“Like this?” Bailey asked, locking her lips to Brice’s every bit as much as she was locking their hearts together.
Working her hand inside his coat, Bailey rested it over his heart, loving the feel of the steady beat against her palm while Brice deepened their kiss. One strong hand cupped the back of her head while the other wrapped around her waist inside her coat. Lost in their love, in the wonderful sensations of their kisses, Bailey had never known such happiness and contentment.
Touching his forehead to hers, Brice ran his thumb along her lip and smiled.
“Why is it you think you need lessons?” Brice asked, trying to catch his breath. “You’ve made me nearly explode with your kisses more times than I can count.”
“I have?” Bailey asked innocently, unaware of the effect she had on Brice.
Brice released a choppy laugh. “More than once, you’ve driven me to the point of hanging on to my self-control by a frayed thread, my beautiful pumpkin-loving, analytical-thinking, dirt-digging girl. I love you, Bailey.”
“I love you, Brice,” Bailey said without hesitation, kissing Brice’s cheek and chin. “I love you with all my heart, and if your offer still stands to catch me, I’m more than ready to fall.”
“Sugar, you’ve already fallen,” Brice said, taking her lips captive with his as he breathed in her scent, basking in the warmth of her love. “We both fell the first time we laid eyes on each other. It’s just taken you this long to figure out I’ve caught you.”
“In that case, hold me tight and don’t ever let me go,” Bailey said, gazing into Brice’s face, loving every single laugh line, scar, and most definitely the mole by his tempting bottom lip.
“I’m not going to hold you tight, Bailey, it would stifle you,” Brice said, pulling her against his solid chest and rubbing his hand on her back as he held her close. “The next step is to learn how to fly. Together. I figure it’s going to take fifty or sixty years to master.”
“At least,” Bailey said, thrilled at the way her hand fit perfectly in Brice’s. She was very much looking forward to a lifetime spent with the man she loved. Putting her hands on either side of his face, she was guiding Brice’s lips to hers when a loud shout startled them both.
“Brice! Are you guys spooning again?” Cass yelled from the top of the hill. “Uncle Travis said to tell you to come up to the house before you wear out the bench down there. What are you doing? Are you kissing? Brice? Can you hear me?”
Bailey grabbed Brice’s collar and gave him a teasing grin. “I’d like very much to continue our lessons later. I’ll bring the ChapStick.”
“You’re on, sugar,” Brice said, kissing her soundly as they heard Cass and Ashley running down the hill. “We’ll start with lesson seven.”
“What’s lesson seven?” Bailey asked as she got to her feet, handing Brice his crutches.
“The proper way for a girl to kiss her future husband.”
###
For detail about the John Day Fossil Beds, go to:
http://www.nps.gov/joda/index.htm
If you are ever in the area and have time to visit even one of the units,
it is well worth your time.
If you’re looking for an easy, delicious pumpkin recipe - this is it! It comes together in a hurry and tastes even better the next day when all the flavors blended.
Pumpkin Trifle Mousse
1 box of gingerbread mix, baked
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 small box instant cheesecake pudding
2 cups milk
1 cup pumpkin pie filling
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 tbsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup caramel sauce
2 cups whipped cream
Toffee bits for topping (optional)
If you are making your own gingerbread, bake and let cool. You need about 2 cups of cake cubes. You can also use pound cake as a substitute.
Mix pudding with two cups of milk. Add in softened cream cheese and blend. Then mix in pumpkin and spices. Blend well and set aside for about five minutes. Whip up whipped cream, set aside. Cut cake into cubes and start layering in a trifle bowl, large glass bowl or individual glasses. You are going to do three layers, so use everything in thirds (guess-timates work just fine).
Top cake with pudding mixture then drizzle with caramel sauce. Spoon on a layer of whipped cream, then start again with a layer of cake. Finish with a layer of whipped cream. You can top with toffee bits and cinnamon or another drizzle of caramel and cake crumbs. Whatever strikes your fancy.
Find more recipes at savvyentertaining.com
Books by Shanna Hatfield
FICTION
The Coffee Girl
Learnin’ the Ropes
QR Code Killer
Grass Valley Cowboys Series
The Cowboy’s Christmas Plan
The Cowboy’s Spring Romance
The Cowboy’s Summer Love
The Cowboy’s Autumn Fall
The Women of Tenacity Series
The Women of Tenacity - A Prelude
Heart of Clay
Country Boy vs. City Girl
Not His Type
NON-FICTION
Savvy Holiday Entertaining
Savvy Spring Entertaining
Savvy Summer Entertaining
Savvy Autumn Entertaining
Available Now!
Savvy Autumn Entertaining - Ideas for fall party themes, tips for bringing autumn into your home and yummy fall recipes are included in this quick and easy guide for savvy entertaining at home!
From Savvy Entertaining's blogger, this book includes her favorite fall tips!
Coming Spring 2013!
The Cowboy’s New Heart - Years after her husband suddenly died, Denni Thompson can’t bear to think of giving her heart to anyone else.
With three newly married sons, a grandchild on the way, and a busy life, Denni doesn’t give a thought to romance until she meets the handsome new owner of Grass Valley’s gas station.
Former bull-rider Hart Hammond spent the last twenty years building up a business empire while successfully avoiding love. He buried his heart the same day he made his last bull ride and has vowed to never make the mistake of loving a woman again. Then he meets Denni Thompson, the beautiful mother of the fun-loving Thompson tribe.
Can a broken-hearted widow and a heartless cowboy find love?
Find out in Spring 2013 …
Coming for the 2012 Holiday Season!
The Christmas Bargain - As owner and manager of the Hardman bank, Luke Granger is a man of responsibility and integrity in the small 1890s Eastern Oregon town. Calling in a long overdue loan, Luke finds himself reluctantly accepting a bargain in lieu of payment from the shiftless farmer who barters his daughter to settle his debt.
Philamena Booth is both mortified and relieved when her father sends her off with the banker as payment of his debt. Held captive on the farm by her father since the death of her mother more than a decade earlier, Philamena is grateful to leave. If only it had been someone other than the handsome and charismatic Luke Granger riding in to rescue her. Ready to hold up her end of the bargain as Luke’s cook and housekeeper, Philamena is prepared for the hard work ahead.
What she isn’t prepared for is being forced to marry Luke as part of this crazy Christmas bargain.
Chapter One
Eastern Oregon, 1893
“I done told ya already, Luke, I ain’t got the money,” Alford Booth whined in a nasally tone that made Luke Granger tightly clamp his square jaw while a vein pulsed in his neck.
Slowly removing his hat and running his hand through his thick golden hair, Luke tried to keep his irritation with the man from showing. If Alford spent a little less time drinking and a lot more time working his land, they wouldn’t be having this discussion. Luke rued the day Alford had ever stepped foot in his bank and asked for a loan.
“I’ve extended all the time I can, Alford. You know the loan is
already ten months past due,” Luke said.
Alford stared at him a moment through glazed eyes before spewing a stream of tobacco juice that barely missed Luke’s boot.
“Well, ya know I planned to pay ya off after harvest. Weren’t my fault we had a drought this year and the crop failed. Weren’t my fault at all.”
Releasing a sigh, Luke leveled his icy blue stare on Alford. He was somewhat gratified to see the man grow uncomfortable and uneasy. “It’s never your fault, is it Alford? Always someone else’s fault, but you aren’t the only one who’s had a hard year. I’m sorry about that but you’ve got to make some form of payment.”
“Some form?” Alford asked with an odd glint in his eye that made Luke wary. “Ya mean ya’d take somethin’ other than cash?”
Luke thought carefully about his response. Alford would weasel his way out of the loan if Luke gave him an inch of finagling room. “It would greatly depend on what that something was.”
Alford smiled, revealing several missing spaces in his rotten teeth. “I’ll give ya my daughter. Will that settle the debt?”
“What?” Luke’s head jerked up, sure he misheard the drunken old coot. “What did you say?”
“Take my daughter. She ain’t much to look at, but she can cook and clean. She’s strong and can work all the day long. The girl ain’t too bright, though. Sometimes ya got to show her who’s boss, but a firm hand straightens her out in no time. Ya need a cook and housekeeper, don’t ya?”
Seething with disgust that the man would try to barter his daughter to settle his debts, Luke clenched the brim of his hat in his hands to keep from popping Alford with his fist. “That is not an acceptable payment, Alford. Not at all.”
“Then I guess I’ll give her to Cecil to settle my bill. He said he’d give me some cash besides. I can haul her in this evening after she cleans up the supper dishes and get ya yer money tomorra,” Alford said, scratching his rotund belly with a dirt-encrusted hand.
Luke was seeing red. He didn’t care how homely the girl was or how desperate Alford might be for cash, he couldn’t rationalize that a father would trade his daughter to Cecil Montague, the local saloon owner and keeper of the town’s “soiled doves,” to pay off his bills.
“I’ll take the girl,” Luke said, surprised when the words rushed out, wishing he could reel them back.
Alford smiled again and nodded his filthy head. “I’ll send her over to yer place tomorrow.”
“No,” Luke said, not trusting Alford to keep his word. “I’ll take her with me now.”
“But what about my supper?” Alford whined, suddenly realizing he’d be losing his own cook and housekeeper.
Luke stood to his full height of six-foot, three-inches, and towered over the sniveling man before him. “What about it?”
“Ah… well…”Alford said, fear filling his face as he backed away from Luke and the menacing look that was turning his blue eyes hard and cold. “I reckon I can make do.”
“I reckon you will,” Luke said, walking toward the house with Alford following along behind. When they got to the door, Luke waited for Alford to open it and go inside. Expecting filth and foul smells, Luke was taken aback by the clean, albeit shabby interior. Everything was neat and tidy and the delicious smell of stew filled the small cabin, making his mouth water. A tall figure, clad in a dress the color of dirt, leaned over a scarred table, setting down bowls and spoons. Her hair was covered with a kerchief, and a large white apron hid the rest of her.
“Philamena, ya remember Mr. Granger. He owns the bank in town,” Alford said, pointing to Luke as he ambled to the table and pulled up a chair.
The woman, who was painfully thin, cast a quick glance Luke’s direction, but never raised her eyes to his. She quietly nodded her head as she stood clasping her work-reddened hands primly in front of her.
Luke tried to think of the last time he had seen Philamena Booth. He vaguely recalled her as a happy, smiling child from school days, but being a few grades behind him, he hadn’t paid her any attention. She didn’t come to church, shop in town or, as far as he knew, ever leave the farm.
He remembered seeing her once when he rode out trying to collect on a loan Alford made a few years ago. She was out at the barn and ran to the house while he was dismounting. If memory served him correctly, she was garbed in an ugly dirt-colored dress then, too.
Luke tipped his head her direction, trying to reconcile himself to his decision. The last thing he wanted or needed was a timid scrawny woman on his hands. But he couldn’t exactly ride off and leave her, knowing her father was willing to turn her over to Cecil. No woman deserved that kind of fate.
“Ma’am,” Luke said, softly. “Pleasure to see you again.”
She barely nodded her head, then turned and got another chipped bowl from a cupboard and set it on the table. Alford motioned for Luke to sit down, which he did.
Pouring them both a cup of cold water, Philamena dished up heaping bowls of stew for the two men. Her bowl hardly had enough in it to feed a bird, causing Luke to study her. She ate with fine manners, her back straight as a rod while her father shoveled in his meal like it was the last one he’d have.
When his bowl was empty, Alford banged it once in Philamena’s direction then burped loudly. She got up from the table and filled his bowl with the remains in the stew pot before quietly returning to her seat.
Finished eating, Alford scratched at his scraggly beard then glanced Luke’s direction. Luke offered a cool glare that seemed to loosen Alford’s tongue.
“Daughter, Mr. Granger has come to collect on his loan and seein’ as how we can’t pay, he agreed to settle for somethin’ else. Get yer stuff, yer leavin’ with him.”
Philamena’s head shot up and she stared at her father, unmoving. From his seat at the table, Luke could only see her profile, but imagined the look of shock that had settled on her face.
“Ya heard me, gal. Clean up them dishes then get yer things.” Alford drained his water cup and set it on the table with a thunk.
“But, Pa…” she said. Luke was surprised by the soft, husky voice.
Leaning her direction, Alford sneered and raise his hand menacingly. “Don’t ya start that sass with me. Get to it.”
Philamena ducked her head, gathered up the dishes and washed them without saying a word. She disappeared behind a curtain and was soon back with a small bundle tied up in a burgundy and green quilt.
Luke stood from the table, pinning Alford in place with an irate glare. Turning toward Philamena he felt more pity for the woman than words could express. He couldn’t begin to imagine how awful it would be to live with a man like Alford.
“May I help you with your coat, miss? The ride back to town might be chilly,” Luke said as he stepped next to Philamena. Although she was dressed in dowdy, shabby clothes, they were pressed and clean. That told Luke a lot about her sense of personal pride. Someone at some point had taught her well.
“She ain’t got a coat. No need for one since she don’t go nowhere. Too homely for any man to come courtin’. She’ll be fine. Wouldn’t be the first time out in the cold for her,” Alford said, picking his teeth with a straw he’d pulled out of his pocket.
Luke swallowed down the rage that was boiling inside him at a man who treated his animals better than his own flesh and blood.
“We best get on the road, then,” Luke said, opening the door for Philamena, who hesitantly took a step through. She turned, for just a moment, to give her father one last glance, then walked out toward Luke’s horse that stood tied to the one section of the yard fence not tumbling down.
Before following her out the door, Luke stared meaningfully at Alford. Although he didn’t know a thing about Philamena, he’d seen enough to know she was being abused at her father’s hand. “Let’s make one thing perfectly clear. I’ll consider your debt paid but only if you never, ever come near your daughter again. Understood?”
Alford gave him a surprised look before nodding his head.
“I’m right glad to finally be rid of the troublesome snit. After twenty-seven years, she finally turned out to be worth somethin’.”
Luke stalked out the door and slammed it with enough force to break the windows that weren’t already cracked before he gave in to his urge to beat some sense into Alford.
Placing his hat on his head, Luke ate up the ground to his horse Drake in a few long-legged steps. Removing his coat, he draped it around Philamena’s thin shoulders. Untying the reins, Luke mounted in one smooth motion. He took the sorry little bundle of belongings from Philamena and hung it from his saddle horn before leaning down and offering her his hand. She took it without looking into his face and swung up behind him. He was somewhat taken aback by her agility and ease around a horse.
Riding back toward town, Luke tried to keep a conversation going but it was difficult when all he received was “yes” or “no” responses whispered against his back. He expected Philamena to hold onto his waist and sag against him in relief at being rescued. Instead, she held herself stiffly away from him, a firm grip on the back of his saddle keeping her seat on the horse.
Giving up on talking to her, he instead thought about the mess he’d gotten himself into as he tried to keep his teeth from chattering in the frosty chill of the November evening. What was he going to do with Miss Philamena Booth?
<><><>
Philamena had been waiting thirteen years to be rescued from the prison her father called home. When her mother passed away giving birth to a stillborn boy, her father changed from a loving, caring man into a drunken, dirty tyrant.
The last time he allowed Philamena to leave the farm was when she turned sixteen. She went into town for her birthday and bought a hair ribbon the same shade of green as her holly-colored eyes. Philamena saved up her meager pennies for months and hid the money from Pa. Begging and pleading to go to town, he finally relented.
The Cowboy's Autumn Fall Page 30