Holiday in a Stetson: The Sheriff Who Found ChristmasA Rancho Diablo Christmas

by Marie Ferrarella

  “Bleu spooked,” he told her. “Creed’s trying to help get the other horses in. He wants you to go after Bleu.”

  Jess hit the switch on the coffeepot and hurried after Johnny to the barn. He helped her saddle Raj, and she swung up. “Grab a flashlight and a horse,” she told him. “Follow me just in case.”

  “I’m on it,” he said, and she saw that he’d already saddled a medium bay for himself. “Go.”

  She took off out of the barn, hearing Johnny’s horse behind her. The wind whipped fiercely, lifting Raj’s mane as he cantered across the yard.

  “Which way?” she asked Johnny.

  “That way. Last we saw Bleu, he was running after what Sam called Diablos.”

  “The Diablos,” Jess breathed. She’d heard of them but never seen them. “Wild horses,” she told Johnny.

  “Rafe called them spirits.”

  She looked at the tall, dark-eyed man, wondering if he believed in such fairy tales. She certainly didn’t believe in spirit horses. “Let’s hurry before the storm hits,” she told him, and they rode away from the ranch.

  THIRTY MINUTES LATER, Johnny and Jess were drenched to the skin. It was as cold here as in Wyoming, or maybe it was the ferocity of the storm that was getting to them. Jess looked defeated. Her thin shoulders, hunched because of the plunging temperature, showed through her sopping shirt.

  “Storm came in fast,” he said, riding alongside her. “I hope the Callahans got everything squared away.”

  “I wish we could find Bleu.”

  “Maybe he went back to the ranch. If I were a horse, I’d be anxious to get out of this.” Johnny was cold, but gave Jess his long, fringed jacket. She accepted it gratefully.

  “You’re going to freeze.”

  “Nah. I’ve got more body mass than you do.” He pulled his hat lower, and the rain slid off it in rivulets. “Where else can we look?”

  “The canyon, but it would be really dangerous right now. I’m heading to that cave until the rain stops.”

  “Cave?” Johnny wasn’t certain he wanted to share a cave with other critters that wanted just as badly to get out of the storm.

  “Help me get both of the horses up under that out-cropping,” Jess said. “They need to be out of the rain.”

  Once they had their mounts settled, she pulled out her phone. “I doubt this works here, but it’s worth a shot.” She dialed her cell, nodding when she discovered she still had service. “Creed?”

  Johnny watched with some amazement as Jess, still talking on the phone, pushed at twigs lying in the center of the cave, where a fire had been built before. She made a neat stack, then lit it with a lighter she pulled from her pocket.

  “We haven’t found Bleu. Did he come back?”

  Johnny watched a frown crease her face.

  “We’ll keep looking,” she said. “When the storm has blown on through, we’ll come back.”

  She clicked off and looked at Johnny. “How are you with fires?”

  “I can do whatever is needed.”

  “Try to keep this going. I’ll attempt to dry off the horses.”

  Johnny looked around the cave for anything that might burn. Then he realized Jess had turned away and was taking off her wet shirt, before she slipped his jacket back on over her bra. He heard her snap and zip up the jacket, but not before he’d glimpsed smooth shoulders and a lean, sexy spine curving into her jeans.

  “Creed says they’ll have hot coffee and gingerbread waiting when we return.”

  Johnny swallowed through a tight throat and waved at the fire, making certain the sparks kept lighting the thin twigs. “That sounds great,” he said, watching her wipe down the horses, wondering why he hadn’t realized until just this minute how sexy Jess St. John was. He’d known she was pretty, hot even, but now he was thinking about her naked body.

  He forced himself to think about how to build the fire up for heat instead. Glancing around the cave, he grimaced. “Glad I brought a flashlight. Let’s see if there’s anything in here that burns.”

  A quick look around the cave showed it to be deserted. There were some Native American symbols on one wall, and a large flat rock underneath the drawings. It wasn’t a wide or deep cave, but it was protection from the driving rain. “No snakes or bats.”

  “That’s good news. And the horses are as dry as they’re going to get. But they’re warmer.” She squatted next to the fire, near enough him to stay warm.

  It was all about body heat. Jess was a practical girl. She wasn’t hitting on him. He was going to have to stop thinking about what was underneath the jacket he’d given her to wear.

  “So how long are you staying?” Jess asked him, rubbing her hands together over the small fire.

  “At Rancho Diablo?” He shrugged. “The Callahans hired me. That’s why I’m trying to learn to ride. I hope to stay awhile, eventually find my own place.”

  “You ride fine.”

  “I need to ride better to keep up with them.”

  Jess laughed. “The Callahans were born in the saddle. They can break horses, ride rodeo, trick ride. You can’t catch up, I’m afraid. No one can.”

  “I’ve been standing behind a bar for so many years that I didn’t do much else. It’s good for me to try to cowboy to their standard.”

  She considered him. “Fiona says you came here to be with your sisters and your nieces.”

  “Yeah. I was missing out on a lot, and I found myself traveling down here so often that when the Callahans offered the job, I jumped at it.”

  Jess seated herself cross-legged on the ground. “Fiona asked me to help with the Christmas party.”

  “Tomorrow night’s the big night, huh?”

  “Yes,” Jess said. “Fiona’s baked enough cookies and cakes and pies for an army. It’s going to be a lot of fun. Her parties always are. You haven’t partied until you’ve done it with the Callahans.” She glanced at him. “Fair warning, I think Fiona’s trying to fix you up with me for the party. So neither of us will feel left out.”

  Johnny shrugged. “It’s okay with me if you want to be my date. It’d make them all happy, I guess.”

  “Sure,” Jess said. “Why not make them think that their matchmaking is a success?”

  “It’s just a party,” Johnny said, not certain he minded being “fixed up” with the beautiful redhead. “Not like getting married or anything.” He was trying to sound light, but somehow his words came out a little more forcefully than he’d meant them to. He really was a dedicated bachelor. He’d decided long ago to let his sisters do the family thing if they wanted to. After the childhood he, Diane and Aberdeen had had, he didn’t plan to take on the burden of marrying.

  Jess nodded. “True, but that’ll be the next thing. Everyone in Diablo will start planning our wedding.”

  “I’m known for being a committed loner.”

  She groaned. “That’s the kiss of death. It just adds fuel to their fire. You’ll never get them to leave you alone. The Books’n’Bingo ladies are thrilled with a hard-core challenge.”

  He laughed. “Doesn’t bother me.” Johnny stretched out on the ground, putting his hands behind his head. “You’re safe enough, especially since we’re onto them.”

  Jess glanced over at the horses, then shot a fast look at Johnny’s long, lean body next to her. “I just wanted you to know what was going on, since you’re new to our town. The Diablo matchmakers have been trying to find me a husband ever since I graduated from college.”

  “Do you have family here?”

  She sighed. “Yes. And my younger sisters are already married.”

  “Pressure.”

  “Mmm. I spend all my time with my horses. My mother says I just haven’t met the right cowboy, but I think she’s given up hope.”

  “You’re safe with me. I’m not a cowboy. I don’t fit in,” Johnny said cheerfully. “But I can be a great date to a Christmas party.”

  “Thanks.” Jess smiled. “Then after the party is over, we’ll
put the word out that we’re not each other’s type.”

  “Sounds good,” he said, thinking suddenly that Jess was very much his type. “We’ll stay away from mistletoe.”

  “Absolutely.” She shivered, and he reached to feel her hand.

  “You’re freezing,” he said. “Get closer.”

  She stayed right where she was. “I wonder what made Bleu spook? That horse is so well-trained I’ve never known him to do anything but stick right to Pete.”

  “Your mother’s right,” Johnny said.

  “What?”

  Jess looked at him, and he smiled. “As soon as I said, ‘Get closer,’ you started talking about horses.”

  Jess’s eyes grew wide. “I did, didn’t I?”

  “Not that wondering about Bleu isn’t absolutely normal, since that’s why we’re here. I just noticed that Bleu was your very next thought.”

  She laughed. “Coincidence.”

  “Probably. I’m sure being alone in a cave with your Christmas fix-up wouldn’t make you feel awkward or anything.”

  “Now you’re teasing me.”

  “Yeah,” Johnny said. “Let’s talk about horses some more. I’ve got a lot to learn.”

  But suddenly, Jess didn’t want to talk about horses. She leaned over and kissed him, brushing his mouth softly with hers, testing. His lips felt good—better than she’d expected. Straightening, she put on a that-was-nothing face. “Just wanted to get that out of the way. Hope you didn’t mind.”

  “Not at all. Be my guest.” He grinned easily. “Still thinking about horses?”

  Jess shook her head. “Not so much.”

  “That’s a start.” Johnny patted her leg and rolled over on his side. “Wake me when the storm is over. And if Bleu happens to walk into the cave, shake me. I wouldn’t want to miss the return of the prodigal pony.”

  He crossed his arms and promptly dozed off, breathing deeply. Jess looked toward the cave entrance. “That’s just great,” she muttered to the horses. “First time I actually make a move on a guy, and he goes to sleep. I’ve spent way too much time with you, Raj.”

  Her horse glanced at her, then went back to standing patiently, waiting for the rain to pass.

  At least Johnny had offered her his jacket and his body heat. And they had a date of sorts tomorrow night, which excited her, if she was honest. It wasn’t a real date, of course. He didn’t seem interested in her in that way.

  She gazed down at his big, strong body. His dark hair was still wet from the rain, and his flannel shirt was completely soaked. It had to be all of thirty-two degrees, and getting colder. Soon it would snow. The moment there was a break in the storm, they had to get the horses back to the warm barn.

  I’m doing it again. Horses.

  She looked at Johnny. After an indecisive moment, she snuggled up against him, put her forehead against his broad back and tried not to think about how good his lips had felt when she’d kissed him.

  Maybe mistletoe wasn’t such a bad idea.

  Chapter Two

  “Johnny!”

  He snapped awake at the urgent whisper and rolled over to look at Jess, who somehow had gotten very close to him in the night—not a bad thing at all. “Yeah?”

  “Want to see something cool?”

  He stared into her eyes, pretty certain he was already looking at something amazing. “Sure.”

  “Look,” she said, and he reluctantly tore his gaze away from her to follow her pointing finger.

  A third horse, a beautiful black stallion, stood just inside the cave, close to the other two. Johnny sat up. “It’s Bleu!”

  “Smart enough to find his way to shelter, and to his barn mates.” Jess sat up next to Johnny, hugging her knees. “Even the horses know they don’t want to be out in the storm.”

  Wind whipped furiously outside. The fire—if it could be called a fire—was a faint glow in the darkness. It gave off little heat, but a tiny bit of light, at least. Johnny lay back down, careful not to touch Jess. He didn’t want her to think he was making a pass at her just because they were alone in a dark cave, miles from anywhere, with a storm the size of Nebraska bearing down on them. “Did you text Rafe to let him know?”

  “Good idea.” She pulled out her cell phone, and a second later he heard her sigh.

  “No service. Not a surprise in this storm.”

  Johnny stared at the ceiling, wishing Jess hadn’t told him about the matchmakers’ plan for setting them up. Once the idea had settled in his brain—and once he’d seen Jess bare to the waist, and once she’d kissed him—he’d started to dream about kissing her again. “Do electrical storms this bad come through often?”

  “We get our fair share.”

  Her voice sounded sleepy, and he figured she was drifting off. There was nothing to do except the same, he decided, closing his eyes.

  Thirty minutes later, Johnny gave up on sleep. He had a problem, a guy problem, preventing him from relaxing. It wasn’t very classy, probably, since his Christmas date was snoring lightly—tiny snores that burst from her intermittently and rather sweetly, like those of a tired baby—and he shouldn’t be thinking about sex with Bachelorette Jess.

  She flopped an arm across his neck, nearly boxing him in the nose before her wrist landed on his throat. The sudden movement stunned him. Would she wake up and see she was practically draped across his chest?

  It came to Johnny that the arm flung over him was bare. She was no longer wearing his jacket. Unless she’d slid her top back on—which he doubted, since she’d used it to dry the drenched horses—Jess wasn’t wearing much at this very moment.

  His breath was trapped in his lungs. He tried to turn his head just enough to check if his hunch was correct.

  He couldn’t see a thing. The cave was pitch-black, the storm blocking out any moonlight. He was close enough to the fire to throw a couple of twigs on it, but no sparks illuminated his sleeping partner.

  Carefully, he touched Jess’s wrist, sliding his fingers along her arm as it lay under his chin. Nothing. His questing fingers slipped to her shoulder; no bra strap impeded his progress.

  Which meant beautiful, flame-haired Jess was lying next to him with bare breasts just a whisper away. It made sense that she’d take off the wet bra to sleep. His problem intensified, a really uncomfortable situation now in his stiff, cold jeans.

  He wanted a hot shower desperately. Jess had been smart to take off her wet clothes. He was lying in frozen denim like a city dweller who didn’t know any better. In fact, it was a tribute to Jess’s hotness that in spite of the frigid jeans, he had developed a… Well, something that could be used as a ring toss.

  It would really put a damper on their Christmas date just-as-friends plot if Jess knew he wasn’t as immune to her as he’d claimed. Johnny tried to think about anything that would take the edge off his problem so he could go to sleep.

  He’d just about drifted off when Jess moved her head to his shoulder, seeking warmth in her sleep. She curled into his neck. Johnny didn’t move, enjoying the unexpected sensation of womanly closeness. Okay, he was definitely warmer now. His heart was racing so hard, that particular muscle was in no danger of icing over. He swallowed, gritting his teeth, even as he enjoyed the sensation of two soft breasts, small and compact, mashed against his side.

  Surely he was setting some kind of record for gentlemanliness. Johnny swallowed hard. Jess would be horrified if she woke and realized she’d made a pillow out of him—and worse, that her pillow had a pole-size problem.

  Johnny closed his eyes, staying as still as he could, his breathing tight. He didn’t want her to wake up. As long as she lay there on him, she was warmer. Her teeth had stopped chattering, and she’d even quit snoring. Now she just breathed deeply and slowly, as if she was in REM, while he was in hell.

  She was a survivor, like Bleu. Bleu knew to get out of the storm. Jess knew to take off wet clothes and seek warmth. And ex–bar owner Johnny was lying on a cave floor, aroused, yet feeling like
a giant sack of wet Playdoh.

  The Callahan brothers would laugh like hyenas if they knew just how smoothly their plan was succeeding.

  A SONIC CRACK of thunder and lightning jolted Jess awake. The horses skittered nervously for a moment, then calmed. She considered getting up to soothe them—until she realized that Johnny was pressed up against her back. His arm was thrown over her, hugging her tightly to him. She could feel his lips curled into her neck, his breath soft, warming her. No wonder she’d been sleeping so well despite being drenched; Johnny had been sharing all kinds of body warmth, for which she was grateful.

  Unfortunately, there was a rock in her back, just above her tailbone. A big rock. She didn’t dare shift to move it because she didn’t want to wake Johnny. He was snoozing so peacefully, and there was no point in both of them being awake.

  He held her tighter, her body fitting into his so nicely—and suddenly Jess knew that the thing poking her in the back so insistently was no rock.

  It was Johnny.

  She went totally still. Now she really didn’t want him to accidentally awaken, not while that was going on. How long did it take for something like that to shrink away? He’d be really embarrassed if he knew his body was having a kind of nocturnal reaction to something he was dreaming about.

  Jess’s mind whirled. Despite the hard ground, she liked Johnny holding her. It felt protective and intimate, and she wanted to lie like this with him until dawn. For the first time, she hoped the storm didn’t stop too soon.

  Except for the unfortunate fact that she’d taken off her top. She needed Johnny to somehow roll to his other side and not wake up until she was dressed, and hopefully ten steps away from him.

  Otherwise, tomorrow night at the Christmas Eve party was going to be very awkward.

  He murmured something into her neck. Wide-eyed, Jess hoped he wasn’t waking up. Thankfully, he rolled over to face the fire, tossed some twigs onto the barely smoking pile, and seemed to fall right back asleep.