Read Online All I Want for Christmas: A Kinnison Legacy Holiday novella by Amanda McIntyre - Free Book Online Page A

to Cody that they’d spend Christmas together. She made it sound like a done deal.”
    Rein leaned back against the counter and listened. His eyes focused on his boots.
    “Has he been in his room since you brought him home?”
    “He took a short nap,” Liberty said. “When I checked on him a bit ago, he was sitting on the floor playing with the farm set.”
    Rein pushed away and sighed. “Maybe we should do a pizza and movie night? He likes those. We could watch that movie he likes. The one about the little fish that gets lost.”
    “Finding Nemo?” Liberty said. Her heart twisted thinking of just how many times they’d watched that movie, Cody’s attention intently focused on the dynamic between the father fish and his son.
    “Yep, that’s it. Why don’t you go ahead and place the order? Since the Git and Go got that new pizza oven, they’ve started a delivery service.” He gave her a quick peck on the cheek. “I’ll go talk to Cody.” He paused, resting his hands on her shoulders. “Hey, it’s going to be okay, sweetheart.” He kissed her forehead.
    Later that evening the three sat at the low coffee table in front of a roaring fire in the fireplace and watched the animated movie for what seemed like the hundredth time. They munched on Git and Go pizzas, delivered by a senior that Denise had hired over the holiday break. Liberty had managed to eat one slice of cheese pizza, while the other two annihilated the better part of the double pepperoni pizza they’d ordered.
    Sunday ushered in a bank of low, steely-grey clouds as the three of them drove to Wyatt and Aimee’s for noon dinner. To many in the community, it would always be known as the Kinnison ranch, named after the cattle baron who built and ran it for years. After his death, Rein had found his uncle’s journal and realized that his Uncle Jed had wanted to make the ranch a place of second chances, of finding healing through hard work and nature. To set it apart, they’d dubbed it the Kinnsion Last Hope Ranch, to include the set of nine cabins that Rein, his brothers, and friends had constructed for the purpose Jed had intended. Ever since, they’d hosted both horses and individuals passing through End of the Line, as well as offering it as temporary housing to those in need. They’d started riding programs for kids with special needs, and nature outings for the families that lived at Miss Ellie’s house in Billings.
    Liberty hopped down from the truck, feeling better than she had a couple of nights before. She grabbed the cheesy potato casserole she’d made as her contribution to the meal, while Rein helped Cody from his car seat. Her eye caught the presence of the white owl seated amid the evergreen of the tall pine that grew between the house and what was once Rein’s wood-working barn. Saved from the fire two years ago that damaged much of the back of the ranch, the tree remained a symbol of Kinnison longevity.
    The wood-working barn now stored much of the furniture that Rein had built over the years. It was part of her’s and Rein’s future plans to open an online business for custom-made pieces crafted in the rugged, rustic style that represented their love of repurposing vintage pieces into modern-day usefulness.
    She chose not to mention the owl to Rein. While earlier tensions seemed to have been resolved among the three brothers, they hadn’t revisited the topic of Jed’s alleged visitations to his brothers.
    Michael Greyfeather, an old family friend of Jed’s and now the head of the ranch’s equine rescue mission, opened the front door to greet them. “Hey, guys, I saw you coming and thought I could help out.” He nodded toward the casserole. “Let me take that for you.” He smiled at Rein and then at Cody. “I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure yet, young man.” He leaned down and held out his hand in greeting to Cody.
    Cody shied away, ducking behind Rein’s leg.
    Michael smiled and nodded. “I’ll just take