Page 26 of Cowboy's Christmas Girlfriend

Will blinked, dumbfounded. “That was Taison,” he said. “He hung up on me.”

Suzanna made a strangled sound, still staring at her phone. Will leaned over her shoulder.

“What? He text you too?”

“Not him. Your sister.” She angled the screen so Will could see. “Kat’s got cold feet. She told Sarah that she and I had a ‘long talk,’ and now she’s thinking about calling off the wedding. Everyone’s curious what I might’ve said.”

Will frowned. “What did you say?”

Suzanna pulled up the sheets to cover herself. “I walked in on her crying,” she said. “About the wedding, I thought—all the stress, the expectations. I told her she should focus on what makes her happy. I meant Taison, of course, but I guess, uh...”

“What?”

“She said she’d been faking it. Trying to be someone she wasn’t.” Suzanna chewed her lip. “I figured she was overwhelmed, y’know, with the planning, the perfect-bride pressure. I never thought she meant she wanted out.”

“She doesn’t,” said Will. “She and Taison are the real deal. They’ve been together forever, friends since first grade, boyfriend-girlfriend since high school. If Kat’s got cold feet, it’s just that, cold feet.”

“And I just poured ice on them.” Suzanna reached for her phone. “I’ll text her right now. Walk back what I said.”

“Don’t.” Will heard himself snap at her and softened his tone. “I mean, you don’t know them like I do. It’s better if I talk to them, remind them what they’ve got.”

Suzanna dropped her phone on the pillow. Will bent over his, composing a text. He’d work on Kat first, he thought, play to her nostalgia. She’d shared so much with Taison, so many firsts—first date, first kiss, first Carson Christmas Games. First time at summer camp; first trip to the fair with the hog they’d raised together. They’d been six at that fair, same age as the twins, hands clasped in a nervous knot as the judges weighed their pig.

“Is there nothing I can do?” Suzanna was hovering, buttoning her blouse. Will paused in his texting, sensing her hurt.

“Not right now,” he said. “But I’ll let you know if that changes.”

“Okay, well...” She did up her last button and stood fidgeting with her cuffs. “I’ll go make some maple bars. To make it up to the girls for missing breakfast?” She phrased the statement like a question, as though asking permission. Will nodded absently, already back on his phone. By the time he’d sent his first text, Suzanna was gone.

11

Suzanna was rinsing the twins’ lunch plates when Will popped his head in. She smiled at the sight of him and waved him to the table.

“I made chili,” she said. “And fresh cornbread.”

Will shot a longing glance at the chili pot, but he shook his head. “I can’t stay,” he said. “I’ve got George coming by with his HVAC report. I’m just dropping by to check on the twins.”

“They’re playing castle with Lucky. He’s the moat monster.”

“They got him in the tub again?” Will pulled a face. “This is why we forgive him when he snacks on our shoes.”

Suzanna chuckled. “How about Taison? He and Kat work things out?”

“Well, he’s speaking to me again, so that’s a start. As for him and Kat, he says they’re talking too.” He came up to Suzanna and slid his arms around her waist. “Don’t beat yourself up, okay? Whatever’s between them, it’s been building a while. We might’ve lit the match, but they brought the dynamite. Maybe down the road, they’ll realize this was good for them—that it forced them to sit down and work through all the stuff they’d been pushing aside.” He leaned down and kissed her, a quick, fond peck. “I’ll be back in an hour or two. I’ll try your chili then.”

Suzanna watched him go, admiring the view. Will just fit out here, like he’d sprung from the land. He knew every inch of fence, every mountain stream. The cold hardly seemed to touch him. He never slipped on the ice or came home with chilblains. Meanwhile, Suzanna was freezing in two cardigans, and wondering how goofy she’d look if she piled on a third. She closed her eyes and imagined the sun on her face—the warm breeze off the ocean, hot sand underfoot. Will’s ancestors couldn’t have staked their claim in California or Arizona? She tried to picture him in swim trunks, lounging on the beach. Or farther afield, in the wilds of Australia, the sun high and scorching, dry grass at his feet. Sheep grazing—no, emus. A flock of hungry emus closing in from all sides. Will’s hands in the air, like—

“What’s so funny?”

Suzanna snapped back to reality, covering a laugh. Beth and Ann were gazing up at her, their eyes wide and solemn.

“I was just, uh...never mind.” She crouched down, smiling. “What can I do for you two?”

“You left your phone in our room,” said Beth.

“It’s been ringing.” Ann held out the phone. As if on cue, it burred again.

“Thanks,” said Suzanna. The twins ran off giggling and she picked up the call. Her editor again. “Hey, Dina,” she said. “I’m still working on that book two pitch. I should have it to you by Monday.”

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