by Stacey Kayne
Tucker stood at the door of the large barn, staring out at two feet of freshly fallen snow, freezing as he waited for Chance to retrieve Garret's Christmas present from the loft. With the sun barely into the sky, streams of smoke swirled up from the stovepipes of the bunkhouse and Zeke's home a little farther down the road. Tucker imagined their foreman would soon have everyone shoveling snow and breaking ice.
A few extra chores wouldn't put a dent in Tucker's Christmas. He'd already had the best Christmas morning a man could have, and had taken his time unwrapping and unraveling the greatest gift he'd ever been given. He tucked his cold hands into his armpits and thought about the warm woman he'd left in the house.
"What's that stupid grin for?"
"Nothin'," Tucker said as he glanced up at his brother.
Chance stepped away from the ladder with a burlap sack under his arm. "You're so far gone," he said in a solemn tone as he shook his head. "You can't stand still for two seconds without thinkin' about her and getting that dopey look on your face."
It was true, and Tucker didn't give a damn. He'd never imagined a man could love anyone the way he loved Skylar. Chance didn't know what he was missing. "We might have to find a woman to put the same look on your face," he suggested."Like hell! I'd sooner have a woman skin me alive with nothin' but a spoon. Besides, your woman is one of a kind, and I've never had your dumb luck."
Laughing, Tucker followed him through the snow. He reached over and grabbed the whimpering sack squirming in Chance's arms. "So what does this mutt look like?" He pulled out a ball of black fluff with four white paws. The big red bow tied around its neck gleamed against the morning sunlight. "Nice touch," Tucker said, smiling at his twin.
"It's a Christmas gift," Chance grumbled, thumping his booted foot against the bottom step of the back stoop to shake off snow. "They're supposed to be wrapped."
"Uh-huh." A gift for a kid Chance swore did nothing but annoy him. Yet he'd insisted on riding thirty miles through the snow to make sure the kid got a hound for Christmas.
"Stick the damn dog back in the sack."
Laughing, Tucker put the pooch back in the bag and followed Chance into the kitchen. Skylar stood by the stove, sliding a turkey into the oven, looking lovely as ever in the fancy pink gown he'd bought from Miss Kelley in Colorado. With her golden hair swept up in one of the braided hairdos Zeke's wife had taught her, she appeared wholly out of place in the plain kitchen. The sight of her in that pink satin still took his breath.
Closing the oven door, she turned, flashing a bright smile as she wiped her hands on the red apron tied at her waist. Her eyes darted toward his wiggling captive.
"You found one!"
"Chance did," Tucker said.
"Oh, Chance!" Skylar snatched up her brother-in-law before he could dodge her arms and gave him a tight squeeze.
Tucker laughed quietly as his brother endured her embrace, then he shifted the dog into Chance's arms in exchange for his wife.
"I did help him bring it in the house."
"He's going to love it," she said as she wrapped her arms around Tucker's neck.
"He better," Chance grumbled. "Let's get this over with." Coffee cups clanked as he picked up the tray Skylar had prepared with rolls and a pot of coffee.
"I think he's warming to us," Skylar whispered.
She turned away before Tucker could get a kiss. He followed them through the dining room into the great room where a monstrous ten-foot pine trimmed with red and white ribbons reached toward the high ceiling. Garret stood at the far end of the room, shoving another log into the stone fireplace.
As Chance slid the tray of cups and coffee onto a table before a long sofa, the dog let out a sharp bark. Garret's gaze whipped around and locked on the bundle under Chance's arm.
"Merry Christmas, kid." He shifted the gift into his arms. White paws pounced against Garret's chest as the pup squirmed from the bag.
"He's great!" He beamed a smile at Chance. "Thanks!"
"Thank your sister and Tucker."
"Not for the pup," Tucker said as he sat beside Skylar on the sofa. "Our gift is still wrapped under the tree. Chance bought you the dog and tied that fancy bow around its neck."
Chance shot Tucker a disgusted look as he dropped into an oversize chair.
Half an hour later Skylar snuggled against her husband, sipping her coffee as Garret romped across the paper-strewn floor with the puppy he'd named Boots.
"There's one more here," Garret said, pulling a package from behind the tree. "It's for Skylar."
Skylar glanced at the man cuddled against her side. He grinned as Garret set the festively wrapped box on her lap. She had already opened more presents than everyone else, the crate of fine china having brought her to full-on tears.
She quickly peeled off the paper and lifted the lid. Tears stung her eyes at the sight of the tiniest clothes she'd ever seen. Tucker had realized she was expecting before she could have suspected. At three months along, she was still absorbing the
shock. A baby was a whole new transition, one that would affect the household, not to mention her work with the horses.
"Well, are you gonna show us what it is?" asked Garret.
Tucker nudged her shoulder. Reluctantly, she lifted one of the tiny white gowns from the box.
"Baby clothes?" asked Garret. "You gonna have a baby?"
"Round the first of June," said Tucker, his voice beaming with pride.
"Did you hear that, Chance? We're gonna be uncles!"
"I have ears, kid."
Skylar's stomach burned with tension as she met Chance's gaze. They had already imposed on him so much. He tolerated all of them quite well considering he hadn't bargained on getting an instant family.
"A baby, huh?" His lips eased into a gentle grin. "Now, that's somethin' special," he said as he rose from his chair.
Skylar stood as he crossed the room, and felt a flood of relief as she stepped into the first embrace he'd ever willingly given her.
Garret was next, practically squeezing the life out of her. "Maybe it'll be twins!"
Skylar's heart lurched.
"I don't think so," Tucker said, glancing at the flat of her stomach, the tiny rise in her belly not yet noticeable beneath her full skirt.
"Let's get out of here," Chance said to Garret after congratulating his brother. "We've got work to do."
"Can I bring Boots?"
"Sure. He can help you muck out the stables."
"See?" Tucker said when the door closed behind them. "You were worried for nothing. I told you Chance would be happy for us. I know my brother."
Chance's approval was no small relief. Tucker shrugged on his coat then pulled her into his arms. Before he could kiss her the front door popped open.
"Tuck, are you—" Zeke's mouth snapped shut as the older
man's gaze collided with Skylar wrapped in Tucker's arms. "Pardon me." He flashed a smile, wrinkling the skin at the corners of his blue eyes. "Merry Christmas, Skylar."
"Merry Christmas, Zeke."
He shifted his gaze to Tucker who'd not relinquished a smidgen of his hold on her. "There's not a trough or watering hole that ain't froze over. You comin'?"
"After I kiss my wife."
"Newlyweds," Zeke mumbled before pulling the door shut.
"A man's got to have priorities," Tucker said as his hand slid beneath her chin and tilted her face up. Before his lips reached hers, the back door slammed as a shriek echoed through the house.
Margarete raced through the dining room. Her arms opened wide as she saw them. "I just heard! A baby!"
Skylar was wrenched from Tucker's arms as Margarete squeezed the breath out of her. For a tiny woman in her late fifties, she had an amazing amount of strength.
"Zeke and I wanted children, but it wasn't to be," she said as she released her hold, her eyes shining with tears. She turned to Tucker and gave him the same bone-crushing embrace. "This is exciting! We have so much to do."
Tuc
ker laughed as they watched her whisk back into the kitchen. "She's definitely happy for us."
Skylar sighed as he gathered her close. Hearing the back door slam again, she paused before reaching his lips.
"We just heard!" boomed Duce's voice. "Where's the little mamma-to-be?"
"Oh, Lord." Skylar pressed her face to Tucker's shirt. Garret was obviously announcing to the world.
"Com'ere." Tucker took her hand and led her to the front door. Stepping outside on the wide covered porch, he shut the door and gathered her close. "Can't believe I have to stand on the porch in the freezing cold to get a minute alone with my wife."
"I love the baby gowns, and the dishes," she said, smiling up at him.
"I love you."
Unable to wait a second longer, Skylar reached up and kissed him, long and thorough.
"Damn," he breathed when he lifted his mouth from hers. "You're gonna have to stop kissing me like that before I have to ride out. Makes it hard not to take you back inside."
Skylar laughed. "Later," she promised.
"Later always takes too long," he complained. His hand slid between them and covered the small rise in her abdomen.
"I can still hardly believe it, Tuck."
"I know the feeling, angel. You sure I'm father material?" he asked, holding her gaze.
"Yes. I've never known a more responsible and caring man."
"If I possess either of those qualities, it's because of you. I've been a mess my whole life. Just ask Chance."
"I don't have to. I knew you were a decent man before I married you."
"Your memory's not too good, honey," he said through his laughter. "You married me because I won our marriage document in a card game and tricked you into signing it."
"That's not how I remember it," she said, and smiled at his look of surprise. "You had already gotten to me. The moment I met you. You still get to me."
Tucker's smile broadened. "Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Then I guess we'll have to have us a passel of kids." He lifted her against the length of him and spun her around. "Should be fun, huh?"
"It'll be heaven," she said, knowing their children would grow up in a home filled with love and laughter.
