Page 95 of A Heart Falls Cowboy Christmas

“Can I see?” Tamara nodded when Sasha raised it high enough. “Ah, yes. I remember that. I made that the year I was your nanny. There’s one for you, too, Emma.”

Emma poked her head up from the box of ornaments she was digging through. “You made them? Why?”

“The originals were tarnished. But I wanted you to still have baby ornaments. So they’re not the same, but in a way, they’re better.”

“Sick.” Emma pawed through the box until she found hers. “Come on, Sasha. Let’s put ours next to Tyler’s. He’ll get a kick out of that.”

The girls hung ornaments, chatting easily.

Caleb looked his wife in the eyes. “I love you,” he said softly.

She grinned back. “I know.”

He snorted. “Let me help you in the kitchen.”

“Sure.” She led him to the counter, gasping as he caught her around the waist and tugged her tight to him.

He kissed her, holding tightly as she smiled against his lips. Behind them the girls laughed but kept on decorating.

When he finally pulled back, her cheeks were rosy. “Well, now.”

“I love you,” he repeated, contentment a blaze in his gut.

This time, she pressed a palm to his cheek. “I know, and…” she quickly added, “I love you, too.”

By the end of the evening, when the girls and he and Tamara headed off to bed in different directions, the house looked more than suitably festive.

Caleb woke as usual at four o’clock. Warmth cradled him in a comfortable cocoon, spooned against Tamara.

This? Would never get old.

He lay there for a few more minutes, breathing in time with her, content in their connection, even in rest.

Finally he had to get moving, though. He nuzzled a kiss to her neck then slipped from bed before he truly woke her. The day would be long enough, with their own breakfast celebration and then the rest of the Stone family joining them for dinner.

Tomorrow, all of Tamara’s family would gather at Karen’s this year.

Hmm. Maybe the Stone family gathering needed to start rotating host houses as well. Just because it had always been dinner at the main house didn’t mean it had to keep on that way.

There wasn’t a lot to do in the barns, and Caleb headed back to the house well before six. Light shone from the kitchen windows, stretching over the snow to create a welcoming path.

The light by the back door softly illuminated the porch swing. Someone wrapped up in a blanket sat curled up on the seat, rocking gently.

Caleb redirected and ended up beside Sasha. “You’re up early.”

She shrugged. “I’ve gotten into the habit of being up early. Sleeping until six is hard.”

“Want some company?”

“Sure.” She wiggled her feet out of the way. “Coffee is on if you want a cup. I thought you might be back before too long.”

“Then I’ll nab one and join you.”

By the time he was back with a steaming cup in his hand, Sasha had made room for him and pulled in a chair so he could prop up his feet.

He sighed contentedly as he stretched out against the seat cushions. “This is a treat.” He glanced at her. “You ready for the next adventure?”

“Adam and I set up the first quarter schedule.” Sasha sipped her tea, staring out toward the barns with a small smile curving her lips. “Uncle Frank took a quick look then told us he approved and to have fun with all our wild ideas while he’s here training.”