It was a damn Christmas miracle to have my entire family along with Collin’s all under one roof. Little Abel bounced around the tree with my three nieces as they rooted around to see what Santa had brought them.

“Oh boy, a Hot Wheels set!” Abel hugged the giant box under the tree.

Ryder scooped his son up in his arms. “Want to open this sucker up?”

Abel squirmed out of his father’s grasp, ripping at the box.

“Hold on, kiddo. Let me help you.”

My wounds had pretty much healed and the pain was finally gone. The headaches were still a pain in the ass, but it was nothing compared to what it had been. Collin was the best nurse a girl could have asked for, never leaving my side once during the entire month.

Sitting down on the couch next to him, I curled up in a blanket. “This is perfect.”

“You’re perfect.” He winked at me, handing over a small wrapped box. “I had to enlist Raine’s help to get this since I’ve been a little busy over the last few weeks. I hope you like it.”

I pulled at the gold and black paper to reveal a velvet jewelry box. Tears welled up in my eyes as I glanced up at Collin. “Babe, you shouldn’t have.”

“Open it before you start thanking me.”

Inside was a silver necklace with a solitary diamond stone glistening beautifully.

I gasped. “It’s stunning.”

“Here.” Collin took it out of the box and helped me put it on.

Crickett beamed from the far side of the room. “It’s gorgeous, sweetheart.”

Throwing my arms around Collin’s neck, I couldn’t hold back my tears. “I love it.”

Collin and I sat back while everyone exchanged gifts: socks, ties, flannel shirts, boots, leather, coffee—the works.

While Collin smiled next to me, his eyes glistening, I nudged him. “Glad to see all that bah humbug is out of your system.”

“I had help from a pretty sexy elf who brought the cheer back into the holidays for me,” he responded.

“How’d you lose it in the first place?” I naïvely questioned.

“This time of year has been hard with Dad gone.” It was as honest as he could be, as raw and real as it got.

“Well, don’t think of him as gone. I see a lot of Abel in this room. Think about it—without him, none of us would be here now.”

Collin hugged me to his side. “Yeah, you’re right.”

“Merry Christmas, handsome.”

“Merry Christmas, Low.”

“Well, I have to say, I’m damn proud of you.” Ryder joined me out on the porch where I had retreated for a quick drink alone.

“Why’s that?”

“Manning up like you did. Saving her. Deciding to stay in Sweetwater.” Ryder shot me a knowing glance.

“I never said I was staying up here,” I responded.

Ryder looked into the window where Harlow and Raine were sitting with Abel under the tree playing with his new toys. “You’re not going to leave her. I already talked to Blaz. We already put the transfer.”

“She’s worth it, right?” I asked, peeling the label of my beer at the corner.

Ryder took in a deep breath. “If you’re asking you already know the answer. You know, your dad hated that Raine and I got together. It took a lot of proving myself to him to make him believe that I wasn’t going to just use her and leave.”

My sister and Ryder had to hide their relationship from my old man for a while. I remembered to nights that he would sneak into her room for months on end.

“But in the end it all worked out.”

Ryder smiled. “It did and I think you’re on the right path with Blaz. Keep your nose clean and prove to her and her dad every day that she is as important to you as she really is. Outlaws don’t get chances like this often, Collin. You need to cease this opportunity and not look back for a second.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”