Sleigh Bells Ring Read online

  Sleigh Bells Ring: A Magical Cowboy Christmas Romance

  Jessica James

  Published by Jessica James, 2020.

  SLEIGH BELLS RING

  Jessica James

  SLEIGH BELLS RING

  Copyright 2020 by JESSICA JAMES

  www.jessicajamesbooks.com

  All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form.

  This is a work of fiction. Characters, names, locations, and events are all products of the author’s imagination. Any similarities to actual events or real persons are completely coincidental.

  ISBN 978-1-941020-36-4

  First Loves, Second Chances, and the Magic of Christmas!

  Escape to Painted Sky Guest Ranch, a luxury resort located in the enchanted

  small town of Noelle, Montana—where Christmas wishes really do come true.

  Returning to her family’s Montana ranch after a ten-year absence, Jordyn Dunaway pitches in to help her mother create the special holiday magic for which the exclusive ranch is renowned. But when she discovers that her best friend growing up—the man she has never forgotten—is employed as a ranch hand, the holiday season turns into something she never imagined.

  Chad Devlin was falling into a deep abyss after being medically discharged from the military. When his old employer invited him back as a ranch hand, he found himself recovering both physically and mentally...that is until he was blindsided by the return of the ranch owner’s daughter.

  The rocky relationship of the former best friends takes a back seat as the future of the family-owned ranch is threatened. If Jordyn and Chad don’t put their painful pasts behind them, they might lose the ranch they both call home. Can misunderstandings, mistrust, and lost years be forgotten when the magic of Christmas is in the air?

  Find out with the help of beautiful mountain vistas, warm Western hospitality, and the magical meaning of a special sleigh bell that ties both Jordyn and Chad to the past—and the future.

  Sleigh Bells Ring is an uplifting holiday romance that reunites best friends with the promise of a second chance during the holiday season. This sweet novella is sure to become a Christmas classic and one you’ll want to read again and again.

  Table of Contents

  Other Books by Jessica James

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  REVIEWS

  GET EXCLUSIVE

  Other Books by Jessica James

  Other Books by Jessica James

  AWARD-WINNING WOMEN’S FICTION

  LACEWOOD

  AWARD-WINNING SUSPENSE/THRILLERS

  PRESIDENTIAL ADVANTAGE

  DEADLINE

  FINELINE

  FRONT LINE

  PROTECTING ASHLEY

  MEANT TO BE

  AWARD-WINNING HISTORICAL FICTION

  ABOVE AND BEYOND

  LIBERTY AND DESTINY

  SHADES OF GRAY

  “Christmas waves a magic wand over the world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.”

  – Norman Vincent Peale

  Prologue

  Chad Devlin leaned one broad shoulder against the porch post of the bunkhouse as a limousine pulled through the elegant arched gateway. “Another guest just arrived for the Christmas gala,” he said to no one in particular.

  “Another city slicker you mean.” The man standing beside him sent a slug of tobacco onto the dirt near the steps as the car drove slowly up the gravel driveway to the main house about a hundred yards away.

  Chad lifted the hat off his brow and scowled at the brown smudge on the ground, but didn’t say anything. Judd had been warned by Mrs. Dunaway about spitting anywhere he pleased, any number of times. It wasn’t exactly the type of thing that wealthy folks wanted to see when they were getting away from it all on this high-priced luxury ranch in the middle-of-nowhere, Montana. And it wasn’t behavior that one would expect from a man who was in charge of dozens of ranch hands.

  With his eyes glued on the woman getting out of the car, Chad took a step forward, causing the coffee in his mug to slurp over the top. “Is that Jordyn Dunaway?”

  Judd let out a whistle as the long-legged blonde accepted the suitcase handed to her by the driver. “I’ve only seen pictures.” Judd leaned forward and squinted as if to lessen the distance between them. “You know her?”

  Chad grew silent and merely shrugged, angry that he’d expressed any emotion and let down his guard. He hadn’t seen Jordyn Dunaway since she’d left for a job in New York City more than a decade ago. Was that really her? Had she really come back home after all this time?

  The woman paused on the porch and swept the golden tumble of hair off her shoulders, an action that flaunted a regal confidence and stately poise. Chad mumbled under his breath as another splash of hot coffee breached the top of the trembling mug, burning his hand.

  Trying to slow the pace of his heart, Chad looked away and took a deep breath. Would Jordyn remember their last night together? Would she even remember him after traveling around the world and being away from the ranch for so long?

  His gaze went back to the main house, but the door had already closed behind her.

  Squeezing his temples, Chad tried to stop the memories. He even closed his eyes in a futile attempt to block the images that were branded in his mind as the best—and the worst—moments of his life.

  Chapter 1

  At Christmas, all roads lead home.

  – Marjorie Holmes

  Jordyn Dunaway opened the door to her childhood home and took a deep breath. It smelled just like she remembered...just like she’d expected—a heavenly combination of homemade cookies, buttery warm bread, and freshly cut pine from the long boughs that decorated the handrails of the grand staircase. A ten-foot tall Christmas tree, adorned with twinkling lights and embellished with brightly colored ornaments added to the charm and holiday atmosphere of the room.

  Drawing closer to the towering pine, Jordyn felt a smile tug on her face at the same time a tear welled in her eye. She couldn’t believe her mother had continued the tradition of trimming the tree with the same hodgepodge of holiday trinkets that Jordyn had used growing up, an eclectic assortment of baubles that seemed dissimilar, yet had one thing in common: Memories.

  Instant recollections of Christmases past flicked before her eyes, vivid yet unreal, recapping some of the happiest times of her life. This serene, inviting world contrasted so completely from the one Jordyn had just left, she wondered if she’d ever have the strength to leave here again.

  As Jordyn turned toward the warmth of the logs crackling in the stone fireplace, her mother came out of the kitchen wiping her hands on a lacy red apron. The silver-haired woman froze in place a moment, and then took a half step back. “Jordyn? Is it really you?”

  Jordyn didn’t answer until she’d dropped her bags and ran toward her mother. “Yes. I’m finally home! And it’s so good to see you!”

  “I’ve missed you so much.” Her mother returned the enthusiastic embrace, and then pushed her to arm’s length to study her. “You look even better in person than you do through the computer thingy. You’ve hardly changed.”

  “Real
ly?” Jordyn laughed. “Because if I look as tired as I feel, then you’re only saying that because you’re my mother.”

  Mrs. Dunaway took her arm and led her into the kitchen. “Why don’t you have a cookie and some warm milk and go straight up to bed. The next few days will be long ones, and you probably have jet lag.”

  “You’re right about that.” Jordyn nodded. “I was hoping to have a full week to help you get ready for the Gala—” She stopped in the kitchen doorway and took a long, deep breath as she absorbed the scene. “There were times I didn’t think this day would ever come...that I’d ever get back to Painted Sky Ranch to stand in this room again.”

  She gazed lovingly around the oversized kitchen and saw that nothing had changed here. It was as if time had stopped during her long absence and allowed her to step in and pick up where she’d left off.

  Racks of Christmas cookies and gingerbread men sat on the counters cooling, while a rolling pin and a large pile of dough lay idle on a wooden table to the side.

  She glanced at her mother, who was already leaning over an open oven door. Anticipating her next move, Jordyn cleared a place on the table for the fresh batch of cookies. “How can I help you pull things together before Saturday? I know you’ve been doing this for more than thirty years, but it’s still a lot of work for one person...”

  Jordyn’s voice trailed off noticeably as she thought about the hole left by the loss of her father. He would have been up since the crack of dawn making sure everything was perfect for the largest holiday party in the region. Jordyn’s heart broke all over again at his loss.

  Shawn Dunaway had always been bigger than life to her—and to everyone he met for that matter. He was the type of man everyone learned from, leaned on, listened to, and loved. With a heart as big as the Montana sky, he’d bought this failing ranch and turned it into one of the most renowned and prestigious dude ranches in Montana. People came from all over the world to stay here and be treated to an all-inclusive array of special activities and amenities.

  But the ranch offered more than just top-tier luxury and extravagance. It provided a more intimate and family-oriented atmosphere than most other ranches, giving guests the impression they were extended family—not strangers. Generosity and kindness were part of Mr. Dunaway’s ethos, and everyone could feel it the minute they stepped onto the property.

  The impact of his benevolence was unmistakable...especially this time of year. Mr. Dunaway told everyone he created the “Painted Sky Grand Christmas Gala” to entice people to visit Montana over the winter months and holidays. But anyone who knew him understood that that justification was only partly the truth. The man loved Christmas and wanted a reason to share it with everyone he could. His joyful enthusiasm was contagious, and his love for the magic of Christmas was unforgettable.

  In fact, he’d bought this sixty-thousand-acre ranch located right outside the enchanting mountain town of Noelle because of the holiday-themed name of the friendly community. With his zeal for life and his dedication to bringing joy to everyone he met, it hadn’t taken long for him to become known throughout the region as Father Christmas.

  The first ball had been held thirty-two years ago with about a dozen people in attendance. Two hundred and fifty guests were booked for the Gala this Saturday, and they would be joined by dozens of volunteers and a handful of local organizations. Many of the attendees would be neighbors and friends coming from nearby ranches and towns—but some were coming from as far away as Europe and even beyond.

  Because of the significant impact the ranch had on the local economy, the Painted Sky Grand Christmas Gala had grown into a lavish social event for the entire town—and region—with part of the proceeds being donated to a different local charity each year. No one really called it by the full name anymore. Now it was simply known as “the Gala.” Not only did it give the local hardworking ranchers a chance to dress to the hilt and mingle with some of the most prestigious people in the world, but it brought extra money to dozens of businesses and charities.

  Jordyn’s thoughts drifted back to her father’s funeral in February. She’d flown in for the service in town, but with multiple flight delays from halfway across the planet, she’d only had time to attend the ceremony, meet a short time with family, and get back on another plane. She’d never even made it back to the house to mourn with her mother.

  “It’s mostly under control.” Mrs. Dunaway interrupted her thoughts. “Some ladies from town are decorating the Lodge right now, and you probably saw all the outdoor decorations when you came in.”

  Jordyn nodded, recalling the wreaths that hung from every window of the large log home, and the pine swaths and red ribbon wrapped around the porch railing. “I haven’t seen the Painted Sky tree yet, but everything looks beautiful.”

  She smiled as she thought about the iconic tree, which was a unique holiday feature all by itself. People came from miles around to see the eighty-foot high spruce that stood in the center of a cluster of cabins, all of which would be decorated from top to bottom. The tree itself was one of the features that had drawn her father to this piece of property. He’d laid out the cabins and the “Lodge,” a gigantic recreation building and dining hall, with the magnificent tree as the focal point.

  From the very first year he owned Painted Sky, Mr. Dunaway had been the grand marshal of an official tree-lighting ceremony in November that kicked off the holiday season. The day always included a trail ride to the river, followed by a bonfire, hot chocolate, and marshmallow roasting activities.

  “Oh, and I almost forgot to tell you...” Mrs. Dunaway paused as she leaned down and slid another rack of cookies into the oven. “Kristy is in the dining room decorating cookies with Lisa and Lori Connor.”

  The sound of laughter echoed from the room just then, causing Jordyn to walk the short distance to the doorway. “Oh my gosh. You’re all really here.”

  The three startled women turned around from their work and stood speechless a moment. Finally, the one in the center, a petite brunette wearing a festive red sweater, shrieked. “Jordyn? Jordyn Dunaway?”

  Jordyn smiled as her best friend from high school ran and gave her a big hug, followed by the twin sisters Lisa and Lori, who were a few years younger.

  “Didn’t Mom tell you I was coming home?”

  Mrs. Dunaway stepped into the room. “I didn’t want to get anyone’s hopes up, honey...in case...you know...you didn’t make it in time for the Gala.”

  Jordyn nodded. Once again, flight delays had made her three days late from her planned arrival here. She’d come close to missing the event completely, and would never have made it if she hadn’t made some desperate calls to business acquaintances with private jets.

  “Did you tell her—” Kristy stopped in mid-sentence, giving Jordyn the feeling her old friend had received a signal from her mother who stood behind her.

  “Tell me what?” Jordyn turned around and looked at Mrs. Dunaway, who was standing with her hands innocently by her side.

  “A-a-bout all the plans for the Gala, of course,” Kristy brushed some cookie sprinkles off her hands as if suddenly anxious. “This is going to be the biggest and best one yet!”

  “I’m not sure how it can get any bigger or better than when dad was here.”

  “Oh, but it is,” Kristy said. “We’ve added so many small events during the day...and you probably don’t even know that twelve more cabins have been built over by the river.”

  Jordyn shook her head. “I hardly recognized the stretch of road after the turn-off on the way in. But the ranch house and barns look just like the old days.”

  “We planned it like that.” Mrs. Dunaway spoke from inside the kitchen as she moved effortlessly from stove to sink to a large old-fashioned storage cupboard. “We wanted the tradition of the main house to remain, but we had to add more rooms to accommodate all the people who want to stay. And your father envisioned those cabins for the fly fisherman since the very beginning.”

  “
And guess what?” Kristy spoke excitedly, as if she’d just thought of something. “The forecast is for a dusting of snow over the next few days! Can it get any more perfect than that for a holiday party?”

  With practiced ease, she piled some finished gingerbread men into a large jar as she talked. “Your mother said there are a few dozen people coming to the ball who have never seen snow before. Can you imagine?”

  The statement caused Jordyn to smile. A dusting of snow would contribute perfectly to the magical party that was lovingly created year after year. Luckily, only one bad blizzard had hit them during the entire run of the event. They’d ended up losing electricity, causing it to turn into an entirely different celebration than what everyone had planned. But with her father’s leadership skills and her mother’s positive spirit, the guests had all agreed it was one of the most memorable nights of their lives.

  “I see you guys have been busy.” Jordyn swept her hand in the direction of the table that was lined with dozens and dozens of cookies—some decorated, and some still waiting for the addition of sprinkles and icing. She grabbed one and sat down. “I was planning to take a walk around the property—maybe even saddle up Blackjack for a quick ride—but I honestly don’t think I have the energy. A hot shower and bed sound more like it.”

  “You’ll have time to do all that.” Her mother bent down and gave her a peck on the cheek. “I can’t tell you how happy I am that you’re staying for a whole week...but I wish it were longer.”

  “A week?” Kristy frowned. “That will fly by in no time!”

  “I know it will.” Jordyn stood and gave her best friend another hug. “What time will you be here in the morning? We need to catch up.”

  She studied her friend who didn’t appear any older than the last time she’d seen her. Kristy’s brunette hair was pulled back in a ponytail, accentuating her high cheekbones and the two dimples that made her look like she was always smiling. There was no sign of the stress and sorrow she’d been through at having lost her husband to cancer. It was hard to believe she was a widow at the age of twenty-nine.