Read Online Her Mistletoe Cowboy by Alissa Callen - Free Book Online
Authors: Alissa Callen
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don’t think there’s a single fence that doesn’t need fixing. As for the barn …” Ivy’s laughter sounded and he paused to check where she was. Still over with Henry, she too had a paintbrush in her hand as she and Henry returned life to a faded knee-high reindeer.
He glanced at Payton and was surprised to see wonder widening her amber eyes. “Rhett Dixon, are you smitten with your new neighbor?”
He frowned and fought the heat flooding his face. “What? No. Of course not. It turns out our families were once friends so I’m just keeping an eye on her.”
“Yeah right. And I like wearing dresses.”
“Seriously, Pay, it’s not like that. This year Ivy lost both the grandparents who raised her and, I mean look at her, there has to be a man lurking somewhere despite her not wearing a ring. She’s vulnerable and the last thing she needs is any complications.”
“I know a long list of single cowgirls who would never call you a complication.”
He again dipped his paintbrush in brown paint. “And you also know I have a ranch to start from scratch and a promise to keep.”
“And how’s that promise to your mom coming along?”
“As good as can be expected.” He straightened and forced a smile. “But it’s Christmas, the season of miracles, so who knows, when I see you next I might have made progress. Dad and I might be able to be in the same room for longer than five minutes.”
“Rhett,” Payton’s tone was low. “Don’t be too hard on yourself. The past is exactly that. The past. Remember what I said when you were in hospital after you tried to ride Mossy drunk.” She placed a hand on his denim jacket sleeve. “Just be true to yourself.”
“How could I forget being in hospital? My knee is a constant reminder.” Bitterness grated in his voice. “There never was a fool greater than me.”
Her grip on his forearm tightened. “Rhett, you are no fool. We all deal with fear and grief in different ways.” Her gaze flicked past him and when she removed her hand from his arm he knew Ivy must be near.
He turned toward the scent of vanilla as Ivy came to his side. He thought he caught a flash of wariness in her gaze as she stared at Payton, but then her lips curved.
“Ivy, this is an old friend, Payton, and Payton, this is Ivy.”
Payton stepped forward, a paintbrush in one hand and her other hand outstretched. “Welcome to Marietta, Ivy. Even in winter it’s a beautiful part of Montana. I hope Rhett has prized himself away from fixing his barn to show you around.”
Rhett released the breath he’d been holding. He didn’t know why it mattered so much that Payton warmed to Ivy.
Ivy shook the cowgirl’s hand. “Thanks. Yes, he has. Who knew he’d be so handy tying curling ribbon?”
Payton arched a dark brow. “All these years and you never told me you had hidden talents?”
He shrugged. “What can I say? I’m a cowboy and have many hidden talents.”
“Well, cowboy,” Payton said, her grin mischievous, “maybe your hidden talents can extend to you hosting a house warming bonfire? Cordell and I still haven’t officially been invited to Little Rose Crown yet.”
“You know you don’t need an invite –” He stopped. Ivy and Payton looked at each other, their grins wide and eyes bright.
Just. Great. The two strong-willed women had bonded in a heartbeat.
“No way,” he said, voice firm. “I’m too busy.”
“Come on,” Payton cajoled, “It’s Christmas. You could have a house warming and a festive bonfire.”
“And …” Ivy added, “I can do the baking.”
He shook his head and handed Ivy the brown-tipped paintbrush. “I have a sudden need to talk to Henry about cattle. Knock yourself out party planning but it’s not going to happen.”
As he turned he caught sight of a pale-faced woman in jeans and a grey coat heading his way. She stopped beside him and he kissed her cheek. “Hey, Kendall. I’m glad you could make it.”
“Me too. Sorry I’m
He glanced at Payton and was surprised to see wonder widening her amber eyes. “Rhett Dixon, are you smitten with your new neighbor?”
He frowned and fought the heat flooding his face. “What? No. Of course not. It turns out our families were once friends so I’m just keeping an eye on her.”
“Yeah right. And I like wearing dresses.”
“Seriously, Pay, it’s not like that. This year Ivy lost both the grandparents who raised her and, I mean look at her, there has to be a man lurking somewhere despite her not wearing a ring. She’s vulnerable and the last thing she needs is any complications.”
“I know a long list of single cowgirls who would never call you a complication.”
He again dipped his paintbrush in brown paint. “And you also know I have a ranch to start from scratch and a promise to keep.”
“And how’s that promise to your mom coming along?”
“As good as can be expected.” He straightened and forced a smile. “But it’s Christmas, the season of miracles, so who knows, when I see you next I might have made progress. Dad and I might be able to be in the same room for longer than five minutes.”
“Rhett,” Payton’s tone was low. “Don’t be too hard on yourself. The past is exactly that. The past. Remember what I said when you were in hospital after you tried to ride Mossy drunk.” She placed a hand on his denim jacket sleeve. “Just be true to yourself.”
“How could I forget being in hospital? My knee is a constant reminder.” Bitterness grated in his voice. “There never was a fool greater than me.”
Her grip on his forearm tightened. “Rhett, you are no fool. We all deal with fear and grief in different ways.” Her gaze flicked past him and when she removed her hand from his arm he knew Ivy must be near.
He turned toward the scent of vanilla as Ivy came to his side. He thought he caught a flash of wariness in her gaze as she stared at Payton, but then her lips curved.
“Ivy, this is an old friend, Payton, and Payton, this is Ivy.”
Payton stepped forward, a paintbrush in one hand and her other hand outstretched. “Welcome to Marietta, Ivy. Even in winter it’s a beautiful part of Montana. I hope Rhett has prized himself away from fixing his barn to show you around.”
Rhett released the breath he’d been holding. He didn’t know why it mattered so much that Payton warmed to Ivy.
Ivy shook the cowgirl’s hand. “Thanks. Yes, he has. Who knew he’d be so handy tying curling ribbon?”
Payton arched a dark brow. “All these years and you never told me you had hidden talents?”
He shrugged. “What can I say? I’m a cowboy and have many hidden talents.”
“Well, cowboy,” Payton said, her grin mischievous, “maybe your hidden talents can extend to you hosting a house warming bonfire? Cordell and I still haven’t officially been invited to Little Rose Crown yet.”
“You know you don’t need an invite –” He stopped. Ivy and Payton looked at each other, their grins wide and eyes bright.
Just. Great. The two strong-willed women had bonded in a heartbeat.
“No way,” he said, voice firm. “I’m too busy.”
“Come on,” Payton cajoled, “It’s Christmas. You could have a house warming and a festive bonfire.”
“And …” Ivy added, “I can do the baking.”
He shook his head and handed Ivy the brown-tipped paintbrush. “I have a sudden need to talk to Henry about cattle. Knock yourself out party planning but it’s not going to happen.”
As he turned he caught sight of a pale-faced woman in jeans and a grey coat heading his way. She stopped beside him and he kissed her cheek. “Hey, Kendall. I’m glad you could make it.”
“Me too. Sorry I’m
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