A Cowboy Christmas

by Marin Thomas

  “But you just got here.”

  Two hours ago.

  “When are you leaving town?” Daniel asked.

  “Tomorrow morning.” She hugged the older man. “I’m glad we had a chance to visit.” She pointed to the oven. “The dough will be done in a half hour.”

  “I’ll keep an eye on it.” Daniel paused in the doorway. “Don’t stay away so long next time.”

  Darla faced Fletcher. “Ready?” She needed time alone to try and make sense of all the feelings running amuck inside her.

  Chapter Five

  “Stay,” Fletcher said outside Darla’s motel room.

  He crowded her space—his scent swirling around her, making it difficult to breathe let alone think. Before Darla realized his intent, Fletcher’s mouth captured hers. His lips caressed, cajoled and teased.

  His tongue worked magic and the warmth in her stomach radiated upward engulfing her breasts. No man had ever sparked a fire this hot inside her with just a kiss.

  A groan rumbled in his chest and she pressed her hand to his thundering heart. He cupped her face, his fingers sifting through her hair—making a mess of her carefully styled locks. Aware of the danger he posed to her heart, Darla attempted to mentally retreat but Fletcher’s kiss made it impossible.

  If they hadn’t been standing out in the open she was certain he’d have laid her down on the sidewalk and made love to her. Even more troubling…She wouldn’t have stopped him. The realization shocked her like a bucket of icy water over the head. She broke off the kiss.

  Face ruddy with passion, Fletcher’s ragged breathing and glowing eyes exposed his aroused state. How often had she seen that face in her dreams? She accepted the fact that they were sexually attracted to one another. The chemistry between them had always been powerful, combustible and exciting.

  “Talk to me,” he said. “What are you thinking?”

  That I should run.

  He smoothed his finger across her lip, drawing a shiver from her body. “If it’s possible I want you even more now than I did in high school.”

  She wanted him, too. And he knew it. “Sex will complicate things.” She would have increased the space between them, but her traitorous feet had bonded to the pavement. “My life, my job, my friends are in Dallas.” But there’s no lover.

  When Fletcher remained silent she added, “Your dad’s getting up there in years. Pretty soon you’ll take over the entire bull-breeding operation. Danny’s school and his friends are in Junket. And Danny’s having a difficult time with Sandi’s absence.”

  “I’ve already taken those things into account, Darla. I’m not asking for forever.”

  Pain squeezed her rib cage. What exactly was he asking for? A fling? An affair? A one-night stand?

  Feeling the walls close in on her, she said, “I can’t stay. I’m due in court on Tuesday.”

  “Then come back after the trial.”

  Where was the offer to visit her in Dallas? Why did she have to make all the concessions? “I need time to think things through.”

  His eyes narrowed and she expected him to argue with her. Instead, he said, “When you’re contemplating…think about this.” His gaze zeroed in on her mouth.

  Oh, no. Not again.

  This kiss wasn’t a peck on the cheek or a quick brush against her lips. His mouth covered hers, open and wet. Fletcher didn’t know how to kiss any other way but all-out.

  The kiss ended too soon. “I’ll be here when you make up your mind.”

  Darla watched his truck leave the parking lot, wondering who would give in first—her or Fletcher.

  “MS. BAKER.” The law firm’s secretary buzzed the intercom on Darla’s phone Friday morning. “A Mr. Fletcher McFadden is on line two.”

  Fletcher? Four days had passed since they’d said goodbye at the C’mon Inn. After returning to Dallas on Monday, she’d dialed his number several times but hung up before the call had connected. And each night after work she’d checked the caller ID on the home phone hoping his number would show up. It hadn’t.

  “Hello, Fletcher.”

  “I’m sorry to bother you at work, Darla, but something’s come up and I need…I need you.”

  Her heart soared.

  “It concerns Danny.”

  Danny? He needed her for his son? Her heart nosedived back to earth. “What happened?’

  “Danny’s been expelled from school until after Christmas break.”

  “What did he do?”

  “He freed the ferret from its cage in the science lab. The kids went crazy chasing the thing around and all hell broke loose. By the time the dust settled, the lab was in shambles and two of the students had been cut by broken glass. The principal’s sending me the bill.”

  “I’m sure Danny didn’t intend for anyone to get hurt.”

  “No, he didn’t.” Fletcher’s groan reached through the connection and tugged on her heartstrings. “Darla, Danny hasn’t stopped talking about you since you left Sunday afternoon.”

  Danny missed her?

  “I asked him why he broke the rules in the science lab but he refuses to tell me. Would you drive down here this weekend and speak with him?”

  “What makes you think he’ll tell me the truth?”

  “Because he said he would.”

  “He did?” Darla smelled a setup.

  “I don’t know what the two of you discussed the afternoon you made Christmas decorations, but Danny hasn’t been the same since you left. He needs you, Darla.”

  How in the world did she say no to a little boy who was suffering from his mother’s neglect?

  Did she dare return to Junket and risk becoming closer to Danny? And what about Fletcher? Would they be able to keep a lid on their sexual attraction to one another? The fact that her desire for the cowboy burned hotter than ever, despite his having broken her high-school heart was disconcerting. What if she and Fletcher crossed the line? Then what?

  Danny’s needs take precedence over yours.

  “I have several vacation days left this year,” she hedged. “I suppose I could stay for a few days…until Danny’s—”

  “Great. I knew I could count on you.”

  Now if only she could count on her heart not to betray her with Fletcher.

  “We’ll get the guest bedroom ready.”

  A mini panic attack erupted inside Darla. Living in close quarters with Fletcher would tax her defenses, but residing at the C’mon Inn made little sense if she intended to help his son. “I’ll see you Saturday afternoon.”

  “We’ll be waiting.”

  Darla wondered what other surprises awaited her at the Rocking J.

  DARLA HAD BEEN at the Rocking J three days and Danny had yet to confide in her why he opened the ferret’s cage at school. Each time she broached the topic he changed the subject. She found it interesting that when she and Danny first met he’d instantly disliked her and now they palled around like best friends. Something was up in that little brain of his and she was determined to figure out what.

  That afternoon they sat on the rug in the living room near the Christmas tree playing the board game Battleship. Daniel was busy in the kitchen baking a cake and Fletcher had left over an hour ago to meet the vet to check on a bull.

  “You know what I think?” she said, studying the rows of ships in front of her.

  “Huh?”

  “I think you opened the ferret’s cage at school because you were hoping that getting into trouble would make your mother come home.”

  Danny’s brown eyes widened.

  Bingo!

  His gaze dropped to the game board. “That’s sorta why.”

  “Sorta?”

  After a minute, he peeked at Darla. “I wanted you to come back here.”

  Darla’s heart burst wide open. “Why?”

  “Because I need you to help me make my mom come home.”

  Pain, sharp and blunt stabbed her blooming heart until it wilted and collapsed upon itself. Danny didn’t w
ant her—he wanted her help in convincing Sandi to change her mind about being with him.

  “I know Dad’s really mad ’cause I got kicked out of school but if Mom comes back, then we can be happy again.”

  “Danny, I don’t know how to help you.” Darla needed to speak with Fletcher as soon as possible. Someone had to sit down with this child and explain that Sandi wasn’t going to be a part of the family anymore.

  “Dad says we’re gonna go to the rodeo and Mom’s gonna be there. I wanna buy her a special Christmas gift that’ll make her miss me.”

  Darla’s eyes burned but she refused to allow her tears to fall in front of the boy. “And you want me to help you pick out a gift for your mother?”

  “Yeah, ’cause Dad can’t know. I wanna surprise him, too.”

  She supposed she’d have to pay for this gift. Not that she cared. What mattered was Danny and the possibility that his plan might not work. How would the boy handle another rejection by his mother?

  Or worse…What if Danny’s gift makes Sandi realize she’s got her priorities screwed up and she wants to reconcile with Fletcher?

  Damned if she did. Damned if she didn’t. “When do you want to go shopping, Danny?”

  “HOW’S THE BULL?” his father asked when Fletcher walked in the house late Monday afternoon.

  The prize-winning bull had cut himself on a splintered fence post and the wound had been slow to heal. “Better. Vet took out the stitches.”

  Fletcher’s eyes strayed to Darla, who stood at the stove stirring a pot of boiling noodles. She looked pretty today—more like a country girl. Her hair wasn’t styled and sprayed into place, but the soft locks fell every which way, resembling a fairy-tale pixie. Her outfit—jeans and a sweatshirt—reminded him of all the Saturdays they’d hung out at her parents’ drugstore after he finished his chores for the day. He’d helped her father in the stockroom and Darla had tended the soda fountain.

  “Dad,” Fletcher said. “Mind watching Danny for the rest of the day?” With his son and his father around, finding alone time with Darla had been impossible. Sitting across from her at the supper table, smelling her perfume throughout the house and not being able to touch her was driving him nuts. He’d awoken this morning with a plan guaranteed to land him a kiss by day’s end. Maybe more if he played his cards right.

  “Sure, I’ll watch Danny,” his father said. “You got plans?”

  “Darla and I are going for a ride.” Ignoring his father’s surprised expression, he smiled at Darla, daring her to object.

  “What about supper?” she asked.

  His father waved her off. “Don’t worry. You two can eat the leftovers tomorrow.”

  “Give me five minutes.”

  As soon as he heard Darla’s footsteps climb the stairs to the second floor, he asked, “Is Danny behaving?”

  “That boy minds around Darla. How about yourself?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You plan to behave around her, too?” His father’s eyebrow arched.

  “Not if I can help it.”

  “That’s my boy.” He patted Fletcher on the shoulder, then lifted the pot from the burner and dumped the noodles into the colander in the sink.

  Fletcher hoped his surprise wouldn’t backfire. He intended to show Darla that Danny wasn’t the only McFadden male who needed her. His cell phone went off. Logan again. Damn, he’d forgotten to check in with his friend. Too late now.

  Darla returned to the kitchen, waved to his father and followed Fletcher out to the utility porch. He lifted an old sheepskin coat from a hook on the wall. “Use this.”

  “What’s wrong with my jacket?” She slipped off the white ski coat.

  “Looks goofy.” He held the sheepskin out and she thrust her arms into the sleeves.

  “If you’re trying to woo me with words like goofy, you won’t get far.”

  Words were the last thing he intended to woo her with. He nuzzled the soft patch of skin below her ear where she was ticklish. “Mmm. You smell good.”

  She giggled, then squirmed from his arms. “Where are we going?”

  “You’ll see.” He ushered her outside.

  “We’re riding in that?” She gaped at the horse-drawn buckboard.

  “Hop up.” He planted his hand against her fanny as she climbed onto the bench seat.

  “Watch it, buster,” she mumbled.

  “Yes, ma’am.” He tipped his hat.

  “What’s under the tarp?”

  “Nosy, aren’t you?” He snapped the reins and the horse shot forward, forcing Darla to clutch his thigh in order to keep from tumbling backward.

  The unseasonably warm weather had deserted the area yesterday and temperatures had dipped into the upper forties. At least the sun took the bite out of the wind.

  They bumped along in silence—Fletcher noted Darla hadn’t released her grip on his leg. She’d been at the ranch three days and to his knowledge Danny hadn’t confessed to her why he’d opened the ferret’s cage. He admired the patience Darla showed with his son and admitted there was a part of him that hoped Danny wouldn’t tell the truth so Darla would stick around a while longer.

  He’d come to the realization today that he was going to stop fighting his feelings for Darla. Her willingness to help Danny proved that she cared about him and his son. How much he wasn’t certain. For the time being caring was enough.

  Once the ranch house disappeared from view, he asked, “Any luck with Danny today?”

  “Yep.”

  He’d expected a no not a yep. “What did he say?”

  “You won’t like the answer.”

  Nothing with his son was ever easy. “Give it to me anyway.”

  “He wants me to help him convince Sandi to come home so the three of you can be a family again.”

  “What!” Damn, you Sandi. “I’ve told Danny a hundred different ways that his mother and I aren’t reconciling. What more can I do?”

  “This might be something that has to take its own course.”

  Fletcher cursed under his breath. “How does Danny expect you to help?”

  “He wants me to take him shopping to buy a special gift for Sandi and then he intends to give her the present at the rodeo you’re going to.”

  Fletcher took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. “Sandi’s been gone almost a year. How long can a kid keep hoping?”

  “I don’t know.” Her blue eyes shone with compassion and Fletcher swore he’d been the biggest idiot in the world not fighting for Darla after he’d screwed up all those years ago.

  “Is that where we’re headed?”

  All thoughts of Danny’s troubles disappeared when Darla pointed to the old line shack that had been used as a storage shed for years. “Yep.”

  After Fletcher had married he’d spent months renovating the shelter. He’d needed breathing room. A place to hide when things got heated on the home front. He’d erected a corral next to the line shack, then installed a few creature comforts—a portable shower and a composting toilet. An underground propane tank supplied hot water and gas for the stove and small fridge. In place of electric lights he used kerosene lamps.

  He stopped the buckboard by the front door. “Welcome to the Hanky Panky Ranch, ma’am.”

  A slow, seductive smile spread across Darla’s face and his stomach lurched with excitement. “Fletcher McFadden, you intend to seduce me, don’t you?”

  “Yes, ma’am, I do.”

  She hopped to the ground. “Fortunately you have the luck o’ the Irish on your side.”

  “I do?”

  “Yes. It just so happens I’m in the mood to be seduced.” She sashayed into the cabin, leaving Fletcher seated on the buckboard with his mouth hanging wide open.

  Chapter Six

  Slivers of light peeked through the muslin curtain covering the lone window in the line shack. Dawn beckoned, but Darla wished the new day would recede and allow the night to linger a while longer. At the moment, she was right where s
he wanted to be—snuggled in bed with Fletcher. His body curled around hers, warming her heart and soul.

  She’d never felt as safe and cherished in another man’s arms as she did when Fletcher held her close.

  Yesterday there had been no need for words. The tension that had been brewing between them since the day she’d walked into the drugstore had exploded in a fierce coupling that had left her stunned and breathless.

  Afterward they’d picnicked on the bed, trading memories of the early years of their courtship. The stories spurred another round of lovemaking—this time a slow foray of tender kisses and gentle caresses. Fletcher’s lovemaking had touched her deeply—his whispered endearments a balm to her feminine ego.

  She’d woken in the middle of the night, surrounded by his scent, his hard body and the certainty that he was the reason she’d never been able to commit to another man. All these years her heart had never let go of Fletcher.

  She’d forgiven Fletcher for his old transgressions but had refused to acknowledge that truth, fearing she’d be forced to put Fletcher behind her for good when deep down she hadn’t wanted to let go of him.

  Okay, so she still loved Fletcher. Was a future with him possible? Although she cared for Danny deeply, was she ready for instant motherhood? What if Danny didn’t want a stepmother? And what about her career? There was no need for an EPA lawyer in Junket, Texas. Then there was the fact that she loved Dallas. Returning to a small town where everyone knew your business would be a huge adjustment. Was there a way to be together without her having to make all the allowances?

  You’re jumping the gun. He hasn’t even mentioned marriage.

  Her worries died a sudden death when a warm callused hand slid over her belly and cupped her breast. A whiskered chin burrowed in the crook of her neck and firm lips nibbled her ear. “’Mornin’,” he said.

  Ah, she could get used to spooning with Fletcher in the mornings.

  “Stay for Christmas, Darla. Spend the holiday at the Rocking J with the McFadden men.”

  Darla held her breath to keep from shouting an immediate yes. When Sandi failed to visit the Rocking J over the holidays would Danny blame it on Darla’s presence? Or would he appreciate Darla being there for him when his mother wasn’t?