The Cowgirl's Christmas Gift (Last Chance Ranch Book 1) Read online

  “Come on,” Maisey said. “Let’s go see what we can do for the little guy.”

  Maisey was quaking in her boots, but she wasn’t going to let Cam know that. She prayed silently as they walked to the boys’ bedroom that the Lord would help her know what to say. But when she poked her head in the door, Silas perked right up.

  “Maisey!” Sebastian exclaimed. “It’s Christmas morning.”

  “I know, buddy,” she said, sitting down on the bed next to where Silas was, curled up clutching his pillow to his chest.

  “I brought presents,” she told Silas. “I thought you guys would be all done opening the ones under the tree, but I’m glad I didn’t miss it. Do you want to go now?”

  Silas sniffled and dabbed his eyes with his palms. “Yeah,” he said through a tight throat.

  Maisey put her arm around him and gave him a big hug, then stood and held her hand out to him. “I had a little peek under the tree and I think you’re going to be surprised by what you find out there.”

  She met Cam’s gaze over the top of Silas’s head and he smiled gratefully.

  They just might have Christmas yet.

  ***

  The boys were surprised, all right, but not as surprised as Cam was, because the first thing they noticed wasn’t the robot under the tree, or even that their stockings were stuffed to overflowing with toys and candy canes.

  “Look, Uncle Cam,” Sebastian announced. “The Baby Jesus is here!”

  Both boys were huddled around the nativity scene, staring in awe.

  “Yes, He is,” Maisey said in delight. “He’s the most important part of Christmas, don’t you think?”

  The boys nodded in agreement.

  “Here. Let me take your very first Christmas picture of the year in front of the nativity scene with Jesus. Uncle Cam, scooch in with the kiddos.”

  Cam didn’t really want his picture taken, but the boys were so excited he didn’t want to do anything to take away from that, especially given the change in Silas. What would he have done if Maisey hadn’t shown up?

  He let her take a picture, and then he snuck a kiss on her cheek as the boys raced for the living room.

  “Thank you,” he whispered.

  She grinned back at him. “Any time.”

  Both boys were enamored by Cam’s robot. It was a good fifteen minutes before they wanted to tear into the stockings and the rest of the presents. Cam’s heart was so full of joy he thought it might burst.

  “Open mine next,” Maisey insisted, after they had opened several gifts and had wrapping paper strewn all over the floor.

  “For Sebastian,” she said, handing him two boxes tied together with ribbon. “And Silas. And last but not least, for Uncle Cam.”

  Him?

  Shock bolted through him. He hadn’t gotten her anything.

  Ugh. He was such a dunce. He just didn’t think practically that way. What good was all his money if he didn’t remember to spend it?

  He wouldn’t even begin to know what she would want for Christmas--which didn’t matter now, since he hadn’t gotten her whatever that might have been, even if he had been able to figure it out.

  “I want you to open them all at once,” she instructed them. “Ready? Set? Go!”

  The boys ripped into the top box. Cam reluctantly followed, wishing he could be anywhere but here. Or better yet, that he had some really great present under the tree for Maisey, something worthy of the woman she was and a sign of the gratitude he felt for her.

  Gratitude, and every other emotion he hadn’t yet dared to name.

  They opened the boxes at the same time. Maisey had bought them all matching black cowboy boots.

  “You have no idea what I had to go through to get the sizes right,” she said. “I checked out your shoes when you were sleeping the morning after the storm,” she told Cam. Then I checked the boys’ shoes when they were in Morgan’s saddle.”

  “Sneaky,” he admitted, admiring his shiny black cowboy boots. He slipped off his house shoes and tried them on. They fit perfectly. “How’d you know I wanted boots?”

  She shrugged and smiled gleefully. “It’s a Wyoming thing. I figure if you’re going to live out on the land, you ought to dress like it.”

  Out on the land…

  “Open the other one,” Maisey urged.

  They obliged, this time finding cowboy hats. Unlike with the boots, though, each of the hats was a different color. Sebastian’s was black, Silas’s was dark brown and Cam’s was white.

  Sitting next to him on the couch, she leaned in and bumped his shoulder with hers. “Because you’re the good guy.”

  Some good guy he was.

  “But I have no—” he started and then skidded to a halt. He did have something to give her. Something unique she could really use and couldn’t get from anyone but him.

  Something that would mean something to a woman as special as Maisey.

  “I want to give you my land,” he blurted out.

  “What?”

  “My land. For you to use with your horses. I’m not ever going to use it for anything, except maybe for a couple of horses for the twins. And possibly one for me, if you teach me to ride. You never did answer me on that.”

  “Of course I’ll teach you to ride. But to be able to use your land? Are you sure? You could rent the pastures out for money.”

  “I don’t need money. I need you.”

  “What?” she asked again, sounding almost as shocked as when he’d given her his land.

  Panic pulsed through him. Ugh. Shut up, shut up, shut up! Why did he always blurt things out without thinking them through first? She was going to bolt faster than a skittish filly because he had no filter on his mouth. And then where would he be?

  Her eyes widened, but she didn’t bolt. She turned to him and placed her palm on his scruffy cheek. “I need you, too. You and the twins.” She pressed her lips to his.

  He knew his face was as red as the stockings hanging on the mantle. He glanced at the twins, but they were busy with the robot.

  He was going to think before he spoke. He always meant what he said, even when it came out of his mouth faster than he expected. This time he was going to make sure she knew he wasn’t just blurting out some madcap nonsense.

  “I love you, Maisey Gray,” he said. “I love everything about you. You barged into my life with my twins literally in your grasp and have changed my whole world for the better. I want to give you more than my land. I want to give you my heart. Now and forever. Will you marry me?”

  For a moment she was silent and his heart stopped dead in his chest.

  Then a slow smile spread across her face. “Don’t you think we ought to ask the twins what they think?”

  She was going to say yes!

  He wanted to hoot and holler and cheer loud enough for the whole of Wyoming to hear.

  “Boys,” Maisey called. “Can you come over here for a minute? Your Uncle Cam and I have something to ask you.”

  “Do you know what Best Men are?” Cam asked as Sebastian curled into his arm and Silas into Maisey’s.

  The boys shook their heads in unison.

  “No? Well, Best Men are the very special guys who stand beside a man who is about to be married. Maisey and I would like you two to be the Best Men at our wedding.”

  “You’re getting married?” Sebastian asked.

  “He just said that, dummy,” Silas answered, shoving his brother.

  “Hey, no shoving. And no calling your brother names. Hugging would be good, though. What do you think, boys? Are you in?”

  They nodded and huddled together for a big family hug.

  “Then all we have left is for Maisey to agree. You never did give me your answer,” Cam reminded her.

  “Yes, yes and yes,” she said, nodding her head toward each of them. “It will be my pleasure to join your wonderful family.”

  “You’re getting married,” Sebastian crowed.

  Cam wished he was six years ol
d so he could crow just as loud as the boys. But he laughed, long and hard. And then he kissed his bride-to-be, not even caring that the twins were once more chirping, “Uncle Cam and Maisey, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!”

  DEAR READER

  I am blessed to be related to a very special woman, my sister Amy Vyskocil, who has thrown her whole heart and life into rescuing animals, including wild horses from the BLM like Butterscotch who would otherwise not survive. As the name suggests, Happy Haven Farm and Sanctuary (HappyHavenFarm.org) gives horses, dogs, cats, pigs and many other animals the chance to live happy, normal lives. She sometimes takes in animals she knows she cannot rehome just to give them a good quality of life.

  As you can imagine, it costs a lot of money to feed and vet so many special animals. This worthy nonprofit depends on people like you and me to lend the animals our support. For that reason, 10% of all the profits on the royalties of this book and all the books in my Last Chance Ranch series will be donated to Happy Haven.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  ~~Dare to Dream~~

  Publisher's Weekly Bestselling, award-winning author of over 30 novels and 1.7 million books in print, Deb Kastner enjoys writing contemporary stories set in small western communities.

  Deb lives in beautiful Colorado with her husband and a pack of miscreant mutts. She is blessed with three adult daughters and two grandchildren. Her favorite hobby is spoiling her grandchildren, but she also enjoys reading, watching movies, listening to music (The Texas Tenors are her fav), singing in the church choir, acting onstage and exploring the Rocky Mountains on horseback.

  Website: https://www.debkastnerbooks.com

  Newsletter: http://bit.ly/debkastnernews

  Other Books by Deb Kastner: http://bit.ly/DKAMZPAGE