Page 36 of Must Love Mistletoe

The rest of the Caseys were still Caseys, which had always meant unconditional acceptance of her, and especially of Sam.

Which meant Sam was getting way too used to being in and out of their households alongside Cal or on his own. Jett, theOlympic gold medalist, had offered to take Sam skiing. Seth had taught him how to swing a hammer, and there were Christmas gift shenanigans happening up in Cal’s workshop. Shenanigans that saw Sam setting off on his pony bright and early Saturday mornings, with a detour past Savannah’s to fill his belly with cookies. Beth’s boy was growing up before her eyes, and even more inclined to check the fences and keep an eye on the cows because Cal never stopped looking and checking and Cal was Sam’s hero.

This was the kind of world she’d only ever dreamed of. The stability and the support and the way Cal never failed to make her believe she was the first person he thought about when he woke up every day and the last one he thought of each night.

It was right there in his eyes for all to see.

Even Sam had started smiling at the kissing.

*

“Wolves in thevalley,” Sam said, as he trotted his pony into the barn around lunchtime after having spent the morning up in Cal’s workshop. “Cal says they’ve got tracking collars on.”

“How many?”

Cal slid from his pony and started to unsaddle him while Beth took hold of the reins. “A pack.”

“No more riding your pony by yourself. Who brought you home?” Because there was no way any man in this valley would let her boy ride solo if wolves were around.

“Jim. He says hi but he didn’t want to stop, because he has to get his sled team home. Cal’s gone to bring the heifers in.”

“Alone?” Because if there were wolves in the valley, no one should be out there alone.

“Chessie and Bo are with him.”

“Is he on horseback?”

“Ski mobile.”

Maybe a ski mobile was the better option. They certainly made more noise than a horse. Still. “Alone.” A shudder ran through her. Bad things could happen to people when they went out on the ranges alone.

She knew she was projecting and thinking of Red and that this was a completely different scenario. The sun was still in the sky, for one. There was no snowstorm bearing down on them. Other people knew where Cal was and what he was doing. And yet.

She could feel her stress level rising and her mouth tightening as she fought to keep harsh words about men who thought they were invulnerable locked deep down inside. Cal wasn’t Red. He was careful and methodical, with a wealth ofranching knowledge behind him. Cal would never abandon them to go off and seek cheap thrills for the hell of it.

Hold to that.

“Who saw the wolves?” There. A nice, easy, casual question.

“Cal, up near his place. They were walking along the tree line. He saw them from the deck but by the time the rest of us came outside they were gone. I didn’t see any. Wish I had.”

She nodded.Up near Cal’s place.“Maybe I’ll invite him to stay down here with us tonight. That okay by you?”

“In the spare room?”

“Sure. I mean, he may not want to stay at all. He’s got thoughts on this being your father’s home, and he doesn’t want to trample on the memories we all made here, but…” Too much information for her wise ten-year-old. “He could stay.”

“What if I want him to?”

“Say it to his face.”And watch his smile light up the room.“I’ll say it, too. I like the thought of us keeping each other safe. Even though we all try to stay safe out here anyway.”

Because even though Cal wasn’t reckless or arrogant or careless like Red, sometimes recklessness played no role in what happened to a person. She saw examples of that every time she worked a hospital shift.

Don’t dwell on it.“What’s everyone else up to?”

“Seth and Jett are bringing Seth’s herd down into the barns, as well, so they’re all in the same place. They’ll take turns keeping watch.” Sam nodded and expelled a happy sigh. “I’m so glad we sold this place.”

“So am I.”Wolves. In the valley.She couldn’t imagine what she’d have done if she’d had to protect her herd by herself. “Let’s get your pony in his stall and head back to the house. I feel like doing some baking.”

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