Untangling Christmas (Silverton Sweethearts Book 3)

by Shanna Hatfield

Taylor wasn’t sure how she’d endure the day with Mike in and out of the warehouse as he and a crew of volunteers delivered all the trees to the winning bidders.

  When he failed to appear and sent two of his employees in his place, she felt a mixture of relief and acute disappointment.

  By Wednesday, the warehouse stood empty. Taylor swept the floor, emptied all the trashcans, lowered the heat, and then flicked off the lights. She stood at the door, staring into the empty space, thinking of how she’d fallen in love with Mike there. Ironically, he’d broken her heart in almost the exact spot where she’d first set eyes on him.

  With a weary sigh, she locked the door and drove to the grocery store. A false smile and fake cheerfulness carried her through greeting people who raved about the success of the festival and congratulated her on a job well done.

  Pleased the festival had raised considerable funds for the community center and created a special holiday event, the ache in her heart over Mike tarnished the happiness she should have felt.

  Unable to keep up the pretense, she hastened through the checkout line and rushed home with her purchases. She made dinner and sat at the table with her uncle, unable to enjoy a single bite.

  For his sake, she tried to muster a little holiday spirit, but they both knew she only went through the motions of singing carols and baking holiday goodies.

  Christmas Eve morning dawned with a sky as dark and morose as Taylor’s outlook. She dressed in a dark green sweater and a pair of jeans then went around town delivering her home-baked goodies with a smile that lacked any sincerity.

  She declined an invitation to Brock and Brenna’s house for Christmas Eve dinner. Instead, she and Bill made their own supper then hurried to change so they could attend the Christmas Eve service.

  As they settled into a pew next to Brenna’s family, Taylor looked for Mike.

  Brenna leaned over and patted her arm. “He went to Portland to spend the evening with Kat and Levi.”

  “I see,” Taylor whispered, on the verge of tears. The pastor’s heartfelt sermon left her dabbing at the salty drops trekking down her cheeks.

  Anxious to be away from questioning glances and sympathetic nods, Taylor hurried Bill out of the church after the service and returned home. She tried watching a holiday show with her uncle, reading a book, and working on a crossword puzzle, but she couldn’t settle down.

  In need of time alone and fresh air to clear her thoughts, she grabbed her coat and slipped it on. “I’m going for a walk, Uncle Bill. I won’t be gone long.”

  “Take your time, punkin. Maybe Santa will bring you a special present while you’re gone.” He grinned at her from his recliner and popped another piece of fudge in his mouth.

  “I think I’ve gotten myself on Santa’s naughty list this year, so I don’t expect anything but a lump or two of coal.” Taylor whistled and Fred bounded out of the kitchen, leaping into the air and waggling her back end, excited to go outside. “I’ll take Fred along for company.”

  Bill pointed a gnarled finger at the dog. “Why don’t you see if you can wear off some of that energy? It’s almost like she knows something exciting is about to happen.”

  “That’s because she’s such a smart girl.” Taylor grabbed the dog’s leash and clipped it on her collar. “Let’s go, Fred.”

  Together, they strolled down the street and wandered through town. Although the air was nippy, the clouds from that morning had rolled away, leaving a clear sky full of twinkling stars and a silvery sliver of moon overhead.

  A few blocks from Brock and Brenna’s house, Fred lunged forward, yanking the leash from Taylor’s grasp and racing down a side street.

  Shocked by the dog’s behavior, Taylor chased after her, but quickly lost sight of the dog. Frantic, she glanced into darkened yards, whistling and calling for the canine.

  At the end of the street, she stopped and gaped at a cottage-style home that looked exactly like the one she’d always envisioned in her dreams.

  Stone steps led to the oval-topped front door that could have come from a hobbit house. A turret rose up on the second story above the door and she could see not one but two chimneys towering against the dark skyline. Smooth stone faced the ground floor of the house and a rustic wooden fence surrounded the property. A garage sat behind the house and she noticed a broad swing hanging from a hulking oak tree.

  White lights twinkled from the eaves and trailed over shrubs, giving the house a magical, festive appearance.

  A bark drew her attention to the driveway. She whistled and watched in shock as Fred raced down the slight incline to her.

  “Fred, what on earth are you doing?” Taylor asked, grabbing the leash and dropping to her knees to hug the canine. A bright red ribbon tied around the dog’s neck shimmered in the light of the street lamp. Taylor untied it and stared at the joined wooden hearts dangling from the ribbon.

  “Fred? Where did you get this?” She looked from the wooden hearts in her hand, like those she’d sold at the festival, to the dog.

  “She got it from me.” The deep voice speaking from a few feet away echoed in her heart while Mike’s masculine fragrance floated around her, mingling with the crisp night air.

  He held out a hand and helped her to her feet. Rather than let her go, he clasped her hand between both of his. “What are you doing out here?”

  “I needed to go for a walk and thought Fred would keep me company. Then she ran off and scared me half to death.” Taylor kept a firm grip on the dog’s leash although she continued to marvel at the intertwined hearts she held on her palm. “Do you live here?”

  Mike glanced back at the house. “Yep. I bought it when I moved to town. It needs a lot of work, but Brock and Levi have been helping me when they have spare time.”

  “It’s a perfect house, Mike. Absolutely perfect.”

  “I had an idea you might like it, after seeing you with that cottage from the Christmas village.”

  Unsettled by the look on his face and his proximity, she glanced down, staring at the hearts. She held the ribbon out to Mike. “Does this belong to you?”

  “No. Not anymore. I bought those hearts during the festival, even though I convinced myself I wouldn’t give them to you.” He took the hearts and ribbon from her gloved hand and shoved it into her coat pocket. He removed both her gloves and stuffed them into his back pocket then took her hands in his again. “My heart belongs to you, Taylor Taggart. It has since the first day I saw you, dressed in that purple sweater and those bright yellow tights. Will you forgive me for being a world-class idiot?”

  “Mike,” she whispered, gladly falling into his arms, accepting his embrace and his love. “I love you. I didn’t want to, but I do. I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone. I love you beyond reason, beyond explanation, with every bit of my heart.”

  “Since Saturday night, I’ve given a lot of thought to you and me, Taylor Taggart. Like those snarled balls of lights you made me unravel, I just needed to untangle the mess of my feelings. When I did, I arrived at the conclusion I absolutely can’t live without you.” Mike released her hands long enough to pull a small velvet box from his coat pocket and open the lid. Right there on the sidewalk, with Fred woofing and wiggling beside him, he dropped down to one knee. “I love you with my whole heart, and I can’t imagine spending one more day without you in it. Will you please marry me, Taylor? Marry me and I promise I’ll spend every day loving you like you deserve to be loved. That’s a promise I’ll gladly keep for the next fifty or sixty years, if you’ll agree to be mine.”

  “Yes, Mike, I’ll marry you.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, home at long last. “I can’t think of anything I’d like better than being your wife.”

  “That’s good.” Mike slipped the ring from the box and slid it on her finger. The diamond glistened in the pale light. “I was just about ready to drive over to your uncle’s house and beg you to talk to me when Fred ran into the yard.” He studied her a moment, drinking in the sight of her. �
��Will you really marry me, Taylor?”

  “How does New Year’s Eve sound to you?” she asked, pulling his head down to hers.

  “It sounds perfect.” Mike kissed her tenderly, bracketing her face with his hands. He lifted his head and fastened his gaze to hers. “You smell like a thousand wishes I’ve yet to make, and your skin, Taylor, your skin is so soft, so lovely, so perfect. You’re so perfect for me. I love you, sweetheart.” Mike’s hand caressed her cheek, brushing away the happy tears trickling from her eyes.

  Fred barked and jumped in the air, bumping into them.

  Taylor laughed and glanced at the dog, then back at the man who made her dreams come true. “I love you, Mike, so much. Merry Christmas.”

  “Merry Christmas to you, my sweet Christmas angel.”

  Pumpkin Cookies

  These cookies are super easy to make — and so yummy!

  Pumpkin Cookies

  1 box of spice cake mix

  1 small can of pumpkin pie filling

  1 cup cream cheese frosting

  toppings (optional)

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

  Mix cake mix and pumpkin until thoroughly blended.

  Line a cookie sheet with parchment and drop spoonfuls of the dough onto the cookie sheet.

  Bake about eight minutes, until the cookies are just set, but not yet starting to brown.

  Remove from oven and let cool.

  Warm the cream cheese frosting in the microwave for about 12 seconds, until it is thin enough to pour. Drizzle over cookies.

  If desired, top with toffee bits, cinnamon, sprinkles, or candied nuts.

  A Note from the Author

  My heartfelt thanks to you for reading UNTANGLING CHRISTMAS.

  If you enjoyed Mike and Taylor’s story, please help other readers discover it by leaving a review.

  Don’t miss the first two stories in the Silverton Sweethearts series. Read about Brock and Brenna in THE COFFEE GIRL and Kat and Levi in THE CHRISTMAS CRUSADE.

  In addition, I invite you to sign up for my newsletter. You’ll be able to keep up on the latest releases, enter contests, receive recipes, and be the first to hear exciting news! http://tinyurl.com/shannasnewsletter

  I love to hear from readers. Please feel free to connect with me online:

  Website: http://shannahatfield.com

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  The Christmas Cowboy (Rodeo Romance, Book 1) — Among the top saddle bronc riders in the rodeo circuit, easy-going Tate Morgan can handle the toughest horse out there, but trying to handle the beautiful Kenzie Beckett is a completely different story.

  Wrestlin’ Christmas (Rodeo Romance, Book 2) — Sidelined with a major injury, steer wrestler Cort McGraw struggles to come to terms with the end of his career. Shanghaied by his sister and best friend, he finds himself on a run-down ranch with a worrisome, albeit gorgeous widow, and her silent, solemn son.

  Capturing Christmas (Rodeo Romance, Book 3) — Life is hectic on a good day for rodeo stock contractor Kash Kressley. Between dodging flying hooves and babying cranky bulls, he barely has time to sleep. The last thing Kash needs is the entanglement of a sweet romance, especially with a woman as full of fire and sass as Celia McGraw.

  Barreling Through Christmas (Rodeo Romance, Book 4) — Cooper James might be a lot of things, but beefcake model wasn’t something he intended to add to his resume.

  Grass Valley Cowboys Series

  Meet the Thompson family of the Triple T Ranch in Grass Valley, Oregon.

  Three handsome brothers, their rowdy friends, and the women who fall for them are at the heart of this contemporary western romance series.

  Book 1 – The Cowboy’s Christmas Plan

  Book 2 – The Cowboy’s Spring Romance

  Book 3 – The Cowboy’s Summer Love

  Book 4 – The Cowboy’s Autumn Fall

  Book 5 – The Cowboy’s New Heart

  Book 6 – The Cowboy’s Last Goodbye

  Hardman Holidays Series

  Heartwarming holiday stories set in the 1890s in Hardman, Oregon.

  The Christmas Bargain (Hardman Holidays, Book 1) — As owner and manager of the Hardman bank, Luke Granger is a man of responsibility and integrity in the small 1890s Eastern Oregon town. When he calls in a long overdue loan, Luke finds himself reluctantly accepting a bargain in lieu of payment from the shiftless farmer who barters his daughter to settle his debt.

  The Christmas Token (Hardman Holidays, Book 2) — Determined to escape an unwelcome suitor, Ginny Granger flees to her brother’s home in Eastern Oregon for the holiday season. Returning to the community where she spent her childhood years, she plans to relax and enjoy a peaceful visit. Not expecting to encounter the boy she once loved, her exile proves to be anything but restful.

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  The Christmas Vow (Hardman Holidays, Book 4) — Sailor Adam Guthry returns home to bury his best friend and his past, only to fall once more for the girl who broke his heart.

  The Christmas Quandary (Hardman Holidays, Book 5) — In need of a place to recuperate from a work injury, Tom Grove heads home for the holidays. He didn’t plan on his parents acting like lovesick newlyweds, being asked to teach at the school, or falling in love.

  Books by Shanna Hatfield

  FICTION

  HISTORICAL

  Baker City Brides

  Crumpets and Cowpies

  Thimbles and Thistles

  Corsets and Cuffs

  Pendleton Petticoats

  Dacey

  Aundy

  Caterina

  Ilsa

  Marnie

  Lacy

  Bertie

  Millie

  Hearts of the War

  Garden of Her Heart

  Hardman Holidays

  The Christmas Bargain

  The Christmas Token

  The Christmas Calamity

  The Christmas Vow

  The Christmas Quandary

  CONTEMPORARY

  Learnin’ The Ropes

  Love at the 20-Yard Line

  QR Code Killer

  Grass Valley Cowboys

  The Cowboy’s Christmas Plan

  The Cowboy’s Spring Romance

  The Cowboy’s Summer Love

  The Cowboy’s Autumn Fall

  The Cowboy’s New Heart

  The Cowboy’s Last Goodbye

  Holiday Brides

  Valentine Bride

  Rodeo Romance

  The Christmas Cowboy

  Wrestlin’ Christmas

  Capturing Christmas

  Barreling Through Christmas

  Silverton Sweethearts

  The Coffee Girl

  The Christmas Crusade

  Untangling Christmas

  The Women of Tenacity

  A Prelude (Short Story)

  Heart of Clay

  Country Boy vs. City Girl

  Not His Type

  NONFICTION

  Farm Girl

  Fifty Dates with Captain Cavedweller

  Recipes of Love

  Savvy Entertaining

  Savvy Autumn Entertaining

  Savvy Holiday Entertaining

  Savvy Spring Entertaining

  Savvy Summer Entertaining

  Hopeless romantic Shanna Hatfield spent ten years as a newspaper journalist before moving into the field of marketing and public relations. Sharing the romantic stories she dreams up in her head is a perfect outlet for her love of writing, reading, and creativity. She and her husband, lovingly referred to as Captain Cavedweller, r
eside in the Pacific Northwest.

  Shanna loves to hear from readers. Connect with her online:

  Blog: shannahatfield.com

  Facebook: Shanna Hatfield’s Page

  Shanna Hatfield’s Hopeless Romantics Group

  Pinterest: Shanna Hatfield

  Email: shanna@shannahatfield.com

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten