The Secret of Santa by Liz Isaacson

Author:Liz Isaacson [Isaacson, Liz]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: AEJ Creative Works
Published: 2021-01-05T06:00:00+00:00

Cactus stood at the back of True Blue and watched his family assemble for their weekly Sabbath luncheon. Part of him wanted to slip out the door he’d come in, text Bishop that he wouldn’t be there, and make another solitary bowl of soup in his cabin out on the edge of the ranch.

Something kept him in place, though, and it was the beautiful redhead he’d been out with last week.

Six days ago, and Cactus had texted Willa a few times. He’d gone to church today, hoping to see her and talk to her. He wanted to find out if she was okay, number one. Number two, he wanted to find out when he could take her to dinner again.

Number three, he simply wanted to hear her voice.

She hadn’t been at church, and he’d had to settle for cornering her brother and asking about her. Patrick Corning had said Willa was doing well, but she’d had to return to the Hill Country for a few weeks. When Cactus had pressed him for more details, he’d said, “I’m afraid I can’t say more. Willa will have to choose what she’d like to tell you and what she doesn’t.”

Cactus had to accept that, because he didn’t need to get into another yelling match with another pastor at the back of the chapel.

Willa kept him at his family party, because he wanted to be able to become the man that could walk into the skating rink and socialize with the townspeople as Willa clung to his arm. He couldn’t be the cowboy hermit if he wanted to be with Willa, and now that he’d spent a couple of days with her for longer than five minutes, he wanted to be with her more than ever.

Arizona burst into the barn, practically dragging her boyfriend behind her. Cactus straightened, because he sensed something had happened.

“Everyone,” Zona called, and she could have a loud voice when she wanted to. She was the youngest of seven kids, and the only girl with six loud, annoying, constantly-jostling-for-position brothers.

“Hey,” she yelled again, and Bear stepped over to her and looked at her and then Duke. He turned to face the crowd, only about half of whom had heard or listened to Zona. Bear whistled through his teeth, and that got everyone to stop talking and face him.

He nodded at Zona and Duke and retreated back to the crowd.

Zona wore pure excitement on her face, and Cactus knew what was coming. “Duke and I are engaged!” she yelled, bouncing on the balls of her feet in excitement. The room held its breath for a moment, and then Sammy rushed at Zona, followed closely by Ida and Etta.

Cactus met Bear’s eye for a moment, an unspoken conversation happening between them. As far as Cactus knew, only he and Bear knew what Duke had done eighteen years ago. He told himself that Daddy wasn’t here anymore, and he wouldn’t have objected anyway. He’d forgiven Duke and encouraged him to stay and make things right with his folks.

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