Page 146 of The Cowbears of Curvy Bear Ranch

“Of course, honey. Let’s go show off your new ring,”Logansaid.

“Right now?” sheasked.

“Yes, right now.” He smiled. “Madison and Rachel are hosting the Christmas baking contest at the B&Btoday.”

“I don’t want to upstage theirparty.”

“Are you kidding? They’re going toloveit.”

“I guess I’m just nervous about telling other people,”shesaid.

“Why?”

“Everything is movingsofast.”

“Should we slow down?” he asked with afurrowedbrow.

“No, I don’t want to slow down. I want to marry you. I love you. I just hope your family will lovemetoo.”

“They will,” he said as he led her out to thetruck.

As they drove down Electric Street, she gazed up at the strands of holly which had been strung over the road. Tiny twinkling white lights shimmered in store windows. And at the end of the road, an enormous Christmas tree shimmered with hugeornaments.

The spirit of Christmas was all around her, and in her heart. She couldn’t imagine a better time to getmarried.

Chapter12

“Areyou sure I should leave the ring on?” Kate asked. Butterflies flitted around in her belly as they approached theB&B.

“They’re going to find out sooner or later.” Logansmiled.

“I know. I’m nervous about it. I guess I hope your family’s okaywithit.”

“They will love anyone I choose, and I choose you.” He kissed her until she meltedagainsthim.

“Can’t we just skip to the honeymoon?” sheasked.

He roared with laughter. “I would love to do that more than anything in the world. But if we don’t walk in there right now, Madison and Rachel will kill me. I promised them that I’d help judge thecontest.”

“Well then, let’s not keep them waiting,” she said withagrin.

Inside, Christmas rock music played just below the buzz of conversation. Guests filled the living room. Some sat on the sofa, some on the chairs, while others cuddled in front of theroaringfire.

“There you are.” Madison hustled into the foyer from the kitchen. “We’re about to start the judging. Kate, do you want to be a judge also? One of the judges caught a cold and couldn’t attend at the lastminute.”

“Sure,” Kate said. “But I’ve never judged anythingbefore.”

“There are two categories—presentation and taste. We score from one to five using anonymous ballots,”Rachelsaid.

“I’m ready for cake,”Logansaid.

As they strolled into the kitchen, seven cakes sat on the counter, all uncut. Every cake had a Christmas theme. Each of them looked so tasty that Kate had a hard time keeping her hands toherself.

After Madison passed out the score cards, Rachel joined them. An elderly lady strolled into the kitchen. A shock of white hair sprouted out from beneath a red knit cap. Decked out in a faux fur coat and black sweater dress, she floated in as if she wereroyalty.

“This is Gertrude Campbell. She’s the president of the Red Hat Society women’s group in West Yellowstone,”Madisonsaid.

“I’ve been judging food contests since before you were born,”Gertrudesaid.

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