The Gift of Family: Merry Christmas, Cowboy\Smoky Mountain Christmas (Cowboys of Eden Valley) by Ford Linda & Kirst Karen

Author:Ford, Linda & Kirst, Karen [Ford, Linda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Love Inspired
Published: 2012-10-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Three

Beside him, Rachel stiffened. Her face had leached of all color save for two fiery patches on her cheeks, and her mouth was pinched with strain. It was a familiar sight, unfortunately. Didn’t her parents see that putting her in the middle upset her? In expressing their hatred for him, they caused her no end of distress.

“As you can see, Cole is getting acquainted with Abby.”

“That man doesn’t deserve to be a father,” she spat, jabbing a finger in his direction. “He’s bad seed, Rachel, the son of a swindler and cheat of the vilest kind. How can you expose this innocent child to his influence?”

Cole ground his teeth together, ruthlessly tamping down the fury churning in his gut. Perhaps sensing his turmoil, Abby began to fuss.

Rachel gasped. “Mother, please. Don’t make this any harder than it already is.”

“If you won’t choose to use common sense, your father will.” Jutting out her chin, she glared at Cole. “I’m warning you. I’m going to fetch my husband. If you’re still here when he arrives, you’ll find yourself on the wrong end of a shotgun.”

“No!” Rachel gasped.

For the second time that morning, Cole intentionally touched his wife. He settled a restraining hand on her shoulder. Jolting from the contact, she turned to stare at him, her wide blue eyes troubled. He was stunned to see an apology there, as well.

Breaking eye contact, he leveled a look at his mother-in-law. “This is my land. My home. I built it with my own hands. Make no mistake, I will defend it and my family if necessary. You and your husband are welcome here if and only if you plan to be civil and watch your manners. I won’t subject Abigail to your hostility.”

Lydia’s chin dropped, obviously stunned that he’d dared speak against her. But he refused to be bullied. If he had any chance at all to stick around and see his daughter grow up, he had to set the boundaries now. He just hoped it wouldn’t cause more problems for Rachel.

“Cole,” Rachel began, but her mother cut her off.

“You’re nothing but trouble, no better than your pa,” she found her voice. “Just you wait until my husband hears about this! And the rest of the fine folks of Gatlinburg. They’ll run you outta town.” Looking pointedly at his hand on Rachel’s shoulder, she raised an imperious eyebrow. To Rachel, she said, “Think real hard about what you’re doing.”

Then she stomped away, crossing the yard and disappearing on the forested path that connected the two properties. Rachel shivered. In the heat of their conversation, the cold had failed to register. He dropped his hand and, urging her inside, shut the door and lowered the latch.

She stopped in the middle of the room, shoulders slumped. She looked lost. Defeated. Brushing past her, he placed the baby on her pallet and gave her a toy. Then he went to stand before Rachel.

Dressed in a high-collared lilac blouse and royal purple flower-print skirt, she was a delicate bloom in the midst of a colorless winter.

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