Christmas in Colorado (Colorado Crazy Book 7)

by Milan Watson

  Burke shrugged. “Almost turned back too many times to count, but I’m here. That’s all that matters.”

  “Burke?” The voice from the porch was soft, laced with confusion.

  Burke turned and saw his mother standing on the porch holding onto a support post. She still looked the same, but older. Her hair had a few strands of white, but she was smaller somehow. Her shoulders looked too thin but her eyes still had the same warmth in them that Burke remembered.

  “Ma,” Burke said, swallowing past the emotion that suddenly clogged his throat. Why did he allow his father to drive him away from his family? He crossed to the porch and walked up the steps, stopping in front of her. “It’s good to see you, Ma.”

  Rowena Birkowitz shook her head with disbelief before a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “It’s you… it’s really you.”

  Tears quietly slipped over her cheeks. Burke felt his heart clench in his chest. Why was coming back even harder than leaving? He bent over and wrapped his arms around his mother’s small frame. He held her and reveled in the feel of having her in his arms again. She sniffled quietly against his shoulder, but Burke didn’t let go. She needed this, so did he.

  “Ouch!” Alice’s voice made Burke turn to see the puppy growling at his sister. He chuckled, quickly blinking away the tears that burned his eyes.

  “Where did that come from?” Alice asked, taking a few steps back as the puppy took a territorial stance, making it clear the patch of snow where he stood belonged to him.

  Burke let go of his mother and joined Alice. “Found him in the woods on my way into town. Clearly been abandoned for a while, or he’s a runaway.”

  “Runaways pickin’ up runaways, has a strange sort of ring to it.” Alice shook her head with wry grin.

  Burke shrugged before crouching. “Come on, Pal, this is my sister and my ma. If you bite them we’ll be searching for that shelter today instead of tomorrow.”

  As if understanding every single word, the puppy raced to his feet and glanced up at Alice with ‘pet me’ eyes. Alice laughed. “Well, clearly he likes you.”

  “Apparently.” Burke nodded when his mother joined them on the front lawn. “Thought you might want to keep him.”

  Alice smiled happily before moving to pet the pup, this time it didn’t growl; instead it let out a howl before hiding behind Burke’s legs. Alice shook her head. “Seems to me he’s already got an owner.”

  “He looks ravenous. Come, I think I have some cottage pie leftover from yesterday that he can have,” Rowena said, suddenly composed.

  Burke turned to his mother. “What about me?”

  “You can fend for yourself, he can’t.” Rowena turned to the puppy. “Come on pup, let’s get you fed. Alice, see if we still have a few leashes in the basement. Burke, I think there’s an old dog bowl out in the shed.”

  Just like that things were back to normal, Burke thought with a smile. He knew his mother’s take charge attitude was a way to hide her emotions, it always had been. Before she could walk away Burke reached for her arm and met her dark brown gaze. “I’m sorry, Ma.”

  She shook her head with a sad smile. “Later, now we got a pup to feed before he eats your sister.”

  Everyone headed to do what they’d been told before reuniting in the kitchen. Supper was made and smalltalk was had. Burke couldn’t decide if it was because it was too hard to talk about the things left unsaid, or if they were all just easing into getting to know each other again. Either way he was grateful. It was good to be home again, it felt good to sit in the kitchen and drink wine with his sister while his mother cooked. With his father’s presence gone the house almost felt welcoming, instead of foreboding like it had in the past.

  After a quick dinner of bangers and mash, of course pup had his own serving after he polished off last night’s leftovers, Rowena headed to bed. Burke considered following her to talk about the past, but decided against it. His arrival didn’t just bring joy for his sister and his mother; it brought back the memories of the past again. He would talk to her when she was ready, not just because he wanted to somehow be forgiven for leaving.

  “So, what have you been up to?” Alice asked, tucking her legs beneath her on the sofa in the living room.

  She had tempted him with a cappuccino by the fireplace. Knowing sleep wouldn’t come easily tonight, he had taken his place at the hearth. His father’s recliner still stood in the living room, a reminder of everything that had gone down in this room before.

  Burke sighed, pushing the thoughts of his father aside. “Spent a few years on the rodeo circuit before I started my own company.”

  “Company?” Alice asked, cocking a brow. She didn’t comment on the rodeo circuit since Burke had been roping steers and riding bulls since he was a teenager. “Do you offer lessons on being cool to high-school kids?”

  Burke shook his head with a grin. “No, I do SEO marketing for numerous companies.”

  “SE what?” Alice asked, confused.

  “It’s basically search engine optimization. I make sure that a company is found on the internet by using specific keywords and marketing campaigns.”

  “Where did you learn how to do that?” Alice asked, surprised.

  “Spent a lot of time on my phone scrolling the web in my rodeo days. Saw an article about it and thought I’d try it. Luckily my first client was patient.” Burke glanced at the puppy napping in front of the fire. After a bath and two descent meals he was out like a light.

  “Interesting.” Alice took a sip of her cappuccino.

  “So… a Christmas Eve wedding?” Burke asked about the reason for his return.

  Alice nodded but her whole face lit up. “Tom’s amazing and I’ve always wanted a Christmas wedding. I know it’s a few weeks away but Scarlet’s got it under control.”

  “Scarlet, as in your fifth grade friend Scarlet?” Burke asked, surprised that his sister still had the same best friend.

  “Yeah. We’re having the wedding at the Saloon but there are still a few things to do. With the budget being a little tight we need to cut a few corners.”

  Burke frowned, realizing his father wasn’t there anymore and he probably didn’t provide for when he passed away. His father should have paid for Alice’s wedding and now she was making do with a tight budget. He had done well for himself over the last few years, especially because he didn’t have anyone to spend his money on. A smile curved his mouth as he reached for Alice’s hand. “I’m paying for the wedding.”

  “Burke, no, that’s not why I asked you to come,” Alice said, shaking her head firmly.

  “I know. But I want to. Alice, let me do this. The sky’s the limit; plan the wedding of your dreams.”

  Her eyes widened as she glanced towards the window. “I thought the car was a way to stick it to White Horse Creek, I didn’t think you were flush.”

  Burke laughed. “I wouldn’t say flush, but I can afford it. You deserve it, Alice, you deserve the wedding of your dreams. Let me give it to you.”

  “I saved up some money…” Alice began.

  “Save it for the honeymoon, or shopping, or anything else – but I’m paying,” Burke said firmly.

  Her eyes widened before she jumped up and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Thank you, Burke, I don’t think you know how much this means to me.”

  Burke had to bite back the tears. Why did it feel so right to be home? He hadn’t let himself miss Alice or his mom since he’d left, but now with Alice’s face pressed into his neck he realized it didn’t matter if he allowed it, he had missed his little sister more than he ever imagined.

  Alice pulled back and searched his gaze. “Why did you leave?”

  Burke knew the question would be asked, he knew he had to explain, but he couldn’t, not now when all the memories and wounds had just been scraped open again. “You know why I left, Alice.”

  Alice nodded, holding is gaze. She might not have known everything, but she knew enough.

  Tim
e for explanations would come later; right now a quiet understanding had to be sufficient.

  Chapter 6

  • ---------------------------- •

  Scarlet sat with the list of wedding errands in front of her before she checked the time on her wristwatch. She had already closed the shop yesterday for her trip to Denver and now she was opening late this morning.

  Scarlet’s Beads usually opened the doors at 9a.m and although it was rare to have customers that early in the morning, it was routine. Alice had called her late last night and asked her to meet her at the diner at nine. Scarlet didn’t know what the emergency wedding meeting was about, or why Alice couldn’t have just stopped by the store.

  Tansy stopped by her table with a jug of coffee. “Coffee while you wait? I expect you’re meeting Alice about the wedding again?”

  Scarlet nodded with a smile. Tansy Bryant was as much of an institution in White Horse Creek as the Labor Day parade. Moving towards fifty, her hair was still the same burgundy, shoulder length curls, it had been for as long as Scarlet could remember.

  Although the White Horse Diner belonged to an out-of-towner who rarely showed up, Tansy ran the diner with the same iron hand she used to raise her only son, Tanner.

  “Yeah, emergency meeting,” Scarlet said, adding a sachet of sugar to her coffee.

  Tansy chuckled, shaking her head. “Weddings usually consist of those. Can’t remember the last time we had a Christmas wedding in town. Everyone’s looking forward to it. Good luck.”

  “Thanks.” Scarlet smiled, checking her watch again. Just more pressure, she thought with a sigh. She turned to look out the window of the diner when she noticed the car from yesterday.

  The sleek little red number pulled up outside the diner and her tummy twisted for a moment. The door opened and his long legs made their appearance before the pup jumped out, luckily attached to a leash. A smile curved her mouth as she saw him talking to the puppy. The puppy clearly had had a bath, and was still being leash-trained. When the guy looked at the diner Scarlet’s heart skipped a beat. She didn’t imagine it; he was still as strikingly handsome as he had been towering over her in the woods.

  She shook her head and focused on her coffee instead, when she heard Alice’s voice. “I’m so sorry we’re late.”

  Alice blew into the diner like a whirlwind of bubbles and smiles.

  “We?” Scarlet asked, confused.

  Alice nodded, wide-eyed, “Burke came!”

  Scarlet felt her hope drop into her shoes although she attempted a smile. How was she going to manage a hysterical bride while making sure the town bad boy didn’t ruin the wedding? “Great.”

  Alice slipped into the booth. “I couldn’t believe it. He arrived last night. Scarlet, it was amazing. Ma was so happy. We made dinner and it was like old times… only better.”

  Scarlet couldn’t help but smile at the joy in her friend’s voice. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the man with the puppy talking to Tansy. She couldn’t help but appreciate the way his wranglers hugged his hips, or the tanned forearms that peeked out from where his sweater was pushed up. Whoever this guy was he was hot, and hopefully staying in town for a few days and not just driving through. Maybe if she was lucky he might pop into Scarlet’s beads for a little Christmas shopping.

  “Burke!” Alice called out.

  The man with the puppy turned around and smiled before tugging the pup along on the leash.

  “Sorry, I just got the third degree from Tansy about bringing a dog into her diner. After explaining he had separation anxiety, along with a vicious temper, she finally backed off.” Burke chuckled. The sound bounced off Scarlet’s nerves like sparks from a flint.

  Alice laughed, but Scarlet was having trouble comprehending what was happening. The hot guy in the woods, with the eyes like ice, was Burke Birkowitz. Why didn’t she recognize him?

  Up close now she recognized the eyes and the curve of his jaw, but he was different as well. His looks had taken on a rugged edge over the years and his hair was shorter than before. Burke Birkowitz clearly aged like a good pair of cowboy boots, the edges might be a little scuffed but the leather became better with age.

  “No problem, come sit down. You remember Scarlet, right?” Alice asked.

  Burke turned to Scarlet with a smile, but as soon as recognition dawned the smile faded. His eyes widened as a frown creased his brow. “You?”

  Scarlet shrugged. “Yeah, me. You? Really?”

  Burke chuckled when the pup suddenly began to growl again.

  “You control that ferocious animal or Tansy will kick you out on your butt,” Scarlet said firmly, inching away from the dog.

  Burke rubbed the puppy’s head. “Come to think of it, I don’t think he thought you were trying to rescue him, you kind of have a predatory look about you. Probably thought you were hunting him down for supper.”

  Scarlet gasped but Alice shook her head. “Wait! What’s going on?”

  “Your little friend here hunted down the pup yesterday until it was cornered and terrified. Probably scarred him for life.”

  “I didn’t hunt him down; I was trying to help him. There’s something wrong with that dog.”

  “No there isn’t,” Alice crooned, reaching for the puppy who immediately licked at her hand with a bobbing tail. “He’s adorable.”

  “Ha! He’s tried to bite me, twice,” Scarlet argued, still trying to come to terms with the fact that Burke was the hot guy she had been fawning over since yesterday.

  “Burke, just tell your dog Scarlet is a friend.”

  Burke shrugged. “I tried, he’s terrified of her.”

  “Terrified!” Scarlet gasped. “Honestly? It’s almost foaming at the mouth.”

  “Naw, that’s just the cream Ma put on his cereal,” Burke said affectionately as he slipped into the booth beside Scarlet.

  Scarlet felt her face flush slightly but reached for her coffee, hoping the distraction would calm her nerves, which were frazzled by his proximity. His aftershave was something between fresh lemon and a sprig of mint. It was fresh and strangely appetizing. She turned to Alice, determined to get this meeting over as soon as possible. “So what did you want to meet about?”

  The puppy yapped. Burke reached down to rub him. “Come on Pal, settle down or Tansy will be on both of us like frost on a windshield.” Burke looked at Scarlet and Alice before continuing. “I forgot how cold it gets around here.”

  “Burke lives in Florida now,” Alice added for Scarlet’s benefit.

  Scarlet nodded, not wanting to be intrigued by the life he had away from White Horse Creek. “Does he have a name yet?” Scarlet asked, hating that she was intrigued by the first dog in history that hated her.

  “No. Not keeping him. Need to find a shelter today,” Burke said before Alice cringed.

  “Burke, you can’t do that. Just look at him, he’s besotted with you. You have to keep him. Besides, he’s got a name. You’ve been calling him Pal since you arrived.”

  Scarlet couldn’t help but smile when the puppy yapped at the sound of his name. “Well, Pal can’t live on cream and cereal.”

  “We’re heading to the grocery store when we’re done here. Last night was a little… busy.”

  “What are we doing here again?” Scarlet asked again, suddenly realizing she needed to get away from Burke. Her blood was pulsing through her veins while she wondered what the stubble on his jaw would feel like against her cheek.

  “The wedding,” Alice started with anticipation. “Burke’s paying for it. Everything, Scarlet. No more tight budget.”

  “What?” Scarlet asked, surprised, turning to Burke. “You are?”

  “Yeah,” Burke said, before thanking Tansy for filling up his cup.

  “That’s… unexpected. I mean, generous,” Scarlet added quickly.

  “Anyway, so I just thought you two should get together. Since he’s holding the purse strings he’ll need to be with you every step of the way. Can you believe it, Sca
rlet, he came.”

  Alice looked at her big brother with stars in her eyes while Scarlet tried to figure out how she was going to spend the next few weeks with a man who frazzled her nerves without even flirting with her.

  “Sure, that’s… perfect.” She tried to sound excited but couldn’t seem to summon anything but an anxious smile.

  “I know.” Alice beamed. “I don’t have to rent a dress after all.”

  This time Scarlet’s smile was real. How could it not be when she saw how happy Alice was?

  “I’m sure I don’t have to be there every step of the way,” Burke said quickly.

  “Of course you do. Scarlet’s planning the whole thing so she’ll show you what we have in mind. I’ve got to get to work or Mrs. Pollock is going to kill me.”

  “Mrs. Pollock?” Burke asked confused.

  “Didn’t you know, Burke?” Scarlet asked with a caustically sweet smile. “Your sister is the new librarian in town. Mrs. Pollock bought the library because she wasn’t happy with the selection. Instead of your usual municipal library it’s now a bookshop-slash-library and your sister manages it.”

  Burke smiled, turning to Alice. “You run the library? Never thought your love for books would amount to anything.”

  Alice laughed. “It did – a lot of hard work and a terrifying boss.”

  Everyone chuckled, because although Mrs. Pollock was nearing seventy or eighty, no one was sure, she was a force to be reckoned with.

  Scarlet glanced at Burke out the corner of her eye and felt her tummy twist again. Was this a new interest that had taken hold since yesterday, or was this the childhood crush she had forgotten about coming back with a vengeance? She took the last sip of her coffee, deciding it didn’t matter.

  Burke Birkowitz was, and will, always be bad news.

  He was the popular jock with an attitude, the cool guy everyone wanted to be although he left a trail of broken hearts before hooking up with Lisa Stokes. Chances were he still had a slew of broken hearts left in his trail since leaving White Horse Creek.