Country Frost (King Creek Cowboys #8)

Chapter 10

10

T he parking lot closest to Flagstaff’s winter festival was nearly full, but Porter found a place to park.

“We get snow again.” Ashley grinned as Leeann looked over her shoulder at her. “I didn’t think we would twice this Christmas season.”

“I thought you might like it.” Leeann smiled, then looked at Porter. He winked before climbing out of the truck, leaving cold air in his wake.

When they left the vehicle, Leeann tugged on her gloves and adjusted the zipper of her jacket and red scarf. Icy air chilled her nose, cheeks, and the tips of her ears.

“I’m ready.” Leeann’s breath formed clouds in the cold air as she spoke.

Porter took her hand, and they strolled beneath a white arch erected over the street, decorated with huge candy canes and wreaths. The pom on Ashley’s hat bounced as she walked ahead, her camera out and taking pictures.

Holiday music, the jingling of bells, chatter, and laughter filled the air as they walked onto the bustling street. Sidewalks had been salted, and the street blocked from traffic was clear. Snow-draped rooftops and twinkling lights hung overhead, adding to the magic of the winter wonderland.

Porter squeezed Leeann’s hand. She looked up at him, and his eyes crinkled at the edges as he gave her a rare smile.

She smiled in return. “I love this time of year. It’s so magical.”

“This reminds me of when I was a kid.” He surveyed the street. “My parents used to take me to the local festival in our small town. I couldn’t wait to see Santa and visit his reindeer.”

The image of a young Porter Gann sitting on Santa’s lap made her grin.

Scents of hot chocolate and cinnamon were a temptation too great to pass and drew Leeann to a booth with a display of roasted chestnuts and the hot beverage.

“I want a cone of chestnuts.” Ashley stood in front of the counter and glanced over her shoulder at Porter.

“Wanna share?” Leeann looked up at Porter, who gave a nod.

“We’ll take two.” Porter handed the attendant enough to cover the cost, and the girl handed Ashley one cone and Leeann the other.

Leeann tucked one of her gloves in her pocket and popped a warm chestnut into her mouth. The taste brought back memories of her youth and spending the holidays with family and friends.

They moved on through the crowd, Porter helping himself to the nuts Leeann carried. She glanced at storefronts decorated with glittering lights, garlands, and wreaths. Store employees had gone all out as if each business tried to outdo the others.

As they walked, Leeann smiled at the sight of couples holding hands and parents attending to their excited children.

On the street corner stood one of Santa’s elves dressed in green with shoes that curled at the toes. The elf held balloons in the shapes of snowmen and reindeer and handed one to a toddler in a stroller.

Ashley moved ahead and raised her phone to capture a picture of carolers dressed in Victorian clothing. Leeann and Porter paused to listen, and he rested his hand on her shoulder, almost possessively.

She liked that he felt the need to touch her, and she leaned into him.

A snowflake landed on Leeann’s cheek, and she looked up to see them swirling overhead. “Did you check the weather?” She met Porter’s gaze. “I didn’t think to.”

He gave a nod. “The snow is supposed to be light today, not enough to cause any concern.”

Big white flakes had already started to gather on Ashley’s woolen hat, and she rushed back to meet them, a broad grin on her face. “It’s snowing.”

“It sure is, kiddo,” Porter said.

Children started spinning in the middle of the street, sticking their tongues out to catch snowflakes. Parents stood watching them, sipping hot chocolate from red cups decorated with candy canes.

“I want to go in there.” Leeann pointed to a sign above a door, Christmas Enchantment Shoppe .

“Me, too.” Ashley moved ahead and entered the store.

To either side of the entrance, the window displays were decorated with trees covered in brightly colored ornaments with twinkling lights. A rocking horse, an old-fashioned drum, and a ragdoll were below the tree in the window on the right. The one on the left had a teddy bear, a stocking filled with candy canes, and wrapped gifts beneath the fir.

Leeann followed Ashley into the store. Christmas ornaments and collectibles crowded narrow aisles. Scents of cinnamon, cloves, oranges, and pine filled the air from a display of bags full of potpourri tied with red and green plaid bows.

“This store is marvelous.” Leeann touched a crystal globe dangling from the branch of a tall fir that took up the center of the store. She glanced at Porter. “I could spend hours in here.”

She spotted a rocking horse ornament with Baby’s First Christmas and the year scrawled across it. “Ooh, I’ve got to get this for my new niece or nephew.” She plucked it off the tree.

“I want this one.” Ashley held up a house cutout with the year and Our New Home etched on the front. “Can we get it, Porter?”

“I don’t see why not.” He gestured to a caramel-colored horse. “That looks like Toffee.”

“It does.” Ashley brightened and took it from Porter as he handed it to her. “It’ll be her first Christmas on our new ranch, too.”

Leeann searched the store for treasures for the next fifteen minutes and discovered two more gifts. She picked out an adornment of a quill and ink bottle for her sister-in-law Marlee, an editor, and an old-world Santa figure for her mom’s collection.

When Porter was occupied elsewhere, Leeann found a roadrunner ornament that reminded her of his tattoo. It had to mean something to him, so the bauble would be good and not over the top since their relationship was still new.

She bought a few more ornaments for the little tree she’d finally had a chance to put up in her home.

Snow swirled from the sky thicker than before as they left the store. Porter carried the packages, and they continued along the sidewalk.

He nodded toward the end of the street. “Looks like they’ve got Santa’s reindeer, Ash. ”

“Oh, cool.” Ashley whirled and skipped toward the crowd gathering ahead, where stables had been set up for the holiday.

When Leeann and Porter caught up to Ashley, she was already beneath the overhang and petting one of the reindeer that had impressive antlers and warm brown eyes. The girl smiled at Porter. “It’s so gentle.”

“Of course.” The corners of his mouth turned up slightly. “Santa would only have tame reindeer.”

“He’s a beauty.” Leeann reached out and touched the reindeer, its long coat coarse against her cold fingertips. It bobbed its head, and bells on its harness jangled.

The majestic animal nudged her hand, and its breath billowed out in white puffs as it snorted and stamped a hoof. The reindeer looked at her, intelligent eyes twinkling.

“I’ve never been so close to one before.” Leeann glanced at Porter and smiled at the warmth in his gaze, which made her heart flutter. She liked having him by her side—he made her feel cared for and protected.

“Would you like to feed the reindeer?” A cheerful elf wearing a green-and-red costume approached Ashley and held out a bucket of oats.

“Yes, please.” Ashley’s radiant face lit up as she approached the elf. She took a handful of oats. “I heard they like carrots, too.”

“That’s a popular misconception.” The elf stepped aside so that Ashley could hold out the oats on her palm for the reindeer. “They only have incisors in their lower jaw and a hard dental palate, so they are incapable of eating carrots.”

“I would never have guessed that.” Ashley laughed as the animal lipped her palm. “It feels like when Toffee eats a snack off my hand.”

“Let me take your picture with the elf while you feed the reindeer.” Leeann held out her hand for Ashley’s phone .

The girl handed it to her and fed more oats to the animal as the elf stood next to them. “I’ll text it to my friends.”

After Leeann took the photo, Ashley insisted that Porter and Leeann should get their pictures taken with the reindeer, too. It took a little convincing, but Porter gave in and put his arm around her shoulders as his sister took the photo.

“Text it to me.” Leeann held out her hand. “I’ll put my number in your phone.”

Ashley handed the cell to her, and Leeann entered her phone number. Moments after she returned Ashley’s cell, her own dinged, telling her she’d received the photo.

A sign caught Leeann’s attention, and she gestured to it. “They have sleigh rides in the park.”

Ashley moved beside Porter. “Is it far?”

Leeann shook her head. “It’s within walking distance.”

The festival was in full swing as they rejoined the crowd on the main street. The sky was a tapestry of Christmas lights twinkling through the snowflakes that had grown thicker.

They moved on, and the air filled with the scents of molasses, apples, cinnamon, and bittersweet chocolate as they neared a booth selling hot cider, Mexican hot cocoa, fudge, and gingerbread.

“I’d like cider, please, Porter.” Ashley gestured to the booth. “They have fudge and gingerbread people, too.”

“Sounds good.” He looked at Leeann. “What about you?”

“Mexican hot chocolate would be great.” She nodded to the display case. “The fudge looks amazing, too.”

Porter bought Leeann a cup of the hot chocolate, cider for Ashley and himself, a pound of handmade fudge, and three gingerbread people.

“I haven’t had this drink in ages.” Leeann sipped the beverage with a touch of chili in it. “My mom used to get the sweet Mexican chocolate from a neighbor who often traveled across the border.” She grinned at Porter. “It comes in small wheels, and my sisters and I would nibble on chunks of it.”

They strolled down the street, peeking in decorated store windows and munching on gingerbread.

A soft jingling sound ahead caught their attention, and they saw an ornate sleigh pulled by white horses adorned in gold bells, velvet ribbons, and twinkling lights. It came to a stop in front of a snowbank. The horses stood majestically before the sleigh, tossing their heads and snorting, their breath fogging on the air.

“Can we go for a sleigh ride now?” Ashley looked at Porter, excitement in her gaze.

He nodded. “Lead the way.”

Ashley trotted ahead and reached the tall elf that had been driving the sleigh. She waited just long enough for Porter and Leeann to reach them before she hopped in.

Porter took Leeann’s hand and helped her inside, and she settled back against comfortable plush cushions. Ashley sat on one side of her, Porter on the other.

The elf climbed into his seat and lightly snapped the reins. Ashley giggled in delight as the sleigh lurched forward. The sleigh glided smoothly over the snow-covered path, and they traveled through the park at a quick pace through the crisp winter air to the tune of the clip-clop of horse’s hooves.

Cold air stung Leeann’s cheeks, the wind tousling her hair and nearly taking Ashley’s hat off. The girl clapped her hand on it just in time.

The horses’ gold bells inspired Leeann to start singing Jingle Bells. Ashley joined in, and with some encouragement, Porter added his rich bass to the song.

As the sleigh skimmed the snow, Porter’s body felt solid next to Leeann’s. He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, and she snuggled against him. It wasn’t that long ago that he’d acted like he would prefer that she leave him alone, and here they were, him wanting her as much as she wanted him.

Decorated homes stood on either side of the park, and Ashley pointed out her favorite Christmas displays as they passed by. The entire neighborhood had outdone themselves, making the scene look magical and enchanting.

People walking along the sidewalks waved to them as the sleigh skimmed past, and children laughed and pointed at the horses and the elf.

They traveled deeper into the park, and its snow-shrouded beauty captivated Leeann. She felt warmth against the side of her cold neck and realized Porter had pressed his lips to her skin. She met his gaze and smiled, and the corner of his mouth quirked.

“It looks like fairies decorated the trees.” Ashley grinned at Leeann as she gestured to the frosted firs and pines dressed in twinkling white lights. “It’s like we’re in a fairytale.”

Leeann nodded and looked ahead at the dozens of lanterns that glittered on the snowy landscape.

The horse’s hooves crunched the soft snow, and the bells jangled, a backdrop to Ashley’s musical laughter.

They rounded a bend, and the elf slowed the sleigh as they passed a bonfire in the middle of a large clearing. The fire crackled and popped, its light casting a glow on the snow. The smell of burning pine filled the air, a scent that reminded Leeann of Christmases past when her family lit logs in their large fireplace on the home ranch.

Glittering stars stretched across the sky overhead on a black velvet backdrop. Leeann met Porter’s gaze and he gave her a gentle smile that warmed her insides like nothing else could.

The elf snapped the reins again, and the horses trotted on, making a sweeping turn just past the bonfire. The sleigh headed back the way it had come.

Snow swirled in the air, coming down thicker than before. Ashley’s hat was covered in it, and Leeann felt it through her jeans.

A sense of contentment settled in Leeann’s heart. She could imagine being with Porter, helping him raise Ashley, and spending time as a family. Was she thinking too far ahead, too fast? Yes, she was, but she couldn’t help it. With moments they were sharing like these and feeling the way she was growing to feel about Porter, how could she not?

She had a huge, loving family that she was close to. But in a strange way, she felt a sense of belonging with Porter that she had never experienced before. She knew she was exactly where she should be, with Porter and his little sister.

Leeann met his gaze, and for a moment, it was just the two of them, the sound of jingling bells and hooves against snow fading away. He moved his lips to hers and kissed her slowly, softly, but purposeful like he was staking a claim.

When he drew back, she could barely breathe, much less tear her eyes from his. Time seemed to stop, and it was just the two of them. Snow continued to swirl around them, muffling sounds.

The sleigh came to a hard stop, and she saw they had arrived at the starting point.

“This was so much fun.” Ashley hopped out of the sleigh and turned to the elf, who had also stepped down. “Where’s Santa?”

The elf pointed ahead. “He’s seeing kids in the Grand Hotel.”

“I’m too old to sit on Santa’s lap, but I’d like to get my picture with him to text to my friends.” Ashley shook off her hat and smiled at Porter. “Come on, let’s go.”

Porter helped Leeann down from the sleigh. He paid the elf before settling his arm around Leeann’s shoulders, and they followed Ashley up the street from the park.

The evening had grown colder and snowier, but the festival was still in full swing. Lights lined the street, illuminating their way, and big red bows were tied on each post.

On the way to find Santa, they stopped at a food truck, and Porter bought gyros for dinner, which they devoured.

After their meal, they continued and came upon a well-lit ice sculpture contest taking place. They paused to watch and admire the artistry.

“The angel is gorgeous.” Leeann pointed to a sculpture with beautiful wings. “I adore it.”

“My favorite is the reindeer.” Ashley glanced at Porter. “It looks like the one I petted, only the antlers are bigger.”

Leeann let her gaze drift over the other sculptures, which included Santa, an elf, a gift with a bow, a pair of candy canes that formed an X, a wreath, and an elaborate snowman.

Other creative pieces were unveiled as each artist worked magic on their ice sculptures.

Porter, Leeann, and Ashely watched for a few minutes before the girl beckoned them to follow her again. “Come on.”

Leeann and Porter exchanged glances, and she smiled at the spark of amusement in his gaze. He settled his arm around her shoulders as they strolled behind his sister.

The Grand Hotel looked as though it had been around since the Wild West and was where the wealthy would have stayed. It had big glass windows with the establishment’s name emblazoned across them in gold lettering. Warm light spilled from the windows onto the sidewalk.

Inside, the hotel glowed from yellow lighting. In the magnificent lobby, Santa sat on a large, ornate golden chair, with a little girl on his lap.

Ashley flashed a grin at Porter and Leeann. “I know I’m too old to believe in Santa, but isn’t he great? He looks like the real Kris Kringle.”

“He does.” Leeann smiled at the site of the jolly old elf.

When the last child had perched on Santa’s lap, Ashley handed Porter her phone and moved closer to him. “Can I have my picture with you to send to my friends?”

“Of course, young lady.” The man gave a good-humored laugh. “Come right over.”

Ashley knelt close to Santa’s chair and leaned toward him, a bright smile on her face.

Porter took a couple of photos and then lowered her phone. “Got ’em.”

Ashley turned to the man in the red suit. “Thanks, Santa. Have a good Christmas.”

“You as well, my girl.” Santa gave a big belly laugh. “Ho, ho, ho. Merry Christmas.”

Ashley waved goodbye, strode to her brother, and retrieved her phone. “Thanks, Porter.”

“Ready to head back to the ranch?” He studied her. “It’s been a long day.”

Leeann hadn’t noticed the shadows beneath Ashley’s eyes and the strain in her features until that moment.

“It’s been a great day.” Ashley squeezed between Porter and Leeann and put her arms around their waists. “Yes, let’s go home.”

Leeann put her arm around Ashley’s waist, and Porter rested his arm on her shoulders. Ashley chatted nonstop about all the fun they’d had that day as they walked back to the truck.

Once they were all buckled in and made it to the freeway, it grew quiet inside the vehicle. Leeann glanced over her shoulder and saw Ashley with her mouth partly open and her eyes closed, her features relaxed .

“I think she’s asleep.” Leeann settled in her seat. “It’s been a wonderful day, and I know Ashley had a ball.”

“She did.” Porter put on his blinker to pass a vehicle. “I shouldn’t let her overdo it. She doesn’t get to do a lot, and she misses her friends. So, I overcompensate and let her do too much sometimes.”

By the intensity of his expression and in his voice, it was clear Porter was frustrated with himself. “Getting her out of the house also keeps her off her phone.”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself.” Leeann put her hand over his.

He blew out his breath. “Ash will be dragging tomorrow after wearing herself out today.”

Leeann squeezed his hand, not knowing what to say and not wanting to interject herself into his parenting.

“What would you do?” He glanced at her, then back to the road.

“Let her take it easy tomorrow.” Leeann spoke softly. “I don’t know that you can do anything else.”

“That’s what I usually do.” He gave a slow nod. “I don’t push her after a long day, and I usually let her read and text her friends. Sometimes, she’s too tired for that and watches TV.” He sighed. “I want her to have fun, but it wipes her out, and that’s hard to see. Her body needs strength to heal.”

“You’re doing fine.” Leeann eased her hand under his and linked their fingers. “You’re a good guardian, and you love your sister. It shows, Porter.”

He glanced at her and gave a little smile. “Thank you.”

“What are you doing tomorrow night?” Leeann watched his features, illuminated by the dashboard lights. “It’s Sunday, so I’m off. I need to take care of writing stuff in the morning, but I’m free in the evening. Would you like to come over for dinner? ”

“Ashley will likely want to stay home and watch TV,” Porter said. “So, you can have me all to yourself.”

“I like the sound of that.” Leeann pushed strands of hair behind her ear. “Ashley is always welcome, but having you alone will be nice.”

Leeann’s heart felt full and happy, and she knew at that moment just how in love she was with Porter. She was all in now, and there was no going back.