Pepper sat behind the carved desk in the lobby, studying the registration list on her computer."Hey, Cilla?" she called."What's up?" Cilla hurried in from the kitchen, carrying two iced teas.Breakfast was over, the kitchen cleaned, and Mary Tierney was working her way through the bedrooms and bathrooms. The weekend guests had all left, and the next group wasn't due to arrive until the next day."When did all these reservations come in?" She continued to scroll through the program."Oh." Cilla read the screen over Pepper's shoulder. "We had a slew of calls yesterday afternoon while you were out. Did I do it wrong?""No. You did great. I'm...I don't know where they are all coming from all of a sudden. Can you believe it? We're booked up for the next four months.""Isn't it exciting?" Cilla laughed and squeezed Pepper's shoulder. "Word of mouth, I guess. Or maybe those listings you've been placing on travel sites are finally paying off.""Maybe. It just seems so weird, you know

Part Two: A Touch of MagicThe Story ContinuesMaddie Woodward concentrated fiercely on navigating the narrow highway that led out of town out to the ranch. In her small compact she would have felt at ease but the big SUV was still new enough to be challenging.Had she made a mistake buying it? Just as she might have made a mistake in her other recent decisions?No. I won't play that game. I made up my mind and I'm doing this. No matter what.The moment the arched rock entrance of the road leading to the house came into view, with the Flying W in wrought iron swinging slightly in the breeze, her heart stuttered.Home!That was all she could think. She was home. And she didn't plan on ever leaving, no matter what her sisters said or tried to talk her into. She'd burned her bridges to make sure there was no going back.She stopped for a moment to look at the familiar brand, the wings of the W looking like angel's wings, and she thought how appropriate it was for Christmas. But

Maddie had carried in one suitcase, the one with the things she'd need right away and left everything else until she was in a better mood. Heaving it onto the bed in her old room, she yanked open the zipper with an angry tug and flopped back the cover. She stomped around the room as she unpacked the clothing and toiletries, her anger building with each step, each task.How dare Ty Blackwell even talk to anyone about the sale of the ranch when the will still wasn't probated. So he had a power of attorney that allowed him to see the place was taken care of. So what? So Liza and Jenna wanted to sell the ranch. Again so what? What gave anyone the right to do anything until she'd had her say? And putting Zach Brennan in charge just absolutely frosted her.She dropped to the edge of the bed, hugging a pile of clothes to her chest. The ranch was all she'd thought about since her parents were killed. It was in her blood. She was the only one of the three girls to compete in barrel racing. Th

Maggie had avoided going out of the house all morning. Instead she hauled all the Christmas decorations into the living room and began hanging the ornaments on the tree. Trying to get herself into the holiday spirit and out of her depression, she put on a CD of Christmas carols and made herself sing along with them in her off-key voice. It took her most of the morning but by noon when she stepped back to look at it, the tree looked as close to what she was used to as she could make it. When she plugged in the lights she felt tears threaten again but deliberately forced them back. She didn't intend to spend the entire holiday season like a watering pot. She'd already done that enough yesterday and what a disaster that had been.But when she found the three stockings in a box and hung them up on the fireplace mantle, she couldn't hold back the tears. She just stood staring at the remnants of her youth and letting the tears roll unheeded down her cheeks. Finally she dug a tissue out of h

Maddie was up first in the morning, making coffee and warming cinnamon rolls. The coffee had just finished brewing when Liza came into the kitchen butterscotch hair brushed to a sheen, a startling contrast to the black wool slacks and silky sweater she wore."You look more like you're going to a funeral than a meeting with an attorney," Maddie teased. But then, at the word funeral, her eyes filled with tears."Oh, punkin." Liza enfolded her in her slim arms. "It's okay. We'll get through this and everything will settle out."Maddie brushed away the tears that wouldn't seem to leave her and gave Liza a watery smile. "I know. I leave it all in your capable hands."Liza's face turned serious. "Just a word to the wise, okay? It wouldn't hurt to mend your fences with Zach.""Just like you're going to with Ty?" Maddie interrupted.For a moment Liza had a faraway look in her eyes. "Maybe it's time for all of us to put the past where it belongs. And I mean all of us. Just a thought, okay