Page 51 of Christmas with Three Cowboys

“I’m sorry for the trouble,” I say, trembling again. “Things got out of hand, but it will never happen again. I just want to do my job and serve out my sentence.”

“We want the same thing,” Colton replies.

Sammy frowns. “Mel, if that fucker is giving you trouble, all you gotta do is tell us. The law in Nebraska is pretty clear about trespassers and a man’s right to self-defense.”

“Oh, God, no, it’s okay,” I laugh anxiously. “Thank you, though. You are the sweetest man ever, Sammy.”

With that, I bolt out of the kitchen and up the stairs to my room. Thankfully, none of them follow me.

The guilt is toomuch to bear. My thoughts are scrambled. My resolve is in the gutter.

It’s Christmas Eve.

We’re supposed to gather around the tree, drinking eggnog or hot chocolate in my case, unwrapping presents and watching a movie on TV. We’re snowed in again, and it’s beautiful outside. I gaze out the window of my room, wishing my heart could be as silent and as still as this night.

I hear them downstairs.

Talking. Joking. Laughing.

It’s been a week since Jake’s visit, since my world was turned upside down, and I have yet to figure out a way to tell Colton and his brothers the whole story. How can I? How can I tell them the Esparza cartel is coming after me because of something I didn’t even do? That the ranch and the people who live here might be in danger.

I can’t tell them any of that.

And I can’t stay here either. It’s bad enough that Jake ruined everything—again. I couldn’t live with myself if something were to happen to any of these wonderful people.

I’ve put everyone in danger simply by being here, and it’s not fair.

“Melissa,” Colton’s voice startles me. He’s at my door, waiting for me to let him in.

I take a deep breath, putting on a sour face. I’ve been faking a headache all day. Gotta play my part and keep my distance, no matter how horrible it feels. It’s killing me. But the more I think about it, the clearer my decision becomes.

“Hey,” I mumble as I open the door.

“How are you feeling?” he asks, holding up a cup of hot chocolate with tiny marshmallows on top. It smells of honey and cocoa, and it makes my mouth water. “Figured you’d like some.”

“Thank you.” I take the cup and hold it with both hands for a while, letting its warmth flow through me like some kind of newfound peace. “I’m still not feeling all that great. I think I just need some time alone.”

“You take all the time and space you need,” Colton replies softly. “I’m not happy about it, but if it’s what you want, I can’t force you to be where you don’t want to be.”

I give him a long, curious look. “How are you so kind and understanding, Colton? I don’t get it. I brought that bastard here, and—”

“That wasn’t on you, Melissa. It was all him. He’s the one who decided to show up uninvited. But rest assured, it’s not going to happen again,” he says. “I look forward to talking about what happened that day, and I know you’ll tell us when you’re ready. In the meantime, I’m content with just knowing that you’re okay, that you feel safe here, ’cause we love having you here.”

His gaze lingers on my lips for a sweet moment.

“I don’t deserve you,” I tell him with a heavy sigh.

“Oh, but you deserve so much more.” He laughs lightly. “And let’s get one thing straight: You have to fight back, Melissa. You have to clear your name.”

“That’ll do more harm than good,” I mutter, but even I can hear the doubt in my voice.

Clearing my name would certainly get the Esparza cartel off my back. Who would believe me, though? Jake worked closely with the prosecution to nail me. He fabricated witnesses and planted evidence. He played his part so well that I didn’t stand a chance.

“When it became clear to me that the only way to avoid a much longer sentence was to give a false confession, I understood that the system wasn’t on my side. Jake played his cards right. Shed a tear here, planted some fake proof there, and wham. I was done for,” I say with a trembling voice. “I would like nothing more than another shot at a trial, but I don’t have any evidence. No witnesses. It’s just my word against his. I was so shocked, so stunned by Jake’s presence here that it didn’t even cross my mind to use the recording app on the phone you gave me. I could’ve gotten something for a defense attorney. But I didn’t think of that.”

“Melissa, it’s okay. No one expects you to know everything and to think of everything when the unexpected happens. I just need you to understand that you’re not alone in this, not anymore. You have to learn to let us in.”

“Ethan was so quick to protect me. And how did I repay him? By not telling him the whole truth. He must be so mad. We’ve barely spoken this week.”

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