A Cowboy Family Christmas

by Judy Duarte

  For now, though, she’d focus on preparing lunch.

  “Hey, Lainie?”

  She turned toward the doorway, where Drew stood, his hair stylishly mussed, and wearing a dazzling smile. Why did he have to be so appealing?

  Drew made his way into the kitchen. “Sully had a suggestion for the party. What do you think about wrapping up the festivities with a hayride and a sing-along?”

  “I think that’s a great idea.”

  “There’s an old wagon behind the barn. We’d have to clean it up, but it should work out perfectly for what we have in mind. Do you want to see it?”

  “Absolutely.” She turned to the sink, and washed her hands then grabbed a dish towel to dry them. “Let me put the potato salad in the refrigerator.”

  Minutes later, they’d left the house and walked around the barn, where a large, buckboard style wagon was parked on a thick patch of grass in the back.

  “This is it,” Drew said.

  At first glance, it looked to be about a hundred years old and weather-beaten. It didn’t just need a good cleaning, it could use a coat of paint, too.

  “It has potential,” she said.

  “I’ve already checked out the structure, and it looks all right. One of the wood slats on the side needs to be replaced, but with a little work, it’ll do just fine.”

  “The kids are going to love a hayride, especially Andre. I’ll bet he’ll be in seventh heaven.”

  “I was thinking about him,” Drew said. “The next time I’m in town, I’m going to buy him a child-size cowboy hat.”

  Lainie leaned her hip against the wagon’s open tailgate and gazed at him. “That’d be really sweet. I’m sure he’d love it.”

  He shrugged a single shoulder. “I figured he would.”

  “You know,” she said, pressing her palm on the open tailgate and finding it sturdy, “you promised to let him ride a horse. He’ll be disappointed if it doesn’t work out for some reason.”

  “I know. That’s why I’ve already talked to Nate about it. He suggested we use a gentle mare named Felicity.”

  Lainie hopped up on the tailgate and took a seat. “I’d planned to call the Hoffmans later today to talk about the party plans. If it’s okay with you, I’ll ask them if Andre can come here before the party to ride Felicity.”

  “Sure, go ahead. I’d be happy to work around their schedule.”

  “Then if they don’t have any objections, I’ll set up a day and time that works for everyone.”

  Drew continued to study her, his gaze sweeping her face. “You’re something else, Lainie.”

  She wasn’t entirely sure what he meant, but her chest warmed and her heart fluttered at what was surely a compliment. She crossed her ankles and swayed her legs, a nervous reaction that might seem a little girlish, but there was something very grown up about what she was feeling—and about the way Drew was looking at her.

  “There’s something else I wanted to bring up while we’re out here alone,” he added.

  Uh-oh. Here it comes. The kiss chat she’d been dreading. Yet for some reason, she wasn’t the least bit worried about having it now.

  “It was fun last night. I’d like to finish what we started.”

  Was he talking about the kiss? Or the baking session? Either way, she didn’t dare ask.

  “After that,” he said, “maybe we can roll out the remaining dough and make more cookies.”

  Heat singed her cheeks, and her heartbeat kicked up to a lively pace. So he’d been referring to the kiss. She was tempted to slip off the tailgate and make a mad dash to the house, but before she could move, Drew closed in on her, blocking her escape route.

  “I hadn’t meant for that to happen,” she said, “but it...just did.”

  “It was a nice kiss, don’t you think?”

  That’s not how she’d describe it. She’d use words like sweet, arousing and sensual.

  “Just nice?” she asked.

  “Actually...” His lips quirked into a crooked grin. “On a scale of one to ten? I’d rate it an eleven or twelve.”

  Now it was her turn to smile. “Something tells me you’ve had plenty of kisses to compare it to, so I’ll take your word for it.”

  “You haven’t?” he asked.

  She wasn’t about to admit that she lacked any real experience worth counting. “I thought it was pretty good.”

  “Good enough to try it again someday?”

  She ought to tell him no, to set up some boundaries between them, to protect herself from entering another bad relationship, but she couldn’t deny the truth.

  “Sure,” she said. “Maybe someday.”

  He closed the two-foot gap between them, which seemed to be his way of saying, Then why not now?

  For the life of her, she couldn’t come up with a single objection.

  He placed his right hand along her jaw. His fingers slipped under her ear and reached the back of her neck. The pad of his thumb caressed her cheek, scrambling her brain and setting her senses on high alert. All the while, he studied her face as if he could read every single detail about her life, every memory in her heart.

  Lainie could’ve sworn he was going to kiss her again, and she wasn’t sure what to do about it—if anything.

  Fight? Flight?

  Or should she just roll with it?

  Preparing to make a move of some kind, she placed her palms on the tailgate and shifted her weight. As she sat back down, one side of the tailgate cracked and her seat gave way. She let out a scream, grabbed Drew and brought him crashing to the ground with her.

  Chapter Nine

  Drew had been blessed with quick reflexes, but when the wood cracked and the bracket broke, he didn’t have much time to react.

  He tried to catch Lainie, as her fingernails dug into his arm, but she still slid down the slanting tailgate, pulling him to the ground with her.

  He rolled to the side, thankful for the thick patch of long grass that softened their landing, and propped himself up on his elbow. He hovered over her, brushed a silky strand of hair from her face and searched her eyes. “Are you okay?”

  “I think so.” She blinked a couple of times. “Nothing hurts.”

  “Good.” He probably ought to help her up, but he liked being stretched out beside her, gazing at her pretty face, taunted by her soft floral scent. It was an arousing position.

  Admittedly, there were better, more romantic places for a proverbial roll in the hay than a patch of grass, next to an old buckboard wagon, but he wasn’t about to suggest a change in position, let alone location. Not while he had Lainie in his arms again. He felt compelled to kiss her long and hard.

  He really shouldn’t. But she was studying him intently, practically inviting him to do it.

  When her lips parted, he was toast.

  As their lips met and his eyes closed, they returned to that blissful, intimate state they’d reached last night. Their bodies naturally took off from where they’d left off.

  Drew rolled her with him to the side, finding a comfortable spot away from the wagon, and continued to kiss her thoroughly. Tongues mated, breaths mingled and hearts pounded out in need.

  He stroked her back, his hands bunching up the flannel fabric that separated his fingers from her skin. But a simple article of clothing, no matter how blousy, couldn’t hide the soft, feminine body underneath.

  He slid his hands along the curve of her spine and down the slope of her hips. As his mouth continued its gentle yet demanding assault, Lainie let out a soft whimper, sending a rush of desire coursing through his veins.

  Unable to help himself, he slipped his hand under the hem of her shirt, seeking the woman inside. As he felt along her warm skin and explored the curve of her waist, his testosterone flared. He inch
ed his way up to the edge of her satin bra, soft and sleek, and sought her breast. But the moment he cupped the full mound, she jerked away as if he’d crossed an invisible line.

  And hadn’t he? Considering the circumstances, where they were and how they came to be there, she probably thought he was way off base.

  She’d seemed more than willing, though. That is, until now.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “I guess I got a little carried away.”

  She sat up, lifted her hand to her collar, fingering the flannel fabric, and slowly shook her head. “No, I’m the one who should be sorry. I didn’t mean to overreact. I hope you don’t think I was being a tease.”

  A flush covered her throat, indicating her own arousal. She bit down on her lip, which was still plump from the gentle assault of their kiss. “It’s just that...” She scanned the area around them. “This isn’t the time or the place.”

  She had a point, but he made light of it by tossing her a playful grin, hoping to ease her discomfort or embarrassment. “Well, the timing was okay with me. And I admit this probably isn’t the place. But no one saw us, so we’re the only ones who know what happened.”

  She got to her feet and, after righting her shirt, she pointed at the wagon. “I think, once that tailgate is fixed, this will work out perfectly for what we have in mind.”

  He wasn’t about to mention what he’d had in mind, what he was still thinking, but he followed her lead and rose from the grassy ground.

  “Or better yet,” she said, “maybe we should ask around the neighboring ranches and see if we can borrow something similar.”

  Avoiding a person or a subject seemed to be her primary line of defense.

  His first thought was to mention it, to take her back to the subject at hand, but it was probably in his best interests to let it go for now. Did he really want to talk about what they’d just done and what it might mean?

  He was definitely attracted to her. And the clock was ticking since he’d be leaving the Rocking C after the party.

  “I planned to call the Hoffmans later today,” Lainie added. “So I’ll ask if they have any concerns about the kids having a hayride, although I don’t think they will.”

  She clearly didn’t want to address their undeniable attraction, the heated kiss they’d just shared or where it might lead. He should leave it at that, right?

  “While I’m on the phone, I should probably lock in a time for the party. How do you feel about two o’clock? Or should we include the children for lunch?” She bit down on her bottom lip again, but this time, when she looked up, her eyes glistened like warm honey. “There’s so much I want to do.”

  “You’re really excited about this party, aren’t you?”

  “More than you know.” She ran a hand through her hair, which had gotten mussed with the tumble and the kiss. Her fingers caught on a tangle, and she tugged through it. “But it’s not just about this particular party. After Christmas, I’m going to stay in close contact with the Hoffmans and do everything I can to support Kidville. My heart’s gone out to those kids, especially Andre.”

  Drew felt the same way. “I’d like to continue helping them, too. I mean personally and not only through Esteban Enterprises.”

  “Jim and Donna will be happy to hear that. They’re going to need all the support and manpower they can get.” Again, she pointed to the buckboard. “And speaking of manpower, who’s going to refurbish this wagon and make sure it’s safe to carry the kids? And where do we get the straw?”

  “I’ll take care of it. And I’ll rope Sully and Rex into helping me. It’ll be good for them to have a job to do and something to look forward to.”

  Lainie smiled. “That reminds me, I need to get back to the kitchen, or lunch won’t be on the table by noon.” Then she turned and walked away as if nothing had happened, as if they’d never kissed.

  Drew studied her from behind, watching the sway of her denim-clad hips and the way that flannel shirt ruffled in the light afternoon breeze. He felt badly about feeling her up, especially if that’s what had unsettled her. But he’d felt compelled to learn what she was hiding underneath her unflattering fabric façade.

  And if things worked out the way he hoped they would, one day soon he’d find out.

  * * *

  Lainie hurried toward the house, determined to escape Drew and the powerful yet unsettling feelings he stirred up inside her. But now that she’d kissed him and experienced his heated touch, she doubted her efforts would work.

  He’d set her soul on fire, and as he’d caressed her, she’d nearly melted into a puddle on the grass. His touch created an ache deep in her core, and she’d nearly forgotten she had a physical flaw.

  But when his hand moved dangerously close to her chest, she’d suddenly realized that he was just one tantalizing stroke away from stumbling upon her scar. And she’d freaked out like a feral cat. How embarrassing was that?

  If things progressed between them, if they became lovers—and if truth be told, she wasn’t opposed to that any longer—she’d tell him about the surgery and prepare him for what he was about to see. The last thing she wanted was for him to be repulsed, just as Ryan had been when he’d frozen up and turned a romantic moment ugly.

  But then again, Drew seemed to be different from Ryan—and certainly from Craig. Could she risk being completely honest with him?

  She was healthy and whole now. Besides, it might not matter to Drew that she bore a hardened ridge and a pale white line that would never go away.

  At the possibility that he might accept her completely, an idea sparked and a new game plan arose.

  She’d start looking like herself again. First step: wearing lipstick instead of the gloss she’d applied earlier. And she’d choose clothes that were more feminine, more stylish. More flattering. Then, when the subject came up again, and the timing was right, she’d level with him about her surgery.

  By the time she opened the back door and entered the house, she felt much better and a lot more confident. And when she spotted Sully seated at the table, she burst into a smile.

  “There you are,” her old friend said. “I’ve been looking for you.”

  Thank goodness he hadn’t gone in search of her behind the barn!

  “I went with Drew to see the wagon he’d like to use for the hayride,” she said. “Is everything okay?”

  “Everything’s hunky-dory. I just wanted to share some good news.”

  “What’s up?”

  Sully leaned back in his seat, clasped his hands and rested them on his rounded belly. “A few years back, I used to be a member of the Brighton Valley Moose Lodge. Every December they’d have a holiday party, and Santa Claus always made a showing. So I called an old friend who’s still active with the group and asked if I could borrow their suit after they finish with it.”

  “What’d he say?”

  “They’ll loan it to us. And after I told him why we needed it, he offered to have it dry-cleaned and promised to deliver it himself.” Sully grinned from ear to ear, clearly pleased with his contribution to the party.

  “That’s great,” Lainie said. “Things are coming together nicely. Getting a Santa suit is one thing I can mark off my list, but there’s still a lot to do.”

  “Let me know if there’s anything else I can do to help.”

  “Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind.” She’d also have to remember to place that phone call to Kidville. She didn’t want to make any more plans before talking things over with the Hoffmans first.

  After Sully left the kitchen, Lainie glanced at the clock over the stove. She’d better get the chicken in the oven or it wouldn’t be ready by noon.

  Ten minutes later, using the old-style phone that hung on the kitchen wall, she placed the call to Kidville.

  When Donna answered, Lainie lau
nched into their party plans, including the hayride that would wrap up the day. Just as expected, Donna gave her full approval, and they settled on a one o’clock start time.

  “There’s something else I had on my mind,” Lainie said. “We offered Andre a horseback ride, and Drew found the perfect horse for him, a gentle mare named Felicity. Would it be all right if Andre came to the Rocking C for a lesson within the next few days?”

  “That would be awesome. He seems to be adjusting pretty well to being here with us, but he’s still very concerned about his little brothers. Maybe visiting the ranch and riding a horse will help him take his mind off his worries, at least for an hour or two.”

  “Are the younger boys together in the same foster home?” Lainie asked.

  “I wish they were. Sadly, there are more children in the county who need a place to live than families willing to take them in. But Mrs. Tran, their social worker, believes siblings should be together whenever possible. So I hope and pray they won’t have to be separated too long.”

  Lainie’s heart clenched, and her grip on the telephone receiver tightened. “Are the children adoptable?”

  “I expect the youngest boys to be cleared soon. Their father is serving a life sentence without possibility of parole. And from what I understand, he’s going to surrender parental rights, which would make Abel and Mario eligible for adoption.”

  “But what about Andre?” Lainie’s grip on the receiver tightened until her knuckles ached.

  “I’m not sure. His father ran off years ago, and no one knows where he is. On top of that, the poor kid is facing several surgeries and some extensive rehab, so he’s in limbo. At least, legally. Jim and I are doing all we can to make him feel loved and safe.”

  Lainie had no doubt about that, but still...

  “I’d take all three boys in a heartbeat,” she said, “if that meant they could stay together. But I’m not prepared to provide them with a permanent home just yet.”

  “That’s sweet of you to even consider it,” Donna said.

  Lainie wasn’t just blowing smoke and offering something she didn’t expect to follow through on. It had been a heartfelt offer, and she wanted to make sure Donna realized it.