Wrestlin' Christmas: (Sweet Western Holiday Romance) (Rodeo Romance Book 2)

by Hatfield, Shanna

  “That they do, but Kenzie will make sure they keep quiet.” Tate grinned as he thought of his wife’s much younger twin sisters. They were talkers, for sure.

  “Let’s get this finished.” Cort motioned to another big shelf they needed to install.

  When they were through, the five men admired their efforts. Between shelves, cupboards, drawers and a variety of little bins, jars, and clear plastic boxes, Kaley’s craft room was about to become the most organized space in Eastern Washington.

  “Thank you guys, so much, for your help this morning,” Cort said, walking Tate and his crew back to the door. “Merry Christmas!”

  “To you, too, man,” Monte said, slapping Cort on the back. “And congrats on the wedding tonight. You didn’t let any grass grow under your feet.”

  “Nope. I didn’t want to give her time to change her mind.” Cort gave the men a cocky smile as they walked outside.

  Tate lingered a moment, giving Cort a knowing look. “I’m happy for you, Cort. The girls will be here soon, but I’ll see you at the church, if not before.”

  “Thanks, Tate.” Cort shook his hand then gave his life-long friend a brotherly hug. “Thanks for everything. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  “You better hope you never have to find out because who knows what would happen. I’m the one who keeps you on the straight and narrow, but I’m ready to turn over those duties to Kaley.” Tate teased as he jogged down the steps and out to his truck.

  Cort remembered Kaley asked him to take the sheets out of the dryer and make the bed in her room.

  He removed the warm, fragrant sheets from the dryer and carried them down the hall to her room. Since they’d be newly married and wanting privacy, Kaley decided to move into Cort’s room on the other side of the house. She’d carried the last of her things to his room that morning, working at a frenzied pace to clean her room from top to bottom in preparation of Cort’s parents arriving that afternoon. They’d take her former room while Celia would sleep in the guest room next to Jacob’s bedroom.

  Hurriedly tucking the sheets onto the bed, followed by the blankets and a Christmas quilt he had no idea when Kaley had time to make, Cort smoothed out a wrinkle and decided the bed looked as good as he could make it. He had no doubt that Kaley would check on it when she got back from town because she wanted everything to be perfect for his family.

  He peeked inside the empty closet and checked the bathroom. It sparkled with fluffy, fresh towels sitting on the counter.

  As he turned to leave the room, he noticed Kaley put a vintage pitcher full of fresh greens and berries in the center of the dresser. His mother would love the decoration as well as the scent filling the air.

  Quickly going to his bedroom, he took the sheets off the bed and tossed them in the washer, then got out his suit, making sure it didn’t need to be pressed. He’d picked it up from the dry cleaners the previous afternoon, but he wanted to make sure it looked nice. The suit and light gray shirt Kaley requested he wear were in fine shape. He hung the tie she’d purchased for him with the shirt and took out his black boots to polish.

  When they were shining like a new penny, he set them by the back door to dry then hurried to move his sheets to the dryer. He wanted everything to be nice for Kaley tonight.

  Digging through the cupboard where she kept her candles, he appropriated several and took them to his room, setting them along the dresser.

  Feminine voices down the hall let him know Kenzie arrived. In a whirlwind of activity, he stood out of the way while she and her sisters put all of Kaley’s craft items away.

  Cort would never have figured out where to put each thing the way the girls had and he was glad he hadn’t tried.

  “I can’t thank you enough for coming over and doing this,” he said as Kenzie screwed the lid on a jar of buttons and set it on the counter, next to several jars of glitter.

  “Kaley will absolutely love this.” Kenzie squeezed Cort’s hand as they gazed around the room.

  Neatly folded stacks of fabric filled the cupboard on the far end of the room. Shelves held multiple-colored threads, baskets of all sorts and sizes, rubber stamps, and containers of silk flowers.

  A rainbow of ribbon spools brightened the wall above the cutting table, nestled together on dowels held by decorative brackets.

  Scrapbook papers, patterns, picture frames with mats, scissors, pens, and decorative flowers made from bits of ribbon filled the drawers.

  “I could live here.” Lindy plopped down on the high stool at a tall square table sitting beneath the window. The placement took advantage of the natural light streaming in the window.

  “That’s because you like this kind of stuff.” Lacy glared at her sister. “I’d rather do anything else than be forced to sew something.”

  “Only because there are no boys in your home ec class,” Lindy retorted, tossing her hair over her shoulder.

  “Girls, enough.” Kenzie shooed her sisters out of the room.

  Seventeen years younger than Kenzie, her sisters bore a striking resemblance to her. With the same dark hair, brown eyes, and winning smiles, Cort assumed the twins would be as beautiful as their big sister when they grew up, since they were already pretty girls.

  “Remember, no one say a word to Kaley. This is a secret,” Cort warned, hoping the twins wouldn’t say anything to Kaley when she went to the Morgan Ranch to dress for the wedding.

  Kenzie insisted Cort couldn’t see the bride right before the wedding and wanted to help Kaley get ready. The things she’d need for the wedding were at Kenzie’s, including the wedding dress the two of them had purchased and Cort had yet to see.

  “Our lips are sealed,” Lindy said, grinning at Cort.

  “Like the time Tate bought Kenzie tickets to Hawaii for her birthday and you two told her before he even got home with them?” Cort asked.

  “We were kids then,” Lacy said, putting on her coat as they stood at the door.

  “Right. Wasn’t that just last year?” Cort winked at Kenzie. After hugging the girls and Kenzie, he walked them outside to the porch. “I do appreciate your help, though. We’ll see you tonight at the church.”

  “You better be there with bells on, buster.” Kenzie playfully shook a finger at him before following her sisters out to her SUV. “Lacy, you are not driving my rig. Get in the back!” Cort heard her dramatic sigh as she hurried down the end of the walk.

  Chuckles rumbled up from his chest as he shook his head and returned inside, deciding to make lunch so Kaley wouldn’t have to. After setting out the makings for sandwiches, he searched through the cupboards for Kaley’s cookie cutters. He finally found them in an old tea jar on a shelf in the pantry.

  A few Christmas shapes caught his eye, so he fished them out of the jar and returned to making sandwiches. He finished assembling the last one as Jacob and Kaley walked inside with their arms full of bags, laughing and smiling.

  “You buy out the stores?” Cort asked, taking the bags from Jacob and setting them on a barstool then turning to help Kaley. “Are there more in the car?”

  “Yep, but Mama said you can’t see.” Jacob earned a glare from his mother. “Oops.” Giggling, he ran down the hall to the bathroom.

  “I can go get those bags,” Cort offered, opening the back door, half-teasing and half-interested in finding out what she purchased.

  “Hold it right there, buster.” Kaley grabbed his arm and closed the door. “You stay away from my car.”

  Cort wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled her neck, inhaling her fragrance as warmth flooded through him. He couldn’t wait to marry her and make Kaley his own. “What will you do if I don’t?”

  “You’ll be labeled as naughty, get on Santa’s list of bad boys, and that wouldn’t bode well for you later this evening, if you get my meaning.”

  Cort gave her an anxious look. “Now, Kaley, girl, don’t go making threats like that.” He swung her around in his arms. “I’ve been a very good boy this morning
and even made lunch.”

  “You did? I was going to slap together some sandwiches,” she said, trying to peer around him at the counter.

  “Even I can make a sandwich.” Cort proudly showed her the plate of sandwiches cut into the shapes of trees and stars.

  “Oh, Cort. Jacob will love this. Thank you.” Kaley kissed his chin, or at least that was where she aimed. Cort dipped his head so her kiss landed on his lips while his arms pulled her closer. They lost themselves in the heated exchange, forgetting about anything beyond each other.

  “I’m hungry. Can we eat?” Jacob asked as he ran back into the room.

  Kaley pulled away from Cort and tried to catch her breath. Her just-kissed lips appeared puffy and her cheeks glowed with a pink blush.

  “Are you kissing Mama again?” Jacob pointed to the two of them and snickered as he took his seat at the table.

  “Yep, I certainly am, partner. Is that okay with you?”

  “I guess so. You guys do that a lot and I don’t mind, except while we’re eating.” Jacob wrinkled his nose, making Cort chuckle and Kaley roll her eyes.

  “See what Cort made, buddy.” She set the sandwiches on the table.

  “Awesome!” Jacob helped himself to a tree-shaped sandwich.

  After lunch, Kaley insisted Jacob take a nap because she knew he’d be tired long before the evening ended.

  She wanted to take one herself but she had so much to complete before her wedding that evening.

  She ran out to her car and brought in the gifts she purchased for Cort. One of the high school students who sometimes helped her in the summer mentioned their 4-H group planned to set up a gift-wrapping booth at the mall to raise money for some of their projects.

  Kaley was more than happy to pay to have them wrap Cort’s gifts while she picked up a few things for Cort’s family and one or two things for herself. Now that Jacob could talk, shopping with him had been so fun.

  Jacob wanted to visit Santa, so Kaley gladly stood in line with him, waiting for his turn to sit on the jolly old man’s lap. The little boy wouldn’t tell her what he whispered to Santa, but she hoped he requested the remote-controlled tractor he wanted. He’d mentioned it to her numerous times the past few days.

  Cort had a few toys for Jacob as well. He would love them, especially knowing they belonged to Cort when he was a little boy.

  Inconspicuously setting Cort’s gifts beneath the tree, she hid a bag with goodies for his stocking in the bottom drawer of the built-in cupboard where she kept board games. He wouldn’t snoop in there before morning.

  When she walked inside his bedroom, she found him putting fresh sheets on the bed.

  “What are you doing?” she asked, grabbing the corner of a sheet and tucking it in.

  “Making the bed.” Cort grinned at her, tossing a pillow her direction.

  “I can see that. I’m surprised you washed the sheets all by yourself,” Kaley teased. “The big buttons on the washing machine didn’t scare you?”

  “No, smarty, they didn’t.” Cort lunged at her when she bent near him to tuck in the corner of a blanket. As he pulled her onto the bed with him, he tickled her, making her squeal with laughter. “Are you going to be this feisty after we’re married?”

  “I’m just getting warmed up.”

  The hair she’d left down that morning fell over his arm like a dark silk curtain and her tantalizing fragrance filled his nose while his love for her filled his heart.

  “That’s good to know.” His tone was husky as his silvery gaze locked on her blue one. With painstaking slowness, he lowered his lips to hers, teasing and tempting her mouth until Kaley felt her entire body morph into a quivering mass of unrestrained yearning.

  Incapable of rational thought, she surrendered to Cort’s hungry kisses and affectionate touches.

  “Hello!” A voice from the living room floated to them.

  “Good gracious!” Kaley was about to meet her future mother-in-law with her hair in a wild tangle and her lips looking like she’d just been thoroughly and repeatedly kissed.

  Heat flamed into her cheeks, turning them bright pink, as Cort grabbed her hand and tugged her toward the door.

  “I can’t meet your parents, yet. Please, just give me a minute.” Kaley gave Cort a pleading glance.

  Aware she needed to gather her composure along with her nerve, Cort nodded his head. “Sure, baby. Take all the time you need.” Swiftly kissing her cheek, he rushed into the living room. Kaley heard him greet his parents and sister, offering to take their coats.

  She hurried to make Cort’s bed, realizing she hadn’t taken time to check her bedroom. She hoped Cort finished making the bed in there.

  Air filled her lungs as she took a deep breath, bringing a sense of calm. She straightened her sweater, finger-combed her hair, and went to meet Cort’s parents.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “She’s lovely, Cort.” Jana McGraw fussed with her son’s tie while they waited for the wedding to begin.

  Cort, his parents, Celia, and Jacob arrived at the church in plenty of time to make sure everything was ready for the ceremony. He’d met with the minister briefly to go over details.

  Their wedding would take place an hour before the Christmas Eve service began, giving the minister a break between the two and the wedding party time to settle into their seats before the rest of the congregation arrived.

  The minster announced their upcoming nuptials at church Sunday and invited the congregation to attend. Cort assumed most people would be busy preparing for Christmas and not interested in attending.

  As he glanced out over their simple country church, Cort smiled. From the gleaming wood of the pews to the candles flickering in the windows, it was the perfect setting for their wedding.

  Jacob sat on Jana’s lap, pointing to the white lights twinkling from the big tree at the front of the church. Red poinsettias, interspersed with boughs of fragrant pine, decorated the steps leading to the central pulpit.

  “You’re getting a beautiful bride and an exceptionally sweet girl,” Trevor said, patting his son on the back. “Not to mention a remarkable little boy.”

  Cort felt a mixture of relief and pleasure that his parents immediately took to both Kaley and Jacob. He’d worried about what they’d think, but the looks on their faces as they hugged Jacob and kissed Kaley’s check assured him all was well.

  From past conversations, he was aware Celia liked Kaley. She informed him he’d be a certified lunkhead to let her get away.

  “I am, Dad. In part, I have to thank you, Mom, and Celia for that.” Cort gave his dad a warm handshake.

  “For what?” Trevor glanced at him questioningly.

  “For kicking me out and shipping me to Tate’s. If you hadn’t done that, who knows what would have happened. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome, son. It was hard on us to do, but everything worked out perfectly.” Trevor’s tone sounded gruff as he cleared his throat, trying not to show his emotion. Extremely proud of his son, he was about to bust the buttons on his new shirt.

  “Did Tate bring over Jacob’s gift yet?” Trevor asked, privy to Cort’s secret Christmas plans.

  “Yeah, he dropped it off when he helped me with Kaley’s this morning. I left it in the barn knowing neither one of them would be out there.” Cort grinned as Tate and Kenzie walked into the back of the church with her parents, sisters, Gideon, and some of the ranch hands, including Monte. Celia ran around snapping photos as the official wedding photographer, her gift to the couple.

  “Hey, man, you look like you’re waiting for something,” Tate teased as he kissed Jana’s and Celia’s cheeks then shook Trevor’s hand before slapping Cort on the shoulder.

  “Just my bride.” Cort gazed with longing toward the back of the church, anxious for Kaley to appear.

  “Before she comes down the aisle, let’s get your boutonnière in place.” Kenzie set a box full of fresh flowers on the front pew. She pinned a cream rose to Cort’s l
apel, then added one to Tate’s and Trevor’s as well. Kenzie pinned a smaller rose in the same pale shade to Jacob’s new suit jacket and tweaked his nose.

  “How are you, Jacob?” Kenzie asked, giving him a hug when he slid off Jana’s lap and wrapped his arms around her.

  “I’m great! My daddy is gonna marry Mama then I can get my Christmas present,” Jacob said, his eyes dancing with excitement.

  “Is that right? What did you ask for?” Kenzie smoothed back his bangs.

  “It’s a secret, but I know I’ll get it. I just know it.”

  Kenzie smiled, thinking of the remote-controlled tractor Kaley bought for Jacob and the surprise Cort had waiting for him out in the barn. The little boy was in for a very merry Christmas, indeed.

  Turning to Celia, Kenzie gave her a hug and pinned a corsage to her dress before doing the same to Jana. After she took two bouquets of cream roses from the box, she slid it beneath the front pew.

  “I’m going to check on the bride, but I think we’re ready.” Kenzie nodded to Tate.

  As she walked to the back of the church, the doors from the vestibule opened and people began to pour inside the sanctuary. Kenzie smiled over her shoulder then hurried to join Kaley.

  The minister stepped beside Cort and grinned as the congregation filled the pews to overflowing.

  “What’s everyone doing here?” Cort asked.

  “You invited them to come, and here they are,” the minister said with a satisfied smirk. “It’s not every day a couple weds in our church, and certainly not on Christmas Eve. They wouldn’t miss it.”

  Cort nodded his head, at a loss for words to express his gratitude to the good people giving up time on their Christmas Eve to help celebrate their wedding.

  “Let’s take our places, shall we?” The minister motioned for Cort and Tate to stand with him near the pulpit.

  Jacob picked up the pillow that held the rings and went to stand between Cort and Tate. He wasn’t exactly sure what was expected of him, but he got a new black suit and gray shirt that matched Cort’s and he’d never seen his mama so happy and excited.