The Lawman's Christmas Wish Read Online Free PDF Page B

away from a problem never solved anything, and she was telling the truth when she said she didn’t want her boys to know there was a reason to be afraid. Still, talking about the break-in upset her more than she wanted them to know.
    â€œI’m glad all of you are here now. That’s what matters. Let’s just forget the other for a while, okay?”
    Her friends exchanged glances and a silent agreement seemed to circle the room. No more talk of the break-in.
    Nate dipped a pair of sponges into a bucket of soap suds and squeezed. Ketchup bloodied the water. “Business was slow anyway.”
    Amy forced her gaze from the red water and the reminder that she or the boys could have been hurt—that instead of ketchup, someone could have been cleaning away blood. “No calls this afternoon?”
    Her voice sounded high and strained, even to her own ears. The last thing she or the town needed after the miniboom of that last few months was a dead week. Without tourists, the town could not survive.
    Rachel looked up from the kitchen sink where she was washing anything anyone stuck in front of her. If thecompany’s receptionist had closed the office, business must have been really slow.
    â€œA few. Don’t worry.” Rachel waved a drippy skillet.
    â€œSnowmobile and ski season is upon us. We’ll be wildly busy around Christmas and New Year’s when the schoolkids are out on break.”
    â€œYou’re right, of course. The Lord has brought us this far. He won’t let us fail now.”
    The pep talk was more for herself than anyone. Exhausted both physically and emotionally, she was running on fumes.
    Nate pivoted on the toes of his boots. His green eyes rested on her, placid and sure. “Bethany’s already booked a couple of December weddings. We’re bound to attract a few tourists from those.”
    Amy’s friend, Bethany Marlow, now Nate’s fiancée, had returned to Treasure Creek a few months ago to establish a wedding planning business. Amy had once suffered doubts that such an enterprise was viable in the tiny town, but she’d been delightedly wrong. When Bethany moved back to Treasure Creek to set up her wedding shop, no one could have imagined how busy she would be. Although the now infamous magazine article had regenerated some unsavory interest in Amy’s family’s missing treasure, it had also proven a boon for the town.
    The knot in her shoulders relaxed a little. Talking about weddings and business took the edge off.
    â€œThat’s great news, Nate. Is the wedding party for anyone we know?” She glanced around pointedly at several faces glowing with love. Nate’s was one of them.
    â€œNot me and Bethany. At least not yet.” He grinned, teeth flashing beneath his gorgeous green eyes. “She wants to make plans. Lots of plans. Gotta be perfect.”
    â€œWell, she is a wedding planner. Think of the publicity andthe business the perfect wedding could bring. Not that either of you cares about that at your own wedding.”
    â€œYou got that right.” Nate was a tight-lipped rancher and part-time guide who naturally shied away from too much attention. Those who knew him knew the big wedding plans were a sure sign of how much he loved and wanted to please his bride-to-be.
    â€œSo if it’s none of us, who is getting married?” Penelope asked as she dumped the dustpan into a large, plastic trashbag. Amy tried not to cringe at the clatter and clink of her broken belongings.
    â€œA couple is coming up from Seattle to be married on skis, and Bethany’s making all the arrangements, including accommodations for one hundred guests.”
    â€œA wedding on skis,” Penelope mused. “Sounds…fun.” Her expression said just the opposite.
    Her fiancé, Tucker, laughed. “Does that mean you want to get married on skis, too?”
    Penelope pointed a manicured nail at him. “You’re