Page 8 of A Whiskey River Princess

Dirk really had no desire to marry again. But he couldn’t help but wonder if any woman he married would become disappointed with him and eventually leave, just as Sarah had.

He quickly pushed the thought aside as he took a sip of his coffee, knowing he’d never find anyone like Sarah.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Millie leaned on his table, her eyebrows raised.

Dirk shook his head. “It was nothing, really.”

“Well,” Millie cooed, “cheer up! Thanksgiving’s around the corner, after all.”

“Don’t remind me.”

Millie rubbed his shoulder absentmindedly. “Ah, come now. It can’t be that bad. Do you have any plans for the holiday? Like going back East to visit your family?”

He shook his head. “No, there’s no one there anymore. What about you, Millie? Have any plans?” he asked in an effort to shift the focus from himself.

She shook her head. “No. I told Mr. Curry I would work so he wouldn’t have to close the restaurant during the holidays. So, if you aren’t doing anything, come on by. I think Paul’s planning something special for Thanksgiving dinner.”

Dirk gave her a small smile. “I’ll think about it.” He dabbed at his lips and placed his napkin on his plate. “That was delicious.”

“Glad you liked it.” Millie gave him a warm smile, taking his plate. “I’ll be right back with more coffee.” Then she stopped a few feet away and turned back to face him. “Want some pie? Paul made some with the last of the apples from the season.”

“No, thanks.” He let out a deep breath. “I should really be getting home.”

She nodded and then headed toward the back.

Dirk watched her walk away. Millie was kind at heart, a good soul, motherly. He wondered why she had never found anyone special yet. After all, she took good care of the people in Whiskey River and would make a good wife and mother one day. But he suspected that she had come to think of the townsfolk of Whisky River as her family, just as he had, and was satisfied with that.

After he finished his last cup of coffee, he paid the bill and left a generous tip.

“Be careful out there, Dirk,” Millie called out, watching as he slipped into his coat and hat. “It’s getting bad.”

“Yes, it’s worse than usual this time of year. I have a feeling we’re in for a bad one.” He gave her a smile. “Thanks, Millie, but I’ll be fine. Have a good night and don’t stay too late.”

Millie laughed. “My room is just upstairs, so I don’t have far to go.”

“Night.”

Wind and snow rushed into the room as he opened the door. He stepped outside and quickly shut it behind him. The only light came from the general store and the saloon across the street, the candlelight casting a gentle, golden glow upon the beautiful snow.

Dirk made his way back to the stable and hooked up April, his sorrel mare, to his buckboard. She was a good horse, gentle, but spirited, and loved to run when he let her. He would have just saddled her up, but he wasn’t about to leave the horses for sale here to fend for themselves. If this storm was as bad as he thought it was going to be, hard telling when he’d be back to check on them. But Billy could handle any other horses that came in.

Dirk tied the horses to the back of the buckboard and within minutes, he was headed home as the blinding snow and cold whipped around him.

Thanksgiving.

He hadn’t even had time to think of it. In fact, he usually didn’t even bother to celebrate the holidays, or even take off from work on Sundays.

As for Christmas, he set up a tree each year for something to do, and every Christmas Eve, he read the passage of Jesus’s birth from the Bible. Then, on Christmas Day he went to church, but that was just about it. There was just too much work to do, and not enough time to do it.

Dirk wasn’t opposed to Christmas. He just had no one to celebrate it with.

But Dirk knew he had a lot to be thankful for in his life. Over the last few years, he had made a good living between the livery stable and the ranch. Although he liked all horses, including quarter horses, his heart was in raising thoroughbreds. He had a few men who helped with the ranch, and another who helped at the livery stable. But the weeks between Thanksgiving and NewYear’s, he gave everyone time off with pay to visit their families since it was slow that time of year. Most of the men were single young ranch hands who lived in a bunkhouse on his property, if they chose. Before they left, they had helped him to catch up on everything around the ranch, so he could handle it easily while they were gone. Also, he had hired Billy to help at the livery stables, and Kyle to help at the ranch. They were both in their teens—nearly adults—and eager to start making lives of their own.

The snow came down in sheets, blowing hard against his coat as darkness encroached upon the earth. Relief filled his heart when Dirk finally saw the edge of the familiar field that he knew stretched out before his ranch. Although the snow was blowing so hard that he couldn’t see it, he followed the tree line and knew he would be home soon, and that his dog, Buster, would be waiting for him. He pitied anyone caught out on such a night. Even though he didn’t have anyone to share the holidays with, he had a lot to be thankful for. A warm house. Food in his stomach. Any more than that was too much to ask.

Chapter 3

Gabriella

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