Page 92 of The Holiday Gift

The man certainly knew how to kiss. She couldn’t deny that. She pressed a hand to her stomach, which still seemed to be jumping with nerves. The last time she had been kissed so thoroughly and deliciously had been...well, never.

She sighed. It wouldn’t happen again. Neither of them wanted this. She had only to remember the stunned dismay in Ben’s eyes in that moment when he had come to his senses. He was likely still grieving for his wife, taken from him far too soon. And she...well, she had told herself she wasn’t interested in a relationship, that she was content here helping Ridge with Destry and training her dogs and the occasional horse.

For the first time in a long time, she was beginning to wonder what else might be out in the big, scary world, waiting for her.

* * *

“I think he’s feeling better, don’t you?”

Caidy glanced up from the dough she was kneading to see her niece sitting cross-legged beside Luke’s blanket. The dog’s head was in her lap and he was gazing up at the girl with adoration.

“Yes. I think so. He seems much happier than he was even a few hours ago.”

“I’m glad. I really thought he was a goner when I saw old Festus go after him.”

Guilt socked her in the gut again. If she had kept a closer eye on Luke, he wouldn’t be lying there with those bandages and she wouldn’t be so beholden to Ben Caldwell.

“I hope that’s a good reminder to you about how dangerous the bulls can be. That could just as easily have been you. I don’t ever want you to take a chance with Festus or any of the bulls. They’re usually placid guys most of the time, even Festus, but you never know.”

“I know. I know. You and Dad have told me that like a thousand times. I’m not a little kid anymore, Aunt Caidy. I’m smart enough to know to keep my distance.”

“Good. The ranch can be a dangerous place. You can’t ever let your guard down. Even one of the cows could trample you if you lost your footing.”

“It’s a miracle I ever survived to be eleven years old, isn’t it?”

Caidy made a face. “Smarty. You can’t blame your dad and me for worrying about you. We just want you to be safe.”

And happy, she added silently. She wanted to think her presence here at the ranch had contributed in that department. If Ridge had been left on his own after Melinda left, forced to employ a string of nannies and babysitters, she wasn’t sure Destry would have come through childhood with the same cheerful personality.

“What’s going to happen to Luke? You can’t train him to be a real cow dog now, can you?”

Even without his injuries, she suspected Luke would always be nervous around the cattle. How could she blame him, especially when she could relate, in a sense? Not to fearing cattle. She had no problem with the big animals. Her fears were a little closer to home. This time of year, her heartbeat always kicked up a bit when the doorbell rang, even when they were expecting company.

The memory of that fateful night was as much a part of her as the sprinkle of freckles on her nose and the tiny scar she had at the outside edge of her left eyebrow from an unfortunate encounter with the business end of a pitchfork when she was eight.

“I’m not really sure yet about Luke,” she finally answered Destry as she formed a small ball of dough and set it into the prepared pan. “I’m guessing from this point on, he’ll just be a pet.”

“Here at the River Bow?”

“Sure. Why not?” They had plenty of dogs and didn’t really need another one that was just a pet. Sadie, too old to work, sort of filled that role, but she supposed they would make room for one more.

“Good,” Destry said, cuddling the dog close. “It’s not his fault he got hurt. Not really. He was only being curious. It doesn’t seem fair to get rid of him for an accident.”

Destry was a sweet girl, compassionate and loving. Maybe too compassionate sometimes. Caidy smiled, remembering the previous Christmas when she had claimed she didn’t want any presents that year. Instead she only wanted cash.

They all learned later she and some of her schoolmates were being scammed out of money and belongings...by none other than Gabi, the youngest sister of Trace’s new wife.

She hadn’t been part of their family then, of course. She had only been a troubled, lost young girl abandoned by her heartless witch of a mother and trying to find her way.

Trace had given both Becca and Gabi the loving family they all deserved—and Gabi and Destry had moved on and become best friends. That wasn’t always a good thing. Trouble seemed to find the two of them like a pack of bloodhounds on the scent.

With the dog sleeping soundly now, Destry carefully set his head back down on the blankets, then rose and wandered over to the work island. “Need help rolling out the dough?”

“Sure. I’m doing cloverleaf rolls for dinner this afternoon. You remember, you roll three small balls and stick them together. Wash your hands first.”

Destry complied quickly and the two of them worked together in mostly silence for a few moments. Caidy savored these small moments with her niece, who was growing up far too quickly.

She loved making dinner for her family on Sundays, when everyone gathered together to laugh and talk and catch up. Having all these new children—Alex, Maya, Gabi—only made family time together more fun.

---