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“Goodness. That sounds ambitious. I hope I have enough decorations made for a big tree.” She loved the enthusiasm in Ian’s face. He truly was a charming young man, and if things were different, she would love to be his mother.
She was still unsure of her feelings. There was absolutely no point in denying her physical attraction to Mitch. Just one glance in his direction had her lady parts melting. But only real love would make her take such a step. She drew little circles on the table and watched Mitch under her half-closed eyes.
He was explaining the proper way to cut down a large tree so it didn’t fall the wrong direction while Ian hung on his every word. Mitch was a wonderful father and would be a wonderful father to any future children he had.
Best to push that thought far away from her mind.
Mitch shrugged into his coat as Ian did the same. There was still snow on the ground from the last storm, but the strong sun had melted quite a bit of it over the last few days. The roads were in great shape, but they needed their boots for the trek through the woods.
He patted his pocket where the diamond ring rested in the small jewelry box that had arrived on the last mail coach. Ian was spending the night, and Mitch planned a quiet, romantic proposal once his son was fast asleep before he would return to his house for the night. This time he was sure of her answer.
“Are you ready?” Mitch picked up the axe and handed Ian the saw.
“Yep. Let’s go.”
Still teasing Priscilla with his actions, he gave her another kiss as they left the house. Being in on his plans, Ian gave him a grin as they walked out the back door.
The air was crisp and clear, and the sun shone brighter than earlier in the day. This would be the best Christmas he’d had in years. Maybe this time next year there would even be a new baby in his house. Another little Ian, or maybe a tiny girl with Priscilla’s golden brown curls and hazel eyes. And definitely her spirit.
They looked at several trees, but it took them over a half hour to find the perfect one. “This one will work,” Mitch said as he looked up at the top. “We will probably have to cut some of it to make it fit in the house.”
After about ten minutes Mitch stripped his coat off and wiped the sweat from his forehead. Ian spent the time gathering pine cones and greenery to decorate Priscilla’s house.
Once the tree had fallen, Mitch sawed off enough branches to make the tree look presentable and able to fit through the door. They both took hold of the bottom branches and dragged the tree. Mitch stopped and bent to get a better grip on the tree when Ian sucked in a breath and whispered, “Pa. Turn around.”
Mitch pivoted and looked into the eyes of a mountain lion twice the size of the one he’d killed. His first thought was no wonder the animal had wrought such destruction in the area. There had been two of them. Fear raced through him as he waved at his son. “Step behind me, Ian.”
The animal sat on its haunches, staring at the two of them. He and Ian were about a hundred and fifty yards from Priscilla’s back door, with the animal smack in the middle of the distance. Sweat beaded Mitch’s forehead and he took deep breaths to try to calm his racing heart. He could try to scare the mountain lion away, but what he had to do at this point was prepare to fight the animal while Ian ran to the house.
They all stood in a frozen tableau when his attention was caught by Priscilla stepping out the back door. The animal turned and slowly started walking toward her.
“Get back inside!” Mitch screamed.
Priscilla raised her arm, shouldered a rife, and pulled the trigger. The mountain lion’s head snapped back and he collapsed on the ground. After two shudders, he lay still.
“Yay. I knew she could do it!” Ian yelled.
Priscilla dropped the rifle and ran to Mitch, jumping so hard into his arms that he fell backward, and they both landed between the branches of the tree. She kissed his face over and over. “Oh my God, I thought you were dead.”
He gripped her shoulders and moved her back. ?
??Wh-what—?” He shook his head. “What the hell did you just do?”
“She killed the mountain lion, Pa.” Ian was still jumping up and down.
“How—”
“She can shoot like nobody I ever saw.”
Mitch turned to his son. “You knew about this?”
“Sure.” He grinned. “I caught Miss Cochran shooting cans off her back fence a couple of months ago. She’s really good, Pa.”
“No kidding.” Still stunned at what he’d just witnessed, he said, “Why did I not know about this?”
Priscilla stood and dusted off her trousers, catching his eyes as they traveled down her slim legs encased in the pants. “I win the shooting contest every year in the Guthrie Land Run celebration. Beat all my brothers.”
Mitch sat up and dangled his wrists over his knees, a grin on his face he couldn’t suppress no matter how hard he tried. “Miss Priscilla Cochran, you never cease to amaze me.”
