A Cowboy Under My Christmas Tree by Janet Dailey Read Free Book Online

let Amanda choose,” the boy said resignedly. “I want a real tree, though.”
    A gleeful giggle interrupted them. A nicely dressed woman—in her thirties, by his guess—was pushing a lightweight stroller toward them. She was blond, her hair streaming over her shoulders, holding a knit cap with a pom-pom and a pair of gloves, as if she hadn’t had time to put them on. The tailored lavender coat she was wearing flared open with her quick steps.
    Sam pegged her as Douglas’s mother—they looked alike, with the same light freckles on high cheekbones, though her son’s hair was more brown than blond, and his green eyes were darker than hers.
    The giggling little girl in the stroller was a variation on the same theme, with pale, silky bangs and a chubby face. Amanda reached out pink-mittened hands that matched her snowsuit to her big brother.
    “Good morning, everybody,” the woman said.
    “You’re up early.” Theo looked curiously at her. He seemed to know everyone on the block and their routines, Sam thought.
    “Yes. I have a job interview at eight. I have to get Amanda to my aunt and drop Dougie at school. He’s having breakfast there.” She ruffled her son’s hair with her left hand. Sam didn’t notice a wedding ring.
    “Ma-a!” The protest was softened with a smile he didn’t try to hide.
    “A job interview! That’s why you look so pretty,” Theo said gallantly. The woman blushed and seemed embarrassed. “But you oughta put on those gloves.”
    “Okay.” She laughed lightly and looked toward Sam as she stuck the knit hat in her coat pocket and drew on the gloves. A flicker of curiosity lit up her sage-green eyes. Theo rose to the occasion.
    “Allow me,” he said. “Maureen Fulton, this is Sam Bennett. Sam is my nephew’s pal from Colorado. Greg hired him for one of his Christmas crews.”
    “Oh,” she said, extending a gloved hand to him. “Well, welcome to New York. Is this your first time here?”
    “Yeah. I love it. The energy is amazing.”
    Maureen looked down when her little girl squealed. Amanda was tugging needles off a thin branch.
    “Honey, stop that.” She moved the stroller away from the Christmas tree, and the little girl let go. “We have to run. Nice to meet you, Sam.”
    “Same here. And best of luck on that interview. ”
    “Thanks. I hope—” Whatever she was going to say was interrupted by a soft click that registered on her maternal radar. “Amanda, don’t unbuckle yourself. And sit down.” She bent over the stroller to find the loose ends of the belt.
    Douglas waited, looking up at the tall fir.
    His preoccupied mother got his sister buckled up again and said good-bye, and the trio headed down the street.
    Sam noticed the way the boy held one curved handle of the stroller and kept pace with his mother. Douglas was watchful for his age. He grabbed her arm to stop her when a truck barreled down the street too close to the curb and she was looking the other way.
    Young, but somehow the man of the family. Sam wondered what the story was.
    December was a tough time of the year to be a single mom, but it looked like Maureen Fulton was managing. He shook the thought away, suddenly remembering where he was supposed to be.
    “Hey, I gotta get going myself,” he said to the two other men. “Thanks for the breakfast.”
    “No problem. Say hi to Greg.” Apollo sat down in the folding chair, taking over for Theo, who clumped up the trailer stairs as Sam hastily finished his coffee.
    He waved and walked fast, reaching the corner before the light changed. No time for the gym. The stubble would have to stay where it was until quitting time. He would treat himself to a shower and a sauna tonight.
    At least he wouldn’t be seeing Nicole today. Sam hurried along, thinking about her, until he glimpsed the time on a digital sign atop a towering office building and broke into a run.

Chapter 3
    J ust to test the number in his cell phone’s memory, he called Nicole the next