The Nutcracker Reimagined: A Collection of Christmas Tales

by Le Veque, Kathryn

  Her father guided her to stand beside Bruce whose eyes also sparkled with moisture.

  Rick stood behind Bruce and beside her was her best friend Emily, who looked beautiful in powder pink ballet style dress.

  She smiled brightly with tears falling down her cheeks. “Surprise,” Emily whispered.

  It was the wedding of her dreams. So much more beautiful than anything any woman could imagine. At her age, she assumed it was best to have a simple “elegant” affair. But this was definitely a dream come true.

  While the vows were exchanged, soft classical music played so low it was barely audible.

  Afterward, elegantly dressed servers treated guests to champagne and appetizers. And tables loaded with elegant silver dishes were rolled in. Clara could not stop gasping as she noticed detail after detail.

  The guests did the same, exploring every detail of the space. Tables had been set out with beautiful wooden nutcrackers at every setting for the guests to take home along with what looked to be boxes of sweets.

  “How did you get all this done is so little time?” Clara asked her brother who approached with a woman beside him.

  His gaze moved to the beautiful brunette. “Kennedy and her friend Lucy did most of the work.”

  Kennedy shrugged. “Actually Lucy has a friend that works with Billings Ballet and they graciously allowed for all the props to be borrowed. Some of the cast is here as well. They were excited to participate.”

  “Oh my goodness. They are so beautiful. Everything is so perfect. I don’t know what to say. I’m speechless.”

  “I owed you.” Rick looked around the room. “It’s cool.”

  Leave it to her brother to make light of the huge gesture. “It’s more than cool.” Clara kissed his cheek.

  Bruce came up beside her and looked to Rick. “Your brother outdid himself.”

  “Yes,” Clara sighed happily. “He did. You all did.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Kennedy woke to the sound of dogs barking and Arnold’s attempt at sounding like them. She sat straight up thinking they were in the house, but on further inspection realized they were outside her bedroom window. Somehow the dogs had gotten the gate to her flower garden open and were running in circles with the goat.

  She blinked into the sunlight as Neo and Trinity joined the fun. Great, now they got even noisier.

  The alarm clock displayed seven in the morning. “Damn it,” she groaned falling back into the pillows. The goats were mischievous, but the dogs were instigators.

  Moments later a deep voice permeated her foggy brain. “Get out of there. Dingo. Chuck. Come.”

  “Come!” Rick called louder as he neared her window. “Shit. Stop.”

  Kennedy giggled wondering what was happening. No doubt, not only the dogs, but also the goats had rushed Rick in hopes of getting treats.

  “Stop,” he said again. Unable to help it, she slid from the bed and went to the window.

  Just outside the garden gate, Rick was surrounded by goats and dogs. The animals nudged each other aside to jump on him or nuzzle his pockets. When he pushed one face away, another would take its place.

  Kennedy began laughing unable to keep her voice down. Rick looked to the window, but continued frowning.

  Finally, she took pity on him. She dragged sweats over her pajama shorts and headed to the kitchen side door. From a hook beside the door, she shrugged on a jacket and slipped her feet into boots.

  The cold air made her gasp as she trudged to the side of the house. “Arnold.”

  She held up three carrots she’d grabbed from the kitchen and wiggled them in the air. The goats hurried toward her. Along the way, Morpheus appeared and joined them.

  Breaking the carrots into pieces, she fed the goats as Rick called out, “Thanks.” Both he and the dogs disappeared from view.

  Back inside, Kennedy shivered and went to the thermostat. It read seventy-four, but it felt colder. The fireplace would help warm up the living space.

  Once the hearth glowed with a fire from the gas line, she let out a contented sigh.

  Not normally an early riser, she decided to take advantage and have a relaxing morning. Read, tea…something. She looked to the front door. Perhaps invite Rick for breakfast.

  “No,” she said out loud. Rick had asked to speak to her later this day. Kennedy was sure he intended to give her the key to the studio and inform her he’d not be purchasing the ranch.

  By that afternoon, Kennedy had run out of things to do. The kitchen was clean, her bed linens changed, and dirty ones washed. She paced and looked outside as rain began falling.

  She peered into the pantry with little interest. Oatmeal, raisins…

  Moments later, she slid a tray of cookies into the oven.

  When she was placing the hot cookies onto a plate, a rap at her door made her stomach flip. It was probably him.

  Purposely in the same sweat pants from earlier that morning and a hoody, Kennedy was comfortable that he’d not think she’d been waiting for him. Instead of shoes, she wore fuzzy slippers and her hair was pulled up into a messy bun.

  He not only stood in the doorway, he filled the space. Darkened blue eyes met hers with so much intensity, Kennedy took a step backward.

  After motioning him to enter, she turned and hurried to the safety of the kitchen. There was too much temptation in the room and the barrier of the kitchen’s island would help. Not much, but it was better than nothing.

  He carried some papers and a crumpled bag. “I brought the paperwork I got from my lawyer, figured we’d go over it.” Rick placed it on the kitchen table but didn’t sit.

  “Let me get this second batch of cookies out. Would you like coffee?”

  “We need to talk.” He circled the island closing the distance between them. “I owe you an explanation. I know things were left unfinished.”

  Kennedy ignored the pang in her chest. The words, the fact he was about to explain his departure, should not matter so much.

  They’d barely gotten to know one another. And yet over the last week, spending time daily on the wedding plans did bring them closer as friends. A friendship he was about to end.

  Without a word, she motioned for him to move, so she could get by with the hot tray of overly browned cookies.

  “Kennedy?” He touched her upper arm as she slid the spatula under each cookie and placed it with more care than needed onto the cooling rack.

  When she turned to face him, her breath escaped. Damn he was so good looking, too attractive for his own good.

  “You don’t owe me any kind of explanation. We hooked up, have chemistry here…” she motioned back and forth between them with her hand. “It’s cool.” She hoped her one shouldered shrug was casual.

  “I think it’s more than just chemistry.”

  He cupped her face and took her mouth with his. The kiss intensified until she could barely keep from yanking him to the bedroom. Somehow she found the strength to push away.

  “I can’t.” Kennedy leaned her forehead into the center of his chest. “I can’t do the casual thing. I want more, I hate to admit it. Totally get it that relationships are not your thing.”

  His hands slid down her arms and he pulled her against him. The solidity of his large body was so perfect, it almost made Kennedy settle in and ask him to stay longer. There was nothing she wanted more at the moment than to have him for her own. But Frederick Edwards was about to walk out of her life forever.

  Kennedy pushed away and turned. She grabbed a cookie and her teacup and went to the table. “So what did you decide as far as purchasing the ranch? I need to know so I can meet with a realtor in a couple months and put it on the market.”

  “Do you really want to move? To leave your land?”

  Outside snow had begun to fall, fat flakes fluttered down creating a magical scene. In the distance cows ambled toward a shelter with the usual pace of not having a care in the world.

  “I’m going to sell it.”

&
nbsp; He rounded the table to the opposite side seeming to understand she needed the distance. “I will buy it on a couple of conditions?” He lifted the papers and slid them to her. “I will pay the amount there, the deal must include the goats. Even Arnold.”

  Her eyes rounded and mouth fell open. He offered her ten percent more than asking price.

  “Why would you want the goats? Arnold is spoiled, he won’t understand being left outside.”

  “Understood.” Rick kept his gaze on her. “What’s your reply?”

  She looked toward the screened in porch where Arnold slept on a dog bed. The little goat had a small ratty blanket he’d dragged there with him.

  “I don’t know that I can leave him. I’d already planned on a house with a yard for him.”

  “You haven’t asked me what the second condition is?” Rick’s eyes narrowed and Kennedy swallowed. The cows. Would he insist Sandra and Julia be sold or released to roam with the rest of the herd?

  Her voice trembled. “What is it?”

  He let out a long breath. “I’m not trying to make you upset. My intention is to make things easier for you. I know you love the goats, especially Arnold, and those two overweight pampered cows.”

  However… the word hung in the air. She straightened her shoulders. “Look, just know that I won’t leave Arnold and I won’t sell to someone who wants to slaughter the other goats or Sandra and Julia. I don’t know what I’ll do to keep them safe, but Lucy and I are coming up with a plan.”

  His lips twitched. “Is that so?”

  With a firm nod, she pushed the papers back. “Yes. No deal. Now if that is all, why don’t we just say our good-byes? I appreciate your help around the ranch…” Kennedy stopped talking when he stalked around the table and took her by the upper arms.

  This time his eyes were light when scanning her face and his lips were turned up at the corners. “Don’t get all mad at me. I’m trying to tell you the second part.”

  “What is it?” Her shoulders fell and Kennedy dragged her gaze from his tempting mouth. “What was your second condition?”

  “That you stay here and live with me.”

  “What?”

  “I’m screwed, can’t seem to even look at another woman sideways without feeling guilty. I need you in my life Kennedy Brooks. Can’t fathom a day without seeing you. If you’ll accept a fucked up, scared shitless guy, I promise to do my best by you.”

  Her mind went into a thousand directions. Live together? Is that what he was proposing? Was he asking for a relationship? A commitment? Was he promising monogamy?

  “Live together?”

  “Yes.”

  “Relationship?”

  “Mmm hmmm.” His lips twitched and he lifted an eyebrow.

  “Monogamy?”

  “Definitely.”

  “Commitment?”

  “I’ll go get a ring.”

  “Say what?”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Rick had to admit, getting Kennedy to listen to him proved to be hard work. She sunk into the chair and played with the cookie on the napkin until it broke into tiny pieces. Brow furrowed, she looked up at him while he gave her time to digest his proposition.

  Eloquence was not his strong suit. Best to make a better attempt. “Look I don’t expect us to move in together right away. I’d like to buy the ranch so you don’t have to worry that I am only dating you to get it. Once that’s done, you continue to live here. I can stay in the studio until we get more comfortable.”

  “We’ve known each other, what three weeks?” she asked and let out a breath. “I do feel strongly about you and would definitely like a relationship.”

  He knew her enough to wait for what else she’d say and not jump to any conclusions. Kennedy was definitely the opposite of him and he admired the trait. Impulsiveness had gotten him into trouble so many times.

  This time, the decision to be with her was not impulsive. Hell, if anything, he’d fought it for days.

  A light touch on his hand brought his attention to her upturned face. “Don’t you think we’re complicating things with the land deal? Let’s take that off the table. I want to get to know you, to date, and see where our relationship goes. I have until spring to decide what to do about this place. I would rather we concentrate on us for now.” Her lips turned up at the corners crinkling the sides of her eyes into a dazzling look. “Now would you please kiss me?”

  Kennedy jumped to her feet and threw her arms around his neck, their mouths instantly pressed together. The hard thumps of his heart echoed up blocking his ability to hear anything, and Rick hoped Kennedy couldn’t hear how scared he’d been she would turn him down. The tightness around his chest loosened and his shoulders fell as he wrapped his arms around the beauty who’d accepted him.

  And boy didn’t that just make him feel like the luckiest bastard around. After all he’d done, this was one gift he never expected.

  Six months later…

  The horse nickered and stopped, its long neck bent down as it began grazing on the plush green grass.

  As far as the eye could see, there was green. The hills to the east now covered in blue Astor seemed to reflect the color of the sky. To the opposite side, cows grazed and Rick caught sight of Julia and Sandra with the calf between them. The cows protected the little bugger as if it were the most prized of possessions. In a way, he supposed for them it was.

  The sun shined and the gold ring on his left hand shimmered taking his attention. Who would have guessed that seven months after ruining his sister’s wedding he’d be a groom himself?

  Although his and Kennedy’s wedding had not been as elaborate, he wouldn’t have had it any other way.

  They’d had a simple outdoor wedding, which much to everyone’s amusement included Arnold as the wayward ring bearer.

  Now as he looked across the open space toward where the ranch house was, Rick wondered what to do about the newest development.

  A crazy feeling he’d never had before had grown to the point where he’d not been able to stand it. Finally, the night before, he’d told Kennedy what he wanted. To say she’d been shocked was an understatement. She’d asked him several times if he was sure.

  Of course in typical Kennedy fashion, she’d not replied to his crazy request and instead promised to think about it and answer him today.

  “Hey, you forgot your cell in the stables,” Harvey called out as he neared on a four-wheeler. “It’s been ringing.”

  Rick dismounted and walked to where Harvey stopped. “Thanks.”

  “The buyer should be here in an hour. I better head on back.” Harvey circled and drove off. That afternoon, they were selling fifty head of cattle. Rick had decided to purchase horses and turn the ranch into a training camp. It would be easier to teach riding, roping, and such than to take a chance Kennedy would start naming more cows.

  His phone dinged and he looked at a display. His mouth feel open and laughter erupted. “Yes!”

  Okay, let’s try for a baby.

  I love you.

  The End

  Whether a rancher, a highlander or a hunky cowboy, you will fall in love with Hildie McQueen’s heroes!

  Dear Reader,

  I hope you enjoyed Brash: Frederick. I hope you continue on to read Jaded: Luke, another book in the Laurel Creek series. I guarantee you will love Luke!

  He’s Jaded…

  Haunted by PTSD and a failed marriage, Luke Hamilton returns home to Laurel, Montana. Going home isn’t an easy fix, but it beats ending up in prison or dead. At first the familiar surroundings and open land seem to set things right, but soon his old demons rear their ugly heads and he realizes it’s the wrong time to enter any relationship.

  Leah Morgan’s experience in the corporate world has prepared her to prosper her father’s ranch in Montana. She knows everyone expects her to fail, but nothing will stop her from turning the ranch around and selling it to the highest bidder – especially not a rancher. The quicker she closes the d
eal, the sooner she can get out of Laurel and move on with her career.

  When Luke and Leah cross paths, they both discover that starting over can be a complicated business.

  I have first hand experience to the changes that serving during wartime can cause. My husband and coworkers were all deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq when the war broke out. Two of my friends have died since returning, one took his life. The sacrifice of the brave soldiers, airmen, sailors, marines and civilians who serve sometimes continues after long they return.

  I love hearing from my readers and am always excited when you join my newsletter to keep abreast of new releases and other things happening in my world. You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram.

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  Christmas at the Inn on Cloud Hill

  Tina DeSalvo

  Chapter One

  Rocky saw it first and let out earsplitting, rapid-fire barks.

  A quarter of a second later, Daniel Brooks saw it and slammed his foot on the brake. The tripped-out Jeep he’d rented an hour earlier after landing in Aspen, fishtailed before skidding to a stop on the packed snow and ice covering the old stone bridge crossing the Crystal River.

  He’d just missed the young deer in the middle of the road by three feet.

  “That was close. Too close.” Daniel heard the heavy twang in his own voice that was thicker when he was tired and excited, both of which he was right now. He looked at his lone passenger, his two-year old chocolate lab who he had automatically lifted over the console and against his side when he hit the brakes to keep his dog from flying off the seat. “You okay, boy?”

  The dog’s tail began to wag, but the instant Daniel released him, Rocky moved to the passenger seat, stood up on his hind legs with his thick paws on the dash, and started barking again. Tail wagging with a little bit of whining in the mix, he acted like both a fierce police dog hunting down an escaped prisoner and a puppy who wanted to play. The first part was odd to see of his usually sweet dog, but so was having a young mule-deer standing in front of them with glowing eyes.