The Cowboy Who Saved Christmas - Jodi Thomas Page 0,111

him if Casey was still at their ranch.

“I met Casey when he came to the ranch to visit your ma. I imagine you’ll be happy to see him again.”

“I guess.” Katie cast a quick glance at Annie.

“Casey told me I was too old to have Lucy.”

Clint frowned. “I’m sure he was teasing.”

Annie shook her head back and forth. “No, he wasn’t.”

“I don’t think Casey likes kids too much. He never talks to us,” Katie added. “Grandpa hired Casey because he needed help on the farm.”

Annie touched his arm. “If you married our ma, we would have you all the time.”

* * *

Most nights, the girls fell asleep in Clint’s arms chatting away about Christmas, and how they couldn’t wait to give Amelia her gift. After they would drift off to sleep, Clint would lie awake thinking about what Annie said about him marrying Amelia. He figured Casey was visiting Amelia while he was gone; possibly he’d even asked for her hand. Like the girls, Clint couldn’t wait to get home.

Days later, on Christmas Eve, they arrived at Clint’s ranch as the sun was dipping below the horizon.

Ingrid, Amelia and John walked to the front porch to greet them. Clint lifted Katie and Annie from the wagon and they ran to Amelia. Clint hugged his mother and shook hands with the doc.

Amelia released the girls, ran to Clint and threw her arms around his neck. “Thank you for bringing them home.”

Clint held her for a few minutes, enjoying the feel of her in his arms and appreciating her greeting. “They were anxious to get home to you.” When she released him, he looked her up and down, thinking she looked more beautiful than ever. “You look like you’ve fully recovered.”

She gave him a smile. “I feel wonderful. And your mother and I have been busy cooking. It’s been so nice spending time with her.”

Clint wanted to ask how many times Casey had visited, but the girls were listening to their conversation.

Ingrid welcomed the guests and shared their plans for the evening. “Children, after dinner I want all of you to help decorate the Christmas tree.”

“Are we going to pop some corn to string?” Boone asked.

“Ma wouldn’t have a tree without corn.” Clint kissed the top of his mother’s head. “I’ll get the horses settled before dinner.”

* * *

Dinner ended, and the children helped decorate the Christmas tree the doctor had chopped down the day before. When the tree was finished, sleeping arrangements were made for the night. Before they retired, Ingrid told them the plans for Christmas Day. “Everyone, get some sleep. We will have a quick breakfast in the morning, and then we’ll ride to town for church service. Afterward, we’ll have a big dinner at the hotel. Everyone is bringing a dish because they only have one cook at the hotel right now. Amelia and I have cooked several dishes to take for all of us.”

* * *

Clint said he had an errand to run, and the doc offered to go with him, knowing what he was going to do. Three hours later, when they returned to the ranch, everyone was asleep. They shared another whiskey by the fire before the doc fell asleep in a chair. While the doc was snoring softly, Clint poured himself another whiskey and thought about his future. Now that he was home again, he couldn’t bear the thought of being far from his mother, or Amelia and the girls. He knew his presence brought comfort to the girls, particularly after the encounter with those men who’d stolen the gold. Before he’d left the ranch tonight, the girls had told him good night, and he’d overheard Annie ask Amelia why he couldn’t sleep with them like he did on the trail. He couldn’t help but chuckle when he heard Amelia try to explain why that particular sleeping arrangement would be inappropriate here.

“But Mr. Mitchum let us sleep beside him on the way home. He held us so we wouldn’t be scared,” Annie retorted.

Amelia smiled at the thought of Clint holding the girls at night and patiently answering all their questions. “Well, that’s different.”

“Why?” Annie pressed.

“Annie, a lady must be married before a man can stay in her room,” Katie explained to her sister.

“Why?” Annie asked.

“That’s just what’s proper,” Katie replied.

“That’s silly,” Annie informed her.

Clint had to agree with Annie on that point.

Chapter 11

Ingrid and Amelia prepared a simple breakfast of apple cinnamon rolls with milk for the children and coffee for the men. After