Page 17 of The Mountain that Saved Christmas

“Well now, how about we enjoy George and the Arrys' hospitality and start a little friendly wager over at the axe throwin' cagesbefore callin' it a night. Who's game?” Austin asks before pinning me with a stare. “Except you, Dee. We all know that ifyouplay, no one else has a chance.”

“Hey! I can't help it if none of y'all can beat me.”

“Challenge accepted,” Austin says.

We spend the next few hours eating delicious food in the one-of-a-kind mushroom-shaped bar before I proceed to wipe the floor with everyone who tries to beat me at throwin' an axe.

Guess my lucky streak continues…long may it continue.

10

RHETT

20th December

I wake up at dawn, the threadbare curtains covering the windows doing little to block out the morning light. Not that it would've stopped me from being awake. I've always been an early riser.

Rolling over, I move in close and wrap my arms around my still-sleeping wife, the soft sounds of her breathing filling the quiet room.

I didn't know what to expect when we arrived at George's rental cabins last night but they're surprisingly cozy, if not a little basic. Luckily that's just the way I like it though. It's how I spent many months living on the road while on the bull riding tour.

Being careful not to wake Cora, I slide out of bed and quickly use the facilities before moving to the kitchen to start some coffee on the gas cooker. After that, I chuck a small log on the fire to take the chill off the air.

While I wait for the water to boil, I pull back the curtains in the front room and take in the snow-covered landscape outside. We're totally surrounded by tall white-tipped trees, the early morning light streaming through giving it an almost ethereal glow. If I look closely I can just see the next cabin down the long driveway, but each property feels private, just as Red and Mags described it.

Hearing Cora slowly stirring, I quickly move to the kitchen, turning the gas off and shifting the coffee pot off the heat before making my way back to my warm bed with even hotter wife.

Her eyes flutter open, the soft morning light illuminating her face as she smiles at me. “Mornin' cowboy.”

“Mornin', princess',” I reply, planting a kiss on her soft pink lips before snuggling back under the covers with her.

Cora stretches her muscles out, her movements graceful and enticing. If we didn't have plans already I'd be working hard to get her smiling forotherreasons. But alas, we have a Christmas to organize.

“What time is it?” she asks.

“Early yet. Coffee's on if you want some.”

She nods, sitting up in bed and wrapping a woolen throw around her shoulders before padding barefoot to the kitchen area. I follow behind her, appreciating the view–and the fact that she's mine–my heart swelling with love for the woman that I never saw coming, but who turned my world upside down in the best possible way.My reward.

Cora glances over her shoulder, catching me staring, and grins before pouring two mugs of cowboy brew. She hands one to me,her fingers brushing mine in a simple yet intimate gesture that never fails to send a shiver down my spine.

“What's the plan for today?” she asks.

“We're all meetin' at the front cabin where Mags and Red are stayin'. Then we'll all go into town to inventory the decorations they've already got, and see what needs to happen between now and Christmas Eve,” I reply, leaning a hip against the counter.

She smiles brightly. “It's goin' to be so much fun.” Her shoulder brushes mine as she looks out the window at the snowy vista I was admiring earlier. “I can't wait to see how it all turns out. This town is so charmin'. It reminds me of the little villages back in England we used to visit as kids. As soon as the December hit, everyone would go Christmas crazy. There'd be all these local markets filled with crafts and knick-knacks and the yummiest sweets,” she says, her British accent still as fascinating to me as when we first met.

No longer wanting to resist—and why would I want to—I lean in for a delicious, coffee-tinged kiss, loving the way Cora smiles against my lips.

“What was that for?” she asks breathlessly.

I lift my hand to swipe my thumb over her bottom lip. “Do I need a reason, Princess?”

She grins. “Definitely not.”

“Good.” Surely we could squeeze some time in toenjoythis cabin…

Just as I go to suggest that very thing, a loud and fast slapping noise comes from the front porch. Something akin to webbedfeet thudding along wood and a sinking, all-knowing feeling comes over me.

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