…
Sofie pulled up to the cabin and let her head drop to the steering wheel. The smell of the hospital still lingered on her clothes, but at least Tyler was okay. Just a little croup, not uncommon in young babies this time of year, and even more so with the unfamiliar climate of Wyoming, plus the circumstances his birth. He would be fine, and so would she. Maybe.
Knowing a comfy bed and cup of tea waited for her in the cabin, she unbuckled, only to freeze. Was that a glow coming from the curtain? She didn’t remember leaving any lights on, but she’d been in a hurry when Tyler’s fever rose and his breathing seemed labored.
Stumbling out of the vehicle and pausing from the twinges that still affected her since giving birth, she gathered the bags and medication, and her sleeping son, and hoofed it up the steps. A few swirls of snowflakes danced in the light of the lanterns, and she smiled. Despite growing up where it could snow, she couldn’t remember having a white Christmas. This might be her first. Tyler’s first Christmas would be special, even if he wouldn’t remember a single drop of it.
Unlocking the door, she opened it and gasped. There, in the corner by the fireplace, which sported a beautiful crackling blaze, was a tiny Christmas tree. No ornaments, just white lights. Stacked beside it were boxes and boxes, and underneath were two presents. A gust of wind sent some flurries in, and she shut the door with the heel of her new boot and set everything down.
“Do you like it?”
Dan’s voice washed over her chilled body and slithered in every available opening to caress her heart. She’d missed him so much, had prayed for a way to bring him back, and here he was.
“I didn’t decorate it. I thought you would want to do that yourself, but I did get every available light and box of ornaments I could find. I figure once you make up your mind, I can return them or donate them.”
She could only stare through blurry eyes, the lights forming bursts of stars through the teary lens.
“Or if you’re not a tree person we can get rid of it or—”
Her lips came crashing down on his. She couldn’t get close enough to his body, couldn’t get enough of his warmth and hardness. Her kisses turned frantic. She brushed her lips over every free spot of skin, which wasn’t enough in her mind, but a part of her believed this was too good to be true. Their problems too big, he would disappear again after this Christmas Eve visit, and she would carry on in life with a small part of her missing.
Dan ran his hands up and down her spine, making shushing motions, and that was when she realized that along with all the frantic smooches, she was sobbing.
“It’s okay. I’ll get rid of the tree and the ornaments. Whatever you want is fine.”
She shook her head, and his arms dropped. He took a step back, and she moved with him, knowing what he was thinking and unsure how to make him understand.
She grabbed hold of his face and forced his gaze down to hers. “I love…the tree.”
His hands covered hers. “I’m so sorry, Sofie. So sorry about everything.”
“No. No it wasn’t you. It was my fault. The filter of what had happened to me caused me to see things that weren’t there.”
“But if I had taken a moment to think about all you’d shared, to think about what I was doing, instead of why I was doing it, I wouldn’t have hurt you.”
“I hurt you, too.”
“They were words. Words that don’t matter anymore.”
“But words do matter. They matter to me, and I purposely used them to hurt you for no other reason than I was afraid.”
“I’m afraid, too,” he confessed. “But I will be whatever you let me be, even if that is the bottom of the list after Laney and her tarts.”
Sofie smiled. “She does make some damn fine tarts.”
“Can I give you my present?”
“I don’t want anything. I don’t need anything. Except Tyler and you.”
“Please.”
She nodded and went to Tyler, removed the sleeping baby from his seat, and settled on the sofa. Dan slid in next to her. He exchanged his present for her son, and she easily released him.
“He’s grown.”
“Do you think?”
Dan stared at Tyler with such love and awe that Sofie broke down again. How had she almost let this man go? This man who saw a week of difference in a baby that wasn’t his, and loved him anyway. “Definitely a little chubbier in the cheeks.”
Dan met her gaze and smiled. “You gonna open it?”
Sofie didn’t want to. Not because she was ungrateful, but because this moment, the three of them sitting in the cabin with the fire crackling and the tree lit, was perfect. She wouldn’t choose to change anything.
But Dan seemed so happy and hopeful about whatever was in the box that she slid her finger under the paper and ripped it open. Lifting the lid, she found a simple binder. The front read Sofie’s Choices.
Flipping the cover, she saw rows of colored tabs marching along the side. Library, banks, daycares, apartments, dry cleaners, food and beverage, schools, and churches. Every category she could think of. Picking banks, she found information on three, with notes jotted down in the margin about tellers, hours, rates, and juicy gossip.
“Everything someone new to Fly Creek, or any town, might need to make decisions.”
Sofie swallowed and swallowed but couldn’t get words of any kind to come out. This man had given her the perfect Christmas gift and then gone ahead and followed it up with this binder. A binder that, for a woman like her, with her past, spoke volumes to the type of relationship he might want.
“I love you, Sofie. I love you and Tyler, and I want us to be a family. In whatever form you’re willing to take me, I’m yours.”
“I want you just as you are. Dependable Dan is everything I could want and need in my life. I realized when you left, and Shelby brought the rental agreement, that my love for Tyler and my wish to have control didn’t mean that there wasn’t more than enough room for you. That my heart and my life need you in it. Only I didn’t know how to tell you. To show you.”
“You just did.” Dan lifted the book out of her lap and scooted closer, gathering her to his side while shifting the sleeping Tyler. He dropped a kiss on her head.
“Why did you come back?”
“Ryder told me Tyler was sick. I couldn’t even see straight for those forty-five minutes until I found Shelby and she told me he would be fine.”
“But…please don’t take this the wrong way…” How could she ask him to explain? To help her resolve the conflicting fullness of her heart with the reality of the situation. “He’s not yours. I mean, I guess I don’t understand how you can care and love another man’s child.”
She hadn’t fully accepted the fear that one day Dan would resent Tyler until she’d spoken the words. Given them the power. Not just resent the little boy for her love and devotion, but for the fact that he wasn’t his blood.
“But he’s your child, Sofie. I imagine it’s the same way Shelby loved and raised me as her own all those years. Blood isn’t the only claim on emotions and connections. From the moment I helped bring him into the world with you, and hell, maybe even before, I cared for him. I know he’s all the best parts of you, and I’ll play whatever role you want me to in his life. Eccentric uncle, friend, confident. You lead, and I’ll follow.”
She snuggled back into the crook of his arm and let the peace of the cabin settle around them. The mantle clock struck midnight, and she said a small prayer for cows and cowboys and Christmas miracles.
“Merry Christmas, Sofie.”
“Merry Christmas, Cowboy.”
Epilogue
Dan adjusted his bowtie and smoothed a hand over his hair. He felt naked without his hat, but inside the courthouse, it just seemed wrong to be wearing it. Garlands covered the doorways and a simple Christmas tree sat in the
corner. Rubbing his palms down his jeans, he took a deep breath just as the bathroom door behind him opened.
Tyler waddled out looking picture-perfect in his suspenders, sweater, and matching plaid bowtie. Sofie was hot on his heels. Dan’s breath caught in his chest, a not uncommon occurrence when he caught a glimpse of her while she was focused on the little devil. So serene and angelic, even when distracted. And today she would officially become his wife.
“Ready?” she asked while simultaneously snagging a suspender to keep the recently mobile toddler from escaping. He dropped a kiss on her cheek and scooped up Tyler, much to the delight of the shrieking little boy. Several heads turned to look at them with smiles.
“Never more for anything in my life.” They walked hand in hand down the hallway ’til they came to the room. There, inside, was half of Fly Creek.
“Did you…?” Sofie asked.
Dan shook his head. Emotion worked his throat, and he swallowed it back down as face after face beamed in their direction.
Emily came up the center and shrugged. “Surprise?”
Sofie enveloped her sister, and Dan watched a tear slide down his soon-to-be-wife’s cheek.
“M…M…” Tyler squirmed and wiggled until Emily let go and reached for her nephew. “Hey, little man, I got you.”
Everyone settled into seats. The judge came in, and her eyes widened a bit.
“Ahh, I’m thinking this is a much-anticipated union.”
Chuckles spread as Dan took Sofie’s hand and led her down to the front.
The service was short and sweet, and when the judge pronounced them husband and wife, cheers erupted from the seating area. The two of them were engulfed in hugs and handshakes and back-claps, and it was only after the judge whistled loudly that all eyes turned her way.
“There’s another couple equally excited to share their day. Could we maybe move this celebration somewhere?”
They filed out of the room, and that was when Sofie pulled him to the side.
“Do we tell them?”
“I don’t see how we can’t. I mean, we know these people, and chances are they have something waiting for us back in Fly Creek.”
As if on cue, Shelby came over and hugged them both. “Now, there’s a little something at Sky Lake. Nothing fancy, as we know y’all wanted to keep this simple. But love is love and deserves to be celebrated. Especially the hard-won kind.”
Sofie met his gaze and pleaded.
“Shelby. We’re honored and grateful for all you’ve done. But we have one more stop to make before we can share in your present to us.”
Emily and the others were close enough to hear Dan, and all eyes ping-ponged between Sofie and him. Sofie found Tyler being smothered by Emily and Peyton and grabbed him. She smiled, and Dan crossed over to her.
“You ready?” he asked teasingly.
“Oh yes.”
Before anyone could ask any more questions, they walked down to the end of the hallway and entered another courtroom. The judge looked up and smiled. He resembled nothing short of Kris Kringle, down to the rosy cheeks and snowy white beard.
Pushing his wire-rim glasses up his nose, he asked, “The Pennington-Rigby Party?”
“Yes, although I suppose it’s just the Rigby party now,” Sofie said.
The old man smiled and grabbed a sheet of paper. Looking it up and down, he grinned. “I suppose you’re right. We can file everything together.”
A commotion had them turning, despite knowing the cause. Nearly everyone who’d witnessed the marriage was now spilling into the room. They settled almost in silence, each wearing the nosey gaze that only Fly Creek residents could produce.
Turning back to face Sofie and Dan, the judge started. It only took a moment for the entire group of surprise witnesses to realize what was happening. Gasps and ohs ping-ponged against the plain white walls, and the judge stopped until everyone settled again. He winked at Sofie and continued.
After he confirmed that both parties understood what was happening, and what rights were granted upon his judgement, he asked both Dan and Sofie to come forward and sign. Dan’s fingers trembled as the ink slid across the crisp white paper. Finishing, he dropped the pen and met Sofie’s smile with one of his own. Tyler tugged at his bow tie, and he reached for the boy, who came willingly.
“Daniel Paul Rigby, you are now in the eyes of the Court and the State of Wyoming, the official father of Tyler.”
“Now Tyler Reed Rigby.”
Sofie sobbed and reached into her sleeve and pulled out a hanky. He glanced over his shoulder and saw several other women dabbing. He kissed Tyler’s mop of long, curly hair. His son if not in blood, in heart, and now in name. He gathered Sofie to his side and kissed her, his wife, who had been in his heart since the moment she took on a herd of cows.
“So, cowboy, how are we going to top this Christmas?”
Dan smoothed a hand over her flat belly and smiled.
“I think we can come up with an idea or two.”
Once again, they were enveloped by friends and family and love. Tyler jigged and squealed as he was passed from person to person, while Dan and Sofie were congratulated on the surprise of their own. Eventually everyone made it back to Sky Lake and into the Great Lodge, where food spread for miles.
Dan couldn’t contain his smile or his emotions. He felt sure they were plastered on his face for all of Fly Creek to decipher. But he didn’t care. This town, his place in it, was now perfect with Sofie and Tyler by his side. Sofie had settled into her second-grade classroom easily, and Tyler had never been more spoiled by Shelby and Polly and his Aunt Emily.
“Dan?”
He turned to find Shelby and Mitchum. The old man clapped him on the back. “Congratulations, son. Your family’s beautiful.”
Satisfied he’d done his “fatherly” duties, Mitchum kissed his wife and headed over to Laney, who was setting out some more tarts.
“Well, that was surprising. That man will give you whiplash with his emotions. Anyway, this is for you.”
Shelby handed Dan an envelope. “Merry Christmas.”
Dan opened the legal-size manila envelope and slid out a bunch of papers stapled together with a blue binding. He scanned the legal jargon, only to crush the paper and pin Shelby with his gaze.
“We should have done it a long time ago. Sky Lake’s what it is today in part because of you and your hard work and ideas. You and Ryder will make it even more special in all the years to come.”
Dan yanked Shelby into a bear hug. “Thank you for loving me like your son.”
“You are my son, you silly boy.”
She bussed his cheek. “Now go find that wife of yours. I expect more grand-babies soon.”
He slid the envelope and deed into his back pocket and searched for his angel’s head. Levi, Adam’s brother, stopped him.
“Have you seen Becky Jane?”
Dan shook his head. “Did you try the birthing barn? Damn Winston is apparently intent on making babies at Christmas an annual tradition.”
Levi smiled. “Is his owner following the lead?”
Dan grinned and left Levi to search out the spitfire vet.
Spying Sofie, he slid in behind her and kissed her ear. “Ready to go home, Mrs. Rigby?”
She turned in his arms and kissed him. “I thought you’d never ask.”
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Acknowledgments
To Heath, for your love and support. Thank you for being my rock in life’s stormy ocean.
To my girls, for liftin
g me up when I’m down. Your smiles and cheers make it all worthwhile.
To Lee, this book wouldn’t have been finished without your support. Thanks for the kick in the pants.
To Kim, for your kind words and lovely support of my books. Thank you for loving Fly Creek as much as I do.
To Karen, for your daily pep talks and advice. I’m blessed to call you a friend.
To my editor, Alycia, for your insight and support. My stories shine with your guidance. It has been a pleasure working on the Fly Creek books with you.
To everyone at Entangled Publishing, thank you for all the time and effort you put into my books. It is a joy working with each of you.
About the Author
Jennifer lives in a small town in Pennsylvania with her husband and two daughters. When not writing, she can usually be found elbow deep in flour or inhaling chlorine as she cheers her daughter on at a swim meet. She loves musicals, caramel, and roller coasters, and lists Machu Picchu at the top of her bucket list. She is a member of RWA and Central Pennsylvania Romance Writers. Find out more about Jennifer and sign up for her newsletter at www.jenniferhoopes.com.
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