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“That’s what Jack says. You both need ... well, neither of you cares what I think you need.”
“That’s not true.”
“Then why are you leaving?”
“Because it’s best.”
“For who?”
Caleb tucked his hands behind his back and bowed his head, unable to answer. Nothing he said would make sense, because leaving her didn’t make sense. Not when he wanted to be with her, and she wanted to be with him.
Summer sighed out her frustration and hurt. She rubbed one hand over the box in her hand and touched her fingers to the sparkling red bow. “This is for you.”
“What?”
“Your Christmas present. Since you won’t be here, I thought you’d like it now.”
“I’m not leaving for a couple of days.” He shouldn’t keep putting it off. He made one excuse after another to delay the drive to Montana. Why? He’d made up his mind to go. He should leave. Now. Before this got any more complicated and difficult.
Who was he kidding? Leaving her was impossibly hard.
“Open it.”
“Did you wrap this yourself?”
“Just for you.”
“It’s a pretty package. I hate to mess it up.”
“You don’t have to. Just lift off the lid. I’ll hold the bottom.”
The excitement built in his gut. He didn’t know what she’d bought him, he didn’t care. He’d have something to take home with him to remind him of her.
He pulled the lid free and set it aside at his feet. Tissue paper concealed the gift inside, so he pulled the loose paper away and took a step back, surprised and floored by the gift she’d picked out for him.
“Summer, that’s...”
“To remind you of who you really are. Who you were when you left for the war and who you are now. A cowboy.” She pulled the dark brown Stetson from the tissue paper and dropped the box on the floor. She closed the short distance between them and set the hat on his head. “Perfect fit, Montana Man. Matches your eyes,” she said, her voice husky with emotion.
“Summer, you ready to go?” Jack called from the open barn doors.
“Yeah, I’m ready.” Choked up, she swallowed hard and blinked away the shine in her bright eyes.
“Nice hat,” Jack said, stepping up to join them.
“Thanks,” Caleb said, unable to say anything more at the moment, gaze locked on Summer’s pretty face.
“No wonder you’ve been working all those extra shifts at the diner.” Jack’s gaze held his, and something came and went in his eyes Caleb didn’t recognize or understand. Did he suspect something going on between him and Summer?
“I can’t wait to see what you got me if you’re spending that kind of money on your friend.”
Again, Jack’s gaze shot to his, but fell back to his sister as he gave her an assessing stare.
“You won’t be disappointed,” she said, turning away from Jack’s scrutiny.
“Where are you two off to?” Caleb asked, confused the two of them would saddle up and ride out into the snow-covered hills.
“We always get the Christmas tree the first snow of December.” Jack continued to study Summer, then turned back to him. “Saddle up. I’ll need your help.”
