Colorado Christmas

by C. C. Coburn

  He let her cry it out, all the while stroking her back until she got herself under control.

  “The choice was a no-brainer. I packed a suitcase and left that night, with my baby and the determination that Nicolas would live the best life I could give him. I went back to my maiden name and changed Nicolas’s surname, too. Graham didn’t care.” She shook her head. “As I said, the choice was easy—but the years that followed were…very difficult.

  “I had barely any money because I’d allowed Graham to control our accounts. He got me fired from the law firm, thinking that would bring me to my knees, if not my senses. So I took a job in the DA’s office to support Nicolas, and I got a smart lawyer who tracked down money Graham was hiding in overseas accounts. Eventually, in exchange for keeping my mouth shut—and therefore saving his precious career and reputation—I got a settlement I could live with.

  “I needed to get out of Atlanta and away from his social circle and any reminders of him, so I applied for a job in Denver that offered on-site day care. I worked long hours and hated every moment spent away from my son, but never once regretted my decision to leave my sham of a marriage.

  “The whole experience reinforced my determination to protect my son from anyone who wanted to hurt him,” she said as Will helped her into her coat, then pulled on his own.

  That sure explained her overprotectiveness. And put it in perspective.

  She took another deep breath and let it out. “Graham betrayed me so badly I swore I’d never get involved with another man. Never leave myself open to hurt and ridicule again.”

  And that explained why she’d resisted his offers of a date, of the possibility of emotional entanglement.

  “Thank you for telling me that,” he finally managed to say.

  “Thank you for being a friend to Nicolas. He needs friends.”

  “He’s a good kid. He obviously inherited your brains and not your ex-husband’s.”

  Becky smiled at the compliment as Will opened the door, and she moved ahead of him onto the front porch. “How do you figure that?” she asked.

  “Because if you were my wife, I’d never have let you go.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Becky stumbled, stunned by his declaration. He caught her and she could feel his strength and the warmth of his body clear through the layers of her clothing. Graham had made her feel about as wanted as yesterday’s trash. Will’s heartfelt statement had helped restore her sense of worth as a woman. “Thank you,” she said. “Both for saying that and stopping me from falling on my face.” She glanced up at him. His eyes were so dark, so intense, that she believed she could lose herself in them forever.

  “Mom! There you are!” Nicolas shouted, bringing her out of her trance.

  Daisy and Sasha at his side, he headed toward her.

  “We’ve been looking all over for you!” Daisy shouted. Only she didn’t need to shout as they were now standing in front of Becky and Will.

  “I took Becky on a tour of the house,” Will said. “She really liked my pink bedroom.” He winked at Sash and she broke into giggles.

  All three children were eyeing Becky as if she’d been up to no good. She turned to Will and said in a formal tone, “Thank you for the tour. Your family home is lovely and I appreciate your taking the time from your busy day to show it to me.” She turned back to Nicolas. “Why were you looking for me?”

  “I had a brilliant idea.”

  “And what’s that, darling?”

  “You know how I need a caregiver for the holidays?”

  Will coughed.

  “Yes.”

  “And you know how none of the people you’ve interviewed have anything worthwhile to offer me?”

  Becky felt herself blush. There were some opinions she shared with Nicolas that she’d prefer he not share with others. “Ah, I didn’t quite say that.”

  “Yeah, you did. But I know someone you’d approve of, and I really like.”

  Had Nicolas met someone suitable at the barbecue? She scanned the crowd. “And whom might that be?”

  “Will.” Nicolas beamed and placed his small hand in Will’s. “We can do lots of stuff together. Plus he can teach me to swim and ski.”

  “Excuse me?” she said in a choked voice.

  “Will, Mom!” He dragged Will forward. “He needs a job, you need someone to look after me during the holidays and after school, and we’re already buddies. He’s perfect.”

  “Ah, I’m sure Will has other job prospects,” she said. Employing Will would be dangerous—to her libido and her reputation—if she allowed her attraction to him to get the upper hand.

  “Actually, I don’t,” Will said, upsetting her equilibrium further.

  “I’d need references,” she told him.

  “If it’s character references you’re after, then feel free to ask around.” Will indicated all the people at the barbecue.

  “He’s perfect for the job, Mom,” Nicolas said again. “And he can teach me to swim and ski.”

  The swimming and skiing angle was beginning to grate on Becky’s nerves. “I haven’t agreed to you doing either of those activities,” she said, although she could feel she was losing the battle.

  “I’ll take very good care of the little guy,” Will told her.

  “Yeah, he will!” Daisy said, and Becky wondered if the child knew how to speak without yelling.

  “Uncle Will taught us to swim and ski and now we’re on the ski team at school,” Sasha joined in.

  Becky was fast running out of excuses. “I can’t understand why a man would want to spend his days caring for a young boy,” she said directly to Will.

  “Fathers do it all the time.”

  “You’re not his father,” she hissed and drew him aside.

  “He needs a male role model.”

  “And someone who vandalizes expensive equipment is a suitable one?”

  Will shrugged. “Aside from that. C’mon, Your Honor, you’re the one who said I need a paying job to make me respectable.”

  “I didn’t mean a job working for me.”

  “Tell you what, I’ll work free for the first week. If you don’t like how I do things, you can send me on my way, no hard feelings.”

  “Your offer is tempting. However, the answer is still no. It wouldn’t be appropriate.”

  Will combed his fingers through his hair and asked, “Does anyone ever measure up to your high standards?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “You heard me and you understand me, so stop playing games. I need a job. You need someone dependable to look after Nick. Do the math.”

  “I…”

  “Save it. I’ve got a barbecue to run,” he said and stalked off toward the barn.

  She found Nicolas glaring at her. Sasha and Daisy looked equally forbidding. “What?”

  “You turned him down, didn’t you?” he demanded.

  “Of course I did. It wouldn’t be appropriate,” she repeated.

  “Mom, I’m eight years old. I have an IQ of over two hundred. Trust me to make at least one judgment call about people on my own.” He stalked off after Will. The girls gave her identical death glares, then followed Nicolas.

  Becky stared openmouthed at three retreating backs. She seemed to be making enemies right, left and center. Perhaps it was time for her and Nicolas to head home. Only she didn’t think he’d obey her and get in the car and she didn’t want to make a scene.

  “Enjoyin’ yourself, Judge?” Becky spun around. Frank Farquar was grinning at her. “Dunno what you said to Will, but I’ve never seen him so steamed up.”

  “It’s none of your business, Mr. Farquar.”

  “Sure it is! This is a small community. We watch out for one another. Will’s hurtin’ and you’re the cause.”

  “Mr. Far—”

  “The name’s Frank. Can I buy you a coffee and talk to you for a bit?”

  “Mr. Farquar, I see quite enough of you and your pig in court.”

  “Jud
ge, you gotta drop the attitude if you wanna have any friends around here,” he said and gently steered her toward the coffee wagon. “Two lattes,” he ordered without asking Becky what she’d like.

  While the coffees were being prepared, he said, “Your little boy has taken quite a shine to our Will. ’Course, it’s not surprisin’. Everybody calls Will the pied piper of Spruce Lake.”

  “As I recall, the tale of the pied piper did not have a happy ending.”

  Frank shrugged. “Wouldn’t know ’bout that. But Will’s always had a way with kids. He’d be good for your boy.”

  And just how did Frank Farquar know about Nicolas’s plans?

  “I saw him being picked on when I was passin’ the school week before last,” Frank was saying.

  “What?”

  “Calm down. The O’Malley girls came to his rescue. I think young Daisy gave the big kid a black eye and probably some bruised ribs, as well.”

  “Nicolas was…fighting?” Becky was appalled. What was going on at that school? And why hadn’t the teacher reported it to her?

  “Nope, your boy wasn’t doing the fightin’, he was the victim. Daisy got the ringleader on the ground and practically had him hog-tied. Sasha told Nicolas to run and he did. Right across the road to the rec center.”

  Becky was nearly choking with terror. She had no idea the bullying was physical. “Why didn’t you intervene, Mr. Farquar?”

  He paid for the drinks and handed one to Becky. “I did. I pulled young Daisy off the other kid before she killed him. I figured your boy’d be okay ’cause I saw Will goin’ into the rec center just before the fight started. Johnny wouldn’t dare go after a young’un with Will around.”

  “You knew Nicolas was my son?”

  “Not until today. He was gettin’ a bit frantic looking for you earlier. Then I saw you comin’ out of the house with Will and pointed him in your direction. Hope I didn’t interrupt anything?”

  “Er, no, you didn’t, Mr. Far—Frank.” Becky took a deep breath. “I appreciate your telling me about the bullying. I had no idea Daisy and Sasha came to Nicolas’s rescue. He only said he’d made some new friends at school.”

  “Firm friends by the looks of it.” Frank sipped at his coffee and gestured at the children heading toward the barn. “You won’t find better folks than the O’Malleys anywhere. Young Will’s always been the one to turn his mama’s hair gray with his antics. But he has a kind heart and would do anything for anyone. With all he’s been doin’ to save the old buildings, you’d think there weren’t enough hours in the day to accomplish it all—plus all the other things he does for folks.”

  “Did he put you up to this?”

  “Huh?” He stared at her so blankly, Becky conceded she was being unnecessarily suspicious. Yet again. She’d have to go find Will, apologize profusely, then find Nicolas and head home. Where she felt safer. In control. Sighing, she decided to take Will up on his offer—on the probationary basis he’d suggested.

  She thanked him for the coffee and hurried to the barn and the strains of country-style music. It was filled with people dancing in lines. Reaching a break in the crowd, she spotted Nicolas trying to keep up with the music, Sasha and Daisy on either side of him. They giggled whenever they got the steps wrong and bumped into one another.

  “Care to try some boot scootin’, Judge?”

  Becky felt his breath against the back of her neck like a caress. Why was he even speaking to her after the way she’d treated him? She turned and said, “Mr. O’Malley, I owe you an apology. I have it on the highest authority that you’re a decent citizen.”

  At his raised brows, she hurried on. “And if you can forgive my rudeness, I hope you’ll come and work for me.” Becky had no idea how she’d keep her hands off him if he accepted, but she needed to extend an olive branch, otherwise Nicolas might never speak to her again. And by now she knew enough about Will to admit he probably would be good for her son.

  “If you promise to stop calling me Mr. O’Malley, I might be persuaded to reconsider. Don’t forget we’ve shared a very heated kiss.” He fanned his face.

  Which was yet another reason she needed to keep their relationship formal. About to point that out, she realized how controlling she sounded. “All right, Will,” she said instead. “But I insist on paying you, even during your probation.”

  He clasped her hand and shook it. “Done,” he said and led her onto the dance floor.

  “I can’t do this!” she protested as he pulled her into the line.

  “Just follow the people in front of you.”

  Becky tripped but Will caught her hand and, with his help, she was soon joining in.

  When the band changed to a slow number, most of the dancers retired to get refreshments. Becky expected Will to draw her into the strains of the Tennessee Waltz. But Sasha bounded up to him. “Can you teach me how to waltz, Uncle Will?”

  “Sure, sweetie,” he said and, with a shrug of apology to Becky, led Sasha into the middle of the dance floor. Frank Farquar was pleading with Edna Carmichael to dance with him, but she steadfastly refused, standing at the edge of the floor with her arms obstinately crossed.

  Becky spotted Sarah dancing with her husband. Mac O’Malley was every bit as handsome as his sons. His face was weather-beaten but his body looked wiry and fit. Other older couples joined them and Becky smiled at the scene.

  As the song ended, Sasha released her uncle and clapped her hands with glee. Then it was Daisy’s turn. Becky wondered why their father wasn’t dancing with his daughters, why he stood alone on the other side of the dance floor.

  Will bent to whisper something in Daisy’s ear. She nodded and he handed her to her Uncle Matt and went to ask Mrs. Carmichael to dance. Her face glowed as she allowed him to lead her onto the floor. Poor Frank.

  After a few bars, Will waved at Frank. Becky stepped up to the older man and said, “Will’s offering you the chance to cut in.”

  When he hesitated, she urged, “Go on. It’s bad manners for a lady to refuse.”

  Emboldened, he tapped Will on the back. Edna’s lips pursed for a moment, then she placed her hand in Frank’s and was spun away before she could change her mind.

  “I think they’re playing our song,” Will said.

  “They aren’t playing anything right now,” Becky murmured as the band put down their instruments. The band leader announced, “We’re taking a short break, folks, but we’ll leave you in Dino’s and Frankie’s capable hands.”

  “Like I said, they’re playing our tune,” Will told her as Dean Martin crooned his classic song, “You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You,” and urged Becky onto the dance floor.

  “I…don’t dance. Not this kind of dancing.”

  “There’s nothing to it,” Will said, placing his hand on her back. “Relax. Let it flow.”

  She did, seduced by Dean Martin’s beautiful baritone voice and the desire to be held by Will once again.

  He sang along with the well-remembered words, and Becky smiled.

  “You dance and sing,” she remarked, needing to make conversation because what she felt in Will’s arms was so wonderful—and so frightening. As if to underline her lack of control, she moved too soon and stepped on his foot.

  He ignored that and said, “Mom sent us to dance lessons. My brothers hated it, but I had a crush on our teacher, so I’m much better than them.”

  “Modest, too.” She grinned up at him. There was something charming about his lack of guile. “And the singing? You could double for Dean Martin.”

  “Thank you. However, I’ve never smoked, so I lack that husky edge to my voice that makes Dino so irresistible.” He twirled her around as the music quickened, causing her heartbeat to flutter with fear that she might trip, but Will held her fast.

  Becky was finding him irresistible even without the smoky edge.

  When the tune segued into “You Make Me Feel So Young,” Will said, “Now that’s a fox-trot.” He indicated Matt and Miss Pat
terson.

  Dancing with a younger man seemed to make Miss Patterson feel young. She positively glowed. Becky smiled and said, “I think the lyrics were written just for her.”

  Edna and Frank were still dancing—closer this time. Couples both old and young spun by and Becky couldn’t help admiring the way these old-fashioned tunes bridged the generation gap.

  As the song changed again, Matt tapped his brother on the shoulder and stepped up to take Becky’s hand.

  “Do you mind?” he asked.

  “Of course not. I was getting tired of stepping on the toes of the best dancer in Spruce Lake.”

  “He told you about that?”

  “Uh-huh,” she said and watched as Will settled Miss Patterson in a chair and went to get her some refreshments. “Although I think he was bragging because, so far, you haven’t put a foot wrong.”

  Matt laughed and admitted, “I hated going to dance lessons. But now that I’m older, I’ve realized Mom had some good ideas, after all.”

  “Miss Patterson looked decades younger when she was dancing with you.”

  He gave her one of his rare smiles. “We have a permanent arrangement for at least one dance at any gathering. Have you enjoyed yourself today?”

  “Very much. Your brother turned out to be quite the organizer.” She scanned the room and saw Will dancing with his mother.

  “He’s half in love with you. You know that, don’t you?”

  That effectively brought her attention back to Matt. “I’m sure you’re wrong.” Attraction, maybe. Love? Impossible.

  “Oh, I’m quite sure I’m right.” He moved her into a quick spin, unsettling her further.

  When she’d regained her equilibrium, she said, “Then perhaps it wasn’t such a good idea hiring him to look after Nicolas.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because we’ll end up spending a lot of time together.”

  “And the problem with that would be?”

  “I need to maintain a semblance of decorum. If anyone were to think I was involved in a relationship with an employee of mine, I’d lose the respect of those I serve.”