Chapter Twenty-Five

Skye woke up cold and alone in Ethan’s bed the next morning. Which wasn’t a surprise, given how their night had ended. The drive to the ranch had been a silent one. As soon as they got there, she’d gone to bed, leaving Ethan sitting by the fire on his phone fielding calls.

Thinking over how she reacted last night, Skye realized she’d handled the situation badly. Her intentions were good—she’d wanted to protect him—but it wasn’t what he’d needed from her. He’d needed her support. This was a difficult time for him, and his issues with his father’s death only made it worse. It was really a no-win situation unless Skye could free him from his guilt. Now more than ever, she needed answers, and she needed them quick.

Skye rolled over and picked up her phone from the nightstand. It was almost ten. She couldn’t believe she’d slept that late. There were a couple of missed texts: two from Maddie, and one from Ethan. In her first text, Maddie wanted to know what was wrong with Skye. In her second, she seemed to have figured out the problem and apologized. As Skye had realized months ago, Maddie’s loyalties were torn. But it was Ethan’s text that caused a swell of hopeful emotion in Skye’s chest. He hadn’t canceled his meeting after all. Surely, if anyone could convince him to take his old job back, it would be Jordan Reinhart. And if Skye found out what she needed to know before he came home, they could put this all behind them and get on with their lives.

With a plan beginning to coalesce in her brain, she showered and got dressed, then went in search of Liz. She found her mother-in-law in the barn. “Good morning,” Skye said in a cheery tone of voice.

Liz, dressed in jeans and a sheepskin coat, leaned on a broom and arched a brow at her. So maybe this wasn’t the day for subtle digging after all.

Suck it up, buttercup, Skye told herself. She had more important things to worry about than the fact her mother-in-law didn’t like her. But they did bond over horses, sort of. “How’s Bandit doing?” Skye asked as she walked further into the barn, her gaze moving to his stall. It was empty. “Where is he?”

Liz briefly closed her eyes and shook her head. “He’s gone.”

“What do you mean, he’s gone? What did you do to him?”

“We didn’t do anything, Skye. It was Bandit’s owner. If we’d known he was fighting the seizure, maybe we could’ve stopped it. But we didn’t. And when the agent didn’t show up in court to face the owner’s complaint that the search was improper, the judge threw the case out.”

“So what if the search was improper? Bandit was abused. You should have done something.”

“Like what? His owner arrived with a court order last week and took Bandit. Ethan’s making sure the Department of Animal Cruelty closely monitors the situation.”

Skye felt sick at the thought of Bandit in the hands of his abusive owner. If she hadn’t left Ethan, she would’ve been here. She could’ve done something to protect Bandit. “Where’s the ranch? I need an address.”

“Why? What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to make sure Bandit’s all right. And if he isn’t… I don’t know, I’ll take pictures or something. Surely after a second complaint against the man, they’ll remove Bandit right away.” Tears prickling behind her eyes, she looked at her mother-in-law. “We can’t let him hurt Bandit again.”

Liz worried her bottom lip between her teeth. “You’re right, but…” She leaned the broom against the wall. “Okay. Come on. We’ll take my truck,” she said. “But you have to promise you won’t do anything crazy or I’m going on my own.”

Skye sighed as they headed out of the barn. “Despite what you and Claudia think of me, I’m not crazy. Maybe I did some stupid things when I was younger, but I believed in what I was doing. I thought I could make a difference. I just went about it the wrong way. I’m sorry, you know, about the election. When I found out what Bennett was up to, I tried to protect Ethan.”

As they reached the black pickup, Liz stopped and stared at her. “That’s why you left him… to protect him?”

“I love Ethan, Liz. I would never do anything to purposely hurt him,” she said, opening the passenger’s-side door.

“Then I don’t understand what last night was about. I thought you’d be happy for him. Happy to live in Christmas.”

“I would be if it was what he wants, but it’s not.” This was the opportunity she’d been waiting for, but in telling his mother the truth, she’d be breaking her promise to Ethan. She weighed the consequences, putting herself in Liz’s shoes and then Ethan’s. If he found out she’d told his mother, he wouldn’t forgive her, but for his sake, Skye had to take the risk. “If I tell you something, do you promise to keep it between us? Ethan can never know what I’m about to share with you.”

Liz cast her a sidelong glance, then nodded as she drove through the wrought-iron gates. Skye hesitated at the thought of breaking his confidence, and then she remembered the tortured look in his eyes. “Ethan blames himself for his father’s death,” she said, and repeated their conversation to Liz. By the time she’d finished, tears were streaming down his mother’s face.

“I’m sorry,” Liz said and pulled to the side of the road. “I need a minute.”

Skye opened the glove compartment, found some tissues, and handed them to Liz. The older woman blew her nose, leaning against the headrest. “I can’t believe he’s kept that to himself for all these years. How could I be so blind?”

“You’d lost your husband. You were grieving.”

“It’s no excuse.” She covered her face and shook her head. “And as much as I’m angry at myself, I’m angry at Deacon. Damn him for putting all that pressure on Ethan.”

Skye rubbed Liz’s arm. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. But now that you know, you can fix this. Did your husband have health issues before his heart attack?”

“Yes, but he didn’t want the kids to know. He had high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Paul warned him it was only a matter of time if he didn’t change his lifestyle. I tried, you know, but he was stubborn. He thought he was invincible. I guess I did, too, or I would’ve pushed him harder.”

“Don’t blame yourself, Liz. It won’t help Ethan. But I think I’ve come up with a way that will.”

“How?”

Skye filled her in on the plan as Liz pulled onto the road. All they had to do was get Dr. McBride on board. Knowing how Paul felt about the O’Connors, Skye didn’t foresee a problem. All she had to do was insist Ethan have a physical. And given that high cholesterol and blood pressure ran in his family, it was something he needed to do anyway. Then Dr. McBride could reveal his father’s medical history.

“Paul was right,” Liz said, casting Skye a sidelong glance. “You are the best thing that happened to my son. I owe you an apology. I hope we can start over.”

“I’d like that.” Skye smiled, feeling more hopeful that Liz would keep her promise. But just in case… “Liz, you understand the risk I took telling you, don’t you? Ethan would never forgive me if he found out.”

“You did it for his own good. Honestly, I can’t believe he didn’t confide in me. He tells me everything.”

Okay, so now Skye was getting nervous. “But you’re not going to tell him, right?”

“No, of course not. I hope once Paul makes him understand he wasn’t to blame, that he’ll tell me himself.”

Good, that was good to hear. And while she was at it, Skye thought she might as well do a little matchmaking. It was a selfish move on her part, really. Skye didn’t want Liz to end up with Richard, because that meant Claudia would be her stepsister-in-law. She shuddered at the thought of years of holiday dinners with Claudia sitting across the dining room table from her. “It’s probably best if you explain the situation to Dr. McBride. I don’t know him very well, and the two of you are so close.”

Liz turned onto the highway, keeping her eyes on the road. “It might be better if you talk to him. Paul and I aren’t exactly on speaking terms these days.”

“Really? How come?”

“We had words the night of the election. I, um, threw a drink at him. I probably should apologize. He said I needed to get a life and stop living through my son.” She glanced at Skye. “Do you think I’m living through Ethan?”

Um, yes. “No, I mean you were very involved in his campaign, but that’s natural, right? What do you normally do? Are you involved with any committees, local charities?”

“No, I just pitch in whenever anyone needs me.”

“I guess you keep busy with the ranch.”

“Raul likes to run things his way. I help out where I can.” She grimaced. “Damn the man, he was right again.”

Skye held back a laugh. “I’ve heard you’re a fantastic seamstress. If you’re interested, Betty Jean and I will be hiring in the New Year.” Her amusement faded as Liz pulled to the side of the country road down from a run-down house and barn. “I have a better idea. Open a sanctuary for abused horses and become an advocate.” She turned to her mother-in-law. “This isn’t right, Liz. Look at this place. How could they give Bandit back to him?”

“I don’t know. And Bandit wasn’t the only horse they took from him. They placed the others with ranches throughout the county.” Liz leaned forward, peering through the window. “Someone’s home. There’s smoke coming out of the chimney. We’re going to have to be careful. I don’t want to get caught trespassing.”

Neither did Skye. “We’ll be in and out in two minutes. Just long enough to take a couple of pictures.” They both got out of the pickup, quietly closing the doors behind them.

The barn was past the house. It was also out in the open, which didn’t help their cause. Liz motioned for Skye to crouch down and follow her up the snow-covered driveway. As they got closer to the barn, the smell was enough to make them gag. Liz covered her mouth with her gloved hand. Skye zipped up her jacket and buried her mouth and nose inside.

By the time they reached the barn, their eyes were watering.

“I’m afraid to go inside,” Liz whispered. “I’m afraid what we’ll find.”

Skye nodded. She shared her fears. Taking Liz by the hand, Skye pulled open the door. It was worse than she imagined. There were six stalls, and none of the horses moved when they entered. There didn’t appear to be any water or hay. The cement floor was covered in filth, and a cold wind was whistling through the broken timbers.

“We can’t leave them here. Not in these conditions.”

The old Skye would’ve damned the consequences and released the horses. But as hard as it was, she knew they had to go through the proper channels. “We don’t have a choice,” Skye said, taking pictures with her cell phone as she moved toward Bandit’s stall. He lifted his head. Skye nearly started to cry at the dull, resigned look in his eyes. “I’m so sorry, boy.” She reached for him. It took several heartbreaking seconds before he nudged her hand.

Liz came to stand beside her, stroking the brandy-colored horse in the stall next to Bandit. “I wish we thought to bring them something to eat. They’ve only been back a week and you can already see signs of malnourishment. Look at their coats.”

Skye took pictures of Bandit and the other horses. As she was about to take one more, they heard a door slam. Liz’s gaze jerked to hers. Skye rushed to the other side of the barn, and peered through a hole. A man, a very large man, was coming their way with a double-barreled shotgun in his hand.

Running to Liz, Skye grabbed her hand. “We’ve gotta go. Now.”

* * *

Gage met Ethan at the front of the Logan County Sheriff’s office. “Don’t go in there half-cocked,” Gage said. “He only fired a warning shot. They’re all right. He’s charging them with trespassing, but I’ve talked to Sheriff Walker, and he thinks with a little persuasion Russo will drop the charges.”

“This is why I didn’t tell her. I knew she’d do something stupid. I just didn’t know she’d drag my mother along with her,” Ethan said.

“I saw the pictures, Eth,” Gage said, opening the glass doors. “Russo must have friends in high places, because there’s no way those animals should’ve been returned to him. Walker’s looking into it now.”

And that bothered Ethan the most. All Skye had to do was call him. He would’ve told her that an agent from the Department of Animal Cruelty had been scheduled to visit Russo at the beginning of next week. But no, his pregnant wife and mother had to take matters into their own hands.

“Maybe I should let Walker leave them in the cell overnight. Let them think about it for a while,” Ethan said as he followed Gage into the station.

Gage glanced at him over his shoulder. “They’re not in the cell. They’re in his office with my dad.”

Of course they were. And that was another thing that irritated him. They’d called Gage instead of him.

A tall, auburn-haired man in a sheriff’s uniform, with a beleaguered expression on his face, tried to calm down a muscle-bound guy in leather, who said, “They should be locked up, and you know it. They were trespassing, and the crazy one attacked me.”

Ethan pinched the bridge of his nose. Great, just great. His pregnant wife went after a gun-toting, tattooed Neanderthal.

“If it wasn’t for the little blonde pulling her off me, she would’ve done some serious damage.”

Gage, who obviously knew what Ethan had been thinking, held back a grin.

Ethan ignored him, and introduced himself to Walker and Russo. By the time Ethan got through with the man, he’d agreed to drop the charges. After thanking Ethan, the sheriff followed Russo from the station. He’d decided to check out the stables himself.

“Always did enjoy listening to you speak legalese. You’re scary good at it. You sure you don’t want your old job back?” Gage asked.

“Between you and me, yeah, I do. Jordan gave me a couple days to think it over.”

“I know you, buddy. Don’t let your mom, Nell, or Claudia influence your decision.”

“What about Skye? Should I let her influence it?”

“What do they say… a happy wife is a happy life? So yeah, it wouldn’t hurt to have her on board. From what I saw last night, you two are on the same page. She doesn’t want you to take the job as mayor, does she?”

“No. But don’t mention anything to anyone. I’m going to keep my options open. Think about it over the weekend.”

“Sure thing,” Gage said as he opened the office door.

Ethan stepped into the office and froze when he heard his mother say, “All this time he’s been blaming himself for Deacon’s death, Paul. What kind of mother am I that I didn’t see what was going on? I was so wrapped up in my own grief…” Liz broke off on a sob and Paul drew her into his arms.

“Now don’t start blaming yourself, honey. We’ll…” Paul trailed off as he caught sight of Ethan standing in the doorway.

“Mom?”

Skye half-rose from her chair, and turned with a stricken expression on her face. His mother frantically wiped at her face. Stepping away from Paul, she faced Ethan with a forced smile. “Hi, honey.”

He stared at Skye, his gut twisting at her betrayal, at the anguish he saw in his mother’s eyes. “You told her, didn’t you? You promised me you wouldn’t, but you did. God damn it, Skye, that was not your call to make. You couldn’t leave things alone, could you?”

Gage put a hand on his shoulder. “Eth, take it easy.”

“You haven’t got a clue what she’s done, Gage. I’m so sick of—”

Skye stood up. His mother reached for her hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for him to find out this way.”

“It’s okay, Liz. In the end, it’s probably for the best.” Skye came to stand in front of him. “Whether you believe me or not, I did it for you, Ethan. I knew there was a risk you wouldn’t forgive me, but I was willing to take it.”

“Good to know, because I can’t. I can’t forgive you for this. It never ends with you, Skye. There’s always—”

“Ethan, son, I know you’re upset, but don’t say anything you’ll regret. Skye had your best interests at heart.”

“I wouldn’t want to see what my life looked like if she didn’t. Because she’s done a pretty good job trying to destroy it up until now,” he said, and as he did in the courtroom, he paced, stating the evidence to support his claim.

He didn’t realize she had left until Gage said, “I don’t know what the hell is going on here, but you went too far. She didn’t deserve that. I’m taking her home to Madison. And you better get your head out of your ass or you’re going to lose her.”

As Gage strode from the room, Paul called after him, “Son, tell Walker we need his office for a few minutes. And you”—he pointed at Ethan—“sit. You’re going to listen to me, and once I’ve said my piece, you’re going to listen to your mother. And then you’re going to find your wife and apologize to her. Because as far as I’m concerned, Skye saved you from sharing the same fate as your father.”

* * *

Ethan stood in his old office at the town hall, looking down at himself. He couldn’t believe he let his mother and Nell talk him into this. Gage sat with his boots propped on the desk, his arms crossed behind his head. “Did princes really wear purple tights, or are you just special?”

“Put a sock in it. If you would’ve told my wife to answer her phone like I asked, I wouldn’t be standing here looking like an idiot.” And since Skye refused to see or talk to him, this was what it had come down to. The “grand gesture,” as Nell referred to it. He was making an appearance as Prince Charming in the Santa Claus parade tonight.

“Honey, you don’t look like an idiot,” his mother said, coming into the office with something gold and sparkly hanging over her arm, “You look very handsome. And it’s not Gage’s fault. It’s your own. You were a jerk.”

“Thanks, Mom.” It was true, he had been. But in his defense, Skye had shared with Ethan’s mother his deepest, darkest secret. Yes, in the end, it turned out she’d done him a favor. The ensuing conversation with Paul and his mother had changed his life. He’d walked out of the sheriff’s office a free man. Free from the guilt and pain that had dogged him for the last five years. But if his wife didn’t forgive him, if this grand gesture didn’t work, none of that would matter.

“Found it,” Nell said as she walked into the office holding up the crown Ethan had won at the hamburger-eating contest. She shoved it on his head. “There.” She gave him a once-over, then tugged the purple sparkly tunic down. “Don’t want to scar the children, now do we?”

Once he stopped laughing, Gage said, “Come on, Prince Charming. The parade is about to begin.”

His mother took Ethan’s face in her hands. “Skye loves you. She’ll forgive you.” She kissed his cheek, then attached the gold sparkly cape around his shoulders. “Good luck, darling.”

He had a feeling he’d need it. And so, it seemed, did Nell, because as he and Gage were leaving the office, he heard her say, “If she pushes him off the float, the crown should protect his head.”

“Nell, she wouldn’t do that,” his mother said.

“She killed him off when she read the Cake Fairy story. Just sayin’.”

As though he sensed Ethan might be getting cold feet—and he was—Gage added, “Lily says it’ll be just like in the movies, and Skye will love it. She gave the plan two thumbs up.”

“All right, let’s get this over with.” Ethan opened the front doors to a blast of frigid air. As they walked outside, a float rolled by across the street. Sawyer, wearing his hockey uniform, sat in a penalty box decorated with white lights, and two blondes dressed as referees in short skirts snuggled up on his lap.

“Well, hell, the parade’s already started. You better get going, buddy.”

Ethan cursed under his breath and took off down the street. “Sawyer, where’s the bakery’s float?” he yelled as he jogged alongside them. He hit a patch of ice and grabbed the garland hanging on the side of the float to regain his balance. The crowd standing along Main Street cheered. He gave them a royal wave.

“If it isn’t Prince Charming.” Sawyer grinned. “You looking for your princess?”

“Yeah, you know where she is?” he asked, as the float picked up speed. He held on and scrabbled for purchase in his treadless, knee-high black boots.

“About four down. In front of the band. Careful,” he said when Ethan’s feet slid out from under him and he nearly disappeared under the float. “Might be safer if you hitch a ride with Fred.” Sawyer called out to the older man.

Riding a red four-wheeler, Fred, dressed as an elf, motored over. “Sheesh, and I thought my costume was bad. Hop on.”

“Fred, slow down,” Ethan said, holding on to his crown as they zoomed past the Mountain Co-op’s float. Kids sat around a fake mountain tossing candy canes. “Hi, princess.” A little girl in a pink snowsuit waved.

Fred laughed.

“I do not look like a girl,” Ethan muttered, waving as they putted alongside the Naughty and Nice float. Sophia Dane, the owner of the clothing store, dressed as a centerfold elf, stood in front of a gingerbread house.

“Ethan, you look so pretty,” she said in her heavily accented voice.

“Can’t get past the band,” Fred yelled over the high schoolers’ rendition of “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.” “Better get off here.”

Ethan grabbed hold of a majorette as he slipped and slided his way through the band members. He was ready to call it quits when he saw Skye, wearing a white fake-fur cape, standing in front of a cardboard castle waving to the kids.

Relieved that he’d finally reached his destination, Ethan quickened his pace and hit another patch of ice. He crashed into the bakery’s float. Clinging to the side, he looked up to see his wife staring at him with a stunned expression on her face.

“Cupcake, I kinda need a hand here.” Her lips flattened, and she turned her back on him. “Jack,” he called out, “slow down.”

The dark-haired man stuck his head out the truck’s window and started to laugh, but he eased on the gas. Once Ethan regained his footing, he went to pull himself onto the float and got tangled up in the Christmas lights. “You have every right to be mad, sweetheart,” Ethan said, “but I’m going to burn some important parts if you don’t give me a hand here.”

Seeing his predicament, the crowd started to laugh. Skye sighed, then kneeled down and unhooked the strand of lights. She stood up and helped him to his feet, curtsying to the now-cheering crowd. Out of the side of her mouth, she said, “You look like an idiot.”

He looked into her eyes. “But you love me.”

She shrugged, throwing candy canes to a group of kids. “I’ll get over it.”

“I don’t want you to. I love you.” He took her by the shoulders and turned her to face him. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said what I did. You were right. It helped—talking to Mom and Paul helped.”

“Good. Now I have to get back to work.” She looked past him, waving.

“Tell me what I need to do to make it up to you. Tell me what I need to say.”

“You said I’ve pretty much destroyed your life, so I don’t know why we’re even having this conversation.”

“Come on, you know why I said that. I was angry and—”

“You put me on trial.”

He bowed his head, then lifted his gaze to hers. “I know. And you didn’t deserve that. The truth is, you saved me. My life would be boring and predictable without you in it. You’re my sunshine. I can’t lose you. I won’t lose you.”

The look in Ethan’s eyes as much as his words soothed some of the hurt his anger had caused earlier. She’d known the risk she’d taken, known he’d feel betrayed no matter how good her intentions. And yet here he was in all his purple, sparkly glory asking for her forgiveness.

He went down on one knee and retrieved a small box from his cloak. He opened it. “Marry me.”

She touched the wooden wedding band. She’d met the designer a few years ago at a Wellness Expo. The ring was made from black walnut and crushed Tibetan stone. It was exquisite. The perfect choice for her. “You had this made for me?”

“Yes.” He took her hand, sliding off his grandmother’s ring, his intent gaze searching her face. “I know who you are. I love who you are. Please say you’ll marry me.”

And with those words, he swept the last of her doubts and hurt away. But as the float jolted to a stop in the middle of Main Street, she realized there was one more thing she needed to know. She looked over the crowd, then back at him. “Are you going to be mayor of Christmas?”

“No, I’m getting my old job back. But, cupcake, I have to be honest, one day I might want to run for the state senate again, or maybe I’ll run for DA. And if I do, I want Skylar O’Connor by my side, not Kendall O’Connor.”

Skye thought about that, thought about how her dad and Betty Jean dealt with their differences. It wasn’t really that difficult, as long as you respected and loved each other. And there was no doubt in her mind that she loved and respected him. For Ethan, she could do about anything. Including support him if he decided to run for political office. Only this time, she’d be as true to herself as she was true to him.

She smiled. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”