Page 48 of Cameron

“Let me know as soon as the weather clears. I want to get there as soon as possible.”

Maybe he should try calling her.

Hanging up with the pilot, he dialed the Mistletoe Inn. A fast busy signal sounded and then a voice came on. “We’re sorry the number you are dialing is not working.”

A curse sprang from his lips. Why had he never gotten her cell phone number? He dialed Edward and received the same message.

CHAPTER 19

Whenever things went wrong, they went completely and totally bonkers. Early Tuesday morning when she landed in Bozeman, they had issued a blizzard warning. Over the terminal’s speaker system, they announced they would be closing the airport shortly. She had made the right choice to leave Burnett Ranch when she did.

Now, five days later, the evening sun was trying to peek from between the clouds and set on their first Christmas Eve without her brother and her father.

Their employees and friends had all stayed at the ranch for the last few days. While the snow had stopped, the road had not been plowed and those on the news were warning people to stay at home. Do not try to travel unless you wanted to spend Christmas in a ditch.

She and Emily were going to make this last Christmas the very best. This morning, Emily and Ben went through the freezer and found enough food to make a scrumptious meal for tonight and tomorrow.

Sam and her mother wrapped small gifts for everyone they would spend Christmas with. Everyone was going toget something to remind them of the Mistletoe Inn. A little something from their one-time home.

The phone, the internet, and even the cable had been out for days, and they’d worried about losing power, but so far, the lights had stayed on. They were doing their best to make this last Christmas special.

They had not heard from Edward, and Sam feared her mother felt guilty for sending him out to find his own way right before this storm and Christmas. It would be the first Christmas they were not all together.

As much as she missed Edward, she still felt incredibly angry at what he’d done.

On the plane home from Dallas, she’d regretted her hasty departure. Maybe she should have stayed and spoken to Cameron. For days now, she’d hoped he would call and then she would remind herself the phones were not working. Maybe he tried and couldn’t reach her.

Oh, to hear his voice and speak to him before Christmas would be wonderful. But that didn’t appear possible.

That last night with him, he kept asking her to forgive him and she’d thought long and hard if it was possible. She wasn’t certain. As much as she loved him, he had gone behind her back, and because of that, she’d lose the family inheritance she loved.

If only Edward had not gotten them so far in debt, but yet she would probably never have met Cameron if not for her brother’s manipulation.

As she walked into the barn, she saw that the workers had put on Christmas music as it drifted through the large room. The melodies were nice.

Though her heart was broken and she didn’t understand why it was necessary they lose the ranch, they were still going to celebrate the Savior’s birth.

For without him, there would be no Christmas.

Glancing at the manger, she saw that it was empty. The Christ child had not yet been brought out. With a smile plastered on her face, she saw her mother helping to set up tables for tonight’s dinner.

Samantha came up behind her and hugged her. “It’s going to be a good Christmas, Mother.”

“Yes, it is,” she said. “I just hope your brother is somewhere safe and warm.”

“Me too,” she replied. “We have to remember he’s learning a tough lesson. Hopefully he’ll return someday and we’ll welcome him back into the fold.”

“Yes,” her mother said with a sigh.

Tara and Garrett came into the barn, laughing and holding hands, and Samantha smiled at her friend. Even though Francesca’s wedding was a disaster, Tara had reconnected with the man she loved years ago. They were happy and she was so pleased for them.

Just then Anna the housekeeper came out of a room with Conor at her side. In the last weeks, she’d noticed that this pair were always together and laughing and smiling. Emily and Ben were now together and even Casey and the banker who had gotten stuck at the ranch were smiling and flirting with one another.

Why did it seem that everyone she loved and cared about had found love but herself?

“Dinner is at six tonight,” Emily said.

“Afterward, we’ll have presents and sing Christmas carols. Then at midnight, we’ll put the baby Jesus in the manger,” Sam said. Every year that had been Edward or her father’s job. But this year, she would take over.

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