Page 12 of A Tiny House Christmas

Who was she kidding? His nod had probably just been nothing more than a supportive you’ve-got-this from a man who still thought of her as a lost kid.

But she’d felt the entire world in that small gesture. Hopes. Dreams. Possibilities.

Permission.

And it was like that nod had been saying something more. Way more.

Run.

Run, Karlene. I’ll be here for you with open arms and an open heart.

Joey needed to be out on a horse, and he felt Karlene did, too. It had been tough not telling her why he’d nodded to her in the church. The surprising feelings that had welled up inside him at seeing her as a bride.

He loved her.

He knew it for sure, the feelings swirling and brewing, growing stronger over the past twenty-four hours. Now that he had taken off the blinders, it was so obvious to him.

And probably her parents, too, judging from the way they’d laid into her. He could see how it looked—her running straight from the church and into his welcoming arms like it had all been planned.

Optics aside, this wasn’t the time to make Karlene his.

His everything.

She was on the rebound, reeling from her broken promise to marry another. She needed time. Time to make sure she was doing the right thing. Not the convenient thing she might think she wanted right now while she was in the thick of it all.

“What’s going on?” Karlene asked, entering the barn. She’d been cleaning up the kitchen while he saddled their horses and strapped the bedrolls and packs to their backs.

Now she stood with her hands on her hips in her new clothes, watching him bring her horse around. It was a nice outfit, very cowgirl. But it wasn’t the same as seeing her in his shirt and jeans. He’d never get over the burn of possessiveness he’d felt dig its way into his soul earlier. That insistent longing, like a persistent stowaway, pushing against his willpower.

But one look at her and he knew this was the wrong time to let himself off-leash. She was exhausted from the guilt and the emotional battle with her parents, as well as the tears. Crying always wiped her out, and right now she probably wanted to curl up under a heavy, thick blanket, eat candy and laugh at a goofy movie. He could give that to her, but it would kill him to watch her wallow. He needed to give her something healing to bring the bounce back into her step and the smiles and warmth in her every look.

“You need some hill therapy.” He handed her the reins to her horse, Becky, as well as a warm pair of gloves.

“I do?” The lift in her torso as she straightened, delighted by his idea, was all he needed to know.

She lifted herself into the saddle and followed Joey and Cavalcade out of the yard, Brody following them with a happy bark.

They had several hours before sunset. Plenty of time to reach their destination—not the cabin. They’d let the squirrels enjoy a quiet Christmas without them there.

“Tomorrow’s Christmas,” she pointed out. “And we’re camping out?”

“That work for you?”

She was silent for a moment, as though considering whether it did or not. “Did you bring cranberries?” she asked. “Turkey? Potatoes?”

“Of course. All canned.” He patted the bag strapped to the rear of his saddle.

She remained silent for a beat. “Is there such thing as canned turkey?”

“Guess you’ll find out.” He flashed a smile and led them through a narrow trail in the brush, then rode alongside the creek. They continued up the hills, riding side by side and through a meadow and toward a thicket. They’d camped out here with Blake when Karlene was fifteen. It had been their first of many camp-outs, but they hadn’t been here since, and he figured it was due time to return.

They set up camp, along with a tent.

“You can sleep in there,” Joey said, tossing her roll inside.

“No.” She dragged it out again.

“It’s going to be cold again tonight.”

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