Her Billionaire Christmas Secret (Texas Ranch Romance Book 4)

by Sophia Summers

  Dani blew out air forcefully. “I’m going to get changed. You better too, that is not what you wear to a rodeo.”

  Peter looked over at Mary with a questioning look.

  “Just put on some jeans and a shirt and you’ll be fine.” She said.

  They all loaded up into two trucks. Sam went with Carson ,and Dani and Peter sat in the back seat with Mary and Henry in the front. It was just a couple miles down the road; they actually could have walked if they had wanted to take the time.

  Dani was sitting right next to Peter and even though she was determined to push aside any feelings she had for Peter until she was sure Sam was okay she couldn’t help remembering how safe and peaceful she felt in his arms. But that wasn’t all; the thrill of his kiss was something she would not forget for a long time. Her face flushed as she looked over at him.

  He reached for her hand, lacing their fingers. What was she going to do about Peter? Sam had to take first priority in her life now. But this physical pull was strong and she didn’t want to resist. And the emotional pull was even stronger. Peter felt like her other half.

  They drove up and parked. Mary and Henry jumped out of the car saying they would hurry and save their seats. Peter leaned toward Dani and pressed his lips to hers for what might have been a quick kiss, but neither pulled away. Dani clung to him, knowing they might not be free to pursue these feelings.

  The announcer’s voice blared out through the microphone. They were missing the rodeo. They scrambled out and ran to find their seats, Dani feeling like a teenager, stealing kisses in the back of a truck. But she couldn’t regret a single one.

  When they got to their seats Sam was not there. “Mom where’s Sam?”

  Henry leaned over. “He wanted to sit with Carson for the first half of the rodeo.”

  Dani leaned over to Peter. “I hope he’s still not upset.” She looked at her Mom. “Did he seem upset Mom?”

  Mary raised her eye brows and shook her head. “No he seemed very excited actually.” They announced the mutton Busting competition.

  Dani pointed to the sheep pens. “This is kind of cute Peter, you will enjoy this. I would never let Sam do this but it’s fun to watch the young kids try.”

  Peter eyed Mary who hadn’t heard Dani’s comment. They announced each child as they tore out of the pen on the back of a sheep, gripping whatever they could to stay on. They each wore a helmet which Peter was grateful for knowing how Dani was going to take this surprise. The riders lasted about 12 seconds each. Then the announcer said, “ Sam Woodlock riding the black dragon.”

  Dani stiffened, her eyes glued to the arena as Sam rode out on a black sheep bucking and bouncing and turning and twisting while her little Sam hung on for dear life. Thirty seconds went by and he was still hanging on. Twice as long as any other contestant. The announcer was screaming into the microphone, a new county record! Rodeo personnel ran out as Sam jumped off. The crowd went wild, everyone standing and cheering.

  Dani looked at Peter incredulous, it was the first time he had seen her speechless.

  “Your parents have a different definition of safety than we do Dani. We have known this for a long time.”

  Sam ran up to his mother and jumped into her arms. “Carson and I surprised you Mom and I won!”

  Then Sam jumped into Peters arms and gave him a long hug. “Did you see me out there?”

  “Yes you were wonderful Sam!” Peter could not help the tears in his eyes. Dani looked over and Peter could see all the anger in her eyes fade away.

  “You were wonderful Sam, I was so surprised.” She hugged him again. ”We should all go get an ice cream after to celebrate.”

  Carson showed Dani the pictures on his phone. “I will send them over. You have a champion on your hands. A real rodeo cowboy.” Carson showed the pictures to Sam. “I will frame the one you choose Sam and we will hang your first place ribbon on it.”

  Everyone was hungry by the time they got to the ice cream shop so they all ordered hamburgers. By the time they got back home there wasn’t much time to write so Dani and Peter took a walk around the lake.

  Peter was so happy for the reaction from Sam, for his hug. He could still feel his young and trusting arms around him. He squeezed Dani’s hand in his own. “That Sam is a special kid.” He wanted to tell her about all the gifts, all the years of getting his Christmas wishes from Santa, about picking out that red bike. He had loved Sam for years now.

  “Sam has not really had a chance to mourn for his Dad. I have been worried about that because it’s not healthy for him to keep it inside. How can he heal?”

  Peter saw that as another road block to their happiness. “Well Dani, if he doesn’t deal with it in an open way it could have lasting effects on his decision making and other important aspects of his life.” Peter was thinking specifically of his own problems. He reached his hand into his pocket to touch the arrowhead and coin.

  “Do you really think so?” Dani seemed even more concerned.

  Peter saw the snarling dog in his mind and relived the devastating words that were said. “Even when you know what is right in your life those early years can have a strong hold on your future.”

  “I would sacrifice my whole life in order to make it possible for Sam to have a good happy life.”

  Peter knew she meant it. Sam was the all-time project of her life. She was a wonderful mother. His estimation of her rose even higher. She kicked in the dirt. “I don’t know how long we are going to be working through things. My parents said you have someone special in New York. I don’t know how long it will take to make sure Sam’s going to be okay. You should probably move on and find your own happiness.”

  “Dani there has never been any one for me but you.” He put his arms around her shoulder and pulled her close. “Are you cold?” He rubbed her chilled arm and tried to warm her.

  “I have to ask, why then didn’t you answer my letters?”

  Peter knew he should answer or he would never hear the end of it. “The simple answer is I didn’t feel worthy of you.”

  Dani sat straight up, he could see she was in fighting mode now. “That is ridiculous!”

  “It may be but that was how I felt.” He didn’t add that he still worried about his danger to her happiness. He had lived with his aunt long enough now to clearly see what his mother could have become if not for his father. With worries for Sam, and his own concerns that he should stay well enough away drained some of his hope. “Let’s get back; it’s getting late and you’re shivering.” He pulled her up and took her in his arms and just held her. She laid her head on his chest, and he wanted to hold her there forever.

  “Thank you Peter, thank you for coming.”

  Peter walked Dani to the ranch house. Sam was wired when they got there, still reliving the mutton busting and probably working off several cookies.

  “Come on Sam let’s get to bed.” Dani hugged her Mom and Dad and said good night to Peter.

  Henry said he wanted to walk her down and make sure she was safe.

  As she was about to go out the door Dani looked back. “We have to set aside tomorrow for writing.”

  Peter stood at attention. “Yes Ma’am!”

  He heard her say, “Whatever!” and laugh.

  Peter slept better that night. It was not the sleep of a happy man it was a sleep of resignation to the possible end of his dreams.

  The next morning early there was knocking on his room door. “Are you awake in there Mr. Jacobs?” It was Sam.

  “Yes Sam just a minute.” Peter grabbed his bathrobe and opened the door. “Good morning. What’s up?”

  “Mom found out what happened to Oscar and Louelle!” He grabbed Peter’s hand and tried to pull him out of the room.

  “Wait a second, let me get dressed and I will be right down.” Peter quickly got on a shirt and jeans and carried his shoes down the stairs following after. At the bottom of the stairs he stopped to sit and put on his socks and shoes. “Okay where are we goin
g?”

  “To my house, come on.” Sam took off running. Peter started jogging. It was morning after all and he did enjoy jogging in the mornings. He had to chuckle and hoped Dani was in on this. He followed Sam into the house and into the office where he found Dani sitting in front of the computer.

  “Look Peter, it’s our kitties.”

  He squeezed her shoulder in welcome and she placed a hand over the top of his. Two huge cats stared back at Peter from the computer.

  She explained that the kitties grew to adulthood at the refuge center. Each time they took them out into the woods to let them go they would find them the next day sleeping on the front porch. They tried taking them farther away and it just took a day longer for them to return.

  They became popular with the community and people from all over came to visit the cougars. Soon there was a fund started in behalf of Oscar and Louella and the Seattle zoo agreed to take them in.

  Dani clicked on another image. There was a picture of the two grown cougars at the Seattle Zoo. A big sign was in front of their wilderness area that said Oscar and Louella and gave a little history of how they were found and by who. “We’re famous! And we can add this to our book.”

  “Well what do you know. I have thought about those two many times. This is a happy ending to a sad poaching experience.”

  Peter took a look at Dani in her morning mussed look and loved everything about the thought that he could wake up to this woman. If only. She was wearing pajama bottoms and a t-shirt under her bathrobe. Her hair was a mass of untamed curls sticking out everywhere and her eye makeup was smudged and yet she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. The spark in her eyes lit up the whole room with excitement.

  She looked up at Peter and pulled her bathrobe closer around her. “I guess we should shower and eat breakfast. Let’s work here today. The tree fort is good but getting down is a problem.” She gave him a sly smile.

  “I was thinking it’s the best part about that location.” Peter raised his eyebrows and nodded. ”But I will be back in about an hour, is that enough time for you?” He turned to leave.

  “I’ll see you before that; I think we will eat up at the ranch house this morning.” Dani got up to turn the printer on. “I want to print this story and the pictures.”

  “Okay Sam I’ll see you at breakfast. Thanks for coming to get me.” He winked at Dani and left.

  Peter jogged back up to the ranch house just for the exercise of it. He was feeling a little more hope this morning. Sam seemed to be happy and Dani was in project mode and she was always happy when she had a strong purpose to orchestrate.

  He jumped into one of the best showers he had ever seen and had to get out much faster than he wanted to. Dani ran a tight ship and he didn’t want to be late for breakfast. He had to chuckle this reminded him so much of his Aunt Meredith.

  He came down to breakfast to hear Sam talking with Henry about Oscar and Louella. He had brought the pictures with him to show everyone at the breakfast table including the guests. ”My Mom is famous, look here is her picture.”

  Peter joined them and Sam pointed to him. “Here is the little boy in that picture. He’s holding the bigger cougar kitty.”

  Dani came kissed Sam on the head. “What’s your plan today little man?”

  “I’ve got chores. Me and Carson are mucking out the stables!” His open grin and fidgety body made Peter wonder if he knew what was in store, but he smiled at the boy’s enthusiasm. “Awesome.”

  Dani watched him run out the door, her expression peaceful. “Let’s eat all our meals here today. That way we don’t have to stop to fix meals.” She passed the fruit to Peter.

  “I see we are going to be in project mode today. I’m sure we’ll make some progress.” He was feeling hopeful that they could make some progress on their future as well. He wondered if she was noticing the happier acceptance Sam seemed to be making toward him.

  Peter knew some of his childhood fears about ruining Dani’s life were unfounded. He had gone back and forth about this in his mind for months. Nevertheless deep in his heart the possible nightmare still had a strong hold on him. Being here now with Dani gave him hope that everything could be okay. Hopefully they would talk about it today.

  “What are you so deep in thought about Peter?” Dani had an annoyed look.

  “Oh I’m sorry, my breakfast conversation is lacking I see.”

  “And you seemed worried. You’re so different from the boy I knew, but then sometimes I see him back, like just now. What were you thinking?”

  He wiped the concern from his face. “I was just wondering how is it that the remarkable Dani Dugan is even giving me the time of day, this sorry, washed up little kid.” He tried to tuck one of her curls behind her ear but it bounced back out. His eyes searched her face, drinking in her nose, her freckles, the curl at the top of her lip.

  Her eyes lit and she leaned closer until their lips met. He lingered, still amazed that such a thing was possible.

  After a moment, she pulled away. “Let’s go for a walk.”

  As they walked back into the woods toward her house Peter waited for Dani to begin the conversation.

  “Peter I have always had strong feelings for you until you stopped writing and I convinced myself all we had planned was just childish.” Her irritated side eye would have made him laugh but he knew she deserved a solid answer.

  He took a breath, fingered the coin in his pocket and then told her about the butcher and all that he said.

  “He did not say that! To a young child. Oh, I’d like to go talk to him right now.” Her fists clenched, and he was warmed and reminded of all the times she’d come to his defense.

  He shook his head.“Dani those words rang true to me. You never really had any experience with my father; I kept you away from him.” He brushed the hair out of his eyes. “Now that I am with my aunt and can see how my mother could have lived without my father I am fully aware of the damage an alcoholic can do.”

  He continued. “Sometimes I fear I’m a time bomb that could go off at any time. The genetic research is there.”

  They both walked the rest of the way in silence. When they got to the porch Dani said. “You are so careful, so good. Do you really think you’re going to start drinking?” Her expression was skeptical but he could tell she was considering what he said. “I’ll get our materials; let’s sit out here for a while, it’s such a lovely day.”

  When she came back out, she sat down on the swing next to Peter. “I think we could conquer any problems. I certainly have a lot of experience with illness in the family. I’ve become strong Peter.”

  Peter thought about that. “You’ve always been strong.” The love he felt for Dani over the years was nothing compared to the love he had for her now in person. His dreams had been but a drop in the bucket to the rush of emotion they felt together. He wondered if he could just let go of these worries and make his dream real. “It’s not that I don’t want to try. I’ve never wanted anything so much in my life.” He gripped her hand in his.

  “Good, because I’ve wanted to do this all morning.” She leaned over and pressed her lips to his. Pleased, he responded immediately, wrapping his arms around her as if holding her would never let her leave, would fix all their obstacles and would allow them to always be together. Her response softened and then Dani pulled back. ”Okay now let’s get to work!”

  Peter shook his head and chuckled. “Dani you can’t just do that to a man and expect his mind to stay on the work at hand.” He got up and walked toward the front door. “Do you have any sodas in the fridge?”

  “Sure get me one too please. I don’t want to hinder your writing skills, such as they are.” She laughed.

  Peter was feeling happy and confident. He could see the realization to his dreams actually becoming a possibility. He grabbed a bag of chips as well and came back ready to work.

  They took the list they made of all of their experiences and decided which ones would be a
fun story for the next book. Dani picked up her phone to check in with Sam. “Hey kiddo I’m going to read the names of some of the stories I told you about, could you tell me which ones you like the best?”

  “Mom I’m brushing Flash now. I liked the cougar one the best.” Sam had some of his mother’s characteristics and one of them was not wanting to be disturbed when a project was going on.

  Peter grinned. “Like mother like son.”

  She waved him quiet. “Were there any others?”

  “I thought it was cool the boy was saved from the waterfall. I have to go now mom. I have chores.”

  “Okay Sam, thank you, I love you.” Dani put down the phone. “Well he isn’t going to be much help.”

  They worked through the dinner hour and accomplished a lot. Most of the stories were uploaded into the computer.

  Peter got up and stretched as he walked around the porch. He picked up his phone to check calls. “I better make this call. Aunt Meredith says it’s an emergency. I sure hope she is okay.”

  Dani watched his face, a pinch in her heart making it difficult to swallow. “Oh no, hurry Peter call right now.”

  He stood as he dialed his aunt’s number. “Aunt Meredith what is it. I’m sorry I didn’t call sooner.” Peter’s face dropped. He fell back to the porch chair as if his world had just come crashing down upon him.

  Dani reached for his hand. He didn’t look up but gripped her fingers like they were his lifeline. “Okay I’ll be home tomorrow.” Peter wiped the tears from his eyes and put his phone away. Then his face crumpled.

  Alarm growing, she wasn’t sure what to do for him. “Peter what is it?” Tears welled in her eyes.

  “James, my driver and pilot for many years has been in a horrible car accident. He and his son were killed.”

  He dropped his head, hands clutching at his hair. “He’d been drinking.” His eyes, turned lifeless, distant. “I shouldn’t be here. I have to go first thing tomorrow morning.”

  A jolt of fear ran through her. He was talking like this was the end.