a slick, too-clever response. She’d kept every single one of them, neatly folded in their envelopes, at her bedside, and she might have read them a half dozen times each. Maybe more.
After dithering over her appearance for a few more moments, she grabbed her purse and put on her coat—the warm, thick one that he’d given her. Amy snuggled into it for a moment, appreciating the fleece lining and the heavy bulk of it. This was a coat designed to be warm, not fashionable. It was another one of his honest, practical gifts, and she loved it.
“Come on, Donner.” She grabbed the dog’s leash and harness, working him into it. “You’re invited to the party, too.” The vet wanted her to bring the dog to “look him over” again, but she was pretty sure he just liked animals. It worked for her. Bringing Donner would be fun.
With her dog in tow, Amy took her wrapped ugly present and headed out to the car. She turned on the navigator on her phone and sang along to Christmas carols on the radio as she followed the directions to the Swinging C Ranch. This was her first time going to the ranch alone. She’d gone briefly last week to get Donner checked over, but she’d been too distracted to pay much attention, and she hadn’t driven. Since she was driving herself, she was forced to pay attention, and even in the darkness, she could see just how much land the ranch itself covered. Wyoming seemed to be a mixture of snowy mountains and wide-open spaces, and it was endlessly fascinating to her.
When she pulled up to the ranch, there was a row of cars and trucks already parked up front. The ranch house itself was big and sprawling, a log cabin–like monolith that loomed over the snowy landscape. She opened the door to her car and heard the lowing of cattle in one of the nearby pastures. That got Donner’s attention. His ears pricked and his tail thumped with excitement.
“We’re not chasing cattle today,” she told the dog as she took his leash. “Some other time.”
The front door opened and light spilled out into the darkness. It was Caleb, his big body silhouetted by the interior lights, and she could hear Christmas music coming from inside the house. He was wearing his cowboy hat, and judging by his body outline, he wasn’t wearing a jacket or any sort of formal suit at all.
Okay, so she was definitely overdressed.
She juggled her wrapped present and the dog’s leash as he came down the long walkway from the house to meet her. “You told me this was a party,” she said by way of greeting. “So I wore a party dress.”
“It is a party,” he reassured her. “And I’m sure whatever you’re wearing is fine.”
“You say that, but you haven’t seen it yet,” she grumbled. Her coat hid everything.
“You’re always beautiful.”
“You’re just saying that because it’s dark,” she muttered. He was always more effusive when he couldn’t see her face.
He laughed. “You’re not wrong.”
She smiled into the darkness, waiting for him to approach. They’d come really far in the last week or so. Now when Caleb saw her, he didn’t turn all silent. Oh sure, he had his moments, but for the most part, he was able to talk to her like a normal human, and she loved it. He was still boldest in the darkness, though. Maybe he always would be. She didn’t mind.
Then he was right in front of her, his face hidden thanks to his hat. She could see his smile, though, and beamed one back at him. “Hi.”
“Hi there. Can I kiss you?”
As if he had to ask? “Of course.”
He flicked the front of his hat, tipping it back in a casual way that fascinated her every time he did it. Then he leaned in, and his lips barely brushed over hers. He smelled like aftershave and pine trees and cowboy, and she wanted to bury her face in his shirt and just breathe him in.
“It’s cold out here,” he murmured, taking Donner’s leash from her hands. “Come on inside. You’re the last one to arrive.”
Amy suddenly felt nervous. His brothers were in there, and she was going to meet them. She’d met Hank a few times, of course, as he was the parent of one of her students, but she’d never really talked to him about anything other than Libby or his wife, Becca. Caleb had a younger brother, too, and