The Cowboy's Christmas Courtship. Brenda Minton

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      All around her, people were talking, smiling and laughing. Layla was trying to find a way to hold her life together and keep her brother from ruining his. She served her green bean casserole and kept an eye on Brandon, who had been given the job of serving drinks.

      She avoided looking at Gage. He’d found a kitchen stool to sit on while he served potatoes. From time to time he’d stand and stretch. Typical bull rider with a broken body and too much confidence.

      Once, he caught her staring. He winked and she knew she turned a few shades of red. She could feel the heat crawl from her neck to her face, and probably straight to her hairline. She turned back to the next person in line and served a spoonful of green beans, smiling as if everything was perfect. Wonderful.

      But Gage Cooper smiling at her was anything but perfect.

      When the meal ended and the kitchen was clean, Layla went in search of her brother. She found him upstairs helping Gage carry bags of trash to the Dumpster. The night was dark and cold. The stars were hidden by clouds and the weatherman had said something about snow flurries. It was early in the season for snow in Oklahoma.

      “Time to go.” She stood on the sidewalk as they tossed the bags into the receptacle.

      Gage turned to Brandon. “Get in my truck.”

      “Gage, I can do this.” Layla pulled her jacket tight against the wind and looked from him to her brother.

      “I know that.” Gage pointed to his truck, and Brandon hurried across the parking lot like an eager puppy. Layla felt the first bits of anger coming to life.

      “What in the world?” She watched Brandon climb in the passenger’s side of Gage’s truck.

      “He’s going to help me at the ranch tomorrow.”

      “Why?”

      “To keep him out of trouble.” Gage tilted his hat back and walked toward her. “Layla, I’m trying to help. Maybe show you that I’m sorry.”

      “So this is your way of making things right? You pretended to need help in chemistry.”

      “I did need help in chemistry.” He grinned that Cooper grin that went straight to a girl’s heart. Not hers, though. She knew better.

      “And now I’m just a charity case that makes you feel better about yourself?”

      “You aren’t charity,” he started. “But you’re right. I am trying to feel better about myself.”

      “Use someone else to soothe your guilty conscience.”

      He smiled again, and her heart ached. “There are plenty of people that I need to make amends to. I’ll get to them.”

      “As soon as you’re done with me?” She shook her head. “At least you’re honest.”

      “Yeah, trying to be.” His eyes softened, hazel-green and fringed with dark lashes. “You’re too good for me, Layla.”

      She thought about it for a minute. “You’re right. I am too good for you.”

      “Exactly. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m about done in. I’m going to drive your brother home, and I’ll pick him up bright and early tomorrow morning.”

      “I have to work at the feed store in the morning. You might have to wake him up.”

      “I can do that. And I’ll bring him home when you get off work.”

      She bit down on her bottom lip and stared up at him, wondering if this was another game he was playing, a game she didn’t have the rules for. He liked those games. She didn’t. At the same time, she really needed help with her brother. Hadn’t she whispered that prayer just hours earlier?

      Across the way lights came on in Jeremy and Beth Hightree’s home. The tree in the front window lit up, and a spotlight hit the manger in the yard. Christmas. It was a beautiful, wonderful time of hope and promise.

      “I’m not sure.” She looked from the Hightree’s decorated house back to Gage.

      “Layla, let me do this. The kid’s in trouble and you need help with him.”

      She didn’t want to admit it, but she did need help. She was worried about Brandon, about the guys he was hanging out with and the rumors about what they were doing. It had never been easy for her to accept help.

      The first few years she’d worried that if she struggled, they’d take her brother away. It became a habit, doing things on her own.

      “You can trust me.”

      She nodded and walked away, Gage’s words following her to her truck. She doubted that she could trust him, but for a few minutes she had the very break she’d been praying for.

      She would have to accept that it had been given to her by Gage Cooper. He was home, and she would have to face the past, and the way he’d hurt her all those years ago.

      Chapter Three

      Gage pulled up to the Silver place the next morning. It was eight o’clock and he’d already been to the barn that morning. He’d fed horses, driven out to check on cattle grazing on the back part of the ranch and then he’d had a big breakfast. Jackson had showed up to work with some young bulls they were hoping to buck next spring.

      He walked up to the square white house, just a box with wood siding, a fairly new metal roof and a front porch that could use a few new boards. The only sign of Christmas was the wreath on the front door. He guessed it was still early, barely December.

      The house was silent. Gage knocked on the door twice. No one answered. He turned the doorknob. It was unlocked so he walked inside and walked from room to room. No sign of Brandon. He went back outside. Maybe the kid had actually gotten up early to feed for Layla. But Gage doubted it.

      He walked out to the barn, his left leg stiff in the brace. It was going to be a long two months gimping around. The dog joined him. It wagged its tail, rolled over on its back for him to rub its belly. He obliged and then straightened to look around.

      The few head of cattle were munching hay. He turned, scanning the horizon. That’s when he spotted a lone figure heading across the field in the direction of town.

      “Good grief.” He shook his head and turned back to the truck. The dog followed. “Stay.”

      The border collie sat, tail wagging, brushing dirt back and forth. He smiled at the dog. “Okay, you can go.”

      The dog ran to his truck and jumped in the back. He doubted Layla would thank him for that. He’d call her later and let her know where the animal had gone. As he pulled down the drive he watched the figure getting smaller and smaller. Brandon had cut through the field and he was climbing the fence to get to the road. Gage hit the gas and took off, dust and gravel flying out behind his truck.

      When he pulled up next to the kid, Brandon shot him a dirty look and kept walking. Gage rolled down his window.

      “Get СКАЧАТЬ