by Marin Thomas
The farmhouse door opened and Dixie and Gavin stepped outside. “Merry Christmas, everyone!” Dixie called.
Gavin and Dixie joined Conway and Isi in front of the tree. “Conway was out here all day stringing those lights,” Gavin said.
“I’ve never seen a tree with so many lights.” She smiled at Conway. “The branches are hardly visible.”
The bunkhouse door banged open. Buck, Porter, Mack and Will walked out wearing Santa hats, Mack strumming his guitar. Bandit ran toward the Cash brothers and Miguel and Javier chased after the dog.
“Where’s the hot chocolate?” Mack asked.
“I’ll make it right now.” Dixie took Isi’s hand. “Would you help me inside? I’ve got cookies in the oven.”
After Isi and Dixie went into the house, Miguel tugged on Conway’s hand. “Can Javi and I take Bandit into the tent?”
“Sure, but don’t let Bandit do his job in there,” Conway said.
As soon as the boys were out of earshot, Will spoke. “Are you getting cold feet?”
“No way. I’m ready.” Nothing had ever felt as right as wanting to ask Isi to marry him.
Porter jabbed his elbow in Mack’s side and whispered. “I told you Conway was serious about proposing to her.”
With Dixie’s help, Conway had set the scene for his wedding proposal. He wanted his siblings to be present when he asked the most important question of his life. Conway had hoped if Isi had any doubts, his brothers would vouch for him. “Where’s Johnny?” he asked his brothers.
“Looks like he’s coming right now.” Porter pointed to the lights cutting through the trees on the road leading to the farmhouse.
Johnny parked his pickup next to the other vehicles in the yard. He and Shannon got out and joined them in front of the tree.
“Conway, the tree is beautiful.” Shannon slipped her arm through Johnny’s and said, “Next year we should use colored lights instead of white ones on our tree.”
“Colored lights are more for kids than adults,” Johnny said.
“Exactly.” Shannon ignored Johnny’s perplexed frown and moved closer to the tree.
“You have the ring?” Buck asked.
Conway patted his pants pocket. “Right here.” He could only afford a small diamond and he hoped Isi wouldn’t mind that she wasn’t getting a rock like the diamond Gavin had picked out for Dixie.
A few minutes later, Dixie and Isi came outside with a pitcher of hot chocolate, plastic cups and a plate of cookies.
The boys came out of the tent and joined the adults. While everyone drank cocoa and ate cookies, Conway rehearsed in his mind what he wanted to say but he kept getting confused and mixing up his sentences. In the end, he gave up because there were no words to convey his love for Isi. After a few minutes, conversation died down and Dixie looked expectantly at him.
Porter cleared his throat.
Mack strummed a chord on his guitar.
Buck grinned.
Will winked at Isi.
And when Johnny made eye contact with him and nodded, Conway knew he was ready.
“What’s going on?” Isi glanced between Conway and his siblings.
Dixie handed the pitcher to Gavin then herded the twins closer to Isi.
Conway dropped to one knee in front of them and took Isi’s left hand in his. Her eyes grew round.
Keep it short and simple and don’t screw up.
“Isi, I know you can do better than me, but you’re ‘the one’ and you’ve been right in front of me for two years. I love you and—” he smiled at the boys “—I love Javi and Mig. Will the three of you marry me?”
Tears leaked from Isi’s eyes. “Are you sure, Conway?”
He dug the ring out of his pants’ pocket. “This is how sure I am.” He slid the diamond over her finger then stood.
Isi flung herself at Conway. “Yes, I’ll marry you.” After a heated kiss she said, “I fell in love with you a long time ago when you first walked into the bar and swept me off my feet.”
Conway turned to the twins. “Boys, I’d sure like to be your dad. Will you let me?”
Javier stepped forward and buried his face against Conway’s thigh. Miguel offered Conway a high five then chased Bandit, shouting, “Conway Twitty Cash is gonna be my dad! Conway Twitty Cash is gonna be my dad!”
The adults laughed and offered their congratulations. Then Conway pulled Isi close and whispered, “I’ve been dying to kiss you forever.” The kiss was slow and sweet and everything Conway had dreamed it would be.
When the kiss ended, Isi whispered in his ear, “I promise I’ll love you so much and so hard for the rest of my life that you’ll never want to leave me or the boys.”
Conway closed his eyes, his throat thickening with emotion. “I’m going to hold you to that promise, Isi, because there’s nowhere else I’d rather be than with the three of you.”
Mack strummed his guitar. “I’m taking requests.”
Isi smiled at Conway and said, “I’ve Already Loved You In My Mind.”
Conway was familiar with the song about a guy who meets a girl in a bar. He pulled Isi into his arms and they slowed danced in front of the Christmas tree while Mack’s baritone voice serenaded them. Dixie and Gavin joined the dancing couple then Johnny and Shannon. Porter grabbed Miguel and danced with him and Buck twirled Javier.
“How did I get stuck dancing with the dog?” Will laughed and picked up Bandit.
“I’ll never forget this Christmas, Conway.” Isi snuggled closer.
Neither would he, because tonight marked the end of the long line of cut-and-run cowboys he’d descended from.
* * *
CHRISTMAS DAY AT the Triple D was unlike anything Isi had ever experienced. The scent of fresh-cut evergreen, cinnamon and roasting turkey filled the ranch house. An eight-foot evergreen with twinkling white lights stood in the corner of the living room and presents wrapped in shiny red paper rested beneath its branches—mostly gifts for Javier and Miguel and Dixie’s son, Nathan. Isi was overwhelmed by the Cash family’s generosity toward her and her sons.
Her heart burst with joy and happiness as she watched Javi and Mig open their gifts from Johnny and Shannon. A squawk drew her attention to Nate. Drool hanging from his mouth, the baby sat on his uncle Mack’s knee, watching the twins tear at the wrapping paper. Out of the corner of her eye, Isi saw Dixie maneuver Gavin beneath a sprig of mistletoe and kiss him. Fiona Wilson slipped her hand through Clive Douglas’s as they stood in front of the fireplace and watched the group. Shannon’s brothers Luke and Matt regaled Porter, Buck and Will with humorous stories of their latest court trial, while Shannon snuggled in Johnny’s arms next to the tree.
“The family can be overwhelming until you get used to them.” Conway wrapped his arm around her waist.
“I love your family.” She wiped at a tear.
“Why are you crying?”
“I wish my parents and brothers could see how happy you’ve made me and the boys.”
“I’d like to believe they know how happy we are,” he said.
She hugged Conway then pulled away when Dixie approached and handed her a gift.
Embarrassed, Isi said, “I didn’t know we were exchanging gifts.”
“We’re not,” Dixie said. “It’s a welcome-to-the-family present. Open it.”
Isi peeled off the candy-cane paper and removed the lid on the box. A set of shiny keys rested on a bed of cotton. “Do you know what these are for?” Isi asked Conway.
He nodded but Dixie explained. “Gavin and I closed on our new house in Yuma and we’re moving in two weeks. I want you, Conway and the boys to live in the farmhouse.”
Isi pressed a hand to her thumping heart. “Shouldn’t your brothers have first dibs on the house?”
“Grandma Ada always said that a farmhouse was meant to be filled with children and I could tell how much you loved the place when you came for Thanksgiving.” Dixie squeezed Isi’s hand. “My grandmother would be thrilled to know the house is in your loving hands and that Javier and Miguel’s laughter will fill the rooms.”
“I don’t know what to say.” Isi forced the words past the lump in her throat.
“Say yes to the house, Isi,” Conway said.
“Yes!” Isi hugged Dixie.
“I’d like to make an announcement,” Shannon said.
The chatter stopped and everyone’s attention turned to Shannon. “First, I’d like to apologize to my husband for being in such a bad mood the past few weeks. I’m afraid my emotions have been off-kilter since...” Shannon smiled at Johnny. “I found out I’m pregnant.”
Johnny’s mouth sagged.
“Well hot dang, we got ourselves another baby coming in the family,” Porter said.
“Who’s having a baby?” Miguel asked.
“Aunt Shannon.” Dixie crossed the room to hug her best friend.
“Is it a girl baby or a boy baby?” Javier asked.
“I don’t know, Javi.” Shannon smiled at her stunned husband. “We won’t find out until next June.”
Shannon’s father hugged her. “Congratulations, daughter. Regardless if it’s a girl or a boy, I suspect we’ll have another bull rider in the family.”
“That’ll give Johnny more gray hair,” Porter said.
Conway laughed. “Hey, big brother. You gonna just stand there with your jaw scraping the floor or are you going to kiss your wife?”
Johnny took Shannon in his arms and kissed her while the rest of the Cash clan hollered encouragement.
“I’d like to propose a toast.” Will held up his beer bottle. “To Conway and Isi—may you always find happiness in each other’s arms and to Shannon—thank you for giving our brother his own kid to worry about, so he’ll stop sticking his nose in our business.”
Laughter and ribbing followed Will’s statement. Isi tapped her wineglass against Conway’s beer bottle. In the future, maybe they’d add a second set of twins to their little family, but if not, she’d still be the happiest woman alive, because Conway had given her a dream come true—a father for her sons and her very own happy ever after.
* * * * *
Be sure to look for the next book by Marin Thomas featuring the Cash Brothers available in 2014!
Keep reading for an excerpt from BIG SKY CHRISTMAS by C.J. Carmichael.
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Chapter One
Winnie Hays looked up at the white church and hesitated. She couldn’t believe she was here, back in Coffee Creek, Montana. This was her last chance to back out. Everyone would understand if she did.
Since when is wimping out your style? Is that the kind of woman Bobby needs as his mother?
Since the death of her fiancé, that was how she had found the strength to go on. By thinking of their son. And putting his needs before hers.
Still, it was impossible not to recall the last time she’d been here. Wearing a long white gown. Expecting to leave a married woman.
Eighteen months had passed since then, a relatively short period of time marked by the most major events of Winnie’s life: the death of her fiancé and the birth of their son seven months later.
She checked her cell phone, making sure it was set to vibrate so she’d know if Bobby’s babysitter called. Not that she was worried. Eugenia Fox had raised a son of her own, and had worked for Winnie at the Cinnamon Stick Café since it had opened several years ago.
No, Eugenia and Bobby were going to be fine.
It was herself she was worried about.
If she hadn’t been so late, she wouldn’t be forced to enter the church alone. Her best friend, Laurel, and her new husband, Corb Lambert—the brother of Winnie’s late fiancé—had planned to be by her side for moral support. But they must have given up on her. Decided she’d chickened out.
And she still could. There was no one around to see if she just about-faced and scurried home to the sweet toddler who was the center of her universe.
She sighed.
It was precisely because of Bobby that she needed to attend this wedding. This was his father’s family. Her son’s family. And it was time she faced them.
Still, she paused one last time before entering the church, glancing over her shoulder at the small town of Coffee Creek.
The November day was sunny, crisp and cold. A dusting of snow had decorated the day nicely for the wedding party, the silvery-white crystals contrasting vividly with the blue Montana sky. Olive Lambert, control freak that she was, would be pleased.
Be nice, Winnie. No catty comments about Bobby’s grandmother, please.
She grasped the handle, took a deep breath then pulled open the door.
The sound of the organ music almost did her in.
At least it was a different song than the one that had played a year and a half ago. Beethoven was a genius, but she never wanted to hear “Ode to Joy” again.
She peeled off her gloves and tucked them into the pocket of her red wool coat. An usher appeared then, a young man in a cheap suit that didn’t fit him well. Winnie remembered him as a cousin on the Lambert side.
“Hi, Adam. Sorry I’m late.”
His eyes went wide as he realized who she was. “No problem.” He hung her coat for her, then offered his arm. “Come on, I’ll show you to your seat.”
Winnie schooled herself to look only straight ahead as she walked the length of the aisle. Oh, why had she arrived so late? Now everyone was watching her and there were so many people. Of course there were. The Lamberts owned the largest ranch in the county. They mattered. And her son was one of them. So she couldn’t break down and cry, she just couldn’t. Not even one little tear.
Adam stopped and gestured for her to take a seat in a pew that already seemed to be full. But room was made and she slid onto the wooden bench, not taking note of the person beside her until after she was in position, purse tucked at her feet, tissue palmed discreetly...just in case.
Only then did she notice the masculine thigh pressed next to hers. Looking up, she met Jackson Stone’s dark blue eyes. Jackson had lived with the Lamberts since he was thirteen, so he’d been like a brother to Brock, Corb, B.J. and Cassidy. If she’d married Brock, he would have been a de facto brother-in-law to her.
But that didn’t mean she knew him well.
Compared to his foster siblings, Jackson was quiet and reserved. Brock had speculated that hardships from Jackson’s childhood and early teens had left scars that time might never heal.
And that may well be the case. But at least the man was handsome, with thick dark hair and bone structure good enough to be a model. Weathered skin and the rough look of his hands made it plain, though, that he was a working man.
According to Laurel, Jackson blamed himself for the accident, since he’d been driving, with Brock in the front seat next to him and Corb in the
rear. One of the missions Winnie had set for herself on returning to Coffee Creek was to help Jackson see that there was no rational reason for him to feel guilty, and that she, certainly, bore him no malice.
But this wasn’t the place for that conversation.
“Hi, Jackson.” She smiled and gave him a one-armed hug, which he awkwardly returned.
“Winnie.”
He’d never been a big talker. “Big day, isn’t it? Double wedding and all.”
“Yup.”
“Can hardly contain your excitement, huh?”
Jackson’s lips curved up a little. “Weddings aren’t my thing.”
Not hers, either. At least, not anymore. She scanned the line of attractive men standing at the front of the church. There was the local vet, Dan Farley, a solid, muscular guy with sharp cheekbones and dark, almost black eyes. Farley was marrying Cassidy Lambert today.
Cassidy’s brother B.J. stood next to Farley. Taller, thinner, he was the only Lambert who didn’t share the blond hair and green eyes that Brock had had.
B.J. was marrying Bitterroot County’s sheriff, Savannah Moody. Dark haired, sultry-eyed Savannah had been the one who had come to the church to let them know about the accident.
She’d been on duty then. Though she’d been B.J.’s high school sweetheart, she hadn’t been invited to the wedding, due to a longstanding rift between them.
But with the solving of an old case involving arson, theft and murder, they’d resolved their differences. And now they were getting married.
It was an amazing story, and one Winnie had heard secondhand from her friend Laurel as Winnie had still been living in Highwood with her parents at that time.
Moving back to Coffee Creek had been a recent development. So much was the same. And yet so much had changed...
Winnie squeezed the tissue, suddenly wishing she’d brought more. She didn’t know how she was going to handle watching Savannah walk down the aisle today. But she had to.
“This must be difficult,” Jackson whispered.