All I Want for Christmas: A Kinnison Legacy Holiday novella Read online

  “Patience, boy, and determination.”

  The owl took flight and Rein leaned over the sink to watch it soar into the woods. The confusion he felt gave way to satisfaction. He grinned. His Uncle Jed had paid him a visit. Considering Dalton’s cautionary words, he wasn’t sure yet if this was good or bad.

  Feeling as though he wasn’t carrying quite as much weight on his shoulders, he slipped into bed a few moments later and snuggled close to Liberty.

  She woke and pulled his arm around her, tucking it beneath her breast.

  He nuzzled the soft spot just below her ear, pleased when she responded with her familiar sigh. She sat up and, without a word, drew her gown over her head and settled back in his arms.

  The kiss they shared was slow and thorough. He savored the shape of her mouth, the taste of her lips, the satin-smooth skin beneath his fingertips. He knew her every curve, could navigate her body blind, knowing where she was ticklish, where to touch to get a sigh. And tonight it was all about the sighs.

  Their love-making was unhurried. Desire simmered. The need to touch and be touched was what they both needed tonight. And when she opened her arms and he sank deep into her, he truly believed. “I am one lucky man.”

  She held his gaze, her body meeting his thrust for thrust. “I love you, Rein,” she said, pulling his face to hers in a searing kiss as together they toppled into oblivion.

  Chapter Five

  “I think that’s it.” Liberty handed the itemized list of what was in each wrapped present to Ellie. It was more than enough for any child, and to some perhaps too much. “I admit going a little overboard,” she told the woman. “But if I saw something that I thought Cody needed, or would like, I didn’t show much restraint. Maybe you could hand some of them out to the other families at the house?”

  Ellie smiled and shook her head. “This is very generous of you. I’m certain you could return some of these, if you still have the receipts.”

  Liberty shrugged. “I know you operate on a shoestring, especially at the holidays. Please use them as you see fit.”

  Ellie pondered the offer and then nodded. “Okay, thank you.” She eyed Liberty. “I do have a favor I wanted to ask… well, actually, it’s a favor from Rein.”

  She was driving over to the ranch to meet him as soon as she dropped off a meatloaf and mashed potato dinner at the Saunders’ household. She had to make a quick stop at the bakery to pick up some honey clover leaf rolls first. “I’m heading over to see him at the ranch. Is there something you’d like me to pass along?”

  She seemed hesitant, and then finally tossed her hands in the air. “I was hoping maybe I could convince him to play Kris Kringle for the kids at our family holiday party this coming Thursday.”

  The question took Liberty aback. “I can ask, but I can’t guarantee how he’d feel about it. More importantly, how would Rowena feel about it?”

  Ellie shrugged. “I’d say that we’ve asked one of our best donors to help us out. She’s not going to want to spoil Christmas for Cody.”

  “How’s he doing?” Liberty asked.

  “Well, we’ve implemented an early start program for the little ones. It teaches reading, colors, alphabet, and a bit of writing. But he seems to be adapting well to the other children at the house.”

  Liberty nodded. “That’s wonderful news.”

  “He still has his moments when he backs away from the other kids. We’ve noticed he’s not as social when his mother is present as when she’s gone.”

  “And Rowena, how’s she doing?”

  Ellie sighed. “I won’t lie. It hasn’t been easy. But to be fair, I think she is trying.”

  “Let me ask Rein, and I’ll have him contact you,” Liberty said. “I’ve got to run, but thank you for being Santa’s helper.” She started toward the bakery and stopped as she remembered something in her purse. “Would you see that Cody gets this sing-along video? It was one of his favorites.”

  Ellie took it and hugged Liberty. “That’s what he’s been asking for. I didn’t understand.” She glanced up at the darkening sky. It was barely three o’clock on Monday afternoon. “Better get going.”

  It had started to snow steadily in the short time it took for her to make her purchases and reach Sally’s and Clay’s house. Located just a couple of blocks off the main street square, it stood on a corner lot. In the spring, with its Victorian gabled roof and gingerbread trim, it was a postcard from the past. In winter, decorated with old-fashioned elegance, it was breathtaking. Sally had spent the better part of the last year renovating parts of her childhood home. A few years after her father’s passing, she decided to place her stamp on the grand old house with her brand of Americana décor. It was during the renovation that she and Clay’s relationship changed, turning into a whirlwind romance that led not only to marriage, but to the two of them now expecting twins.

  She knocked on the back door. Peering through the window, she saw the lights on in the kitchen, but there was no sign of Sally. She checked the door and found it unlocked. “Sally?” She stuck her head inside and looked around. The new, open-concept family room at the back of the house flowed through the galley- style kitchen to the parlor-turned-music-room at the front of the house.

  Liberty set the supper trays she’d carried in on the kitchen counter and peeked in the music room. It, too, was dark. Unusual, since Sally loved to put in a fire on chilly winter afternoons. “Sally?” She eyed the stairs and started up slowly, not wishing to startle her if she were lying down for a nap.

  “I brought supper by for you and Clay.” She peeked in the bathroom and then the bedroom. The woman couldn’t have gotten far--she could barely waddle with the bundle she carried.

  She heard a sound from the nursery and found Sally slumped in the rocking chair. She looked up—her face pale, eyes barely able to focus. She appeared delirious.

  “Sally? Sweetheart, what happened?” Liberty knelt down and found the carpet wet beneath her. There was blood tinting the new carpet. Snatching her cell phone, she called Rein and then an ambulance.

  By the time Rein and Clay arrived, the EMT’s were loading Sally in the back of the ambulance, preparing to take her to Billings. Clay climbed inside, and Rein and Liberty followed in the truck.

  “Dammit,” Rein muttered as he followed the ambulance in the snowy weather. “She’s too early.”

  Liberty clutched the door handle, eyeing the road. “The EMTs thought maybe it’s preeclampsia. She may need a C-section.” She looked at Rein, whose jaw was set firm as he drove. She reached out to touch his arm. “Honey, slow down. Clay’s with her. She’s going to the best hospital in the state.”

  Rein grabbed her hand and squeezed, and while he spoke no words she knew his thoughts were with hers, remembering the day he’d rushed her to Billings where they’d lost their son.

  What seemed like hours later, they sat in the maternity waiting room at Billings Hospital. Dalton and Angelique had arrived, as had Aimee and Wyatt. The children were at the ranch under the watchful eyes of the Greyfeathers.

  Sally had been wheeled in, seen quickly, and rushed to surgery, Clay close behind. The ambulance crew had been correct. Sally was close to being toxemic, which did not bode well for her or the twins.

  Liberty held tightly to Rein’s hand as they sat side-by-side. He hadn’t said much on the drive, nor since their arrival. “Hey, do you want some coffee?” she asked.

  He glanced up from his thoughts. “I’m good. You need anything?”

  “Only for you to be okay,” she said quietly.

  He searched her eyes and she saw when he conceded to her request. “I know. I’m sorry. There’s just been so much—” He held her gaze. “Just could use some good news, I guess.”

  Liberty nodded. “Not sure if this is the best time, but something different to think about. When I was talking to Ellie today, she asked if maybe you’d be interested in coming down on Thursday night this week to be Santa for the family holiday party at the house.”<
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  His wary expression spoke volumes. “What do you think of that idea?”

  She shrugged. “I know it’d be hard seeing Cody, but then, at least one of us would get to see him open his barn.”

  Rein nodded.

  At that moment, a flurry of doctors and nurses pushed through the doors of the surgical department.

  Rein was on his feet, moving toward the doors, searching for someone to ask about what was going on. Clay exited the surgery area, his face drawn. Liberty had never before seen the man look afraid. Rein walked toward him and clamped his hand on the big man’s shoulder. “Clay?”

  Clay blinked. “One of the girls isn’t doing well. She’s having trouble getting oxygen. They may have to do surgery. They won’t know until the pediatric surgeon can take a look at her x-rays.”

  “And Sally?” Rein asked.

  Clay swiped his hand over his mouth. “She’s doing okay. Holding her own. The other girl is hanging in there.”

  An entourage of friends stood around the two men. Liberty watched as Rein breathed a sigh of relief. “What do you need us to do for you?”

  Clay looked at them. “Wait… and pray.” He turned to head back through the swinging doors, back to his family.

  Rein’s concern for Sally was to be expected. After all, they’d dated at one time, and though Aimee had told her once that nothing had come of it, there would naturally be concern. Still, it accentuated the fact that she had not yet been able to give Rein the family he so desperately wanted. She left him sitting in the waiting room and wandered down the hall to the small cafeteria. Getting herself a cup of fresh coffee, she sat in a booth near one of the windows and stared at the snowfall in the lights of the parking lot.

  “Hey, need some company?” Dalton stood at the table. He had a soda can in his hand.

  Liberty nodded. “Have a seat.” She glanced at him. “Everything okay?”

  He lifted a brow. “That’s what I came to ask you.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Come on, Liberty. I know this is hard on the both of you.”

  “Harder, I think, on Rein,” she replied and averted her gaze.

  “This isn’t about losing your baby, is it?” Dalton asked.

  Liberty fought her wayward emotions. Christmas had never been a stellar time for her anyway--at least, not until she’d met Rein. But before her, he’d dated Sally. And she couldn’t shake the thought that he might wish it was him in that maternity room right now, instead of Clay.

  “Hey, what’s going on in that head of yours?” He tapped her shoulder with his soda can, forcing her gaze to his.

  “Do you think, maybe….”

  “Not for a minute.” Dalton shook his head. “I had a feeling Rein’s concern might be giving you doubts.”

  She swallowed. Her relationship with Rein before they began their summer fling had been nothing short of volatile. In fact, she’d deduced finally that the animosity between them had been a thinly wrapped veil of pent-up attraction that neither wanted to admit to. Once that line was crossed, sparks flew.

  “Maybe we moved too fast. It was too soon after the fire. I was feeling so much guilt, I’d have said yes to anything he asked me.”

  Dalton narrowed his gaze. “And did you? Did you tell him yes, that you’d marry him, out of guilt, Liberty? Really? Because from where I stood, it looked like you won the lottery and Rein looked the same.” He chuckled. “That day in Vegas, after you testified against your bozo ex-boss, when Rein got down on one knee on the courthouse steps and proposed…hell, I’ve never seen a man so smitten in my life—exception being me, of course.”

  His observation made her smile. “You and Angelique belong together. You have a beautiful family.”

  He eyed her. “Listen, Rein loves you. God knows what you see in the guy,” he said with a smile. “But I know this as well as I know that I’m breathing.”

  She took her brother’s hand and squeezed it. “It’s just that he’s experienced so much loss in his life. I wish I could give him what he wants.”

  A shadow fell over the table. “I wondered where you’d gone.”

  Dalton rose and patted Rein on the shoulder as he offered him his seat. “I’m going to text Betty. Figure that woman has a direct line to the big man upstairs.”

  Rein nodded, then edged in next to Liberty. “I caught just the last part of your conversation. Baby, what are you worried about?” he asked, shifting toward her and draping his arm over the booth behind her.

  “There’s just a lot going on right now. I know all you’ve been through and I wish…” Tears welled and she blinked them away.

  He pulled her close. “Hey, we talked about this. And I meant what I said. I’m concerned for both Sally and Clay. I want things to go well for them just as we all do. But Liberty, as much as I’d like to have a family, it doesn’t compare to how much I love you and want you by my side. Don’t you ever forget that.”

  She buried her face in his shoulder, inhaling his all-male scent.

  “Are you okay? Are we on the same page here?” he asked.

  She nodded. “I’m sorry. I just know how much you wish it was us having a child.”

  He hugged her tight. “And if that’s what’s supposed to be, then it will happen for us one day. Meantime, we can have fun trying, right?”

  “Wild Thing” began to ring on his phone, and he pulled it out with a surprised look.

  Liberty fished her phone from her jeans pocket. “Sorry, I think I might’ve butt-dialed you.”

  Rein glanced around at the empty cafeteria. “I love it when you talk dirty,” he said with a grin.

  She smacked his shoulder. “Seriously?”

  “Hey, I’m sure there is a broom closet or something around here.”

  She shook her head. “Let me out and let’s get back to the waiting room.”

  He lowered his head and kissed her softly. “You’re sure?”

  “I have to pee. Now move.”

  “I’ll head back to the waiting room, then.”

  Liberty walked across the hall to the restroom. She splashed her face with cold water and, taking a deep cleansing breath, caught a whiff of the potent hospital disinfectant used when cleaning. Her stomach lurched and she ran to the stall just in time.

  ***

  Rein glanced up from where he stood with Dalton as they waited for the surgical auxiliary lady to make a fresh pot of coffee. She was a spry, gray-haired woman with bright blue eyes and a gentle smile. Completing her mission, she offered magazines to another family waiting across the hall, then settled back at her desk to resume her knitting.

  Betty arrived close to ten, after she’d closed the café and gotten Jerry tucked in at home. She’d gathered them together at one end of the room, insisting they hold hands and pray for Sally, Clay, and their family. After a few minutes, Dalton slipped away to get a cup of coffee. Rein followed him.

  “You and Liberty get things straightened out?” Dalton asked, filling up his Styrofoam cup.

  Rein glanced at his brother. “Yeah, we did.”

  Dalton smiled. “That’s good. You guys still trying, I presume?”

  Rein chuckled. “Is this any of your business?”

  “Hey, dude. She opened up to me. And she is my half-sister. So, yeah, maybe a little,” Dalton answered. “Besides, I care about the both of you.”

  “Aw, that’s sweet,” Rein said with a grin.

  “Asshat,” Dalton muttered.

  “By the way, had a visit the other night.”

  Dalton’s gaze darted to his. “Really?”

  “Yep, thought I was going looney-toons.”

  Dalton nodded. “Sounds about right.”

  “Don’t you want to know what he said?”

  “Okay, sure.” Dalton leaned against the hospitality counter.

  “He’s happy with what we’ve done with the ranch, for starters. Happy to see Michael involved, but we shouldn’t work him too hard.”

  Dalton tipped h
is head and stared at Rein. “Are you making this up?”

  Rein held up his hand. “God’s truth, unless I was under the influence of Jamison.”

  Dalton raised his brows. “Anything else?”

  There was more, but Rein preferred to keep the rest between him and Jed—at least, for now. “Not really.”

  Dalton shook his head. “I thought when it happened to me that I was crazy.” He looked at Rein. “But I guess we all can’t be crazy… right?”

  Rein lifted his mouth in a half grin and gave his brother a dubious look.

  Dalton used his cup to hide his finger, flipping off Rein.

  The surgery door swung open and Clay walked out cradling a small bundle in his arms. The wide grin on his face masked the fact that he’d neither slept nor shaved in several hours. His countenance fell when the pediatric surgeon followed from the surgery area.

  “Mr. Saunders?” the man asked, approaching Clay.

  Clay lifted his chin, appearing to steel himself for what news might follow. “That’s me. Is this about my daughter?”

  Rein reached for Liberty’s hand as the small crowd stood to offer Clay support. She’d returned from the cafeteria a few minutes after him, looking green around the gills. Waving it off as being tired and stressed, she’d joined the others in their prayer vigil.

  The man placed his hand on Clay's shoulder. “First, your daughter’s going to be just fine.”

  Clay dropped his head back and squeezed his eyes shut before facing the doctor. “Oh, man, thank you. Thank you.”

  “She had what we call TTN, or Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn. Basically, fluid got into her lungs, making her have to breathe harder. It’s fairly rare in preemies, but sometimes happens in Cesarean deliveries simply because the fluid isn’t squeezed out like it would be during a vaginal birth.”

  “Is she going to be okay? Will this affect her as she grows?” Clay asked.

  “Not usually. We’ve got her on a breathing machine now, just until the fluids clear out and she can breathe on her own. I expect she’ll be ready to go home with her family in two or three days. When your wife gets settled in her room, I’ll see that you both get up to see your daughter.”