Page 3 of A Heart Falls Cowboy Christmas

Dustin put his truck into park outside the main barns, pausing to admire the view.

Last night’s snow had made things extra pretty, with small caps of white rising on every fence post like barn elves still dressed for Christmas. But it was not only the broad sweep he appreciated, with his view of the arenas and buildings of Silver Stone, the ranch that had been his home forever.

It was Charity, leaning against the barn wall and listening intently as the ranch foreman, Tucker Stewart, spoke to her that had a smile rising to Dustin’s lips and sent an extra thump to his heart.

She wore her winter coat and gloves, her curly hair extra wild this morning—and the reason for that was enough to bring heat to his body all over again.

They’d been ready to walk out the door this morning when one lingering kiss had led to another, and the next thing he knew they were naked in the living room of their small cottage.

A year and half after they’d begun, and they were still as hot for each other as the day they’d first caved, moving from friends to lovers to where they were now. Engaged, and finally deep into wedding plans so they could say I do this coming summer.

He’d just reached for the door when his phone went off. He answered it, easing back into the comfortable cushioning of his truck seat. “Uncle Frank.”

“Hey, Dustin. How’re things?”

“Good.” Dustin smiled as he tried to smother his chuckle. “Same as they were yesterday and the day before that.”

“Good. Good.”

Uncle Frank sounded twice as distracted as he had the previous couple of times he’d called, and that was saying something.

Enough waiting for the man to confess why he kept calling and rambling.

“Something up at Crooked Creek that you’re worried about?” Dustin straight up asked.

Silence echoed back for an instant before Frank responded, a touch of the old annoyance in his tone. “What makes you say that?”

“Oh, nothing. Other than, while I’m more than happy to chat with you these days, you don’t seem to have too much on your mind when you call.” Dustin watched Charity slip inside the barn, undoubtably headed for the office where she was queen of all things admin related.

Probably best to ease this odd call to a conclusion if there was nothing urgent on Frank’s side. And considering mostly silence plus a few grumbles rose on the other end of the phone, urgent wasn’t an issue.

Perhaps another solution?

“You have time to come for a visit in the next while?” Dustin offered. “It’s slow right now for both our ranches, and the roads are supposed to be good. No storms, just crystal clear and cold.”

“I’d like that.” This at least came back firm and decisive. “I’ll give Tamara a call. Make sure there’s room on Tyler’s schedule for me to stop in to take him out ice fishing like I promised.”

An easy laugh escaped. “You spoil that kid like crazy.”

“He’s easy to spoil,” Frank said, sadness sliding into his tone as he added, “Finally figured out I could be a Grampa figure for him. It’s what my brother would have wanted.”

The mention of Dustin’s missing father was a faint pain these days, considering all the other men who’d built into his life for years. Including, oddly enough after a very rocky start, Uncle Frank. “He’d be proud.”

Dustin was still considering their change of relationship as he paced into the office to discover Charity on her tiptoes on a step stool. She wavered precariously as she reached above a filing cabinet.

He held back a curse, not wanting to surprise her into falling. He just stepped quietly behind her, arms stretched wide.

She gasped as her foot slipped. Arms flailing, she tumbled backward and landed in his arms.

“Wow.” Charity clung to his neck, eyes wide. “No idea how you got there, but thanks for saving my butt.”

“It's a nice butt. It deserved saving.” Willingly, he gave said butt a squeeze even as he pressed his lips to hers as he lowered her safely to the ground. “What were you risking your neck to grab? Let me get it for you.”

She pointed. “The picture frame is out of line. I tried to straighten it with a pole but that only made it worse.”

Dustin turned, and warmth pooled in his belly. It was their annual family portrait, taken this past summer, with all the Stone family gathered at the main gate. Instead of smiling at the camera, they were grinning at each other or outright laughing. Arms around shoulders, babies in arms, everyone clearly connected.

He hopped on the stool and snagged the picture easily. “Why’s this way up there?”