Read Online A Baby in His Stocking by Laura marie Altom - Free Book Online Page B

materials, determined to finish her mother’s Christmas gift even though Natalie was currently more than a little frustrated with Opal.
    By the time the movie ended, freezing rain had turned to blowing snow. Flakes fell so thick and fast Natalie couldn’t see her neighbor’s home across the street.
    She added a log to the fire then went to the kitchen to check on the stew.
    The wind blew so hard the fifty-year-old house shuddered.
    Josie had invited her to stay at the ranch. There was more than enough room for Natalie to have had her own wing, but lately she’d begun feeling like a third wheel around her friend and doting husband. For all ofher harsh words to Wyatt, now that she’d calmed down, she wholly understood his reasons for steering clear of his family. Dallas and Josie. Cash and Wren. Daisy and Luke. So many babies. So many happy endings. The Buckhorns were disgustingly happy and fertile. A pheromone-meter would no doubt spike off the chart!
    With a bowl of stew and crackers in hand, Natalie returned to the living room. Time to really amp up the destruction with Alien.
    On the TV, part of Nostromo ’s crew crept through alien pods. The scene never failed to thoroughly freak out Natalie. It reminded her of the time Wyatt and a few of his friends had brought snake eggs to school and they’d hatched in the girls’ locker room. Not cool.
    Rapping on the front door jolted her from the unpleasant memory. Who in their right mind would be out on a night like this?
    She flipped on the porch light and peered out the window.
    Only the window was useless, covered in ice.
    Upon opening the front door, the icy wind’s slap was nothing compared to the shock of seeing Wyatt. His long, wheat-colored duster and cowboy hat were coated with snow. The way he towered over her made him seem like a snowy beast. His dark expression did nothing to help dispel her negative impression.
    â€œWhat are you doing? Get inside.” She yanked him by his coat sleeve into the warmth of her home. Though this was the last place she’d ever want him to be, in this weather she’d have offered the same kindness to a side-of-the-road drifter. “Take your snowy things off and stand by the fire.”
    â€œWish I could.” He at least took off his hat. His dark hair held the shape and curled against his neck. She ignored her crazy urge to touch it. “Look, there’s no easy way to say this, so I’m just going to blurt it out.”
    Her stomach clenched. “Uh, okay.”
    â€œMy brother and Josie were hit by a tractor-trailer rig. It looks bad. They were—”
    â€œHow bad are we talking?” she asked, her voice sounding distant to her own ears. She couldn’t lose her best friend. She refused. “They’re all right? Please, tell me they’re going to be fine.”
    Lips pressed tight, he took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
    â€œAnswer me, damn it.” In full panic mode, she pushed his chest.
    He captured her wrists, drawing her against him and holding tight. “I’d give anything to tell you what you want to hear, but last I heard, they’re both pretty banged up. Highway patrol had them airlifted to Saint Francis in Tulsa. They were lucky to have a window through the storm.”
    â€œWhat were they doing out by the highway? From school, Josie told me they were going straight home.”
    â€œDon’t know,” Wyatt said, still holding strong.
    â€œThe twins? And Mabel and Esther?”
    â€œAll fine at the house. But that’s why I’m here. Daisy and Luke took Mom to Tulsa. Wren was called in to work the E.R., so Cash drove her. That leaves me and you to look after the entire Buckhorn brood.”
    â€œ All of them?”
    He nodded. “Kolt’s the only one with them now, so we need to hustle. Pack a bag. Judging by this weather, we may be stuck together for a good, long while.”
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