A Western Christmas Homecoming: Christmas Day Wedding Bells ; Snowbound in Big Springs ; Christmas with the Outlaw

by Lynna Banning

  In her kitchen as she divided the supper onto two plates, butterflies darted through her belly in anticipation of seeing Russ. Oh, this wasn’t good. Friends. That’s what they were. That’s all they were. She must guard against feeling anything more. He wasn’t staying. It was foolish to hope... And yet, she did. She desperately hoped his name would be cleared. And if it was, she hoped he would not forget her.

  There. She’d admitted it to herself. She cared for him. Deeply. And she wanted him to see her not as Teddy’s sister, but as herself. As a woman he might come to care for.

  * * *

  She picked up the tray and headed upstairs.

  His eyes lit up the moment he saw her. The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. She would not let herself think that way.

  He rubbed his hands together. “You remembered! You’re amazing.”

  Those darn butterflies started flying about inside her twice as fast. He had probably used those words on other girls...other women...over the years. They weren’t all that flowery or special. Telling herself did nothing to quell her delight at hearing them directed at her.

  “Wait!” He maneuvered his legs over the side of the bed. “A steak dinner deserves a table.”

  It was then she realized that a second chair had been brought into the room.

  He pulled out the bedside table and positioned the chairs. “All we need is a tablecloth.”

  That he tried to make it a bit special touched her. No one ever had...

  While they ate, she told him about her day. “I didn’t realize that Mr. Carlson was still having a hard time. I should have followed up on that months ago. There may be others still hurting from the floods. Or that the schoolchildren cared so much about a pine tree for Christmas. Where would we get a pine? There’s not a one on the prairie.”

  “In Barton a man can’t see more than fifty feet for all the pines blocking the view. Someday, I’d like to show it to you.”

  What would it be like to see the mountains and the trees instead of the endless rolling plains? More than that...to see them with him? He couldn’t know the turmoil he’d started inside of her by his casual words. Had he really meant them?

  “I’d like that too,” she said hesitantly. “Perhaps when Dorie is older. Teddy and Hannah and I could take the train.”

  He forked the last green bean into his mouth. “Once all this is behind me, I’ll make that happen.”

  His words were like a dousing of sleet. Once this is behind me... It was true. Planning was fruitless until he faced his accusers. And in doing that, there was no guarantee he would be exonerated. She might never see him again. “I can’t stand thinking about you facing what is ahead on your own. Do you have friends there who you can count on?”

  “The attorney in Denver will help. I’m not sure about anyone in Barton. Johnson has muddied up my reputation there.” He studied her silently. “You’re worried.”

  “Very much.” She glanced away. “Wouldn’t it be something if we could have a practice go at life? Then we would be prepared for the difficulties.”

  “Only if it meant you wouldn’t be angry that I persuaded Timothy to go to Colorado.”

  That was what bothered him? Her? With all the other things he had on his mind that were so much more pressing?

  She stood and stacked their empty plates back on the tray. “I’m not angry, Russ. I don’t know why I held on to the anger for so long. My feelings for Tim were infatuation. I see that now.” There had been no rose-colored glasses to distort her view of Russ. She’d seen his worst and his best. And what she felt for Russ was already so much more than anything she’d ever felt for Timothy. Every moment she spent with him increased the fullness in her heart and made her aware of how special, how important he was to her.

  “I never meant to hurt you.” His voice—gentle and full of remorse—melted the last vestige of hurt inside.

  “I’m glad you explained yourself. Let’s put it behind us. It’s over. No more regrets.” Even though neither of them had said the words I’m sorry, Abigail felt immeasurably better. She reached for the tray, intending to carry it downstairs.

  “When I left the mine, all I could think about was getting away from Barton. If the first train that arrived had been going to Denver I would have ended up there.”

  “I realize that.”

  He rose to his feet. “It’s important that you understand. Seeing you again after all these years—it might have been chance...” He took her hand and seemed to search for the words he wanted to say.

  Her arm tingled from his touch. “I do. Russ. But...it’s difficult to concentrate on what you’re saying when you touch me.”

  Amusement flashed on his face, but then he grew serious again, his startling blue eyes earnest. “I’m glad that train came here. Very glad.”

  Her heartbeat sped up. “I am too.”

  He drew closer. “I’ve missed you, Abby. I didn’t know how much until I saw you again.”

  The deep timbre of his voice thrilled her. His words thrilled her. She swallowed. “I feel the same.”

  His gaze drifted to her lips.

  A shiver of desire raced through her body. “Russ...” she whispered. “What...?”

  He smiled. “Must you always analyze things? Come closer and I’ll show you.”

  He wanted to kiss her! Her heart beat triple time. She couldn’t have taken a deep breath if she had wanted to.

  He brushed aside a wisp of her hair, his light touch sending tingles over her temple. “Your thoughts are still churning. I can see it on your face. You know me, Abby. I won’t hurt you. I promise. Not ever again.”

  “You will leave.”

  His eyes clouded over. “Not because I want to.”

  She leaned closer.

  He slipped his hand behind her neck and pulled her toward him, closing the last inch between them. His lips met hers, warm and gentle and firm. Her breathing stopped...and then started again. And she melted inside. Everywhere he touched, he caressed, causing tingles to spread through her. A whirlwind swirled inside her. This...this was right. This was wonderful!

  Her first kiss...

  * * *

  His pulse kicked up as he breathed in the scent of cinnamon that was Abby. She relaxed, softening against him. Innocent. Honest in her feelings. She wasn’t like the other women he’d known. She didn’t flirt. She didn’t tease. She was a breath of fresh air. And precious. Little Abby!

  He dropped light kisses across her cheek and delighted when he heard her sigh. Then he came back to her lips, wanting more of her. There was no maybe about it. He was getting in over his head. She had intrigued him as a girl and now she bewitched him as a woman.

  Reluctantly, he pulled away.

  That stub of a pencil still balanced on her ear. Seeing it, seeing her, a tenderness came over him that he’d never known before. He cared for her. Really cared for her. And he didn’t want to hurt her. He waited for her to speak.

  Her cheeks were a bit flushed, her eyes overly bright. “Uh—”

  Abby? At a loss for words? It was so unlike her that he grinned.

  She swallowed. “Do you mind if we don’t talk about this? I’m afraid it will ruin things. And it was rather...special.”

  He grew serious. It was special, whatever this was between them, and he wanted more of it. She was the type of woman who would expect a future. His was murky at best. He had no idea what his held, but he knew in this moment that he wanted it to hold her. “I don’t mind at all.”

  “I’ll just take your tray down,” she said, her face, her eyes, still dazed.

  “Any dessert?”

  She smiled softly. “You just had it.” Then she disappeared around the corner.

  Chapter Nine

  Russ finished his fifth walk around his bed, even going so far as the small hallway. He tested himse
lf on a few of the stairs, finding it difficult, but not impossible. His strength was finally returning.

  Abby watched from where she sat working on the article about him. He would be gone before it appeared in the Gazette. She had moved the chair near the window to take advantage of the sunlight flooding in through a thin parting of the curtains. The softness of her cheek, the line of her nose, were outlined in light. As requested, he hadn’t brought up the kiss, but he knew she thought about it. He could tell by the way her gaze lingered on him and the sudden flush that came to her cheeks when it did.

  He thought about it too. The urge to ask her to wait for him badgered him. He realized the need to be practical. So he said nothing.

  The train whistle blew. One o’clock.

  “That should be Teddy arriving,” she said. “I suspect he’ll stop by his house to make sure Hannah and Dorie are doing well before coming here.”

  Half an hour later, Ted entered the Gazette’s office and joined them upstairs.

  “You were right to get out of Barton,” he said immediately. “Men are looking for you who are only interested in the bounty.”

  “How did you hear that?”

  “I stopped in to see Tim. He said there are a good many workers who don’t believe you shot McCabe. However, being a stranger, none of them would open up to me.”

  “They can’t afford to lose their jobs. Johnson has got them all in his grip,” Russ said bitterly. “Did you talk to him? Johnson?”

  Ted nodded. “I posed as a supplier from Denver, someone interested in providing dynamite for the mine who you’d invited down to see the operation. The minute I started asking questions about you, your partner clammed up. Within three hours, he had someone following me. Don’t worry—” he motioned for Russ to relax “—no one followed me back here, but it confirms that he is hiding something.”

  Russ dragged a hand through his hair. “I’d hoped you’d find something that could help. Thank you for trying, buddy.” He had overstayed his welcome and the time had come to get to Denver and do what he could to clear his name. No use prolonging things.

  He glanced at Abby as he pulled a few bills from his vest pocket. “There is enough here to pay the doctor.”

  Abby’s gaze searched his. “Russ...”

  “I’ll leave in the morning.”

  Ted took the money and tucked it into his coat. “I keep a mount at the livery. A bay gelding.”

  “You’ll get him back. I promise.”

  Abby put her work aside. “Ted! No! He’s not ready!”

  “It’s not our decision.” He met Russ’s gaze. “I’ll make sure the horse is fed and watered well tonight, and then bring him around to the back before daylight.”

  “I’ll be ready.”

  Abby sat like stone as her brother walked out of the room. A moment later, the bells over the Gazette’s front door jingled as Ted left.

  “It’s time,” Russ said. “Abby... I can’t live a life on the run. I won’t. I need to get to Denver and see the attorney and somehow get myself clear of this mess.”

  “But you’re not strong enough. Please...please listen to reason. You know I’m right.”

  He did know she was right, but it didn’t change the fact that he had to leave. He hadn’t slept last night thinking about it...thinking about her. “I’ve put you and Ted at risk for far too long.”

  “What if your wound starts bleeding again? What if you grow faint?”

  “I’ll take it slow. I’ll be careful.” He didn’t want her worrying about him.

  “Is there nothing I can say to make you stay?” Her eyes brimmed with tears.

  This wasn’t like her. “Where is your practical side?”

  She sniffled, looking down at her hands in her lap. “It left the moment you kissed me.”

  His chest tightened. “Oh, Abby. You knew this day would come. I’ve been honest with you all along.”

  He walked to her and pulled her to her feet. She came to him, circling her arms around his waist. She tucked her head against his chest.

  A tenderness swept through him as he hugged her and felt her entire body shudder with a breath. He’d never felt such a strong connection with a woman before—one that spanned years. The memories of her were precious.

  “If it helps to know... I don’t want to leave either. Kissing you didn’t appease my desire, it made it grow. I want more. Of you. Of us. But until I straighten out this mess I am mired in, I won’t make promises that I might not be able to keep.”

  Her head nodded against his chest. She said something, the words muffled into his shirt so that he couldn’t understand her. Then she drew back and looked up at him. “You’ll let me know what happens? I don’t want to read about it in a paper. You’ll write?”

  He hugged her against him again, squeezing lightly. “Oh, Abby. I’ll write. Or send a telegram.” He lifted her chin, staring into her big, pretty eyes.

  He’d known Abby wasn’t someone to dally with all along and still he’d dared himself with that first kiss. If he kissed her now as he wanted to, it would change things between them forever. Knowing that didn’t change his course as he lowered his head and gently pressed his lips to hers. He cared for her. He loved her. But what lay ahead prevented him from saying the words. Into the kiss, he put every tender hope, every desire, every care he held for her.

  * * *

  When Teddy returned with the news that he’d seen to his horse and left payment at Dr. Graham’s with the man’s wife, Russ was up walking the length of the room. Her heart ached with each step he took and each time he tightened his jaw to steel himself against the pain. He wasn’t healed enough. He wasn’t ready!

  “You’ll need a few supplies—water, blanket, food,” Teddy said and looked at her. He expected her to put the necessary items together.

  She didn’t want to do anything that would hurry Russ’s leaving, but he would go whether he had supplies or not. She gathered up the articles she had been crafting. “I’ll get everything together now.”

  “Hannah is making a welcome-back meal for me.” Teddy directed his words to her. “You are invited to supper. I’ll bring a plate back for Russ later, but I want you to plan on staying at our place tonight.”

  She stiffened. If that happened she wouldn’t be able to see Russ off. He’d slip away before the sun came up. “I don’t see—”

  “No arguments.”

  She closed her mouth into a tight seam. The look that passed between her brother and Russ spoke volumes. She didn’t know whether Teddy could tell the change in the feelings between Russ and her, but now that Russ was better, her brother wanted to keep things on the up-and-up.

  She descended the stairs, tossing her notebook and the articles to scatter on the counter.

  In the storage room, she plucked a satchel from its hook on the wall, then gathered the items Russ would need in the kitchen—apples, cheese, bread.

  “Miss White?” Doc Graham cracked open the back door slightly and called.

  She dropped the satchel and welcomed him in.

  “I heard that Ted came by my house. Thought I’d take one more look at how your friend is getting along.”

  “He’s upstairs. Teddy is with him.”

  He headed up to the second floor and Abby turned back to her task. Once everything was packed she hung the bag back in the storage room, ready for the morning.

  The bells jangled at the front door. “Miss White! Are you feeling better?”

  Sheriff Baniff!

  Stunned, she rushed toward him. She needed to get him out of here as quickly as possible! “Yes. Much. As a matter of fact, I finished that article you asked for.”

  “I’ll take a look at it.”

  She hurried to the other side of the counter and presented him with her write-up. Dr. Graham could be heard at the top of the stairs talking
to Ted. A moment later he appeared at the bottom.

  “Afternoon, Doc,” Sheriff Baniff said.

  “Sheriff,” Doc Graham said with a nod. He darted a glance at Abby.

  “Somebody ailing?” Baniff asked.

  She should say something—perhaps that Teddy had caught her cold—but the words wouldn’t come.

  “Thought you said you were better, Miss White.”

  “I am. There’s nothing going on.” Only her heart. Hammering in her chest.

  His eyes narrowed suspiciously.

  “It’s just Te—” Her face flushed, giving everything away.

  Baniff turned toward the stairs. “Mind if I take a look at this ‘nothing’?” He headed up.

  When the sheriff was out of earshot, Doc Graham turned to her. “Hope your friend is not in too much trouble. Seems like a decent fellow.”

  They both waited there...waiting for the inevitable. A moment later she heard the men descending the stairs. When they came into view the sheriff had Russ in iron handcuffs.

  Baniff stopped in front of her and the doctor. “Anyone else know about Russ Carter other than the three of you?”

  She shook her head. “No one else. And Doctor Graham only knew he was injured. He doesn’t know about the rest.”

  Baniff’s jaw tightened, his gaze sharp.

  “Please, Sheriff.” She had to make him understand. “Russ is a good man. He couldn’t have done what they accuse him of.”

  “You know that’s for the courts to decide.” He looked at each of them in turn. “You all have some explaining to do. Don’t set a foot outside this office. I’ll be back once I get Carter locked up and my deputy up to speed.” He paused and gave a chin nod toward the article on the counter. “Guess I won’t need that now.”

  Russ’s gaze met hers. “Guess I should have left a day earlier.” He gave a half-hearted smile. “Thanks for stitching me up, Doc.”

  The sheriff tugged Russ’s arm, urging him toward the door. Russ set his jaw as the motion pulled at his injured side.