Page 105 of The Holiday Gift

He made her nervous. He had observed at dinner that she was warm and friendly to everyone else, but she basically ignored him and had been abrupt in their few interactions. It was an odd position in which to find himself and he wasn’t sure how he felt about it—just as he didn’t know how to deal with his own conflicted reaction to her.

One moment he wanted to retreat into his safe world as a widower and single father. The next, she forcibly reminded him that underneath those roles, he was still a man.

Brooke had been gone for two years. He would always grieve for his wife, for the good times they had shared and the children she had loved and raised so well. He had become, if not complacent in his grief, at least comfortable with it. This move to Idaho seemed to have shaken everything. When he agreed to take the job, he intended to create a new life for the children, away from influences he considered harmful. He never expected to find himself so drawn to a lovely woman with secrets and sadness in her eyes.

Through the rest of the sleigh ride, though he tried to focus on the scenery and the enjoyment his children were having, he couldn’t seem to stop watching Caidy. She was amazing, actually, keeping her attention focused on entertaining the very cute niece on her lap and making sure none of the gaggle of preadolescent girls suddenly fell out of the wagon. She managed all of those tasks with deft skill.

She obviously loved children and she was very good with them. Why didn’t she have a husband and a wagonload of children herself?

None of his business, he reminded himself. Her dog was his patient and he was currently a temporary tenant at her ranch, but that was the extent of their relationship. He would be foolish to go looking for more. That didn’t stop him from being intensely aware of her as the wagon jostled his shoulder against hers every time Ridge hit a rut.

“Brrr. I’m cold,” Maya said, snuggling deeper into Caidy’s lap.

“So am I,” she answered. “But look. Ridge is taking us home now.”

Ben looked around. Sure enough, her brother had perfect timing. Just as the enthusiasm began to wane and the children started to complain of the cold, Ben realized the big, beautiful draft horses were trudging under the sign announcing the entrance to the River Bow Ranch.

“No more horsies?” Maya asked.

“Not today, little bug.” Taft held his arms out and his stepdaughter lunged into them. “We’ll come back and go for another ride sometime soon, though, I promise.”

“She’s a huge fan of our horses,” Caidy said with a fond smile for the girl. “Especially the big ones for some odd reason.”

Instead of heading toward the ranch house, Caidy’s brother turned the horses down the little lane that led to the house he was renting. The wagon pulled up in front.

“Look at that. Curb service for you,” Caidy said. She finally met his gaze with a tentative smile. He was aware of an unsettling urge to stand here in the cold, staring into those striking green eyes for an hour or two. He managed a brief smile in return, then turned his attention to climbing out of the wagon and gathering his kids.

“Let’s go. Jack, Ava.”

“I don’t want to get off! Why does everyone else get to keep riding?” Jack had that tremor in his voice that signaled an impending five-year-old tantrum.

“Only for another minute or two,” Ridge promised. “We’re just heading back to the house and then the ride will be done. The horses are tired and need their beds.”

“So do you, kiddo,” Ben said. “Come on.”

To Ben’s relief, Jack complied, jumping down into his arms. Ava clearly wanted to stay with the other girls but she finally waved to them all. “See you tomorrow on the bus,” she said to Destry.

“Great. I’ll bring that book we were talking about.”

“Okay. Don’t forget.”

Ava waved again and jumped down without his help.

“Thanks for letting us tag along,” he said to the wagon in general, though he meant his words for Caidy. “Ava and Jack had a blast.”

“What about you?” she asked.

He didn’t know her well enough yet to interpret her moods. All he knew was that she looked remarkably pretty in the moonlight, with her eyes sparkling and her cheeks—and the very tip of her nose—rosy.

“I enjoyed it,” he answered. He was a little surprised to realize it was true. He hadn’t found all that many things enjoyable since his wife died. Who would have expected he would enjoy a hayride with a bunch of giggly girls and Caidy and her forbidding brothers, who would probably have thrown him off the wagon if they had known about that late-night kiss—and about how very much he wanted to repeat the experience?

“I especially enjoyed the peppermint hot cocoa.”

She looked pleased. “I’m glad. Peppermint is my favorite too.”

“Good night.”

He waved and carried Jack into the foreman’s cottage, wondering what the hell he was going to do about Caidy Bowman. She was an intriguing mystery, a jumble full of prickles and sweetness, vinegar and sugar, and he was far more fascinated by her than he had any right to be.

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