Teacher's Christmas Cowboy (Trinity Falls Sweet Romance - Icicle Christmas #5)

Sylvester crowed with laughter, likely a result of all the sugary treats he’d had since they arrived. And the treats didn’t stop with the food. He was wearing a new Cassidy Farm sweatshirt under his jacket, since Ginny had worried he might be getting cold, and he had a pack of playing cards with the farm logo on them in the pocket, merely because his grandma had noticed him looking at them while they stood in line for the hoodie.

Cora didn’t mind. Children needed a little spoiling from time to time, especially where grandparents were involved. And besides, she didn’t dare say a word after she had already said no to the hayride.

Sylvester had been so excited to get in the bed of hay for a trip all around the farm. But she worried that so much hay would kick up his allergies. No amount of fun could be worth the risk of an asthma attack when they were out on a hayride a mile from the road.

But she had promised herself she would say yes to anything that didn’t put him in danger today. So hopefully that would be his only disappointment, and it would soon be forgotten.

They had already fed the ducks and even gone through a corn maze. Next up might be feeding some of the farm animals.

“Hey there,” a familiar voice boomed.

“Jared Webb,” Ginny said fondly. “I hear you’ve been teaching my grandson how to be handy around the house.”

Cora turned on her seat, and sure enough, there was Jared, smiling down at them. His cheeks were flushed from the cold and he looked more handsome than ever.

“He’s a quick study,” Jared said. “Right, Rocky?”

“Rocky?” Ginny echoed.

Sylvester melted into giggles. He was clearly tickled to death at the nicknames Jared insisted on calling him, especially Rocky, after Jared told him all about the movie that starred an actor who shared his name.

“Hey, I’m glad I bumped into you,” Jared said, turning to Cora. “Why don’t we use this trip to get your Christmas tree set up? I could throw one in my truck right now and swing over to your place with it.”

Cora bit her lip and gazed over at the beautiful cut trees on display by the plant nursery.

Her heart sank. How in the world had this obnoxiously kind man appeared just in time to force her to say no for the second time today?

She could sense Sylvester wiggling with joy beside her.

“That’s so nice of you, Jared,” she said. “But unfortunately, we can’t have a real tree because we aren’t sure how Sylvester’s allergies will react.”

Sylvester didn’t make a sound of complaint, and Ginny didn’t say a word, but Cora could feel the weight of their shared disappointment.

The trouble was that although she very much wanted to be a fun mom, she was the only parent he had—and it was her whole job to protect him.

“I’ve got an idea,” Jared said, his eyes lighting up. “We got our tree a couple of days ago, and we’re planning to decorate it tomorrow. Why don’t you guys come by? You can see how Sylvester does with the tree, and if he’s okay maybe you could stay for dinner. Mom always does a nice spread, and our friends and family all stop by when we do the tree, so there will be plenty for everyone.”

“Can we, Mom?” Sylvester asked, tugging on her sleeve excitedly.

Well, she certainly couldn’t say no a third time today. Not with Sylvester exploding with happiness at the idea and looking up at her with puppy dog eyes, and Ginny smiling beside him.

She glanced up at Jared and almost laughed out loud to see he was wearing the same puppy dog eyes as her son.

“Fine,” she said, smiling. “That’s a very nice offer, as long as it’s okay with your mom. Shoot me a text later and let me know if it’s okay with her and what we can bring.”

“It’s okay with her,” he told her. “And she’ll say to just bring yourselves. But I’ll text you later anyway, so you have no excuse not to come.”

“Yes,” Sylvester cried.

Cora tore her eyes from Jared’s. But as she turned to Sylvester, she caught Ginny giving her an appraising look.

Does she think something is going on between Jared and me?

The thought had her cheeks heating, which surely made her look even more suspicious.

“You’re invited, of course, Mrs. Davies,” Jared said. “I didn’t say it since we always see you over there anyway.”

“Oh, you know I’ll stop by,” Ginny said with a warm smile, and another glance at Cora. “I wouldn’t miss it.”