The Texan's Christmas by Linda Warren

Author:Linda Warren [Warren, Linda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance
Publisher: Harlequin HSR
Published: 2011-07-08T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

FOR THE NEXT WEEK, KID didn’t go inside The Beer Joint or attempt to see Lucky. He was busy helping Cooper and Uncle Ru keep a watch on High Five’s herd. He took the early morning two to six shift. Staying awake at night was no problem for him. It was his thing and that wasn’t something to brag about.

But he made it his business of being at The Joint at twelve to make sure Lucky made it home safely. She never saw him. He thought it best if they had some breathing room. Holding and kissing Lucky had awakened all the old feelings of first love. He didn’t want to hurt her this time and he had to prove to himself that he had the stick-to-itness of forever in him.

He had a lot of time to think—alone in the dark with his conscience and a few hundred head of cattle for company. He hadn’t been on a horse in years, not since he’d cowboyed for Dane, but he got the hang of it quickly. As long as Rusty, his horse, didn’t do any trick moves, Kid was fine. A couple of Cooper’s Australian Blue Heelers, Boots and Booger, followed him as he kept a close eye on the fences bordering roads. A couple of times the dogs shot out after an armadillo rooting in the grass, but they were never away for long. Soon they were back on duty.

The moon was full and the night had an eerie calm as the ranch land was cloaked in iridescent shadows of darkness—and the unknown. A rifle was in his saddle scabbard and he felt like Clint Eastwood riding the range.

He stopped to listen. Sounds carried a long way out here, but he only heard an occasional cow bellow, a coyote howling, crickets serenading and unusual noises of the harmless nocturnal creatures—no trucks or clanging trailers.

As always, his thoughts turned to Lucky. For her, he had to look deep at his own character, his flaws. He liked the nightlife, the ladies. He couldn’t deny that. But lately he enjoyed spending time with his aunt and uncle, visiting his brothers and their families. The last time he had a date, hell, he couldn’t remember. Probably right before Jacob was born. Nah, it couldn’t be that long. Once his nephew had come into the world, though, a whole new realm of excitement opened up for him.

He could spend an hour watching the expressions change on Jacob’s face. And all the while his own son lay cold in a grave—a son he’d abandoned. He took a deep breath. He was never going to get over that. Another black mark on his soul.

The thing about the past—a person could never go back or relive it. It was done. Over. Now he had to find some peace with Lucky without seducing her.

Ironically, he’d never forgotten Lucky’s smile, her laugh, her sweet disposition. He’d searched for it in every woman he’d ever dated, in every woman he’d been with.

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