Christmas With The Cowboy

Applause went up as the horse and rider moved to the right and his lasso caught the bright green mechanical animal below both horns.

Then he smoothly dismounted, pulled off his navy blue ball cap and took a bow, displaying short neatly trimmed brown hair. There was something hauntingly familiar about the cowboy in the denim jacket and Wranglers.

When he turned to face the south side of the corral, Emma’s head jerked back. For a moment, all she could do was stare.

Zach Norman was back.

A shiver ran through her, and she grabbed the weathered wooden rail for support.

Her brother-in-law. The last she heard, Zach was headquartered with his navy SEAL team in Coronado, California. Except for a brief visit after the twins were born, she hadn’t really spent any time with Zach since the death of her husband, Zach’s half brother, Steve, a little over three years ago.

“Miss Emma, you all right?” Dutch asked. “You’re looking mighty pale.”

Emma blinked and put a smile on her face. “Yes. I’m fine.”

As she turned back to the corral, her gaze met Zach’s. She knew the instant he saw her. His grin faded and the sparkle in his eyes was replaced by a shuttered expression.

Maybe it was the fact that they had different mothers, but Zach was nothing like his younger brother.

Both Steve and Zach were tall, with hair the color of toffee, though that was where any similarity between the brothers ended. Steve had clear blue guileless eyes. Zach’s eyes were silvery gray. When he simmered with emotion, they became the color of the sky before a storm.

While Steve had literally been the boy next door, easygoing and laid-back, Zach could only be described as complicated.

Big, capable and brooding, he could steal your breath with one sweeping gaze. Although she’d known Zach since the day she and her siblings were plucked from foster care, there were times when she felt like she didn’t know him at all.

When his gaze moved in her direction, it seemed he could see her soul. No one else could do that. Even now, as their eyes connected, she felt unable to look away. Emma swallowed and willed her pulse to slow down.

As he started across the corral, she noted a limp. Had he injured himself with his wild riding antics today?

Before she realized it, Zach stood in front of her.

“Emma,” he breathed.

At five foot four, Emma had to look up over a foot to meet his gaze. When she reached out for an embrace, Zach stood stiffly, arms at his sides.

“Welcome back,” she murmured, pained at the rebuff.

“Good to see you,” he said. “You’re looking well.”

“Thank you.” She focused on his denim-clad legs. “You’re limping.”

“My knee. No big deal.” He shrugged it off.

She frowned. It certainly didn’t appear to be “no big deal.”

“You let Travis talk you into the saddle when you have a bum knee?”

“That was my idea. Once I get up there, I’m fine. Riding isn’t a problem.” Zach’s mouth formed a musing half smile. “You know, I don’t think I’ve been in the saddle since...” He paused and met her gaze.

Emma instinctively knew what he was thinking. The two of them used to ride together when Zach stayed at his father’s ranch. Steve had no interest in horses, but she and Zach shared the same passion for riding. Things were simpler in those days.

He looked away, his attention landing on the double stroller.

“Whoa! They’ve grown. Those last pictures you sent don’t do them justice.” Zach half crouched down next to his nieces, his hand bracing his extended left knee. “Who is who?”

“Elizabeth has a tiny birthmark on her right arm and Rachel doesn’t. Other than that, they’re identical.”

“They look exactly like you,” he murmured. Awe laced his deep voice.

“Yes,” she said. The girls had her dark hair and brown eyes. “Except for their noses.” As if on cue, Elizabeth wriggled her snub nose in sleep. “That’s the Norman nose.”

Zach nodded and offered a genuine smile. “So sweet.”

“Sweet in slumber, yes.” She couldn’t help but chuckle. “And when awake, they’re an Oklahoma twister doubled.”

“Like me and Steve when I stayed with my dad in the summer.” Another almost smile touched his lips as he stood slowly, favoring his left leg.

“When did you arrive?” she asked when he faced her again.

“Just got in this morning. Travis invited me for the wedding.”

“The wedding was two weeks ago.” Emma’s glance went to where her older brother stood with his arm looped around his bride and assistant foreman, AJ Rowe Maxwell.

He shrugged. “I got hung up in red tape.”

“Red tape?”

“That’s right. Though, I suppose some might say that I’m trying to live up to my reputation as an absentee relative,” he murmured.

Emma would not respond to the dig. It was a reminder of their harsh exchange of words via email regarding his lack of involvement in his nieces’ lives.

“So you’re here to visit?” she asked instead.

“You sure ask a lot of questions.”

“Can you blame me? I’ve been trying to get you to the ranch for three years.”

He shrugged and offered an annoyed sigh. “I made it.”

“When are you due back?”

“I thought you were glad to see me.” His eyes narrowed a fraction. “Now it sounds like you’re trying to get rid of Uncle Zach.”

“That wasn’t what I meant.” Emma’s skin warmed under his scrutiny. Zach always managed to knock her off-kilter. She collected her thoughts. “I’m shocked, that’s all. In truth, you were the last person I expected to see in that corral.”

“Glad I could keep you on your toes.” He offered a thoughtful nod with no hint of a smile to be found. “And for the record,” he said, “the United States Navy and I have officially parted ways.”

Confused and stunned at his admission, Emma stood staring for a few seconds. “Your knee. Is that why you quit?”