Wild West Christmas: A Family for the RancherDance with a CowboyChristmas in Smoke River

by Jenna Kernan

“A job?” Franklin echoed, his voice coated with sarcasm. “You have a job back home.”

  “I’m fully capable of deciding where I want to live.” Was it Garrett’s imagination or did he detect slight desperation in her tone?

  Franklin snorted. “You’ve proved you can manage on your own. I take it that was the point in all this.”

  Garrett had heard enough. Seemed the man wasn’t used to taking the word no for an answer. He held out his hand to Kathleen. “I hate to break up this reunion, but you promised me one more dance. I’ll collect on that now.”

  Before Franklin could object, Garrett pulled Kathleen into his arms. The fiddler struck up another tune—a slow box step. Good. Anything faster and they wouldn’t be able to talk. Tension radiated off her. What she needed was quiet—and maybe a little holding—in which he’d be glad to oblige, but he needed answers first. “How do you know that man?”

  “My sister’s husband, Franklin Farthington.” She hesitated slightly in her dance step and pulled back to look up at him, her expression puzzled. “I didn’t promise you anything about a dance.”

  He grinned. “Seemed the easiest way to frustrate good ol’ Frank.”

  A hint of a smile lifted the corners of her mouth. “He’s not one to trifle with. He’s a powerful man. And can be persuasive.”

  “But he’s not your husband. Which means he has no right to force you to go anywhere.”

  She was quiet at that.

  “Do you want to go back?” He had to be sure. It had to bother her, having her mother and sister worrying. “What’s really going on here, Kathleen?”

  From her expression she seemed to be thinking mighty hard. After the music’s second refrain, she met his gaze. “I don’t want to leave, Garrett. This is my home now.”

  Garrett stopped dancing. “Clear enough.” He started toward the man.

  Kathleen grabbed his sleeve. “Please don’t make a scene.”

  He patted her hand and then extricated himself. “You stay here.”

  He strode up to Franklin. “This is a community dance and last I knew you were not a part of this community. I’ll ask you to leave.”

  Franklin smirked. “I’m not going without Kathleen. She needs to come with me. Her daughter, too.”

  Garrett took hold of his arm. The bulge beneath the man’s shoulder warned of a weapon. Garrett whipped him around and forced him through the doorway. Behind him, a few ladies gasped at the sudden commotion.

  Franklin fumbled for the gun—which now resided in Garrett’s grip.

  “I’m not so slow as to let you get the upper hand, mister.” Garrett pushed him forward toward a fancy carriage. “I figure this one is yours.”

  “Don’t you think I see what’s going on?” Franklin snarled, but he climbed onto the seat. “If Kathleen doesn’t come with me now, she’ll never be welcome back in her own home. Her father barely will take her back as it is.”

  Garrett emptied the bullets from the derringer into the dirt and then held up the gun. When Franklin leaned down for it, Garrett grasped his collar, pulling him close. “Don’t you ever call her character into question again. She’s a Sheridan, and as such, you’ll give her the respect she’s entitled to. Now get!” He shoved Franklin away. Grabbing the bridle on the lead horse, he pulled the conveyance around to face the road to San Diego. He let out a loud whistle and slapped the animal’s rump with the flat of his hand.

  Startled, the horse took off at a gallop.

  Garrett turned. Paul, Eduardo and Lucy stood at the door flanking Kathleen, their faces set in determined anticipation should he have need of their help. That extended to Kathleen now, he realized, and was thankful for it. He strode over to her. “I’ll get your cloak.”

  “I’d like that,” she said, her voice shaking.

  Outside, a fairy ring haloed the full Christmas moon. He carried Lily and hadn’t taken more than five steps when she laid her head on his shoulder. They crossed the main road before Kathleen spoke.

  “Thank you, Garrett. Thank you for everything.”

  “Should I expect a bullet in my back?” He wasn’t afraid, just trying to jostle her out of her worried mood. It worked.

  She smiled. “Franklin is not a violent sort, but you may notice a few restaurants in the city that won’t buy your beef in the future. He’ll go back to my family, they’ll throw up their hands that I’m beyond redemption now and perhaps will leave me be until spring.”

  “That include your father?”

  She shook her head. “My father is done with me. That’s why Franklin came. Not him.”

  They passed the large wooden doors of the livery and turned the corner, and then walked by the Krueger and the Vancini homes—still dark since both families were at the dance. When they reached Molly’s, he stopped on the porch. A small animal scuffled over his boot and rounded the corner of the house.

  Kathleen stood on tiptoes to see her daughter’s face. “Lily is half-asleep. She looks so content I hate to move her, but I’ll take her now.”

  He wrestled Lily around and into Kathleen’s arms, all the while wishing he could just take the sleepy child to the back room and tuck her in. But he understood. Kathleen had to be careful of “talk,” and that meant staying outside in full view—even if the only ones getting a good view were the moon and the hoot owl in the old pine.

  “Will you wait?”

  He nodded, wondering what more she had on her mind. She disappeared into the shadows of the house.

  Five minutes later, she stepped outside.

  “All snuggled in,” she said, speaking of her daughter. Quietly, she closed the door. The light from the moon changed her hair to silvery white and lent her face a translucent quality. She looked like he supposed angels must.

  “For weeks you have been underfoot—making sure Molly had firewood, making sure the roof was sturdy for the winter snow, walking me home.”

  “Guess I feel a certain responsibility to you and Lily.”

  “Is that what it is, Garrett?”

  He swallowed. That and more. “Yes.”

  Kathleen looked away. “I thought...” She sighed.

  “What?”

  “Do you remember that time in Satterly’s barn?”

  His breath hitched and he glanced at her lips. “That was a long time ago.”

  “But you remember.”

  “Yes.” That kiss had seared him with her sweetness. Fumbling, tentative, he’d known it was her first. It had all but carved her initials on his heart.

  He studied her, the upturn of her nose, the way she’d twined the red ribbon in her hair. Small touches...feminine touches. He could smell the soap she’d used in her hair mixed in with the scent given off by the pines surrounding them. Awareness of her raced through him and set his skin to tingling.

  “People make assumptions about widows. Other men would have expected...something...in return for all the hard work they did around here, but you haven’t asked for anything from me.”

  “I asked to see Lily.”

  “That’s not what I mean.”

  “I know.” He stared at her, wanting her more in that moment than he could admit. Brother-in-law or not, she was a beautiful woman inside and out. He tried to remember why he’d stayed away. For his own sanity, right? It became harder and harder to think straight with her so close. “I’m no saint, Kathleen. Don’t make me out to be.”

  “I don’t think I am.” She stepped toward him.

  Something inside slid into place, as if it had been off-kilter for half of his life. She tilted her head back to look up at him with her eyes half-closed. She looked for all the world like a woman who wanted a kiss...his kiss.

  Refusing her never entered his thoughts. Slowly, mindful that his heartbeat pounded loud in his ears, he removed his hat an
d lowered his mouth to hers.

  * * *

  His lips, warm and tender, molded to hers, and she felt as though, at long last, this was where she was supposed to be. In his arms. Safe. Protected. The utter gentleness of his touch, his soft nibble at her lower lip made her tremble. For the first time in her life, she felt cherished.

  Currents of pleasure pulsed through her. This kiss was all Garrett. Gentle but firm. Strong and sure. And she wanted it to last. The wanting, the need, became an ache low inside her. He wasn’t one to give his affection lightly. On that realization, she pulled back. What was she doing? How could she hope to measure up?

  His face came into view. He looked as stunned as she felt. For a heartbeat, neither spoke.

  “What’s going on here, Kathleen? What is it you want?”

  She touched her finger to his lips. Shook her head. Her feelings, her thoughts were all jumbled inside. “I don’t know.”

  A muscle ticked in his cheek.

  “I’m...”

  “Confused?”

  She nodded. “I feel as though I’m being disloyal to Josh.”

  “That was a long time ago...but...I know how you feel. I feel it, too.” He let out a long breath and rubbed the back of his neck. “We’ll take this slow. Figure it out as we go. You can pull the reins anytime. That suit you?”

  Relief flooded through her.

  “I’ll stop by tomorrow. After chores.” He didn’t move to leave.

  She should go inside, she knew that. But...one more light kiss...just one... She stood on her tiptoes and started to press a kiss to his cheek when he turned his face and captured her lips once more. This time any pretense of sweetness was gone. A rawness she’d suspected but never seen in him had him pulling her hard against him and pressing his warm mouth to hers, destroying any illusion that all he wanted was platonic.

  Inside, an answering desire gripped her, overwhelming and turbulent. She pushed against his chest.

  He pulled back immediately, raked his fingers through his hair, slowed his breathing.

  “I should go inside.”

  He slipped on his hat. “Tomorrow?” And he waited as if he half expected her to reject him.

  She nodded. “Tomorrow. Good night, Garrett.”

  She entered the house and shut the door. Placing her forehead against the cool wood, she listened to the sound of his footsteps fading away. Then she sat down in the rocking chair. Her body still thrummed from his kiss.

  She loved him—had loved him for weeks now and possibly since way back, before Josh, when she’d first thought to kiss him in the barn. She hadn’t recognized it at first. This love was so different from the rush of emotions she’d felt for Josh. This was deeper, stronger, steadier, and she knew in her heart it would burn longer. And that scared her.

  Seeing Franklin had cleared things up. She hadn’t measured up before. Not in her parents’ eyes. Not in Josh’s eyes. As hard as she’d tried, they’d never been satisfied. Dare she open herself to that hurt again?

  She couldn’t stand to let Garrett down. To see in his eyes the disappointment she’d seen in Josh’s. And if he tired of her like Josh had—what then?

  Now all she had was Lily and herself. Maybe it would be best to keep it that way. She’d be free to raise Lily as she wanted. Free to live her own life. She could almost picture it. Alone. Independent. No one would expect any more of her.

  Only she would.

  Deep down she knew. She expected more. She wanted more. For herself. For Lily. A real family.

  She closed her eyes and rocked. Remembering Garrett’s first kiss...and then remembering the second.

  She wanted more. She wanted...Garrett.

  Surely with Garrett it could be different.

  Chapter Nine

  Snow fell that night and into the next day. A good amount. Enough that the road from the ranch to town was impassable.

  Garrett couldn’t stand it.

  He wanted to see Kathleen. To talk to her. Be with her.

  Instead, once the snow finished pelting down that afternoon, he loaded the wagon with hay and hitched up the oxen, then drove them out to the meadow. Standing atop the flatbed, he scattered the hay over the ground. The cattle pushed close, fighting to get the choicest stalks, bellowing until they were satisfied.

  He straightened, stretched his back and looked out over the rolling hills, now covered in white. He knew every rock, every oak tree that dotted the meadow. The snow had started just after the dance. By the time he and his folks had made it back to the house, a good three inches had fallen—one for each mile from town. And then it had continued on through the night.

  He loved this ranch. Had always planned to start a family here. Maybe build a house near his folks. He was the one who would stay. Josh had always talked of leaving. Always wanted to see far-off places. Josh craved constant change...adventure. He never did get his wish.

  And now Garrett could think of nothing but his brother’s wife. Something about that didn’t set right with him. Maybe in Bible times men married their brother’s wives to keep them safe and to keep the children protected. People didn’t do that anymore. Not that he cared what people would think...but Kathleen might. Especially if it affected Lily.

  He stopped of a sudden. Marriage? He was thinkin’ marriage after one...no two...kisses?

  But a woman like Kathleen didn’t just give out kisses. The way she’d responded—there was something between them. Something strong. He’d felt it long ago, but then Josh had intervened and pushed his way into Kathleen’s life.

  He’d hated his brother for that. That hate had eaten at him for a long time. It took a while for him to realize Josh was grasping for Ma and Pa—even himself—to notice him. That was why he joked all the time. Quiet praise or admonition fell on deaf ears. His brother had been bigger than life and needed bigger-than-life attention and excitement. If it hadn’t come to him, then Josh had gone after it or created it. The day-to-day life on a ranch had stifled him. Still, it didn’t excuse him from stealing the one girl Garrett had ever cared about. Josh, who all the girls liked, who could get any girl he wanted. Why’d he have to go after Kathleen?

  He finished distributing the hay and reined the oxen back toward the barn. Maybe it was a good thing the snow had made travel impossible. He needed the time to figure a few things out. By the time he got back to the ranch and had unsaddled Blue, he had a grip on what he wanted to do.

  “I’m going to marry her. My mind’s made up,” he said, striding into the parlor. “I want to bring Kathleen here until I can build a house.”

  Ma stoked the fire in the grate and then straightened, turning to him. “Then you know what you have to do. Marriage is too important to go into it with secrets.”

  Which meant he had to tell her his part in Josh’s death.

  Emotions stirred inside. His chest tightened. The things he’d said to Josh. The fight they’d had...over Kathleen. He’d hated the way Josh treated her. How he’d stepped out on her, not thinking about her feelings or caring who knew. Garrett could still hear his brother’s cynical laugh when he’d told him to go home and take care of his wife. Josh had dug his heels in even further, like any Sheridan would have done, and drank till daylight crept into the saloon.

  “It wasn’t your fault.”

  When had Pa come into the room? He didn’t want anybody, especially his own kin, letting him off easy. “I could have done things differently.”

  “Josh was hell-bent on kickin’ up his own trouble. Remember that. He was grown with a baby on the way. It was his decision to act like he did. He’s the one who made the wrong choice. You’ve got to let go of the notion you helped his death along.”

  Garrett blew out a long, slow breath. As much as he didn’t want absolution for his part in Josh’s death, he still needed to h
ear that his folks understood, that they’d support him if he needed them.

  Unshed tears glistened in his mother’s eyes. “Like I always said...we’re family. Through whatever may come.”

  “I want Kathleen to have that, too.”

  “She does, son,” Pa said. “But she has to be the one to accept it.”

  He closed his eyes. “All right,” he heard himself say. “All right.”

  * * *

  Kathleen stared out the frosty window, wondering for the thousandth time what Garrett was doing right at that moment. Eight inches of snow covered the ground, with more falling. Two days of it! Hers had been the only footsteps disturbing the carpet of white when she’d traipsed the half mile to the bakery that morning to fire up the ovens. The warmth in the shop was a welcome relief compared to outside. Even the few brave souls that had ventured out for bread and baked sweets had tarried a while inside to warm themselves. She thanked Garrett silently for the fifth time that morning that he’d had the foresight to store up a veritable fortress of chopped wood for Molly.

  But truth be told, she wasn’t thinking about wood that much. No...what she couldn’t get out of her mind was Garrett’s kiss. Soft, warm and gentle at first, and then changing. With the thought of how insistent it’d become, how it had stirred things to a frenzy deep in her belly, she felt her cheeks warm. She wanted that kiss again with a desire so strong it took her breath away.

  Sue glanced up from rolling pie dough. “You were having a good time Saturday night.”

  Kathleen’s cheeks warmed even more.

  Sue laughed. “No need to be shy about it. You had one of the most eligible bachelors watching over you all night.”

  “What will people think? Him being Josh’s brother?”

  “I think it shouldn’t matter. But to let you know, most the folks around here are happy you’re back. And they’re glad Garrett is looking out for you. You’re the one making it complicated.”

  “I’ve got my daughter to think about.”

  “You’ve got your own happiness, too. Don’t forget that. Lily will know if her mother’s unhappy.”