But she couldn't stop thinking about Rob and how strong he was.
One of Matt's hands came to rest over hers where she gripped the console. "He's not going to let anything happen to her," he repeated. "He loves her."
And then the memory that surfaced was of Trey at her kitchen table, head in hands, so relieved Scarlet was okay that he was in tears. Someone that loved her little girl that much wouldn't let Rob anywhere near her.
She'd been so wrong. About Trey, about everything.
Would he give her a chance to make it right?
Carrie was out of the truck before Matt shoved it into park.
"Wait up!" he called, but she couldn't.
There was a police car with lights on sitting at the curb, and as she was running to the doors, out came Randy Quaid in a dark blue suit, along with a uniformed officer. They were both escorting Rob out of the building in handcuffs.
Randy had a scrape across his cheek.
Rob was yanking against the cuffs and the men.
She stopped, hanging back in the shadows in hopes he wouldn't see her. She didn't want to argue with him, not right now, not when she was so worried about her baby.
When the two officers had him in the backseat of the patrol car, she rushed forward toward the doors.
Behind her, she heard Matt stop to talk to Randy.
"I'm not hurt," said the officer. "But he will be, for assaulting an officer."
Inside, red and green balloons and streamers covered the ballroom. Soft music still played, but no one was dancing. The men and little girls were clustered in small groups, all talking.
And there was Scarlett, pulling Trey by the hand toward her. "Mama, Mama!"
Trey’s eyes were soft and apologetic as they neared.
Scarlett threw herself at Carrie's legs, and she accepted the hug, patting the girl's back. "The bad man came, but Trey didn't let him get to me!"
Matt came up behind them and clasped Trey's hand, slapping his other arm. "You did good."
"I didn't do anything," Trey said with a shake of his head. His eyes hadn't left Carrie. "Got McClellan involved immediately."
Smart man. If he'd thrown a punch or even let Scarlett down, there was a chance Rob could've grabbed her up and made a run for it.
Everything that'd been whirling through her head since earlier today suddenly crystallized, and she knew she couldn't let this man go.
"C'mere, squirt." Matt grabbed Scarlett up in a hug, making her squeal and laugh, and leaving Carrie and Trey semi-alone, if you didn't count the curious faces all around the ballroom. Right now, she couldn’t care less about the people watching.
"Thank you for taking care of my baby," she whispered. If she spoke any louder, she'd burst into tears.
He nodded.
And she dared to ask for it all.
"Would you...would you take me home for Christmas?"
"Sure. I took off my jacket back at our table." His tie had come loose. "Let me grab it and my keys, and I'll drive you to your house."
"Not my house," she said, holding his gaze. "Take me home. To the Triple H."
Chapter 8
Chase sat in the barn with the foaling mare. Christmas Eve, and here was his celebration.
It wasn't a baby Jesus or anything, but this foal was important to him. He'd spent a good chunk of his savings on the mare last year, and she was a keeper, a gentle soul with lovely lines.
He leaned his head back against the stall as the familiar scents of hay and horses washed over him.
His phone buzzed at his hip and he took it out. The screen was too bright against his eyes, which had grown used to the darkened barn.
It was a text from Sarah. The local large animal vet and a friend from high school who he'd recently reconnected with.
Sarah: How's the mama-to-be doing?
He couldn't help smiling at the question. Sarah was a workaholic. She loved her job, and it showed, considering it was almost midnight and she was still checking on a patient.
Chase: It's still early. She's too calm for anything much to be happening.
He knew there wasn't anything he could do to rush this.
Chase: I thought you were at some fancy party? Thought you'd be out past your bedtime.
He knew vets got called out at all hours of the night, knew she usually was in bed before ten because of that.
The party was for her hotshot attorney fiancé, some shindig their law firm put on every Christmas Eve.
Sarah: I'm hiding out in the bathroom. These other wives and girlfriends are like barracudas.
Merry Christmas to her.
Although their friendship had fizzled the years she'd been away at vet school, it had rekindled over the summer and fall, when she'd been called out to the Triple H at different times.
He was a little worried about her relationship. Her fiancé didn't treat her right, as far as Chase was concerned. The man expected her to give up her life, her thriving vet practice here, to move to Austin when they got married.
And she'd agreed.
Chase knew she'd had a hard time during her childhood. Didn't know all the details, but they'd both been locals, and he'd heard gossip back then about her lowlife mom. And then she'd gone into foster care, into a group home during her teen years. Both she and her sister Kayla, who was also back in town, now owned a farm nearby.
Chase: Your gift's waiting for you when you get back.
Sarah: Please tell me it's not a bouquet of pencils.
The memory of the prank he'd pulled on her back in their sophomore year made him grin. On her birthday, he'd sent bouquets of number two pencils tied off with ribbon to each of her classrooms.
Chase: Not even close.
Cowboys didn't make all that much, and without an education, he didn't have many options. He loved being out in the open, loved the animals. So since he was short on cash, he'd had to use his hands. He'd crafted her a bird feeder out of weathered metal. He’d installed it earlier this afternoon, complete with a big red bow on top.
She'd once confessed to him—the night of senior prom when they'd both ended up in a greasy spoon diner instead of at the dance—that she'd often wished she could be a bird and fly away. Did she even remember that? He'd never forget it.
Chase: Merry Christmas.
Sarah: You too.
Carrie joined Trey in the darkened living room in the ranch house, where he sat on the floor in front of the unlit Christmas tree. She sat next to him and sucked in a breath of pine needles and man, only able to see shadows.
Matt was around, though he’d retired early to give her privacy. His fiancé Kelsey would join them in the morning. Carrie'd tucked Scarlett into her childhood double bed and would join the little girl there later. Tonight, after the scare they'd both had, Carrie needed to snuggle all night.
Nervous anticipation skittered along her nerve endings, lighting the hope that Matt's words from earlier were true.
"What're you doing?" Carrie whispered now, their knees bumping in the dark.
"Just listening," he returned, his voice a low murmur.
She strained her ears, trying to listen too. Texas wind rattled the windowpanes, and far off, there was the low of a cow. Around them, the old farmhouse settled and creaked.
These were the sounds of her childhood.
Did he miss being on the Triple H?
Finally, he shifted beside her, their elbows brushing as his back came to rest against the sofa, legs stretched out in front of him.
He broke the silence. "You asked me to stay for a while. What'd ya want to talk about?"
She didn't know if she could do this, but she jumped anyway.
"Matt said you'd stay on at the Triple H if I asked you, so I'm asking."
"I took that job in Grapevine."
Was he purposely misunderstanding what she was asking?
Her whole body was shaking. Anticipation? Fear of rejection? Probably both.
"I think you'll find more opportunities for adv
ancement here," she said, heart in her throat. "Like all the way to partner."
There was a beat of silence.
Her pulse thundered as he moved—away from her. There was a soft snick, and the tree lights went on. She blinked against the sudden brightness.
"Sorry 'bout that." He didn't sound sorry at all, but he was sitting down next to her again. "The dark was real romantic, but I think I'd rather see your face right about now. What exactly are you saying?"
She breathed in deep and went for broke. "I'm sorry for being so cowardly before. You've done nothing but prove your love for Scarlett...and for me." She swallowed hard, tears pricking her eyes. "And I threw it away. Can you forgive me?"
It was one of the hardest things she'd ever had to do, but she looked him right in the eye.
And read the softness and, yes, the love there.
"Of course I can," he said in his quiet, steady way. He cupped her jaw in his big hand and leaned in for a kiss, which she was more than happy to oblige him with.
The side-by-side angle was awkward, and he didn't seem intent on moving anytime soon. His arm came around her shoulders and settled her in more closely against him. That was fine with her.
"I know what happened tonight scared you," he started.
She shook her head. "This isn’t about that. It’s about everything. You being there for Scarlett. And for me, all this time. Even the guys you chose to send into the shop to ask me out. There wasn't a loser in the bunch of them."
"You deserve better than that."
"See?" She picked at the hem of her jeans. "I never stopped loving you, you know?"
His voice got a catch in it. "No, I didn't know." And he tipped her face up again for his kiss.
When they were both appropriately breathless and he'd whispered that he'd never stopped loving her either, she laid her head against his shoulder.
"So if you decide to stay on at the Triple H, I'm thinking maybe you could make partner by summer."
"You think so?" He sounded amused.
"If you still want—?"
"I want.” He pressed a kiss to her temple. “Merry Christmas to me."
The next morning, it was still so early, and they'd had so much excitement last night, that Scarlett hadn't woken yet to attack the pile of gifts beneath the tree.
Trey sat in a wooden kitchen chair as Carrie swung an old towel around his neck. She'd dunked his head beneath the faucet, and he was chilled from that. She wielded silver scissors and a black comb.
He'd told her he needed a haircut before the obligatory Christmas morning photos commenced. But that wasn't the real reason. He'd gotten his Christmas miracle after all, and he wanted to seal the deal.
The wall-mounted phone rang, and she stepped away to answer it before it woke Scarlett. He knew their time was short—kids always woke energetic on Christmas morning.
"Yes, this is Carrie. Yes." There was a long pause. "Oh. Okay." She sounded choked up. "Yes, thank you."
She hung up and rested one hip against the counter, turning to face him. "That was the police department. Apparently, Rob had an Arizona warrant out for his arrest. The officer didn't say what the charges were, but that they were pretty serious and he doubted Rob was getting out of them, since he'd jumped bail as well. So, it looks like I don't have to worry about him right now."
"Ever," he said, doing his best to convey his seriousness with his eyes.
She lit up, a smile spreading across her face. She rejoined him at the chair, lifting the comb and scissors.
He shifted in the chair, his prize hidden beneath his palms.
"Sit still," she warned. "You're as bad as a little kid, and I don't want you to have a chunk cut out of the top of your head."
He couldn't stop grinning. He'd gone to bed and been unable to sleep, buzzing with hope and anticipation.
Carrie loved him. And unless he was sorely mistaken, she wanted to get married.
She came around to trim the front of his hair, her mouth pursed in concentration the same way Scarlett's did.
Her eyes flicked down from his hairline to his face, and her lips twitched. "What's so funny?"
"Just can't seem to stop smiling this morning. Merry Christmas."
He'd meant to be more polished, but he opened his hands, and her glance flicked down to the black jeweler's box he held.
Her scissors and comb lowered. "What's that?"
"Christmas gift. I've had it since last year, and I figure it's about time to get rid of it."
He took the scissors and comb from her and set them away as she took the box with shaking hands.
"Carrie, I couldn't love you and Scarlett any more. Please, will you marry me?"
She glanced up at him, and her eyes were wet. "Are you trying to do better than my proposal from last night?"
He laughed, his hands coming to her hips. "No way. Just wanted to make sure I do this right."
He pulled her onto his lap.
"Oh, you're doing it right." She took the diamond solitaire out of the ring box and slid it on her ring finger before sliding her arms around his neck.
He kissed her, losing himself in the feel of her in his arms. He was as content as he’d ever been until Scarlett ran into the room, shrieking.
"You're kissing! Uncle Matt, they're kissing!"
Carrie broke their embrace with a laugh, pushing out of Trey's arms and off his lap.
Her ring winked in the light as she moved, and ever observant, Scarlett caught that too. "A ring? Uncle Matt!"
Scarlett ran out of the kitchen and into the living area, shrieking with joy.
Trey winced. "Is she gonna do that every time we have big news?"
"Of course. Don't get up. I'm not letting you go with half a haircut."
He was pretty sure that while they were kissing, she'd mussed it up so that no one would be able to tell, but he sat obediently in the chair, unable to wipe the smile off his face.
He was proud that she wore the same kind of goofy smile every time she passed into his line of sight.
Matt stood in the doorway, leaning his shoulder against the jamb and smiling at them. "I guess you worked things out."
Scarlett ducked under his arm and danced circles around them. "Santa's real," she sang. "Real, real, real."
He winked at her.
She stopped short, propping her hands on her hips. "Now what about a baby brother or sister?"
Dear Reader
Thank you for picking up COURTING CARRIE. After helping Gideon and Matt get their happily-ever-afters, it seemed only fair that Carrie have her turn! And I loved how Scarlett “helped”! I hope you’ll read on to the next book in the series, Stealing Sarah.
Thanks for reading!
Connect with me online:
www.lacywilliams.net
[email protected]
Stealing Sarah sneak peek
After an hour of forced smiles, Sarah was about done. She'd opened gifts—some of them gag gifts like the box of Depends. Not all, though. Her sister had given her a beautiful silver charm bracelet; another friend had gifted her a year of free oil changes and tune ups. That was a great gift, especially with how rough Sarah was on her truck.
She was worn out. Sleepless nights and long days, often out in the cold weather had worn her out. She was ready to leave.
A niggling feeling wormed its way to her consciousness.
Where was James? She'd had the fleeting thought when Jessie had mentioned the party that he would be here. It was a milestone birthday. Had Kayla invited him? Her sister and James didn't get along, but surely Kayla wouldn't have left him out.
She excused herself for a bathroom break, sneaking out the door in Kayla's master bedroom to the back patio outside. Just a few minutes, then she'd return to the party. She figured she had to eat at least one piece of cake before she could escape.
It was dark and cold enough that her breath puffed out in front of her, and she had fleeting thoughts of that morning. She forced herself to recognize
what was real. The moon was almost full and bright against the sky filled with stars. An owl hooted—maybe from Kayla's barn—and a whippoorwill called. In a distant pasture, a cow lowed. Just across the patio was the kitchen door.
This was not the same. She was safe here.
She wrapped her arms around her middle. She only had her sweater to protect her from the cool air.
Her phone buzzed from her pocket. Seriously, couldn't Kayla give her five minutes?
But it was James's name who lit up the screen.
She forced a cheerful note into her voice. "Hey!"
"Sarah, we need to talk." He sounded resigned, and unease filtered through her.
Perhaps he was tired from a long day in the office. His law practice often required eighty-hour weeks.
She wasn't one to talk, not with the hours she worked.
"If you're going to sing me the birthday song, I'll brace myself," she teased.
"It's your birthday? Of course it is," he mumbled.
Her heart thudded painfully and she swallowed hard. He'd forgotten her birthday completely? This was so much worse than him simply not showing up at the party.
She knew there'd been a disconnect between them lately. Even before the attack, there'd been something off. She'd thought that after the wedding in June, when she would move to Austin to be with him, it would go away. They’d grow closer, the way she’d dreamed they would since they’d met in college.
"Look, I'm sorry for the rotten timing, but I can't go on like this anymore." His words were cold through the phone line. Kind of like how she imagined him when prosecuting a case in front of a judge and jury. "I was going to do this last month, but then you'd had that scare."
A scare.
Yes, she'd certainly been frightened. Terrorized, even. She could've died. She wouldn't call it a scare.
"We both know this isn't working," he said flatly.
She'd thought she had time to fix things. "But, the wedding—"
"Sarah, there's not going to be a wedding.”
“You’re br-breaking it off,” she stammered, the inane statement falling from her lips as she struggled to understand. “Tonight?”
Courting Carrie: a Cowboy Fairytales spin-off (Triple H Brides Book 2) Page 7