Christmas at Fireside Cabins - Jenny Hale Page 0,19

ear. “I’ve got you. Just relax, breathe in the fresh air, and open your eyes. They’ll adjust.”

Her heart slamming around in her chest, she did what he said. He was right. Suddenly, she was acutely aware of the smell of pine, the purple hills in the distance, and the snow-covered ground that stretched out in front of her as far as she could see. It felt like she was flying, floating on air. There wasn’t a single sound except for the wind in her ears, as the horse galloped through the fields in a giant circle on the outskirts of the farm. The air was so clean here, the miles of unspoiled beauty abundant and wild. A stream meandered down the hill, creating a little waterfall that gurgled at the base. It was incredible. She imagined what it would be like to grow old with someone out here, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, sitting on a porch swing, watching the sunset…

Before she knew it, they were making their way back into the horse ring. Maisy Jane slowed to a trot as she snorted, finally stopping and giving Lila a chance to get her bearings. They came to a stop by the box, and Theo dismounted, holding his hand out to help her down. Despite the calm he’d created on their ride, she was still shaking. She took his hand, his grip tender and gentle as he guided her to the ground.

The others were all on their horses, walking slowly in a circle with Rex at the front, chattering away.

As Theo let go of her hand, he called out to Rex. “I’ve gotta go,” he said, unbuckling Maisy Jane’s saddle. “I’m gonna grab a sandwich from your mama and head back. Does she have any of her famous chicken salad at the store?”

“She made a whole bunch this mornin’! I helped her fill the cold boxes in the store before we opened.”

“She pay you for that too?” he teased, giving Rex a wink.

“Nah, she told me it was good practice to help a lady.”

“She’s right,” he said, tucking the saddle under his arm. “Catch ya later.” His gaze went over to Lila and then, as quickly as it had landed on her, it skittered away.

“I’m just going to say it. What the heck was that?” Charlotte asked, as they came upon the country store on the farm’s grounds. It, too, was a barn-style building with shelves full of southern fare, and it had a cozy dining area with red-and-white checkered tablecloths and bunches of Christmas foliage in the center of every table.

“What?” Lila said, still thinking about Theo’s voice in her ear. That was not the way he’d sounded all the other times she’d heard him talk…

“The coffee guy who whisked you away into the hills of Tennessee. What was that?” Charlotte repeated as she browsed the baked assortment of cookies and bites—vanilla cream cakes, butter rum balls, double-stuffed peppermint brownies—all hand-wrapped in cellophane with sticker price tags that had $1.99 written on them in ballpoint pen.

“I have no idea.” Lila shook her head, still trying to make sense of it. She grabbed a chicken salad sandwich to see what all the fuss was about. “Did you all have fun on your rides?” she asked.

“I did,” Piper said, picking up a plastic bowl of salad and inspecting its contents before cradling it in her arms as she decided on the drinks. “But not as much fun as you had with your sexy cowboy.”

Lila laughed.

“How adorable was that little Rex?” Piper continued.

“He was the cutest,” Edie said on her way up to the register.

When they had all unwound their scarves, taken off their coats, and settled at one of the tables with their meals, Lila tried to get Theo out of her mind. “We should surprise Eleanor with the decorations,” she suggested. After the tasting session and a few full glasses of wine, they’d bought all kinds of greenery for Eleanor, and they couldn’t wait to surprise her. They’d been able to leave the items they’d bought with the family who owned the farm until the end of their visit today, and while they were riding horses, a few of the guys were tying the tree they’d picked out to the top of Lila’s car.

“Oh, that’s a great idea,” Charlotte said, squeezing a pack of mayonnaise onto her open sandwich. “Maybe two of us could bring her to our cabin while the other two decorate her living room