by Marin Thomas
“Nope.”
“It’s up to Darla.”
Darla hugged Danny close. “You bought me a Christmas present?”
“You’ve already seen it but—”
“Why don’t you let Darla open it first before you spill the beans and tell her what it is,” Fletcher said.
Danny slipped behind the tree, then reappeared with a wrapped gift. Fletcher suspected Darla knew what it was but she made a big production of tearing off the paper a little bit at a time until Danny was hopping up and down with excitement.
Darla gasped. “I get to have this for myself?” She examined the cartoon sketch of Danny that Sandi hadn’t cared to keep.
“It’s supposed to be for my mom, remember?” Danny asked shyly.
“I do remember.”
“Now you’re gonna be my mom, too, so I want you to have it.”
“This is the best Christmas present I’ve ever received. Thank you.” She hugged Danny.
Danny stared expectantly at her and Darla cast a questioning glance at Fletcher. “What is it, Danny?” he asked.
“Isn’t she gonna hang it up somewhere?”
“Not tonight. Time for bed.” Fletcher stood. “Santa won’t stop at this house unless you’re asleep.”
“Okay.” He gave Darla one more hug. “You’re gonna be here in the morning, right?”
“You bet.” Darla kissed the top of his head. “Sweet dreams, honey.”
“Brush your teeth,” Fletcher called out as Danny climbed the stairs.
“Finally we’re alone.” Fletcher grinned. “Be right back.” He headed into the kitchen and grabbed the champagne. “Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?” he said, returning to the living room.
She smiled. “Only a thousand times.”
He set the bubbly and glasses on the coffee table. “Hang on. There’s more.” A second later he reappeared with the box of chocolates and bouquet of flowers.
“Flowers?” She buried her nose in the petals. “What are you up to, Fletch?”
“You had your say yesterday. Now it’s my turn.” He rummaged under the tree and picked up a small silver-wrapped gift. “First, I’m going to kiss you because I’ve been dying to all night long.”
The kiss began slowly with little nibbles, but desire took over and soon he kissed Darla like a man on a mission—to coax her into his bed. They were both breathing hard when he pulled away. He handed her the gift. “Open it.”
She tore the paper off and lifted the lid of the black velvet box. Her breath caught and tears welled in her eyes. “It’s beautiful.”
He removed the ring and grasped Darla’s left hand in his. “We’ve waited a long time to be together. Let’s not look back anymore. From now on, the only road we’re traveling is the road in front of us.” He slid the ring onto her finger. “I love you, Darla. Will you marry me?”
“I love you, too, Fletcher.” She brushed her mouth across his and whispered, “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
As far as Christmas Eves went, Santa couldn’t top this one.
Epilogue
“Was wonderin’ if you’d show up,” Logan said, sitting atop the split-rail fence fifty yards from the watering hole.
Fletcher tied his horse next to Logan’s and hopped up on the fence.
“If that grin of yours gets any wider, your face’ll rip apart.”
“Appears I’m not the only one who’s got something to smile about.”
Logan fought to keep a straight face but after a few seconds he gave in and chuckled. Fletcher joined him and the two cowboys hooted and hollered until they were forced to wipe their eyes on their shirtsleeves.
“So what’s this I hear about you becoming a father?” Fletcher asked.
“If you’d have returned my damned calls you’d know.”
“Yeah, well, as you noticed in church last night I had other things on my mind besides shooting the bull with you.”
Logan shook his head. “So your online Daisy turned out to be Darla Baker.”
“Nope. Pure coincidence that Darla walked into the drugstore the day I was supposed to meet Daisy.”
“What happened with Daisy?”
“Nothing. She decided I wasn’t her type.”
Logan quirked an eyebrow.
“I was relieved because once I saw Darla, Daisy was history.”
“So Darla’s not married?”
“Nope. She came close a time or two but it turns out she couldn’t stop thinking about me.” Fletcher grinned, then became serious. “I’m getting a second chance with her, Logan, but I’m scared as hell I’ll blow it.”
“Me, too.” Logan stared into space. “I never thought I’d love another woman after Bethany. I wasn’t looking for one when Cassidy walked into Billie’s Roadhouse last September and hauled my drunken ass home and put me to bed.”
“I’m guessing she hopped in that bed with you,” Fletcher said.
“Woke up and couldn’t remember a damned thing. Three months later Cassidy tells me I’m going to be a father. ’Bout scared the bejeezes out of me.” Logan glanced at Fletcher. “I’m worried something will happen to her and the baby.”
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned, hoss, it’s that life doesn’t come with guarantees. We live it one day at a time and never take for granted those we love.”
“You and Darla plan to tie the knot?”
“Yep. We’re going to live at the Rocking J and Darla’s going to cut back on her hours and do some consulting work for the law firm.” He elbowed Logan. “We hope to start a family soon. Give yours and Cassidy’s rug rat a playmate.”
“How’s Danny taking the news he’s getting a new mother?”
“He’s smitten with Darla.” Silence stretched between the men, then Fletcher asked, “What are you and Cassidy planning to do?”
“We’re getting married, too. I’m not sure what’s going to happen with her mother.”
“What’s wrong with Cassidy’s mother?”
“She’s got Alzheimer’s.”
“Man, that’s rough.”
Logan nodded. “I’ve been thinking about hauling Cassidy’s trailer and hair salon out to my place and setting it up next to the house. That way her mother would be close by and Cassidy could keep cutting hair.”
“Sounds like a good idea.”
“Cassidy’s pretty tight with her elderly neighbors. I might have to haul their trailer out to the ranch, too.”
Fletcher slapped Logan on the back. “Pretty soon we’ll be calling your place the Rockin’ Chair Ranch.”
“Real funny.” Logan grunted, but deep down he didn’t give one whit if there were a hundred trailers filled with old farts parked on his property. As long as he and Cassidy were together nothing else mattered.
“Hey, maybe we should have a double wedding,” Fletcher said.
“I’m steering clear of wedding plans. That’s Cassidy’s deal.”
“I’ll talk to Darla and see what she thinks. We can have our weddings at the church and a big shindig out at the Rocking J. That ought to keep the Junket tongues wagging.”
“I don’t know if I’m ready for all that hoopla. I was hoping for a justice-of-the-peace ceremony.”
“Our gals have waited a long time for their turn to walk down the aisle.”
Logan sighed. “I guess I’ll survive a church wedding if it makes Cassidy happy.”
Both men stared into space, their thoughts on the women who had lassoed their hearts. Fletcher scraped the bottom of his boot against the rail. “Turned out to be a pretty good Christmas for a couple of down-n-out cowboys like us.”
“Merry Christmas, Fletcher.”
“Merry Christmas, hoss.”
ISBN: 978-1-4268-4502-4
A COWBOY CHRISTMAS
Copyright © 2009 by Harlequin Books S.A.
The publisher acknowledges the copyright holder of the individual works as follows:
A CHRISTMAS BABY
Copyright © 2009 by
Brenda Smith-Beagley
MARRY ME, COWBOY
Copyright © 2009 by Brenda Smith-Beagley
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*The McKade Brothers
*The McKade Brothers
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