The Lawman's Christmas Proposal

by Barbara White Daille

  She blinked hard to hold back a rush of tears. “You’re right, Grandpa. And of course, I want to stay in touch with Ginnie. I’m planning to tell her exactly what I told you. I just wanted to help her and the rest of the family forget their grief and move on.”

  “Then you can, too.”

  You’re not willing to take your own advice and move on.

  Mitch’s words hurt as much now as they had then.

  “You already know this,” Jed continued gruffly. “I’ll say it, anyway. Life’s too short not to keep moving while you’ve got the chance.”

  Blinking back tears, she nodded.

  * * *

  ANDI TOOK ONE last glance into the dresser mirror. Her gold-spangled party dress had looked great on the hanger but did nothing to make her feel ready for a party. She smoothed her hair, tried to soften the frown lines in her forehead and plastered a smile on her face.

  Quickly turning from the mirror, she left the bedroom and went down the hall to Ginnie’s room. She tapped on the door and waited till Ginnie called for her to come in. Her mother-in-law, in a tea-length red dress, stood in front of her own mirror.

  “You look great,” Andi said.

  “And you look beautiful.”

  “Do you have a few minutes to talk before we go downstairs?”

  “Well, of course. Come and sit.” Ginnie took a seat on the chair near the window. “Did you get Missy up from her nap?”

  “Yes. She’s already downstairs.” She crossed the room to sit on the edge of the bed.

  “Good. Since Jed and I started taking turns holding Missy all day, I’m afraid we’ve made things harder for you with her nap schedule. Between the two of us, we have her spoiled. But that’s what grandparents are for, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, it is. I’m glad you’re getting the chance to do that this week. With me working and now with Missy and Trey and I all staying here at the ranch, I know you don’t get to see the kids as much as you’d like.”

  “That’s true. Although even if you were all living with me, the way you and Grant did for a while, I don’t think I could get enough of having you around.”

  “I know. We’re your connection to him.”

  “You’re all much more than that, Andi. Yes, Grant lives on through the children, but they’re also the next generation, both of the Price family and my own. And you...” She smiled. “You’re the daughter I always wanted.”

  Andi’s throat tightened. At that moment, she couldn’t respond. Fortunately, she didn’t need to.

  “I remember the day Grant brought you home to meet us,” Ginnie continued. “I knew right away you were special to him, and that made you special to me. That’s why it worries me to see you upset. There’s been something bothering you, hasn’t there?”

  She nodded and gripped the edge of the bed on either side of her. “I...I have a confession to make. Mitch and I aren’t really engaged.”

  Pursing her mouth, her mother-in-law nodded. “I wondered, when you two were ‘old friends’ at my house one night and then making your announcement two days later. And when, on the night between at Trey’s party here, you didn’t look like a couple who had just gotten engaged.”

  “I’m sorry.” Sighing, she braced herself for what else she had to say. “I wish I could tell you I didn’t plan to deceive you—or anyone—by pretending to be engaged. If it’s any consolation, I was trying to keep you from getting hurt.”

  “It looks to me like you were the one hurt in the process,” Ginnie said sadly. “But why would you think I’d be hurt to see you happy again?”

  “It wasn’t that.” Haltingly, she explained, keeping the focus on her need to take care of her kids. “I want to be able to support them myself.”

  “And knowing you, I wouldn’t expect anything less. You’re a terrific mother. Of course you would want to take care of Trey and Missy, to put them first in your life, as you should.”

  “Thank you. But it’s more than that,” she went on. “I need to be independent for my own sake, too. The kids and I love you, Ginnie. And you’ve always been there for me. But I feel if you continue to be there for me, I won’t learn to stand on my own.”

  Ginnie smiled wryly. “Are you suggesting I drop you from the family tree?”

  “No.” She laughed. “But maybe let me go out on a limb once in a while.”

  “And this is why you felt the need for your so-called engagement?”

  Silently, she nodded.

  Ginnie came to sit beside her. She shook Andi’s arm gently. “I need to knock some sense into you, as Jed would say. You’re putting a roof over your family’s head and raising your children—my grandchildren—all by yourself. How much more independent can you be?”

  “I don’t know.” She flushed. “Sometimes, I just feel that I need to...”

  “Cut the cord to the Price family?”

  Again, she couldn’t respond. She had never felt so tongue-tied or as sure of ruining a situation as she did this one.

  “When I first married,” Ginnie continued, “there were times I felt the same way.”

  “There were?”

  She nodded. “Being a Price is a privilege, but it also carries obligations. It wasn’t long after I married into the family that I went looking for some independence, too.

  “And I got lucky.”

  Andi blinked. “How?” She was fascinated by this new view of her mother-in-law.

  “Eventually, I managed to find my independence and my niche within the family.” She smiled. “That’s my solution, not yours. I knew you would have to find your independence on the outside. And you already have.”

  Her throat tightened again, but she managed to blurt her thanks. Mitch had been right, after all, as Ginnie’s obvious concern for her proved.

  “But, Andi,” she said gently, “though you’re on your own now, you’ll never be alone. Through Trey and Missy, your link to me is as strong as the bond you share with Jed. We’re all family. And we all love one another.” She wrapped her arm around Andi’s shoulders and gave her a quick hug.

  “I know life’s not always the way we want it to be,” she went on. “And I realize life may take you farther from me in miles than you are now. But can we make a deal?”

  “Of course.”

  “Good.” Ginnie smiled. “As for my not seeing the kids as much as I like... I’ll be honest, twenty-four hours a day wouldn’t be enough. But whenever I am able to see you and the kids, promise you’ll let me spoil them just a bit. And when I can’t see you all, I promise to do only a little grumbling.”

  Andi laughed. “All right, that’s a deal.”

  “Good,” Ginnie said again. “Now, since I’m leaving for home in the morning, let’s go find a couple of grandkids for me to spoil.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Andi stood beside Jed in the hotel lobby to greet their guests for the open house. She, Tina and Jane had all assured Paz they would take turns staying by his side.

  He seemed as healthy and steady as Andi had ever seen him and twice as energetic while he talked about hosting the party. But Paz, who was busy running her kitchen, was worried about him overdoing it.

  The front door swung open, pushing a drift of early-evening air into the lobby. When Andi saw who had stepped through the door, she felt grateful for the cool breeze.

  As she watched Mitch make his way toward them, she held Jed’s arm—not because he seemed unsteady but because she needed to brace herself. The Weston family had arrived earlier, and though her heart had plummeted when she saw Mitch wasn’t with them, she had told herself it was for the best.

  As he reached them, her heartbeat seemed to flicker like the twinkling lights on the Christmas tree.

  He smiled at her, then reached to shake hands with Jed. “They let you out already. I can see why. You’re looking good.”

  “I’m feeling even better. Must be all this clean living and a clear conscience. Which is more than I can say for you, after that stunt you pulled ab
out your engagement.”

  “Grandpa.” She was grateful for the voices and laughter all around them. “Please don’t blame Mitch. It was my decision. He was only trying to help me.”

  “Some help.” Despite his gruff tone, she could see the loving concern in his eyes.

  “It was my idea,” Mitch said just as stubbornly as he had the morning they had returned from Santa Fe. “I’m as much at fault for this, if not more.”

  “Either way,” Jed said, “seems like neither of you did a good job of sticking to your plan.”

  She flushed. “No, we didn’t.”

  He stared at them both for a long moment, then patted her arm. “Well, I’ll be off. Someone’s got to be the life of this party, and I’m sure you two have some talking to do.”

  “Oh, but, Grandpa—”

  “Calm down, girl. Tina’s just three yards north of us. I’ll go take my turn standing with her now.”

  Swallowing a laugh, she watched him walk away.

  “Do we?” Mitch asked.

  She started. “What?”

  “Have some talking to do.”

  She took a deep breath. “Yes, I think we do.”

  * * *

  MITCH FOLLOWED ANDI up the stairs, knowing she was leading him to the suite the women had been using for the wedding preparations.

  The overhead hall light struck her gold dress, making it sparkle, but he had already been dazzled by her the moment he’d seen her standing in the lobby.

  In the suite, a mountain of paperwork still covered the bed. She pushed some of it aside and took a seat. Mitch remained by the closed door.

  She linked her fingers and took a deep breath. “I’m glad you’re here tonight. I was so busy with Grandpa yesterday, I never even thanked you for everything.”

  “I don’t need any thanks. That’s part of what I do.”

  “Be a hero.”

  “I’m nobody’s hero, Andi. I’m just me. I sure found that out recently.” He shook his head, ashamed at how long it had taken him to discover the truth.

  “Tell me,” she said softly.

  Why was it so hard to do just that, to tell her he’d received as much help from her as he had tried to give? He sighed. “Look, I already explained I don’t do feelings. I’ve also always refused to let anything get to me, always thought I was invincible, I guess. What happened brought me to my knees, literally. That’s what taught me there aren’t any guarantees in life. And it tore me up with guilt. Not just over my partner, though that was most of it.”

  He crossed to the desk and took a seat close to her. He didn’t want to share the admission he was about to make, but if that was the road to progress, he was taking it.

  “After the incident, I believed I’d let down my family, too. My dad was always my hero. So was my granddad. You know he was on the force, too, before he retired?”

  “Yes. I remember. You once told me that was why you wanted to become a cop. Because of them.”

  He nodded. “That was partly it. Law enforcement is in my blood. It’s the only job I want to do. And I felt I let down my family and myself by not being the cop I should have been.”

  “You weren’t at fault.”

  “I know. Now. You helped me see I couldn’t have outtalked a fellow cop who was following his own gut feeling, especially when he pulled rank. It was a hell of a way for me to confirm I can trust my own instincts, too.” He smiled briefly. “But I can trust them, especially the one telling me to take the job with the sheriff’s department. What happened with Jed yesterday proved that to me. I didn’t become a cop for the thrill or danger of the job, but to serve and protect. Becoming a town sheriff satisfies that need.

  “As for my other needs...” He ran his fingertips down her cheek. “Andi, no woman but you will ever satisfy me. And I want to live the rest of my life right here—with you and our kids.”

  “Mitch—”

  “Don’t say it, please. I know how you feel about my job, but Cowboy Creek is a much safer place than LA to raise a family.” He held her gaze. “I’m not going anywhere, no matter what. And I’ll wait, no matter how long it takes you to feel ready to go forward with me. And if you’re never ready, I’ll still be waiting.”

  She sighed.

  His heart missed a few beats.

  Then she gave him a small smile. “While you were gone, I took your advice. I did a lot of thinking. And after you became our hero,” she said firmly, “I thought some more. And you’re right—there are no guarantees. I learned that with Grant. With my mom. On that ride in the ambulance with Grandpa. And when I thought I’d lost you—again.”

  He smiled. “Sounds to me like we’ve made some progress on both sides.”

  “We have. And I’m thankful you’re taking the job here in Cowboy Creek, for all the reasons you said.” She touched his cheek. “You’re a good cop, Mitch, and a wonderful man. And we’ve postponed our happy-ever-after long enough. I’m ready now. For always.”

  He got down on his knee beside the bed and pulled a small white box from his pocket.

  “Oh, no,” she cried in mock disappointment. “You’re not letting me choose my own ring?”

  “Where’s the romance in that?” He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear just for the chance to touch her again. “I love you. I always have.”

  Her eyes glistened.

  He flicked open the jewel box and showed her the ring inside, a diamond offset by two small blue sapphires. “You’re the diamond in the middle, Andi, and Missy and Trey are the stones on either side.” He slid the ring onto her finger. “I love you all. Will you marry me?”

  “Will you serve and protect us?”

  “You know I will.”

  “Will you love, honor and cherish us?”

  “I already do.”

  “I already do, too, Mitch. You know that.”

  “Yes, I do. But this engagement won’t be official until you give me your answer.”

  She laughed. He reached up to brush a tear from her cheek. “Yes,” she said. “We’ll marry you.”

  Epilogue

  Christmas morning

  His arm around Andi, Mitch stood near the Christmas tree in the Hitching Post’s sitting room. They had been engaged—for real, this time—for all of a day, and already he knew he was part of the Garland clan.

  Jed grinned at him from his seat near the fireplace. “I gather you’ll be here for Paz’s Christmas dinner this afternoon.”

  Mitch held Andi more snugly against him. “I plan to be around for all the holiday dinners from now on.”

  “And you’re really taking a deputy’s job in town?” Jane asked.

  “If they’ll have me.”

  “Oh, they will,” Jed promised. “I’ve got an in with the sheriff.”

  Paz set a glass on the small table by Jed’s elbow. “You forgot this in the dining room.”

  “Don’t fuss, woman,” he snapped. But he smiled up at her before taking a big gulp of water.

  He looked around the room at his family. Mitch could see the tears in his eyes. “You girls have made me proud,” Jed said gruffly. “The Hitching Post has been put on the map, with the first wedding going off without a hitch...so to speak.”

  All three of the man’s granddaughters laughed. Jed grinned at them. “I’ve outdone myself with this final matchmaking assignment, if I do say so myself. And thanks to Tina and Cole, I’m going to be a great-granddaddy once again.” He nodded in satisfaction. “Darned good work, for an old man with a dream.”

  Mitch knew not one of them in the room could disagree.

  He had a lot to be thankful for, too.

  His parents had been solidly behind his decision to apply for a deputy’s position. He had talked to his dad at the office, as he had told Andi he would. But first he had spoken to his mom.

  Nothing will make your dad happier than knowing you’re joining the department, too.

  And you?

  Sweetheart, you know I just want whatever will mak
e you happy.

  Coming home to Andi and the kids...to his families, old and new...to a job in Cowboy Creek... All that fit the bill.

  He even felt thankful for Jed’s matchmaking scheme.

  And when his bride-to-be led him to the sitting room door and the dangling sprig of mistletoe, he knew right down to his bones he was exactly where he belonged.

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from A CHRISTMAS WEDDING FOR THE COWBOY by Mary Leo.

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  A Christmas Wedding for the Cowboy

  by Mary Leo

  Prologue

  All at once the excitement of the rodeo came crashing in around Carson Grant, filling his senses with the familiar sights and sounds. The steady beat of loud, badass country music heightened his focus as he readied his bronc, Red Comet, for the ride. Every seat in the large arena was filled with enthusiastic fans who cheered, whistled and clapped as a decked-out Miss Rodeo, sitting high on a black stallion, raced from one end of the rodeo ring to the other holding up an American flag three times her size. She electrified the air and Carson thrived on the buzz. Even his horse, a deep-brown-colored mare, seemed to be fired up.

  “Easy boy,” he said as he firmly patted Red Comet’s neck. The horse blew out air, took a step back and turned his head slightly to check out Carson. Once the animal seemed satisfied with what he saw, he bent a knee and faced forward again.