Country Frost (King Creek Cowboys #8)

Chapter 8

8

“ H ow far was it from King Creek to Prescott?” Ashley pronounced the city name Press-kit, like Leeann had coached her before they left, as that was the way native Arizonans pronounced it. “How close are we to the place we’ll cut down the tree?”

“Home is about 140 miles away from Prescott. It was another 20 to the Bradshaw Mountains.” Porter cast a look over his shoulder, to where the girl sat in the backseat. “We’re almost there.”

“Feels like we’ve been driving forever.” She looked out the window. “It’s great to see snow again.”

Leeann smiled, remembering her youth when distances seemed much longer than they did now.

“The road we’ve used in the past is just ahead,” Leeann said to Porter before looking back at Ashley, who was still staring at the scenery. “I’ve been coming here since I was a kid.”

“Have you lived in King Creek your whole life?” Ashley turned to Leeann. “I lived in a small town in Montana all mine.” She nodded in Porter’s direction. “Not Porter, though. He’s lived lots of places. ”

“Yes, I was born and raised there.” Leeann smiled. “But I’ve done a little traveling around the States.”

“Have you ever been to a foreign country?” Ashley gripped the handhold as the terrain grew rockier, and the truck jolted over the deeply rutted road.

“Not yet.” Leeann shook her head. “There are lots of places I’d like to go.”

“Like where?” Ashley asked.

“Anywhere in Europe.” Leeann thought about it. “I’d like to visit the pyramids in Egypt, and I think Japan would be fun.”

“It sounds scary to me.” Ashley’s features tightened. “I don’t know if I ever want to leave the U.S.”

“You might change your mind when you’re older.” Leeann smiled at the girl, who shrugged.

Leeann turned back to the road and pointed to a smaller side road. “There, Porter.”

He took the turn, and Leeann grabbed the handle over the door as the ground grew even rougher.

In a quarter mile, they reached a small clearing where he parked the truck.

Ashley climbed out as cold air rushed into the formerly warm vehicle and laughed as she waded out into a snow drift.

Porter stood by his open door. “Jacket, Ash.”

“Okay.” The girl hurried back to the truck and put on her coat before heading back out to the snow.

As much as Leeann didn’t want to wait for Porter to open her door, she made herself sit still. The moment he did, the clean, fresh smell of pine and snow swept over her. She stepped into the fresh powder that was marred only by Porter’s boot steps. They all wore hiking boots, jeans, and flannel shirts.

He grabbed both their jackets off the backseat and helped Leeann into hers. He paused for a moment and looked into her eyes as he rested one hand on her hip. She wanted to go into his arms and kiss him and saw the same sentiment in his gaze. But with Ashley there, it wasn’t the right moment.

A snowball smacked into the side of Porter’s face and fell into the collar of his coat.

“Watch out, young lady.” He spun and ducked a second snowball as Ashley giggled. He moved between Leeann and his sister, scooped up some of the white stuff, and prepared to throw it at the girl.

Feeling mischievous, Leeann grabbed a handful of snow, made a ball, and threw it at Porter, hitting him in the back of the head.

“Yay, Leeann,” Ashley shouted before hitting her brother with another one.

Porter gave a roar, and instead of throwing at Ashley, he whirled and nailed Leeann in the face.

She sputtered and wiped snow from her eyes with the back of her hand, just in time to see Ashley hit him again.

“Watch it, girl.” Porter scooped up more snow and threw it at Ashley. Leeann made another snowball and hit Porter square in the back.

Ashley laughed as she fell back in the drift, and Porter hit her upper arm. Leeann had a feeling he was taking it easy on the girl.

Porter hit Leeann with another snowball, then wheeled around and plastered Ashley with more snow.

Ashley scrambled to her feet and ducked behind the snowdrift, where Leeann could only see the top of the girl’s head. Leeann hid behind the truck and made a pile of snowballs.

“Come out here and fight like cowgirls, you yellowbellies,” Porter thundered.

Ashley popped up from her hiding place, and threw a snowball at him before dropping to her knees again.

Leeann and Ashley both laughed as they bombarded Porter from two sides while he did his best to avoid getting hit while fighting back.

Porter looked out of breath as he raised his hands. “I give. Truce.”

Ashley hit him again, and Leeann came out of hiding.

The girl rose slowly from behind the drift, a snowball clutched in her hand. “I don’t trust you.”

He chuckled as he shook snow out of his jacket. “If I had a white flag, I’d wave it.”

“All right.” Ashley dropped the snowball and climbed over the drift. “I got you good.”

“It was two against one.” He gave her a mock scowl. “I will get even.”

“No, you won’t.” Ashley laughed. “You’re a big ol’ teddy bear.”

Porter looked outraged. “No one calls me a teddy bear and gets away with it.”

Leeann couldn’t help grinning as she watched the siblings’ exchange. Porter was downright adorable around his little sister. Not that she’d tell him that. Or maybe she would. She’d like to see the look on his face when she did.

He wiped snow off his sleeves. “Now that we’re good and cold, what do you say to finding that tree, Ash?”

“How tall?” She walked to him, her hiking boots caked with the white powder.

“Eight feet at most.” He grabbed an axe out of the back of the truck before he started toward a path wide enough for two to walk side-by-side. “As many decorations as you picked out, we could probably cover a twelve-foot fir.” He held up his hand. “Max of eight feet, deal?”

“Okay.” She trotted ahead of Porter and Leeann on the path. “I want the fluffiest fir ever.”

Porter looked at Leeann. “Fluffy? ”

She laughed. “I think that girl’s got your number.”

He grunted. “You’re probably right.”

“You’re good with her.” Leeann looked ahead on the path. “For stepping into the job with zero experience, you’re doing great, Porter.”

He glanced down at her and gave a rare almost-smile. “That’s kind of you to say.”

“I say it like I see it.” She shrugged. “You’re downright adorable with her.”

He looked good and horrified. “Don’t you tell another soul.”

“Maybe.” She gave him a teasing look. “I’m keeping my possibilities open.”

“Hell, if I haven’t picked the wrong woman.” He rolled his eyes heavenward, then met her gaze again. “I’ll have to keep my eyes on you.”

She promptly tripped over a root hidden in the snow. Before she pitched forward, face first, Porter caught her by one arm.

“Thanks for the save.” She blew out a breath.

“Remember that when you think about sharing treacherous words with others.” His scowl would have looked terrifying if she hadn’t known it was intentionally teasing.

“Porter.” Ashley’s voice came from around the corner ahead. “I found one.”

Leeann and Porter strode along the curving path until they reached the girl.

“That’s a might over eight feet, kiddo.” Porter crossed his arms as he looked up at the fir that was, indeed, fluffy.

“I’d say it’s closer to ten feet.” Leeann glanced at the girl. “You have great taste—it’s a beautiful tree.”

“Can we get it, Porter?” She looked up at him with a big, angelic expression.

He dragged his hand over his beard. “All right, but you’re hauling it back and loading it up in the truck. ”

“Awesome.” Ashley beamed.

Leeann and Ashley stood out of the way as Porter cut the tree down. It fell to the snow with a soft thud, and he handed the axe to Leeann before grabbing the trunk and hauling the fir back along the path.

“Are you hungry?” Leeann looked at Ashley while they followed Porter. “I brought a lot of sandwiches and Christmas cookies.”

“Yum.” Ashley put her hand to her belly. “I am hungry.”

“After all the exercise, I’m not surprised.” Leeann looked ahead to Porter, watching the big man move in strong, purposeful movements.

“You like my brother a lot.” Ashley’s statement had Leeann cutting her gaze to the girl.

Heat flushed over her and warmed her cold cheeks. “I do.”

“He likes you.” Ashley smiled. “So do I.”

“I’m fond of you, too.” Leeann matched the girl’s smile. “You’re a great young lady.”

“Don’t let Ash fool you,” Porter called over his shoulder. “She knows how to work it.”

More heat swept over Leeann—she’d thought he wasn’t close enough to hear their conversation.

Ashley gave Leeann an unrepentant grin and hurried up to Porter, who dropped the tree, indenting the snow that hadn’t been trampled during their battle. He lowered the tailgate with a metal clunk, dragged the trunk of the tree closer, and started loading it up.

Leeann got on the fir’s opposite side and helped Porter get it into the six-foot truck bed. It stuck out another four feet. While she held up the tree, he raised the tailgate, and the top third-plus wasn’t quite so far out. He used tie-downs to secure it while she attached a red flag to the top of the tree so that motorists would be sure and see it from behind .

While Porter and Leeann took care of the fir, Ashley got out the picnic basket and set it close to a large fallen log at the edge of the clearing. She knocked off most of the snow layer on its surface.

When they finished with their task, Porter and Leeann joined Ashley. She had the large thermos of hot chocolate, three Styrofoam cups, and the plastic-wrapped sandwiches sitting on a big nearby stump, which she had also cleared of snow.

“Thanks, Ash.” He took the filled cup from her and one of the sandwiches and sat on the log.

“I appreciate you setting up everything.” Leeann wrapped her fingers around the cup Ashley offered her, picked up a sandwich, and sat next to Porter. “I’m starving.”

“Me, too.” Ashley joined them, sitting on Leeann’s other side. “Isn’t that a great tree?”

Porter had already taken a bite when Leeann started unwrapping her own sandwich. “You can put on all the high decorations,” he said to the girl.

Ashley smirked at Leeann. “When I was little, and he’d come to visit our parents, he was huge and scary to me. Now I know he’s a big softy.”

Amused, Leeann glanced at Porter, who was chewing a bite of an egg salad sandwich and shaking his head. He swallowed. “Don’t let her trick you into thinking I’m a pushover.”

“Yup.” Ashley sipped her hot chocolate and lowered her cup. “He’s a pushover.”

He looked skyward. “What did I do to deserve this?”

Ashley giggled, and Leeann laughed.

They munched on their sandwiches and red-and-green frosted cookies and drained the thermos while talking about their favorite Christmas songs and movies. Well, Leeann and Ashley mostly talked, Porter responding when they asked him direct questions. He seemed happy to listen and not talk much, normal for him.

“What time will we get home?” Ashley pulled out her phone. “It’s almost 2:00 p.m. now.”

“Three hours or so.” Porter balled up the napkin he’d been using. “In time for dinner.”

“Can we decorate the tree after dinner?” She looked at him hopefully.

“It’ll be too late in the evening after a long day.” He held her gaze. “We can do it tomorrow evening.”

At first, Ashley looked petulant, but then she brightened up. “Can Leeann come over and decorate with us?”

Porter’s hazel eyes met Leeann’s. “You’re welcome to come for dinner and to decorate if you’re not too busy.”

He had a way of looking at her that hit all the high notes in her body. She swallowed. “I should have everything I need to accomplish done by 4:00 p.m. Does 5:00 work?”

“Perfect,” Ashley said before Porter could answer. “I make really good lasagna. Do you like Italian?”

“I love it, and lasagna is my favorite.” Leeann smiled at the girl. “Can I bring anything?”

“More cookies,” Ashley said quickly. “They’re so good.”

“Great.” Leeann nodded. “I have plenty to bring.”

“I want to make a snowman before we go.” Ashley got to her feet. “We can leave it for the next person who comes to find a tree.”

“I’ll help in a couple of minutes.” Leeann stood and brushed off the seat of her pants. Cold had seeped through her jeans, and she was ready to get warm.

Ashley was already rolling a snowball when Porter gathered the used napkins, plastic wrap, and cups while Leeann loaded the thermos and leftover cookies into the basket. They put everything into the truck before joining Ashley .

Leeann started singing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer as they made the snowman. Ashley nudged Porter, who caved in and added his baritone to their soprano voices.

He was a surprisingly good singer, and Leeann loved listening to him so much that she almost forgot to sing.

Ashley sang All I want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth as they completed the body of the snowman. She paused long enough to say, “Come on, Porter, it’s Christmas.”

Porter shook his head but joined his sister, and Leeann added her own voice to the mix. By the time they’d ended that tune, they had finished the torso.

Leeann started the next round of carols with It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas. She sang with abandon, thoroughly enjoying herself and her time with Porter and Ashley. The girl joined in right away as she rolled the head of the snowman until it was big enough to fit on the body.

As they sang, Leeann caught Porter watching her, and her tummy flipped. He looked so delicious and sexy and like he was more than interested in her. Covering her sudden feeling of shyness, she motioned for him to sing, too. He didn’t, but gave her a little smile, which sent more flutters through her belly.

“I’ll find something for the nose and the arms,” Porter said when the song ended.

Ashley walked into the brush. “I’ll get the eyes and the smile.”

“That leaves me the buttons.” Leeann found three roundish, flat, small rocks, returned to the snowman, and placed them in a line up the front.

Porter arrived with sticks for the arms and a four-inch by one-inch piece of bark for the nose.

When Ashley came back, she had her hands full. She set a small pile of items on the ground near the snowman. “I found pebbles for teeth, a couple of lava rocks for the eyes, and twigs for eyebrows.”

“Hold on, and I’ll carve out the mouth for the teeth.” Porter used his gloved fingers to remove snow in a smile shape.

Ashley popped in five pebbles for the teeth, then the lava rock chunks and twigs for eyes and eyebrows.

Leeann scooped up a bunch of pine needles. “How about hair?”

“Awesome.” Ashley helped Leeann put pine needles all over the snowman’s head.

They stood back to check out the final product.

“That stick looks like he’s holding a microphone.” Ashley looked from Leeann to Porter. “He’s a snowman showman. Let’s call him Showbe.”

Porter gave a nod. “Showbe it is.”

“He’s beautiful.” Ashley pulled her phone out of her pocket and took some photos. She handed the phone to Porter. “Take some pics of me singing with Showbe.”

“I’ll take a video.” Leeann pulled her own phone out and prepared it to record .

Ashley grabbed a stick, put her arm around the snowman’s shoulders, and hammed it up as she sang Frosty the Snowman as loud as she could.

Leeann laughed, and Porter chuckled. She’d never heard him laugh like he was, and it made her smile even more.

When Ashley finished, she bowed. “Thank you, thank you. That’s the end of our show.”

Porter shook his head, still looking amused, and handed Ashley her phone.

She took it. “I’m texting these to my friends back in Montana. They think there’s only desert in Arizona.”

Leeann and Porter smiled at each other, and for a moment, she felt like a proud mom. She could imagine mothering this young girl, and the thought warmed her heart.

“Let’s go, kiddo.” Porter inclined his head to the truck. “I promised Dr. Perkins I wouldn’t let you overdo it, and it’s been a long day.”

Ashley groaned as they walked in that direction. “Porter, I’m okay. Besides, he was talking about learning how to barrel race.”

“As far as I’m concerned, it means moderation in everything.” He reached the truck and rested his hand on the hood. “Come on, Ash.”

Her shoulders slumped, and she pouted. “Okay.”

“It’s been a great day.” Leeann smiled at Ashley. “Thank you for asking me to come with you.”

Ashley perked up again and smiled in return. “I’m glad you came.” She glanced at her brother, then Leeann. “Wasn’t it great throwing snowballs at him?”

Leeann laughed. “Yes.”

“You got snow down my back.” He pretended to grumble. “I’m still cold.”

“Big baby.” Ashley grinned and climbed into the truck.

Ashley fell asleep in the back seat not long after they left the mountains. Leeann kept her voice down as she told Porter the girl was out, and they talked in low voices the rest of the way home.

When they reached Leeann’s home, Ashley woke and groggily said, “See you tomorrow, Leeann.”

“Night, Ashley.” Leeann hugged the girl when she climbed out of the truck. She gave Leeann a fierce squeeze in return before she climbed into the front passenger seat.

After Leeann opened the front door, she turned and looked up into Porter’s eyes. “I had fun today.”

“I’m glad you came.” He set the picnic basket inside the house, then slid his hands beneath her jacket and rested his palms on her waist.

His touch heated her flesh through her flannel shirt like fire. Her heart pounded harder as she looked into his eyes.

“I’ve missed kissing you,” he murmured before he did just that.

Tingles erupted over her skin from head to toe as he moved his lips over her firmly but slowly. When he’d kissed her before, his movements had been decisive and powerful. This time he showed her his soft and sensual side, something she hadn’t expected from him.

She sighed with pleasure as she kissed him back, filling her lungs with his delicious scent. He broke away much too soon, then she remembered his sister out in the truck.

He studied her in the glow of the porch light. “You are so beautiful, Leeann. You take my breath away.”

The fact he had expressed such emotion surprised her, and she smiled. “Thank you.”

He brushed his lips over hers. “Go inside and lock up.”

“Yes, sir.” She gave him another quick kiss before stepping in her home. She paused and looked at him a long moment. “Goodnight, Porter.”

She closed the door and locked it, then pressed her forehead against the wood and listened to his boots on the porch step. It wasn’t until she heard him driving away that she moved away.

Her heart light, she picked up the picnic basket and wandered to the kitchen. It had been a wonderful day, and she had tomorrow night to look forward to.