A Cowboy for Christmas by Bobbi Smith

Author:Bobbi Smith
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.
Published: 2010-12-27T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Physically, Jack was feeling weak, and his emotions were in turmoil as he sat on the sofa in the parlor—waiting.

Soon, very soon, his little Penny would be coming through the front door.

Jack wasn’t quite sure what to expect. He didn’t know how she was feeling about returning to the ranch, but he hoped their reunion would be a good one and they would be able to heal things between them. He needed that peace before he could leave this world, and he needed to know, too, that the Lazy Ace was safe in her hands. As a young girl, she had enjoyed ranch life, and though he’d rarely heard from her since her mother had taken her away, he was hoping she would be interested in staying on. The ranch was his life’s work, and he wanted her to cherish it as much as he did.

At the sound of the carriage pulling up outside, Jack mustered what strength he could and got to his feet. He made his way to the doorway at the front hall.

Penny didn’t wait for Dan or Lou to come help her from the carriage. The minute the horses came to a stop, she jumped down and ran up to the house. She didn’t know what to expect from her homecoming, but she was here—and somewhere inside the house, her father was waiting for her.

Penny dashed up the steps to the porch. Memories from her childhood swept over her as she let herself in, and instinctively as she’d always done as a child, she called out, “Papa, I’m home!”

And it was then she saw him, standing in the parlor doorway.

“Papa—” She had so much to say, so much to tell him, but in that moment, she was silent. Her memories of her big strong father were clear, and she saw the change in him right away. He looked older now, and it seemed as if the life in him was draining away.

Jack stared at Penny, seeing what a lovely young woman she’d grown into. He had missed her so much and now, to have her finally here with him . . .

She took a tentative step toward him and was thrilled when he opened his arms to her. Without hesitation, she went into his welcoming embrace.

“Penny, you’re home!” Jack said, wrapping his arms around her and holding her near. “My little girl’s finally come home.”

“Oh, Papa!” Penny’s tears fell freely as she treasured this moment of closeness. She had forgotten over the years how safe and protected she’d always felt when he’d hugged her.

“It’s been so long.” Jack drew back and looked down at her. “You’ve grown up, and you’re so beautiful.”

She managed a teary smile at his words. “And you’re just as handsome as I remembered.”

He chuckled at her teasing and slipped an arm about her shoulders to hold her close to his side as he turned to greet the woman who’d just followed her into the house with Dan. “Welcome to the Lazy Ace.

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