All a Cowboy Wants for Christmas Read online

  Voices outside his door caught his attention as Ian Caldwell strode into his office. Carson slid his feet off the corner of his desk and sat up as Ian took the chair across from him.

  “I talked to the sheriff about keeping a lid on trouble during the festival,” Ian said.

  “Yeah?” Carson mumbled. “Trouble?”

  Ian just looked at him for a moment, then frowned. “What’s got your attention? I know it’s not me or the festival.”

  Carson realized he’d been gazing out the window again, and shook his head to clear his thoughts. “Nothing. I’m listening.”

  Ian gave him a harder look. “It’s Marlee Carrington, isn’t it?”

  Carson was taken aback by how readily the deputy had read his thoughts. He opened his mouth to protest, but Ian waved him off.

  “Don’t bother to deny it,” Ian told him. “I see how you look at her. I know what that means.”

  Carson let a minute pass while he debated denying everything Ian had said, then decided against it. The two of them had been friends for a while and it was obvious that Ian was head over heels in love with Lucy, so he knew what Carson was going through. Maybe he’d have a little wisdom he could pass on.

  “It just occurred to me that I’m in love with Marlee,” Carson said. “Problem is, she just told me she’s going back to Philadelphia right after Christmas.”

  Ian’s expression darkened. “You can’t let her leave. If you care about her, you can’t let her get away.”

  Carson figured this was good advice. Everyone in Harmony knew that Ian had followed Lucy here from Colorado.

  “And marry her quick,” Ian said. “So she can’t leave again.”

  Carson frowned. “You’re worried Lucy might leave Harmony?”

  Ian shook his head. “Things are different between Lucy and me.”

  “Seems to me you ought to take some of your own advice,” Carson said. “Marry that woman. Don’t let her get away.”

  “I don’t know what I’d do if Lucy left again,” Ian whispered.

  Carson had never seen his friend look so troubled, so lost. For a moment he felt those same worries, wondering what would happen if Marlee really did leave after Christmas. Carson knew he couldn’t—wouldn’t—let that happen.

  “Marry her,” he said, and stood up. “Before it’s too late.”

  Carson grabbed his hat and coat and strode out of his office, leaving Ian sitting in front of his desk staring at nothing.

  No two ways about it, Carson silently swore as he made his way across Main Street, he wasn’t about to let Marlee leave Harmony. He’d make her want to stay—and to do that, he needed more information.

  He cut through the alley and knocked on the back door of the Harmony General Store. At this time of day he knew the Meade women would be in the kitchen preparing the family’s evening meal, and after she’d looked so stunned when he’d asked if she could cook, he was sure Marlee wouldn’t be among them.

  The door opened and Audrey smiled at him. Warmth from the kitchen and the aroma of frying chicken wafted out around her.

  “I need to speak with you,” Carson said.

  Her smile vanished. “Did something happen to Chord? Or his pa? Did—”

  “No, it’s nothing like that,” Carson told her. “It’s about Marlee.”

  Audrey disappeared for a moment, then stepped through the door with her cloak draped around her shoulders.

  “I figured we’d have this conversation sooner or later,” she said.

  Carson shifted uncomfortably. Did everyone in Harmony know how he felt about Marlee?

  “First off,” Audrey said, “I’ll ask you to state your intentions.”

  He’d always known the eldest Meade daughter brooked little foolishness from most everyone. Now he saw a strength in her that he admired, much the same as he saw Marlee. He thought, too, that Chord Barrett must be as crazy as a mouse in a milk can for not marrying her already.

  “My intentions are honorable,” Carson assured her.

  “I’m pleased to hear you say that. Marlee hasn’t had much family life. Her papa disappeared when she was just a baby so her mama had to work, which meant Marlee spent most of her life living with distant family and, well, just about anybody who would take her in, until she went to a school for young ladies. Her mama saved for years to pay it.” Audrey smiled. “Having her live here in Harmony would be wonderful—for Marlee and my whole family.”

  “She seems to be real caught up in this Christmas festival,” Carson said.

  “Christmas has always been a difficult time for Marlee. Growing up living in homes where you weren’t wanted and never felt like you belonged was tough on her,” Audrey said. “You should have seen the look on Marlee’s face when she told the ladies she could secure your donation. She looked so happy, as if she’d done something useful to make everyone like her and want her around.”

  Carson nodded, taking it all in, feeling like a blind man for not seeing those things about Marlee himself.

  “Maybe next Christmas, Marlee’s mama could come to Harmony. She’d be absolutely thrilled to have her close by, finally,” Audrey said. Her cheeks flushed and she glanced away. “Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself.”

  “Thank you,” Carson said. He touched the brim of his hat and left.

  Everything made sense, Carson realized as he left the alley and headed toward Main Street. He understood why Marlee had been so anxious to have him donate to the festival and why, when he’d turned her down, she’d become so upset. A hell of a lot more was at stake for Marlee than those singers.

  But Carson didn’t like that she seemed to feel she only mattered if she was doing something for somebody, that performing tasks was the way to gain friends and feel accepted. Marlee had a lot more to offer than that—despite what had happened in her childhood.

  Carson paused. He didn’t often think about his family back in Richmond—not that he didn’t care about them, because he did. They exchanged letters so he kept up with the news. But that was it. He didn’t have time for more than that. A man couldn’t build a business by wasting his time on other things.

  Still, it was the choice he’d made for himself, unlike Marlee. But he didn’t like the choice she’d made and he knew he had to tell her so—along with a few other things. Carson headed back to the Harmony General Store.

  * * *

  Heat swept up Marlee’s back and a scent caught her nose. She knew before she spun around that Carson Tate had walked up behind her.

  She gazed up at him and felt her cheeks burn, her knees tremble. Quickly she glanced around the store, worried that someone had seen the look on her face. Only two customers remained and they were busy at the counter with Aunt Viola.

  “I need to talk to you,” Carson said in a low voice. “I know you told all the ladies that you could get me to donate money for the Christmas festival.”

  Marlee’s cheeks burned anew. Bad enough that she’d bragged about her fundraising ability, had failed and now everyone in Harmony would suffer for it, but somehow Carson had found out and now she’d have to endure further humiliation?

  He eased closer. “Look, Marlee, I know you wanted to do the right thing by helping out with the festival. But you don’t have to try to please everyone for them to like you and want you around.”

  She gasped softly and fell back a step, as if he’d slapped her. She felt as if he’d somehow managed to peer straight into her heart, her soul, and see how desperately she wanted to belong somewhere. She’d never felt so vulnerable, so exposed in her life.

  Marlee forced away those feelings, latching on to anger instead.

  “At least I’m trying to be a part of something,” she told him, her words tumbling out in a harsh rush. “Unlike you. All you care about is making money. You live in this delightful town, among wonderful people, and you don’t appreciate any of it. You’re so busy rushing from place to place you don’t see what’s in front of you.”

  He eased back a little
, and Marlee saw a flash of anger, pain, disappointment—something—flash across his face. She expected him to deny what she’d said and tell her she was wrong, but he didn’t.

  “I’ve got a job for you,” Carson said.

  Stunned, Marlee just stared up at him. “A—a job?”

  “I’ve got investors coming to town,” he told her. “I need you to get my house ready for company and get a supper cooked.”

  Marlee shook her head. “You know I’m not trained in domestic chores. I can’t possibly accept a job under those circumstances.”

  “You’ll figure it out,” he told her.

  “But—”

  “The job pays a hundred dollars.”

  Marlee’s spine stiffened. “I told you I won’t accept that money from you out of pity.”

  “This isn’t pity,” he said.

  “Yes, it is,” she insisted. “I already told you I can’t cook or clean.”

  Carson angled closer and leaned down. Warmth washed over her.

  “Is there some other task you’d like to perform for me?” he asked, his voice low and husky.

  A tingle rushed through her, bringing with it a flood of highly pleasurable tasks the two of them might perform.

  “Be at my house tomorrow morning,” he said, and walked away.

  Chapter Ten

  The front door of Carson’s house jerked open as Marlee came through the gate, leaving her to wonder if he’d been watching for her this morning, perhaps unsure if she’d show up—not that he’d given her much of a choice. She should have been nothing but thankful that he’d given her this opportunity to work for him, and by doing so had saved the Christmas festival and her from public embarrassment. Yet Marlee wasn’t all that happy that Carson had wormed his way into her personal life enough to learn her innermost frailties.

  Carson stepped out onto the porch as she came up the steps. She spared him a glance as she walked past. His face was freshly shaved, leaving her with the almost overwhelming desire to press her palm against his cheek. It didn’t help that the delightful scent of soap clung to him.

  He followed her inside and closed the door, then helped her off with her cloak. An ornately carved staircase rose in front of her. To her left was a dining room and on the right a large parlor. The furniture was lovely in both rooms, obviously expensive and selected by someone with good taste. Still, the whole place had an empty feel to it, as if it were occupied, yet not lived in.

  “I’m not here much,” Carson said, as if reading her thoughts. “I take my meals at the restaurants in town. Reverend Conroy’s sister cleans for me.”

  They walked through the wide doorway into the parlor.

  “The furnishings are lovely,” Marlee said. “I didn’t realize you had a flair for decorating.”

  A tiny grin pulled at his lips. “My sisters and my ma back in Richmond picked out everything and shipped it here.” He waved his hand around the room. “Change whatever you think needs changing. Same for the Christmas decorations. Get whatever you need.”

  “What sort of budget have you set?” she asked.

  He shrugged. “Just get what will make the place look good. I want those investors to see Harmony as a nice place to live.”

  Marlee took in the room’s settees, the chairs, side tables and lamps in one sweep, then walked past Carson into the dining room and stood for a moment or two looking over the walnut table and chairs, the sideboard and the hutch filled with delicate china.

  “I stopped by Flora’s this morning and asked Lucy if she’d come cook the meal. She’s by far the best cook in town,” Marlee said. “I thought we’d serve—”

  “Serve whatever you think is best,” Carson said, then added, “As long as there’re meat and potatoes somewhere on the table.”

  “I’ll go shopping now,” she told him.

  “Already? That’s all the time you need to look the place over?”

  “I have a trained eye,” she pointed out.

  “Fine, then,” Carson said. “Let’s go shopping.”

  “You’re going with me?” she asked.

  He grinned. “Who knows? I might want to go into the Christmas decoration business.”

  Carson helped her with her cloak again, then shrugged into his coat and hat, and they headed toward town. The morning air was cold and crisp, the sunlight weak in the cloudy sky.

  Marlee stopped in her tracks as they stepped up onto the crowded boardwalk. All manner of men, women and children streamed in and out of almost every store along Main Street.

  “Look at all the people. It’s the first day of the festival,” Marlee said. “The train must have already arrived.”

  “Did that singing group make it to town yet?” Carson asked.

  “Yes. Their first performance is this afternoon,” Marlee said. “Are you going?”

  Carson rolled his eyes. “Damn right I’m going.”

  Marlee couldn’t help but giggle. “Then we’d better get your house ready.”

  Since she’d worked in her aunt and uncle’s general store for a while now, Marlee knew every item in stock so she’d already decided what she would purchase from them for Carson’s house. But she also knew that since she was shopping on Carson’s behalf, she had to spend some of his money at the other businesses in town. Carson wouldn’t want to show favoritism.

  The aisles of Goodwin’s Dry Goods store were crowded with shoppers as they made their way inside. Marlee was pleased to see that the shelves overflowed with merchandise and that a touch of Christmas had been added to most everything in the store.

  Green ribbons had been tired around lanterns and coffeepots. Red bows adorned stacks of gray blankets. Children were crowded around a display of toys, dolls in fancy dresses, clowns and jumping jacks painted bright colors, an army of pewter soldiers and wooden horses, horns and drums, a dollhouse with tiny furniture, and a mechanical circus train complete with miniature wild animals.

  Beside the toys sat boxes of colorful glass ornaments shaped like acorns, stars and balloons. There were wax angels with spun-glass wings, tiny candles in tin holders, silver tinsel garlands and large gold stars perfect to top any tree. With so many beautiful items, Marlee wasn’t sure what to get.

  “Which do you like the most?” Marlee asked.

  “Definitely the circus train,” Carson replied.

  She looked up at him sure she was seeing the expression he’d worn on Christmases in his childhood.

  “You’ve been very good this year,” Marlee said. “I’m sure Santa will bring you whatever you wish for.”

  His expression changed. Gone was the magical look of a little boy at Christmas. He was all man now, and she was sure the thing topping his wish list would not be found under a tree.

  “Let’s keep looking,” Marlee said, and felt herself blush.

  She selected tinsel, ornaments and spools of red ribbon. Carson carried them to the counter, paid and told Mr. Goodwin to deliver them to his house.

  Outside, the crowds were larger. Marlee and Carson made their way down the boardwalk among shoppers carrying large market baskets and brown wrapped packages. A line had already formed outside the Blue Bonnet Café and at Flora’s Bake Shop.

  Marlee joined the gathering of women gazing into the display window of Markham’s Dress Shop. Red and green bell-shaped swatches of fabric had been sewn on the pockets of crisp white aprons; tiny jingle bells had been added at the bottom.

  “Did this store open just for the festival?” Carson asked.

  Marlee’s cousins had told her Markham’s was one of the first stores opened in Harmony. How could Carson not have seen?

  “It’s been here for a long time,” she told him. “You didn’t notice it?”

  “Surely you’ll agree that thinking up new businesses for Harmony is more important than knowing there’s a dress shop in town,” Carson said.

  “I’ll admit no such thing,” she told him, then conceded, “Both are important.”

  She turned to the window
again and gazed past the display to the bolts of fabric stacked on the shelves. The image of her mother flew into her mind.

  “Something wrong?” Carson asked.

  She glanced up and saw genuine concern on his face. While it was her custom to speak little of her past, she figured that since he already knew one of her innermost secrets, telling him another wouldn’t do any harm.

  “My mother is a seamstress,” Marlee said. “She works for a wealthy woman in New York and makes the most beautiful clothing for her. They’re in Europe now. She always brings back exquisite fabric.”

  “You miss your mama, don’t you?” he asked softly.

  For an instant, Marlee thought she would cry, but she managed to hold in her tears.

  “Everyone misses their mother. Don’t you?” she asked.

  He looked puzzled, confused, as if this was a question he’d never been asked nor had he ever considered. But Marlee didn’t press the issue, fearing it was not a comfortable subject for him to discuss.

  “We’d better finish up our shopping,” she said. “I know you’re in a hurry to get on with your business affairs today.”

  Carson shook his head. “No hurry. I’d like to look around, see what else is going on in town. Let’s have a look at the Stafford Emporium. They’ve got toys in their window.”

  To Marlee’s surprise they went from shop to shop taking in all the sights in town. Finally they made their way to the Harmony General Store. The aisles were jammed with customers.

  Marlee spotted Audrey at the rear of the store. She waved and Audrey’s face lit up. She waded through the throng of people to meet them.

  “Isn’t this fantastic?” she said. “The store has never been this busy. It’s all we can do to keep up with sales. Papa and Mama are thrilled.”

  “Every store in town is packed,” Marlee said.

  “All because of your generous donation,” Audrey said to Carson. She gave Marlee a big smile. “And your help, too, of course.”