Cowboy Christmas Read online

  How was it even possible that she’d fallen so hard so fast? She supposed that she had been infatuated and had admired him from a distance for a year because he appealed to her physically. In addition, he had earned her respect because of his invaluable service to the community. Plus, he had a wry sense of humor and he was an amazingly skilled and considerate lover. Tori was certain she could spend the next hundred years with him—

  “May I cut in?” Priscilla asked during the second waltz, after her father invited everyone to dance.

  Logan studied Tori questioningly. It was her call, she knew. He was here for her. The realization made her love him even more.

  “Of course.” Tori backed from Logan’s powerful arms. “Handle my sister with care. She means a lot to me.”

  Logan winked and said, “I just hope she can count.”

  Tori made it halfway to the refreshment table before Randolph swaggered over, as if he were God’s gift to women.

  “This is the perfect time for us to become better acquainted,” he purred as he snaked his arm around her waist to give her a suggestive squeeze.

  Tori bent his wrist backward until he grimaced in pain. “I didn’t like you when I first met you and I think even less of you now that I know you. The only reason I’m tolerating your presence is that it’s Christmas. If you make my sister unhappy, I will sic my husband on you. He will have my orders to crush you like the roach you are.”

  “You always did have a sassy mouth,” Randolph scowled. “Too bad it overshadows the fact that you’ve become amazingly attractive the past two years.”

  She flashed him a mocking smile and said, “You’ve become less attractive with each passing year. I think it’s due in part to your noticeable lack of character. For the life of me, I cannot fathom what you think you have to be arrogant about, either. Now go away, Randy. You’re bothering me.”

  Take that, she thought as she left him standing by the refreshment table, gaping at her in astonishment.

  Chapter Six

  “Whew, I’m glad that’s over,” Logan gushed in relief, and then closed the bedroom door so he could remove the cravat that felt like a hangman’s noose around his neck.

  He glanced at Tori who stepped behind the dressing screen to change into her nightgown. When she emerged, his thoughts stalled out. The overwhelming feelings of desire that destroyed his self-control the previous night flooded over him again. He made a noble attempt to stay where he was but Tori walked over to unbutton his shirt then cast it carelessly aside.

  “Have you forgotten what happened last night?” he asked as she unbuttoned his breeches.

  “No, it’s all I’ve been able to think about while playing nice to my parents’ guests.” She grinned impishly at him then added, “I fully intend to get my money’s worth for hiring a pretend husband.”

  He sucked in his breath when she glided her hand inside the open placket of his breeches. Logan swore the top of his head was about to blow off when she caressed him, arousing him to the extreme.

  A string of discarded clothing—his and hers—led the way across the room. They tumbled across the bed in their haste to get their hands on each other. Tori spread a row of moist kisses over his shoulder then shook her head when he tried to snuff the lantern. When he turned back to stare questioningly at her, she kissed him with the kind of hungry impatience he knew and understood because it was hammering away at him. He nearly blacked out when she kissed her way down his chest and belly to brush her open mouth over his pulsating arousal.

  He gasped for breath then groaned in defeat while she seduced him one exotic kiss and caress at a time. He couldn’t resist her touch and he no longer cared if his conscience railed at him until his ears burned. Tori’s gentle lovemaking compensated for every gift he’d done without at Christmases past. He would gladly relive those lonely holidays if they paved a path to her arms. She bombarded him with sensations that spun his world off its axis and left his body quivering with ineffable pleasure.

  “You are killing me, woman,” he gasped as another frayed strand of self-restraint escaped his grasp.

  “Am I? I swore I died at least twice last night,” she murmured against his throbbing flesh. “You should know that I have every intention of compensating for all I’ve been missing these past few years.”

  “I swear I’ve unleashed an irresistible, seductive siren.” Logan wrapped his hand in her long hair, using it like a rope to draw her face to his.

  He kissed her ardently, and he could taste his own desire for her on her lips. The intimacy of the moment sent him toppling over the edge into wild abandon. He hooked his arm around her waist and set her above him. His breath came out on a ragged sigh as she sank down upon him and he became the pulsing flame inside her.

  “This is where I want to be for Christmas,” he said as he moved erotically against her. “All I want is you.”

  Logan wasn’t even aware that he had voiced the confession until the words echoed around him. When she smiled down at him then wiggled suggestively above him, he didn’t care that he’d given himself away. And why not? He’d given all he was—the best of what he was—to Tori already.

  After all, a man could fall no farther when he was already at the bottom of his heart.

  When Tori awoke Christmas morning, she could feel Logan’s warm strength beside her. She smiled contentedly at the thought. Opening one eye, she noted Logan had propped his head on his hand. He’d been staring down at her, waiting for her to wake up.

  “Merry Christmas. I’ve never said that to anyone, first thing in the morning.” He frowned pensively. “Maybe, Gabe, but this is a lot different.”

  Tori didn’t know why she felt sentimental suddenly, but his comment touched her. Impulsively she levered herself up to give him a loud, smacking kiss on the lips. “Merry Christmas to you, too. I’ve never said that, first thing in the morning, to anyone but you, either. But then, I’ve never been in—”

  She clamped her mouth shut before she blurted out her affection for Logan. She didn’t want him to feel awkward or pressured before they descended the steps to unveil the traditional Christmas tree and gifts that her parents insisted on saving until Christmas morning.

  He arched a curious brow. “What were you saying?”

  Flushing, she grabbed the edge of the sheet, wrapped herself in it then bounded to her feet. Logan didn’t move, just lay there—naked. She stared appreciatively at his masculine physique. Every sensible thought flew out of her head, replaced by the erotic memories they had made last night.

  “I forgot what I intended to say. Seeing you naked does that to me,” she hedged as she turned her back to him.

  “Tori…?”

  She flapped her arm at him. “Don’t distract me again. I need to dress and so do you. Timothy will be anxious to open his gifts. I don’t want to keep him waiting.”

  “What’s the traditional procedure?” Logan asked as he rolled off the bed to freshen up.

  “We wait in anticipation while Father opens the door to the sunroom. He keeps it locked up tight until Christmas morning. Then we ooh and ahh over the magnificent tree and the decorations. Next, we open gifts then we have a light breakfast in the sunroom. Then we retire to our rooms to dress for an early lunch feast.”

  Logan nodded as he buttoned himself into one of his new shirts. “This is nothing like my usual tradition of crawling from bed to meet Gabe at jail for coffee. If it’s an uneventful day without crime, we entertain ourselves by playing checkers or poker.”

  Tori moved swiftly across the suite. She wrapped her arms around him from behind then nuzzled her cheek against his muscled back. She suddenly felt petty for complaining about her family and dragging him along to redeem herself in her parents’ eyes. For better or worse, she had a family and Logan had none at all. Because of her charade, she had left Gabe Horton with no one to greet on Christmas Day.

  “What’s that for?” he asked as he turned in her arms.

  “Must be the season tha
t’s getting to me.” She displayed an overly bright smile and blinked back the mist of tears that welled up in her eyes. “I know I’ve asked a lot of you, but I’m glad you’re here with me. Next year, we are going to include Gabe. Somehow or other. I don’t want to leave him out. We’ll form our own family in Lone Ridge.”

  Logan chuckled as he dropped a kiss to her lips. “If you’re baking for the holidays then count me in.”

  The impatient pounding at the door prompted them to glance sideways.

  “Uncle Logan? Aunt Tori! Come quickly! Santa Claus has been here!”

  “Yes, I know,” Tori called out to her overanxious nephew then smiled mischievously. “I saw him last night.”

  Logan grinned conspiratorially at her then said, “We’ll be there in one minute, Timmy. Count on it.”

  Logan swore his eyes nearly popped out of his head—same as Timmy’s—when Franklin swung open the door with a dramatic flair to reveal the monstrous pine tree encircled by yards of shiny tinsel and decorated with hand-carved and hand-painted ornaments. In addition, teacup-size cakes of various flavors dangled from the tree limbs. Candles flickered, casting fascinating shadows on the tree. The morning sun glowed molten gold through the windows, giving the tree an incandescent, supernatural quality, the likes of which Logan had never seen. The peaceful silence that filled the room made it seem as if the world stood still to announce the existence of a presence beyond their understanding.

  He surveyed the delighted expression on Timmy’s face then he appraised the adults who smiled appreciatively at the splendid tree. Something unfamiliar tugged at his heart and he reached over to clasp Tori’s hand. Her glistening evergreen eyes reminded him of the lighted Christmas tree. He swore, until the day he died, he’d never get through another Christmas without thinking of the enthralling expression that encompassed her lovely face.

  His heart contracted and a lump clogged his throat when she turned that dazzling smile on him then gave his hand an affectionate squeeze. Unconcerned about what was considered inappropriate behavior in the Thurston house, he leaned down to kiss Tori, right smack-dab in front of her family. To his relief, his supposed in-laws merely smiled indulgently.

  “There is nowhere I’d rather be except here with you this morning,” Logan whispered for her ears only. “You’re the best Christmas I’ve ever had.”

  Timmy, at the end of his patience, yelped excitedly then bounded toward the gaily-adorned packages that awaited him. Logan wondered if the boy would ever appreciate how good he had it. For sure, Logan would never forget this special Christmas. He had become part of a family.

  While Timmy played with the toys his parents and grandparents had given him, Logan pulled the small box from his pocket then handed it to Tori. She frowned, bemused.

  At his urging, she opened the box. Her mouth dropped open wide enough for a partridge to roost. She gaped at the delicate emerald ring that matched the gold band Logan had purchased for her in Purple Sage Hollow.

  “When? Where?” she bleated in amazement as he slipped the ring on her finger.

  “Yesterday, while your father gave me the grand tour of Fort Worth,” he reported. “The ring reminded me of the color of your eyes.”

  Tori blinked rapidly, trying not to cry and reduce herself to sentimental mush. The moment she glanced at her sister, who was trapped in a loveless, arranged marriage, Tori fully appreciated her own marriage, pretend though it was. Her time with Logan overflowed with enjoyment, amusement, passion and happiness.

  When she handed Logan his gift, he unwrapped it quickly then gave her another kiss. She was certain her family believed her marriage was real because Logan played his part as the devoted, adoring husband to the hilt.

  “You always know what I want,” he said as he brushed his thumb over the gold pocket watch. “I’ll never lose track of time so I can come home to you.”

  While Timothy and Cilla untied the small cakes and Tori brought in the tray of coffee, she surveyed the sunroom with a newfound appreciation. No matter what childhood disappointments she’d endured. No matter what differences of opinions, conflicts of personalities or unreasonable expectations, this was her family. And family was family. She knew she could count on these people for assistance if necessary, just as she would lend support if they needed her.

  The holiday season was a reminder of the importance of belonging to a family. Having Logan here with her made the moment incredibly gratifying. Together they could celebrate the special magic and true gift of Christmas—the bright promise of unconditional love and hope for the future. Tori vowed never to let herself forget that.

  Her gaze lingered on Logan and she watched Timmy crawl onto his lap to show him the toy locomotive and freight cars Santa had left for him.

  “That man is a keeper,” Cilla murmured on her way by.

  “I know.” Tori wished she could keep her pretend husband because he was the only gift worth having for Christmas—and all yearlong.

  Two hours later, when everyone hiked upstairs to bathe and dress for a formal Christmas dinner, Tori surged into the suite to fish into her purse.

  “Here’s the money I owe you for being my holiday husband,” she said. “I added more banknotes to cover the cost of this lovely ring. Your thoughtfulness overwhelms me.”

  When he grasped her hand, palm up, to return the money, she frowned, puzzled.

  “There’s no charge,” he insisted. “I told you, this is the best holiday in living memory.”

  Emotion swamped her like a flash flood and she swore she’d drown in it. She flung her arms around Logan’s neck and blurted out, “I love you!”

  She slammed her mouth shut so quickly that she nearly clipped off the end of her tongue. Before he could break her heart by smiling sympathetically and trying to let her down gently, she presented her back and struggled for hard-won composure.

  “I’m sorry, Logan. That isn’t supposed to be a part of our arrangement. I just can’t help myself.”

  “Tori—”

  Before he could voice a comment that was sure to leave her bawling like a baby, she shook her head. “You don’t have to worry. I won’t complicate your life more than I have already. I’ll work up the courage to tell my family the truth before next Christmas rolls around.”

  “Listen, Tori, I—”

  She spun around and marshaled her bravado. “Don’t think you have to explain anything. You played your role so convincingly that I became carried away. I will survive. I got myself into this—”

  When he clamped his hand over her mouth, she had no choice but to shut up. He grinned at her, his onyx eyes dancing with amusement.

  “If you’ll stop interrupting me, chatterbox, I’d like to say that I’m in love with you, too. I want you to be more than my Yuletide bride. I want you for always, if you’ll have me as your forever husband.”

  He loved her? His words rang in her ears and all she could do was stare at him in stupefied astonishment.

  “Marry me, Tori. I don’t want to return to a life where I don’t get to see you first thing every morning and last thing every night.”

  Logan wasn’t sure where he’d found the nerve to lay his heart on the line. He felt self-conscious and awkward because he’d never voiced the words to another woman. But emotion just kept pouring out of him like eggnog spilling from an upturned pitcher.

  He chuckled when Tori squealed in delight then leaped up to fling her arms around his neck and her legs around his hips. It instantly reminded him of their first dance lesson so he waltzed her around the room. He was hopelessly lost in the moment and in his all-consuming love for her. He didn’t care if he banged into the furniture and kerplopped on the floor.

  Before that happened, however, he tumbled with her onto the bed so he covered her lush body with his.

  “Is that a yes?” he asked as he combed his fingers through her silky mane of mahogany hair that tumbled across the pillow.

  “Yes!” she whispered emphatically. She traced the delica
te skin around the corners of his eyes. “You will always have my heart, Logan. It’s my gift to you this Christmas and all the Christmases to come.”

  “I give my soul to you forever and ever,” he promised faithfully.

  He sealed his solemn vow with a kiss brimming with so much love and affection that one erotic, breathless moment led to another.

  They were noticeably late for Christmas dinner.

  It became a Daniels’ family tradition.

  THE HOMECOMING

  Elizabeth Lane

  Dear Reader,

  Christmas is more than a time for presents, parties, decorations and carols. For some of us it’s a time when painful memories are most deeply felt—loss, loneliness and alienation. But if we open our hearts, Christmas can also be a time of healing, a time to reach out, to bridge chasms of separation and bitterness and come together in the spirit of love.

  “The Homecoming” is a story about three good people who need to forgive each other in order to forgive themselves. It isn’t a pretty tale—but then, it wasn’t meant to be. Clay, Elise and Buck are trapped in a cycle of blame and remorse that can only be broken by one act—the act of total forgiveness and love. Only then will they be able to heal and move on with their lives.

  It’s my hope that this story will move you to think, to feel and perhaps even to act. If I hear that it has inspired even one of you to reach out and begin the healing of old wounds, I will know it was well worth the writing.

  With my heartfelt wishes for a joyous, loving holiday season.

  Elizabeth Lane

  To those of us who need to be forgiven…

  And to those of us who need to forgive.

  Prologue

  Kansas State Penitentiary

  Leavenworth County, Kansas