Santa Soldier Bear - Meg Ripley Page 0,51

it my own touch when it comes to décor.”

Roman blinked. “All right.”

She stood, holding a small jar in her hands. Melody confidently crossed the room and put it on the mantel.

Stepping closer, Roman saw that it was full of the rose petals he’d given her when he’d come back to L.A. “That’s nice, but I think it needs something more.”

“Really?” It was Melody’s turn to be surprised.

“Definitely.” He unzipped his own bag and removed the tiny stocking. “It might be past Christmas for this year, but I don’t mind having a little something put up.” He hung it on a hook just beneath the jar full of petals. “What do you think?”

She slipped her arms around him once again, a gesture that was natural to them already. “I love it, and I love you. I think it’s time to check out that master bedroom you mentioned.”

Roman took her hands and led the way, eager to start their new life together.

* * *

THE END

* * *

If you enjoyed Santa Soldier Bear, get ready for Austin’s story, the first book in the new Wild Frontier Shifters series! Read on for a sneak peek of Her Rancher Bear.

Austin

“Ow! Dammit, Roman! You get my fingers with that hammer again, and you’ll be pushing up daisies out in the pasture,” Austin warned, holding the barbed wire in place.

“I said I was sorry,” Roman grumbled. “Maybe if your big ol’ paws weren’t in the way—”

“You know what they say about big hands.”

Roman shook his head. “Whatever you say, man. Can we wrap this up already? I’ve gotta go check on Melody. She’s about to have that baby any day now.”

Austin tucked the fencing pliers into the back pocket of his jeans and stood back, looking at their work as Izzy and Dizzy chased each other around a fencepost. His mother’s two Boston Terriers loved coming along for the ranch work, whether Austin wanted them there or not. They did have their purpose, but more often than not, they were underfoot. “I suppose that’ll do for now.”

“For now?” Roman rested his hand on the nearest fencepost, surveying the row of freshly-repaired posts along the cattle pasture. The grass had turned green and lush under the Wyoming summer sun. “I know I haven’t been in this business for generations like you have, but it looks pretty damn good to me.”

“It does,” Austin agreed. Roman was right. He’d come into ranching and into their clan about a year ago when he’d left the military. He’d proven himself to be a hard worker and a family man, one who’d seen the temptations of city life, yet still returned to the place he now called home in Sheridan, Wyoming. Austin had to give him credit for that, and for always being willing to help. He did like to rib him for not being a rancher, born-and-raised, but Roman gave him hell right back when he accused Austin of never seeing a single blade of grass outside of his own territory.

“There’s nothing wrong with the fence at all,” Austin continued. “I’m sure it would stand the test of time if left to its own devices. But I’m not convinced that the Bancroft clan wasn’t behind this. Ever since they opened that damn dude ranch, they’ve been trying to sabotage everything we have going on here.” He wanted to spit every time he thought about it.

Roman rubbed his lips together. “Sounds like a big problem.”

“It is.”

“Have you talked to Levi?” The Alpha of their clan also happened to be the local sheriff.

Austin pulled in a deep breath. “A little. He knows what’s been happening, but I don’t have any actual proof. I told him I could handle it. He’s probably got enough on his hands dealing with that brother of his.”

Roman chuckled. “Wade got himself in trouble again?”

“That’s what I understand. I never should’ve listened when Shawna suggested we turn this place into a dude ranch. She insisted the numbers were on her side, and I didn’t see any way out of it.” He pulled in a deep breath as he wondered what his ancestors might think of the commercialized, touristy operation they were now running. At least it was a lot more rustic than some of the other ranches that catered solely to city slickers. The Crawford Ranch was still a family-centered place that focused on raising cattle and doing things the old-fashioned way, just how he liked it. He didn’t like having nosy humans roaming around his territory, and he absolutely