The Cowboy's Christmas Gift. DONNA ALWARD

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       Chapter Two

      Carrie was starting to feel as if her buddy had forsaken her. It was Kailey’s turn to drive, so after the first drink Kailey switched to cola and stayed there. They always took turns when they went out so one of them was a designated driver. It was their way of looking out for each other—the best sort of buddy system.

      Except not only had Kailey coughed up the cash for the second round, she’d made sure that Carrie’s drink was a very stiff rum and cola, and then moved their seats closer to the other side of the bar—and closer to Duke.

      The hard liquor on the heels of the beer already had her feeling a bit fuzzy, and it seemed as if without even trying she could hear Duke’s voice, deep and gravelly as he talked to a group of ranchers nearby. She tried not to look his way but couldn’t help it. She was intrigued. After their rough start the other day, she’d spent some time thinking about what his life had been like after he’d left Crooked Valley. She couldn’t imagine being taken away from the wide-open ranch land to the confined space of the city, but he had. He’d gone to city schools and not the K-12 school in Gibson, which only had one class for each grade. He’d visited here in the summers but not for years, and then he’d gone into the military. One thing she noticed was that while he was talking right along to Quinn and a few other local ranchers, he didn’t smile much. And he didn’t laugh.

      In fact, Duke looked pretty darn somber as he focused intently on the conversation. Way too serious for a Friday night in a saloon with cold drinks and good boot-thumpin’ music.

      “Do you suppose he realizes you’re staring at him?” Kailey asked.

      “What?” Carrie turned back to her friend and felt her cheeks heat. “I wasn’t staring.”

      “Sweetie, you know I don’t like to call you a liar, but...you’re a liar.”

      “I wasn’t staring.” She looked Kailey dead in the eye. “Much.”

      Kailey laughed, and sat back as a plate of assorted appetizers was placed in the middle of the table. “Thanks, Roy,” she said, smiling her best smile at the middle-aged man delivering the food.

      He winked at her before turning back to weave through the tables to the kitchen.

      Carrie had barely eaten her first onion ring when Kailey lifted her head, gave her curls a toss and called out, “Hey, Quinn! Why don’t you and your friend come join us?”

      Carrie kicked her under the table. She knew the toe of her boot had hit its mark when Kailey winced, then pasted on the same bright smile.

      “I’m gonna get you for this,” Carrie said as Quinn and Duke left their group and approached the table.

      “Kailey.” Quinn smiled down at her. “Planning on stirring up some sawdust on the dance floor tonight?”

      “Maybe,” she answered easily. Kailey and Quinn knew each other well. The two ranches backed on to each other and Kailey and Carrie had each taken turns babysitting Quinn’s daughter, Amber, occasionally. He was a good-looking, hardworking man, but they’d known each other too long. They were colleagues hanging out, that was all.

      Duggan, on the other hand, was familiar but very, very new. Looking at him resulted in a much different sensation than the one she got looking at Quinn. Something went all jumpy and swirly in her stomach, especially when he looked over at her with that same unsmiling expression. He’d removed his coat and hung it on one of the hooks along the back wall, and his blue-and-white striped shirt gave a clear indication of the breadth of his chest and flatness of his stomach. She wondered if he had a six-pack hiding under there.

      “Help yourself,” she offered, reaching for a jalapeño popper simply to keep her hands occupied. She took too big a bite, though, and the heat blasted her taste buds. To compensate, she reached for her glass and took a long gulp.

      “Slow down, tiger.” His voice came from close beside her, and she turned her head, a little too quickly it seemed. His eyes were too close, and while he still wasn’t smiling, his eyes twinkled at her. Damned if he didn’t make her feel about fifteen years old with that indulgent gleam in his eyes. Duke Duggan was a bit too big for his britches, in her mind.

      “So you do remember how to speak to me,” she said a little sharply. “I thought you’d forgotten this week.”

      The amused gaze faded a bit. “Forgotten?”

      “It seemed every time I passed you and offered a hello, you were either focused on Quinn or simply ignored me.”

      He reached for a chicken wing. “Feelings hurt, Carrie?”

      She didn’t want to admit they had been. “Naw. I sort of expected city manners after all.” She wasn’t sure why she was antagonizing him. She really was glad he’d come home, and so was everyone at Crooked Valley. He was the answer to all the uncertainty they’d felt since Joe died. There was just something about him that set her on edge—in more ways than one.

      One of the waitresses was passing by and Carrie inclined her chin. “Hey, Suze, a round on me, okay?”

      Kailey was grinning widely now. “Just soda for me, Susan.”

      “I’ll have a beer,” Quinn said.

      “Sweet tea,” Duke ordered. “And the round’s on me.”

      “Oh, I insist.” Carrie smiled brightly. “Another rum and cola for me, please.”

      But Duke pulled out his wallet before Carrie could unzip her small purse. “I’m not in the habit of letting employees buy me drinks,” he said quietly. Quinn and Kailey didn’t hear, but Carrie did. The man sure did have a way of making a girl feel small.

      “Employees,” she replied tartly. “I guess Quinn and I know where we stand.”

      His brows pulled together. “That’s not what I meant.”

      She shrugged. “Whatever.” She reached for her chicken wing and didn’t worry about being dainty as she ate it, wiping her saucy fingers on a paper napkin when she was done. Susan came back with their drinks and she let Duke pay. Why not, if he wanted to? She wasn’t about to start a spitting match with him over a three-dollar beverage.

      And just for spite, she picked up her drink and took a long, refreshing chug.

      “So, Duke,” Kailey said, dipping her onion ring in ketchup. “Are you really planning on staying on at the ranch?”

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