Christmas at Fox Ridge

10. Eira

Chapter ten

Eira

D espite the okay coffee, the chill in the air, and the baggy clothing I’m swimming in, I’m actually enjoying sitting in the barn while he works. At first, I did nothing but watch him—mesmerized by his gentle way with the horses, intrigued by the finesse in his work, and turned on by the near-constant flexing of his arm and shoulder muscles under his thermal long sleeve.

Eventually, I reached for my art bag, wanting to get back to the cover I haven’t so much as thought about since the soup burning incident. But the sexy cowboy swinging a heavy hammer, pounding a horseshoe into the perfect shape to fit the horse’s foot, was incredibly distracting.

So I opened my drawing pad to a new blank sheet and began my sketch. No tablet with fancy graphic art tools—just pencil scratching over thick paper. Losing myself in every detail of him, no different than that night at the bar. Only this time, it’s in a new light, because he looks completely at peace here. He’s lost himself, too. He’s humming something and talking to the horse, going through the motions with ease. Finishing up, he sets the horse’s hoof down and runs a hand over its sleek back. He pauses to untangle a knot in the mane with his fingers then pulls something small from his pocket and feeds it to the animal.

When I was seven, my parents brought me to see the horses they use for carriage rides in the park, and I was thrilled . I wore my favourite poofy princess dress, plastic heels, and a tiara—fully expecting somebody to see me riding in a horse-drawn carriage and genuinely believe I was royalty.

But that’s not what happened.

Instead, my mom insisted I take a photo with the horses first. Nobody told us one of them hated kids, and I got to learn the hard way that horse bites fucking hurt . I cried, my dad yelled at the employees, we didn’t take a carriage ride, and my ripped dress was trashed the moment we got home.

“One more, and we can get out of here.” Lucas smiles at me, opening a stall door with a bone-chilling squeal.

“Take your time. I’m enjoying this, actually,” I reply honestly. Closing my drawing pad to hide the work-in-progress, I stand to stretch. My back cracks, and I raise my arms overhead until the tightness in my shoulders dissipates. “I’m gonna go look around outside.”

“Watch out for horse poop,” he says with a wink and a smile.

“That’s something you never need to remind me of. I’ll be on high alert.” I push open the door, squinting against the morning sun, and I inhale so much fresh air it makes my lungs ache.

Taking slow, calculated steps so as not to step in anything questionable—though these Uggs are getting thrown out when I get home regardless—I walk around the side of the barn and am met by the most insanely gorgeous view I’ve ever seen. Sprawling fields blanketed in untouched, white snow. Distant trees and mountains provide small patches of colour amongst the vast ivory earth.

Just as I’m searching in the deep pockets of my overalls for my phone, the tiniest whimpering cry stops me in my tracks.

I swear the breeze, and the clanging of metal in the barn, and the distant horses all still in unison. The world’s so quiet, I can hear blood pumping past my eardrums.

The tiny sound rings out again, and I follow it until I find myself next to some sort of wood shed. The cries are undeniably coming from underneath it. Scrunching my nose, I pull out my phone and turn on the flashlight before dropping to my knees next to a hole that’s been dug under the shed.

“Hey, whatever’s in there, if you could please not launch out at my face, that would be great,” I call out, as if the critter inside understands me.

Pulse racing, I gulp and move closer.

An emphatic meow.

“Oh, you’re a cat!” I laugh a little to myself, thankful I’m not over here pestering a badger or some shit. Quieting my voice so as not to startle it, I attempt to call it out from its hiding spot. “ Pspspspsps. Come here, kitty. Are you stuck under there? ”

My flashlight catches on something, and I slide on my belly across the snow for a better view. Tucked at the far back, with fur plastered to its wet body, looking scared and much too small to be alone, is a tiny kitten.

“Come here, baby.” Against better judgement, ignoring the possibility of what else could be in the hole, I shove my hand in to grab the kitten. Falling short, I curse under my breath.

I gnaw at my cheek for a moment, then push up to my feet, announcing that I’ll be right back as I quickly shuffle away.

“Hey, do you have any cat food or something here?” I ask, storming into the barn.

Lucas looks up from his work, and confusion washes over his face. “Why are you so wet? Did you slip out there?”

I flap my hand to indicate to him that my current state doesn’t matter right now. “I was lying in the snow. Maybe some lunch meat in the fridge or something?”

“Making snow angels again?”

“Trying to rescue a kitten from under a wood shed.” Clearly, he’s not going to answer my question, so I head for the lunchroom to look for anything I can use as kitten bait.

Lucas is hot on my heels, abandoning the horse he was in the middle of shoeing. “A kitten? Show me.”

I lead him out to the shed, half-listening as he rambles about the number of barn cats, and how the kitten is probably perfectly fine where it is.

That is, until he drops to his stomach and peers under the shed.

“Well, Doodlebug. I think you’re right. That thing looks pretty small to be out here without its mama.” He furrows his eyebrows in thought as he stands back up. “You sure you didn’t see an adult cat around here at all?”

“Nope. If she was around, wouldn’t she come back when she heard her baby crying?”

“Eira, this might be a case for us to just let nature take its course…”

My jaw goes slack, and I stare at him with a burning sensation behind my eyes. Blinking back tears, I say, “We can’t just leave her to die. That’s inhumane.”

“Well…” He sighs and drags a hand down his face.

“Come here, baby,” I say to the kitten, crouching down and rubbing my fingers together in front of the hole, hoping to entice her out. Ignoring Lucas altogether. “Come on out. Promise I’ll take good care of you.”

Lucas grunts, walking away. And I swear to God, I will never speak to that man for as long as I live after this.

Tears prick my eyelash line, and I lie back down on the cold, compact snow. Like a strong, independent woman, I mutter some curse words about stupid men and get back to work trying to save the kitten. My shoulder’s pressed so hard against the shed wall, I’m afraid something might break, and my outstretched fingertips are barely able to stroke the kitten’s fur. Nowhere near enough reach to grab it.

I shuffle away from the shed with an exasperated, “Fuck.”

“Think cheese will work?” Lucas’s voice makes me jump, and suddenly he’s next to me, holding a slice of Kraft cheese.

Like a strong, independent woman, I silently admit that I can use some help. Sitting back, I watch as he unwraps it and breaks off a piece, tossing it just inside the hole—close enough I can scoop up the kitten when she takes the bait.

“I hope it does,” I whisper.

Then we back off, the sun warming our backs despite the snow slowly soaking through our pants. Silently waiting for the kitten I’m still not sure he gives a shit about.

“That was really harsh of me,” he finally says. “I didn’t mean I think the cat should die . It’s just the way things work on a farm sometimes.”

I nod solemnly, not taking my eyes off the piece of orange cheese.

“We’ll get it, okay? Even if I have to tear the floorboards out of this shed.” He takes my hand in his, rubbing a thumb slowly over my skin. “You have dirt—likely some horse poop, too—under your fingernails, and you’re sitting on the ground trying to rescue a filthy kitten. I can’t exactly ignore that crazy amount of character development.”

My lip quirks. “Helpless little animals are my kryptonite. When I was really young, I wanted to be a vet. After a horse bit me, I thought my dreams were crushed entirely, but my grandpa assured me I could be a small animal vet.”

He tips his head to look at my face. “Lots to unpack here. You wanted to be a vet? Until a horse bit you?”

“Yeah. Asshole got me right on the shoulder and ripped my Cinderella dress.” I point to the spot, letting my gaze drift from the cheese for half a second to look at him. “I realized later on that I don’t have what it takes to be a veterinarian, anyway. But I did volunteer at a shelter through high school. Just because I’m not outdoorsy and like to wear cute clothes doesn’t mean I can’t get my hands dirty when I have to.”

“You continuously impress me, you know that?”

Whether he’s being genuine or trying to kiss my ass, I don’t care right now. I just want the cat to be safe. “Think the cheese will work?”

He purses his lips and leans over to look into the hole. “I hoped it would, but I think she’s too scared. But maybe I can—”

With a grunt, he flops to his stomach and shimmies forward, trying and failing to shove his thick arm in the small hole. With a shake of his head, he yanks his coat off and tries again.

“I think… I might…” The crease between his eyebrows tightens. “Fuck. I’m so fucking close— ouch ! Bastard. ”

He rockets out of the hole and examines his fingers. “Fucker bit me.”

With a snorting laugh, I bury my face into the thick sleeve of my coat.

“It hurt,” Lucas whines. “This little shit needs to come out of there right now. I’m gonna show it who’s boss.”

“Oh, yeah, you’re really giving boss energy crying about a tiny kitten bite that didn’t even break the skin.”

Ignoring me, he crams his hand back in and seconds later exclaims, “Gotcha!”

The tiny, black kitten, clearly scared out of her mind, emits the most non-threatening hiss. She fits perfectly in Lucas’s palm, and I beam at him when I scoop her up.

“Poor little girl,” I tuck her against my chest and stand. “We’ll have to get you some food, and give you a bath, and make sure you’re healthy.”

“How do you know it’s a girl?” Lucas brushes the snow and dirt from his chest.

“I can just sense it, okay? Mother’s intuition.”

Back in the barn, I curl up on my chair near where Lucas abandoned his work to help me, tucking the blanket around the small cat. The distraught mews slow as she settles in, and a moment later, Lucas appears with a big box.

“I got this so she can’t run away, in case you need to set her down.” Crouching in front of me, he gives a thin-lipped smile. “She seems old enough to not need milk, which is good. We can grab some wet food at the grocery store on our way home.”

I stroke my index finger over her furry head and glance down at the box.

“I know you’re still mad about what I said out there. I’m sorry.” He seems earnest, with moody eyes and worry knitted in the space around them.

“Volunteering in the shelter, I saw so many helpless animals go on to be euthanized. That’s when I decided I couldn’t be a vet,” I say.

“I would’ve torn that shed to pieces— carefully , so the kitten didn’t get hurt—if I needed to. We got her, and we’ll make sure she’s taken care of now. There’s a really great animal rescue in town.” He lets out a loud exhale, hooking a thumb toward the tied-up horse. “I’m almost done here. We’ll give ’em a call after.”

Cradling the cat in the crook of my arm, I bring my free hand to the nape of his neck and kiss him.

As he loaded his tools back into the truck, I attempted to contact the rescue he’d mentioned. I guess without decorations or presents or family around, we both forgot that tomorrow’s Christmas Eve, so naturally, the rescue has its phones off until the new year. But after a lot of eyelash batting, Lucas agreed to keep the kitten until January, even though I’m leaving on Boxing Day.

After finishing up at the barn, both of us had stops to make in town, so Lucas parked his truck on the town’s main strip, and we agreed to meet back there in ten minutes. I slipped the kitten in my coat pocket— thank God men’s clothing always has such big pockets —and held a palm over her tiny body, heading for the small grocery store.

Speed walking, I crane my neck to see down every aisle in search of cat food, thankful for the obnoxiously loud 2000s pop music blasting through the store speakers. There’s no way my pocket isn’t meowing, given how hungry the animal inside it must be, but if I can’t hear it, neither can anybody else.

When my body crashes into somebody, I cuss under my breath and tighten my grip on the kitten.

“Oh, I’m sorry!” the woman says, gripping my upper arm instinctively to stabilize both of us.

“No, I’m sorry. I wasn’t paying atten—hey, Cora, right?” I smile at the woman, instantly recognizing her from Lucas’s front porch. My hunch was correct: she’s stunning.

“Yeah.” She nods slowly, eyes narrowed as she tries to figure out who I am. Then a flash of recognition sparks. “ Right , you’re the person staying in the rental cabin at the McKinney Ranch.”

Staying at the McKinney Ranch? Yes. In the cabin? Not so much.

“I’m Eira.” I reach to shake her hand with my kitten-less one, suddenly aware that she looks gorgeous and I’m covered in any number of disgusting things, hair probably a mess since I left my toque in the truck, and I’m wearing clothes that are way too big for me. Lucas had to roll the bottom of the pants up five times this morning.

“So nice to meet you. How are you liking the cabin? The owner, Lucas, put a lot of work into renovating that place.”

“Beautiful place. The wood stove is a nightmare, though.”

She laughs. “If it gives you more trouble, I live in the apartment above the barn. Feel free to come find me, rather than Lucas. He’s growly and unwelcoming at the best of times.”

The same Lucas who insisted I sleep in his bed when I didn’t have heat? And who dragged me outside to make a late-night snowman?

I make a face. “He, uh… he already came over to light the stove for me once, actually.”

“Okay, damn,” she says with a surprised expression. “Must’ve caught him on a good day. His sister set this whole rental thing up, and he swore up and down he wouldn’t have anything to do with people staying there.”

“I’m best friends with his sister, so we… have a history, I guess. I’m not a total stranger on his property.”

“That makes sense,” she says slowly, suddenly eyeballing the heck out of the clothes I’m wearing, possibly questioning who they belong to.

“Anyway, I’m in a bit of a rush. Sorry for running into you, literally . It was really great to meet you, though.” I skirt past her and rush down the nearest aisle, pleasantly surprised to find it’s exactly where the pet supplies are.

Basket loaded with enough cat food to probably last two months, I meander my way toward the check out.

“Is that a cat in your pocket, or are you happy to see me?” Lucas’s breath blows hot behind my ear, making my cheeks warm.

“I know two pussies who are pretty happy to see you.”

He grabs the shopping basket from my hand, tossing a couple of his own items in. “Filthy girl, we’re in public. ”

“City girl rolls in to scandalize the cute small town over Christmas. Fun new Hallmark movie, by the sounds of it.”

“Meh, I’ve been scandalizing this town for five years,” he says nonchalantly, tossing a bag of ketchup chips in with our strange assortment of supplies. “You sprain one kid’s wrist outside the corner store, and suddenly you’re public enemy number one.”

“What?” I laugh, clutching his muscular forearm with my free hand. It feels right. This moment. Him and I leisurely strolling the aisles of the grocery store like a couple, grabbing junk food so we can hole up at home for days on end.

“Long story,” he says.

There’s a noticeable shift when Lucas sets the basket next to the checkout conveyor. The oxygen’s been sucked from the room, everything falling still around us. After finishing a chat with the customer ahead of us—one that was lively and sweeping—the young, bubbly cashier’s expression turns sour at the sight of the man beside me.

Maybe she’s friends with that other customer, and that’s why she was so personable.

I didn’t even know the act of purchasing groceries could be awkward, but this is. Painfully so. Not that Lucas seems to mind. He appears just as put out and sour as the woman across the counter.

When he slides his card into the reader, I catch the eye of the cashier, and give her a slight smile, which she doesn’t return.

“So, what do we think that cashier’s story is?” I pull the kitten from my pocket and buckle my seatbelt. “Scorned by a cowboy, definitely. Or was it her little brother whose wrist you sprained?”

Air cuts across his teeth with a quick inhale. “I might’ve left halfway through our first date.”

My heart flip flops. Gripping the belt strapped across my chest, I turn to him.

“ First date? Did you pick her up during her spare block and go to the corner store to get a slushy? Or go watch a high school football game?”

“I’m already the guy who ditched the pastor’s daughter halfway through our date, and I accidentally hurt some other kid. Please don’t say that shit so loud. You’ll make people think I’m a predator.”

There’s something hot and turbid and clenching in my stomach. For once, I shut up. My palm drags down the kitten’s back, a little rougher than I intended. And when I steal a glance over at Lucas, I realize how fucked I am.

I’m jealous.

I’m jealous?!

Jealous of him going on a crappy date—so crappy he left halfway through—with a girl who looks like she still has a curfew.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

I lick my suddenly chapped lips and exhale a little louder than I mean to. No doubt it comes off as pouty, but I’m praying he reads it as disgust. A way more understandable reaction.

“It was a blind date, for the record.” He tosses a hand onto my headrest and twists in his seat to back us out of the parking spot. “My realtor, Margaret, wouldn’t stop trying to set me up on dates after I moved to town, so I finally agreed to go. Jenna, the cashier, was twenty at the time—in case the FBI are listening in on this conversation. Nothing illegal, but the date was awful.”

“So bad she’s giving you the death glare in the grocery store.”

“I don’t know why. I left early because she was obnoxiously hung up on her ex.”

“Now she wants you, because she saw us together. Us girls tend to want guys we can’t have,” I say, unwrapping a piece of gum in hopes it’ll stop the tension headache that all this jaw clenching is bound to induce.

His eyes saunter down my body, too slow for somebody who’s driving. “Do you want that?”

I gulp. “I mean… yeah.”

If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be setting myself up for heartache by spending all week with him. One night six months ago left me comparing every guy I’ve met since then to Lucas. How ruined will I be after this?

“Damn. Ruthless to say you want a different guy while I’m right here .” He slaps the leather truck seat next to his thigh to punctuate the last two words, shaking his head with a funny look.

“Your body might be here, but I don’t know where the hell your brain’s gone. What are you talking about?”

“You want what you can’t have. You can have me. I’m right here, but now you’re saying you don’t want that.”

I laugh awkwardly, assessing the situation to see how to play this. Is he seriously hurt? Or just dicking around? Fuck , I can’t tell because he’s wearing his trademarked cocky look with his arrogant jawline, suckable lips, and enviable eyelashes.

“But I can’t have you,” I practically shout. The chill girl vibes have been compromised. Fuck. “I mean… I can for a few days, but we turn into pumpkins or whatever when the clock strikes midnight on Boxing Day.”

“Pumpkins?”

“Or snowmen. Cinderella but make it Christmas-y.” I flail my hands, clearly losing any semblance of composure. “Anyway, my comment doesn’t pertain to you. I want a fictional man from one of my favourite books to sweep me off my feet— that is what I meant when I said I want a man I can’t have.”

Yeah, sure, Eira. I’m mentally rolling my eyes at myself.

“Right. Duh.” His fingers drum on the steering wheel. “My comment was stupid. Ignore that.”

Ignore his comment? As if.

You can have me. I’m right here. Thanks to those words, I’m going to require a few business days to loosen whatever’s cinching around my heart like a corset.