The Cowboy's Rules (Cowboys After Dark)
Page 22
It had been decided that on Christmas Eve the residents of Horse Haven would celebrate privately, whether that meant staying on the ranch, or going out to celebrate with friends and family, but on Christmas Day, anyone who wished to attend was invited to Chad’s house for Christmas dinner.
The group turned out to be Jeb Beaumont, Hannah and Marty, Mandy by herself, Jennifer having a family obligation, and of course, Troy. As Chad stood at the head of the table, getting ready to carve the turkey, Mickey barking to hurry him along, he paused and looked across at the happy gathering. His heart was so swollen with joy he was almost speechless.
“Merry Christmas, and thank you for joining me. There are many gifts under that tree, but I have received more this year than any one man could ever wish for. Each of you has given me the gift of friendship, support and loyalty, and Cassie here, well, Cassie has given me the gift her love.”
Marty put his arm around Hannah and gave her a squeeze, and everyone raised their glass in a Christmas toast.
Food was consumed in copious amounts, Hannah surprised everyone with plumb pudding and custard sauce in honor of Troy, and the exchange of gifts that followed brought much laughter and delight.
When the happy group began to break up, Marty and Hannah were the first to leave, and after the door closed on the last guest, Chad took Cassie into his arms and hugged her tightly.
“This has been an outstandin’ Christmas,” he declared.
“Honestly, Chad, it’s the best I’ve ever had,” she beamed.
“I have another little present for you, but it’s something I need to take you to.”
“That sounds interesting,” she grinned, pulling back and looking up at him. “I have something for you too, but you can show me yours first.”
“Agreed. Grab your coat. It’ll be real cold out there.”
Pulling on the brand new, suede shearling coat Chad had just given her, she followed him out, Mickey running alongside, and jumped in the Range Rover. He slowly backed the car out on to the snowy road and moved slowly forward, headed towards the back of the property. It didn’t take long for Cassie to realize where they were headed; he was taking her up to the knoll. She’d asked him on several occasions to drive her back up there, but for one reason or another, it hadn’t happened.
“Is there a mystical moonrise, like the sunset?” she asked.
“Shush. You’ll find out in a minute or two. In fact, close your eyes.”
“I’m getting excited,” she sang, squeezing her eyes shut.
He started up the gentle slope, and she felt the car level out, then roll forward.
“No peekin’,” he reminded her, getting out of the car.
A moment later her door opened, and he took her elbow.
“Step carefully,” he said, helping her out, then guided her forward several steps. “Okay, you can look.”
Opening her eyes, she found herself staring at a small cabin, covered in Christmas fairy lights, and a huge, lit, Santa Claus standing on the small porch.
“Whaaat?” she gasped.
“Let’s go in,” she smiled, walking her forward.
Mickey raced ahead, and stood patiently waiting for them catch up, and taking her hand he led her through the door. She found herself inside a storybook room, complete with a queen size, canopied bed, and a natural rock fireplace that was alive with flame. A sofa, armchair and coffee table sat before it, and across the room in a corner, a small kitchenette with a breakfast nook completed the scene.
But the center point of the room was the huge picture window directly opposite the bed, that looked out over the lake and valley below.
“Chad, this is incredible,” she beamed. “Is this why Marty left before anyone else? To get up here and start the fire and everything?”
”Yep,” he grinned. “The bathroom’s through that door there,” he pointed. “It’s something. Go check it out.”
Walking quickly across the room, she opened the door and let out another gasp.
“A claw bath tub? I love it,” she exclaimed. “I just realized, this is the secret project.”
“Yep. Come on back here and sit down,” he drawled, a wry grin on his face.
Hurrying back she pulled off her coat, and sank down in the enveloping arm chair, looking up at him expectantly.
“You know, Cassie, when I met you, I thought you were the prettiest girl I’d ever seen,” he began. “You were a brat, but you were really cute when you were bein’ a brat, anyway…”
Cassie grinned.
He’s funny, he actually looks nervous but he doesn’t get nervous. I wonder where this is going.
“I still think you’re the prettiest girl I’ve ever met,” he continued.
“Thank you, Chad,” she smiled, and you are acting really weird.
“So anyway, this room, well this is gonna be the master bedroom of the house I’m buildin’ here.”
“With a kitchen,” she giggled.
“Sure, why not, of course we could always lose it if you want,” he stammered.
“What do you mean, if I want?” she frowned. “Are you asking me to help you design it?”
“Kinda,” he mumbled. “I makin’ a mess of this. The thing is, Cassie…”
“The thing is what? Is everything okay?”
“The thing is, I love you to pieces, and this is gonna be our bedroom, our house, that is, if you’ll, uh…”
Cassie’s heart rate abruptly accelerated at an alarming rate, and she was sure she could feel it bouncing around in her chest.
“Will you marry me?” he blurted out, and falling on his knees in front of her, he pulled a small black box from his pocket.
“Oh, my God,” she declared. “Is there a-a ring in there?”
“Well, yeah!” he nodded. “What else?”
“Aaargh,” she squealed.
Taking it from his hand she lifted the lid and stared in astonishment. Two tiny golden horse heads, noses touching, formed a heart, a single shimmering diamond set below them.
“It’s…”
“It’s what you drew, what we’ve been workin’ on, it’s us,” he said softly.
“I don’t know what to say,” she gulped.
“Yes, would be good.”
“Yes, of course, yes, yes, yes!” she cried, flinging her arms around his neck.
She hugged him, and kissed him, and cried, and hugged him again, then he slipped the ring on her finger.
“Can we stay up here tonight?” she asked.
“That was the idea,” he replied.
A short while later, as they were snuggled in bed, Mickey asleep in front of the fire, Cassie abruptly sat up.
“What is it?” he asked.
“Your other present. It's in the pocket of my coat.”
Chad jumped from the bed, hurrying across the room naked, and Cassie started laughing hysterically.
“What?” he asked, fishing around her pockets.
“I don’t know, I think it’s just sheer happiness.”
“Found it,” he exclaimed, holding up a black square box with a red ribbon, and rushing back into bed, he quickly untied the bow.
He wasn’t expecting what stared back at him.
It was a brass belt buckle that looked exactly like the engagement he’d just given her. Lifting it out, he saw small photographs of Bailey and Shelby sitting in the box.
“It’s them,” she whispered. “I had it made, like you had this incredible ring made.”
There were no words, just the intense, loving energy sparkling between them.
Watching from low in the sky, the Man In The Moon beamed his silver glow through the window, and smiled his blessing.
UPCOMING TITLES
The British Billionaire Bachelor Act III
The Romantic Dominant
Taming The Tomboy (After Dark Cowboys: Book 2)
PREVIOUS MAGGIE CARPENTER NOVELS
White Knight, Black Knight
The Rock Star and The Cowgirl
The British Billionaire Bachelor
The British Billionaire Bachelor Act II
The Spanking Psychiatrist
The Billionaire’s Daughter
Covert Cravings
Malibu Heat
Déjà Vu
An Eternal Flame (Déjà Vu: Book Two)
Elizabeth’s Education
The Inheritance (Elizabeth’s Education–Book Two)
Table of Contents
RAVE REVIEWS FOR MAGGIE CARPENTER
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
EPILOGUE
UPCOMING TITLES
PREVIOUS MAGGIE CARPENTER NOVELS