A Cold Creek Noel (The Cowboys of Cold Creek) Read Online Free PDF

It was just about the only thing that had kept her going after her
parents died, those quiet moments when she would be holding a sick or injured
animal and feeling some measure of peace.
    “He’s a good man. Dr. Caldwell has some pretty big boots to
fill,” she answered.
    “From rumors I’ve been hearing around town, he’s doing a good
job of it so far.”
    She didn’t want to talk about the veterinarian anymore. It was
bad enough she couldn’t seem to think about anything else since she had left the
clinic.
    “What were you saying to Destry after I started clearing the
dishes? I heard something about the wagon,” Caidy said.
    He glanced through the open doorway into the dining room, where
Destry was bent over the table working on a homework assignment about holiday
traditions in Europe.
    “Des asked me if she could invite Gabi and a couple of their
other friends over for a wagon ride Sunday night. She suggested caroling to the
neighbors.”
    She never should have shared with Destry her memories of doing
that very thing with their parents when she and the boys were young. “What did
you tell her?”
    He didn’t answer, but he didn’t need to. She could tell by his
expression that he had given in. Ridge might be a hard man when it came to their
cattle and the ranch, but when it came to his daughter he was soft as new
taffy.
    “You’re a good father, Ridge.”
    “She loves Christmas,” he finally said. “What can I do?”
    The rest of them weren’t quite as fond of the holidays as Des
but they put on a good show for her sake. Since their parents’ murders just a
few days before Christmas eleven years ago, the holidays seemed to dredge up
difficult emotions.
    Becca and Laura had worked some kind of sparkly holiday magic
over Trace and Taft. This year the twins seemed to be more into the spirit of
Christmas than she’d ever seen them. They had both volunteered to cut trees for
everyone. They had even gone a little overboard, cutting a few extras for
neighbors and friends.
    She and Ridge didn’t share their enthusiasm, though they both
went through the motions every year. Caidy even had all her Christmas presents
wrapped and the actual holiday was still more than a week away. No more
last-minute panics for her this year.
    “What time are they coming?”
    “I told her to make arrangements for about seven. I figured we
would be done with Sunday dinner by then.”
    Though Taft and Trace both lived closer to town, her brothers
usually brought their families out to the ranch every week. With the hectic pace
of their lives protecting and serving the good people of Pine Gulch, it was
sometimes the only chance she had to see them all week.
    “I’ll throw some cookies in just before they get here so they
can have something warm in their little bellies before they go. And I’ll make
hot chocolate for the ride, of course.”
    “Thanks. Destry will appreciate that, I’m sure.” He finished
wiping down the countertop and set the cloth on the sink’s edge. “You won’t
consider coming with us?”
    By his solemn expression, she knew he was aware just what he
asked of her. “I don’t think so.”
    “You would really send me off on my own with five or six giggly
girls?”
    “You can take one of the dogs with you,” she offered with a
grin.
    He made a face but quickly grew serious again. “It’s been
eleven years, Caidy. Taft and Trace have moved on and both have families. Of all
of us, you deserve to do the same. I wish you could find a little Christmas joy
again.”
    “I find plenty of joy the rest of the year. Just not so much in
December.”
    His mouth tightened, his eyes darkening with familiar sadness.
Each of them had struggled in different ways after their parents’ deaths. Ridge
had become more stoic and controlled, Taft had gone a little crazy dating all
the wild women at the tavern in town and Trace had become a dedicated
lawman.
    And she was still hiding away here at the River Bow.
    “You need