The Cowboy Who Saved Christmas - Jodi Thomas Page 0,109

back?”

“It’ll probably be Christmas Eve.”

Squeezing his fingers, Amelia whispered, “Promise me you will be careful.”

Clint winked at her. “I’ll be careful.” He noticed she didn’t seem to want to release his hand, and he felt Casey’s eyes on them. “Don’t worry. I’ll bring your girls back to you safe and sound.”

She wanted to tell him that she wanted him to come back to her too, but Casey was standing there listening to their every word. “I trust you.”

Clint briefly considered giving her a kiss that would give Casey something else to think was inappropriate. With both pups in his hands, Clint motioned for Casey to precede him through the door.

Chapter 10

Clint didn’t like the fact that while he was gone, Casey would have a lot of time to visit Amelia and press his case for her to commit to him. He thought Casey might have the advantage, having worked for Amelia’s family for a few years. The girls probably considered him part of their family. But in Clint’s estimation, Casey should have already been working to help Amelia save her ranch. If he hadn’t found the gold, he would have still found a way to help her. On the other hand, who was he to judge? He hadn’t been around when his family needed him the most. Maybe neither of them were worthy of Amelia and the girls.

Once they left the bedroom, Casey declined the cup of coffee, saying he needed to get back to the ranch. Clint walked him to the door, and Casey turned to face him. “You should know I’m going to marry Amelia.”

Clint stared hard at him as he opened the door. “Does Amelia have something to say about that?”

“She knows. I told her I would stay at the ranch until she returned. We both knew where we were headed when the time was right.”

Clint didn’t like what Casey was insinuating. “Amelia and I have had a lot of conversations, and never once has she mentioned marrying you.”

“I was just letting you know how things are.” Casey settled his hat on his head and walked out the door.

“I think I can figure things out on my own.” Clint closed the door behind him and turned to see Ingrid standing a few feet away, holding a cup of coffee.

“What was that about?”

“You heard enough to know that he thinks Amelia is going to marry him.”

Ingrid handed him the coffee. “Do you have other plans?”

“I think it depends on what Amelia wants. I have a feeling you will be seeing a lot of Casey while I’m gone.”

“You could have let him go get the girls,” Ingrid replied.

“I told the girls I would come back. A promise is a promise.” Clint’s eyes shifted to the door. “Besides, I don’t know if he could handle trouble.”

“Son, I know you think highly of Amelia. Maybe you should tell her how you feel before you leave.”

“We’ll see how things look when I get back. Now, I have a favor to ask of you while I’m gone.” He started to take a drink of the coffee, then hesitated. “Did you or the doc add anything to this coffee?”

* * *

Clint left the house the next morning while everyone slept. He was tempted to wake Amelia to tell her how he felt about her as his mother suggested, but he decided to give her time to think. She’d faced so many changes over the last several months, she needed to recover before she made any hasty decisions.

On the way back to Honey Creek, Clint had nothing but time to think about what he wanted. The very first night on the trail, he realized how much he enjoyed having Amelia with him. That was a first for him. He’d always been a man who traveled alone. There were times he was lonely, but never before had he contemplated marriage.

* * *

Reaching the campsite at Honey Creek, Clint had just set the brake on the wagon when the girls ran to him. He jumped from the wagon and swept them both up in his arms. “I’m happy to see you, girls.”

Both Katie and Annie started talking at the same time, making it difficult for Clint to understand what they were saying, but he was able to hear enough to know someone had rode into their camp and scared them. “Slow down, one at a time.”

“Some men came and stole our gold,” Annie told him breathlessly.

“They didn’t take our gold, but they stole Mr. Newcombe’s and Mr.