The drive from Lake Buchanan to Austin was fraught with emotion and laughter. Pepper was determined to confront Judah. Her heart was on the line. If she didn’t stop Judah from marrying that Hollywood bimbo, any hope to win the love of her life was over. She planned on asking Judah one more time whether he cared anything for her or not.

“You’re going to break your neck, Ryder.” They were passing the Duke’s home, Falconhead Manor, and her sister was turned around and staring backwards as if she’d left something precious behind her.

“Do you want to stop and check on them, Ryder?” Molly asked as she browsed through the Sirius stations on Pepper’s radio.

Ryder jumped at being caught. “I wasn’t thinking about the Dukes at all. I was watching an eagle sail over the trees. She has a nest nearby.”

“They’re not home, anyway.” Pepper piped up.

“Who?” Molly asked.

“The Dukes,” Pepper said, then pressed her lips together. Oops.

“How do you know?” Ryder asked, a hint of suspicion in her voice.

“Oh, uh,” Pepper hemmed and hawed. “I saw a report on one of those gossip shows this morning. They’re in France.” She stayed focused on the road. If she said too much, she’d end up confessing how she’d talked to Samson Duke for a good half hour before they left home, telling him Ryder would be at the concert and if they wanted to see her, tonight would be a good opportunity. The big man had thanked her and told her they would fly in immediately, that nothing was more important to them than another chance with Ryder. She smiled sadly to herself. She’d give anything in the world for Judah James to feel about her the way the Duke brothers felt about her sister.

When they arrived in Austin, Samson texted that they were back in the States and on their way. She messaged that they had arrived also and everything was on schedule. Now, if things would only go as smoothly with Judah.

 

* * *

Since they were late buying tickets, their seating at the filming of Austin City Limits wasn’t the best. Pepper was grateful for the distance. This would be the first time that she’d attended one of his performances without Judah knowing she was there.

Once they found their seats, Molly eased her tired body down to rest. “Wow, climbing to the nosebleed seats is a little more exercise than I’m used to. I hope this baby doesn’t decide to come while we’re here.”

“Don’t even think that,” Ryder chided her. “If your water breaks, I’ll be standing on my seat, shouting ‘is there a doctor in the house?’.

Almost as soon as they were settled, the houselights went down and the show began. Ivana Paul came prancing out on stage in a skimpy costume to sing her hit-single. The crowd appreciated her, Pepper had to admit, but there wasn’t the near-hysterical fervor in response to her music as there was to Judah and Shiloh’s.

“Is that the slut?” Cato asked, very loudly. A few people turned around to glare at her.

Ryder tried to shush her and Pepper giggled. Leave it to Cato to say what the rest of them were only thinking. “Yes, that’s her.” Pepper leaned forward so her sister-in-law could read her lips.

“She’s not nearly as pretty as you are,” Cato continued to their amusement. “If he chose her over you, he’s crazy.”

Molly put her finger to her lips, trying to shush Heath’s exuberant wife.

As Ivana sang, Pepper experienced conflicting emotions. The woman was a great singer and she was pretty in a Katy Perry sort of way. Her short, sleek hair was streaked pink and the way she dressed left no doubt in anyone’s mind that she had a fantastic body. Lithe. Toned. Athletic. Pepper felt like a plump ball of fluff in comparison. She picked up a lock of her own hair. Compared to Ivana’s, Pepper felt hers was unkempt and almost colorless. She’d never really had it styled, only trimmed. It hung in curly waves to her hips.

As the female singer belted out one number after another, Pepper watched her with a sad fascination. She kept having flashes of an imagined scene of Judah kissing Ivana, making love to her. Her heart ached with painful jealousy. Could he possibly love her? How could a man make Pepper feel so special, so cherished, then turn to someone else?

“She’s pretty good,” Ryder whispered to Pepper, “I hate her anyway.”

Pepper nodded, giving her sister a smile that soon faded – for with a drum roll and a flash of light, Judah came on stage to finish the number with his…fiancé. Pepper doubled over in pain, just seeing them together hurt more than she could bear.

She kept her head down and her eyes closed until Molly nudged her. “She’s gone offstage, you can look up now.”

Pepper felt embarrassed that her family was seeing her in such a vulnerable state. “I’m making a fool out of myself, aren’t I?”

“Remember what I just went through with your brother. We women will put up with a lot from the man we love.”

Nodding, Pepper acknowledged that her sister-in-law was right. She knew Tennessee had jumped to conclusions and accused his wife of being unfaithful, when she’d been as much a victim as he had been. Her circumstances with Judah weren’t the same. She didn’t really understand what had happened to break them up, that was the main reason she was here today. If she’d been just a dalliance, a momentary distraction – if it had been just sex for him, with no tender feelings at all – she needed to know.

Gradually, as the warm wonder of his voice filled the auditorium, she fell under his spell. For a few precious moments, Pepper put aside all the sorrow and hurt of their break-up and let the beautiful words and melody envelop her. He sang of love, of two halves of one soul finding one another. As always, it seemed to her that his words were meant for her and only for her. With a pang of doubt, she realized that Judah James probably made every woman feel like that. But…the words he used, my blonde, blue-eyed beauty, the love of my life, and my Rapunzel who lets down her hair just for me – those words tortured Pepper with the possibility that there was some hidden message there, intended just for her.

“Oh, God,” she muttered, covering her eyes, “I think I’m losing it.”

“No, you’re not, I hear it too,” Ryder whispered. “He’s singing for you.” Pepper hugged herself hard, she felt like if she didn’t, her soul would leave her body and go to Judah. She longed for him that much.

When the last song was sung, and the crowd went wild, Pepper still sat there, almost paralyzed with emotion. She didn’t go down to try and attract his attention, like so many others. Instead, she waited until the crowd dissipated. Knowing the musician’s habits of lingering backstage for a celebratory drink, she led her group to the closed off area. Luckily, one of Shiloh’s roadies recognized her and allowed them entrance.

As the quartet of women made their way to the dressing rooms, they passed a number of well-known celebrities. Drinks were being passed out and the mood was jovial and celebratory.

“We’ll wait here.” Ryder pointed to a dimly lit lounge. Pepper nodded to her and her sisters-in-law, then made her way to find Judah.

…Inside his dressing room, Judah climbed from the shower and grabbed his clothes. All he wanted to do was get out of here and go home. The filming had gone well, he hadn’t experienced any episodes. Oddly enough, he never did when he was performing. Even without medication, music seemed to provide a cocoon of safety for him. The only other time he felt completely at peace from the voices was with Pepper. She occupied his attention so fully that whatever source created the hallucinations was subdued. “Fuck my life,” he muttered as thoughts of Pepper ran through his head. It was always like this when he sang, every song reminded him of her. Even the songs he’d composed before they met, seemed to have been inspired by the dream of her. Leaning on the dressing room makeup station, he stared at himself in the mirror. Would he ever be free of the pain? Closing his eyes, he let himself relive loving her. He moaned as his body remembered the joy of claiming her, how she clung to him, how she returned his kisses. Judah was very afraid that he’d never be rid of the memory and even more afraid he’d forget. She was his once-in-a-lifetime love, no one would ever replace her.

Tap. Tap.

“Judah, visitor!”

“Ah, hell.” If it was Ivana, he didn’t think he’d be able to stomach it. And, the way he felt, anyone else would just be a nuisance. “Who is it?”

“She says her name is Pepper McCoy.”

Twin sensations of euphoric joy and crippling regret hit him simultaneously. What was she doing here? Didn’t she have a clue that seeing her was the sweetest torture? Why had she come? Hadn’t he made it clear they were no more? Didn’t she understand what he was sacrificing to save her? From him.

Of course, she didn’t. He couldn’t be honest. Pepper wouldn’t run from him, she’d stay…until she regretted it. Until she hated him. Or pitied him. He didn’t know which was worse, but he knew he couldn’t survive any of it.

Tap. Tap.

“Mr. James? Do you want me to send her away?”

Outside the door, Pepper waited. Her heart was beating so fast, she thought she might pass out. He wasn’t going to see her. She hadn’t anticipated this. “Judah!” she called.

“Come away, Miss, he doesn’t want to see you.”

Pepper was about to allow herself to be led away when the door opened – and he stood there. A wave of awareness arced between them, Pepper felt a powerful drawing from his body to hers. She took a step closer, only to be stopped by whoever was guarding his door.

“No, it’s okay. Let her be.”

The man obeyed, leaving Pepper and Judah alone in the hall outside his door. There were other people milling around, some whispered but none approached. All this time, her eyes were on him, but his were focused on some point over her head or over her shoulder. “What do you want, Pepper?”

Pepper swallowed, her mouth was so dry. “I needed to see you.”

“Why? There’s nothing more to be said, is there?”

“Just tell me why, tell me what happened. I didn’t dream this, Judah.”

Judah shut his eyes as if looking at her caused him pain. “What we had was a fantasy, Pepper. It didn’t mean anything. Please go.”

Pepper placed her hand on his chest and gasped when he flinched. “Judah, please listen to me. I love…”

Before she could say more, the dressing room next door opened and Ivana Paul stepped out. Pepper recoiled at the furious expression on her face. “Judah, you need to get rid of this overzealous fan. I’m ready to start my honeymoon, aren’t you, baby?” She grabbed Judah by the collar and pulled him close for a kiss.

Agony unlike anything Pepper had ever known swamped her. She grasped onto the wall for support. “Judah?” she asked, her heart in her eyes. “Why?”

Judah tore himself from Ivana’s arms and turned to face Pepper. He couldn’t stand this. She’d never know what it cost him, she’d never understand the price he was paying. Hurting her was unavoidable, but sometimes you have to be cruel, to be kind. Steeling his resolve, Judah lied through his teeth. “You need to go back where you came from, little girl. Be it my dreams or be it my nightmare, I don’t know. There is no place for you here. No reason for you to stay. You and I will never be. All of this is just in your head! Can I be any clearer? Let me try.”

“I. DO. NOT. WANT. YOU!”

Pepper swayed from the verbal blow. She watched in agony as the man she loved embraced another woman and led her away. Closing her eyes, she sank against the wall, unable to trust her legs to hold her up.

From out of nowhere, a strong arm came around her shoulders. At first, she thought it was Judah, but then she realized it was Samson Duke. His brother Gideon was with him. They’d come to see Ryder, as Pepper requested. “I’m sorry you had to see that,” she murmured, embarrassed.

“To hell with them. Let’s get you out of here.”

Pepper sank against him, resting for just a minute, her whole body shaking with emotion. “He doesn’t want me. God, he’s already married.” She clutched Gideon’s jacket. “I need to leave. Molly and Cato are in the lounge with Ryder. Could you ask them to meet me at the car?”

“Of course.” Samson walked away to follow her instructions. “Gideon will take you outside, we’ll join you shortly.” If he ever met Judah James in a dark alley, he was going to rearrange that pretty boy’s face.

 

* * *

About three months later…

Tebow Ranch – Christmas – McCoy Reunion

 

“I hope they’re not still in bed.” Pepper worried as she tapped on the wide double doors of the main house, bright and early on Christmas morning.

“Are you kidding? I’m sure someone’s around,” her brother Philip remarked, his arms weighed down with gaily wrapped packages. “All of those kids will wake up soon and want to know what’s under the tree.”

“Damn, it’s cold.” Jaxson shivered, his hands full of a huge pan of chicken and dressing. When no one answered Pepper’s knock, Jaxson pushed on the door with his boot. “Look, this dang thing isn’t even shut.”

As the crack widened, the Highland McCoys could see someone dressed as Santa standing near the Christmas tree, arranging gifts. He was singing his own version of Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, very off-key. “You better watch out. You better watch out. You better watch out. You better watch out.”

“I think there are more words to that song, St. Aron,” Heath drawled, one arm wrapped around Cato, the other hugging a sack of assorted bottles of good cheer. When the merry old elf didn’t respond, Heath shouted, “Merry Christmas, Cousin!”

Startled, Aron jerked and whirled around. When he did, the whole tree followed – shifting tinsel, bouncing balls, waving lights. The more Aron struggled, the worse the situation became.

“Oh, no!” Ryder and her two men rushed forward. “His beard is tangled in the tinsel!” Samson managed to catch the big spruce before it hit the floor. A few balls crashed and shattered in the confusion, but Gideon managed to right the tree before it lost all the decorations.

“Criminelly! You all scared the living daylights out of me!” Aron, in his excitement, stumbled back against the fireplace.

“Watch it!” Philip yanked on Aron, pulling him forward. “You’re catching your rear on fire!”

“Gol-darned it!” Aron yelled, bending over as his first cousins beat the flames out of his backside.

Rip! Tear!

“Oh, no! You split your Santa suit, Aron.” Pepper consoled him, her hand over her mouth. She’d never seen such a comedy of errors. “We need to hold the noise down, we’re going to wake the kids and they can’t see this.” She giggled helplessly.

The eldest Tebow McCoy looked over his shoulder, trying to see how big of a rip there was in his red suit. “Dammit all! This suit is rented.”

“I always knew you were too big for your britches, Aron.” Heath smirked, unable to hold back his mirth.

“Help him, Heath,” Cato urged her husband, taking the bag from his arms. “Let’s get this mess straightened up before the children come down.”

“What else needs to be done, Aron?” Philip asked, righting an overturned chair.

“If you all could put out the rest of the presents and get the milk and cookies set up, I’d appreciate it. I still need to get on the roof and make some reindeer pawing noise over the kid’s rooms.” He stopped long enough to kiss his female cousins on the cheek. “Merry Christmas to you all. Where’s Tennessee and Molly?” he asked as he shook Samson’s and Gideon’s hand.

“They’ll be here in a bit, they didn’t want to get the new babies up so early. They’re picking up Dad and his fiancé on the way.” Ryder stood between her new husbands, so proud to have them at the family celebration. “I think this is going to be the best Christmas ever.”

“I just hope everything goes smoothly.” Aron winced. “This morning hasn’t been the best start.”

“Merry Christmas everyone!” Libby called from the kitchen doorway. “I thought I heard voices out here.” She ran to give everyone a hug. “Are we almost ready, Aron?”

“Almost,” he assured his wife.

“Where are the rest of the gifts, Aron?” Pepper asked as she placed the ones their family had brought to add to the mix under the slightly disheveled tree.

“In the hall closet.” Aron pointed. He came close to whisper. “Leave the small gold box on the top shelf, that’s for Libby. I’ll give it to her in private later.”

“Sure thing,” Pepper agreed, stunned by the look of intense love on Aron’s face when he mentioned his wife’s name. A wave of pure jealousy swamped her. What she would give for Judah to look at her that way couldn’t be measured.

“Hey!” Skye greeted them as she came down the stairs. “Noah said he’d be down in a minute. How is everyone?” She came to assist Pepper, getting a hug from Samson and Gideon on the way. “I hope you all came hungry, we cooked up a storm yesterday. We’ve got enough food to feed half the county.”

“We’re always hungry,” Samson informed her. “I can’t wait to try your pumpkin pie, Ryder says it’s the best she’s ever eaten.”

Skye beamed at the praise. “I made three, so I’ll make sure you each get a piece to take home.”

The sun was just rising as the ever-growing family began their day of festivities. Sounds of the holidays filled the air – the crackle of the flames in the fireplace, Christmas carols from a local radio station humming through the Bose speakers, dishes clinking as the women began to make waffles for their breakfast – and the ever-present blessing of laughter.

When Pepper finished arranging the brightly wrapped boxes beneath the boughs of the tree, she sat back against the wall and surveyed her big family. She knew she was lucky, not everyone had such a loving, supportive group of people in their life. A smile came to her face as she followed Jaxson’s movements as he swayed to the tune of an old-fashioned carol. He’d improved so much since getting fit with the new prosthesis.

Her happy thoughts skittered to a halt when one song ended and another began. The hauntingly familiar, sexy voice of the man she loved filled the room. Her heart almost stopped as the words registered in her mind – My blonde haired, blue-eyed angel haunts me. Are you real? Are you mine? Tears immediately filled her eyes and Jaxson almost broke his good leg getting to the player to change the channel. “No, it’s okay,” she told him. “I’m fine. Let it play.” She had so little of him, Pepper wanted to cherish every note. Even though Judah denied it, she knew in her heart the song was written for her.

“Pepper, don’t torture yourself.” Ryder came to sit near her. “He’s moved on, you’ve got to make an effort to move on also.”

Not willing to put a damper on the spirit of the day, Pepper didn’t argue. She was saved from further discussion when Isaac came bounding down the stairs. “Can’t anyone else hear the commotion?”

“What do you hear?” Philip asked, rising from his spot in front of the fire where he’d been roasting a pan of chestnuts over the open flame.

“I think a cow is on the roof. I hear the oddest bellowing noise out my window.” Isaac grabbed his leather jacket from a hook by the door. “Hey, everybody!” He gave a hurried wave.

“Aron went on the roof earlier. Did he ever come down?” Heath joined the other two at the door.

“I never saw him come back, unless he came in through the kitchen.” Pepper rose to go check. She’d intended to get back here and help with breakfast anyway, even though her appetite had disappeared with the fading melody of Judah’s ballad. Peeking in at the happy bustle around the heavily laden counters, she saw only Libby, Skye, Avery, and Cato. A big stack of crispy brown waffles, mounds of scrambled eggs, and a huge heap of bacon all waited on the warmer. “Anyone seen Aron?”

Libby looked at Pepper with surprise. “He must have left. I’m frying bacon, if he was anywhere on the ranch, he’d be in here eating it as fast as I take it out of the skillet.”

“Okay, I’ll tell the guys. They’re looking for him.” She snatched a piece of bacon with a grin. “I’ll be back to help in a second.” Hurrying to the front, she saw her brothers and Isaac heading outside. “He’s not in the kitchen.”

As soon as they stepped on the porch, everyone could hear a plaintive growl. “Help! It’s freezing up here! The ladder fell down!”

“Oh, for Pete’s sake.” Philip laughed as he and Heath followed Isaac as he ran around the house. Sure enough, by the time Pepper and the others gathered around, they could see a chilled Aron making his way down the ladder in his charred, ripped Santa suit.

“Are you okay?” Pepper called out.

Aron gave them a wave as flakes of snow began to fall. “I’ll live, but somebody wake those kids up before Christmas kills me.”

 

* * *

By the time noon rolled around, the holiday was well on its way. The house was brimming with McCoys and friends. Pepper helped Jessie McCoy pass out drinks as she took time to speak to everyone who joined them. Tennessee and Molly arrived with their twins, accompanied by the Highland McCoy patriarch and his girlfriend. They also brought along Heath’s best friend, Jimmy Dushku.

“Hey, Jimmy, what’s the latest?” Jacob asked as he ate one of Libby’s famous brownies. “I know you’ve been hobnobbing with the rich and famous. Any gossip?”

Taking a seat on the massive hearth, Jimmy sipped on an eggnog. “Well, I played a round of golf the other day with Matthew.”

“How is Mr. ‘all right, all right, all right’?” Joseph asked with a grin. “I haven’t seen him since Willie’s birthday party last year.”

“He’s good, bulking up for a movie.” Jimmy pointed to where Pepper and Ryder was sitting on the floor building a Lego fort with Aron and Libby’s twins. “Hey, Pepper, I just decided yesterday to throw a party after Judah James’s concert on New Year’s Eve. I know you enjoy his music, so you’re invited.” He raised his drink in the air. “Heck, you’re all invited, whether you go to the concert or not. I’m holding it at my villa on Lake Travis. Should be a fun evening.”

“Sounds good to me.” Isaac rubbed Avery’s back as she sat next to him on a leather love seat. “Do we have any plans, sugar?”

She patted her ever-growing baby bump. “Not any I could admit to in mixed company,” she teased her handsome husband.

There was a chorus of “We’re ins” and “wouldn’t miss its” from the Tebow McCoys and the male members of the Highland McCoys, but it didn’t take long for the awkward silence from Pepper and Ryder to make itself known. “What did I say?” Jimmy asked, confused. He was much closer to Heath’s side of the family than Aron’s, so he didn’t understand why his announcement was met with such a pregnant pause.

Ryder started to say something, but Pepper stopped her. Giving her brothers and Jimmy a big smile, she said graciously, “We would love to come, Jimmy, thank you.” She gave her sister and Philip a pleading look not to say anything. Heath, Tennessee, and Jaxson weren’t as aware of her situation with Judah and she didn’t think this was the time and the place to go into the details.

“Great!” Jimmy set his drink down beside him and caught Angel, Cady and Joseph’s daughter, as she ran past him at full speed. “Come prepared to spend the night if you’d like, the party probably won’t get rolling until almost midnight.”

As plans for the party were discussed, Pepper slipped away to the kitchen. Lunch was being served buffet style, while dinner would be a sit-down affair. “Did anybody get a head-count?” Cady McCoy asked as she sat at the bar penning calligraphy place-cards. “I don’t want to miss anyone.”   

Pepper returned to the connecting door and proceeded to tally the family. “Twenty-eight, counting the babies.” She scanned the crowd again. “Where’s Nathan?”

“He’ll be here any minute, he spent the night with a friend,” Jessie explained as she put the finishing touches on a chocolate Yule log. “I’m glad we have the new enclosed pavilion to entertain in this year.”

“Yea, me too,” Cady agreed, smiling serenely as Jessie left the room to deposit the cake on the buffet in the dining room. “I’m getting some pretty weird vibes about Christian’s announcement. I feel like I should set some extra places at the table.”

“Really? He hasn’t given us an inkling of what the big announcement will be. All we know is what he said at Thanksgiving, that we all had to be here together, and that he had a big surprise.” Pepper pulled a chair close to her cousin-in-law. “You fascinate me with your psychic abilities.”

“Don’t be fascinated, they’ve been on the fritz lately.” She patted her slightly rounded abdomen. “This pregnancy and my raging hormones seem to be throwing up a bit of cosmic interference.”

Pepper hugged her. “They’ll return, I’m sure. Another baby will be worth it all.”

“You’re right, she’s going to be a handful.” Cady stood and gathered the cards. “Would you like to ride over to the pavilion with me?”

“Oh, sure,” Pepper rose and grabbed her sweater from a hook by the back door. “Is there anything else we should take over while we’re going?”

“There’s a big canister of pralines on top of the refrigerator. I made them earlier in the week, I want to put one by each place setting as a little party favor. If you’ll carry those, I’d appreciate it.”

While Pepper followed Cady’s directions, she slipped into the living room to tell Joseph and Ryder where they were off to. “Do you need any help?” Ryder asked, sitting perfectly content between Samson and Gideon.

“No, we’ve got it,” she assured the newlywed as she stopped to give Christian a kiss on his cheek. “Hey, Daddy. Merry Christmas.”

“Don’t be gone long, you know I’m announcing my big surprise tonight,” the stately old gentleman reminded his younger daughter of the news he’d promised.

“You sprung your engagement to Olivia on us at Thanksgiving. Could it be bigger than that?”

“No.” Olivia mouthed with a laugh, before relenting. “Actually, this is huge.”

“Now, you’ve got me even more curious.” Frankly, Pepper was glad of the anticipation. Wondering what her father had up his sleeve kept her mind off Judah James and the prospect of seeing him again so soon. The last time she’d spoken to him, his words had cut her to the quick.

Pepper, I beg of you. Stop haunting me!

He turned to walk away from her and she followed, almost reaching him, her hand outstretched.

Be it my dreams or be it my nightmare, I don’t know, but you need to go back where you came from, little girl. There is no place for you here. No reason for you to stay. You and I will never be. All of this is just in your head! Can I be any clearer?

I DO NOT WANT YOU!

“Ready?” Cady tugged on Pepper’s sleeve, bringing her back to the present.

“Oh, yea, I am.”

She shook her head as her eyes refocused on Joseph kissing his wife’s hand. “Be careful, Cady-did, don’t keep me waiting long.”

“I won’t.” She promised. “We’re just going to finish setting the table and check to make sure the building is warm enough. I think the temperature dropped lower than we expected.”

By the time the two women made their escape, the noise of a recorded football game in the den was vying with the sounds of a Christmas movie being played on the big screen in the living room.

“Whew! I love family get-togethers, but sometimes I just need a breath of fresh air.” Cady led Pepper over to Joseph’s pick-up. “Let’s take old blue.” They climbed into the faded denim colored Ford truck.

“I know what you mean. I love being with everyone, but I’ve been nervous lately and this seems to make it a bit worse.” Pepper let her eyes rove over the crisp winter landscape. There was no snow, but a thick covering of frost blanketed the ground. “Maybe, I should hit the spiced punch.”

Cady laughed. “Drink enough for both of us. What I’m really craving is pickled okra.”

“Ewww, yuck.” Pepper made a funny face. “So, the ultrasound shows a girl?”

As Cady cranked the truck and put it into gear, she glanced over to Pepper. “Fasten your seat belt, the roads are slick. No, to answer your question, it wasn’t the ultrasound. I don’t know everything about our future, but I do know we’re going to be blessed with several daughters.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful! Do you see anything in my future?”

“No, I wish I did.” Cady gave Pepper a sympathetic look. “I do feel waves of pain coming from you.”

“I’m working on getting better,” Pepper whispered. “It just takes a while.”

“I don’t know any of the details, but I presume this has to do with a man.” Cady turned off the main ranch road onto the smaller lane leading to the pavilion.

Pepper laughed wryly. “Doesn’t everything have to do with a man?” She sighed and hugged herself tightly. “It’s silly, like Judah said, this was probably all in my mind.”

Cady reached her hand over and clasped Pepper’s. “The only thing I can pick up from you is reflections, like the effect of walking through a hall of mirrors.”

“Oh, that doesn’t sound good.” Pepper sighed. “Although, it’s not too far off. I feel like our relationship has been anything but usual.”

As they rolled past herds of cattle standing around large round bales of hay, Cady kept her eye on the road. There were slick places covered with ice, making driving a challenge. “I don’t know much about Judah, other than his professional reputation.”

Pepper nodded, knowing exactly what Cady knew. Judah James was a sensation, his music dominated the charts, his soulful voice was known and loved world-wide. “Yea, I’ve been a fan since his career first began.” She smiled, remembering the first time she’d ever seen him. “I actually ran into him a couple of months before he hit it big. It was a chance encounter.” A sigh of longing slipped from her lips. “I was standing at the window of a small boutique near the UT campus, staring into the reflection of a storefront window. In the reflection, I saw this gorgeous guy coming down the street. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with this fallen angel face. His hair was long.” Pepper let out a long sigh. “I’ve always been partial to long hair on guys, on him it’s so damn sexy. He also had this dark scruff on his cheek and the most intense dark eyes I’d even seen.”

“He is a good-looking man. Even though I’m madly in love with my husband, I’m not blind.” Cady giggled. “There’s just something about a rock star, isn’t there?”

“Oh, yea,” Pepper whispered, with pure longing in her voice, “he stopped to rescue this baby bird, I thought it was the sweetest thing I’d ever seen. I can still remember how my heart jumped when our eyes met in the reflection. He was watching me and I could look nowhere but at him. And then…” She barked out a laugh and covered her mouth.

“What happened?”

“He walked right into a lamp post.”

“Seriously?” Cady’s mouth fell open. “What did you do?”

“Oh, he came over and introduced himself, then Ryder stepped out of the store and called my whole name at the top of her lungs. Penelope Elizabeth!” Pepper scoffed. “She demanded that I come in and broke the spell. We exchanged numbers that day and he called me that night. I was at the concert where he signed his big deal with Ace Records.”

“Wow.” Cady was truly intrigued. “So, you were there from the beginning of his career.” She slowed down and carefully pulled as near the door of the pavilion as possible.

“We just hit it off, I enjoyed every minute we spent together.” Pepper opened her door and stepped gingerly to the ground, picking and choosing where she stepped. “Watch, there’s some mud on the ground here.”

“Yea, I see it. We need to warn everyone to enter from the side so they can stay on the walkways.” She pulled a key from her pocket. “I think all the food is ready. All we’ll have to do is come down a couple hours early and put everything in the warmers.” Cady let them into to the massive lodge, complete with sitting areas, commercial kitchen, and a large ballroom/dining hall.

“Everything is decorated so beautifully, Cady. You girls did a marvelous job.” Pepper always enjoyed coming to Tebow. Highland Ranch was her home, it was beautiful, but the amenities of Tebow were designed to entertain family and friends in a true version of Southern hospitality. She stood in the middle of the large room, gazing around at the huge decorated trees, the fires roaring in two massive fireplaces, the garland strung from the exposed beams, and the tables set and waiting for the celebrating to begin.

“Thank you. We had plenty of help, I assure you. Tricia Yeager helped us with the decorations and Lilibet Saucier’s catering team did a lot of the prep work for the meal.” She handed Pepper a handful of place cards. “Here, help me spread them out.”

“Okay.” Pepper took the cards. “Is there anyone I should be careful of where they sit?”

Cady shook her head. “No, I don’t know of any current feuds.”

“Neither do I. The most recent family excitement was Ryder marrying Samson and Gideon, but even Heath is fully supportive of Ryder’s wedding after they saved her life from those Russian mobsters.”

“I’m glad.” Cady placed Christian at the head of the table at one end and Aron at the other. “When did you see Judah next?”

Pepper raised her head to look at her beautiful cousin-in-law. “I invited him to join me at a party at Jimmy’s villa, the same place where he’s having the New Year’s party.” She slipped one last card in place, then stepped back to view the whole table.

“What did your family think about it?” Cady stepped over to check the buffet tables with their line-up of warmers ready to be put into use.

“I didn’t tell them. Well, Ryder knew more than my brothers did.” Pepper began doling out the candies, one by each plate. “After that, I managed to slip off to one of his concerts in Dallas.”

“Oh, really?” Cady was intrigued. She came to Pepper and dug a handful of candies from the canister so she could make the task go faster. “You’ve spent more time with him than I realized.”

“Yes, he said I was his inspiration. He’s written a couple of songs about us.”

“Tell me one.”

“Did you ever hear his song, Chance Encounter?”

Cady’s hand froze in midair. “Yes, I have. You’re the Penelope in Chance Encounter?”

Pepper nodded. “Yes.”

As Cady sang a bit of the song, Pepper’s eyes grew big. “I didn’t think you knew Judah’s music.”

Cady shrugged, a bit of mischief in her eyes. “Songs about angels seems to stick with me.” She pulled out a chair and sat down, clearly moved by this new information.

Pepper joined her across the table. “I’m not sure why I feel like I can talk to you, but I do.”

“Please do.” Cady laid her hand on Pepper’s. “I am here for you.”

“We were intimate together in Dallas.” Pepper blushed, feeling a sense of relief at having finally told someone. “And it was amazing. I fell so in love with him. He was perfect.”

“Oh, sweetie. What happened? Why aren’t you together?” Cady was mesmerized, as if she were watching a movie play out before her eyes.

“I don’t know. We talked every day, sometimes two or three times a day,” Pepper said, folding and refolding a napkin at the place setting in front of her. She could still remember every conversation, especially the ones that took her breath away.

Penelope, Penelope, let down your hair.

I always wear it down, there’s too much of it to put up on my head.

He groaned. I have this vision of you atop me, all that golden hair flowing over your shoulders, beautiful nipples peeking out through the strands.

Judah, you’re making me blush.

And you’re making me hard.

“I invited him to a BBQ at the ranch, in hopes that we could tell my family we were dating. This was right after Isaac’s wedding, where Cato threw a glass of punch on Heath.”

“Oh, I remember that day very well. Did things go as you hoped at the BBQ?”

Pepper shook her head. “I thought everything was fine. When he performed, he seemed to be singing for me.” She could still remember the words of the song he’d sang, holding her gaze. You are my sanctuary, the safe place when I fall. In your arms you hold me, you’re my haven from it all.

 “Pepper!” Cady’s voice broke into her reverie and Pepper jerked, knocking a couple pieces of silverware to the floor. “I’m sorry to startle you, but we have to go back. Libby texted and my Angel has taken a spill on her new tricycle.”

“Of course, let’s go.” She placed the last two pralines and hurried out next to the concerned mother. “I hope she’s okay.”

“I’m sure she’s fine. She’s the only girl out of all the cousins and she thinks she has to be rowdier than they are.” Cady and Pepper ran back to the truck and headed to the Tebow main house.

“We didn’t lock the door, Cady,” Pepper reminded her.

“Don’t worry about it, we’ll all be coming back over in a little while anyway.”

They were so focused on the journey, neither noticed the black SUV parked a few hundred yards inside the gate.