Santa in Montana by Janet Dailey

Author:Janet Dailey [Dailey, Janet]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781420120004
Google: PGqF3S47ErAC
Publisher: Center Point Large Print
Published: 2009-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

The pickup’s high beams threw a tunnel of far-reaching light ahead of the vehicle, illuminating the edges of the ranch road and the dirty mounds of snow the plow had left behind. Moonlight glistened on the crusted surface of the snow that spread away from both sides of the road, the reflection of it stealing much of the night’s blackness. Overhead a crescent moon looked down from the eastern sky, a scattering of stars surrounding it.

Just beyond the reach of the headlights, a set of darker masses loomed to flank the road. Laredo recognized the familiar shape of the east gate’s stone-pillared entrance and eased his foot onto the brake pedal, slowing the vehicle’s speed as it approached the intersection with the state highway.

There was a silky whisper of movement beside him as he slowed the pickup to a halt at the crossroads. He wasn’t sorry to see a semitruck approaching from the south, forcing him to wait to pull onto the highway until it passed. He used the pause to steal a glance at Jessy, comfortably ensconced on the cab’s passenger seat. The dimness of the dashboard’s lights gave a faint sheen to the satiny material of the dress she wore and hinted at the paleness of a shapely calf.

“You do have a gorgeous set of legs,” Laredo drawled the compliment. “And I’m glad you chose tonight to show them off.”

“You did say you were going to wear your Sunday hat,” Jessy reminded him, a smile in her voice. “Since you were making it a special occasion, I thought I should do the same.” She stroked a hand over the skirt’s smooth fabric. “And I have to say it feels good.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” Laredo swung the pickup onto the highway and smiled to himself.

He suspected that most people—even longtime Triple C hands—would be surprised by Jessy’s statement. The Jessy they knew was strong and steady, sure of herself and always in command. Very few even guessed she had a feminine side or that part of her might want to be regarded as a woman and not the boss of the Triple C.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve taken you out to dinner, hasn’t it?” Laredo realized. Usually they ended up at the Boar’s Nest, the old line shack he’d fixed up to be a comfortable bachelor pad. It offered them total privacy, and most of the time that was all they wanted.

“We went out last fall,” she reminded him.

“Just the same, we should do it more often.”

“Maybe so, but life seems to get in the way a lot.” A quiet acceptance of that fact marked her voice.

“You’ve got that right.” His mouth crooked in a wry smile of agreement.

The dim glow of manmade lights grew visible a few miles ahead of them, offering the first sign of human habitation since they had left the ranch headquarters. Laredo slowed the pickup’s speed as they approached the town of Blue Moon.

It was little more than a wide spot in the road with most of its buildings vacant since the coal mining operation had shut down.

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