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Helen was now peering at me with narrowed eyes. “Goodness, you’re the drummer, aren’t you? My granddaughter has the biggest crush on you. She printed out a photo of you at a concert and hung it on her wall. She can spot a hunky man, just like her Grammie Helen.”

I busied myself by looking through a stack of caps, choosing a green one.

“Oh, that’s a good one for you,” Luci said. “Matches your eyes.”

“You think?” I tugged it over my hair, grinning at her.

“Looks good,” Luci said.

“You two make quite the handsome couple,” Helen said. “And isn’t it nice that you keep it in the band family? Your brother must be thrilled to have his sister and his drummer together.”

“We’re not together,” I said, way too quickly. I regretted it the minute I saw the light go out in Luci’s eyes. However, it was only a split second, replaced by a polite smile.

“You’re not?” Helen asked, forehead wrinkling. “Goodness, I must be off my game. Usually I can spot two people in love like it’s an Olympic sport.”

“Sorry to disappoint you,” Luci said.

“You know what they say about that ranch, don’t you?” Helen asked, resuming her knitting.

“What’s that?” I had to ask.

“There’s something in the food or water or air out there. Stella Moon, the matriarch of the Moon family, could give you the stats, but I believe the number of folks who met and fell in love on the ranch grows every year. She said some try to resist, but it happens anyway.”

I snatched the green cap off my head and set it on the counter. “We’ll take this.” And then, God knows what possessed me, I grabbed the pink baby cap with the bunny ears as well as a rose pink blanket. “These two as well.”

“Planning ahead. Very wise.” Helen stood, setting her knitting aside.

Luci glanced at me, one eyebrow raised.

“They’re pretty,” I said, as if she’d asked.

“Might I suggest a scarf for you, Miss Luci?” Helen asked. “Your neck’s looking awful bare. On the house.”

“Oh, no, thank you,” Luci said. “I don’t need anything.”

“Nonsense. A pretty girl like you should have pretty things to wear. Especially given those boots. Wayne sell you those?”

“He did,” Luci said. “My feet are toasty, but my sense of fashion has been assaulted.”

Helen chuckled, as she reached for a lavender scarf. “This one. It’ll complement your complexion.”

I handed her a credit card and waited for her to wrap everything up in tissue and put it in a bag stamped with Helen’s Handknits. Meanwhile, Luci had wandered back over to the baby section, fingering a tiny pair of mittens.

“Okay, all set?” I asked, once everything was paid for and safely inside the bag.

“Put your hat on first,” Luci said.

I took it out of the bag and put it back on my head. Luci drew close, tugging on each side of the hat to pull it over my ears. “I happen to like these ears of yours so best we keep them bundled up.”

I couldn’t breathe or talk with her only inches from me, so I just nodded, then followed her out of the booth.

“Merry Christmas,” Helen called to us.

“Merry Christmas,” we both said at the same time.

We spent the next half hour or so wandering the area, looking at various items. I bought a few Christmas gifts and Luci chose an ornament to give Jack and Ivy for their first Christmas together. It was a bulb with musical notes etched into the side.

“Who’s the baby stuff for?” Luci asked as we walked to the parking lot to wait for Thad.