A Little Country Christmas - Carolyn Brown Page 0,32

answered.

* * *

Dixie and Claire sat at the table and sipped from cups of hot chocolate while their babies crawled around the table legs and giggled as if that was a funny game.

“I made Landon a throw for Christmas, but now I wonder if it’s too cheesy. It’s got a square to remind him of each thing we did this past week,” Dixie said.

“He’ll love it,” Claire assured her. “Did you manage to make one with kissy lips on it?”

Dixie’s face immediately flushed with a bright red blush. “I did not!” she protested.

“Too bad, because that’s what he’ll remember more than anything. When he kissed you, did your toes curl?” Claire asked.

“Yes, they did, and my insides went all hot and mushy,” Dixie said.

“That’s great,” Claire said. “That’s the way I still feel when Levi kisses me, and I hope it affects me the same way when I’m ninety.”

Dixie wanted to say, “Me too,” but she couldn’t. “Did you tell Levi about—” She paused, then looked over her shoulder and whispered, “…the baby yet?”

“Not until morning. One of his presents is the first ultrasound picture,” Claire answered.

“That’s a great idea,” Dixie told her.

“Hey, are y’all ready to go?” Landon came around the door and into the kitchen.

“What’s a great idea?” Levi crossed the room and bent down to pick up his son.

“Santa doesn’t reveal his secrets until Christmas morning,” Claire told him.

“We really should be on the way,” Dixie said. “It’s been great visitin’ with y’all, but—” She stopped and stared at Landon. “That’s the first time I’ve ever heard you say ‘y’all.’ You usually say ‘you guys.’”

“Guess this Texas lingo is rubbing off on me.” He reached down and gathered Sally into his arms. “Let’s get your coat on, sweetheart. We still have places to go, and then you can open your present from me.”

They drove to the big ranch house and then to each of the other places where Dixie wanted to give cookies. The clock on the dashboard flipped over to 8:30 when they were finished, back in the truck, and ready to go home. The only box left in the back of the vehicle held a plate of cookies, and the quilt, all wrapped up in gold paper for Landon. She wasn’t sure where or when he wanted to exchange gifts, but she was ready no matter what.

Instead of driving down the lane and toward the road leading back to Sunset, he made a left-hand turn and headed to the barn. If he wanted to have Christmas out there, that was fine with her. The little throw she had made for him wouldn’t seem like such a small present in a barn setting.

“Bit!” Sally squealed when she recognized the barn.

“We’ll see Little Bit tomorrow if you want to,” Landon told her. “Right now, we’ve got somewhere else to be.”

“And where’s that?” Dixie cocked her head to one side and raised her dark eyebrows.

“It’s a surprise,” Landon answered.

As far as Dixie knew, the cabin was the only place located that far back on the ranch, but she couldn’t imagine why they’d be going there. Had he realized how much she’d loved the little place and wanted to have Christmas there?

She could see a trail of smoke from a distance, and hoped the cabin wasn’t on fire. Then she remembered the fireplace. He’d started a fire for warmth, and they were going to have their Christmas there for sure. Just thinking about the peace and coziness she’d felt when she was there put a huge smile on her face.

A few snowflakes drifted down out of the sky as he parked as close to the porch as he could. He opened the passenger door for Dixie and then took Sally out of her seat. “I thought we’d have our private Christmas right here. I’ve got a pan of lasagna ready to put in the oven, and a bottle of wine chilled. Let’s go on in and spend the rest of this evening together.”

Tears welled up in Dixie’s eyes. Once she’d heard someone say that home wasn’t a place but a feeling just like the memories of Christmases, and that evening, she knew that she’d come home. Rose and Hud had taken care of her after the fire. Claire had given her a job. The Fab Five had befriended her and spoiled Sally with love as well as presents. Retta had given Sally her daughter Annie’s outgrown clothing. Then there was the rest of the folks on the two intertwined