Her Christmas Cowboy (3 page)

Wait
. Had she really
just had the thought that Trey was enough? What about snow? Ski
trips to the Pocono Mountains with friends she’d known since grade
school? Cups of hot chocolate by the hearth?

Trey’s smile warmed her more thoroughly than
a blazing midnight fire.

She moved forward to meet him on the lawn,
holding the pumpkin pie she’d baked for Christmas dinner. “Hey,”
she said simply, not letting her mouth spill her conflicting
holiday musings.

Though she’d confided her dark past to Trey,
she kept most of her feelings of homesickness to herself.
Separating from the only home she’d known had added layers to her
emotional pain, but there was no use longing for something she
couldn’t have—at the moment, at least. And she wouldn’t dream of
insulting Trey by implying that Christmas in Texas couldn’t measure
up. She almost laughed at the thought. Texas not measure up? A
proud cowboy like Trey would never believe that.

He kissed her hello and carried the pumpkin
pie to the porch. Daisy followed but stopped to admire the
completed construction and the walnut-colored stain and sealer he’d
applied to bring out the fine wood grain. A set of matching wicker
rocking chairs sat side by side near a softly lit bay window. Shady
Lady lay on one of the seat cushions and lifted her M-striped head
when their boots knocked the floorboards with their approach.

Daisy gave the cat a scratch behind the ears
and then ran her fingers over the arm of the chair. “It’s perfect,”
she said, and meant it. Trey had created an idyllic spot on the
outskirts of Breezy Meadows Ranch.

He seemed pleased by her compliment. “We can
sit out here after supper, if you like. Shady Lady won’t mind.”

He held the pie container in one hand and
reached to open the door for her with the other. A large pine
Christmas wreath dotted with pinecones, dried flowers, sprigs of
baby’s breath and wrapped with red plaid ribbon graced the front
door. Daisy took a moment to admire the beautifully woven
adornment, which looked to be artisan-crafted.

“My mom made that for me.” Trey’s gaze
flicked in explanation to the gold-glittered pinecones at the
bottom of the wreath where the oversized bow had been tied.

“It’s gorgeous.” Daisy’s insides did a little
dance when she remembered she’d be meeting Trey’s parents and the
rest of his family for the first time over Christmas dinner. No
pressure there.

Trey led the way inside the house to the
living room with its hardwood floors, open concept dining room and
stainless chef’s kitchen. The smell of something yummy roasting in
the oven made her mouth water. Daisy had been here many times over
the months they’d been dating, and made herself at home on the
couch while Trey brought the pie to the kitchen. The Christmas tree
stood by the picture window, ready for decoration, opposite the
fireplace Trey had built with river rocks before his rodeo
accident.

He returned to the room moments later. “The
ham is in the oven. I made cornbread to go with it. How about we
take Big Blue to the ranch and then come back here for supper?
There’s something I want to show you.”

They made their way to the front door, and he
grabbed his Stetson from the hat rack on the way out. Inside the
barn, Big Blue was saddled and ready to ride.

“You’ve been busy,” Daisy said. She hadn’t
given their trip to the ranch much thought but suddenly wondered
what Trey had in mind. As far as she knew, the ranch was deserted
save for a skeleton crew to care for the animals.

Trey led the stallion out of the barn and
mounted with an easy slide over the saddle. He held out his hand to
help her up and then offered a wry grin. “Remember the last time we
rode double?”

Daisy nodded. His fractured back wouldn’t
support him, so he’d leaned against her while they rode through the
fields to visit his house for the first time. Despite his injury,
it was then she wondered if Trey was
The
One
.

“You sure Big Blue won’t mind?” she
asked.

Trey continued to offer his hand, so she
grabbed hold, slid into the tight space behind him, and wrapped her
arms around his solid chest. The press of his back against her
breasts sent warm tingles to her belly.

When she laid her head against his shoulder
and breathed his unique, familiar scent, contentment filled her.
Trey had a way of soothing and arousing her at the same time,
creating a heady emotional mix she’d learned to crave. She let out
a satisfied sigh.

Trey gave a flick of the reins and they
trotted toward Breezy Meadows Ranch in utter silence, save the
sound of the stallion’s hooves on the dusty path and the rustling
of birds in the trees. When they reached the ranch, Trey led Big
Blue inside the corral and tied his reins.

“Wait here,” he said, after securing the
opening. He made his way toward the stable where she’d taken her
first riding lesson—she’d been so scared of horses he’d started her
out on a saddle tied to a gate. Daisy smiled at the memory and
turned back to watch Big Blue inside the enclosed space. Watching
the spectacular creature now, she couldn’t imagine ever being
afraid of a horse again.

A soft equine chuff sounded behind her, along
with the unmistakable clomp of hooves against hard-packed earth.
Daisy turned to see Trey leading a beautiful gray quarter horse
from the darkness of the stables into the fading daylight. Trey met
her eyes and smiled at her like he’d swallowed the sun.

Daisy blinked. Her brain couldn’t register
what she knew her eyes had seen. It took her seconds to understand
why—she was viewing Trey with the horse out of context. The last
time she’d seen a mare like that was…

Oh! Recognition flared.

“Musket!” She shouted the horse’s name and
ran forward to greet her. Daisy wrapped her arms around the horse’s
neck and then stroked her pretty face. She stared over at Trey.
“How…?”

Trey was still grinning. “Musket is one of
ours. She’s back for the holidays until she resumes police
training. If things don’t work out, and she remains skittish around
noises or crowds, she’ll stay home for good. You can see her
whenever you want.”

“Breezy Meadows donates horses to the mounted
police?”

“Sure. It’s a tradition.” He gave the mare a
pat.

Daisy tapped the toe of her boot into the
dirt and fought back tears.

Trey continued. “You don’t say much about
it…but I know you miss home. I’ve never lived anywhere else but
here, and can only imagine how hard it must be to carve out a whole
new life in a strange place. I thought seeing Musket for Christmas
might cheer you up.”

The man had the uncanny ability to sense what
she needed. All day at work, she was required to mask her emotions
and could hardly mourn the loss of her equine partner in front of
her coworkers. Being the only woman on the mounted patrol, and a
rookie, at that, was challenging enough. She had to be tough on the
job every minute of every shift. With Trey, she could simply be
herself, and he seemed committed to helping her reshape her broken
life.

Trey moved closer and ran a finger over her
cheek, capturing a tear that had fallen despite her effort not to
cry. “Ready to ride?”

Kindness was an aphrodisiac. Daisy slipped
the Stetson from his head, leaned into him, and kissed him hard and
deep. She wrapped the hand holding his hat around his neck and
pressed her body tight to his, reveling in the intimate act of his
thoughtfulness. Gentleness was in short supply in her line of work.
Compassion a luxury. By day, her emotions had to be tamped down,
hidden, rejected. By night, with Trey, she could release them from
their prison and just…be.

The humid afternoon air and the friction of
their bodies shot molten adrenaline through her system. She raked
her fingers into the long hair at the base of his neck, wanting to
make love to this exceptional man until exhaustion forced them to
sleep.

Trey kissed her back with a fierce need she
could taste on his lips and feel in the grip of his hand on her
hip. Then Musket bumped the side of her head, causing them to break
the kiss.

Daisy stumbled a little and laughed. “I think
she’s jealous.”

At the sound of her laughter, Big Blue ambled
over to the fence and watched them with seemingly casual interest.
Trey gave Daisy’s arm a squeeze, took his hat, and then moved
toward the stallion. “Race?”

Daisy laughed again. “You’re on, mister.
Quarter horses are
fast
.”

She mounted Musket and met Trey outside the
corral. Without another word, they galloped side by side across the
meadow and into the twilight.

Chapter Four

The painted blue sky turned watercolor gray as night
descended over the meadow. Daisy and Trey trotted back toward the
stable for Musket to be watered, brushed, and fed. When they
finished, Daisy gave the mare a farewell hug before returning her
to her stall.

“Merry Christmas, sweet pea,” she whispered.
“It was wonderful to see you again.”

Musket swished her tail and moved her head as
if she understood.

Big Blue walked the two easy miles to Trey’s
at a leisurely pace after their exhilarating hard ride, and Daisy
and Trey walked beside him the last half mile for a cool-down. The
falling temperature and rising full moon formed the perfect climate
for Daisy’s pensive mood. She hooked her arm around Trey’s and
marveled at the way her life had changed. Was she happy in this
moment?
Yes
.

Still, she had a huge decision to make
regarding her future and the unexpected chance she’d received. The
possibility of returning to her home state of Pennsylvania and
resuming life as a patrol cop in a new district thrilled her. She
could live out her life among old friends and let her wounds finish
healing in familiar surroundings. A year ago, she’d have given
anything for that option. But…a year ago, she didn’t have a
relationship with Trey.

Her throat constricted. She tightened her
hold on his arm with the reminder she’d have to let him go to
restore traces of her former life. Would living without him be
worth the trade?

Texas was like another world for an Easterner
like her. Everything was different here and she still hadn’t
adapted. She liked Texas a lot; it was unarguably a great state.
Her sister lived here, her job with the mounted police was a great
opportunity, and falling in love with Trey had been a deeply
emotional surprise. Their dates were always fun and the sex was
phenomenal. But did he love her too? He’d never said, though his
actions in and out of the bedroom had certainly been caring.

But could she call Texas
home
? The word implied stability, and nothing here was
certain. She lived in temporary housing with her sister, had a
tenuous assignment with a future equine partner, and no romantic
relationship commitment. Should she take a huge chance and try to
put down roots in sandy soil? Or return to the solid familiarity of
Pennsylvania in a community that needed an experienced officer?

“You’re quiet all of a sudden,” Trey
said.

Except for the crickets, katydids, footfalls
and sounds of horse’s hooves, the country night was still. She must
have given him a vibe about the decision weighing on her mind,
because Trey was usually comfortable with silence. He freed his arm
from hers, rubbed a hand down her spine, and made little circles
with his fingertips on the small of her back. The intimate gesture
raised goose bumps over her skin, yet warmed her from the
inside.

“I’ve been thinking,” she said. “There’s
something I want to talk to you about.”

The moon had risen, and beneath its glow and
the light of a billion stars, Trey’s brow furrowed. “Sounds
serious.”

Daisy nodded. “Something I want to run by
you.”

Trey pressed his hand more tightly to her
back. “Then I want to hear about it. Let’s take care of Big Blue
and eat supper. We can relax and talk and then decorate the tree.
As it happens, I have something I want to discuss with you
too.”

Now it was her turn for surprise. Trey hadn’t
offered a clue that anything weighed on his mind. He was the most
easygoing man she’d ever known, who never failed to put her at
ease. She realized she could talk to him about anything and
shouldn’t have hesitated to mention the opportunity in
Pennsylvania. Why had she waited?

The answer whispered through her brain like a
slow moving Texas breeze.
Because you’re not as
unaffected by the relationship as you pretend. It won’t be easy to
say good-bye.

The glow from Trey’s house cut a swath
through the darkness like a thousand stars had fallen to earth.
Daisy sucked in a breath and stopped to stare.

Trey slowed beside her and brought Big Blue
to a halt. “Like it?”

He’d somehow found time to wrap the new porch
and the front of his house with white twinkle lights. A spotlight
captured the lovely wreath gracing his door. A bare pine tree stood
inside the picture window, waiting for ornaments.

“It’s beautiful.”

“Even without snow? Or winter’s chill?” His
grin and the sparkle in his eyes dared her to doubt Christmas could
be celebrated anywhere.

Daisy swallowed. She had to admit they’d had
a perfect evening, and Trey’s home looked more welcoming than any
sight she’d seen in a long, long time. “Yes. Even without
snow.”

He whooped out loud at her answer and then
laughed as if he’d won a prize at the Texas State Fair. “Snow is
grossly overrated.” He wrapped one arm around her waist and led his
horse with the other until they reached the barn.

Shady Lady scooted out and away before they
led Big Blue inside for tending. Daisy’s stomach rumbled. She
glanced back at the house in anticipation of dinner. Then she
remembered the important discussion that would follow and her mood
dimmed despite the festive twinkle lights.