Christmas Showdown (13 page)

Trey didn’t need his father’s comparison of
his brother’s situation to his. It had been, and still was, a
difficult situation for everyone, especially Lance, when it came to
his failed marriage. Kristen pretty much did everything possible to
keep Chastity from him. She was bitter and angry and who could
blame the woman? Lance had done her wrong, but he didn’t deserve
being isolated from his child.

“Dad, I know you’re only doing what you think
best, but Kelly is different,” Trey argued. He knew she wanted
whatever was best for TJ and having a mother and father was the
best thing for the child.

“They’re all charming and accommodating until
the honeymoon is over, son. Did you know TJ’s birth father is
listed as unknown and he’s a McMaster and not a Burstyn?”

“Dammit, Dad, I explained that to you.”

“I’m just saying it’s obvious this boy is
yours. We want to do everything we can to keep him in this family.
Your mother can’t take another estranged grandchild.” His father
circled his arms protectively around his wife.

“Everything will be alright,” she said
reassuringly. “I have a good feeling about Kelly.”

“All I’m saying is Trey needs that paternity
test done and his name on the boy’s birth certificate in case we
need to fight this woman.”

A gush of air that sounded like a coiled
snake ready to spring sent a chill up Trey’s back. When he spun
around, fire flickered in the depths of Kelly’s eyes.

“And a fight is exactly what you’ll have if
you attempt to take my son away from me,” she spoke, low and clear.
An ominous calm seemed to come over her.

“Ohmygod,” his mother gasped, pulling out of
his father’s arms. “Kelly? Please, you have to understand—”

“Understand? I think Mr. Burstyn made it
clear enough for even me to understand.” Her control snapped and
she began to tremble. “TJ, come to Momma.” Her voice was a whisper
of steel.

When he squirmed to go to her, Trey held him
tight. Instead he approached Kelly. Her glare tracked him like a
soldier eyeing an enemy.

“Darlin’, it’s not what you think. You have
to hear me out.”

Tears filled her eyes and he had no doubt
they sprung from a well of suppressed fury. Suddenly a hard finger
stabbed him in the chest as she growled up at him, “You’ll never
take him away.” Then she pinned her fiery glare on his father.
“None of you.”

Looking cornered and out of place, her gaze
toggled back and forth between the men. “Let me tell you
something.” She swallowed, nearly choking on her words. “TJ and I
might be poor and struggling, but we’re happy.” Tears blossomed and
she clearly fought to hold them back. “It’s a helluva lot better
than growing up in the household I did. I’ve gone to great lengths
to make sure no one makes my baby unhappy. I’ll go to even greater
lengths to keep him with me.” She harrumphed, a sound oddly a blend
of laughter and disbelief. “If my parents couldn’t guilt me into
having an abortion and later giving him up for adoption, you people
don’t have a dead man’s chance in hell to take him away from
me.”

Without another word, she snatched TJ from
Trey’s arms. When the boy started to fuss, she said, “Shhh, baby.
We’re going home.”

“Kelly, please.” Trey had to stop her, but
how?

Kelly had known something was amiss when she
heard Barbara mention her name. The little hairs on the back of her
neck rose as Suz flashed her a startled look, her mouth opening too
late to announce their arrival before John responded. Each of his
words ripped Kelly’s heart and soul from her body.

Frantically she looked for her purse,
remembering she’d left it in Trey’s truck. Grabbing the diaper bag,
she shoved open the screen door and let it slam behind her. On
determined feet, she headed for Trey’s truck only to find Lance
leaning against the door.

“I think that’s a record for us. We haven’t
even had brunch and someone is leaving.”

“Get out of my way,” she barked as TJ
squirmed in her arms.

He ignored her. “Dad’s like a bull in the
china cabinet when it comes to this family. Guess this little
misunderstanding is my fault.”

“Your fault?” She didn’t even attempt to
contain her surprise.

“Yep.” Lance pushed away from the vehicle to
approach her. He tapped TJ on the nose. “I’m the black sheep of the
family. Screwed up my marriage. Pretty much lost my child. My ex
has been hell-bent on me paying for my sins through Chastity.” He
looked past Kelly to where a group of the children played with a
litter of kittens. When his gaze landed on his daughter, regret
reflected in his eyes. “She means everything to me. But the divorce
was nasty. Her mother’s hard feelings have tainted our
relationship, not that I can blame her, but our child pays the
price.” His saddened eyes came back to Kelly’s. “Don’t do the same
thing to Trey. He’s not like me and he cares for you—for that
boy.”

The knot in her throat grew larger, making it
harder to breathe past her anger and fear and the emptiness that
threatened to swallow her up.

“Day before last, when Trey told us about his
son, he asked Dad to stay out of it. But Dad is Dad.” Lance’s
amusement was weak and strained. “He’ll do anything to keep Mom
happy and this family intact.”

“Kelly?” Trey’s voice skated across her
skin.

“And this is where I take my leave.” Lance
leaned toward Kelly and kissed her softly on the cheek before
whispering, “Trey’s a good man. Give him a chance to make this
right,” before he eased back. “Do you want me to take the little
ruffian while you two chat?”

When she didn’t respond, Trey repeated her
name, adding, “Please?”

The blatant sorrow in his voice shook her.
Biting her bottom lip, she fought the stinging tears that beat
violently against her eyelids.

This family would
not
take her child
away from her.

“Momma.” TJ pushed against her chest. “Down,
down, down.” And then he released a string of gibberish that felt
like he was telling her off, or maybe to give his father a
chance.

Leaning over, she placed TJ on his feet and
he hit the ground at a run. She turned to watch Lance chasing after
him. Her heart raced as she wondered if she’d done the right thing.
What if this family physically attempted to take TJ away from
her?

Trey walked up, stopping short of bumping
into her. “I’m sorry.” He pushed his fingers through his hair.
“This is my fault. I should have made it clearer to Dad to stay out
of our business.”

“You won’t take my child away from me.”

“You’re right, I won’t. I have no intentions
of depriving our child of his mother, any more than you do his
father. Don’t you think I know how hard it was for you to agree to
move in with me—to let me past your barriers? We agreed to give
this relationship a chance. I plan to hold you to your
promise.”

“But your father—”

“Isn’t controlling this situation. He acted
out of best intentions, but without my permission. He’s up to speed
with my plans and that is that. I’m willing to wait until you are
ready to let me all the way into yours and TJ’s life.”

A tear ran down her cheek, and then another.
“I can’t—won’t lose him.”

“C’mere, darlin’.” He dragged her into his
arms. “You won’t, because I don’t plan on losing him or you.” Heat
warmed his gaze. “I tried finding you. I even went to Denver hoping
to find you. For two days I haunted the places I thought you might
go.” He took a quick breath before continuing. “This thing between
us, Kelly, is real. I not only want TJ—I want you. I’ve wanted you
ever since I laid eyes on you.” His mouth slanted over hers.

Kelly needed to believe him. She might be a
fool, but she leaned into him, her lips parting when his tongue
caressed their seam. As he dipped inside she tasted his hot
eagerness, heard the growl that rumbled in his chest. Desperate not
to let this man slip out of her and TJ’s life, she stabbed her
fingers through his hair, tilted her head, and dove wholeheartedly
into his kiss. Sighing with pleasure, she tangled her tongue with
his. Another growl surfaced as he tore his mouth from hers.

“Let’s go home,” he breathed, smoothing his
hand over her ass. “Did I mention how good you look in those tight
leather pants? That suggestive sweater?”

Before she could answer, she heard a youthful
groan.

“Oh yuck, Uncle T, get a room.” Jay
snickered.

Trey’s eyes danced with merriment. “Now where
do you suppose he heard a phrase like that?”

“Television,” Kelly offered.

“Uncle T, you never did come and see what I
got for Christmas.”

“Can’t, sport. We’re heading home.”

“Ahhh, Uncle T, don’t go.
Puh-leeeze
.
Dad bought me a shotgun for dove season. You have to see it, and
Mom has agreed to let me ride today. You have to be there.
Puh-leeeze
.”

A gun? For a child? What type of people were
the Burstyns? Then again she had to remember they were ranchers.
They lived a different life than the one she was brought up in.

“Go.” She couldn’t help the hesitancy that
crept into her tone. “I’ll keep an eye on TJ.”

“You sure?” Concern darkened Trey’s gaze.
“You want to stay?”

No. She absolutely did not want to stay, but
she couldn’t squash the boy’s eagerness.

“It’s Christmas. You should be with your
family.” Even though she felt those were the correct words to say,
she couldn’t help begrudge them. “But don’t expect me to make small
talk with your father.”

Residual anger and a twist of uncertainty
lingered in her gut. She would stay out of the man’s way—as long as
he stayed out of hers. But if he wanted a fight, she’d show him
just how long her fingernails were, and this gal’s bite was
definitely worse than her bark when it came to TJ.

Trey and Jay had only turned the corner when
the devil himself came strutting toward her. His cowboy hat was
pulled low over his eyes, his steps determined. Like all the
Burstyns the man had an imposing frame, age didn’t weaken his
effect.

Kelly’s backbone stiffened, tension
tightening her shoulders and neck. A hot flash whispered through
her. Lowering her eyebrows, she narrowed her eyes as her heart
skipped a beat.

He stopped before her. “Miss McMaster, I
believe we got off on the wrong foot.”

“No, sir, I believe we know exactly which
foot each of us stands upon.” Her jaws locked in an attempt to curb
her temper, for Trey and TJ’s sake.

“Yes, ma’am. That we do.” He chuckled, his
face softening before it firmed again. “It still doesn’t excuse my
rudeness or distrust of you before it is warranted, which my son
and wife were happy enough to bring to my attention. I’m not making
excuses for my behavior, but this situation is out of the usual.
You’re a stranger to us.”

“As your family is to me, but more
importantly to TJ.”

“Touché. But I hope you can understand, Miss
McMaster, I want my grandchildren to be part of our lives. In my
haste, I disregarded your feelings as well as my son’s, and for
that I apologize. It’s my hope that we can move beyond my
discourtesy.” A genuine grin curved his hard mouth. “TJ is a lot
like his father. He’s a pistol. And you have made quite an
impression on my son. He made it clear where my place was and Trey
has never done that before.” John’s olive branch was an extended
hand. “I’d like to welcome you and your son to our family.”

For a moment, Kelly stared at his large hand,
expecting it to sprout teeth and snap at her if she dared take it
in hers.

When she didn’t make any move to shake his
hand, he asked, “Will you forgive me?”

Licking her lips, she raised her hand to meet
his. “Only if you promise to call me Kelly.”

He generously shook her hand. “It’s a deal.
Barbara said to escort you back into the house. She made it clear
that if you didn’t come back, I couldn’t come back, and it’s time
to eat.”

Releasing her, he wrapped an arm around her
shoulders and she couldn’t help stiffening beneath his touch. He
appeared not to notice or chose not to acknowledge the wall that
still remained between them as they headed back to the house.

Just because civil words had been exchanged,
Kelly would be a fool to let her guard down. Trust came with time
and it would take plenty of that for the two of them to truly make
amends.

After brunch and the opening of presents,
Kelly put TJ down for a nap. Exhausted, his eyes had closed the
minute his head hit the pillow. The boy’s button mouth made sucking
motions as Trey pulled the blanket up around the child’s shoulders.
Kelly stepped behind him and wove her arms around his waist as
together they watched their son sleep. The light on the monitor
caught his attention. According to his mom, she would be able to
hear TJ as she sat in the living room. Scooping Kelly’s hand in
his, he led her quietly out of his old bedroom.

“I think that is the most running he’s done
in his lifetime,” Kelly said as they walked down the stairs.

“If you’d like, I could install a screen door
to TJ’s room. That way we could corral him so he won’t wander free
while we sleep. If we get a monitor, we’ll know what he’s up to at
all times.”

“Sounds like a good idea.”

Trey couldn’t help squeezing her hand. Did
this mean the trial period was over in her mind?

“Mom said she’d listen for TJ if we wanted to
go out and watch Jay ride.”

“Ride?”

“His father is putting him on his first calf
today. Up until now he’s ridden sheep.”

Her eyes gaped in surprise. “You’re
kidding?”

“Jay has been mutton bustin’ competitively
for some time in the rodeos. Paula’s fears have held the boy back
from progressing to the next level, which is calf riding. Guess my
brother must have talked her into letting their son give it a
try.”