“What did you do for Christmas?”
“Mommy slept a lot. And cried a lot. I think she missed my daddy. Is that why she cried?”
“Probably,” Cadence said, watching Cass intently work on cutting out cookies for a moment before leaning over and kissing her on the head. Cass looked up with her big blue eyes sparkling. “I love you, sweetie-pie.”
“I love you, Cady. Whole bunches.”
“Well, I’m ever so glad to hear that.” Cadence swallowed down her tears of gratitude and love. “Shall we get these gingerbread men in the oven and move on to our next project?”
“Yep. We’ve got lots to do, right?”
“Right you are,” Cadence said, removing two cookie sheets from the oven that were finished before popping in two more.
“Why don’t the guys help us?” Cass pounded down a little mound of leftover dough and cut out one more gingerbread man.
“That is a very good question.” The three Thompson men were acting like the bunch of hooligans Aunt Viv often accused them of being.
“What’s a good question?” Trey asked as he came in the back door yet again.
“Why us womens are doing all the work and you mens are playing,” Cass said, putting her hands on her hips just like she had seen Cadence do when she was displeased with something.
Trey choked down a laugh. Stepping back, he executed a royal bow with a grand sweep of his hand and offered up his most charming smile. It wasn’t lost on either Cadence or Cass. “At your service, milady. Your humble servant is now at your beck and call, at least for the next forty-five minutes.”
“That is a generous offer, kind sir,” Cadence said with a teasing lilt in her voice. “First, you can put the clothes from the washer into the dryer, then you can vacuum the front room, dust, polish the silverware, set the table, sweep out the mudroom, get logs ready to light in the fire and make sure the outside lights are ready to turn on.”
“You are a slave-driving maniac.” Trey slumped down beside Cass on a barstool and stole a piece of cookie dough. “What about you? You got orders for me to follow, too?”
“Yep! You can give me a horsey ride, then we can play fort and then you can read me a story and…”
“I think I need to head back outside for a while.” Trey stood up from the counter, giving Cadence a wink.
“Before you run off with your tail between your legs, cowboy, come here,” Cadence said from her spot across the kitchen where she appeared to be dipping something into a pan on the stove.
Sidling up next to Cadence, Trey breathed deep of her fresh womanly scent that mingled with the spicy smell of gingerbread and the delicious fragrance of chocolate. He wrapped an arm around her waist, hugged her gently and kissed her cheek.
“Too bad there isn’t some mistletoe over here,” he mumbled in her ear.
“Good thing or I’d ruin your chocolates,” Cadence whispered, setting another piece of candy on a rack to set up. “Try one of these. Take one from the far end there.”
Trey picked up one of the chocolates, not quite certain what he was about to taste. The candy he picked up was still slightly warm and it started melting on his fingers. Quickly popping it in his mouth, his eyes registered both his surprise and pleasure at the creamy coconut filling.
“Cady, darlin’, these are like the best thing I’ve ever had,” Trey said, picking up a second piece and finishing it in two bites. He rolled his eyes in a state of bliss. “I don’t even want to know how you made them or what they are called, just hide them all for me. Travis will scarf them all down if he finds them. He likes coconut almost as much as I do.”
Cadence laughed and kissed his cheek. “You really do need to learn to share, especially with your brothers.”
Trey looked wounded and grabbed his chest, making Cass laugh. “Some things are meant to be shared.” Trey waved his hand toward the counter covered in gingerbread and sugar cookies. “Others are meant to be savored…” Trey moved Cady’s braid aside and placed a soft kiss on her neck, causing goose bumps to pop out on her arms. “And appreciated by just me.” He stole another piece of candy and placed it in his mouth.
The fire in his eyes seemed to grow in direct proportion to the weakness of her knees. If they didn’t stop where this was headed Cass would soon be asking how come they were kissing without any ‘missytoes.’
Deliberately breaking contact with his hot gaze, she blushed and went back to her chocolates. “I may be able to put a few aside just for you.”
“You tease!” Trey playfully swatted her bottom. “You save more than a few for me. Got it?”
“Got it, boss man.” Cadence inclined her head toward the door. “Now get out of my kitchen and go find something useful to do until lunch.”
><><
When everyone gathered around the table for dinner, Trey was surprised to see it was finally his turn to enjoy his favorite meal - prime rib, twice-baked potatoes, green beans with bacon pieces, homemade yeast rolls with berry jam and fried apples. He could barely wait to dig in.
Viv and Denni contributed a few salads and side dishes and the table looked like it might buckle under the weight of all the good food.
Once everyone was seated, Trey asked them to bow their heads and led them in a heartfelt prayer of thanks that ended with, “We thank thee for every gift from thy loving hands, especially for our own precious child, Cass. Please bless this food, bless the hands that prepared it, bless each one gathered around this table and bless our time together. In Jesus name we pray.”
Soft whispers of “amen” echoed around the table.
After a jovial meal, they cleaned up the table, put on their coats, loaded up trays of treats and drove into town for the evening church service.
Trey sat next to Cadence, holding her hand with their fingers entwined. At Denni’s insistence, she was dressed in the teal satin dress she wore on their first date. It was making her hazel eyes shimmer with flecks of green and gold, while a rosy blush highlighted the curve of her cheeks. Her dark wavy hair was pulled into a loose bun at the back of her head, with plenty of tendrils escaping down her neck and around her face.
She looked so soft, womanly, and wonderful it was all Trey could do to keep his hands to himself. He didn’t think holding hands should count against him when he wanted so desperately to hold her.
Cass sat on Trent’s lap on the other side of him. He figured she would be run down and fighting to keep her eyes open by now, but she was wide-awake and taking everything in.
It was hard to remember that this was a Christmas full of firsts for the little girl. It was like experiencing everything himself the first time just watching her. She didn’t seem to take anything for granted, though, and was very good about saying thank you.
As the congregation stood to sing the last song of the service, Cass reached out her arms to him and he took her from Trent, holding her close to his chest. He had no idea his heart could be so full of love it ached in the most wonderful way.
Back at the house, Cadence and Denni set out desserts and made both hot chocolate and coffee. Trey hurried out to the barn where he had stashed the Santa suit along with a special gift for Cass. Hurrying to put it on, he ran around the backside of the house, telling Bob and Bonnie to hush their barking, and gently shook a string of jingle bells.
Everyone in the house was so busy visiting they didn’t seem to hear it. He shook it with a little more force and noticed Cadence looking around. He waved to her through the patio door and she smiled. Taking Cass by the shoulders, she turned the little girl around and pointed outside.
Trey sauntered up to the door and Cass ran to push it open.
Before he could get all the way inside, Cass threw both arms around him in a warm hug.
“Oh, Santa, thank you so much for my present,” she said, turning big china blue eyes up to his. “You are the bestest.”
“Well, thank you, Cass.” Trey squatted down so he was on her level. “I knew you’d get your present a lit
tle early, so I wanted to bring you something special.”
Cass looked confused. “But I already got my present. I don’t want to be piggy. Can you give it to a little girl who doesn’t have one?”
Trey had to swallow twice before he could speak. This little girl was really something special.
“You don’t need to worry about that, Cass,” Trey said pulling a box wrapped in snowman paper and tied with a bright red bow out of his big red sack. “But I still want you to have this.”
“Thank you,” Cass said, taking the box and starting toward the tree with it.
“You can open it now, Cass,” Trey said.
“I can?” she asked, surprised.
“Sure you can. Go right ahead.”
“I need to wait for Trey,” Cass said, looking around for her hero. Trey hadn’t planned on her missing him. Cadence came to the rescue.
“He had to run out to the barn, sweetie-pie, so you go ahead,” Cadence said.
Cass untied the simple bow and started to carefully unwrap the paper.
“Aww, Cass, just rip into it,” Trent said, while Travis nodded encouragingly.
Cass grinned and tore away the paper revealing what looked like a small boot box. Setting it down on the coffee table, she opened the lid and yelled, “Yipee! I’m a cowgirl, now!”
Trey had found a tiny pair of cowboy boots the same color as Cady’s that were just Cass’s size. Cass had her dress shoes off so fast Cadence wasn’t sure where they landed as she grabbed the boots out of the box. She hopped on one foot, trying to pull on a boot. Trent scooped her up while Travis shoved them on her feet.
“There you go,” Travis said, while Trent set her down. “Let’s see you two-step in those.”
Cass jumped around and twirled while everyone laughed and clapped. She finished by running up to Santa and giving him another big hug.
“Thank you, Santa. I love you.”
“I love you, too,” Trey said, giving her another hug. “Now, I better be on my way. I’ve got a lot of houses to visit tonight.”
Trey started for the back door but Travis and Trent stood there shaking their heads, pointing toward the fireplace.
“Since I can’t reveal all my magic secrets, I need you to close your eyes and count to three, Cass, and I’ll disappear up the chimney. Okay?”
“Okay,” Cass said, holding her hands over her eyes. “One! Two! Three!”
When Cass opened them, Santa was gone. She spun around a few more times singing, “I’m a cowgirl, I’m a cowgirl.”
As quick as Cass closed her eyes, Trey ran through the gathering room, silencing the jingle bells as he went, and tore down the hall to his bedroom. Shucking the costume and stuffing it in his closet, he hurried out the door at the end of the hall, circled around the house and came stomping in the kitchen door.
“Brrr. It’s cold out there,” he said, walking into the great room. “I thought I saw something fly off our roof. Did you guys see anything?”
Cass ran over to him, all smiles. “Santa was here, Trey, and he brought me boots just like Cady’s. I’m a cowgirl now.”
He picked her up and swung her around in her frilly green Christmas dress, then kissed the top of her head. “You sure are a cowgirl. Those are some boots. And you say Santa was here?”
“Yep.”
“And I missed him?”
“Yep.”
“Well, how do I always miss out on all the fun?” Trey asked, setting Cass down and claiming a spot next to Cadence.
“You seem to have a talent for it,” Cadence said with a twinkle in her eye. She leaned over and whispered “thank you” in his ear.
He nodded and pressed a kiss to her cheek.
Trey was ready for everyone to go to bed, leave, make themselves scarce, and in general disappear. He had plans, big plans, and wanted to be alone with Cady.
“Isn’t it about time for Miss Cass to be in bed? She’s got a big day tomorrow with presents to open and parades to watch on TV and more good food to eat,” Trey said, putting a hand around Cadence’s waist and giving her a light squeeze.
“I think it is way past her bedtime. Say good night to everyone, honey.”
Cass made the rounds, hugging everyone then went running off to brush her teeth. She took off her boots long enough to change into her new plaid Christmas pajamas, then pulled them right back on.
“Cass, you can’t sleep with your boots on,” Cadence said after Cass finished her bedtime prayers.
“Why?”
“Because it isn’t good for your feet and they’ll get your sheets dirty and you just shouldn’t.”
“But the boots aren’t dirty. They’re brand new,” Cass said sticking a foot in Cadence’s face. “See?”
Pushing the little foot back down, Cadence shook her head. “Yes, I see. Tell you what; you can sleep with them in your bed, just not on your feet. How about that?”
“Okay,” Cass said, lifting a foot and pulling off her boot. Cadence tugged off the other one and Cass cuddled them into her arms like they were a favorite stuffed toy.
“Santa must really love me,” Cass said as her eyes got droopy. “He gave me you and Trey and Grammy and Nana and Trent and Travis and all the guys and Aunt Viv and Uncle Joe for Christmas, didn’t he?”
“Yes, he did.”
“And boots, too. He loves me lots.”
“He sure does, and so do I, sweetie-pie,” Cadence said, pulling the covers up around Cass as her eyes closed and she drifted to sleep. “Sleep tight, Cass.”
When she returned to the gathering room, Cadence found the dessert dishes cleaned up and the room empty except for Trey. He leaned over the mantle, stirring the coals of the fire. The only light in the room came from the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree and a few candles set out on the massive coffee table.
Cadence watched him for a long moment. Between the custody hearing, the Christmas program, and holiday preparations, they had barely managed more than the briefest of conversations. They certainly hadn’t had any time to spend alone or discuss any possible plans for their future, if there were any. Cadence certainly hoped there would be.
She knew, without a doubt, that she loved Trey with all of her being and wanted to spend every single Christmas at the Triple T with him. She might have ignored all the warning signs telling her Bill was a big mistake, but she wasn’t turning a blind eye to all the signs that said Trey was the one God had planned for her all along.
She studied the way his muscles rippled through the shirt that matched his magnificent blue eyes, the way the firelight cast a warm glow on his golden head, the way he looked in those Wranglers.
Cadence was undeniably attracted to Trey. But it went way beyond the physical.
Her heart melted thinking of how he played Santa just for Cass and bought her those cute little boots. Not to mention the way he cared so openly and lovingly for not only Cass, but all his family and friends. He was a good man, a loving man. One Cadence wanted to spend the rest of her life loving.
Slipping up behind him, she circled her hands around his chest and gave him a hug.
“Hi,” she whispered.
Trey set down the poker, turned and put his arms around her. When he gazed into her face, he looked deep in her eyes and found what he was searching for there. He gently kissed her and took a moment to enjoy having her all to himself. A luxury he would never take for granted in this house full of people.
Over the last few hectic days, he missed spending quiet time with her. He deepened the kiss and gathered her closer to him. As his hands ran up and down the back of her dress, he enjoyed the silky smooth feel of it against his callused fingers and imagined her skin would feel much the same way.
Taking a step back, he inhaled a deep breath before they got too carried away.
“Thank you for making my favorite dinner tonight,” Trey said. “It was about the best prime rib I’ve ever had.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it. Sorry it took me so long to get ar
ound to making your meal.”
“It was well worth the wait,” Trey said offering her a seductive smile that was pure male flirtation. “Like a few other things that I fully anticipate being well worth the wait.”
Cadence blushed. The things that man said made her feel hot and cold and fuzzy headed all at the same time. Needing some distraction, she stepped over to the Christmas tree and pulled a package from behind it.
“I wanted to give you your present without an audience and now seems as good a time as any,” Cadence said, handing him a package beautifully wrapped in blue foil paper covered in a flurry of snowflakes and tied with a white bow.
Trey took her hand and led her to the couch where they both sat down. Untying the ribbon, he opened the package and stared at a plain brown box. He wondered what was inside and gave it a little shake.
“You are really just a little boy in a grown man’s body, aren’t you?” Cadence teased, enjoying Trey’s enthusiasm over his present.
“You know it, darlin’.”
Trey removed the lid of the box and pushed aside a layer of white tissue to find a pair of spurs. They were old, of that there was no doubt. Holding them up so he could see them better in the firelight, he noted the simple design that featured a silver heart button on each side of the heel band.
“These are wonderful, Cady, thank you. I’m guessing these are more than a year or two old.”
“Actually, they are from the Civil War. There are letters in the box that will give you a little more detail, but I’ll tell you the short story,” Cadence said, watching Trey as he held the spurs reverently. “I wanted to get you a pair of spurs to go with your collection, but I wanted them to be something special. As unbelievable as it will seem, I found these on eBay. The seller was a direct descendent of the owner of the spurs and had not only the envelope full of letters in the box, but also the personal story.
“There was a southern couple, Tim and Katie, newly married and deeply in love just as the war broke out. He felt it his duty to go fight with his friends and neighbors for a cause he believed in and left his new bride. Hoping her husband would be home for Christmas, Katie commissioned a local silversmith to make this pair of spurs. When she realized Tim wouldn’t be home for the holidays, she wrapped them up in a box along with a letter, wrote his name and troop number on the outside, and sent them with a neighbor boy who was headed out to battle, asking him to make sure her husband received them. In her letter, she explained that the spurs were made with the hearts on each side in hopes he would feel surrounded by her love every time he put them on. Even though he lost a leg in battle, when he arrived home from the war, Tim was wearing one spur and carrying the other. That box contains their letters during the war. They lived a long and happy life together. Their great-great-great-great grandson is apparently the last in their line of descendents wasn’t interested in keeping either the spurs or the letters. I was more than happy to take them off his hands.”
The Cowboy's Christmas Plan Page 28
