Page 51 of Bryson

"You didn't have to do that."

"I wanted to." She handed him the steaming cup and looked over to where Julianne and Brian were surrounded by kids. "She's a natural."

"I hope you don't mind her taking over the usual holiday activities."

"No." Barbara shook her head hastily. "This is even better. It's what I had in mind when I first came to the ranch. I wanted to plan something special for the children, but your father shot down that idea. I just stopped trying after that."

Bryson touched her hand briefly in shared sympathy. "He wasn't a man who welcomed changes."

"No. He hated it. Your wife is bold and confident. Of course, it helps that you support her every step of the way."

Bryson smiled at that. "I can't see Julianne allowing me to stop her from doing something she sets her mind on." He grimaced wryly. "She's a very stubborn woman. It's her least attractive quality."

His mother turned to look at him, and what she saw on his face had her heart twisting. "You love her very much, don't you?"

"More than my life," he responded simply.

"I never had that." She shook her head when he opened his mouth to speak. "No, it's fine. At least now, I can look back and realize that I let myself be led into a direction I didn't want to go." She turned to look at the laughing woman seated on a chair, with children gathered around her. And admitted at last that what she had felt for Julianne was envy. It was still there, but not as potent.

"It's no use wishing that things were different, that I had behaved differently, that I had stood up to that insufferable man." She squared her thin shoulders. "I'm finally letting myself be happy." She smiled as her gaze touched on Brian. He was in part a reason for her turnaround. He brought out a joy in her that she never knew she could feel. It wasn't sexual, heaven forbid! The man was younger than her son. It was a genuine friendship that had sprung up between them.

Linking her hand through her son's arm, she suggested, "Why don't we go and join in the festivities? I see that Jack is about to hand out gifts to the children."

Tugging her arm, he turned her to face him. "I love you, mother."

Her eyes darkened with moisture. "I love you too, son. Now let's go before I disgrace myself and start crying all over you."

Chapter 15

The dreaded storm rolled in during the night. He had spent two hours laboring over his wife's body, trying to stamp her with his own, taking the time to caress and whip her into a desire that was almost a match for his own. And had exhausted both of them in the process. Instinct had him opening his eyes to see the snow drumming against the wide pane of glass. A glance at the clock showed that it was a little past three in the morning. His wife was wrapped up in his arms, and the fire was blazing in the hearth.

He had added wood chips to the smoldering blaze before he succumbed to sleep, and it was still very much alive. His first instinct, his first thought was to keep his arms around her and fall back asleep. But if he knew his men, and he knew them well enough to know that they would be out in the thick of it making certain that everything was ready for the aftermath. He was their boss and it was only right and fitting that he should be out there with them.

Easing first one arm carefully as he tried his best not to wake her, he started to lift the other off her belly, when she opened her eyes.

"I was trying not to wake you." He kissed the tip of her nose. "Go back to sleep."

"What time is it?"

"After three."

"Where are you going?"

"Outside. The men are already out there--" He stopped when her arms tightened around his narrow waist.

"Don't go."

"I have to." Tipping her chin up, he gazed into eyes he had fallen in love with the moment he looked into them. "You know that."

"The storm--"

"I'm used to this type of weather. I'll keep in touch, I promise."

She held on a little bit more, feeling the unaccustomed and unwelcome panic inside her chest.

"You could get lost or frozen."

He chuckled, shaking his head at her expression. "I have too much to live for to take unnecessary risks. Trust me on this."Kissing her on the lips, he removed her arms and slid off the bed. "Go back to sleep."