The Cowboy's Christmas Plan

by Shanna Hatfield

  She threw her arms around Trey and gave him a tight hug.

  “I can’t believe you bought these, but thank you so much.” Cadence took a boot out of the box and admired the smooth leather. “I’ll pay you back.”

  “These are a gift, Cady. No pay back is necessary. Watching you smile when you ride is all the payment I need.” Trey stuffed his hands in his pockets to keep from giving in to his desire to hold her. Or kiss her. Or both. He wouldn’t mind if she threw her arms around him again for another hug, either.

  “Put on your warm socks and you might want to add a few layers of clothes. It’s cold out there. Make sure to cover up your ears and bring your gloves. I’ll meet you outside in a few minutes.”

  “Yes, mother.”

  The impish grin she turned his direction shot straight to Trey’s heart.

  When he glanced outside and saw it started to snow, he impatiently waited for Trent to go to bed so he could put his plan into action. He wasn’t an expert on romance, but he thought riding in the moonlight with big feathery flakes of snow falling gently down had to be right up there at the top of the list.

  It took him a good five minutes of standing in the hallway giving himself a mental pep talk before he could bring himself to knock on Cady’s door. He was glad he’d worked up the courage to do it.

  With a grin plastered on his face, he ran to the barn. He saddled his horse, Powder, as well as Sasha, the mare Cady had been riding. She and Sasha seemed to have hit it off and got along well.

  He walked the horses to the back step just as Cadence stepped outside. Bundled from head to toe, she wore her jeans tucked inside her new boots and smiled at him like he was her hero.

  Holding Sasha’s reins until Cadence was settled in the saddle, he handed them to her then mounted Powder. He led them down a narrow path along the ridgeline. When they topped the rise, he stopped and turned back so they could see the moon and snow reflected in the water of the pond.

  Cadence was sure she had never seen anything quite so beautiful. She knew she would never forget this night and was grateful to Trey for creating the memory for her.

  Slowly tilting her head back with her face to the sky, big fat flakes drifted onto her cheeks and eyelashes. Blinking them away, she laughed then stuck out her tongue to catch snowflakes.

  Trey watched her, mesmerized. Where was his tightly laced Miss Greer? She seemed to have completely disappeared the minute she pulled on those turquoise boots. The desire to kiss her was about to take over his good sense as he watched snowflakes melt into all the thick dark hair she’d left down in her haste to come outside. He couldn’t get enough of Cady and her joy in such simple things that he often took for granted.

  “Come on, boss man. Aren’t you even going to try to catch a snowflake on your tongue?” Cadence teased, her face glowing in the moonlight.

  “Some of us are too grown-up for such silliness,” he said, striving to come off as reserved and uninterested. It was difficult to accomplish when he couldn’t wipe the idiotic grin off his face.

  “Right.” Cadence stuck out her tongue again. “Since I’m the one who is usually the grown-up around here, that means you have to do it.”

  Trey glanced up at the sky.

  “Maybe I don’t like the taste of snow.”

  “Are you serious?” Cadence stared at him in disbelief. “You don’t like the taste of snow? Circle this day in red on the calendar. I’ve now officially heard everything.”

  Trey laughed and stuck out his tongue at her, catching a snowflake in the process.

  “That was very mature, mister boss man.”

  “Just following your fine example, Cady.”

  They sat in silence and watched the snow for a few more minutes before Trey decided it was time to head home. Carefully picking their way along the ridgeline, Trey rode Powder close to Sasha and brought them both to a stop.

  When Cadence lifted her sparkling hazel eyes to meet his gaze, he surrendered to the longing to taste her lips.

  His index finger tipped back his hat and pulled off a glove then reached over and cupped her chin. Leaning down, he pressed his lips to hers, surprised by the warmth and sweetness he found.

  Shocked that Cady didn’t pull back or slap him across the face, Trey deepened the kiss and felt her respond. Ready to pull her from the saddle into his arms, he remembered they were not in the best place for his amorous feelings to spin out of control. Playfully, he touched his forehead to hers, kissed her nose, and brushed her lips once more then tugged on his glove.

  They rode the rest of the way to the house in silence.

  Cadence wasn’t sure what had just happened, but whatever it was, she felt like she’d swallowed a whole bucket of butterflies. Her entire body tingled and the only thing she could think of was that in all the times she’d been kissed in her twenty-seven years, nothing had prepared her for the touch of Trey’s lips on hers.

  She’d like to repeat the process and give it more thought, but the way he quietly rode back to the barn, she was sure that wasn’t an option.

  How could he be so calm and collected when it was taking all her concentration just to stay seated on Sasha?

  As Trey rode up to the barn and dismounted, Cady followed suit and he took Sasha’s reins.

  “Go on up to the house, Cady,” he said in a rumbling voice as he led the horses inside. “No need for you to stay out in the cold.”

  She ignored his words and followed him into the barn. After she led Sasha to her stall, she tugged off the saddle and blanket then started to brush the horse.

  Pleased that Cady had stayed with him instead of going back to the house, Trey finished brushing Powder, gave the horses an extra measure of feed then shut their stall doors. He took Cady’s hand as he turned off the barn light and closed the door.

  Their footprints left tracks in the snow as they walked across the ranch yard. As their boots crunched across the snow, Cadence wondered what spun around in Trey’s handsome head. Something had made him grow quiet and aloof. Maybe he hadn’t enjoyed the ride or the kiss. That thought nearly made her stumble on the back steps.

  Once they stepped inside the mudroom, Trey took off his boots, hung up his coat and hat, then turned to watch Cady struggle to use the bootjack.

  Standing behind her, he placed a hand on her thigh and moved her foot into the proper position.

  Cadence was sure he could feel her leg begin to tremble at his touch as he guided her to remove the boot.

  “Just like that, darlin’.” His breath was warm and soft by her ear.

  Goose bumps popped out on her neck and sprang up on her arms, but Cadence removed the other boot then slowly stepped aside and took off her coat.

  Trey tugged the band from her head that covered her ears and dug both hands into her snow-dampened hair. Gently pulling her to his chest, he groaned as he buried his face in her hair and inhaled the fresh scent that was solely Cady.

  Cadence, surprised by the intensity of the emotions racing through her, slipped her hands around Trey’s back and held him close. His pulse thrummed rapidly where her lips rested against his neck.

  When the stubble of his jaw brushed her cheek, she raised her head and felt herself go under in the turbulent waves of his amazing eyes. Longing and something more, something Cadence couldn’t clearly describe, created a scorching look of heat that warmed her from head to toe.

  “Cady…” he whispered before lowering his lips to hers in a tender exchange.

  Cadence ran her hands up his muscled arms and across his broad shoulders, twining her fingers together at the back of his neck.

  Groaning again, Trey put his hands to the small of her back and drew her closer to him. This time his kiss was demanding and urgent.

  Cadence would have collapsed at his feet if he hadn’t kept her upright. She held nothing back as she returned the kiss.

  Trey scooped her into his arms and carried her inside, kissing her all the way to her bedroom door. Finally coming up for air,
he realized where they were and what was about to happen.

  Carefully setting her on her feet, he took a step back and looked genuinely contrite. A ragged breath did little to calm him as he ran a hand through his hair. He forced himself to look into her face.

  “My apologies, Cady.” He attempted to ignore the desire still plowing through him. “I had no right to do that and I’m sorry.”

  Cadence leaned against the doorframe for support, trying to gather the edges of her frayed composure.

  She’d never been swept off her feet. Never been held that closely in a man’s arms. Never wanted so badly for a kiss to last forever.

  Taking a deep breath, she couldn’t believe she let things go so far. She knew better than that.

  “I’m sorry as well.” Cadence whispered. “I… um… shouldn’t have let things get so carried away.”

  “Cady, I…” Trey took a step toward her, reaching out for her hand.

  Instead, Cadence took a step back, into the safety of her room. The door served as a shield and she started to close it. She looked at Trey and swallowed hard.

  “Thank you for the ride, Trey.” Her knees trembled behind the door at the look of wanting in his eyes. “It’s something I’ll remember always. Good night.”

  Trey watched as she closed the door before he went into the kitchen and sat at the counter staring at nothing. He finally warmed up a mug of milk and added a packet of hot chocolate mix. Absently stirring the drink, he observed Trent as he wandered into the kitchen, his short brown hair standing up on end.

  “What are you doing, bro? Haven’t you gone to bed yet?” Trent asked, getting himself a glass of water.

  “Nope.” Trey sipped his chocolate.

  “Some reason you’re still up?” Trent sat beside him, stifling a big yawn.

  “Yep.”

  “Want to elaborate on that?”

  “Nope.”

  “You okay?” Trent asked, concerned by Trey’s one-syllable responses.

  “Nope.”

  “Anything I can do?”

  “Nope.”

  “Does this involve a certain female that you’ve taken a shine to?” Trent stood and set his empty glass in the dishwasher.

  “Maybe.”

  “Ah, now we are getting somewhere.” Trent leaned against the counter as Trey sipped his chocolate. Thunder had settled onto his brother’s forehead and he was wound up tighter than an eight-day clock.

  “You’re up in the middle of the night drinking chocolate, looking like you’re ready to punch something. Your hair is wet and the vein in your neck is about to explode. You have the look of a man who’s been kissing a girl, and kissing her quite thoroughly no doubt, and all I can get out of you is a maybe. There’s no maybe about it, man, you’ve got it bad.”

  Trey shot his brother a glare that would have sent lesser men running for the door.

  “Go to bed, Trent.” Trey finished his chocolate and put the mug in the dishwasher.

  “But, bro…”

  Trey gave him a shove toward their rooms.

  “Just drop it,” Trey said as they walked down the hall.

  Trey went to his room and closed the door, sinking down on the edge of his bed.

  He ran his hand over his head and released a frustrated sigh. It had been hard enough keeping his hands to himself before he kissed Cady. Now that he knew the decadent taste of her lips, the feel of her waist in his hands, the warmth of her body pressed against his - he had no idea how he’d maintain any sort of professional relationship with her.

  Not when he just wanted to love her.

  Chapter Eight

  Plans are only good intentions

  unless they immediately degenerate into hard work.

  Peter F. Drucker

  Thanksgiving Day arrived along with a bright blue sky filled with warm sunshine. The snow from a few days before had melted and the temperature lingered above freezing.

  Worried about Denni and her mother driving from The Dalles if the roads were bad, Cadence was glad for the sunny day. Aunt Viv and Uncle Joe had also been invited to join them, since the café was closed for the holiday.

  Trey had personally invited Micki and Cass, but the only response he received was a rickety door being slammed in his face.

  Cadence had managed to avoid Trey since their moonlight ride. Or as much as she could avoid someone she shared a home with, fed twice a day, and folded his clean underwear.

  She supposed it would be better to think in terms of managing to not be alone with Trey. At the end of the day, she stayed in the parlor with the sewing machine and ignored the men. Trent watched TV while Trey hid in his office. The arrangement seemed to be working well.

  Mostly.

  If Cadence could just get her treacherous heart to follow her orders instead of wanting to be near Trey. The wonder of the experience of being swept off her feet haunted her not only at night, but persisted throughout the day as well.

  Nonetheless, the last thing she needed, she reminded herself for the ninety-eighth time, was to become entangled with another man. Even if Trey was all man - strong, virile, and magnificent.

  Shaking her head, hoping to derail the direction her thoughts headed, Cadence attempted to focus on the napkins she folded and artfully arranged at each place setting.

  As she studied the table, Cadence was pleased how festive it looked. Trent managed to find a few stalks of wheat and brought them in for her the previous afternoon. She whipped together a centerpiece using the wheat, some pumpkin-colored candles, and a smattering of leaves.

  The turkey was cooked to perfection, the rolls were nearly finished, potatoes were mashed, gravy was made and a variety of side dishes and salads were ready to be devoured. In addition to traditional pumpkin pie, Cadence made a gingerbread trifle with pumpkin pudding, an apple pie she planned to serve with caramel sauce, and a pan of turtle brownies.

  Denni and Viv were both bringing a few things as well. She hoped the table could hold all of the food.

  She was slathering butter over the tops of the rolls when the kitchen door opened and Denni walked inside followed by a woman who looked just like her, only older. The woman had to be the Thompson’s darling Nana.

  Quickly rinsing off her hands and wiping them dry, Cadence turned to greet the women.

  “Hello, Denni,” she said, taking the dishes out of Denni’s hands and placing them on the counter. “I’m so glad the roads were good for you today.”

  “Me, too.” Denni removed her coat while Cadence helped Nana with hers. Taking both coats, she smiled at Cadence. “I want you to meet my mother, Ester Nordon. Mama, this is Cadence Greer.”

  Cadence smiled, taking the older woman’s hand in hers while Denni hung the coats up in the mudroom.

  “It’s so nice to meet you, Mrs. Nordon. Your grandsons speak so highly of you.” Cadence looked into the sweet face of the older woman and was surprised by the brilliant blue of her eyes. Trey must have inherited his eye color straight from his grandmother.

  “Just call me, Nana, dear,” Nana said, looking around the kitchen with approval. Cadence cleaned up the dishes as she went and kept the counters wiped down so everything looked neat and orderly. “My grandsons have told me you are quite the chef so I’m looking forward to eating my fill of your cooking today.”

  Cadence blushed and Denni squeezed her shoulders.

  “I’m sure whatever you made is going to be delish,” Denni said, walking to the table. “Doesn’t the table look pretty, Mama? Goodness, Cadence, you must have been working non-stop for days to get all this done.”

  “I enjoyed doing it.” Cadence placed rolls in a cloth-lined basket and brought it to the table. She wouldn’t admit it, but throwing herself into Thanksgiving preparations was the only thing that kept her from replaying the other night with Trey over and over in her mind. As it was, the memories flitted through with enough frequency to drive her daft.

  Cadence glanced outside as Aunt Viv and Uncle Joe parked at the
end of the walk.

  “Looks like everyone’s here. I’ll go ring the bell,” Cadence said, wiping her hands on her apron again.

  “Do you mind if I do it?” Denni asked, as she pulled open the door.

  “Not at all,” Cadence said with a smile. “Your boys wouldn’t stay out of my way, so I banished them to the bunkhouse earlier this morning.”

  Denni laughed. “They know that routine well. Lois and I used to do the same thing. It’s kind of nice to have the quiet in the house before the storm.” She stepped outside and rang the bell then called hello to Viv and Joe.

  It didn’t take long for the house to be filled with the sound of happy, hungry people ready for a good meal. Much to everyone’s surprise, Viv and Joe brought Cass with them. The little girl wore a new dress and shoes. Her face shone with giddy excitement.

  Cadence knelt in front of the little redhead and gave her a warm hug. “Cass, I’m so glad you could come today. I love your dress.”

  “Thanks, Cady,” Cass said, running her hand up and down the navy blue sailor dress. “Miss Viv said it’s a Thanksgiving present. I’ve never had a Thanksgiving present before. Have you?”

  “I haven’t before today,” Cadence said, walking to the table with Cass’s hand in hers.

  “What did you get?” Cass looked up at Cadence with big eyes.

  Cadence leaned down and tapped the little girl on her pert nose. “You.”

  Cass giggled and threw her arms around Cadence, making a lump form in her throat that was hard to swallow.

  Trey walked into the room and noticed Cass. After giving Cadence a shocked look, he picked up the little girl, embracing her in a welcoming hug.

  “Look at you, Miss Cass, all spiffed up and ready for the holiday. I’m glad you could come to our house for dinner.”

  “Me, too,” Cass said, throwing her thin little arms around his neck. “Thank you for letting me come.”

  “Anytime.” Trey carried the little girl around the table and set her down next to his chair. The poor little thing wasn’t any bigger than a minute. He planned to make sure she ate her fill and then some.

  Once everyone was seated around the table, Trey asked the blessing. The room echoed with the sounds of good-natured teasing, compliments on the food, and discussions about farming, ranching, and the community.