by Box Set
“I think it’s sweet. How do you spell your middle name?” Tamra looked at her with raised brows and pen poised.
“C-a-n-d-i.”
“Got it. Well, now we know yours, mine is Tamra Lucile, hers is Clare Rachelle, and his is Preston River.”
“Lovely names and not a Christmas cliché in the bunch.” Holly laughed at the looks on their faces. “I always like to try to get that first jab in myself. It usually breaks the ice.”
“I think yours is a lovely name,” Clare stated.
“It’s very unique,” Holly heard Preston mumble from across the room. A lopsided grin spread over his face, and Holly found herself going weak in the knees from how absolutely adorable his smile was.
I could get so lost in that smile and those freaking blue eyes of his.
Clare started playing the first notes of the song, and they all joined in, their voices ebbing and flowing. Holly found herself listening primarily to Preston’s deep baritone voice. When the song finished, she glanced at him only to find him watching her, his eyes narrowed. “What time is the caroling thing tomorrow?” She prayed it wouldn’t be too late in the evening.
“It’s at seven, so we have time to have dinner before we get ready. You don’t have to wear anything too fancy, but something festive if you have it.” Clare blinked. “You did bring something, didn’t you?”
“Of course. I brought a variety of things since I didn’t know what to expect. I’ve never been on a vacation like this before.”
“Great. Well, I’m off to study. Even though I’d rather visit, I do have some stuff due before the Christmas break. Later y’all.” She walked out of the room like the whirlwind she seemed to be.
Holly smiled in spite of her nerves. “She’s very pretty. Last year of high school?”
“Yes, and very precocious at times. But ultimately very sweet.”
“And spoiled, Ma, don’t forget that one,” Preston grumbled. “I’m going to go check on the horses. Good evening, ladies.” He strode from the room without looking back.
I could watch you walking away or coming back anytime. “If you will excuse me, Tamra, I’m going to unpack and get ready to settle in for the night. I’d love to see the horses tomorrow, if that’s okay?”
“Of course. I’ll have Preston take you down to the barn after breakfast. Let me know if you need anything at all.” She cocked her head and smiled at Holly.
“I will. Good night.” She found her heart racing at the thought of him showing her the horses and the barn. She hurried to her room to unpack and try to call April. No, if she called April, she wouldn’t be the voice of reason she needed her to be at that moment. She’d cheer her on in these ridiculous fantasies of hers. Flopping down on the bed, she threw her arm over her eyes and groaned.
When Ma told Holly the great room was her favorite, Preston felt his stomach turn. How in the hell could she go on and on about the man as if he were a saint? It was almost as if she’d completely forgotten the fact that he’d died with his mistress. He shook his head and sat in a chair while his mom and Holly sat next to each other on the sofa.
Clare started playing her piano and sang a perfect rendition of “Silent Night.” He loved hearing her sing. Her voice was really sweet and as soft as he imagined an angel would sound. He couldn’t help but join her in his favorite carol. When she finished, she asked them all to join her singing “Jingle Bells.” As everyone joined in, his eyes flew to Holly. Her voice was incredible and she fit right in with them, singing the harmony perfectly as if she had been doing it for years. His eyes narrowed as he continued to sing along with them. She glanced his way and cringed. He turned his head, lowering his eyes. Shit, if Ma caught him staring at her guest, she’d likely box his ears.
He groaned when he heard Ma insist that Holly come along with them tomorrow. He knew she was after that blue ribbon, hoping to knock Miss High and Mighty off her throne. Ma was practically pleading with her. His eyes rolled when he saw his sister bounce off her piano bench doing her pouty thing she always did when she wanted to get her way. Damn it. He saw his mother’s face, she wanted this. He turned and looked at Holly. “You do sound pretty incredible. It would be doing us a favor.” He picked up his drink and took a sip, looking everywhere but at Ma.
The next thing he knew, Clare was hugging Holly, and Ma was going to her drawer to get her paper and pen.
“Holly, what’s your full name so I can add you to our group in the morning?”
“Holly Candi Kane.”
Poor woman, nothing like being stuck with a name everyone would make fun of. Maybe it’s why she chose to like Christmas so much. Ma went on to tell her their names after exclaiming how unique Holly’s was.
“Lovely names and not a Christmas cliché in the bunch.” Holly laughed.
Wow, she went there. He couldn’t help but smile at her joke. “I think it’s very unique.” He smiled and when he saw the look in her eyes, heat flashed through him. What was it about this woman that he was finding both irritating and irresistible at the same time? Thankfully, his sister started playing the next song. He found himself watching Holly through narrowed eyes. What is it about you, Holly Kane?
When the song ended, he excused himself, using the horses as a reason to get away from this woman who was making him think thoughts of what he wanted to do with her. He strode from the room without looking back.
His boots crunched through the snow as he made the trek to the barn. He loved his evening chores; it was his unwinding time. He slid the barn door open and was greeted with the whinnies of the inhabitants. Drawing in a breath, he took in the combined smells of the horses, oats, and hay. Who wouldn’t find this calming? Making his way to the feed room, he loaded up the wheelbarrow and headed to the first stall.
Sampson stuck his head out and snorted. The big, black stallion was always the first one he fed. Preston had raised him from a foal when everyone else said he wasn’t going to make it through the winter. He’d been born early and was a weak little colt, but with Preston’s love and care, turned out to be one of the most beautiful foals the ranch had ever produced. Now, he would sire an entire group of new foals, due early in the year. Sampson was intelligent as well as beautiful, one of the most stunning Quarter horses ever seen in this part of Colorado. He took to cattle-cutting naturally, and when the two of them were out riding, it felt to Preston as if they were one.
“Come on, fella, back it up if you want to get fed. There you go.” Sampson backed up as Preston made his way into the stall with the stallion’s scoop of oats. Preston dumped it in the feeder before grabbing a flake of hay from the wheelbarrow. Once the hay hit the ground, he slid his hand down the powerful neck of his horse. “See you in the morning, big guy. I’ll turn y’all out for a bit.” After he slid the stall door closed and latched it, he made his way to the next stall. Now, all the horses had their noses out their stall doors, nickering for him to hurry up with their dinner.
After each one was fed, talked to, and patted, he made his way back to the feed room to return the wheelbarrow and lock up. After he slid the barn door closed, he stood for a moment in the crisp night air before heading back to the warmth of the cabin. He loved the way they decorated for the holiday, always had. He just wished that his son-of-a-bitch of a father hadn’t gone and ruined the season for him.
He glanced up, stopping short when he noticed the light on in Holly’s room. She stood looking out her window up at the mountain. The moonlight lit up her face, and he swore she looked like an angel, beautiful and pure. Suddenly, she glanced down and backed up. Damn it. He knew she’d seen him and it must have made her uncomfortable. He made his way back into the kitchen to get a sandwich before heading up to his room. His mother was already in the kitchen, waiting on him.
“Preston what’s going on with you?” She cut two slices of bread and placed them on a plate.
“Nothing Ma.”
She glanced up at the ceiling, and he noticed she had tears in her eyes.
/> “Ma, what’s wrong?”
“This holiday is hard enough on me without you being rude to our first guest. I’m trying so hard to make sure the holidays stay special for us, especially you and your sister. I know you don’t like the idea of having a stranger in our home, but we needed some extra income. And before you say a word, I needed to have someone else besides us here to help me have some type of joy this year. Can you please let me have this without trying to ruin it at every turn? She hasn’t been in the house twenty-four hours yet, and you’re glaring at her every chance you get. Stop embarrassing me.” She set the sandwich down hard in front of him. “I’m off to bed. By the way, I told Holly you’d show her the horses tomorrow morning. Goodnight.”
She turned and made her way quickly out of the room, but not before he noticed her pulling a tissue from her pocket. He wasn’t hungry anymore. He stood and got some wrap so he could put the sandwich away. It would keep until tomorrow. Tugging a hand down his face, he sighed. Ma was making the best of the holidays for him and his sister, and here he was acting like a fucking idiot, thinking she wasn’t putting things behind her. He took his sorry ass up the steps to shower and head to bed. As he made his way down the hall, he noticed the light still on in Holly’s room. His heart sped up as he hesitated for just a moment, before he swallowed hard and forced himself into his own room. Yeah, this is going to be a long three weeks.
Chapter 4
The Weather Outside is Frightful
Holly rolled over, looked at the clock, and moaned. Five-thirty! Ugh. What the heck? After a few minutes, she realized back home it would be eight-thirty, and she would be oversleeping. Throwing the covers back, she slid out of bed, grabbed her robe, and went into her bathroom to take a shower, since she knew she’d never go back to sleep now.
She dried off and put lotion on her face before she lathered the rest of her body with lotion. She loved her new sassy, short haircut. Wash and wear, who knew? Back in her room, she chose a pair of blue jeans, a long-sleeved, thermal style shirt, and warm socks as she wondered if she should put on some make up. Glancing in the mirror, she decided she needed something on her eyes.
When she was finished, she opened her door quietly so as not to disturb anyone and walked right into Preston, almost knocking herself over. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t look where I was going.” She put her hand over her face as he grabbed her arm to steady her.
“It’s no problem. I wasn’t watching where I was going either. I’m not used to anyone being this far down the hallway.”
She looked up and saw a genuine smile that reached his eyes this time. “Where were you coming from?”
“My bedroom is right there.” He pointed to the doorway next to hers.
Her heart skipped a beat. “Oh. I’ll be sure to check next time.” Her voice sounded strange in her own ears as her heartbeat thundered.
“Me too. Ma said you wanted to see the horses. I was getting ready to go feed them and turn them out for a while to stretch their legs.”
“I’d love to go with you. I love horses. I’ve always wanted one. I was hoping to ride while I’m here, but I guess I can’t with all the snow.”
“Depends on the cold more than the snow. If there isn’t ice, we can take a ride while you’re here. I usually go out a few times a week to check on the cattle, anyway.”
“That would be wonderful. I mean, if you don’t mind.” She felt shy because of the way he was looking at her. Those eyes and that smile, save me now.
“Do you have a warm coat? If not, I’m sure Ma has one that should fit you. You want to wear layers to make sure you’re not too cold or too hot.” He glanced down at her feet. “Hey, nice boots. Luccheses is a great brand. Did your research, I see.”
“I have to confess, I didn’t. I went to a western wear store and told them where I was going. There was an old guy buying a new pair of boots, and he told me what to get. Said he grew up on a ranch.”
“Well, you were lucky. I’d bet most of those folks working in that store have never been on a horse. Come on, we have enough time to grab a cup of coffee before we head out to the barn.”
She followed him downstairs, appreciating the way his jeans hugged his rear. Cowboys sure knew how to wear jeans. When they got to the kitchen, she watched while he made quick work of fixing a pot of coffee.
“Do you do this every morning?” Leaning against the counter, she took in the perfect view of his backside again. Thoughts and images flew through her mind as he reached up into the cabinet to put the coffee back and the sleeve of his T-shirt slid up, giving her a peak at more of the tattoo that covered his upper arm. She wondered if she would ever have the chance to see all of it.
“Make coffee? Sure. Ma likes a cup when she comes down to start breakfast. Since I’m the first one up, I make it.”
Holly giggled. “I meant taking care of the horses.”
Preston laughed. “Oh. Yeah, that too. I love doing it. Being around them calms me. I find it the most rewarding start and end of my day.”
Preston turned and carried two mugs to the table, setting one in front of her. “Do you need cream or sugar?”
“Nope. I like mine black. I’ve never quite understood why people add those to their coffee.” Shrugging her shoulders, she picked up the mug and took a sip. Her eyes went wide. “Oh, this is very good. May I ask what brand it is?”
A grin spread over his face again. “I get it from a friend of mine who makes gourmet coffees. I can give you the information.”
Nodding her head, she took another sip. “I think I’d like that, thank you.”
They sat in comfortable silence for a bit, just enjoying the coffee and the quiet. He glanced at the clock over the stove. “Well, we better get to the barn before the horses think something’s wrong. I’m usually out there by now.”
“Horses can’t tell time, can they?” She nibbled at her bottom lip.
Preston chuckled as he took their mugs to the sink. “Not the way we do, but they go by routine and they know when it’s time for the feedings, turn out, and time to come in at night to eat again. Let me grab you Ma’s barn coat and we’ll head out.” He disappeared for a moment into a small room off the right side of the kitchen and returned with two coats and a long-sleeved sweatshirt for himself. Handing her the smaller coat, he shrugged into the sweatshirt before pulling on his.
“Let’s go, I can’t wait for you to meet Sampson.” He removed a worn, black cowboy hat from a hook by the back door and placed it on his head.
“Who’s Sampson?” She pulled the coat close as they stepped out the door. “It’s cold this morning.” She chanced a sideways glance and felt her heart catch at the sight of his handsome face underneath the brim of his hat. Holly had never met a cowboy before, and this one was hot as hell.
“It’s warmer in the barn, I promise. Sampson is my stallion. I raised him from a colt.” They crunched through the snow as they made their way to the barn. “He’s beautiful.” He glanced up at the sky and shook his head.
Holly could see the pride on his face as he talked about his horse. What a change from the welcome, or lack of, she got from him yesterday.
When they got to the barn, he slid the barn door open and let her step through first. “We’re in for some bad weather, I think. Look at that sky,” he said before sliding the door closed. “Hold on a minute.” He moved to the right and turned on the lights. “This time of morning, it’s a bit dark in here, especially after the brightness of the snow.”
Holly took in the sight of the nicely kept barn. Stalls ran down both sides, and she could hear the horses moving around and making little sounds. She took a breath, smelling the combination of smells that only a horse barn could have. Memories of her summers at camp, where she used to get a few days riding the horses and being around the barn, swept through her mind. A smile spread over her face. “It smells just like I remember.”
He raised a brow. “You had horses?”
“No, I went to summer camp a
few times, and my favorite part was the few days we were able to be around the barn and we got to ride.” Sighing heavily from the past long gone, she turned back to Preston. “So, which one is Sampson?”
“Let me get their hay and oats, then I’ll introduce you to them. Would you like to give me a hand?”
“Sure. Lead the way and tell me what to do.” Holly followed him to the feed room and watched as he made quick work of loading hay and oats into the huge wheelbarrow. “Why are you doing that with the hay?”
Preston glanced back at her, his brows drawn. “Doing what?”
“You seem to be pulling it apart in a certain amount like you’re measuring or something.”
“I’m separating it into flakes. Each horse gets a certain amount of hay and oats, according to the calorie intake they need. We have a couple of mares that are with foal so they need more calories right now.”
“So, it’s more than just throwing hay. What you don’t realize when you’re a kid, huh?” She leaned against the door, watching him make quick work of separating the rest of the hay and placing it in the wheelbarrow.
“Yeah. Would you mind pulling the door closed once I move this outside?”
“Sure.” She pulled it closed and followed him to the first stall. She heard a rather loud whinny and a head popped out the stall. “Oh, my gosh! This one is beautiful.”
“Holly, meet Sampson.” Preston stroked his hand down the stallion’s muscled neck. “This is my boy.”
“He’s beautiful. May I pet him?”
“Sure.”
She moved in front of the horse slowly, reached up, and let him smell her hand. When he nuzzled her palm, she reached over and stroked his neck, talking softly to him. “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Look at you.”