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CHRISTMAS MORNING DAWNED bitterly cold. Lucy loaded Zeke into his car seat even though he wasn’t happy about going anywhere.
“I want to stay with my pony,” he cried scowling at her as she buckled him in.
“Ezekiel Albright, you will stop right this minute. Santa will not be happy with you.” Lucy had tried everything this morning to get him ready to go to her parents’ home. He was having none of it.
“I don’t care. I want to stay with my pony,” he screamed and kicked his feet against the seat.
“All right, mister. If you don’t behave so we can go see what Santa left you at Nana and Pap’s, I will call Reid and tell him not to come over later.” She had to bite her lip to stop the smile when she saw Zeke’s eyes nearly bug out of his head.
“No, Mama. I’ll be good. I want to see Reid and show him my pony.”
“Good. Then let’s go see Nana and Pap then we’ll go see Grandma and Grandpa.”
“Then we come home?”
“Yes, baby. Then we come home and Reid will come over.” She grinned when Zeke clapped his hands.
After carefully maneuvering snow-covered roads, she finally arrived at her parents’ home. Unbuckling Zeke was a lot easier than buckling in had been. Together, they walked hand in hand into the warm kitchen where her mother greeted them both with hugs. She helped Zeke out of his coat and hat while Lucy took her coat off and hung it on the back of a chair.
“What did Santa bring my big boy,” JoAnn Woodard asked her grandson with an eager smile.
Zeke jumped up and down. “I got a pony!”
“A pony? Wow, you must have been a good boy.”
Lucy snorted and laughed when her mother grinned. “He must have been, although I don’t remember when.”
JoAnn laughed. “I can barely remember those times with you either.”
“Oh, please. I was an angel.”
“An angel with horns,” Edward Woodard remarked as he entered the kitchen. He hugged Lucy and then picked Zeke up. “Let’s see if Santa left anything here for you.”
“Okay, but we can’t stay long. We have to go to my other grandma and grandpa’s house then we go home and Reid will come over.”
The sudden silence in the kitchen was deafening. Lucy felt the heat pour into her cheeks as her mother and father stared at her. Edward cleared his throat and left the room with Zeke. Lucy turned to her mother. JoAnn had her head tilted and a smile played around her lips.
“Would that be Reid Callahan?”
Lucy nodded. “Yes. We...I...he’s...well, he’s been around.”
“Sounds like it.”
“Oh Mom, I think I’m in love with him,” Lucy said, wringing her hands together.
“It’s about time you found someone new.”
“But, it’s Reid...the same man I tore to shreds at the cemetery.”
“He’s forgiven you for that, obviously. I always did like Reid.”
“Yes, he’s forgiven me but...what will people think?”
“That the two people who loved Zeke the most found love together.” JoAnn started working on scrambling eggs, and frying bacon. “Does he feel the same way?”
“I have no idea. He hasn’t said anything and he’s leaving right after New Year’s.”
“Ask him to stay longer.”
“I thought about it, but what if he doesn’t feel the same and I’m just a fling for the holidays?”
“I suppose it’s a possibility, but then maybe he feels the same way...won’t know, unless you talk to him.”
“I guess I’m just afraid of knowing the truth if it’s not what I want to hear,” Lucy admitted as she poured juice into glasses. “He has his life in Butte. Maybe he doesn’t want a ready-made family. I’m still not sure Zeke...”
“First off, Reid Callahan is not Zeke. They may have been best friends, but I always saw a lot more maturity in Reid. Don’t get me wrong, honey. I loved Zeke but he never seemed to grow up. He took too many risks when he shouldn’t have. He had a wife he needed to take care of, and had he known about Zeke coming, I’m not sure he would’ve changed. How many nights was he out drinking with his friends while you sat home alone? Have you ever told Reid about that?”
Lucy shook her head.
“Communication is the key to any good relationship,” her mother told her.
Lucy didn’t know if she could tell Reid how irresponsible Zeke had been during the years they were married, but her mom was right. Zeke was always taking chances, it was no wonder he decided to take one more ride. He went out in a blaze of glory probably just as he wanted.
She drew in a deep breath and finished helping her mom prepare breakfast. It wasn’t long before they were heading to Zeke’s parents’ house. When she entered the house, everyone smiled at her, and hugged her while someone grabbed Zeke, leading him to the living room for more gifts. Lucy found herself alone in the kitchen with Zeke’s sister, Cindy.
“What’s new with you, Lucy?”
“Nothing, I guess.” Lucy glanced out the kitchen window.
“Oh, that sounded more like an I’ve got something new going on nothing, if you ask me.” Cindy smiled at her. They’d always gotten along.
“I’m fine.”
“Ha! Sounds like you have something on your mind.” Cindy’s eyes narrowed as she looked at her. “Or, maybe it’s someone?”
Lucy forced a laugh. “Don’t be ridiculous, Cindy.”
Cindy grabbed her arm and whirled her around. “You do! Are you seeing someone?”
“What if I am?”
“I’d say it’s about damn time. Zeke’s been gone over three years now. You need to fall in love again, Lucy.”
“You think so?”
“Of course, you’re a young, beautiful woman. You need a man in your life.” Cindy glanced at the doorway. “Doesn’t she, Mom?”
Lucy spun around to see her mother in-law standing in the doorway. Estelle Albright smiled at her. “Yes, she does.”
Estelle walked to her and hugged her. “Do you have something to tell us?”
Lucy groaned. “Zeke said something, didn’t he?”
Estelle laughed and nodded. “Maybe.”
Cindy stared at her mother. “What? I missed it.”
“Zeke said he couldn’t wait to show Reid his pony.”
“Reid?” Cindy frowned at her mother then at Lucy.
Lucy and Estelle laughed as they watched the invisible lightbulb go on over her head when Cindy figured it out. “Reid? As in Reid Callahan?”
Lucy nodded. “Yes. Is that all right?” She didn’t know why she felt she needed Zeke’s family to give her permission, but she did.
“Is that all right? Are you freakin’ kidding me? That man is so hot. I’ve always thought so. Who better for you than Reid? I think Zeke would be very happy.” Cindy hugged her.
Lucy wanted to cry. She never expected that Zeke’s family would be happy for her to be seeing Reid. Although, she might be jumping ahead of herself but he’d come to mean so much to her after just a few days. Was it possible to fall in love so quickly? Maybe there had always been more than just a crush for her concerning Reid.
Later, by the time she arrived home, Zeke was asleep in his car seat. She carried him into the house and to his room. She laid him on his bed, removed his boots, hat, coat, and mittens. He didn’t stir a bit. She couldn’t help but wish Reid were here so they could take one of their special naps together.
After unloading all the gifts that both sets of grandparents had bestowed on Zeke and the gifts they’d bought her too, she settled in a chair to relax. She wished Reid would stick around for a while after the holidays but she knew he was going to leave eventually anyway, and her heart broke at the thought. Her mom was right about talking to him. She glanced at the clock. He would be here in two hours and she couldn’t help but be nervous. She’d bought him a gift and hoped he liked it—a new Stetson. It was dark brown with a silver band around it. She thought it looked like something he would wear when she saw it.
The large turkey dinner she’d had at her in-laws was having its affects. Lucy was suddenly very sleepy. She decided to lie on the couch for a few minutes and rest. Besides, it might make the time until Reid arrives pass faster.
****
WHEN REID PARKED HIS truck at the back door, he noticed the house was dark. Lucy’s SUV sat across from the back porch so he knew she had to be home. Taking a deep breath, he started to open the door to his truck when he heard a pinging sound on the roof. Great. Ice. He blew his breath out. His truck didn’t do well in ice.
He pushed the door open, grabbing the presents on the seat beside him and made his way to the porch. He bounded up the steps and knocked on the door. When no one answered, he tried the knob to see if it was unlocked—the door opened.
“Lucy? Zeke?” No answer, so he stepped into the kitchen closing the door behind him.
He set the packages on the table and headed into the living room. He came to a halt when he saw Lucy asleep on the sofa. She looked so beautiful. Her lush lips slightly parted, and her dark hair splayed across the pillow under her head. His dick twitched at the thought of seeing it spread out on the pillows in her bed. He knew he’d fallen very much in love with her and now he worried how she was going to react when he told her he was leaving to prepare for a rodeo. She was going to hate him. Perhaps it was best he didn’t tell her why he was leaving as originally planned even after he’d decided to stay another week.
He walked to the couch and crouched down beside it. He gently touched her face and watched her eyes flutter open. A smile lifted her lips. “Hi,” she whispered.
“Hi yourself, what happened? Did the turkey do you in?”
Lucy pushed herself up into a sitting position and brushed her hair out of her face. “Yeah, something like that, long day too. How about you?”
“I’m tired, but not too tired to see you,” he said as he leaned forward and took her lips in a deep kiss.
“Reid!” Zeke’s voice filled the room. Reid turned just in time to catch him when the little boy threw himself at him.
“Hey, buddy. Was Santa good to you?”
“I got a pony! You have to come see my pony. He’s in the barn.”
“Santa didn’t put him under the tree?”
Zeke giggled. “No, silly, he couldn’t get him down the chimley.”
“Silly me. What was I thinking? Go get your coat, hat, and mittens and we’ll go see this pony of yours.”
Zeke ran off down the hallway. Lucy stood and kissed Reid. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tightly against him. He lifted his lips from hers and gazed into her eyes.
“Am I ever going to get enough of you?”
“I hope not. Reid...”
“Okay, I’m ready,” Zeke yelled as he ran into the living room.
Reid looked down at the boy’s feet and grinned. “Your boots are on the wrong feet, buddy.”
Zeke sat down on the floor and pulled his boots off. When he put them back on, he stood, and then hopped up and down.
“Come on, Reid.” He tugged at Reid’s hand.
“We’ll be right back,” Reid told Lucy with a big smile.
“I’ll be here.”
“You can come, Mama.”
“I’m fine, baby. I’ll get you some hot chocolate ready.”
Reid winked at her and let Zeke lead him through the kitchen. Zeke stopped when he saw the presents sitting on the table.
“You can look at those when we come back,” Reid told him. Zeke nodded, and they set off to make their way to the barn. Once there, Zeke led him to the pony in the stall. A Shetland pony stood there staring at them with big brown eyes.
“He’s pretty, huh Reid?”
“That’s a fine pony, Z-man.” Reid told him.
“Mama is going to let me ride him when it gets warmer outside. I can’t wait.”
“I bet. I remember riding my first horse. I was about your age.”
“Did my daddy ride when he was my age?”
Reid’s heart ached at the mention of Zeke. He should be here with his wife and son on Christmas, not his best friend. “Yes, he did. We grew up together and learned to ride horses and bulls together.”
“You are a real cowboy.”
Reid laughed. “I told you, I have the hat to prove it. Let’s go in and see what I brought you.”
“Okay. Can you carry me?”
Reid took a deep breath and picked him up. He carried him inside the house. Lucy had coffee and hot chocolate ready.
“I think he wants to see what I brought him.”
She nodded while pulling Zeke’s outerwear off. “Let’s see what Reid brought you, baby.” She took her son by the hand, started for the living room, and then said to Reid over her shoulder. “Bring those into the living room, please.”
Reid took his hat, coat, and gloves off and hung them in the laundry room then picked up the gifts, and followed her. He set the gifts down on the floor near the tree. He handed Zeke his, and then Lucy hers. She looked surprised but smiled at him.
Before opening her gift, she stood and walked to the tree, pulled a wrapped box from under it, and handed it to him.
“You didn’t have to get me anything.” He accepted the present with a hesitant smile.
“And you didn’t have to get us anything,” Lucy said with a sly smile.
Reid grinned. “Touché.”
They watched Zeke rip the paper off before lifting the lid on the box. He squealed with delight when he saw the sheepskin coat just like the one Reid had. He put it on and grinned at Reid.
“You have another one there, Z-man,” Reid said pointing at a second gift.
Zeke sat down and quickly tore open the other one. Inside was a black cowboy hat like his daddy’s hat. Zeke put it on and Reid almost lost it. He cleared his throat in order to speak.
“You look just like your daddy. I thought you could wear that one until your...head grew enough to wear his.” Reid looked over to Lucy and she had a tear rolling down her face.
She smiled at him. “They both look great on him. What do you say, Zeke?”
“Thank you, Reid.”
“You’re welcome, Z-man.” Reid glanced at Lucy. “Open yours.”
She nodded and tore open the package lifting the lid. She gasped. Inside was another sheepskin coat. She pulled it out and held it up. “Reid, this is too much,” she said.
“No, it’s not. You need a new coat. I’ve seen yours. That one will keep you warmer.”
“Thank you. Open yours now.”
Reid lifted the package onto his lap and tore the paper off. He lifted the lid and stared down at the Stetson inside the box. It was perfect. He raised his eyes to meet hers. “Thank you. I needed a new one.”
“If you don’t like it...”
“I love it, Lucy.”
She blushed when he continued to stare at her. “I’m glad,” she whispered.
“Mama? Can we watch Toy Story?”
“Of course, we can. I’ll make some popcorn. You go get the movie.” With an excited squeak, Zeke ran from the room. Lucy turned to Reid. “Will you stay tonight?”
Reid had hoped she would ask. He walked to her and cupped her face in his hands. “Yes.”
He pressed his lips to hers, and then deepened the kiss when she opened to him. He knew if he lived to be a hundred years old, he would never get enough of this woman. He just wished he knew how to make this work—to hold on to her.
Zeke ran into the room and jumped on the couch. Together, the three of them watched the movie and after Zeke fell asleep, Reid carried him to bed and tucked him in then joined Lucy in her bed.