A Cowboy for Christmas (26 page)

She smiled, remembering their night at the shack. “So did I.”

Dan finally decided it was time for them to make their escape. “Are you ready to go, Mrs. Roland?”

“Yes, are you?”

He nodded and they got up to leave the table. “My wife and I are going to leave now.”

Everyone was laughing and smiling as they put on their coats and left the house for his small cabin. Dan didn’t hesitate. As dressed up as she was, the minute they started from the porch, he swept her up in his arms to carry her.

“Oh, Dan, what about your arm?” Penny worried.

“It’s fine. Give me a kiss, woman.”

She obliged quickly as she linked her arms around his neck.

Dan wasted no time carrying her to his cabin, and he paused only long enough to open the door before carrying her over the threshold.

“We’re home,” he said softly as he kicked the door shut behind them.

“Alone, at last,” she sighed as he put her down.

While Dan locked the door and let down the
plain curtains that hung on his one window, Penny slipped out of her coat and looked around. The main room of the cabin was nicely furnished, and she moved on to the back to check out the bedroom.

Dan saw where she was headed, and, after leaving his coat behind, he didn’t hesitate to go after her. He came up behind her and slipped his arms around her, pulling her back against him as he pressed a kiss to the side of her neck. “You are one beautiful woman, Penny.”

“Do you really think so?” A shiver of excitement trembled through her.

He turned her in his arms and answered her with a searing kiss that ignited the fire of her own desire. Dan felt her response and reached behind her to unfasten her gown. It didn’t take him long to free her of the garment and it slipped away from her to lie on the floor around her. She was clad only in her undergarments as he lifted her up in his arms again to carry her to his bed. He put her down on the bed and then joined her there.

Penny looked up at him and smiled. “I like this bed much better than the bottom bunk at the line shack.”

“So do I,” he said with a grin. He wondered for a moment if she was going to ask him if he wanted to be on the top or on the bottom, before he kissed her again.

Penny responded fully to his magical kisses
and surrendered to his lovemaking with innocence and excitement. They came together then, one in mind and body, as they celebrated the joy of their vows. They were man and wife.

A long time later, as they lay together, savoring the wonder of their loving, Penny rolled to her side and smiled at her husband.

“I got the best Christmas present ever,” she told him softly as she reached out to caress his chest. “I got a cowboy for Christmas.”

Dan smiled as he drew her to him for another passionate kiss. He knew they were going to live happily ever after.

Dear Aunt Matilda
,

Thank you for your condolences on Papa’s death last month. It was a sad time for all of us, but I’m so thankful I got to spend these last months with him. I loved him very much
.

Things here at the ranch are going well. Dan and I are very happy, and with the baby coming this fall, life is going to be even more exciting
.

Thanks for the news about Amanda and Richard’s wedding. Unfortunately, with the baby on the way, Dr. Clemens didn’t think it would be wise for me to make such a long trip
.

We’d love to have you come visit us for Thanksgiving. Nick and Lacey are going to be here with Steve, and Dwylah tells us there may be wedding bells in their future! Dwylah’s been staying in touch with Lou, one of our ranch hands, so why don’t you come and bring her with you? We’d certainly have fun, and it would be good to see you. Look forward to hearing from you
.

Love,
Penny and Dan