Page 1 of A Heart Falls Cowboy Christmas

A Psalm of Life

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

1

January, Silver Stone ranch

Laughter, warm and familiar, rolled between Caleb Stone and his best friend, Josiah Ryder, as they stood and shared a moment in the warmth of the Silver Stone horse barn.

Daily chores were a grind, but even the day in, day out work was made that much better because Caleb got to work with people he cared about. And a friend who was also a brother-in-law?

Life had turned out more than all right.

He pulled his thoughts back from his musings and met Josiah’s steady blue eyes. “Heard you plan to float teeth all week. Then move into vaccinations?”

Josiah’s chin dipped a second before a furrow formed between his brows. “I think that’s the plan. One sec.”

Caleb hid a smile as Josiah pulled a pair of glasses from his pocket and slipped them on to examine his calendar.

“Maybe you should do a few eye exams while you’re at it.”

Josiah peered over the top rim of the glasses and sighed. “Comedian.”

“It’s a new look for you,” Caleb said, his tone less teasing. “Doesn’t look bad, though.”

A snort escaped Josiah. “Wouldn’t care if it made me look like a clown. It’s getting harder and harder to switch between near and far. I swear the pharmacies are making the text on prescription labels smaller all the time.”

“Don’t tell me we’re getting older,” Caleb warned.

“Try and outrun time? Good luck. The only thing that makes it bearable is that we’re in this together.” Josiah smirked as Caleb protested lightly. “Not only you and me. Even Lisa is losing it these days. I keep catching her walking into a room, talking to herself, and she still can’t remember why she went in there.”

“That’s probably less that she’s getting older and more that she’s taking care of your three kids twenty-four seven, all under the age of five.”

Josiah’s chest puffed up. “God, those kids are awesome. And so’s Lisa. I mean, I get it. By the time we get them to bed in the evening, my mind is mush. No way could I deal all time like she does.”

“Maybe you should ask Lisa to come help you float the horses’ teeth for a vacation,” Caleb offered Josiah with a wink. “Seem to remember that was one of the first tasks she helped you with back in the day.”

“She’d jump at the idea, but to be honest, if we’re going to ask family to take on the kids for a getaway, I’m not making her work.” Josiah’s eyes lit up. “I’d take her somewhere special for a bit of peace and quiet.” Mischief slid in. “Somewhere I can spoil her rotten.”

Caleb slapped a hand on Josiah’s shoulder. “Good man.”

He didn’t say anything else, but a seed was planted. He’d talk it over with Tamara before they offered help, but there was another truth Caleb loved. Family working together happened outside the ranch buildings just as often as inside.

Josiah straightened, stretching lazily before tilting his head toward the nearest stall. “I’m going to dive in, but speaking of Lisa, she sent me a text. She needs the permits Tamara picked up in Calgary for the Community Centre project, but she forgot to remind her to bring them over.”

Caleb gave his own family schedule a mental run through.

Tuesday. Five-year-old Tyler was in playschool, which meant Tamara was running around town doing all the things on her unending list, including visiting her sister. “I can drop them off.”

“Thanks. The building committee has a meeting tomorrow night, and Lisa wanted to update the minutes so she’s ready.”

“No problem.”

They parted on an easy farewell. Caleb slipped into the house and found the file on Tamara’s desk. A few minutes later, he was down the drive and headed into town.

Dustin passed him, going in the opposite direction. His youngest brother waved and hit the horn, grin wide as anything as he turned into Silver Stone.

Sun shone off the clean white snow, the landscape turned into a brilliant winter painting by last night’s snowfall. The mountains to the west were fully dressed in snow and ice, and the blue sky so bright, the contrast was blinding.