A Country Christmas by Lisa Carter

Author:Lisa Carter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2023-07-19T19:38:25+00:00

Chapter Ten

Blinded by tears and vaguely aware of raised voices, Kelsey stumbled out the door. Leaving chaos in her wake, she fled the farmhouse.

Moments later, she found herself pressed against a split-rail fence staring aimlessly at the evergreen forest beyond the pasture.

Since the shopping expedition, she and Dorothy had reached a good place with each other. Had she been trying to, as Grampy claimed, show up Miss Dot in comparison to Granna? Kelsey searched her heart for unconscious motivations. But she’d only meant to share something special to her. She had no idea Grampy would react that way. In all her twenty-six years, he’d never so much as raised his voice to her.

Kelsey choked back a sob. She might not be guilty of everything he accused her of, but perhaps the fault lay in not thinking it through. She’d not only angered her grandfather but hurt Dorothy, too. Thanksgiving, which had started out so right, was a disaster.

She was a disaster. She swiped away the tears on her cheeks. Fat lot of good crying had ever done her. It hadn’t kept her mother from dying. It had only made her father run from her. It wouldn’t fix this fiasco.

What was she going to do now? She couldn’t return to the house. Maybe if she left, the McKendry holiday wouldn’t be a complete debacle.

But having left her phone on the coffee table, she couldn’t call for a rideshare or taxi. Not that Truelove had either service. Who could she call to pick her up at the road? Martha Alice’s grandson, Jack, would come and get her. But it was Thanksgiving. She’d only wreck their plans.

She was so tired of being a burden. Of never belonging anywhere.

Her only recourse was to walk to Truelove. Not a great option, considering the heels on her boots. Truelove was miles away. Separated from the Bar None by several treacherous mountain roads. But at the moment, she didn’t care what happened to her. She just wanted away.

“Kelsey.”

She stiffened. Lost in misery, she hadn’t heard Clay come out of the house. A wave of crimson flooded up her neck. He must think her the most horrible, insensitive person he’d ever met. Or the dumbest.

“Keltz?”

His little nickname stabbed like a knife in her heart. She squeezed her eyelids shut. “I-I’m okay.” She flailed her arm behind her back. “Go inside with your family. I never meant—”

Clay caught hold of her arm. “What he said isn’t true. That’s not who you are. Would you look at me, darlin’?”

She shook her head. “I-I can’t.”

“It’s cold out here, Keltz. The denim jacket is cute, but not enough for November in Truelove.”

She let her shoulders rise and fall. “I’m okay with suffering for fashion.”

“That’s the spirit.”

She heard the smile in his voice.

“But I’m not okay with you shaking like a leaf.”

He opened his coat, and she found herself enfolded by his arms. The scents of hay, leather and something masculine, something totally him, engulfed her senses.

Clay was warm. And wonderful. And kind.

“Your grandfather had no right to say those things.

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