The Texan's Christmas

by Linda Warren

  “I am now. Lucky’s pregnant and I told her we have to get married and she said no.”

  Chance frowned. “You didn’t say it like that, did you?”

  “What?” He had no idea what his brother was talking about.

  “You didn’t tell her that y’all have to get married.”

  The moment Chance said the words Kid knew he’d made a big mistake. He ran his hands over his face. “Oh, no.”

  “Of the three of us I thought you were the one with the romantic, sensitive side. When Shay was pregnant, she needed to know she was beautiful and wanted. Even after Cody was born, she went through all kinds of moods and it all had to do with me loving her. We made special times for us. That’s what she needed.”

  “Oh, God, I have to go.”

  As he went out the door he heard Cadde say, “Think I’ll go lie down with my wife.”

  Maybe one of these days the Hardin boys would get it right. Kid planned to do that real soon.

  HE WANTED TO GO TO LUCKY’S but decided to wait. He had an idea.

  Aunt Etta could not have been more excited about the baby. When Kid told her he needed her help she was happy to be of assistance. That night, sleep evaded him and he got up early to finish his plans. The morning light spurred him into action. He called Chance to tell him he wouldn’t be back until after Christmas. Like the sensitive, understanding brother he was, he didn’t ask questions. He just told Kid to be happy.

  Kid had discovered Bud’s new daily habit was to visit with Nettie, so that’s where he went. He knocked and went in to see Bud and Nettie sitting at the table drinking coffee. Cody was in his high chair eating a cut-up banana, smearing it on his tray, face and clothes.

  Kid kissed the top of his head. “Hey, buddy.”

  Cody smiled at him.

  “Bud, could I talk to you a minute?”

  “No. You made Lucky cry and I’m not happy with you.”

  Nettie gathered the baby out of his chair. “Franklin, you be nice. I’ll get Cody cleaned up.”

  Kid sat across from Bud. “Did she cry long?”

  “I don’t know. She’s mad at me, too.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I told her you two needed to get married. It’s been twenty damn years. It’s time.”

  He could imagine Lucky’s ire when she heard that.

  “Has Lucky put up a tree yet?”

  “Nah. She never puts up one.”

  “Why?”

  Bud’s eyes narrowed on him. “She didn’t tell you?”

  “What?”

  “The baby died on December twenty-third and we buried him on Christmas Day. Ever since then we’ve never celebrated the holiday.”

  “Oh, my God!” He buried his face in his hands, feeling as if his chest had just caved in. All the pain she must suffer at this time of year was almost more than he could bear.

  “You make it right, boy, do you hear me?”

  He drew a breath so deep it hurt in a way he couldn’t describe. “I will, Bud. I promise. And I’m sorry about the past. I’ll never hurt her like that again.”

  “You better not. I still have my shotgun.”

  Kid spent the next few days putting his plan into motion. Only one problem remained. How did he get Lucky out of the house for a whole day?

  LUCKY WAS HELPING BUBBA JOE with his books from The Joint. He had everything down pat, but he always wanted her to check it.

  “I went to see Momma yesterday,” he said. “I took her flowers for Christmas. She likes flowers.”

  “Did Kid take you?”

  “No, I drove myself. Momma can’t tell me where I can drive anymore.”

  She hugged him. “I’m so proud of you.”

  “Thelma’s husband filed for divorce. He lives in Freeport with another woman.”

  “How did Thelma take that?”

  “She was happy. Now the state will make him pay child support.”

  “Does this mean you and Thelma…?”

  “Thelma and I are good together, but I’m taking it slow. She wants to manage my money but no one is doing that again.”

  She patted his arm. “Good for you.”

  “I can take care of myself, too. Luther said he wasn’t paying his bill the other night.”

  “What did you do?”

  “I told him that right after I kicked him out, I was calling his mother.”

  “And?”

  “He paid up.”

  “Oh, Bubba. You’re going to make it.”

  Bubba looked down at his big hands. “I couldn’t have done it without Kid. He’s my friend.”

  Kid had that effect on people. He made them feel special because he loved from the heart. Oh, God. Did she just think that?

  AFTER BUBBA LEFT, CAIT CALLED. The girls were going Christmas shopping in Austin and they wanted her to go. She had nothing else to do so she said yes. They met at Walker’s store and piled into Cait’s Escalade. Jessie went, too. She said she needed a day out.

  They laughed and talked like friends, real friends. The mall was decorated for Christmas and Christmas carols played on the intercom system. It was festive and exciting. She’d forgotten how infectious the holidays could be.

  Again they spent a lot of time in the children’s department and in a toy store. Sky and Maddie were looking for dolls for their daughters. Lucky stared at all the beautiful baby dolls and a feeling of warmth came over her. They looked so real she just wanted to hold one.

  There in the middle of the aisle with people milling around them she blurted out, “I’m pregnant.”

  No one was surprised or startled.

  “Y’all already knew, didn’t you?”

  “Yes,” Cait replied. “High Cotton is a small town.”

  “But how did it get around so fast?”

  “Well.” Cait put an arm around her. “Etta was so excited she had to tell Gran and then Gran told Sky and, of course, as sisters we don’t keep much from each other.”

  “We heard it from our husbands,” Shay said.

  “On that note, let’s go have lunch.” Sky linked her arm with Lucky’s.

  She wasn’t upset they knew. She wanted the world to know and it felt good to talk about her pregnancy with friends. Over lunch she shared what happened at the birth of her first son. She’d never told anyone but her father and Kid. They all got up and hugged her and the pain from the past slowly ebbed away.

  Cait resumed her seat. “You know we’ve been waiting for years for the right woman to get Kid off the bachelor merry-go-round.”

  “I think he’s had her all along and just didn’t know it. Men.” Sky rolled her eyes.

  “Has he popped the question?” Maddie asked.

  “Sort of. He said we have to get married.”

  “He didn’t actually say it that way, did he?” Shay was aghast.

  Lucky played with her napkin. “Yes. That’s why I’m here with you and not with him.”

  Cait laughed. “How could a ladies’ man like Kid get that so wrong?”

  “He’s Kid,” Jessie said, and they all laughed.

  “When he gets around to getting it right, you don’t have to shop for a wedding dress.” A stricken look came over Maddie’s face.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Sky moved uncomfortably. “Okay. We have to fess up. Remember when we went shopping and Jessie was looking for something to wear to the baby’s christening?”

  “Yes.”

  “That wasn’t exactly true. We knew you and Kid were getting serious and we wanted, no matter how misguided, to do something nice for you. The dress is for you to wear to a party, reception or a wedding. That is if Kid ever gets it right.”

  “You bought it for me?”

  “Sneaky, huh?”

  Jessie reached for Lucky’s hand. “The dress is at my house. You can use it or we can look for another one. Whatever you want.”

  “It’s gorgeous. I just can’t believe y’all bought it for me.” A tear slipped from her eye a
nd she dabbed at it with her napkin. No one had ever been this nice to her.

  “Uh-oh. Emotional tears,” Cait teased.

  “Happy tears.” She smiled through them.

  They finished shopping and headed for home. The car was packed with toys, gifts and clothes. They couldn’t get one more item in the back. Bags were on the floorboard and in their laps. And befitting of the season they sang Christmas carols all the way to High Cotton.

  At Walker’s store Lucky unloaded her bags and waved goodbye. They went home to their husbands and kids. She went home to her father, who may or may not be there.

  Kid hadn’t called or come by since she’d told him about the baby. Even though she’d pushed him away, it seemed strange he hadn’t come back. She expected pressure, anything but silence.

  She placed her hand over her stomach. “If he doesn’t come back this time, you and I will find him.” Suddenly, deep in her heart she knew Kid would never hurt her again.

  Now where in the hell was he?

  She turned into the lane just as the sun was sinking in the west. As she drove closer to the house, she noticed it was decorated all over with Christmas lights. She could only stare at the hundreds of glowing bulbs. Her father couldn’t have done this. He wasn’t able to climb up to the roof. A beautiful red-and-green wreath hung on the door.

  Who had done this? There wasn’t a vehicle in sight. She got out and walked up the steps. With no idea what she was going to find inside, she paused and then reached for the doorknob.

  Again, she could only stare. The lights were dimmed and a fire was burning in the fireplace. Red and white poinsettias were everywhere and garland was strung across the mantel. Candles flicked invitingly. What grabbed her attention was the big tree in the window. Beautifully wrapped Christmas gifts covered the floor and were piled up the wall. Along with the lights, red and white booties covered the tree. She stepped closer and saw, at the very top, a white angel, and a red glittery heart below it. Inside it was written: Lucky and Kid Forever.

  A sob caught in her throat.

  “What do you think?”

  She whirled around to see Kid leaning against the kitchen doorjamb. In black slacks and a long-sleeve white shirt, he looked virile and handsome. His hair was cut short like Chance’s and the five o’clock shadow was gone. She might miss that. Still the whole tantalizing package was Kid—a man any woman would want. Her heart skittered in awareness.

  “You…you did all this?”

  “Yes.” He straightened and came toward her. “We’re going to celebrate Christmas, Lucky, every year in a big way.”

  “Dad told you about the baby?”

  He nodded. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that alone. I’ll never get over it.” He swallowed. “But from now on we’re going to replace the bad stuff with good memories.” Reaching in his pocket, he pulled out a small black velvet box and opened it. A beautiful oval sapphire nestled in diamonds sparkled at her. “Lucinda Lucky Littlefield, will you marry me? I love you. I’ve always loved you. I’m sorry it took me so long to realize that.”

  A tear slipped from her eye. This was romance like she never expected and for a moment she couldn’t speak. The fire crackled and the vanilla scent from the candles wrapped her in a warm cocoon. She wanted to live in this moment forever.

  Kid stroked her hair. He touched her face. “Come on, Lucky, this is where you say yes.”

  A sob clogged her throat and she had to take a deep breath. “Yes! I love you. I tried to hate you, but I can’t. I love you.”

  He reached for her left hand and slipped the ring onto her finger.

  “It’s beautiful,” she breathed, twisting her wrist. “You remembered about the sapphire. I can’t believe you did this. Oh, my, it’s so gorgeous.”

  “I don’t want you to be sad about your mother’s ring. I don’t want you to be sad ever again.” He gathered her close and held her.

  She curved into every hard angle of his body. Her arms went around his neck and he pulled her closer, kissing the sensitive spot below her ear, her cheek and finally capturing her lips in a drugging forever-like kiss. When they came up for air, she rested her head on his shoulder.

  “Am I dreaming?” she whispered.

  “No. This is real. This is forever.”

  She glanced at the tree and all the gifts. “Who are all these presents for?”

  “You.”

  She looked into his warm brown eyes. “I haven’t received that many gifts in my whole life.”

  He kissed her nose. “Get used to it.”

  “They can’t all be for me.”

  “Well.” His eyes twinkled. “Some are for the baby. I was going to buy one little outfit but then I saw a stroller, a car seat, a Pack ’N Play and a layette. I’m afraid I got carried away. The lady said we can bring it all back if you don’t like it.”

  She stroked his chest. “If you picked it out, I’ll love it.” Her hand went to his clean-shaven cheek. “You’ve shaved and cut your hair.”

  “I’m going to be a husband and a father. I have to be respectable and it’s going to throw ol’ Cadde for a loop. He’s always yelling at me to cut my hair and to get my boots off his desk. Some days I lived just to aggravate him, but not anymore. I’ve finally grown up.”

  She smiled. “I might have to start calling you Cisco.” He would always be Kid the kidder, though, the jokester, the life of the party. That was okay as long as she was the light of his life.

  Her eyes went to the beautiful tree. “Where did you get all those booties?”

  “I asked Aunt Etta and the nice ladies of High Cotton for help and, boy, did they deliver. It has taken a whole village to get us together.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “You asked Cait to take me shopping?”

  “I had to get you out of the house and Cait was happy to help.” He kissed her lips. “Please don’t be mad.”

  “I’m not.” And she wasn’t. With this much love and friendship, how could she be? The gorgeous dress was just waiting for her to step into it, to step into a new life with Cisco Hardin. The trust issue wasn’t important anymore. The truth was she couldn’t live without him and in her heart she knew he was home to stay.

  “There’s champagne chilling in the kitchen and I have chocolate-covered strawberries. Bud won’t be back until twelve. What do you want to do?”

  She slipped a button on his shirt through a hole. “I want to love you until I can’t think straight.”

  He smiled his trademark cocky grin. “Works for me.”

  She moved against him, but he stepped back. “Wait, wait, I have to confess everything.” Her heart stopped for a moment but he still had that grin on his face so she knew whatever he had to say wasn’t bad. “Here’s the plan. We’re getting married and then spending Christmas with our families. Christmas Eve at Cadde’s and Jessie’s. Christmas dinner at Chance’s and Shay’s. That night we’ll spend at High Five with the Belle sisters and the whole family. After that, we’re flying to the Bahamas for the honeymoon of our dreams.”

  “You have it all planned.”

  He winked. “Subject to any changes you want to make.”

  “Let’s see.” She pretended to think, but she couldn’t find anything wrong with his plans. For so many years it had been just her and her father. Now she was inheriting a big family and it felt right. She looked into his eyes. “The schedule seems full. When is our time alone?”

  He kissed her nose. “Christmas morning. We may have to lock Bud in his room, though.”

  “We will not.” She poked him in the ribs and they shared a long kiss.

  “One more thing,” he breathed against her lips. “I reserved the church that Cadde and Jessie got married in for the twenty-third.”

  No. Not that day.

  He must have read the emotions on her face. “Lucky, his birthday has to be a good memory and I have to believe he’d be happy his parents were married on the day he was born.”

  For a brief second the pain was
there, but then it was gone.

  He stroked her face. “Come on, Lucky.”

  EPILOGUE

  May 5—The next year

  THE HARDIN BOYS STOOD outside the old home place with their wives. Twenty-five years ago they’d left in an adrenaline rush to play in a state basketball championship. Their parents had died that night. They’d returned to sadness and heartache and they’d never stepped foot in the house again—until today.

  They were all married, happy, with families. But they had to totally put the past behind them. The house was rotting away, an eyesore between Chance’s and Cadde’s homes.

  Kid looked to the oil well pumping in the distance. It had come in good, just like Cadde had predicted. Their father would be so proud, but Kid couldn’t dredge up much enthusiasm at the thought. His father was an adulterer. He had destroyed the family and Kid vowed every day that he’d never be like him. He cherished his marriage and would never do anything again to extinguish that light in Lucky’s eyes.

  At night he slept with his head on her stomach so he could feel their child kick. He read to it, too, all kinds of children’s books he’d bought at a bookstore. When the baby was born he or she was going to know his voice. They decided not to find out the gender. They wanted to be surprised.

  The past few months had been the happiest of his life. Lucky didn’t want to move away from Bud so they built a house on the Littlefield property in record time. They just moved in and had a nursery ready. Four more weeks and they would be parents, the way they should have been twenty years ago.

  The trial for the cattle rustlers was in March. Clyde, Earl and Melvin each received a thirty-year sentence for armed robbery and attempted murder. Manuel, Hatch and Philipe each got a twenty-year sentence. They wouldn’t be out of prison any time soon. Wilma was in her own kind of prison.

  His arm tightened around Lucky and she smiled. He kissed her and turned to his brothers staring at the house.

  “Bros, let’s go see what’s inside.” They followed him and the wives stayed behind. Cadde had the key, but the lock was rusty and it took a while to get the door open. They fought their way through cobwebs to the kitchen. An old Formica table sat in the middle of the room. The chairs were haphazardly strewn about as they’d left that day in excitement. Dust coated everything, even the mail on the counter.