Ten

That night she broke the news of the Carpenter brothers’ capture to Cole over dinner. She’d fixed his favorites: beef stew and apple pie.

He sat back in his chair, dabbing his mouth with a napkin. “And you’re only just now telling me?”

“I wanted to tell you over dinner,” she said and then explained how she’d bumped into the major in town. “He looked for you at the hotel.”

“That’s good news,” he said. “Your husband’s killers will get what’s coming to them.” He studied her with a frown. “I thought you’d be happy about that.”

“I am happy,” she said, sounding unconvincing even to her own ears. “Are…are you disappointed that you weren’t there to capture them?”

“Disappointed? No.” He laid his fork down and covered her hand with his own. “I’m just glad things worked out the way they did. For your sake.” He tossed a nod at Adam. “For his sake too.”

He pulled his hand away and reached for a biscuit. “What else did Major Comstock say?” he asked, as he mopped up the gravy on his plate.

“Nothing much.” The lie felt like acid in her mouth. “Only that he was taking the train back to Austin.”

She lowered her gaze. Keeping the honorary discharge from Cole was the right thing to do. It was the only way to protect her future. Protect Adam’s future. She only wished their happiness and security didn’t depend on deceit.

* * *

A dispatch announcing the capture of the Carpenter brothers had been sent to the sheriff’s office, and soon news of Richard’s death traveled through town like wildfire. On the day before Christmas, Meg Lockwood was the first to lead the parade to the farm.

“Oh, you poor dear,” Meg said, her turquoise eyes wide with concern. “What are you going to do?”

“What I normally do,” Sadie said. “Take care of Adam and the farm.” It was too soon to tell even her friend that she had fallen in love with another man.

The bank president’s wife, Mrs. Mooney, was the next to land on Sadie’s doorstep, followed by the pastor’s wife.

Sadie felt guilty for accepting their condolences. Richard’s death had hit her hard, but she was still angry at him for deserting her. Eventually, she would forgive him for leaving her, just as she’d forgiven her father; she had to for Adam’s sake. But it would be a long and painful ordeal, and one she wasn’t yet ready to undertake.

For now, something else was on her mind: the certificate of honorable discharge hidden in a bureau drawer. The document that could rob her of a happy future with the man she loved.

She’d hardly slept a wink since her conversation with the major. Even if she didn’t feel like a grieving widow, the bags under her eyes made her look like one.

For the rest of the day she went through the motions. She attended Christmas Eve church service and later stood outside with Adam in her arms, singing Christmas carols around the tall decorated tree on the church lawn. Some of the other women took turns holding Adam, and he looked like he was enjoying all the attention.

Cole was there, too, but such was her guilt for not telling him about the document hidden in her drawer, she could hardly look at him. Apparently, he’d sensed something was wrong, because he appeared at her side and whispered, “Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m just anxious to take Adam home. I don’t want to risk him getting sick again.”

He chucked Adam under the chin. “I understand.” He locked her gaze in his. “See you tomorrow.”

Nodding, she quickly moved away. It wouldn’t look right for a new widow to be seen with another man. For that reason, they had agreed to keep their distance in public. As far as anyone knew, Cole was a farmhand she’d hired.

As she reached her wagon, she heard the carolers singing “Silent Night” and swiped away the tears that had suddenly sprung to her eyes. Moments later she drove away, holding Adam on her lap. She had everything she’d ever wanted. She had a darling little boy. Her husband’s killer would soon stand trial and be brought to justice. And then there was Cole—a man she loved more than life itself. So why, oh why did she feel so utterly miserable?

* * *

Cole appeared on her doorstep early that Christmas morning. Sadie had prepared them both a special breakfast, complete with flapjacks and bacon.

“The fox was back this morning,” she said.

Cole quirked a smile. “Sounds like it’s time to bring out the big guns.”

“What does that mean?”

“You’ll see,” he said mysteriously.

After they’d finished eating, Cole carried Adam into the parlor and sat him on the floor in front of the Christmas tree.

“There you go,” he said, helping Adam open his gift. Cole pulled a little wooden pull toy out of the box, and Sadie clasped her hands to her chest.

“What a lovely gift,” she exclaimed.

“Glad you like it,” Cole said. “Looks like Adam’s more interested in the box it came in.”

Sadie laughed.

Cole laughed too as he pulled two packages from beneath the tree, one small and one large, and placed them on her lap. “Now it’s time to open your presents.”

Never had Sadie received such prettily wrapped gifts, and she fingered the big red bows.

“Well? What are you waiting for?” he asked.

Laughing at his impatience, she worked off the ribbon on the smaller box. Inside was a book titled How to Raise Cattle. Thumbing through the pages, she tried to imagine herself a cattle baroness.

He grinned. “I told you it was time to bring out the big guns. I just hope that’s more interesting to read than that grammar book of yours.” He took the book from her and placed it beneath the tree while she opened the larger box.

Upon seeing the blue dress from the general store, she gasped. “Oh, Cole!” She lifted the dress out of the box and held it close. “How did you know?”

“A little birdie told me you were seen admiring it,” he said.

Tears filled her eyes. “This is the nicest gift anyone has ever given me.”

He grinned. “Try it on. I’ll watch Adam.”

“I will, but first…you have to open your gift.” She set her dress aside and reached beneath the tree for his present.

He tore off the wrapping and drew the money clip out of the box. “It’s perfect,” he said, holding it up to the light from the window. He looked at her with such tenderness, it took her breath away. “You’re perfect.”

His eyes were so full of love and admiration and trust, it nearly broke her heart.

Trust. Such a beautiful word and so full of promise.

He trusted her with his whole heart and soul. In return, she couldn’t even allow herself to trust him at his word, and this pained her more than words could say. She didn’t deserve him. At that moment she didn’t even feel like she deserved Adam.

A silent sob welled up inside. When did this happen? When had the fear of losing him turned her into someone she didn’t recognize? Didn’t know. Didn’t want to know.

She’d searched for the perfect gift for him, but that gift had been in her possession all along. She just hadn’t been brave enough to give it to him.

All at once she knew what she must do, and a terrible weight lifted from her shoulders. “There’s…more,” she said.

He raised his eyebrows. “More?”

“Wait here.” Leaving the room, she returned moments later with the discharge document in her hand.

He held her gaze. “What is this?” he asked.

“My trust,” she said. “My trust in you. My trust in us. My trust in a long and happy future together.”

Eyebrows raised, he unfolded the parchment. Frowning, he shook his head. “This is—”

“An honorable discharge,” she said.

He was momentarily speechless. “I don’t understand,” he said after reading the document again. “How did you get this?”

“The major gave it to me when he told me about the Carpenter brothers.”

“But this makes no sense. Why would he give me an honorable discharge after the way I acted?”

She moistened her lips. “I guess you didn’t make a very convincing drunk.”

He rubbed his forehead. “I don’t know what to say. Getting myself dishonorably discharged was the only way I could think to convince you I was here to stay.”

“I know,” she whispered, touching a finger to his lips. “I…wasn’t going to give it to you.” Beseeching him to understand, she held her breath, searching for the least bit of censure in his eyes, the least bit of scorn on his face. But his tender gaze held none of the things she feared, and the love and acceptance in his eyes erased the last of her lingering doubts.

“I finally realized that if you stay here with me and Adam, it has to be because you want to. Not because you have to.”

“Oh, Sadie, if you don’t know by now…” Setting the document aside, he pulled her to her feet and crushed her in his arms. “I’m crazy as a fox in love with you. And just like that ole pest, nothing’s gonna keep me away.” He kissed her forehead, her nose, her mouth before adding, “I feel the same about Adam.”

The tenderness in his eyes took her breath away. But no more so than the happy future she envisioned ahead. She would trust him because she loved him; it was as simple as that. She wrapped her arms around his neck and ran her fingers through his hair. “A cattle ranch, eh?”

“The biggest and best in the county,” he said, grinning. “What do you think about calling it the Fox Haven Cattle Ranch?”

She laughed and rose to her tiptoes to kiss him.

“The Fox Hollow Cattle Ranch?” he asked.

Shaking her head, she kissed him again and this time targeted the intriguing indentation on his chin.

“The Running Fox Cattle Ranch?”

She laid her head on his chest with a contented sigh. “I think we should call it the Happy Hearts Cattle Ranch.”

“Hmm,” he murmured, his breath in her hair. “I like that. I like it a lot.” He ran his fingers down her cheek and tilted her chin upward.

“Oh, Cole,” she said, her heart nearly bursting with joy, “this is the best Christmas ever!”

He smiled. “I can think of only one thing that will make me happier,” he said between kisses. “And that’s the day you become my wife.”