Page 47 of Haystacks and Hoaxes

Together, they drifted off to sleep.

Chapter 8: Holiday Blues

Christmas Day

Gage’s farmhouse looked like something out of a country living magazine — the Christmas edition. Mila’s lips parted on a sigh of wonder as Rock parked in the circle driveway. “You’re so fortunate to live in a place like this!” Someone had wrapped garlands around the porch railing and threaded them with strands of tiny white lights.

A glossy black Jeep was parked at a cocky angle in front of them. There were skid marks in the gravel where the driver had braked at the last minute. Probably Johnny. The thought made her smile.

Rock shot her an amused look. “Says the passenger princess, who’s been sleeping in a castle all week!”

“I would trade my brother’s snooty old fortress for a place like this in a heartbeat.” In comparison, Gage Hefner’s rambling farmhouse was the epitome of what a home was supposed to be, with its fresh white paint, rustic wooden shutters, and grapevine wreath hanging on the front door.A fat red velvet ribbon was tied to the bottom of the wreath, and the ends of it were fluttering in the breeze.

“That porch swing looks so inviting,” she sang out.Though it was cold enough outside to put frost on a person’s eyelashes, she debated the odds of Rock letting her go for a quick swing.

Her wistful expression must have given away what she was thinking, because he shook his head at her. “My brother has a pair of rocker recliners in the living room, where it’s a lot warmer.” His meaning was clear. It wasn’t safe for her to linger outside in the crosshairs of whoever was gunning for her life.

Though he was right, she stifled a sigh as she waited for him to walk around the company SUV he’d driven her there in. Ever since her stint in the hospital, her brother had insisted she be transported in armored vehicles only.

Rock used his broad shoulders to shield her as they hurried the short distance to the porch. Before he could open the front door for her, it swung open. Gage appeared in the opening, wearing a festive red flannel shirt and jeans. He shot a furtive glance over her shoulders as he ushered them inside.

He bolted the door behind them and cast a hungry look at the pair of trays Mila was holding. “Do I smell chocolate chip cookies?”

“Yep.” Rock winked at her. “My cruel, cruel partner refused to let me sneak so much as a crumb on the way here. Made me drool all over my steering wheel.”

Johnny leaped up from one of the rocker recliners in the living room. “Yo, Mila! About time you showed up.” He hurried her way to take one of the trays of cookies off her hands.

“Thanks. It was kind of your fault.” She was relieved tohear how cheerful he sounded. She’d been hoping he wouldn’t be offended that she’d turned down his offer to serve as her chauffeur this morning in lieu of having Rock do the honors.

“Et tu, Brute?” he grumbled good-naturedly to her. “Sure didn’t take you long to jump on the blame-Johnny-for-everything bandwagon.”

“If the shoe fits,” she chuckled. “Rock made me quadruple my cookie recipe since you’d be here.”

The rugged cowboy’s amiable smile widened. “He knows me too well.”

Gage pointed her toward the kitchen. However, he hung back as she and Johnny headed there to drop off the cookies.

She heard him quip in a hushed voice to Rock, “I’m gonna go out on a limb and say those cookies weren’t the only thing you were drooling over on the way here.”

Though Mila didn’t want to read too much into his words, she was pretty sure they were talking about her. She stepped inside the kitchen and found a petite cowgirl puttering over a tray of fruit. Her dark braids tumbled over the shoulders of her green-and-white plaid dress. She tossed them behind her as she glanced up at them. “Hey, Johnny! Hey, Mila! It’s so nice to finally meet you! I’m Ella.”

“It’s wonderful to meet you, too.” Mila gestured with her cookie tray. “Where would you like us to put these?”

“Anywhere you can squeeze them in.” Ella scooted a few of the other platters of food around to make room.

“Since I’m the one who invited her, I get the first sample.” Johnny pulled the plastic wrap off the tray he’d been carrying. Ella dove for him and tried to swat his hands away, but he was too quick. He’d already popped one of Mila’s cookies into his mouth.

He went through comical contortions, allowing his eyes to roll dramatically back into his head. “On a scale of one to ten, these are a solid twenty!”

“Now that everyone is here,” Gage announced from the doorway, “how about we bow our heads and say grace over the food?”

“Don’t forget to bless the cookie your partner stole.” Rock’s voice was dry as he moved forward to station himself beside Mila.

“Good point.” Gage led them in a holiday prayer of thanksgiving for their families, friends, and the blessings on their great nation. “Amen. Let’s dig in!”

To Mila’s delight, they loaded up their plates and headed back to the living room to perch on the sofa and recliners. Once their plates were empty, Ella moved around collecting them, while Gage scooted a leather ottoman over to the Christmas tree.

Ella returned from the kitchen and took a seat on it. “Is everyone ready for me to start tossing gifts around the room?”

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