Christmas Kisses: An Echo Ridge Anthology (Echo Ridge Romance Book 1)

by Lucy McConnell

  Keira reached out and stroked his jawline. How she loved this man. Yes, loved. From a place she only reserved for the kind of love that lasts.

  “So I’m staying.”

  Keira froze.

  “Right here, in Echo Ridge. To see what can happen between us. If you’ll have me.” He tilted his head, a hesitant expression behind the sure one.

  Keira’s hand instinctively went to her heart. And then she laughed. A short relieved laugh that turned into a sob, with more hiccup-sounding sobs.

  Tayton stared, confused.

  “Oh, I’m so sorry.” Hiccup. “As you’ve seen, I’m not a pretty crier, at all. And you don’t understand, you’re— you’re so wonderful.” She grabbed his face with her hands and kissed him fully.

  He blinked, still confused. “Keira, what I’m saying is, I love you. I need to know…to know if you feel that way too.”

  Smiling, she shook her head, both hands on her heart. “Tayton, don’t you know? I’ve loved you from the first, the very, very first. I think at Chips Diner when you were starving but you wouldn’t eat until I did. It’s been every day, every minute, and when you left this weekend, I knew it. Knew it before I could say it out loud, because that’s so hard for me. And now I can.” She grasped his hands. “I…love you, Tayton. I love you, I love—”

  He didn’t wait for her to finish. Gathering her up, he pulled her to him, kissing her fully on the mouth. She felt a palpable relief in his embrace. With a hand through her strawberry blonde curls and the other cradling her neck, he expressed his hope, his yearning, his desire for her to know he was fully hers.

  At last, Keira pulled back. “I’m floating, utterly floating. Gracious, is this possible? Do you want to know the irony?”

  “Right now?” Tayton held her to him, tenderly kissing her neck.

  “I spent the weekend preparing myself to come to New York if needed. To get a job there, to see how you lived, to be there with you. And all that would go into it.”

  He cupped her face, realization dawning. Her dad. “You would do that for me?”

  “For us.” Covering his hand on her face with hers, she gazed at his soulful brown eyes. “I don’t know where this will lead, but my moment of clarity came with one thought: what if I let this go? Simply. Not. Possible.”

  He pulled her to him again. Yes, there were many things to be decided. But not now. Not right now. In this moment, Keira wanted to feel every single tingle and emotion to the fullest without her practical self in the way.

  Suddenly, Keira sat up. “You didn’t open your gift.”

  “Oh, I got my Christmas.”

  She laughed and went to the tree, reaching between the tree branches for a square of brown paper.

  He raised his eyebrow. “A brown paper package?

  “Tied up with string.”

  “You know, that’s one of my favorite things.”

  He untied the white string and removed the paper to reveal a painting of Echo Ridge. A modern meets old-fashioned perspective, sumptuous watercolor colors with the black outline of main buildings, lush hillsides, steep mountains, and the rolling scenery of Echo Ridge.

  For a few moments he simply stared. “From the Big Barn.”

  “Yes.”

  He fingered the places they’d been— the Whispering Pines care center, the white-steepled church, the plaza Christmas Tree, Chips Diner with the rooster on the roof, and finally, Kenworth’s.

  With a look, he turned and kissed her softly. “Home.”

  She kissed him back soundly. “Yes, home.”

  THE END

  Martha Jean's Apple Cider Donuts

  1 cup apple cider

  3 1/2 cups flour

  1 teaspoon baking soda

  2 teaspoons baking powder

  1/2 teaspoon salt

  1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

  1/2 stick butter (4 oz), soft

  1 cup granulated sugar

  2 large eggs

  1/2 cup buttermilk

  Vegetable oil or shortening (used for frying)

  Topping: Cinnamon sugar (mix 1-2 tablespoons of cinnamon with 1 cup of sugar); or use a white or cream cheese frosting

  For the donuts: Heat the apple cider in a saucepan over medium-low heat, reducing it to about 1/4 cup (will take about 20 minutes). Let it cool.

  In a bowl, combine the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder and soda, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg).

  Beat together butter and granulated sugar until smooth. Add the eggs, one at a time, and continue to beat until fully mixed. Reduce speed to low, gradually adding the reduced apple cider and buttermilk. Add the dry ingredients until it forms a dough.

  Place dough on one of two baking sheets (line with wax paper, sprinkle with flour so it doesn’t stick). Flatten dough until about ½ inch thick and put in freezer until hard (about 20 mins). Then use a 3-inch donut cutter and cut the shapes (put the holes on a second sheet). Chill for 20 mins.

  To fry: use about 3 inches of oil and heat until a candy thermometer reads 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Add donuts with space in between for about 60 seconds. Fry on both sides and place on paper towels. Dip the top of a warm donut in the cinnamon sugar. Eat and enjoy!

  Find Connie’s books on www.conniesokol.com and www.amazon.com.

  Caribbean Crossroads (fiction)

  Simply & Savor the Season: Organize & Re-energize Your Holidays!

  What Every 6th Grader Needs to Know: 10 Secrets to Connect Moms & Daughters

  The Life is Too Short Collection (Best of)

  Life is Too Short for One Hair Color

  Life is Too Short for Sensible Shoes

  Life is Too Short for Linoleum

  Create a Powerful Life Plan

  Faithful, Fit and Fabulous

  40 Days with the Savior

  Motherhood Matters

  CONNIE SOKOL is a mother of seven, and a local and national speaker for over fifteen years. She is a TV core contributor on KSL's “Studio 5 with Brooke Walker” and a national blogger for “Motherhood Matters” at www.ksl.com. She is a former TV and radio host for Bonneville Communications, and a newspaper and magazine columnist. Mrs. Sokol is a bestselling author having penned 14 books including What Every 6th Grader Needs to Know, Faithful, Fit & Fabulous, Create a Powerful Life Plan, and 40 Days with the Savior. She is one of seven mother hosts of The Living Room, a value-based online radio show dishing on everyday life, love, and learning, found at www.fromthelivingroom.com. Mrs. Sokol marinates in time spent with her family and eating decadent treats. For her radio and TV segments, blog, podcasts and more, visit www.conniesokol.com.

  For Kindra-—sometimes you have to go for your dreams, even when nothing is going your way.

  I’m so proud of you!

  JONAH OWEN SMILED AT MRS. CHESTER, the prospective buyer for his grandmother’s house. He saw the dispassionate way she studied the layout, the slight disdain in the lines of her mouth when she looked at the wheelchair lift in the bedroom, and the sneer that overcame her features when she gazed out the back window and focused on the next-door neighbor's house. “How many horses do they have?”

  “Three or four I think. I'm not sure. She's very conscientious about cleaning up after them and the other animals.” His grandmother had talked incessantly about her neighbor, Kaya's, animal therapy business, but he'd only met her briefly once or twice over the years. When the prospective buyer turned and looked at him with disbelief, he realized he'd said the wrong thing.

  Mrs. Chester— the only name she'd offered him— narrowed her dark eyes at him. “What other animals? All I see are horses. How did she get zoned for farm animals anyway? I thought this was a residential zone.”

  “I believe she has a couple of goats, some chickens and maybe some rabbits. I'm not sure exactly. She does animal therapy with children, so she rarely has more than one other car over there at a time.” He didn't really know as he hadn't spent much time at the house since he'd moved back to
town. “Her family used to own all of this land once, for the entire subdivision, plus the Fieldstone Manor subdivision. Since they've had horses and other animals for over one-hundred years, her property was grandfathered in under the old rules.” That had been a burr in his side since he'd started trying to sell his grandmother's home.

  Mrs. Chester wasn't the first potential buyer to object to living next to The Red Star Ranch. He had the feeling she wouldn't be the last, either. She didn't seem all that thrilled with his Gram's house in general, but he tried to salvage things anyway. “She's very respectful of the neighbors, keeps the noise and smell down, and isn't the type to have crazy parties or anything.” He needed to get the woman's focus off the ranch and onto the house itself. “What do you think of the sun room? It's my grandmother's favorite room in the house. Warm and toasty in the winter, not too hot in the summer thanks to the tree that shades that part of the house.”

  “Yes, very nice.” She barely glanced at the room as she headed for the front of the house. “The house layout is nice enough. I could deal with removing the wheelchair lifts, but I don't like animals. I'm afraid this won't work for us. Thank you for taking the time to show me around.” She was on the porch in seconds, not pausing to say goodbye on the way to her car.

  Jonah wanted to growl. This was the fourth buyer who had objected to the ranch next door. When he pointed out the lack of smell, two of them had reminded him that it was December in ski country, not July, and the smell would be far worse when it was hot outside. He couldn't dispute that, though he'd rarely noticed a hint of smell during his visits. Kaya Fiedler may have inherited the place rather than earning it, and she might have her quirks, but she took good care of the animals. He supposed she would have to if she wanted to keep her animal therapy license.

  He'd seen up to six horses over there at a time before, but not recently. He wasn't sure if she had sold one, or if some were just inside when he looked over. He didn't spend that much time checking out the ranch.

  Between his grandmother's health and all of the time he spent working to get his business off the ground, he had enough on his mind. If he didn't sell the house soon, he might have to rent the space over the gallery where he was living now, so he could pay the mortgage here. His grandmother couldn't afford both the mortgage and the assisted living center where he was trying to move her.

  He watered the ficus before he double-checked the locks on the doors and windows and headed out. It was breaking his grandmother's heart to sell her home, but she couldn't live here alone anymore and he worked too many hours to be here as much as she would need. Ora Owen was a proud woman, and determined to be independent— which is why she broke her hip and was currently in a rehab center. If only she had moved to assisted living two years ago when he first urged her to do so.

  He checked his watch— Mrs. Chester had been thirty minutes late. That was thirty minutes he couldn't afford to have missed from the gallery today. He'd have to put off that trip to fill his grandmother's Christmas list until later in the week instead.

  “I can't believe you call this organized. Start over.” Cecilia's strident voice rose loud enough for Kaya to hear her from the next department. Kaya felt a pang of empathy for Anika, who was a hard worker. If the place was a mess, chances were it was because of a customer, not because Anika had done anything wrong. Then again, Cecilia sometimes freaked out over the smallest disarray, even if the rest of the department was flawless. She was one miserable woman.

  Kaya thought Cecilia could really use a cat to snuggle up with and take the edge off.

  “Isn't that display finished yet?” Cecilia snapped, now standing behind Kaya.

  Kaya turned to look over her shoulder at the older woman, her dark gray hair seemed to crackle with her bad temper. “I had to stop to assist a few customers.” She kept her tone apologetic, though she wanted to growl and snap back. She had worked holidays at Kenworth a few times over the years, but never under Cecilia Grange. The woman was impossible. If Kaya didn't need the paycheck so badly, she would kick the woman in the shins and walk out. And to think she had once considered herself lucky to get the job.

  Then again, a temporary, part-time position had been pretty lucky. The horses would run out of feed if she didn't get more holiday hours in. She had always liked this job in the past. It was a change of pace from her struggling equine therapy business, and since she had lost a few clients thanks to the rising prices of gasoline and the winter weather, she had to work on the side so the horses would have food. Otherwise she would have to sell one of them. Or both goats. And she desperately didn't want to do that. She had thought that nearly three years into her animal therapy business she would be making enough money to get her through the year, but it had been a tough fall.

  Cecilia's beady eyes glared over the tops of her glasses. “You're all just full of excuses. Get back to work, and don't get so distracted. If you're going to take breaks while you're on duty, I'm going to start counting them as your scheduled ones.” She turned and marched off.

  Kaya bit her tongue and turned back to the display. She didn't know why the board of directors didn't kick the woman to the curb; she was so unprofessional. Not only could the neighboring employees hear, but several customers as well. And Kaya hadn't been taking breaks on the job, she'd been working hard. Which is more than Kaya could say for Cecilia, who seemed to do nothing but walk around, take two-hour lunches, and complain.

  Biting back her anger, Kaya acknowledged that the woman must do something worthwhile or why would they keep her on staff? It was just not clear what she actually accomplished besides making all of the employees miserable.

  This job only ran through New Year's Day, Kaya reminded herself. She could put up with anyone for another month. Especially since the alternative was losing one of her horses.

  It was only a few weeks and then the holidays would be over and the job would be gone, so she would suck it up and deal with it, for now. But she was going to tell Keira what she thought of the old bat before she left. Keira may not be over Cecilia, technically, but it was her family's store, so she had to have some kind of pull with the board.

  Someone needed to get rid of Cecilia before she chased off all of the good employees.

  KAYA SMILED AS THREE OF HER favorite people walked up to the barn in her backyard late that afternoon. Her life may not have been ideal, but the Shoemakers came to her place, rain or shine, through all but the worst blizzards. “Hello, how are you all doing today?”

  “Great, I can't wait to see how my girls are doing.” Shyanne said from her wheelchair. She was nearly fourteen now and had fallen in love with Kaya's dairy goats— Jet Star and Morning Star. Their mother was the show-winning Yellow Star, and she hadn't been able to keep from buying goats whose names worked with her ranch. Kaya had been teaching Shyanne to milk the goats, since milking time was during their session, and she'd shown an interest.

  Sasha, Kaya's Great Pyrenees, a livestock-guardian dog, gamboled over, greeting the three visitors happily.

  Shyanne's younger brother, Chad had physical and social disabilities, though he wasn't wheelchair bound. He had fallen hook, line, and sinker for the horses the very first time their mother had brought them to check the place out.

  Their monthly fee didn't hurt either. Their mom, Evelyn, had even recommended Kaya's services to several of the other clients who now came regularly to the ranch, which had been a huge blessing in the beginning when Kaya had been living on credit cards and income from her graveyard shift stocking shelves at the local Target.

  Even without that, they would have been some of her favorite people— they were each a ray of sunshine in their own way. She ushered them into the barn.

  Shyanne didn't even have to call to the goats. When they heard her voice, they came running through the door into the protected area in the barn, bleating a welcome. She rolled her wheelchair over and rubbed their heads through the fencing. “Hey, there, girls. How are you today? I brought you treats.�
� Her hands went into her pockets and came out with a few twisty pretzels— one of their favorite snacks.

  “I'll get her settled,” Evelyn said.

  “Thanks.” Kaya walked over to Chad, who was looking down and brushing the toe of his shoe over the cement floor. “Are you ready to see the horses? Pepper is anxious to see you.”

  He nodded, stammering. “I saw her when we were outside. She was running around the paddock. She likes to run.”

  “Yes, she does. Someday maybe you'll be ready to run with her. Today, though, let's just get you on her back and riding. Can you help me saddle her up?” When he first started coming, she had Pepper, a sweet, gentle, red chestnut, all decked out with saddle and blanket. After a few weeks, she had him help take the saddle off of Pepper and brush her down at the end. The previous month they had graduated to him helping saddle her and remove the saddle afterward. He was nearly twelve and taking the responsibility of caring for the horse was part of Chad's treatment. Kaya sent monthly reports to his therapist so he would know how things were going on her end.

  Chad walked over to the wall, collecting the heavy saddle with his wiry arms. She watched as he took it over to the gate into the paddock and laid it across the top, then returned for the bridle, blanket and other items.

  Pepper met them at the fence and Chad climbed over, petting the horse, checking her for any injuries before he started to saddle her up. Kaya watched him go through the process making sure that he did it right, and then checked all of the buckles and connections herself when he finished.

  She gave him a high five. “That was terrific. You did a great job. I didn't have to tighten anything. You're set. Mount up.”