Free Home For Christmas (A Copper Mountain Christmas) by Melissa Mcclone Page B

cookies. The ones you left at the ranch are… gone." He threw a nasty look at Ty.
    Rachel ignored it, but the flattery these guys heaped on her cooking built her confidence. She'd smiled more this week than in the entire year before. She motioned to the plastic containers on the back table. "Take your pick, Zack. And thank you for—"
    "You're going to be selling the cookies and houses that took hours for Rachel to create," Nate addressed Ty and Zach with a firm voice. "Not stuffing your faces. Got it?"
    Ty snagged a gingerbread angel, then reached into his pocket and tossed a dollar on the table. "Sure thing, boss. Looks like business is good, sis."
    "No complaints," she said.
    Zack eyed a cookie. "We'll sell tons of stuff."
    She handed him an angel to eat. "The price list is on the back table along with extra stock, supplies, and the cash box. If someone buys cookies, pick them up with the tongs, wrap them in tissue paper and put them into a white box. Tie a ribbon around it."
    Zach frowned. "No one mentioned anything about ribbon tying. Only gingerbread. And snow bunnies." He shot another evil look at Ty.
    What was it with these two?
    Ty rolled his eyes. "I'll tie the ribbons. I've tied enough in Rachel's hair."
    "That was years ago," she said.
    "Doesn't seem that long ago." Ty moved behind the table. "You must be hungry if those are the only instructions you're giving us."
    She placed her hands on her hips. "So one of you thinks I'm paranoid, and the other thinks I'm bossy."
    Zach made the timeout sign. "I'm staying out of this one. I had to make my own lunch today. I'm not used to that since Rachel came. I'm mentally and physically exhausted."
    "Yes, you're bossy." Ty didn't spare his buddy a glance. "But only when something matters to you. Go eat. Zach and I have everything under control."
    "Damn straight we do." The cowboy grinned. "Especially the cookies."
    She took a step back toward her booth. "Maybe—"
    "Nope." Nate took her arm. "They only need to be told once. You're coming with me."
    Rachel found herself being pulled past the tree shaker machine, the twining machine and the long line for a ride in a quaint, horse drawn sleigh driven by Carson. The horse, a pretty chestnut mare named Star, wore bells.
    In between a line of trees decorated with multicolored lights, she glimpsed tables. A family sat at one drinking cocoa and eating her cookies. "I didn't know there was a picnic area."
    "You haven't had a chance to walk around."
    "It's been busy this morning."
    "Good thing you've got me to show you." He led her through the trees then placed the cooler on one of the empty tables. "Sit."
    Rachel did, because having someone else make her meal was a treat she was determined to savor. "What's on the menu?"
    Nate removed a plastic container and spoon. "Chili."
    "One of my favorites."
    "I know. I asked Ty."
    Rachel didn't want to be impressed, but she was. She was also starving and would rather eat than question Nate. She removed the lid and dug in.
    "It's not homemade," he said.
    "Doesn't matter." The chili heated her from the inside out. "Tastes great. Perfect for a winter day like today."
    He handed her a rectangle wrapped in aluminum foil. "Cornbread. I made it with a mix. Added can of jalapenos. Yours is better."
    "Don't be so sure of that." Mix or not, cornbread—the entire lunch—took effort.
    Thought.
    Her chest tightened. A lump burned in her throat. Nate made her feel so special. This whole day—trip, really—had been one gift after another. Rachel unwrapped the cornbread, focusing on the foil to keep herself from crying or gushing over him. She noticed had had no lunch in front of him. "Aren't you eating?"
    "I ate at the ranch, but I'll keep you company."
    A thrill shot through her. "If you have to be somewhere…"
    "I don't."
    Good. She liked his company. They'd eaten other meals together. She took a bite of the cornbread. "Yummy, with a little heat from the peppers."
    "There's more if you want it." A