Page 46 of A Heart Falls Cowboy Christmas

More and more of the people important to Jinx arrived. Grandpa Zach hugged her, then Grandma Pam gave her a set of pink teardrop earrings to wear. “They’re yours to keep,” she said. “All our girls got earrings to celebrate their completion of high school.”

Jinx’s throat tightened. “Thank you, Grandma.”

She got a smile and wink and then more hugs as Auntie Julia and Uncle Zach arrived a moment before the entire High Water family. Jake, Tansy, and Jeffrey. Sydney and Declan. Kevin and Edison—who re-draped her braid over her shoulder then touched up her lipstick for her with a wink. “Pale colours suit you, but you need to keep those lips shiny, girl.”

“Shiny like you?” she teased.

He grinned.

Declan stepped to her side. “You look beautiful and all grown-up,” he told her solemnly.

She caught both his hands in hers and took a deep breath. She loved Aiden and Petra with everything in her and was proud to call them her parents. But Declan? He’d been the first man she’d trusted in a long time. What she felt for him was a bit of hero worship and a ton of gratitude. “I’ve had a good place to grow,” she told him softly.

His eyes misted. He nodded briskly then wiped at them quickly. “Good. Good.”

She was going to be bawling in a minute if she wasn’t careful.

So she asked the one question she really needed an answer to. She peered around at the gathering crowd. “Where’s Logan?”

Declan’s expression changed to sheer amusement. “Aiden, ETA on Logan’s arrival?”

Aiden checked his watch. “Five minutes.” He hurried to Jinx’s side, held out his arm for her to take. “Ready to escort you, daughter.”

She wasn’t sure what was going on, but she slipped her hand around his elbow. “What’s up?”

“Logan decided you needed a little fanfare.” Aiden chuckled softly as he led her through the crowd to the edge of the parking lot on the mountain side of the school. People watched as they passed, a number of the boys she’d turned down as dates looking amused as if they’d caught her in a lie—poor pathetic Jinx, with only her dad to escort her. “It’s a little over the top, but your mom and I think it’s amusing. So we agreed to help.”

She wanted to know more but even as she opened her mouth to ask for details, she saw him.

A man on horseback approached quickly. He rode with skill, jumping the bay stallion over one of the fences before turning straight for the school.

Logan. His familiar brown cowboy hat firmly in place, he pulled the bay to a walk then stopped directly beside where Aiden and Jinx waited. His grin spread from cheek to cheek.

“Petra said making an entrance is allowed. If you’re interested.” Logan shifted back in the saddle and opened up a spot in front of him. “Side saddle, but I’ll keep you safe.”

Jinx eyed the space, glanced back at the bits of the crowd she could see around the corner of the school. Make an entrance?

Why not? Sasha would tell her to go for it.

She eyed the distance to the saddle warily, though. “I can’t get up or down in this dress,” she warned.

Her dad stepped forward and laced his fingers together. “Step up. Logan will catch you.”

“Declan said he’d help you down at the other end, then he’ll take care of Glory Days,” Logan shared. He wiggled back a little more and opened his arms. “Ready?”

Jinx didn’t have time to flush or get embarrassed. It was too fun an idea to waste. She nodded, gathered a handful of her skirt, and stepped into Aiden’s hands.

One smooth lift carried her upward. Logan leaned down from the saddle and caught her forearm before she could wobble. Together they swung her onto the front of the western saddle.

She settled sideways against the smooth leather, both feet hanging over the horse's left shoulder. Logan shifted enough to give her room, his knees bracketing her gently as he gathered the reins.

She barely had time to find her balance before she realized how close Logan suddenly was. His chest was only inches behind her shoulder, one arm around her to collect the reins while the other steadied her at the waist.

“You good?” Logan asked.

Could he feel her heartbeat?

Friends, she remembered. Friends and an amazing memory to boot. “Perfect.” She grinned down at Aiden. “We can pause for a bit if you want to rejoin the family.”