Yuletide Cowboy by Debra Clopton Read Free Book Online

out the second the prayer was over. He wanted to keep right on walking but no way could he ignore the small voices hailing him. He’d made straight for the parking lot and was almost to the edge of the grass, almost to the white rock and fifteen feet from his truck… He’d almost made it.
    App’s grumbling during the sermon had convinced Chance that if he hung around he’d never hear the end of it. But no way could he ignore Gavin and Jack.
    Feeling roped and tied he turned on his heel to find both boys charging after him. Lynn followed at a slow, reluctant pace. And he groaned at the sight of the Mule Hollow posse behind her! Norma Sue Jenkins and Esther Mae Wilcox were two of the older ladies who kept Mule Hollow running smoothly. They, along with their buddy Adela, had saved the tiny town with their matchmaking antics.
    They’d come up with the idea a couple of years earlier to advertise for wives for all the lonesome cowboys wholived and worked the ranching area. Despite the disbelief of everyone around them, lo and behold, women read the ads and had begun to come to town. Since then the ladies were always coming up with special events that would draw women to the town. Like dinner theater with the cowboys singing and serving, or festivals where the cowboys and ladies would meet up. So far it had worked well. He appreciated the three women, but they were also among the ones who were adamant about him coming home to preach.
    Watching their approach he prepared himself for a lecture.
    â€œBoys,” Lynn called, coming to a halt behind the two little dudes.
    He couldn’t help but wonder what was bothering her so…why she looked pensive and almost frightened. Was she scared of him?
    â€œMr. Turner was leaving. You don’t need to bother him.”
    â€œWe ain’t, Momma.” Gavin batted big eyes at her and then at him. “We was just wonderin’ if you know how to make a tree house?”
    â€œYeah,” Jack drew the word out dismally as he wagged his dark head back and forth. “We got a mess at our house. A pure mess.”
    â€œBoys!” Lynn exclaimed, turning red as a poinsettia, her big dark eyes widening like she’d just been prodded with an electric cattle prod.
    Esther Mae and Norma Sue came to a halt, catching the end of Jack’s declaration. Chance had a feeling Lynn was just as reluctant in their presence as he was. Match-makers. Scary stuff for people who wanted nothing to do with the subject.
    â€œY’all are building a tree house—how fun!” Esther Mae exclaimed. Her red hair almost matched the color on Lynn’s cheeks as they flamed up even brighter.
    â€œWe—well, the boys—started one this morning.”
    â€œThat’s a wonderful idea,” Norma Sue boomed. “You boys probably do need a man to help you get that tree house up and working.”
    Chance didn’t miss the flash of alarm in Lynn’s eyes when Norma Sue spoke. He understood. He didn’t know what to say. He didn’t want to build a tree house. He wanted to be alone right now. To go back out to the stagecoach house where he was staying to contemplate the state of his life. Alone. And he could see that was what she wanted, too.
    But Jack and Gavin were looking up at him with adoring eyes! Adoring —what exactly had he done to de serve the look in those eyes?
    He met Lynn’s now fiery gaze and his mouth went dry for the second time that day. She was struggling to hold her temper. It was obvious she didn’t want his help. He told himself this had to do with her background. This was wariness or maybe distrust that he was feeling from her. He didn’t like what he saw in the depths of her eyes and his own hackles went up at the idea she’d been mistreated. How bad had her abuse been? The question dug in like spurs.
    â€œI could help if you need me.” What else could he say? The boys yelled jubilantly and