreed to do so, they were all wearing different Dude Ranch Central t-shirts. Why not? It was free advertisement.

"I know of a place where they serve exactly what I'm hankering for." Flint's voice grew testy. "Laura Lee told me about it."

"Laura, the elf, eh?" Ames's demeanor grew equally testy. "Wasn't aware you two were breakfast buds."

"Not sure why you care," Flint retorted.

"I don't. Just thought you'd made it pretty clear you weren't into women who jingle when they walk," Ames shot back.

Nash fully expected them to start tearing into each other like savages after that, but Flint merely burst into guffaws. "You're right. I'm not. But this particular Jingle Bell seems to be into you, bro." After dropping that bomb, he took a few steps back, holding up his hands in defense. "Don't shoot the messenger. I don't start gossip. I just repeat it."

Noelle erupted into giggles. "Why did I always assume it would be so cool to have a brother?"

"Bet you're extra glad you're an only child now," Ames growled, red-faced, dropping into a boxing stance and bouncing towards Flint on the balls of his feet. "The rest of y'all go on ahead. I'm gonna hang back and teach this little gossip a lesson."

Nobody except Flint moved.

He danced nimbly out of the way, lifting his fists to circle his brother like a buzzing bee. "In case anyone is interested, the place Laura told me about is called Peppermint Palace."

"Of course it is." Ames sent his first punch straight for his youngest brother's nose. Everything in this town is slathered in icing and dunked in sprinkles.

Flint ducked away from his fist. "Little slow this morning, gramps." He smirked as he continued his story. "I have it on good authority that they originally tried to name the place Ho Ho Hotcakes, but they got turned down by the city council."

Looking like he was trying not to laugh, Ames sent another punch his brother's way. This one lightly grazed the edge of Flint's jaw.

Flint's gaze glittered with suppressed excitement. He was clearly enjoying the ruckus he'd started. "Oh, and before I forget, Laura specifically invited us to join her and Lucy at Peppermint Palace this morning. Told ‘em it was a go and said all four of us would be there." He glanced at his watch, brazenly daring Ames to do his worst during his momentary inattentiveness. "They've been waiting for five or ten minutes already."

Ames lowered his fists in disbelief. "Exactly how long have you known about this breakfast rendezvous, Mr. Chicken and Waffles?"

Flint straightened his Stetson. "Since last night." He looked proud of the fact he'd kept his secret that long.

"And why are we just now hearing about it?"

"Because I didn't want to get beaten up before bedtime for setting you up on a date with Laura."

"You did what?" Ames made another swipe for his brother, but Flint took off running.

"This way to Peppermint Palace," he hollered over his shoulder. "First Avenue and Main if we get separated." He whooped and dug his heels harder into the pavement when Ames sprinted after him.

Nash and Noelle followed at a much slower pace. Every few steps, another giggle escaped her.

"I'm glad you think this is funny." Though Nash could understand why someone else might see the humor in the situation, the way his brothers were acting had him genuinely worried.

"It's roll-on-the-floor worthy. Cowboy comedy is most definitely your brothers' thing." She pressed the heel of her hand to her side. "Even when they're not trying to, they make me laugh so hard my side aches."

"Actually, I think they're bored out of their minds." It was his fault for allowing their brotherly pity for his condition to extend into this long of a hiatus from their own successful rodeo careers. "If I don't change up our routine at Castellano's soon, they're going to tear each other limb from limb. They need a bigger challenge. Something more physical." Something that would raise a sweat and make them tired by the end of the day.

He wasn't ready to cut them loose and send them back to the competitive circuit — not because he begrudged that their bodies were whole and that they stood a good chance of breaking all his personal best records…eventually. He just hated the idea of splitting up their family. After the death of their parents in his late teens, he'd seen to it that his younger two brothers had finished high school. Then they'd headed off to the rodeo together, made money together, and returned to Dallas to run a ranch together. During their biggest struggles, they'd always had each other. He never wanted that to change.

Noelle's expression grew thoughtful. "What do you have in mind?"

"I'm not sure yet. All I know is they're like restless bulls. They need something more challenging to sink their teeth into."

"After their latest antics, I can't deny that." She stepped closer to him to loll her head affectionately against his shoulder. "Do you think Flint really set Ames up on a date?"

"Probably." As naturally as breathing, Nash slipped his bionic arm around her and tugged her closer. It felt good holding her, so good that he was in no hurry to stop. "I'm betting there's more to it, though. It's Flint we're talking about here. Knowing him, he's angling to ask out Laura's sister or something." Unfortunately, neither of his younger brothers had enjoyed the benefit of a mother figure to guide them through that segment of their lives. When it came to romantic relationships, they were like ships without sails drifting on a choppy sea. Yeah, they got plenty of attention from the ladies, but they didn't seem to know what to do about it.

"Small town," Noelle reminded in a stage whisper, tugging his hand away from her waistline.

"Right." Though he dropped his arm, he added, "You started it."

Another chuckle pealed out of her. "We're starting to sound like Ames and Flint."

"Not even," he growled. "You're much nicer and way prettier." The way her lips parted and cheeks turned rosy told him that their friendship pact hadn't rendered her entirely immune to him as a potential boyfriend. It gave him hope they might stand a chance of turning their friendship into something more once she was finally past her fears of being sidelined by a rebound relationship.

Around the next corner, Peppermint Palace rose in front of them.

Nash dubiously eyed the cylindrical structure. "Only in Pinetop," he muttered.

The building had been painted to look like a gigantic stack of pancakes with a few additional palatial details, like its peppermint drawbridge.

Noelle smiled in empathy. "The entire town looks like it belongs in a theme park, doesn't it?"

"That's one way of putting it." Nash didn't have anything against the holidays, so he wasn't sure why the place rubbed him the wrong way. It just did.

"It's extra beautiful when it snows here," Noelle mused. "It's like walking through a postcard." She sent him a dreamy smile, which abruptly faded. "I shouldn't have said that." She placed a hand on his forearm. "I'm so sorry!"

He glanced down at her hand, liking how it looked on his arm. In that moment, he could think of no reason whatsoever for her to be apologizing.

She dug her fingers in a little. "I can only imagine how the sight of snowcapped mountains might make you feel. How many bad memories they might stir after, um…" Her voice dwindled uncertainly.

Ah. "The accident."

"Yes." She whispered the word.

He replayed the details leading up to his near-fatal skid off the highway, but all he felt was grateful. Grateful to be alive. Grateful to be reunited with his brothers. Grateful to have Noelle in his life.

"Talk to me," she pleaded softly. "Tell me you forgive me."

"For what?" He gave her an incredulous look. "The accident gave me you!"

She looked stunned. Then her eyes slowly filled with tears. "You lost a lot that day, Nash. I'm not insensitive to that."

"I gained a lot, too." Ignoring their surroundings, he laid his flesh and blood hand over hers, the one that was capable of feeling every rapid beat of her pulse. "Given the choice, I wouldn't undo one thing that has happened to me. Not since it got us to where we are now."

He glanced away from her brimming gaze before he blurted out something she probably wasn't ready to hear, like how fast and how hard he was falling for her. He stared into space for a moment. Then the world came back into focus — all the couples walking hand in hand, the happy chatter of children, and the occasional yip of a dog.

Out of nowhere, the truth hit him about what disturbed him so deeply about the idyllic little Christmas town.

Noelle tipped her face up to his. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong per se. It's just that everybody here in Pinetop belongs to somebody. Everybody except me and my brothers." He waved a hand irritably at all the chattering families crowding the sidewalks. Though they had every right to be happy, their happiness inevitably underscored all the things he was missing in his life.

It wasn't something he'd thought much about while performing on the rodeo circuit, surrounded by friends, sponsors, and groupies. It wasn't something he'd thought much about at Canyon Creek Ranch, either. When he was home, he was surrounded by his brothers and their ever-growing ranch staff, many of whom had become like family to him. He had no family ties in Pinetop, though. He was nothing more than a visitor here. A stranger. Just a guy passing through a place that practically reeked of family and home. It made him miss his parents all over again, so much that his heart ached.

"I can see how Pinetop gives off that vibe." Noelle's smile was sad. She spun away from him in a slow circle, walking backwards for a few steps. "It's what appeals so much to tourists. A place where people can relive their favorite childhood memories, like smelling grandma's fresh-baked cookies again." She made a rueful sound as she pivoted back in his direction. "But you're not the only one who feels alone here. If anything, having my parents in town makes me feel even more alone since we're not close. That's why it wasn't hard for me to leave."

"I'm sorry," he muttered, wishing he hadn't brought up the subject. Unlike her, he'd been close with his parents. He would give anything to spend one more day with them.

"It's not all bad, I guess." She frowned thoughtfully. "I think my strained relationship with them has made me more careful who I choose to bring into my inner circle." Her smile returned, chasing away her momentary jaunt into melancholy. "Just for the record, I chose you, cowboy. As my friend, my accountability partner, and my plus one."

Her words touched him deeply, settling into the darkest, loneliest crevices of his heart. "I chose you back," he assured huskily. Then he swept an arm out gallantly to usher her ahead of him. "We should probably cross the peppermint bridge together before they send out a search party for us." He snorted as soon as the words left his mouth. "Can't believe I just said that out loud."

"It's very Pinetoppy, isn't it?" Her gaze sparkled with mischief as she swept past him onto the bridge. Garlands were draped from the railings on either side of them. "Don't worry. Your man card is very much still intact, cowboy."

The way she was looking at him made him want to yank her back into his arms, right there in the middle of tinsel town, and kiss her silly.

Instead, he got the pleasure of following the most beautiful cowgirl in the west into the most ridiculously painted eating establishment he'd ever laid eyes on.

The interior of the restaurant was just as over-the-top as the exterior. It was drenched in pink and teal paint, chrome furnishings, and throwback black-and-white tile. The wait staff was zipping around on roller skates with 1980s style hair and clothing.

Flint caught their attention by standing and waving with both hands, beckoning them toward a table on the right. Ames was seated beside Laura, one of the lovely elves from Santa's Toy Factory. Flint had managed to snag the chair between her and her sister, Lucy.

That figures! Maybe it was youngest brother syndrome or something, but he'd always been especially skilled at being the center of attention.

Lucy was talking animatedly with both hands, leaning around him so she could maintain eye contact with her sister. Flint winked knowingly at Nash as he sank back into his chair between the two lovely women.

"Like King Solomon and his harem," Noelle snickered in a low voice.

Nash snorted. "Yeah, Flint's not very subtle."

"What took you so long?" Flint grumbled a few good-natured insults at Nash as he led Noelle to the table and pulled out one of the empty chairs for her. They seated themselves across from the others.

Laura and Lucy Lee eyed the newcomers expectantly, their gazes briefly flitting to his bionic arm before moving to Noelle. The petite Asian sisters looked enough alike to pass as twins. The only reason Nash could tell them apart was because Lucy's hair was dyed a translucent shade of blonde. It bore the faintest hint of violet.

"Thanks for joining us." Laura tossed back her much darker, shoulder-length locks, giving Ames a quick glance from beneath her eyelashes. "It feels like we've been trying forever to set this up."

"We appreciate the invite." Ames' tanned features reddened again, probably at the memory of Flint referring to it as a date. "Hopefully, Flint will quit crabbing about how long it's been since the last time he ate chicken and waffles."

Laura gave a musical laugh and leaned his way conversationally. "I just thought it would be nice to hang out with some other newbies in town. As pretty a place as Pinetop is, everybody else seems to be a twig on some mile-long family tree. In comparison, we feel like…I don't know. Transplants, I guess?"

Nash exchanged a surprised look with Noelle, since they'd been having almost the exact same conversation outside. When he tuned back into the conversation at the table, he found Flint trying a little too hard to show his appreciation for the Lee sisters' invitation.

"Anytime we're not in the rodeo ring," he announced grandly. "We're good for coffee breaks, ice cream breaks, breakfast, lunch?—"

"Yeah, yeah! We get the idea. You're desperate," Ames cut in sarcastically.

Flint whipped off one end of his paper straw covering and puffed it in his direction, catching him smack on the forehead.

Ames half rose from the table. "Why you little?—"

Lucy raised her hands in warning. "If you guys keep this up, we're gonna have to switch spots."

Flint grinned and gave her a two-fingered salute.

Though Ames lowered himself back into his chair, he pointed with two fingers to his eyes and the same two fingers at Flint as a warning.

In response, Flint lifted his soft drink and gave it a noisy slurp through the straw he'd unwrapped.

Lucy took a seat and nudged him with her shoulder to shut him up.

He slurped again for good measure.

She demurely reached for her straw, dunked it a few times in her water, then lifted it with a finger over the top to seal in a narrow sleeve of water. The next thing Nash knew, she was zinging the straw's icy contents in Flint's direction.

His youngest brother was too surprised to duck. His expression, as he stared down at the damp droplets on his t-shirt, was priceless.

Ames laughed the loudest. "Think you finally met your match, bro!"

Flint made a big show of wiping off his shirt, borrowing Lucy's napkin in the process.

She managed to get her hand beneath his on the napkin in her effort to stop him. Waggling his eyebrows playfully at her, he subsequently used both her hand and her napkin to dab at his shirt.

"Jerk," she hissed, but she was laughing when she said it.

Nash liked the fact that she seemed to understand Flint was only horse playing. Yeah, he might have a little growing up to do yet, but he was a cowboy with a heart of gold. If the Lee sisters were truly looking for friendship, Flint would be as faithful as a puppy dog in that arena.

"This is nice," Laura sighed, folding her hands and glancing happily around the table.

"Nice?" Ames growled out the word. "Maybe without that joker in tow." He jammed a thumb in his youngest brother's direction.

"No, really," Laura insisted with a chuckle. "Lucy and I spend most of our time chained to the furniture shop. I know we get to wear elf costumes and pose for pictures with kids all day, but it's still work." Her smile faded into a faint grimace. "It's a breath of fresh air to have an adult conversation now and then."

"Adult?" Ames traded an incredulous look with Flint. "You call this an adult conversation?"

She playfully swatted his shoulder. "You know what I mean."

While they waited for the wait staff to come take their orders, Ames cleared his throat and made an effort to steer their conversation more into the adult arena. "So what made you and Lucy decide to become furniture makers?

"That's the easiest question I've had all week." There was a world-weary note in her sigh. "Our parents are furniture makers, and their parents before them, and their parents before them. It's a skill set that's been passed down for generations."

He gave her a lazy smile. "If that's the easiest question you've had all week, what's the hardest?"

"Of course you Carson brothers would have to ask that!" She made a face at him. "One kid asked if my face was made from vanilla ice cream. Even though I told him no, he licked my cheek when I stooped his way to retrieve his derailed locomotive."

Everyone seated at their table erupted into laughter.

"I've been licked by a horse a few times," Flint volunteered after the hilarity died down.

"But horses don't know any better," she protested. "The kid who slobbered on me was at least six-years-old. He really should've known better."

"You'd think," Nash announced, giving his brothers an admonishing look.

Laura must've had her feet tucked beneath her chair, because Ames was able to kick Flint's outstretched legs under the table so hard that he winced. "Yeah, but some boys take a lot longer to grow up than others."

Flint snorted and kicked him back. "You're just mad you lost our race on the way here."

"It wasn't a race." Ames gave him a condescending look. "You were running scared, bro."

Flint scratched his chin and taunted, "Whatever I was doing, you failed to catch me."

"Did I?" Ames leaned menacingly his way.

"It's okay." Lucy stretched her slender arms out between them again. "The elves will protect you," she assured Flint in a loud whisper.

Another round of hilarity rose at her words.

Their waitress arrived to take their orders. After Nash and Noelle placed theirs, he scooted his chair closer to hers while the waitress made her way around the rest of the table. "What's up with the riding gear?"

"I'm heading out to Bear Mountain Ranch again. Where else?" Her eyelashes fluttered against her cheeks. "Shelly dropped some pretty big hints about how desperate they were for help right now. I don't think it's easy to recruit horse trainers to such a remote town."

He scowled at her. "So you're letting them guilt you into working your vacation away?"

"Brady hasn't asked," she said quickly. "I just wanted to go prepared. I was gonna have to kill a few hours anyway before tonight's show."

"You've earned this break." He studied her soberly. She put in long hours back at Canyon Creek Ranch, even on the weekends sometimes. "I was really hoping you'd catch some much-needed RR while we're away. Maybe read a book or get a little shopping in."

"Whatever you say, boss."

He shook his head in disgust at her. "You only call me that when you're trying to get under my skin."

"So quit getting under it." Though her voice was teasing, her green eyes flashed a warning at him. "Seriously, Nash. I tell you everything that's important. I don't need you breathing down my neck about stuff that's not important."

Whoa! He stared at her for a moment, pretty sure he'd just been told to back off. "Does that mean you don't want me to drive you there?"

"I would totally hitch a ride with you," she assured, "but I already have one."

His shoulders stiffened. "Brady?"

"Yes." She lifted her chin. "He's in town this morning and offered to swing by and pick me up on his way back to the ranch."

"Alright then." Nash glanced away from her, trying not to be angry that she was accepting favors from Brady of all people. Hadn't their entire friendship pact been formed to help her keep her distance from the guy?

"Aw, are Mom and Dad fighting again?" Flint's mocking voice wafted their way from the other side of the table.

Nash made a mental note to step up his youngest brother's workout regimen at the gym to punishing levels this afternoon.

"They say they're just friends, but they act like they're married," his youngest brother continued in the same mocking voice.

Lucy's eyes grew wide. "Keep that up, and this elf is officially withdrawing her protection." Her meaning was clear. She was going to leave him at the mercy of his brothers if he continued mouthing off like that.

"Throwing me back to the wolves, eh?" He shook his head, pretending to be disappointed in her. "I never knew elves could be so heartless."

She rolled her eyes and deliberately gave him her shoulder. Her gaze fell on Nash and brightened. "Laura and I made a few updates to our sketch to run past you this morning."

"Thanks." Though he kept his voice bland, he inwardly winced at her announcement. What they were planning was supposed to be a surprise for the woman seated to his right.

He watched Laura lean forward to catch Lucy's eye and give her a subtle head shake.

He quickly changed the subject. "Has designing toys always been your family's specialty?"

"Though that's what it often boils down to, our specialty is anything involving Christmas." She shot a teasing look at his brothers. "The rooms you're staying in were one of our non-toy-related projects."

Nash chuckled at his brothers' shamefaced expressions, knowing they'd be extra careful what they said about the holiday BB rooms going forward.

The rest of the meal passed in a haze of getting-to-know-you chatter. No question about it, the Lee sisters were nice. He could tell his brothers thought so, too. He could only hope that the friendships being furthered over the breakfast table this morning would help settle some of the restlessness he'd witnessed in them lately.

He felt Noelle's gaze on him a few times as she ate, making him long to ask what was on her mind. However, she'd made it clear earlier that she didn't want to be smothered by him. It was something he suspected might be tied to her poor relationship with her parents. He didn't know much about the situation, since she rarely spoke of them. All he knew was that she considered them to be overbearing and opinionated. Any time he came on a little too strong with her, she tended to pull back from him, too. He wasn't sure if she even realized she was doing it. It was like a built-in, self defense mechanism.

They ran into Brady on their way out of the restaurant. He was at the cash register, picking up a set of to-go meals.

He looked so surprised to see them that Nash could only assume their encounter was a coincidence. "Shelly had a craving for pancakes and maple syrup this morning," he announced sheepishly. "Gotta take care of my favorite office manager."

"Here. Let me get those." Noelle hurried forward to grab the cardboard beverage tote off the cabinet. It freed his hands to carry the stack of styrofoam boxes.

Nash reluctantly handed his credit card to Ames and peeled away from the group at the register. Speed walking past Noelle, he opened the door for her and said in a low voice, "Don't forget. I'm only a call or text away."

"You won't let me forget," she whispered back irritably. "Enjoy going over that sketch with the lovely Lee sisters."

So, she had heard Lucy's slip up. He shrugged, not sure why Noelle was making such a big deal out of a stinking sketch. "Gotta kill a few hours before the show." He tossed her own words from earlier back at her.

"I'm only a call or text away from you, too, cowboy." Looking inexplicably distressed, she sailed out the door ahead of him.

Nash stared after her, wondering why she thought he might need accountability advice during his appointment with Laura and Lucy Lee. Unless…

You've got to be kidding me!

His gaze flicked angrily back to her retreating figure. Did she honestly believe he was playing the field with the Lee sisters? Nothing could've been further from the truth. The only woman who held his interest these days was the one determined to keep him solidly in the friend zone.

He was still holding open the door when Brady stepped closer with his towering stack of to-go boxes.

"Thanks, man." Brady gave him a searching look.

"No problem." Nash's voice came out colder than he intended. It was killing him that the gift he'd been secretly designing for Noelle had backfired so thoroughly on him. He was half tempted to run after her and spill the details of what the Lee sisters were up to.

He didn't like having any secrets between them. Secrets led to distrust, and distrust could ruin a lot of precious things.

This is the last one, babe.

After this, he planned to be an open book with her. Between now and then, he planned to hit his knees and pray she wouldn't be scared away when she found out exactly how much she meant to him.