Kiss of The Christmas Wind (2 page)

“As long as we do as we’re told. My pardon was based on you marrying me, keeping me out of trouble, and resigning from the Rangers and as a Special Agent for the President
and,”
she stressed, “on you becoming marshal of this town.”

“I’ll admit Grant gave me a way out of a nasty situation. I’m grateful to him. And I’m glad I’d saved enough money to buy this ranch outside of town. A man surely doesn’t spend much of his earnings when he’s on the trail alone. We have twenty beautiful acres in this valley, love, and forty more in the adjoining one. We’re sheltered on nearly all sides by mountains from the worst weather winter could throw at us. We’ve got plenty of water, a cozy home, a big barn, sturdy fencing, winter feed, a few cattle and horses, food to last for months, and each other. It’s more than either of us has had since childhood.”

She reasoned in a gentle tone, “But how can we enjoy it, make it succeed and grow, if you’re called away half the time to put yourself into danger? I’m grateful for all we have, but maybe I’m selfish in wanting my husband safe and at my side more. Some of those claims disputes get out of hand and bullets fly wildly. I don’t like you riding into a den of greedy wolves alone. Gold and silver crazed prospectors could rip you to pieces just to frame their enemies. I feel like we’re still paying for my wicked past, and we’ll keep on paying for my mistakes until we’re too old to ranch or you’re killed tracking down countless outlaws. How many do you have to bring to justice before you’ve paid for freeing one?”

Thad ignored that question; to answer it would give away a special surprise in the making. “I’ll be fine, love. You worry about me too much.”

“Because I love you and I want you around forever. I have confidence in your prowess, T.J., but—”

“No buts, Mrs. Jamison. I won’t be marshal forever; I promise. My belly’s rumbling and our supper will be burning soon. Let’s eat and talk about more pleasant things on my last night home. For a while,” he added to remove the lines of fear that crept in around her eyes.

But his innocent statement shot through her body like a rifle bullet, wounding her deeply. What if it was his last night at home? In her arms? In her life? Every time he rode off with a badge pinned to his shirt in the names of Law and Order, it could be the last time she ever saw him. No, she commanded, she must not think that awful way! God and fate had brought them together. She reminded herself that they had more than most folk, so she must be appreciative and optimistic.

“You’re right, my love. Now, get those wet boots off before you mess up my clean floor,” she teased, playfully yanking on a midnight lock. “I’ll put the biscuits in the oven and set the table. You can add wood to the fires. It’s going to be mighty cold tonight, and you’ll be up early.”

Thad halted her departure. “What I need first is a hug and kiss from my wife to settle me down.” He embraced her with mixed feelings—love that stirred his body and consumed his heart, and the misery of knowing how much he would miss and worry about her soon. He closed his eyes to savor the way she felt in his arms. She was a strong woman, a proud and loyal one. He couldn’t imagine his existence without her, if anything ever happened to her. He wanted to be with her every day—working side by side, expanding, learning, enriching their relationship, and having their children. He no longer felt the urge to roam the countryside and to test his prowess against that of criminals. His heart was here with her, and his spirit at peace.

Thad’s lips journeyed over her face, a soft terrain he had learned well since their meeting in April. Had it really only been seven-and-a-half months since they’d encountered each other in that stage stop on her way to Tucson—with her making one more attempt to go straight as a schoolmarm and with him tracking an outlaw before concentrating on hunting down the Stover Gang? She had sent crazy stirrings throughout his mind and body, sitting at the table and looking so prim and proper while her heart raced with panic over his bold stares. He had only been overwhelmed by her beauty and appeal; he hadn’t seen through her disguise as she’d feared. Thank God he had followed her and saved her life when her stage was attacked. Thank God they had both been heading for Tucson. She had led him on a merry and sometimes perilous chase, but he had captured her for himself, for all time. He had put his life, his job, his honor on the line to win her. Miraculously, he had succeeded; she had been pardoned by the President. Now, he would let nothing and no one harm her again.

Carrie Sue sensed the tension in her husband’s body. She knew part of it was the result of her digging up the past tonight. She wished she could forget it, but things sometimes triggered memories she couldn’t suppress. But it was wrong to send her husband away on a dangerous mission with a troubled mind. Christmas was approaching, as was the new year of 1877. It was time to bury her dark past for good. It was time to look to their bright future.

“I love you, T.J.,” she murmured, then sought his lips with hers. Her hands caressed his strong back and she nestled closer against him. He always made her feel safe and happy in his arms. She adored him. She would give her life to save his. She could hardly wait until Christmas to give him her special gift . . .

“I love you, Carrie Sue,” he responded when their lips parted. “I’ll return soon. Don’t worry, love.”

“You know I will, just like you’ll worry about me. If we ever stop worrying about each other, that’s when we both should worry most.”

They shared laughter at her jesting tone. Both relaxed, hugged again, then separated. Carrie Sue went into the kitchen to complete their evening meal. Thad removed his damp boots and slipped on the thick woolen socks she’d bought him in Denver, which was south of Gates and their ranch.

While Carrie Sue worked, Thad added wood to the fires in the kitchen, parlor, and bedroom to keep the house warm for earlier than usual rising. He liked this house as much as she did, and they were lucky to find it and be able to afford the ranch. The home was cozy, but not too small. It was well-built to keep in heat and to keep out the Colorado cold.

When Mr. Carnes had sold it to them before returning East, the widower had left all his furniture behind, wanting no reminders of the beloved wife who had shared it with him for only a year. Carnes had been so taken with them that he had given Thad a wonderful deal on the ranch.

The house was set in a group of hardwoods that sheltered it from brisk winds. A large barn was nearby to ease chores during the worst of winter. There was a well close to the house, and a stream ran from one end of the mountain-protected valley to the other, supplying plenty of water for man and beast, when Thad was ready to buy their small herd.

Upon their arrival in late July, the meadow had been adorned with colorful wildflowers and verdant grass. The valley, foothills, and mountains had been green with pine, spruce, birch, oak, elder, cottonwood, willow, and aspen. During autumn, they had watched the leaves of hardwoods turn to blazing shades, then fall to leave the branches bare in ghostly freedom and ready for their cloaks of white. Now only the green of pine, spruce, and a few others could be seen through blankets of snow and ice which often overburdened and broke their limbs.

It was cold this time of year and this far north—in the thirties most days and dipping into the teens at night—but the coldest and worst weather would come in January and February. He dreaded walking his horse in the snow and over frozen ground, then trying not to freeze at night in a bedroll, alone near a camp fire that would almost refuse to burn. He wondered how he had ever learned to ignore such hardships during his years on the trail, only to lose that ability after a five-month marriage. With luck and prayers, he would catch those outlaws fast and get back into his cozy home and into his wife’s warming arms.

Careful,
he warned himself,
you have to be careful; these two men are dangerous. Jake Sawyer and Slim Reeves enjoy killing.

Thad glanced into the kitchen at his busy and humming wife. He hadn’t told her he knew from descriptions who had robbed the Gates Bank. Sawyer and his friend were well-known in the nearest states. Carrie Sue had heard of them, and it would frighten her to learn who he was pursuing. Maybe it was wrong to keep a secret from her, but he felt it was best. Maybe she sensed he was withholding something or perceived his unusual tension and that’s what triggered her bad memories tonight. He wanted to keep his lawman’s work separate from his ranch life and family; he never wanted her drawn into those kinds of situations again. He wanted to protect her from perils and from unhappi—

The redhead called out, “Supper’s ready, Marshal Jamison. Let’s eat, so I can help you pack. I want to make sure you leave with a full belly and warm body. Then you’ll work harder to get back fast to all you have here.”

Marshal Thad Jamison joined his wife at the kitchen table. He eyed the venison she had sprinkled with spices and roasted slowly for hours; its aroma caused his mouth to water in anticipation of each tender bite. Fragrant coffee gave off rising steam to say it was too hot to drink swiftly or carelessly. Green beans and corn from canning jars did the same, and cat head biscuits released wispy white warnings to grasp them carefully.

Thad served his plate. Following a few bites of each, he remarked, “You’re a great cook, woman. I’m gonna miss this fare while I’m gone.”

“Not at first. I’ll wrap leftovers for you to take on your journey. Even in your saddlebag, they’ll freeze and stay good for days on the trail. I just hope you can get a fire going hot enough to thaw and warm them. You have to make certain you stay nourished and strong.”

“What would I do if I didn’t have you to take care of me?”

“Thanks, Marshal, but you did fine before you met me. You can tend yourself better than most men I know. I’m glad, because you help me around the house as much as I help you around the ranch.”

“We make good partners, love. But you do more than your share around here. It won’t always be this one-sided, Carrie Sue.”

She didn’t bite her biscuit until she said, “I don’t mind. In fact, I love having a home and ranch to tend. I can hardly wait until we get our cattle next summer. We can’t do much with the three head we have.”

Thad stopped cutting his meat and looked at her. “I hate to buy cattle until I’m around more to help you. Maybe we should wait a while longer.”

“A small herd isn’t much trouble, and we need to get started raising them; they take years to mature for selling. All they’ll do next summer is graze in the pasture and drink water from the stream. I can tend our chickens and milk our cow without any help. I can take care of the garden, too, after I get it planted in the spring. Don’t forget, my love, I lived and worked on a ranch before I became an outlaw. I remember all my parents taught me. I’ll put it to good use on our land and in our home.”

“Our land and our home,” he echoed. “I love the sound of those words. You are a hard worker, woman, and a smart one. With my job keeping me away so much, we were lucky that Carnes left us in good shape. There were no repairs to be done and no heavy work until we expand.”

Carrie Sue glanced around the kitchen. “It is a beautiful and strong home, T.J. We’ll have a good life here.” She didn’t want to think about why Carnes had sold out and left—the death of his mate. She didn’t want to think it could be the same for her one dark day. “We cut plenty of firewood to last until spring. We have enough supplies and feed for the stock and chickens. There’s not much work in the winter, so I’ll be fine alone. All I have to do while you’re gone is tend the animals and sew.”

“You be careful going out on icy ground. And make sure you’re bundled up in case you take a fall. You could freeze out there before I returned.”

Carrie Sue vowed to be extra cautious during her husband’s absence, as she had more than the animals and herself to protect. She was chomping at the bit to reveal her pregnancy, but she wanted it to be a surprise at Christmas, especially with him leaving on a dangerous mission that required his full attention. Too, she remembered how disappointed they were to discover she wasn’t carrying their child when they left Waco in July, as they’d believed. She had waited this time until she was positive it was true.
A baby, our baby . . . a real family. It will be wonderful, perfect.

After they finished eating, Thad helped his wife clear the table. While Carrie Sue washed the dishes, he dried them. He enjoyed being around her and helping her any time he could. She was good company. She made him laugh, smile, and feel wonderful. That was something else he missed whenever he was away from her and home. He liked hearing her talk about their future with such excitement and joy. She was right; they needed to get their herd going next spring. If things worked out as he hoped, he’d be around more after next summer to be a real partner in their marriage and ranch. Once children started coming along, and he dearly wanted them, he couldn’t leave all the work and responsibilities in her lap, as he’d been forced to do since their arrival here. He was a damn lucky man to have a wife like Carrie Sue, and he would not let her work herself into exhaustion or an early grave while he chased criminals all over Colorado and farther!