Seeing Red (Wells Ranch Series Book 2) by Bailey Hannah

Author:Bailey Hannah [Hannah, Bailey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2024-04-24T00:00:00+00:00

18

Red

29 weeks (baby is the size of a gallon of ice cream)

Growing up, Christmas was an excuse for Dad to day drink without judgment from people. Everyone adds liquor to their coffee on Christmas morning. You’re not an alcoholic for doing it—you’re festive. Which meant we waited to open presents until he passed out on the couch mid-afternoon. He’d always wake up in time for dinner and more drinks. If his after-dinner drink was spiced rum, we’d watch Christmas movies and drink hot chocolate like a normal family. If it was whiskey, my brothers and I would retreat to our bedrooms for the night.

When I step into the big house, I’m hit with the sound of laughter and the scent of sugar cookies. It’s warm and decorated like something out of a Christmas movie, with garland and lights and even fucking mistletoe hung above the living room entryway. A massive live tree—which Jackson, Kate, and the kids went on horseback to cut down—takes up most of the cozy, firelit room.

I stroll down the hallway toward the busy kitchen. Some of the ranch hands live in town with their families, others go to wherever they came from for the holidays. Those of us with nowhere else to be come here. Because I offered to handle feeding the horses this evening, I’m the last one to arrive, which is fine by me. It means less time fielding questions about my relationship with Cass.

Small arms wrap around my hips, and I crouch down to preschooler level. Odessa’s wearing a puffy red dress that, unsurprisingly, already has questionable food stains on it. “Hey, chicky. Did Santa spoil you rotten this year or what?”

I’m not a Christmas guy, but I can put on a good show for Odessa and Rhett.

Her palms squish against my cheeks, holding me in place so she can excitedly yell directly into my face. “Santa got me a Barbie with a horse!”

“You sure you deserve all that?” I raise an eyebrow and smile at her. “I could use a new horse. Maybe I’ll borrow yours sometime.”

“Uncle Red!” Odessa shrieks with laughter, scrunching her nose. “You’re too big to ride him. He’s for Barbie.”

“Well, shoot. Guess we’ll send Barbie out to check cows, hey?” I slowly straighten my knees to stand. “I’m starvin’. Let’s go see what your mama cooked up.”

“Did you bring your girlfriend?” Her question stops me in my tracks. “I want to see the baby.”

“Well, the baby’s still in her tummy,” I say. “You can meet her as soon as she’s born, though.”

“She’s pretty,” Odessa states.

“My… girlfriend?” I clarify. Odessa’s eyes light up at the word—she’s Kate fuckin’ junior. “You’re right—most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. Aside from you, of course.” I tousle her hair and send her on her way, finally taking a moment to look at all the other people here.

Ranch hands, the Wells family, Kate’s parents, and another older couple who I assume are Cecily’s parents. There’s not a single empty space on the counter or

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