Home For a Cowboy Christmas(28)

Dwight was so excited, he barely slept that night. He woke before his alarm, anxious to have everything in order for Emmy’s outing. He rose and quickly finished the things he needed to get done in the barn. After he returned to the house, Sam went upstairs to jump into Emmy’s bed as he cooked breakfast. The smell of bacon soon got Emmy up and downstairs.

He loved the slippers she wore with the fur over the arch. She rubbed her eyes, yawning as she poured some coffee, but after a few sips, she was awake enough to eat.

“Bacon always seems to get me out of bed,” she said with a chuckle after she finished off the last of her egg.

He had already checked the weather multiple times, but he did it once more. “It’s a good day to get out.”

“I’m really excited,” she said, her light brown eyes shining. “When did you want to head out?”

“Whenever you get ready.”

“Then let me go,” she said after grabbing one more piece of bacon.

As soon as she left, Dwight made some hot chocolate and put it into a thermos. He grabbed the thick blankets they always used on the sleigh rides. Then he headed outside to hook up the horse, a smile on his face, his gait light. The idea of spending the day alone with Emmy was exhilarating. They both needed this break.

He walked from the barn to find Emmy bundled in earmuffs, a thick scarf, an insulated coat, and gloves, holding the blankets he had gotten out.

He rushed to her. “Here. Let me take those.”

“Thanks. I’ll get the thermos that was beside them.”

It took him a minute to realize that the funny feeling in his stomach was nervousness. It had been so long since he’d felt anything like it. He led the horse out of the barn and stroked the animal’s neck as he waited for Emmy and Sam to return.

“Wow,” she said when she got a look at the sleigh.

He looked proudly at it. “It was my great-grandfather’s.”

“It’s beautiful.”

Dwight held out a hand to her. “Ready?”

“More than you know,” she replied with a bright smile.

He helped her into the sleigh before climbing in beside her. After he’d situated the blankets over them, he whistled for Sam. The dog jumped in and circled the foot area where he usually stayed. He looked up at Dwight as if asking if he could get up on the seat like when it was just the two of them.

“It’s fine,” Emmy said and scooted to the side to make room for Sam.

Dwight shook his head. “The dog is spoiled.”

“As he should be,” she said and petted Sam.

Dwight gathered the reins, and with a flick of his wrist and a click of his tongue, set the horse into motion. Emmy’s smile was huge as they set off. He turned the sleigh toward the mountains, the sky clear above them. He glanced over at Emmy and realized that he had needed this day as much as she did.

Though maybe for different reasons.

Ever since Victoria had left, he hadn’t been able to get her words out of his head. Maybe he should let Emmy know of his feelings. Or at least see how she responded if he flirted. He didn’t want to make her uncomfortable, but at the same time, he could no longer ignore the feelings within him.

He knew love existed. He’d seen it with his parents. He’d seen it with friends. Dwight just never expected to find it for himself. He had resigned himself to a life alone. Victoria would be the one to eventually have children, and he would pass the ranch to them—if they wanted it. He didn’t want the family ranch to end with him, but he also didn’t want to force it on anyone who wasn’t interested in this way of life. It wasn’t for everyone.

They rode closer to the mountains, alongside partly frozen streams and through wide-open pastures. Dwight could hardly take his eyes off Emmy the entire time. The pleasure on her face was priceless. He wished he would’ve done this sooner. For both of them.

Her head turned, and their eyes clashed. “This is amazing.”

“We’re not even at the best part.”

She hugged Sam. “I’m so excited, I don’t even feel the cold.”

Another thirty minutes passed before he got them to the spot. He pulled back on the reins and told the horse, “Whoa.”

“Oh, Dwight,” Emmy said in a soft voice.

He smiled as he looked from the half-frozen waterfall to Emmy. Amazement filled her face as her gaze moved from high above them where the water flowed down the mountainside into the small pool and then into a stream.

“I’ve looked at this waterfall every day from my window,” she said.

He inwardly patted himself on the back. “It is picturesque. My parents came out here all through the year. During the summer, they swam. Usually, they brought food, but it was always to spend some time alone together.”

“That sounds special. How many girls did you bring out here?” she asked with a knowing grin.

Dwight laughed, caught. “A few. It never seemed as special as my parents made it out to be. Though they got the idea from my grandparents, who got it from my great-grandparents.”

“A family tradition.” Emmy nodded and returned her gaze to the waterfall. “I love the idea.”

“It’s much prettier in the summer.”

“I don’t know about that. This waterfall was one of the first things I saw when I walked into the bedroom. It’s the first thing I look at each morning when I wake.” She turned her head to him. “It has become special. And now, you’ve brought me to see it.”