The brush she was running along Thunder’s back paused. She’d forgotten that—his gang association; then again, it had never mattered to her. “How long did you ride with them?”
“I didn’t ride with them,” he said.
She peered over Thunder to catch a glimpse of him several stalls down. He was looking back, so she asked, “You didn’t?”
He was quiet for a moment and then started brushing his horse again, and doing the same, she was a bit surprised when he said, “I came across their hideout when I was hunting one day. I was about twelve or so, and an extra mouth to feed for the miner’s family I’d lived with since my mother had died, so I stayed there. Two years later, they took me on a raid with them.”
“You just stayed at their hideout all that time?”
“I didn’t have anywhere else to go, and I had more than I’d had in a long time. A roof over my head, a bed, food. I knew they planned on robbing a bank, and knew it was wrong, but I agreed to go.”
She set the brush on the shelf and when she exited the stall, Tanner was there to close the gate for her. There was more to his story, she sensed that, yet also knew he said so little for her protection, not his. “Is that when you were arrested? That first ride?”
He nodded. “That was the last job the Taylor gang pulled off.”
“So you never were an outlaw.”
“Does that surprise you?”
“No,” she answered honestly. “It confirms what I always thought.”
His grin was a bit bashful as he shook his head, and the intensity that now constantly resided inside her doubled. It seemed natural, and easy, so she did it, slid her arms inside the opening of his long coat, all the way around his waist.
“Thank you, Tanner,” she whispered, pressing a cheek to his chest. “For riding with me today.”
He’d turned stiff, and the way he patted her back made her smile increase. Many times the past few days she’d sensed he wanted to kiss her. She hadn’t encouraged it. To do so wouldn’t be right. Not while she was still pretending to be engaged to John. After the party—once her grandfather recognized how invaluable she was to the ranch—she would tell him everything. Tanner, too.
Increasing her hold around his waist, she sighed. “It was a wonderful day, wasn’t it?”
“What are you doing?”
“Doing?”
He took her shoulders in a firm grasp, separating them slightly. His frown was heavy, and a tiny warning that she was wrong, that he hadn’t wanted to kiss her, ticked inside her brain.
“It won’t work, Anna.”
“What won’t work?” The alarm rising inside her made her voice squeak. She couldn’t have been wrong. Not again.
He shook his head.
Full-fledged panic that he was about to push her away erupted and without a second thought, she hiked onto her tiptoes and covered his mouth with hers.
Time stood still. Every beat of her heart echoed in her ears, but she refused to budge, just kept her lips pressed against his.
He didn’t move for several more moments, but then his arms wrapped around her like steel bands and he kissed her. Heaven above, did he kiss her. Like years ago, with his lips parted and his tongue exploring the inner regions of her mouth.
It was as if they were battling, their tongues swords, to see who could kiss harder, faster, more intensely. Her determination renewed, Anna hooked her arms beneath his and went in with all she had. It was exhilarating and lit a flame inside her that went clear to her toes and shot right back up again, fueling her with steam and stamina.
When the kiss ended, they were both gasping for air and staring at one another, waiting to see who would make the first move. Unlike last time, Tanner didn’t step away. Didn’t tell her she was too young. Instead, he took her face with both hands and gently pulled her toward him. His lips met hers with all the tenderness of a butterfly’s touch. Completely in awe, Anna barely had time to react before he pulled away, making her arch forward, toward him. He did that several times, just touched his lips to hers, softly, affectionately, and then, when he did deepen the kiss, it was so gentle and tender that a whimper rumbled in the back of her throat.
His hands left her face; one arm circled around her shoulders and the other her lower back. Tanner leaned her backward then, over his arm, and continued kissing her. She felt almost suspended in air. One of her feet had left the ground. If not for his hold she would have fallen to the floor. She was holding on to him. Tightly. Digging her fingertips into his arms. The fire inside her grew to a smoldering heat that included every ounce of her being.
It was a bit frightening. He was in complete control and she had none. Not over the reaction inside her or the way he kept her off balance. Her feet and her senses. It was exciting, too, knowing his strength, and trusting that he wouldn’t drop her. Not Tanner.
Gradually he brought her upright, still holding her attention with his lips. It was several more kisses before his mouth left hers and his lips brushed her cheek, then temple, while pulling her close.
Anna was beyond breathless, and the buzzing in her ears made hearing impossible. Tanner must have whispered her name two or three times before she finally managed to reply with, “Yes?”
“It still won’t work.”
Still questioning her hearing, she leaned back. “What?”
He tickled the underside of her chin with the knuckle of one finger. “I won’t go against Walter. I can’t. Not even for you.”
Anna didn’t have the ability to respond. It took all she had just to grasp the stall gate with both hands in order to stay upright. What had she done now?
Tanner strolled to the barn door and, pushing it open as if it weighed no more than a feather, he said, “I’ll tell John darling you’ll be in shortly.”
Chapter Nine
The party was in full swing by the time Tanner made an appearance. He’d considered not going, but that would disappoint Walter. Truth was, it would disappoint Anna more. Staying away from her had proved more difficult than he’d anticipated. After leaving her in the barn, he’d gone to the bunkhouse, where he’d spent the night, and this morning he’d ridden into Homer before the town had awakened. There were always things to see to in town. Feed, supplies, cattle deals to make—things he tried to use to fill his mind.
He spent the entire morning there, even bought himself a bath, a close shave and a hair trim. However, with everyone talking about the party, not thinking about Anna was impossible.
It just so happened he’d met up with Doc Andrews on the trail. The man, his wife and their daughter, Rosalie, as well as the occupants of the dozen other wagons taking up the road, were all on their way to the party. Doc had gestured for him to ride beside his buggy, wanting to know how Fred was doing. Rosalie had been in the back and asked how he’d been, adding it had been several months since she’d seen him. Fall was a busy time at the ranch, he’d told her in reply.
Now, as he walked down the stairway after changing into the suit he wore to funerals when need be, he caught sight of Rosalie again. Couldn’t miss her; she was standing next to Anna. He’d never call Rosalie homely, for she wasn’t. Her blond hair was curled and pinned up stylishly, and her pink dress was covered with lace and bows, but standing next to Anna, Rosalie might as well have been a wallflower.
Anna, with her mass of brown curls hanging loose, wearing a dark green dress that had white fur at the cuffs and hem, was most certainly the belle of the ball. Not just because she was the hostess, either. One would have to look far and wide to find a more beautiful woman.
Tanner gave them a nod, since they were both staring at him.
“Oh, no, you don’t,” Rosalie said, catching his arm as he stepped off the stairway to make his way toward the judge’s office. “You promised me a dance.”
He hadn�
��t, but saying so would have been rude.
The furniture had been hauled out of the front parlor. Nothing but the Christmas tree and four chairs for the musicians occupied the room, except for the people dancing. The back parlor was where the drinks and treats were set out, the main food—half a beef that had been roasted—was in the kitchen and the men, a good number of them, had probably taken cover in the judge’s office. Which was where Tanner wanted to be.
Instead, he was on the dance floor, nodding as Rosalie went on about how lovely the house looked. At least that’s what she had been talking about before his attention was drawn across the room, to where John sashayed Anna across the floor.
Whatever medicine the doc had brought home for Lamont Key’s son must have worked, because the kid was at the party, too. He and a couple other boys his age, fifteen or so, were running around with sprigs of green, claiming it was mistletoe and holding it over people’s heads. Kent Key held it over Anna’s head right now, and she was laughing.
She and John stopped dancing, and after nodding to the crowd, Anna puckered her lips for John to kiss.
Tanner’s jaw twitched as he watched the man take Anna’s shoulders and kiss her, longer than necessary. The crowd whooped and clapped as the couple broke apart, and Tanner considered turning away, when Anna’s eyes found his. Instead, he held her gaze for a moment, wishing he could read her mind. Guilt at kissing her the way he had yesterday was playing havoc inside him and, mixed with the desire now closer to the surface, he was about as twisted up as he’d ever been.
A commotion surrounding him pulled his eyes away and he found Kent holding the sprig over Rosalie’s head. She’d already closed her eyes and pursed her lips much the way Anna had done for John.
As much as he didn’t want to, Tanner couldn’t not kiss her, so he leaned forward and placed a tiny peck on her lips.
The crowd groaned with disappointment, and John, still beaming and receiving pats on the back for the way he’d kissed Anna, yelled, “You call that a kiss?”
That didn’t get to him as much as how Anna slapped John on the front of his shoulder. Tanner gestured for Kent to hold the sprig over Rosalie’s head again, and this time he took her in both arms. Bending her over backward, he kissed her until the crowd cheered.
“Oh, my,” Rosalie muttered when he stood her on her feet again.
The crowd cheered again. The kiss had done nothing for Tanner, not like the one in the barn last night. When he lifted his head, already regretting what he’d just done, he expected a glare from Anna, but all he saw was the back of her green dress as she left the room.
As soon as the dance was over, Tanner apologized to Rosalie and her parents for the spectacle he’d made of them. After receiving good-hearted assurances no harm had been done, he left the room. He considered looking for Anna, but there wasn’t anything he needed to say to her, so he went to the office, where a good number of men were gathered, including Fred, proudly showing off the fine sewing job Anna—his Christmas Angel—had completed.
Tanner spent most of the afternoon in the judge’s office, talking cows, weather, grain prices and railroads, while wishing he didn’t have to make the choice he had to make.
It was hours later, after everyone had eaten their fill of beef and pastries, when an announcement proclaimed the judge wanted everyone in the front parlor. Tanner hung back, letting others crowd into the room. Walter would just wish everyone a merry Christmas and thank them for coming.
That was exactly what the man did, standing next to the tree with Anna beside him, and John behind her, resting both hands on her shoulders. “I’m sure you all know how happy I am that Anna made it home for Christmas this year,” Walter continued. “I hope she makes it home for a few more Christmases, too, considering she really knows how to throw a party.”
The crowd cheered, but Tanner flinched, noticing the way Anna’s smile faded.
“For those of you who don’t know, Anna and her fiancé, John Hampton, are getting married Christmas Day. They’ll head back to Kansas City soon afterward, where they’ll live. John’s law practice is there.”
Silence was growing heavier with each word Walter spoke, and Anna turned paler. However, inside Tanner, steam was forming. The judge had to know what he was doing to her. Why couldn’t anyone see she had a mind of her own, and that it was a good one?
“There’s one more thing I want to share before we get back to dancing,” Walter said. “As of January first, I’ll no longer be the owner of the Double Bar.”
Gasps filled the room, and Tanner, steam and all, froze.
“I’ve sold it.” Gasps turned into mumbles, and before they grew too loud, Walter added, “Don’t worry, you all know the new owner.”
Tanner’s attention, a large portion of it anyway, was still locked on Anna, catching the panic she was trying to hide.
“Nothing much will change around here,” Walter declared. “Other than I might be traveling a bit, down to Kansas City to see my granddaughter.” He wrapped an arm around Anna, who looked as stiff as a board. “But, back here, business will go on as usual at the Double Bar. The new owner, Tanner Maxwell, will see to that.”
Tanner would have left the house if not for the look of defiance in Walter’s eyes. The man was challenging him, but beneath that, the judge was begging him not to let him down. It was the last thing he’d ever expected from Walter—to back him into a corner that included a lie.
* * *
Anna called upon every ounce of strength she had. Hearing Tanner had purchased the Double Bar was one thing, but having everyone, especially him, thinking she was marrying John on Christmas Day was a completely different issue.
She accepted congratulations, hugs and cheek kisses, while ignoring her grandfather and John, and even Tanner, who had a receiving line of his own. Eventually she found her way into the kitchen, where she made her escape by claiming the need to use the facilities out back.
Escaping John wasn’t so easy. He was waiting when she stepped out of the outhouse.
“I’m sorry, darling. I wanted it to be a surprise.” He kissed her temple. “I had it all planned. How the preacher would show up Christmas morning and—”
“What are you doing?” she protested. “Our engagement isn’t real.”
He settled a rather dull stare on her.
Anna glanced around. Her choices were few. The house was full of people, and they couldn’t stand out here talking, but she had to put an end to this ruse.
“Let’s go to the barn for a moment.”
John didn’t respond, which wasn’t unusual, until they’d entered the barn. There, while he closed the door, she glanced around, made sure the space was unoccupied by guests seeking a private place.
“I’ll wire my father,” he said. “See how we can stop the sale of the ranch.”
This isn’t about the ranch, she wanted to shout, but knowing how John felt about arguing, she softly said, “That’s not what we need to discuss.”
“What else is there?” he asked. “We can leave tomorrow, and once we get home, back to the city, I can—”
“I’m not going back,” she interrupted, glad he at least suggested leaving before the supposed wedding day. Sighing heavily, she said, “Thank you for all you’ve done, but—”
“But what? If Walter sells the Double Bar to Tanner, you’ll be penniless.” He cupped her cheek. “We can still change that. In the beginning, we might have to travel back and forth, but eventually we’ll be able to oversee this place from Kansas City.”
“What?”
He tilted her head. “We can’t live here. My practice is in Kansas City.” Grinning slightly, he said, “That’s the reason you agreed to marry me, isn’t it? So I’d come out here, use my legal skills to assure you’d inherit the Double Bar?”
“No, I agreed to an engagemen
t because my father said I couldn’t travel with you unless we were engaged. You knew that.”
John let go of her face. “Yes, I did, but I thought—”
“Thought what?”
“Well, that we all wanted the same thing.”
“We all?”
“Yes,” he snapped. “We all.”
His tone gave her anger the opening it need. “Who is we all?”
John grasped her shoulders. “Anna, you know arguing will get you nowhere, and it’s useless. Now, let’s just—”
She twisted out of his hold. “Maybe it’s useless to you, but once in a while, I like it. It’s the only time I get to voice my opinion.” Pointing a finger, irritated he could remain so calm all the time, she asked again, “Who is we all?”
“Your father,” he said condescendingly.
Her shoulders sank. “My father?”
John stepped back and straightened the lapels of his suit coat. “The Double Bar is a worthy piece of property. You don’t think he’d allow that outlaw to inherit it, do you?”
Fury ignited inside her. “Tanner is not an outlaw!”
“Shush! Do you want everyone to hear?”
“I don’t care who hears,” she seethed. “You disgust me.”
“Well, that’s the pot calling the kettle black if you ask me,” he retorted. “You, darling, played the role of a fiancée very convincingly.” He stepped forward and ran a hand down her arm. “We still could get married. We make a good pair, and Maxwell wouldn’t stand a chance in court.”
Anna wrenched her arm out of his reach. “I suggest you leave.”
He pivoted on one heel, but then spun back around. “I may, but let me point out something. If I do leave, you’ll be without a ranch and a fiancé. What will your plan be then?”
“What it should have been in the beginning,” she stated, head up. “I’ll be honest about what I want.”
“And that is?”
“None of your business, but I’ll tell you this much. The Double Bar is Walter’s and he can do whatever he wants with it. No matter who thinks otherwise.” To know her father had gone to such lengths after all she’d done hurt, but it also made sense. She’d hoped his new wife would lessen it, but now questioned if she’d ever truly be able to break the hold her father insisted on keeping on her.
Christmas Cowboy Kisses Page 20