Page 53 of Christmas with the Cowgirl
“Once you meet her, you’ll understand.”
She tried not to think of the inevitable, the change that was coming, but it hovered and it was painful.She tried to smother it, but her eyes stung as she tried to blink away the moisture.
To her surprise—and she had to admit her pleasure—he put an arm around her.“She’s been running this as long as you’ve been alive, hasn’t she?”She nodded.“No wonder you’re wound up.The thought of this being the last time for her must be painful.”
She looked up at him.For a moment she couldn’t speak, because she never would have expected him to understand.She’d been teasing him about having what it took to become a real Last Stander, but she had the feeling she’d been more right than she’d known.That he really did have it in him, that kind of perception and understanding.He might not have the connections yet, but maybe…
And he kept his arm around her.
They reached the edge of the crowd.They could see the raised stage that had been temporarily erected in front of the tree, as it was every year.Kane shifted the feeling of the entire gathering by switching to a song he’d written for this event that first year Minna had pressured him into doing it.It was deep, resounding, and in the end soaring, a tale of the actual Last Stand, and the town that had been built by the survivors upon the sacrifice of those heroes.And when he hit the chorus, many in the crowd joined him.
Sometimes you don’t have to win
Sometimes all you have to do is last
Until you can move on
But don’t forget the past.
When the resounding applause died away, Kane paused, then spoke into the mic.“Y’all know I’ve had my moments.Years on the road, running, when all the time home was still here—I just didn’t know it.”He paused as applause swelled again, but he waved it down.“Now I want to welcome the person who convinced me I could find a bit more of that home again if I just got up here and faced it.I owe her for that.So Minna Herdmann, tell that brother of mine to get you on up here.”
“It’s so good to hear him call Shane his brother,” she murmured just as the tall, strong man carried the fragile centenarian up the few steps to the stage.She felt a harsh tug inside, because this was the first time Minna hadn’t been able to manage the rather steep steps herself, albeit with Shane at her side.But she was waving at the crowd energetically, and Riley let herself believe the amazing woman wasn’t quite done yet.
The chief set her down in front of the microphone Kane had replaced on the stand, carefully lowering it to the tiny woman’s height.As she grasped it for balance, Kane gave her a gentle hug, and she patted him on the back.She turned back to the mic, took a moment to steady herself, and a longer moment to look out over the crowd.
“Y’all know I’m not one to rattle on, so I’m going to say two things.Thank you for all the years you’ve allowed me the honor of this.”She gestured at the still-dark tree.“And secondly, next year you be just as kind and welcoming to Maggie Rafferty.And that’s an order!”
A rousing cheer went up.The elderly lady turned to look at Shane Highwater, who had never moved out of reach, just in case—so very Highwater of him—who came up beside her holding a square box with a lever on top.
“Merry Christmas, Last Stand!”Minna exclaimed and pulled on the lever with a strong yank that made clear she wasn’t done for yet.
The tree exploded into lights of all colors, and a rousing cheer went up from all sides.It rolled on until Kane returned and took the mic.This time, standing with his arm safely around Minna, he led the crowd in a clearly heartfelt rendition of a classic Christmas hymn.
As it ended and people began to mill about, Riley looked up at Miles, saw the very intent look on his face as he watched Kane leave the stage.He seemed to sense it, because he shifted his gaze to her.
“Why was he on the run?”
“Long, painful story, involving the death of the previous Chief Highwater, and him feeling responsible.He ran for twelve years, from here to Alaska, before he realized it would never end until he came back and faced it all.”She smiled.“Hence those lyrics he wrote.”
Miles let out a compressed breath.“Wow.”
But there was something else in his eyes, something she thought she recognized now.That creative spark, she supposed.“Thinking it would make a good movie or series?”
“It’s got all the makings, and that’s only knowing the bare bones.”
“Only if you have Kane himself star in it,” she said, smiling.
Miles glanced at the man on the stage again.“He’s got the look, and the presence.”
“All those Highwater boys do,” she said.
That made his brows lower.As if he hadn’t liked that she’d said that.“Surprised you didn’t end up with one of them,” he muttered.
She couldn’t deny both his look and the sound of his voice when he said that made her heart give a little jump.“I’m too old for even Shane,” she said, wishing she hadn’t felt driven to remind him of that.
Miles moved suddenly then, grabbing her shoulders and turning her to face him.
“Stop it.”His expression was so intense it made her want to back away.But she didn’t.Couldn’t.“I,” he enunciated carefully, “do not give a damn how old you are.It doesn’t matter.Male and female genes the way they are, you’ll probably outlive me anyway.”
