A Cowboy's Christmas

by Vicki Lewis Thompson

  “Could you be a little more specific? I’ve had a lot of people in my shop this past month and that describes several of them.”

  “She turned thirty this year and she’s real pretty.”

  She gave him a sympathetic glance. “Doesn’t narrow it down much.”

  “Her momma lives here. She’s a weddin’ planner. Hayley, her daughter who’s visitin’ for the the holidays, bought a Black Stallion book for her brother.”

  “Bingo! Virginia Bennett and her daughter. Hayley got The Black Stallion Returns. She seemed interested in the series. Did you want to buy her one of those?”

  “Probably not. If she’s collecting them she might already have whatever I picked. Did she look at anything else?”

  “Let me think.” She tapped her lower lip. “Yes, she did! The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I have a 1911 First Edition in excellent condition but it’s pricey.”

  “I’d like to buy it.”

  She blinked. “But you don’t even know how much—”

  “Doesn’t matter.”

  “All righty, then. You just made this a very Merry Christmas, indeed.” She fished a key from her pocket, opened the case and took out an old-fashioned hardback. It had no paper dustcover. Just the book. “Would you like it gift-wrapped?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Would you like me to do a tap-dance while I wrap it?”

  He chuckled. “Do you know how?”

  “No, but for this kind of money, I could fake it.”

  “That fancy paper’s good enough.”

  “Hayley’s a lucky lady.”

  “No, ma’am. I’m the lucky one.” Maybe. Time would tell.

  Ten minutes later, the wrapped book tucked inside his jacket to protect it, he left the shop. Now that he had a gift, he had to decide when and how to give it to her.

  He wanted it to be elegant. Showing up at her folks’ house on Christmas morning and slipping his gift in with the others beneath the tree didn’t seem like the way to go.

  This wasn’t a Christmas gift to be opened while her family looked on. Instead he’d give it to her in a more intimate setting, maybe even tonight when they were alone in the B and B. And like Ryker had said, he’d try not to say anything stupid or incriminating.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Hayley had loved having private time with her family so they could do all the nostalgic things that were a part of a Bennett Christmas – tree decorating, board games and favorite holiday cartoons.

  Her snowball fight with Luke in the backyard had been like old times. The light Christmas Eve supper of vegetable soup and homemade rolls that they had every year tasted as good as it always had. But she’d missed Badger.

  After going nearly twenty-four hours without seeing him, she kept peeking out the window, impatient for him to arrive. She’d already informed her family that after the service she and Badger would be taking a drive to see the lights. All three had looked as if they didn’t believe a word of it.

  It didn’t matter. The charade she and Badger had cooked up gave her carte blanche to disappear to an undisclosed location and cuddle with her fiancé tonight. She’d worn another cashmere sweater, this one a pale blue with a cowl neck, because he’d mentioned the softness of her white one the night before.

  He pulled into the drive right on time. Her dad had already walked over to the church to make sure everything was set up.

  She grabbed her parka. “Mom! Luke! He’s here.”

  “I’m ready.” Her brother exited his bedroom wearing the denim sheepskin coat he’d brought on this trip.

  She should have guessed something was up with him when she’d seen that coat. It was like one he used to have when he was in high school, back when he thought of himself as a cowboy.

  College had changed all that and he’d started wearing topcoats. He looked handsome no matter what, but she liked the blue denim best. It was more Luke.

  “Me, too.” Her mom came out of the master bedroom pulling on her bright red parka. She paused at the end of the hallway to look at Hayley and Luke. “You guys are beautiful, you know that?”

  Hayley’s throat tightened at the love shining in her mother’s eyes. “You, too, Mom.”

  “You’re both knockouts.” Luke spread his arms wide. “Group hug.”

  She and her mom exchanged a look and rushed him. They nearly sent him sprawling.

  Hayley was still laughing when she went to answer the door. Seeing Badger standing there gave her a rush of pleasure. “Hi!” She stepped back so he could come in.

  He grinned. “Hi, yourself.” He leaned down to give her a quick kiss before facing Luke and her mom. “Hey, y’all. Ready to go?”

  “Let’s do it.” Luke grabbed his new cowboy hat, another indication he was moving on from his day job.

  “Hayley, you and Badger go on ahead,” her mom said. “Luke and I will lock up and follow behind you.”

  “Okay.” Hayley zipped her parka and went out the door Badger held open for her.

  Once they were down the steps, he took her hand. “You looked happy when you opened the door.”

  “I was. I am.”

  “Good day?”

  “Yep. How about you?”

  “Great day. What’d y’all do?”

  “Played games, had a snowball fight, watched A Garfield Christmas. How about you?”

  “Walked around town quite a bit.”

  “Alone or with people?”

  “Alone. Tried out the diner. Ever eaten there?”

  “A few times. It’s cozy. But I’m surprised you weren’t out at the ranch with Kendra and everybody.”

  “I had a couple of things to take care of and I felt like walkin’ through town.”

  She was missing something. “Why?”

  “I’ll tell you about it later.” He squeezed her hand. “When we’re lookin’ at Christmas lights.”

  Just the mention of that was enough to get her hot. She took a calming breath. “You have both keys, right?”

  “In my pocket.”

  “Okay.” She took another deep breath. “I’m going to think about something else, now.”

  He squeezed her hand again. “Me, too, darlin’. Me, too.”

  Soft organ music greeted them as they stepped inside the church. Badger took off his hat and unbuttoned his coat as they were each given an unlit candle. Graceful tapers flickered on the altar, casting muted light over pine boughs and holly. Sprays of pine and holly had been attached to the end of each wooden pew. Hayley had always associated the fragrance of beeswax and pine with Christmas Eve.

  “Sure is pretty,” Badger murmured.

  “I love this little church.” She took charge of the candles while he helped her out of her parka and took off his coat. “The stained glass is even prettier during the day.”

  “It reminds me of one I saw in Switzerland.”

  So he’d been to Switzerland. But she didn’t know when or why. And now wasn’t the time to ask such questions, either.

  “Where should we sit?”

  “Up front,” Luke said as he came in behind them and took off his jacket. “Dad always reserves a spot for us.”

  Badger turned to him. “For me, too?”

  “Absolutely.” Her mom patted his shoulder. “I hope you didn’t feel left out today, but Hayley said—”

  “Today was for y’all.” He helped her out of her coat. “I’m glad you had that time.”

  Her mother beamed at him. “You’re a nice person, Badger. Now everybody scoot up there. We’re blocking the way.”

  In the front pew, the guys sat on either side of the women so Hayley ended up with Badger on one side and her mom on the other.

  Her mom leaned over and whispered in her ear. “I don’t care what your dad says. Badger is perfect. Don’t wait too long.”

  “Um…”

  “Can’t you just picture walking down the aisle of this church?”

  She hadn’t even considered it, but tha
nks to her mom’s comment, she now had that image in her mind. When and if she married someone, this was the fairytale church she’d choose for the ceremony. Her dad would perform the service. Her mom and Luke would walk her down the aisle.

  The man who’d be waiting for her at the end of that aisle was anybody’s guess, though. Badger was sexy as hell, great to look at and fun to be with, but who was he, really? She had no idea. He’d confided almost nothing of a personal nature.

  Yet his warmth and solid presence beside her was nice, very nice. When he laced his strong fingers through hers, she was tempted to weave all kinds of fantasies.

  But they wouldn’t be based in reality. He was an actor who’d agreed to play a part. He was very good at playing it, but she’d be a fool to start believing in the fantasy.

  Her mom leaned over again. “I still think next week we should plan a trip to Bozeman so we can—whoops, it’s starting.”

  Saved by the choir. The organ music swelled, her dad came out wearing his robes, and the choir filed down the aisle holding flickering electric candles as they sang O Come All Ye Faithful.

  With music filling the church, she almost missed Badger’s soft sigh. She put her head close to his. “You okay?”

  “Never better.” He lifted her hand and kissed her fingertips. Her ring gleamed in the light from the passing candles. “Never better.”

  She didn’t know what to make of it. Any of it. His solo walk through town, his itch to try the diner’s food, his sigh of what must be contentment.

  Whatever was going on with him, he certainly liked the service. He sang enthusiastically with the rest of the congregation and listened with rapt attention to everything her dad had to say.

  She did the same, because she loved the music at this time of year and her dad sure did know how to move a crowd. He never went for laughs on Christmas Eve. He went all in for love, though. She was always proud to be his kid, but never more than on Christmas Eve.

  As usual, her mom got teary eyed. Hayley put her candle in her lap so she could reach over and squeeze her mom’s hand. That was how she finished up the service, with one hand captured by Badger and the other giving love to her mother.

  Luke had their mom’s other hand. The two of them had tag-teamed this event for years. Their dad would be awesome leading the service, their mom would be overcome with pride and love, and Hayley and Luke would give her support.

  Badger had never been a part of the scenario before, but somehow he seemed to fit. Then the ushers came around to light the candles of the person on the end of the row. That was Badger. He seemed thrilled about it.

  He turned to her. “Merry Christmas, Hayley.” Touching his candle to hers, he smiled. “I love this.”

  “Merry Christmas, Badger. I love it, too.” She swiveled around to light her mom’s candle, who then lit Luke’s. The significance of one person sharing their light with another had always touched her. Now she was a little choked up.

  Her dad always ended the service with everyone singing Silent Night. This one was acapella. Only the voices of the choir and the congregation rose into the rafters of the little church. It was her favorite part.

  The music ended and her father gave the final blessing. Candles were blown out and everyone filed out of the church, voices subdued as they held onto the spiritual high of joining together on Christmas Eve.

  Badger, usually so talkative, was quiet on the walk back. When they reached his truck, he hugged her mom and shook hands with Luke. Then he helped her in, and in no time at all they were on the road, bound for the B and B.

  She couldn’t gauge his mood. “Did you like it?”

  “Oh, Hayley, it was wonderful. I never knew a Christmas Eve could be like that.”

  “Your folks didn’t go to church on Christmas Eve?”

  “We might have a few times. I remember Switzerland, for sure. But that service wasn’t in English and it was…different.”

  “It sounds like you weren’t home much for Christmas.”

  “Never. But it doesn’t matter.”

  “Of course it matters. If you’ve never spent a Christmas at home, that’s—”

  “Not what I want to talk about. I’ve just had a memorable Christmas Eve and I want to hold onto that for now.”

  “Okay, sure.” He had a point. This wasn’t a good time to dig into painful childhood memories. They’d carved out a couple of hours to be together. No sense spoiling their interlude with unpleasant subjects.

  He captured her hand. “I do have a few things to tell you about, but if you wouldn’t mind too much, I’d like to make love to you first.”

  “I wouldn’t mind. I wouldn’t mind at all.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Badger hoped to hell he wouldn’t say anything stupid or incriminating tonight, but he’d had a startling glimpse into his future while sitting next to Hayley in church. And he couldn’t imagine that future without her in it.

  On the other hand, Eagles Nest was his home, now, and Hayley didn’t live here. Her folks did, though, and that was a start. He couldn’t predict how everything would turn out, but now he had two goals—settle himself in Eagles Nest and turn this pretend situation with Hayley into something real. It was a tall order. He didn’t kid himself about that.

  In the meantime, he had Hayley all to himself for the next little while. He’d make the most of that opportunity.

  The B and B was dark except for a porch light and a couple of electric candle arrangements in the two front windows. Path lights guided them up to the door.

  Badger let go of Hayley’s hand so he could unlock the front door.

  “Slipping in after hours feels so…”

  “Outrageous?”

  “Yes!”

  “Great, isn’t it?”

  She laughed. “It is great. Especially for a minister’s daughter.”

  “Try bein’ the son of Thaddeus Livingston Calhoun the Second.” Once they were inside the dimly lit foyer, he turned and engaged both top and bottom locks, while she crept quickly up the stairs of the silent house.

  He followed, taking two steps to her one and unbuttoning his coat as he climbed. He was right behind her when she opened the door to their room. The room was dark, but moonlight shone through the window.

  Walking in, she turned back to him. “The moon’s so beautiful,” she murmured. “Let’s leave the lights off.”

  “Whatever you want, darlin’.” He closed the door and tossed his hat onto the nearest bedpost.

  “I want you out of these clothes.” She closed the gap between them and pushed aside the lapels of his jacket.

  “And I want you out of yours.” He wrapped her in his arms. “But I can’t seem to stop kissin’ you.”

  “Then don’t stop.” She rose on her tiptoes and brushed her mouth over his as she began unsnapping his shirt. “We’ll work it out.”

  She was right about that. Somehow they managed to keep on kissing each other as they got rid of every blessed thing they were wearing except for his boots. He leaned against the bedpost to pull those off and then they were back to kissing again while she shoved down his jeans and briefs.

  When she finished that, she began touching him in ways that he loved but wouldn’t be able to tolerate for long. He lifted his mouth from hers. “You’re playin’ with fire.”

  “I know.” Her voice was low and husky as she stroked his cock. “It’s fun.”

  “I’m not denyin’ that.” He gasped as she squeezed gently. “But the fun will be over quick.” He wrapped his hand around her fingers. “I’ve been missin’ you. Which means I’ve built up a head of steam.”

  She chuckled softly. “Can I play later, after you’ve let off some steam?”

  Her suggestion nearly made him come. “Yes, ma’am, you surely can.” He sucked in air. “Just turn me loose for the time bein’.”

  “Okay.” She gave him one last squeeze. “Meet you in bed.”

  “You know it.” His heart thumped hard and fast as h
e grabbed his jeans off the floor and pulled a condom out of the pocket. His hands shook while he opened the wrapper and rolled on the condom. Easy, Calhoun. Easy.

  But this time wasn’t like the others they’d shared. Now he knew what was at stake. He wasn’t just enjoying amazing sex with a beautiful lady. He was about to make love to the woman he hoped would share his life.

  She didn’t know that and if he followed Ryker’s advice, he wouldn’t say anything about it tonight. He turned back to the bed and his breath caught.

  An angel lay in bed waiting for him. Moonlight touched her hair and body, creating a glorious mix of pale beauty and seductive shadows. He was transfixed.

  “Badger?”

  “I’m just lookin’ my fill.” He took a shaky breath. “And thinkin’ I’m one lucky SOB.”

  “You’re making me blush.”

  “And you’re makin’ me crazy.” He climbed onto the bed and moved over her. “Damn. I’m blockin’ the moonlight.”

  “I can still see it.” She stroked the side of his face. “Right here. I’ve never made love in the moonlight before.”

  “Me, either.”

  She slid her arms around him. “That makes it special.”

  “Everything about you is special.” Leaning down, he kissed her gently. “Merry Christmas, Hayley.”

  “Merry Christmas, Badger.”

  He loved her slowly at first, wanting to savor the pleasure of this intimate connection that had been perfect from the beginning. But he couldn’t keep a lid on his response when she tightened around him, when her soft whimpers turned to moans of pleasure.

  His blood ran hot as he thrust deep, coaxing her to let go. When she did, when she pressed her hand to her mouth to stifle her cries of release, fierce joy poured through him. He rode the wave of her climax to his and swallowed the roar of triumph he so longed to turn loose.

  Sinking down against her warmth, he kept his weight on his forearms. He didn’t want to crush her when she was trying to catch her breath. But he rested his cheek against her shoulder.

  They were so good together, so damned good. They were meant for each other. It had to work out for them. It just had to.