The Holiday Secret. Kathryn Springer

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      Ellery took one look at Carter’s expression and knew there was a reason this particular room hadn’t been included on her tour the day before. She wasn’t supposed to be here.

      Growing up, though, the kitchen had been Ellery’s favorite room in the house. The air seasoned with her mother’s laughter, a tangle of fresh herbs in terra-cotta pots on the windowsill and whatever soup was bubbling away on the stove.

      Even now, when she was alone, Ellery found the simple task of kneading bread dough or chopping vegetables more relaxing than a day at the spa.

      And Karen Bristow’s kitchen, with its canopy of gleaming copper pots and splashes of daffodil yellow and periwinkle blue, had invited Ellery to linger.

      Ask God to reveal what her next step should be.

      No. That wasn’t quite true.

      What Ellery needed was the courage to take the next step and actually spend some time in the town her brothers called home.

      The reason she’d driven to Castle Falls in the first place.

      Carter’s gaze lit on the chunky ceramic mug in Ellery’s hand and she made another impulsive decision.

      “Would you like some coffee? I just made a fresh pot.”

      “There’s always a coffee bar set up in the dining room,” he said slowly. “My mom is pretty strict about guests wandering into the kitchen—”

      “Unless that guest knows her way around a French press.” Karen glided into the room, Bea bouncing along at her heels, and smiled at Ellery. “And is willing to share.”

      Ellery returned the woman’s smile as she slipped off the stool. As tempting as it was to linger, she didn’t want her presence to be a source of friction between Carter and his mother. “I’ll take this upstairs to my room.”

      “Wait...” Carter stepped into Ellery’s path. Dipped his hand into his coat pocket and produced an enormous ball of fuzzy pink yarn. “Does this belong to you?”

      Bea recognized it first. “Those are Snowflake’s reins, Daddy!”

      “I gave the scarf to Bea, Deputy Bristow,” Ellery said quickly, in case Carter had assumed his daughter had taken it without permission. “When we put the finishing touches on Snowflake, I was the one who suggested she needed reins.”

      “We?” Carter repeated.

      Ellery should have known that a man trained in investigative techniques would zero in on that particular word!

      Bea danced across the room and landed at Carter’s feet. “Miss El’ry helped me! And tomorrow we’re going to find a blanket and make Snowflake a saddle and—”

      “Miss El—Marshall—is here on vacation,” Carter interjected when Bea paused to take a breath.

      “I know that, Daddy, but I heard her tell Gramma that she needs some peace and quiet.” She looked up at him, her expression earnest. “And snow horses are very, very quiet.”

      Ellery suddenly witnessed an amazing transformation take place. A mixture of love and tenderness kindled in Carter’s eyes and the corners of his lips rustled, sparking what looked to be the beginnings of an honest-to-goodness smile.

      One that Ellery felt all the way down to her toes.

      And if only a hint of a smile could wreak havoc with her pulse, she could only imagine what kind of lasting damage a real one would do.

      “I’m sure they are.” Carter scooped Bea up and parked her on the narrow ledge of his hip. “But Miss Ellery might be checking out tomorrow.”

      Either Karen had mentioned that Ellery’s reservation was day to day or Carter had pulled up her name on the computer and done some investigating on his own.

      Which reminded Ellery why she was here.

      “Actually,” Ellery heard herself say, “I’ve decided to stay a little longer.”