Winter Wonderland of Christmas Dreams (2025)

Winter Wonderland of Christmas Dreams (2025)

It has been a rough few months for Laura Schaffer and Hoss Cartwright. The entire town of Virginia City knew that Laura and Hoss were now an exclusive couple. And even though they weren't married yet, Hoss did move in with Laura to help protect the Schaffer Ranch, which he was also good at keeping it in top shape and doing the business end of it, since her father was always on the go. Hoss only had to promise to sleep in a different room for him to move in, which Laura's father knew that Hoss wouldn't be able to keep that commitment because he knew being away from Laura was too much for him to handle. John didn't really mind though, he knew those two would be getting married very soon, or at least he hoped they would anyway. Anyway, Laura and Hoss were at home, decorating it for Christmas, when Laura realized that they didn't have a tree to decorate, at least not yet anyway. And since Hoss didn't have much to do around the Ranch and was at home helping her decorate, she knew it was a perfect time to go out and get the tree.

So, Laura turned and looked at her beloved, who was just finishing hanging the Christmas balls across the garland that was hanging across the window. She could see the big smile on his face as she knew he loved Christmas so much. Finally, Laura broke the silence as she went over and stood beside him with one hand gently on her back. "It looks good Candyman," she said happily as she looked up at his work. Then she turned from the decorations to him, causing their eyes to meet and look deep into each other's eyes as she continued to speak to him again. "And now that the house is decorated with Christmas, don't you think it's about time we go get a tree so that we have something to put under the Christmas tree?" she asked him with a smile of her own coming through on her face. "Then when get it home, we will let it dry in the tree stand and I will get dinner on as well as start baking some Christmas cookies," she told him. "And then after dinner we can decorate the tree and hang our stockings up," she said. "And end the night with cuddles on the couch while watching a Christmas movie," she added still smiling and waiting for his response.

Re: Winter Wonderland of Christmas Dreams (2025)

Hoss stepped back from the garland, tilting his head as he gave his work one last look—but the moment Laura's voice reached him, his attention shifted completely.

That big smile of his softened into something warmer, deeper, as his eyes met hers.

"Well now..." he drawled gently, setting the last ornament in place before turning fully toward her. "If that don't sound like the finest plan I ever heard, I don't know what does."

He slipped an arm carefully around her, mindful of her as always, his hand resting protectively at the small of her back.

"A Christmas tree, a warm supper, cookies bakin'..." he chuckled low, shaking his head. "Reckon you're fixin' to spoil me clean rotten, Babygirl."

His thumb brushed lightly against her side in an absent, affectionate gesture as he looked down at her.

"And endin' the night with you on the couch?" he added, voice softening. "I wouldn't trade that for all the dances in Virginia City."

He leaned down just slightly, his forehead almost touching hers, his tone turning playful.

"But I gotta ask..." he murmured, a teasing glint in his eyes, "you plannin' on pickin' out this tree, or you want me to find us the biggest one on the whole mountain?"

He straightened just enough to grin at her.

"'Cause you know I ain't comin' back with no scrawny little thing. If we're doin' Christmas, we're doin' it right."

Then, giving her a gentle squeeze, he added warmly,

"Go on and grab your coat, Babygirl. I'll hitch up and we'll go find us a tree fit for you."

Re: Winter Wonderland of Christmas Dreams (2025)

Laura laughed softly, the sound warm enough to chase away the winter chill. Laura rested her hands against Hoss's broad chest as she looked up at him. "Honey, I know you are a big man," she started. "And I know you ways think that bigger is better," she said teasingly as her eyes were sparkling. "But I don't need the biggest tree on the mountain," she told him as she smiled tenderly as she reached up to smooth a stray look of his forehead. "All I want is one that feels right," she told him and then went on. "I want one that's full and pretty and one that looks like it belongs in our home," she told him as her gaze lingered on him for a while as her expression grew softer. Laura looked away for a few minutes as if she was deep in thought about something. Then Laura looked back up at Hoss and began to speak to him with a softness in her tone that would soothe even the crankiest baby. "Eric, my love," Laura started and then went on before she lost her nerve. "The truth is, I don't care too much about what the tree looks like, just so long as I'm out there finding it with you," she said as she was blushing a little bit. "I know that sounds corny," she told him as she looked away for a few minutes and then back up at him. "I just want our first Christmas as husband and wife to be a special one," she told him as she softly kissed his chest. That's when Laura finally let Hoss go and went over to the closet and got her coat. Once she had her coat on, Laura reached in and grabbed Hoss's coat, which she gave the coat to him as she began to speak to him again. "Besides," she told Hoss with a grin on her face. "There is only one big thing I want in my house is you," she said as she laughed as she was slipping her hand into his. "Now, let's get going. I have a lot still left to do. I must get supper, bake cookies, get the hot cider started, so it will be ready," she told him.

"Besides, I intend to be in my nice, warm home when the snow starts flying," she added as she took his hand into hers and smiled as she looked up at him with all the love in her heart. "Now come on, my handsome mountain man," she told him playfully and then warmly. "Let's go find our Christmas tree before someone else decides to claim the perfect one," she added as they walked out to Hoss's truck. Once Hoss helped Laura into his truck, he then went and got in and soon they were on their way to pick out the perfect Christmas tree. "And while I get supper and tend to make cookies and cider, you can get some wood in and start building us a nice, warm fire. Then you can get the decorations down and after supper and while we are sipping our hot cider, we can decorate the tree and put the lights on it," she told him as looked out the window for a while. She noticed the sky was starting to turn grey and that's when she knew that snow was on its way. Laura let out a sigh and then slowly moved over closer to Hoss, who was driving with one hand on the wheel and the other gently on Laura's leg. She wrapped her arm around him and then laid her head down on his shoulder. Neither one said anything for a while as Hoss continued to drive them to the perfect spot to find the perfect Christmas tree. Finally, after about an hour drive, they finally come to a place with all different sizes of Christmas trees. Once Hoss parked his truck, they both slipped out of the truck and looked at all the trees. Then Laura turned and looked up at Hoss with a huge smile on her face. "Ready to do this?" she ask him. Then without waiting for Hoss's reply, Laura went on walking ahead of Hoss, though she couldn't help but yell back to him. "Don't forget the chainsaw," she instructed him as she began to look at different trees and not liking any of the ones that she was finding. And the more she was looking the farther into the woods she was going, almost to the point that Hoss couldn't see her.