by Milan Watson
Burke wasn’t one for sentiment, but standing among his childhood friends, watching his sister being fed a piece of cake, was almost perfect. The Tate sisters and their men were talking about the Double T, while Sam and Lisa were laughing over something Riley said.
Even Mrs. Pollock was there with her hair freshly rinsed with gentian violet. Tanner’s mom, Tansy, was dancing with one of Tom’s uncle’s – while his own Ma sat at a table smiling with tears in her eyes. He knew how hard it must be for her to let go of Alice, but Burke also knew how proud she was to be the mother of the bride.
When he received Alice’s call a few weeks ago he had dreaded coming back, and now he couldn’t imagine going back to Florida. He had tried to work out a way not to go back, but he had to go tie up a few things before he could come back to life in White Horse Creek. He hadn’t told Scarlet yet but he planned on taking her with. He wanted to see her among his things, see her in a bikini too – if he was honest. A smile tilted the corner of his mouth as the wedding song started Otis Redding crooned over the speakers.
Alice and Tom took the floor with grace and laughter even as the guests clapped their hands. Burke saw his mom watching the newly weds with a watery gaze and headed her way. Without saying a word he took her hand and led her onto the floor.
“Burke,” she said almost laughing when he twirled her away from him.
Burke smiled and pulled her in close. They needed this, they needed to be a family again without his father to ruin to happy moments. His mother moved with grace and his heart tugged, realizing coming back was what he wanted more than anything in the world.
He might have left White Horse Creek, but this was where he was meant to be.
“I’m coming home ma.” Burke whispered into his mother’s ear. She leaned back, beaming with joy.
“Really?”
Burke nodded. “Really. We can be a family again.”
His mother’s eyes teared up but Burke simply smiled. “We’re done cryin’ over spilt milk.”
Rowena chuckled. “Then let me go freshen up and you go get your girl for a dance.”
Burke frowned when his mother cocked a brow. “You might think I don’t know much Burke, but I know love when I see it and your head over boots in love with Scarlet.”
Burke chuckled shaking his head as he dipped his mother again. Clearly his mother saw more than Burke ever realized.
When the song ended he glanced across the dance floor and saw Scarlet watching them dance. A grin curved his mouth as he crossed the floor towards her. He reminded himself to thank his sister for the red dress later as he slipped a hand around her waist and leaned into her neck. “You look like a piece of candy.”
Scarlet laughed. “I can be sweet.”
Burke groaned, wishing the reception was over. “I’ve never tasted sweeter.”
He slipped a hand into hers, his other around her waist, and twirled her towards the floor. They danced past Stacy Flannigan and the new Sheriff that Burke had yet to meet, before he twirled her this way and that. He hadn’t thought a Christmas wedding would have a big turnout, but the whole town was here.
Here and there he saw a frown as he danced past and ignored it. The days where he tried to be who everyone expected him to be were over. John Birkowitz had finally lost his hold on Burke. Some might learn his reasons for leaving, and if they did he didn’t care.
He was done hiding, done running, it was time for him to embrace the present – and right now it was feeling pretty curvy beneath his hands.
He pulled Scarlet closer and heard her gasp over the sound of the music. “Merry Christmas, Scarlet.”
Scarlet laughed softly. “Merry Christmas, Burke.” She met his gaze with a teasing grin. “I didn’t get you anything.”
Burke shrugged, spinning her before pulling her back in again. “We can exchange gifts later.”
“Really?” Scarlet asked with a heated look, a slight blush coloring her cheeks.
Burke nodded. “Really. I was thinking three or four perhaps.”
When her eyes widened he laughed just as gasps sounded throughout the saloon. The music stopped as everyone turned to see what was going on. Lewis Tate, now Lewis Bryant, stood in the middle of the dance floor with her husband Tanner at her side and a puddle of water at her feet.
She shrugged with a foolish grin. “Guess we’re having a Christmas baby, sorry Alice. Sky, Lacy, can someone deal with this?”
Alice laughed. “Don’t apologize. Get to hospital!”
Chaos ensued as a path was cleared to the door while Lacy organized a cleanup. Everyone called out wishes of good luck. When Lewis and Tanner sped away kicking up a trail of snow, Burke turned to Scarlet with a smile.
“There’s never a dull moment in White Horse Creek, is there?”
Scarlet shook her head as she cupped his face. “Not when you’re around.”
They shared a private laugh and Burke knew he had the rest of his life to look forward to dull moments; right now he was just looking forward to getting to the gift exchange part of the evening.
He couldn’t remember the last time Christmas held good memories for him, until tonight. He had to hand it to Alice; a Christmas wedding was exactly what he needed to drown out the bad memories.
When he’d come to help with his sister’s wedding he had planned on getting in and out of White Horse Creek as fast as possible, but instead of running from the demons that had chased him to the most southern part of the U.S, he had buried them and found something much more worthwhile.
He pulled Scarlet close and smiled into her neck, he’d found love.
The End
True love does have the power to redeem but only if we are ready for redemption. Love saves us only if we want to be saved.
~Belle Hooks~
Have you caught up on the other love stories in White Horse Creek? Keep Scrolling to make sure you’ve read them all.
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Keep reading for the music playlist and to learn more about the author.
Would you like a free book?
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Also by Milan Watson
Colorado Crazy Series
Sunsets in Colorado (Book 1)
Whispers in Colorado (Book 2)
Midnights in Colorado (Book 3)
Twilights in Colorado (Book 4)
Autumn in Colorado (Book 5)
Winter in Colorado (Book 6)
Christmas in Colorado (Book 7)
Sullivan Family Series
Bride on the Run (Book 1)
For Justice or Love (Book 2)
Summer Loving (Book 3)
Seduced by the Boss
A Stranger Like You
(A short story)
Unexpected Mistletoe Kisses
(A Christmas Novella)
About the Author
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Milan Watson is the mother of two little boys and wife to a supportive husband, who doesn’t mind doing the dishes when she finds herself lost in a story.
She spends most of her days dreaming up new characters and bringing stories to life, surrounded by her family and her two dogs, Wendy and Duke. She loves creating characters you can identify with and writing stories that will have you laugh, cry and smile at the same time.
You can follow her page on Facebook for new releases:
If you’d like to sign up for her mailing list and get a free book click here.
Playlist
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Did you like the music mentioned in this book?
Download the playlist on your favorite music application today or get it here on Spotify
Santa Baby – CMC
Coming Home Part II – Skylar Grey
Demons – Imagine Dragons
Pompeii – Bastille
Honky Tonk Christmas – Alan Jackson
Shoot Me Straight – Brothers Osborne
Fire with Fire – Scissor Sisters
Friends in Low Places – The Deep Dixie Boys
Everything has changed – Ed Sheeran & Taylor Swift
It All Comes Out in the Wash – Miranda Lambert
Love is Christmas – Sara Bereilles
Santa Tell me – Ariana Grande
Body like a Back Road – Sam Hunt
Cowboy Cassanova – Carrie Underwood
Follow Your Arrow – Kacey Musgrave
Wrapped Up in You – The Country Gentlemen
If I Die Young – The Band Perry
All these things that I’ve done – The Killers
No getting over me – Ronnie Milsap ft. Kacey Musgraves
Thomas Rhett – Die A Happy Man
Everything’s Gonna Be Alright – David Lee Murphy & Kenny Chesney
Warm in December – Mary Ellen Desmond
You and Me – Life House
Marry You – Bruno Mars
Merry Christmas Baby – Otis Redding
