Christmas at Cade Ranch

by Karen Rock

  Jewel was most likely stealing an extra piece of bacon from one of her brothers’ plates while Justin huddled over a cup of black coffee. With one eye on the local paper’s sports section, Jared would be texting a new girlfriend. Joy, no doubt, bustled around the table, supplying eggs, toast and juice. As for James—her heart rate stuttered—he would be leaning in the doorway, a bowl of cereal in hand, overseeing the scene, ensuring everyone else’s comfort and happiness the way he always did.

  Yes, that was a form of control, but it was also an act of love. She could accuse him of plenty, but never of selfishness. He demanded much, but he gave even more.

  How she wished she were beside him, leaning her head on his strong shoulder, an arm slung around his waist...

  She forced away her longing and glanced outside. Fat snowflakes spiraled lazily from gray cloud cover. A thick blanket of white covered pristine roads. Snow piled atop brick buildings and frosted leafless branches. The mute, peaceful world resembled a page from a fairy tale.

  One without a prince.

  Not that this princess needed rescuing, she firmly reminded herself. So far, she’d achieved her goals and accomplished new ones, like attending her first Portland NA meeting earlier this week. Lots to be grateful for and feel blessed about. She was free to live her life as she wished and had put her problems behind her at last.

  Only...what to do about her broken heart? Every time she pictured James’s disappointed frown, heard the distrust in his voice, a bit of her withered inside.

  Not that she needed his approval. Making mistakes made her human, not less than others. From the moment Joy gave Sofia a shot to prove herself, and showed her she truly cared and believed in her, Sofia had begun seizing control of her self-esteem. And once Sofia saw what she could accomplish, had earned James’s hard-won faith in her, she’d begun believing in herself, too.

  Once she’d been sensitive, worried that others, especially James, could negatively influence her, but the person she needed to rely on, she’d discovered, was herself. Only then could she be a strong, equal partner. It was up to her, not outside forces, to keep her anchored and able to embrace life—and love—without risking addiction.

  So why had she run the moment he’d voiced his displeasure? Perhaps she should have stayed and worked through adversity as she’d learned to do in NA.

  Life, and relationships, was all about compromise. Planning the Christmas party with James proved she did have the stick-with-it mind-set necessary to pull off a big event and be part of a loving relationship and family. Being a good partner/mother/daughter didn’t mean being perfect. It meant doing the best you could every day that you could.

  A Christmas card, taped to the window frame, caught her eye. A glossy Christmas tree graced the cover. Inside, her father’s writing covered the blank paper. He’d wished her a merry Christmas and signed it “love.”

  Her eyes stung. She’d been furious with James for meddling in her relationship with her father. Yet he’d been right. She needed to reconcile her past to have a better future. Deep down James had meant well.

  Regret washed through her.

  She’d always wished to give Javi a real Christmas. While she now had the material things she’d wanted, she saw they didn’t define the Christmas spirit—people did. Without those she loved—and she loved James—Christmas was just another day.

  If not for her hasty retreat, she’d be celebrating Christmas at Cade Ranch and she and James might have forged a future together.

  Now it was too late.

  She jumped at a soft knock at the door. Peering out the window, she spied a taxi pulling away from her curb and a glimpse of what looked like a man wearing a familiar jean jacket standing on her stoop. Her pulse slammed in her veins.

  Her sock-covered feet skidded as she bolted for the door. She flung it open and the tall, handsome cowboy standing on her doorstep, hat in hand, squeezed the breath out of her.

  James.

  Snowflakes clung to his long lashes and his deep brown eyes turned her insides warm and gooey. “What are you doing here?” she gasped.

  “Howdy, Sofia.” A sheepish note entered his deep baritone. “Merry Christmas.”

  “Merry Christmas. But why—what—”

  “I came out to apologize and give you this.” He thrust an envelope in her hand. She didn’t spare it a glance. Her thirsty eyes couldn’t drink their fill of him. With cold staining his cheeks red, his lean jaw covered in a dark, gorgeous bristle, his hair grown out a bit, he’d never looked more fiercely attractive. It took every ounce of control not to fling herself in his arms this very moment.

  Restraint, she urged herself. Hear him out.

  “Won’t you come in?”

  “I won’t impose on your holiday. Just wanted to tell you in person how sorry I am for blaming you about the party. That was my and my siblings’ fault, not yours.”

  She slid on boots, donned a coat and hat, and joined him outside, shutting the door behind her. “I should have included you in the decision to invite Boyd and his kids.”

  He nodded. “True. But I would have only shut you down instead of listening to reason. You were right about that and a whole bunch else.”

  Her mouth lifted in the corners and pleasure curled, warm and bright inside.

  “I was also wrong to invite your father without your say-so.”

  “I wouldn’t have listened, either, and it turns out you were right. Dad and I did need another chance. Thanks for that.”

  A slow smile twisted up one side of his mouth. “Glad to hear. Despite how it looks, I’ve only ever wanted the best for you and Javi.”

  “I know.”

  His eyelashes dropped to his cheeks. “What you don’t know is that I do believe in you. Trust you, too.” He shook his head, staring at his feet, his words emerging faster. “Guess I didn’t realize it, either. Not until...well...” He pointed at the envelope in her hand. “You’ll understand when you read that.” He half turned toward the road. “I’d better head out and catch another taxi if I’m going to make the noon flight to Carbondale. Thanks for hearing me out. I hope someday you might see your way to forgiving me.”

  “I already do. We all make mistakes.”

  His eyes delved into hers and his leather-gloved hand rose to cup her cheek. “You are beautiful, Sofia,” he rasped, voice hoarse. “Merry Christmas. Give Javi my love.”

  Then he tramped down the steps, leaving deep impressions in the gathering snow. The crinkling sound of paper, crushed in her balled hand, captured her attention. A hurried glance revealed a law firm’s return address.

  What?

  She ripped it open and yanked out the sheet that granted her sole stewardship of Javi’s trust in Cade Ranch.

  James said he trusted her and here was tangible proof. He’d dropped the lawsuit.

  Panic swept through her.

  And now he was walking out of her life.

  No! She couldn’t let him leave.

  “Stop!” she hollered and slipped and slid in the gathering snow after him. He paused beneath a lamppost. White fell around them in a thick shower.

  “James Cade. You are done controlling every minute of our relationship.”

  A grin formed on his handsome mouth and humor glinted in his eyes. “Pardon?”

  “You don’t get to just show up when you want, then leave when you’re done.”

  “Thought I was giving you space.”

  She stepped close enough that the tips of her boots touched his and she draped her wrists on either side of her dark-haired Adonis’s neck. “I decide when I need space.”

  He tipped her chin up so their gazes met. “I’m guessing this isn’t one of those times?” The rich rumble of his voice sent a bolt of joy through her, so warm, so sweet, she wanted to melt right into him.
>
  “Definitely not.” She raked her fingers through his thick brush of hair. “I’ve been running all my life, from my dad, my addiction, jobs, then you...but you...you were always right behind me...even now. Here you are. And I’m thinking, why am I still running?”

  He squinted at her quizzically. “Been wondering that myself till I realized it was me. I drove you away and I never want to be apart again. You’re the one, Sofia. No. You’re not just the one. You’re the only one.”

  She blinked back tears, wanting to be sure she understood before she lost her heart to this man forever. With what little voice she could scavenge in the midst of a huge well of emotion, she asked, “So you’re saying...?”

  “I love you.” His hands bracketed her waist, his fingers straying onto her hips as he tugged her gently against him, sealing their bodies together.

  She rose on tiptoe and whispered, “I love you, too,” against his lips.

  With a groan, his mouth captured hers in a long, sweet caress. Snowflakes settled on their fused lips and mingling tongues, melting, fresh and pure and cold. After a moment, he pulled back and their speeding breaths frosted the air white.

  James studied her, his brown eyes turning dark as onyx despite the strengthening morning light. “Before you, I thought I knew what a home was. Livestock. Timber. Land. Traditions. Responsibility. A place to oversee and control. But you showed me that home is about the people you love and I can’t wait to build one with you. I want to chase after fairy tales together. I want Javi and the rest of our kids to see a love like we have, and I want them to know what an amazing woman you are.”

  “Kids?”

  He rained kisses on her damp cheeks. “One. Two.” His lips whispered across her ear, sending a delicious shiver all the way to her toes. “Three...maybe six. I like big families.”

  “You don’t have the final say,” she reminded him, mock stern but serious, too.

  He dropped his head, then rolled his eyes up with such a hangdog expression it made her giggle. “I’m never going to be cured of this control thing, am I?”

  “No. But it will be fun challenging it.”

  “You might be the only one who can,” he groaned. “Guess that’s why I’m head over heels for you, darlin’. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” Suddenly he bent on one knee in the snow and lifted her hand. “Will you marry me?”

  Tears sprang to her eyes and her throat clamped so tight she could only nod, surprise and bliss rendering her mute.

  “Is that a yes?” The hopeful, fearful light in his eyes loosened her tongue.

  “Yes,” she gasped and he bolted to his feet and caught her close, his heart beating so fast and hard she could feel it through the layers separating them.

  “I love you,” he murmured, reverent.

  Her lips wobbled into a smile. “I love you, too.” She cleared her throat. “Now. About those kids...”

  One eyebrow rose. “What do you have in mind?”

  “Since we already have a head start, how about coming inside and spending the holiday with the one you have?”

  A vulnerable expression replaced his amusement. “Will Javi accept me as his father?”

  “Yes!” piped up a small voice. Sofia staggered as her son, dressed haphazardly in an unbuttoned coat over Batman pj’s, launched himself at the two of them.

  “Santa got my letter!” Javi pumped his fist skyward.

  James swung him up into an embrace with one arm and reached his other hand to clasp Sofia’s. “What letter?” he asked as they swished through the snow back to the loft.

  “At the lights thing.”

  The Festival of Lights, she thought. “You asked for a family.”

  Javi beamed and his head swiveled between the two of them. “With Uncle James.”

  “Me, too.” Sofia ruffled her son’s hair.

  James smiled at her over Javi’s head as she opened the door and let them inside. “Then he gave us all our wishes this year.”

  “Merry Christmas!” Javi shouted and scampered off to tear into his presents. “Can I open this one first?”

  He pointed to a large box and, after a quick kiss, James joined Javi on the floor. Sofia perched on the couch and watched the animated pair, marveling, recalling her darkest times, Christmases when she’d nearly given up but had pushed on for Javi’s sake. Now she saw that she deserved happiness, too, and had found it at last.

  Thank you, Jesse, she thought. And merry Christmas.

  The spirit of Christmas was about giving without a thought of getting, yet she’d received more than she could have ever imagined.

  James was her miracle. Her dream-come-true happiness.

  Her love.

  * * * * *

  Be sure to check out the next book in

  Karen Rock’s ROCKY MOUNTAIN COWBOYS miniseries

  coming out in February 2018!

  FALLING FOR A COWBOY

  Also, don’t miss these other great reads!

  A COWBOY TO KEEP

  UNDER AN ADIRONDACK SKY

  HIS KIND OF COWGIRL

  All available now from Harlequin Heartwarming.

  Keep reading for an excerpt from THE WOMAN MOST WANTED by Pamela Tracy.

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  The Woman Most Wanted

  by Pamela Tracy

  CHAPTER ONE

  TRAFFIC ALWAYS MADE Police Chief Tom Riley want to jump out of his SUV and redirect vehicles until every lane ran smoothly. Sitting still, waiting longer than he deemed necessary for his turn to exit, annoyed him. He didn’t like it, didn’t want it and even his badge could do nothing about it.

  Truthfully, his little town of Sarasota Falls seldom required a vehicle to suffer through one rotation from the traffic light. Today, however, was Founder’s Day and Tom was idling in front of Sweet Sarasota, the town’s bakery, far enough back to know it would take two turns before he got to hang a left.

  He had something to do, it was police-related, and he was half-tempted to engage the siren.

  The town’s hundredth year. Mayor Rick Goodman had gone overboard with marketing the event, at least in Tom’s opinion, and for the last few days the town experienced a boon as family, friends and past residents made their way back, all to celebrate.

  Tom hadn’t participated in the pumpkin-toss competi
tion and he hadn’t played horseshoes, although he’d wanted to, but he had ridden the celebration train this morning—as security.

  Rah, rah. It had gone a mile down the tracks, turned and ended abruptly.

  Tom had also worked late last evening and had personally driven five inebriated people home from the Hoot & Holler. None had been in a police car before. All except him had found it a joyous occasion. They’d even tried to tip him. Then, he’d also changed a flat, found a lost kid and received a proposal of marriage.

  He hadn’t minded the flat. He hadn’t minded finding the lost kid, who’d just taken off with a family member who’d been more than surprised because she insisted she’d informed the family of who was going where and when. But Tom had been somewhat taken aback by the marriage proposal, which came from a woman more than forty years his senior. She’d been at the front-desk area at ten last night, holding a bag of the town’s finest chocolate chip cookies and wanting to thank the police for the good job they were doing.

  He’d honestly told her it was the best offer he’d had all day, but, unfortunately, he wasn’t looking for the next Mrs. Riley. What he didn’t tell her was that his heart still had a hole in the center from the ex–Mrs. Riley.

  Eighty-three-year-old Helen Williams had slipped her phone number in his hand and said should he ever make it to Arizona to give her a call.

  He had a gut feeling she’d been at the Hoot & Holler, too. He’d taken a cookie and thanked her. Then, he’d followed her out the door, grateful, and watched her walk one block to a small motel.

  He’d finished up his paperwork and gone home, and now at four the next afternoon, he was back on duty. Man, he’d be glad when Founder’s Day festivities ended. He much preferred tourists to people he shared a history with.

  At least a dozen had asked about his ex-wife.

  Two hadn’t known about Max’s death. He’d given them the condensed version. Partner killed in the line of duty; when they buried Max, Tom buried himself in work. The next thing he knew his house was empty and his wife gone.

  Everyone agreed it was bad.