He was back. Beth Sampson knew without looking. She couldn’t explain how she knew, even to herself, but she knew he was there. It wasn’t like the hairs on her neck stood up or anything weird like that; it was more a feeling deep inside her...that all that had been wrong was suddenly right again. The air seemed, somehow, to be infused with energy like that feeling you get when you step outside on the first, crisp morning of fall after a long, stifling, hot summer. Invigorating.

That was the word. Invigorating. Gag.

The Christmas music from the band, which a moment ago made her smile, now mocked her mood. She forced herself to continue dancing as if nothing had happened. Unfortunately, when her partner, Cole Pritchard, spun her around, she came face to face with reality.

Tyler Weston had come home for Christmas.

She knew he was coming, of course. She’d been warned, cautioned, advised by everyone in the family, the town, and everywhere else she went. The local gossip was abuzz with the excitement that the fourth Weston boy would be back on the ranch this holiday season. She half expected the front of the town square to be draped with a WELCOME HOME TYLER sign. It wouldn’t have surprised her, that’s for sure. Everyone acted as if he was returning from war or overseas. Neither. But, apparently, she was the only one who wasn’t willing to forgive and forget.

He stood just inside the door to the LoneStar Bar and Grill. A brown leather jacket and a scruffy looking beard were a new look, but it would take more than that for her not to know it was him.

She watched from behind Cole’s shoulder as Tyler glanced around. In a minute, he’d see his three older brothers seated at their usual table with her sisters and then he’d join them. Nothing had changed in the almost two years since he’d been gone.

Well, some things had. Cole pulled her closer and his lips pressed against her forehead. She closed her eyes. Cole was one of the good guys. Attentive and polite, he was just as handsome as any of the Weston brothers...yet he didn’t stir her. All Beth got when the redheaded rancher kissed her was a nice warm feeling—the same feeling she got when she hugged her horse. If only she could feel a tiny bit of the burning, raging desire Tyler had always stirred in her gut, then maybe the pain would go away for good.

The song continued and Cole pulled her even closer. She sighed and wrapped her arms tighter around his neck, forcing back the errant thoughts. This was nice. Nice was safe and predictable and she wouldn’t get hurt ever again.

The song ended and Cole slid his fingers down to link with hers and squeezed. “How about another drink?”

She nodded. “I’ll go with you.”

“I’m going to make a stop first,” he nodded in the direction of the men’s room. “I’ll meet you back at the table.”

The table. The same table where Tyler would be. Joint owners of the Double B Cattle Ranch, the Westons and the Sampsons were joined at the hip, blended in such a way it was hard sometimes to figure out who was a Weston and who was a Sampson. Already, across the floor, she saw them all laughing and hugging Tyler, welcoming the prodigal son, or in this case, brother, back home to the family fold.

She wanted to throw up.

Her stomach churned and her heart began to speed up as she made her way from the dance floor. A low hanging strand of red garland whacked her in the face and she brushed it back with an impatient swing of her hand. Christmas. Probably the only reason he’d come home. It was enough to make her hate the season.

Holding court at one end of the table was her older—and very pregnant—sister, Sara, and her husband, Buck, Tyler’s brother. Next to them were the empty chairs she and Cole had left when they went to dance, and beside those chairs were spots for her sister Susan and Tyler’s brother Teddy. She glanced to where those two performed on stage with the band.

Lifting her chin, she reluctantly let her gaze return to the family ensemble. Cord, oldest Weston and acknowledged head of the families at the Double B, grinned from ear to ear, his large hand clasped on Tyler’s shoulder as if to keep him right where he was. Though it might not show fully on his face, she figured Cord was beyond happy to have his youngest brother home, even if it was only for a few weeks. Tyler had caused immense amounts of pain to his family when he left. And broken her heart straight down the middle.

She shook off those unwanted memories and continued her slow forward momentum to the table.

Tyler had removed his jacket. The brown turtleneck he wore, something new she’d never in her life seen him in wear, was tucked neatly into dark jeans. His rear end filled out the denim in a way she didn’t recognize. He’d gained weight. He’d always been tall and lean, bordering on too thin. Now, his waistline looked solid and his arms strained the material of his shirt. Not too much by any means. Solid, firm, well-defined came to mind.

Beth sank her teeth into her bottom lip. He looked good. Way too good. Just her luck, he chose that moment to turn and catch her stare.

The brown eyes that used to make her melt faster than snow in Texas bore into hers. As if she’d fallen off her horse and landed on her back, all the air rushed from her lungs; she reached out to grab the back of the chair for support, her mouth dry, as if filled with cotton balls.

“T—Tyler,” she began and then swallowed. “Welcome Home.” Her hands clenched the back of the chair tighter, willing him not to hug her or, worse, kiss her cheek like she was an old friend.

They weren’t old friends. Friends didn’t do what he did to her.

He half smiled, sort of a lifting of one side of his lips. She was mesmerized by the new mustache, and had a sudden curiosity of how it felt. Soft or prickly? Other than a few scruffy ranch-hands who shaved only once a week, she didn’t think she’d ever been around a man with a moustache and beard before. None of the Weston brothers had one; Cole was clean shaven, and so was her business partner, Grant Clark.

Tyler shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans, the movement pulling her gaze thankfully away from his face.

“Hi, Beth.” Thankfully, he didn’t move towards her.

The table was silent. No one at the table said a word.

Fortunately, Cole’s return with their drinks broke the tension. He handed her a glass of wine, and then slipped his arm around her waist, hand cupping her hip. Beth tried not to show her surprise. Cole had never touched her in such a possessive way, and she couldn’t help but notice Tyler didn’t miss the point. His gaze flicked to the other man’s hand, to her eyes and then back to Cole’s again. Beth held her breath, but Tyler’s response was cool, disinterested. His face didn’t even turn red. Two years ago, another man would never have even asked her to dance for fear of dealing with Tyler Weston’s notorious wrath.

Instead, Tyler simply held out his hand. “Pritchard.”

Cole was forced to release her to shake hands. Beth grimaced. Had that been his plan? She dismissed her thought as quick as it came. He’d made it more than clear when he left without saying goodbye that she didn’t matter to him.

Cole pulled out the chair for her. Grateful, she sank to it before her knees gave out. Next to her, Sara rested her hands on her enormous belly and eyed Tyler with a glint that made Beth nervous. Here we go, she thought.

“So Ty, long time no see. What’s the news?” Sara asked a little too casually.

Tyler accepted the beer Cord offered and pulled out a chair at the end of the table. “Looks like you and my brother have bigger news than I could have. Congratulations. Do we know if it’s a boy or girl?”

Buck slid his arm around his wife’s shoulders. “Nope. We want to be surprised.”

Beth watched as the giant cowboy kissed her sister tenderly and Sara rested her head back on her husband’s shoulder. The two of them gave a new definition to the word love. Turning back, she caught Tyler’s gaze on her. Warmth flooded her face. She lifted her glass and drained half the wine.

“Hey, little girl, better slow down. What if you have to go out on a call tonight?” Cord cautioned.

Beth set her drink down even as she shook her head. “Grant’s on call the rest of the weekend. Monday, he’s heading home for two weeks.”

“Who’s Grant?” Tyler set his empty beer bottle down.

Beth glared. As if he didn’t know. Her friendship with the other man had been something he’d never understood. “Grant Clark, remember? I did my residency with him at Cornell. He came back here to practice with me when I took over from Doc.” She tried not to sound defensive, to keep the bitter edge out of her voice, and aimed for casual and detached like him. But the way Tyler raised one eyebrow, his classic action of annoyance, it was obvious he got the point. One for me, she thought, lifting her wine glass again.

Cole’s hand slid to her leg and squeezed. It wasn’t a romantic gesture; rather, a show of support. In the months since Tyler left, she and Cole had developed a relationship. No, not a relationship, but more than a friendship. Somewhere between the two. Without saying a word, Cole was trying to make this awkward encounter with Tyler was as painless for her as possible. Tonight she had no issue with him acting as if they were a couple. Let Tyler think she’d moved on with someone far better suited for her. He’d be gone again after the holidays, and then, maybe even she and Cole could reexamine their situation.

Tyler lifted his beer. “How’s your Dad, Pritchard?”

“Doc’s traveling a lot. He’s heading to Mexico right after Christmas. Says turning the practice over to Beth was the smartest thing he ever did.” He slid his arm around the back of her chair and pressed his lips to her temple. “She’s terrific.”

Around the table she caught the on edge, half-hidden stares, watching her, worried if Tyler’s coming home was going to send her over the edge, again. She leaned into Cole. They didn’t need to waste their concern. She’d grown up and was far from the same silly girl she’d been two years ago.

“Hey, I thought I saw you come in the door, baby brother!”

At Teddy’s loud greeting, Tyler stood up as his third brother and lead singer of the Scoundrels, hugged him. Her other sister, Susan, was close behind and enfolded Tyler in a big embrace next.

“You look good, Ty.” She yanked on his beard. “What’s with this?”

Tyler winced and rubbed his chin. “Something different. Thought I’d try it out.”

“Looks like you’re trying to hide from the law or something.” Susan took a seat next to him, her sister’s sparkling blue eyes shining and red mouth curved into a warm smile.

Cord lifted his mug of beer. “Here’s to Tyler.”

Beth rolled her eyes. Unbelievable. Slowly, she picked up her near empty glass as the rest of the table lifted their drinks. In her opinion, they shouldn’t be toasting him, they should be beating the living stuffing out of him.

“Welcome home, Ty,” Cord offered with a wide grin, his eyes shining with prideful emotion.

“Here, here.”

The chorus of toasts, greetings and warm wishes were enough to make her want to scream. Did no one care that he’d ran away almost two years ago? He’d broken her heart, left his family high and dry and, for most of the first year was completely missing, no contact or anything. Did no one think that was a big deal anymore? They’d all been hurt and heartbroken; she’d gone through hell and back again, did everyone forget? Oh no, but it’s all okay because he managed to make it home this year. What about last year? One phone call was all he’d managed. How’s that for a loving brother?

God, she couldn’t wait for New Year’s when he’d be gone again.

Beth forced herself to relax, only half-listening while Tyler talked to Teddy and Susan.

“You guys sounded great tonight. I didn’t realize you still sang together.” He leaned over and scooped a chip full of salsa and took a large bite.

Beth watched bits of tomato land in his mustache. She watched in disturbing fascination as his tongue flicked out to lick them off.

“I was in the holiday spirit,” Susan answered as she rose. “And decided to class up his act a bit. Anyone want anything from the bar?”

Beth desperately wanted another wine, but didn’t dare. Her head was already woozy from drinking the other one too fast. The last thing she needed was to get tipsy and end up telling Tyler what she really thought of him. Wouldn’t that make for a happy family Christmas?

She didn’t want to but couldn’t help listening as he explained about a new breeding program he was developing with Chase Boyd. Her eyebrow raised. Absently, she picked up her wine glass and then remembered it was empty. She set it back down. He’d been with Chase Boyd all this time? Is that where he’d been? Only six hours away. No one had told her his exact whereabouts, only that he’d been in touch. Not that she’d ever asked or even wanted to know by then. So much for his big talk of traveling the world, she mused to herself. Hah. He’d only made it to Abilene, what a world traveler!

“I’m going to check out the buffet, anyone else coming?” Teddy said.

Beth almost gagged. She couldn’t eat now if she tried. The others stood up and followed him. Suddenly, she was alone with Cole and Tyler. Very cozy.

“Don’t you want anything to eat?” Cole asked.

The look on his face told her that he was dying to get a plate of food but didn’t want to leave her alone.

“Actually, I think I’ll use the ladies room. You go ahead and get something. I’ll meet you back here.”

“I’ll get you some of those riblets you like so much,” Cole offered, touching her shoulder as he walked away.

Without a glance to Tyler, Beth left the table. Once inside the ladies' room, she rushed to get inside a stall and then shoved the door closed. Her chest tightened, her heart raced. Closing her eyes she counted slowly to ten, then did it again, breathing in and out slowly and purposely. When she opened her eyes again, she forced herself to slowly read the cautions on the wall about what not to flush down the toilet. Her heart rate slowly returned to normal and the panic attack subsided. Whew. She drew one last deep breath and left the stall.

At the sink, she ran cold water over her wrists. Somewhere inside she had hoped that when she saw Tyler again, she would feel nothing. Instead, there was all this pent up rage and she just wanted to beat on him with her fists, scream and cry and ask all the questions he’d left unanswered. No, not all the questions. Just one question. Why? Not, why did you leave? She knew the answer to that. Tyler had lived his entire life wanting to get the hell out of Sweet Meadow, Texas, to pursue his own life, away from the family’s constant interference.

No, what she wanted to know was why he’d left without her? Without even saying goodbye, without begging me to come with you? What had she done to make him leave her, too?

She ran her fingers through her short hair and left the bathroom. The band was playing again as she walked towards the table.

A hand grasped at her elbow and froze her in place.

“Dance with me.” Tyler’s words weren’t a question, but they weren’t quite a command either. She could have refused, should have refused, yet she let him lead her to the dance floor.

He turned her to face him and her brain screamed its refusal even as her hand settled into his palm.

When he folded her in his arms, her mutinous body soaked him in like a sponge. The song, a familiar tune about being home for Christmas, was way too fitting. She took a deep breath and then another. I can do this. She’d danced with Tyler and only Tyler for most of her life; of course it would be as natural as taking a breath.

Dancing with him was different than before, though. His body had changed, harder, more muscular. He was completely unfamiliar to her, and yet, she still tingled everywhere he touched. There was a time when she knew every inch of every bit of the skin on his bones. Now he was a stranger. How could this be? How could a relationship that had been so strong and solid since they were children turn into this?

She focused on a spot on his dark shirt instead, pulling herself out of her disturbing thoughts. “You’re in Abilene, then? How’s that working out?”

“Good,” he said shortly.

His scent drifted to her nostrils. He still wore the cologne she’d always bought him. The smell wrapped around her like an old quilt on a cold night. A strange sensation flowed through her, as if she was a plant that hadn’t been watered in way too long and slowly came back to life with a good dousing. She struggled against the urge to drop her head to his chest and snuggle in.

“You’ve cut your hair.” His large hand covered the middle of her back and slid up as if remembering where the thick blond mane used to hang.

She didn’t miss the disapproval in his voice. He’d loved her long hair, loved winding his fingers in it when they made love. He used to drape it over her bare back and make her promise that she’d never cut it. Her body flushed with the memory. She lifted her chin. He’d once promised her forever, too. So much for promises.

She shrugged. “It was getting in the way.”

Another couple bumped her from behind and she stumbled against him. Strong arms steadied her but, instead of moving her back to a proper distance, held her tighter. Her body immediately responded with hardened nipples inside her red dress, and her temperature rose several degrees. Traitor, she thought. For two years, she hadn’t been able to feel anything. Now, with one dance, she was suddenly alive. And she wasn’t the only one alive. There was no disputing the bulge pressing into her belly. The disgusting part was that it excited her body even more.

With a firm push she put some distance between them. “I’m sorry. These are new shoes. I’m not used to the height,” she said in excuse, trying to act like the incident was no big deal.

“They’re pretty high. So's that dress. It’s not your usual style; is it Susan’s?”

Beth flung her head back and glared. “How the hell would you know what my style is?”

Tyler lifted one eyebrow but didn’t comment.

She frowned. “Cole picked it out when we were in Dallas last week.” There, let him chew on that for a while.

“I didn’t know you two were dating.” He looked down at her steadily. “No one told me.”

The trip had been completely innocent. Doc was flying out of Dallas, and they’d agreed to give him a ride and do some shopping. They hadn’t even stayed overnight. Again, not something he needed to know about. “Probably because it has nothing to do with you.”

His gaze rose, looking past her, revealing no emotion. “No, I don’t suppose it does.”

His thigh brushed against hers and an old familiar desire tugged at her insides. His grip tightened and her body ached for what it no longer could have.

She closed her eyes against the feelings. Oh God. She so wanted to scream at him, beg him for answers and rant and rave like a lunatic. Purposely, she pulled back.

His gaze met hers. “At some point while I’m home, maybe we could talk.”

When pigs fly! The time for that conversation was two years ago. “I’m very busy this time of year, especially with Grant on vacation,” she replied coolly.

“Yeah, I heard the practice is really busy. Isn’t his being gone going to make it harder on you?”

Beth tossed her head, loving the way her new short hair defiantly shifted on the back of her neck. “Yes, but it’s more important for him to be with his family. Family is everything, don’t you think?” She wanted this dance to be over with.

His grip on her tightened. “That’s why I came home.”

“I guess your brothers weren’t important last year, then?”

“It couldn’t be helped.” His jaw tightened.

She scoffed and he dropped her hand to grab her chin, forcing her to look up into his face. She glared and decided she didn’t like the beard or the mustache after all. It gave him a sinister appearance.

“I don’t expect you to understand. I don’t even expect you to forgive me, but don’t you think we owe each other at least a conversation?”

Fury burned her veins. “I don’t owe you anything.” Tears sprang to her eyes and it made her even madder that she was falling apart in front of him. “But you do owe me. So while you're home, and I hope to hell it’s a fast visit, stay away from me. Personally, I can’t wait until you go back to Abilene or wherever the hell you ran off to.”

He searched her eyes for what seemed an eternity and the room grew suddenly way too warm, but she forced herself to stare right back.

“You always were dramatic.”

Her eyes widened and she stopped dancing. “Well, in that case, it’ll be right in character if I make a dramatic exit, then.”

She pulled out of his hold and quickly raced for the kitchen, slipping through the swinging door.

All heads turned and she glanced around frantically. Long time friend and bar owner, Bill, set down a tray of glasses. “Need something, honey?”

“Actually, um,” she struggled against the tears. “They’ve run out of riblets. I thought I’d come get some.”

Bill nodded. “Why don’t you go have a seat in my office for a few minutes while I get them ready?”

With a quick nod she all but ran to the far end of the kitchen and through the narrow corridor to the private office.

****

Tyler watched Beth practically run from him and into the kitchen. He didn’t follow.

He shouldn’t have asked her to dance, but the need to touch her, to have a moment alone with her had been too much to resist. What had he expected? Did he really think he could come back and she’d be happy to see him? Staying away this long had been a mistake. He couldn’t change what was done; the best he could do was take his punishment like a man.

He moved to the bar to get another drink. Seeing her with Cole had been a surprise. But then, it made sense; they were perfect for one another. Cole’s father had been the area’s longtime vet and Beth’s mentor. She was the daughter Doc never had. It made perfect sense for his son to end up with her. Not that he liked it one bit.

“Another beer?” Bill asked, coming around the bar.

Tyler noted that the earlier warm welcome from the bartender was gone.

“Nah, I think I’ve had enough. Thanks, Bill. Have a good holiday if I don’t see you.”

The drive from Abilene and the stress of coming home weighed him down. Tyler shoved away from the bar and looked for his brothers to let them know he was heading back to the ranch. He turned his head in time to see Beth return and Cole’s arm protectively wrap around her shoulders. She didn’t lean into the other man though and, after a moment, he removed his arm. Odd.

Turning away, he headed towards Buck and Sara at the door, but Tyler avoided their eyes. He didn’t need a lecture from his big brother or from his sister-in-law who always had an opinion on everything.

“Leaving?” Buck asked, holding open the door for his wife.

“Yeah,” Tyler said, following them out into the parking lot.

He couldn’t help but smile as she waddled. A hand slid over her stomach as she looked up at Buck, her eyes tired, but adoring. Tyler’s heart ached. So much had changed since he left. Buck and Sara had only been good buddies back then. Now they were married and about to become parents.

He slapped his brother on the back as the couple reached their truck. “You guys drive careful. I’ll see you sometime tomorrow, I suspect.”

Then, before he could stop himself, he leaned down and kissed Sara on the cheek. She looked as shocked as he was but didn’t say anything, just watched him with those green eyes that made him always feel like a five year old.

“Goodnight, Tyler,” she said, climbing into the passenger seat with the aid of her husband’s helping hand.

As Buck shut the door, Tyler shoved his hands in his pockets.

Buck shook his head and pushed his Stetson back. “I’m glad you’re home, but you have a lot of fixing to do around here, and I don’t mean fence lines.”

He nodded but didn’t say anything. Buck stared for a moment, then, with a brief wave, walked around to the driver’s side.

As Tyler watched them drive away he admired his brother’s shiny new truck. Sara had always driven a beat up old pickup and he wondered if she still had it. Probably not. They were about to become parents, grown-ups with grown-up responsibilities. Even the fact that they were leaving the bar well before midnight showed how much things had changed since he’d been gone. His older brother had become a responsible adult.

That’s what you didn’t want, remember?

With a last glance back towards the neon sign of the LoneStar, he climbed into his truck and turned it down the familiar road towards the Double B. The family ranch. Home. The place he drove away from two years ago, thinking he couldn’t get away fast enough. He never dreamed when he pulled away that day, everything with Beth would be over when he came back. He would never have left if he’d known she wasn’t coming to meet him.

When his truck reached the Double B arches, he stopped in the road and looked up. Through the light of his headlights he could make out the familiar landmark. His throat closed up and his eyes burned. He couldn’t believe how emotional he was getting at the sight of a metal structure. “I’m home,” he whispered.

His parents had been dead for well over a decade. A plane crash had taken their lives along with Beth’s mother’s in the same accident. Her father had raised all eight kids on his own with the help of their longtime housekeeper and ranch foreman. Now Beau Sampson was gone too. Still, this was home. Two years ago, he’d never appreciated that fact.

Feeling a bit foolish, he put the truck in gear again and continued on. Several miles up, the brand new house Buck and Sara had built came into view. Cord had told him about it and even emailed some pictures, but none of that did it justice. They’d built almost an exact replica of the main ranch house that Sara’s family had lived in for generations. He was eager to get the tour in the daylight.

He drove several more miles and finally the white fencing that signified the main ranch yard appeared. He punched in the code to swing open the main gates to the long driveway.

Two large houses sat across from one another joined by one large horseshoe driveway. The house to his left was where Beth and her sisters were raised. Built by her great-grandparents it still served as ranch headquarters, complete with a full office and a kitchen that could seat 30 people comfortably. The other house was his family home where he’d been born and raised, and where Cord and Teddy still lived.

His headlights shone on the newest building on the main ranch property. Beth’s clinic and cottage, the one he’d designed and made sure he finished building before he left. He had no idea what she thought of them. They’d been his graduation gift to her and, at one time, were meant to be where they would start their married life together. Tyler gripped the steering wheel and heaved a heavy breath. In the end, it had become his going away present.

He parked his truck in back of the family house and walked inside. The kitchen hadn’t changed; a light still stayed on over the sink until the last person was in for the night. A cake of some type rested under a glass dome and he grinned. Flo never let them go without dessert. He couldn’t wait to see her tomorrow morning. The adored housekeeper was his second mother—and another woman who he suspected he let down completely when he walked away.

Buck was right; he had a lot of fences to mend around here.

Coming home was the right thing to do. Though he couldn’t change the past, he was a different man now. He hadn’t done right by any of them, most of all Beth. She looked gorgeous with the way that red dress hugged her frame. She’d lost a lot of weight though, too much, but she still looked sexy as hell. Seeing her with Cole had almost killed him. He’d struggled hard to keep her from knowing how she’d affected him.

One thing he didn’t miss: he’d left her and she wasn’t going to forgive him. If he could turn back the clock, do things different, he would.

Leaving Beth had been the biggest mistake he’d ever made. Was coming back going to be the second?

Beth leaned across the breakfast counter and picked at the muffin on Grant’s plate. Her business partner was in the process of packing for his trip home and hadn’t bothered to finish his breakfast. Even though she was going to miss him like crazy, they’d both worked almost nonstop for the past two years. She was glad he’d finally agreed to the vacation at his parents' ranch in Oklahoma. It would be good for him to go home

“You going to be okay with me gone?” Grant rested his shoulder against the wall. “He’s not going to be too pleased when he finds out who’s living here.”

Beth popped another piece of muffin in her mouth. “I own this house; he doesn’t. It’s up to me who lives here.”

“Somehow, I don’t think he’s going to see it that way.”

She shrugged. “It was silly for you to rent some place in town when this house was sitting here empty. It wasn’t like I was ever going to live in it.”

Grant walked across the room and put his laptop into a leather case, then pulled his cell phone charger out of the wall and placed it in the bag with the other cords.

She twisted on the wooden stool and watched him. People always caution against doing business with friends but, when she took over Doc’s practice, she knew there was only one other vet she wanted with her. Grant Clark. They’d met in their last year at Cornell and had become close friends. She’d been crazy in love with Tyler and talked of nothing but their life together. When she graduated and returned home to find her dreams of being a new bride were stolen away in the night, she dove headfirst into her work. Grant showed up on her doorstep and, after he dried her tears, settled in as her partner. He didn’t try to slow her down or make her take time to relax the way her family wanted her to. He understood the only way to get through each day was by exhausting herself. Then again, he should know; he’d been through a similar devastation himself. She smiled at his back. She’d always be grateful to him for helping her through the worst days of her life.

He set his leather duffle bag on the floor. “I’ll be back on the second, but I can be here in a few hours if you need me.”

Beth climbed off the stool and crossed the room. “I’ll be fine. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and that you actually relax a bit.”

“Ha. Relax at my father’s ranch? Yeah, right. He twisted his face in disgust. “I’ll be running back here to get some rest.”

“Have a good time anyway and try not to let him get to you.” Beth hugged him. She had never met his father, but, from the stories Grant had told her, figured they had a very difficult relationship. She hoped he’d at least enjoy being with his mother, two sisters, and their families.

Unbidden tears filled her eyes as his arms tightened around her. She didn’t want to have to deal with Tyler without Grant here. He was her rock. She could get through this no problem if Grant was here. But with him gone, she wasn’t so sure she was strong enough.

Grant squeezed her tight and pressed his lips to the top of her head. “You’ll be fine,” he said, as if knowing her concern.

She nodded into his shoulder and clung tighter.

Grant gently pulled her away. “I won’t go. Just say the word and I’ll drive to my folks on Christmas Eve and back on Christmas night. I don’t need to be gone for ten days.”

She glanced up, saw the concern and stiffened her spine. She had to stop being such a baby. He needed to go home and be with his family, not here babysitting her. She pushed at his chest. “No. Definitely not. It was just seeing him for the first time last night. Today, I’m fine. Honest.”

He hoisted his laptop bag to his shoulder, picked up his jacket, and stared down seriously. “Remember, you’re not the same person you were when he left. You’re stronger and you’ve moved on.”

Not sure about either of those statements, Beth tucked her hands in the front pockets of her jeans and nodded. “Yep. You’re right. Drive safe, okay?”

Grant opened the door, winked, and then left.

She stood for a minute, staring at the closed door and let her breath out on a long sigh. Turning, she headed towards the back of the house. She pushed open the door that led to the now empty indoor/outdoor corral and crossed over to the connected clinic. Once inside, she switched on the lights, put on a pot of coffee in the kitchenette, and sat down behind her desk.

The folders with notes as to their status were in front of her. She picked up the file for the ranch she’d be visiting on Monday, then leaned back in her chair. An hour or so later, a cup of coffee at her side, she typed up notes from the patients she’d seen yesterday. Office work was one of the worst parts of the job. She and Grant had both decided they needed to find local part-time help, but neither had had the time to even begin to start the hiring process.

She stood and stretched. Might as well get some lunch before finishing. She hadn’t taken two steps when the phone rang.

“Sweet Meadow Animal Clinic, Beth speaking.”

“Dr. Sampson?” a gruff deep voice asked.

“Yes.”

“This is Brody Cranston over at the Rocking R.”

“What can I do for you, Brody?” Her mind conjured the rough spoken foreman of the ranch two towns away.

“Our regular vet is away for the holiday and, well, I hate to call you but I’ve done all I can.”

“Don’t worry about that Brody. Dr. Everett told me he’d be away this week. What can I do for you?”

“It’s Jet. He’s over fifteen now, and I know he’s getting up there but—”

Beth’s heart lurched when she heard the catch in the cowboy’s voice. “Why don’t you bring him right in, or I can come there.”

“I can bring him over.”

After hanging up, she walked out towards the small reception area and put the blinds up on the front door. This was not the easy part of being a vet. She hated telling a tough old cowboy that his best friend was going to have to go to the big cow pasture in the sky. She shuddered. Hopefully, whatever was ailing the Border Collie she could fix. She drew a steadying breath and fingered the stethoscope she’d slipped around her neck as she headed to ready the examination room.

About twenty minutes later, a slamming door drew her back to the front and she swung the main door open. It wasn’t the old truck that caught her eye, or the older ranch hand who walked around the back end. It was Tyler. Tyler who she didn’t expect, and who now aided the older man in opening the tailgate.

Her shock at having to deal with him again this morning was overshadowed immediately by the sight of the large dog he lifted from the truck. By the time the two men reached the porch, she’d shifted into professional mode.

Tyler’s gaze met hers, and she looked away. She hated the way he made her feel off balance and insecure.

He stepped past her into the reception area. “Where should I put him?”

Beth glanced back at Brody who followed close on Tyler’s heels and pushed her personal thoughts aside to deal with her patient. “Down the hall, first room on the left.”

With both men in the small room, and the dog lying still on the cloth covered table, she felt as if they were in a broom closet. Beth tried to move around Tyler without any part of her brushing him, but it was impossible. When she tripped over his boot, his hand shot out and steadied her by grabbing her hip. She glared, and he widened his eyes as if he had no idea what she was mad about.

What the hell is he doing here?

Beth forced a confident expression on her face and faced Brody instead. “How long has he been like this?”

“He was acting kind of funny yesterday, maybe even the day before I suppose.”

Beth nodded, listening carefully for any clues as to what was wrong with her patient. Jet whimpered on the table, shifted, but didn’t lift his head. She pushed around to the other side of the table and pressed her stethoscope to the old dog’s side to listen. His heartbeat was slow, way too slow and a lot of gurgling echoed inside. After reading the rectal thermometer, her concern increased. She shined her small flashlight into his dull eyes, glad to see they still responded to the light.

She took the stethoscope out of her ears and stroked the old dog’s head, then glanced up at Brody. The weathered foreman stood back, watching nervously. Tyler moved into position next to the animal as if they worked side by side every day. He held the dog’s head and talked in a soothing voice while Beth plunged a syringe filled with antibiotics into his thigh muscle. She stroked her patient. She had to save him. No one should lose their dog at Christmas.

“I’m going to have to keep him here, Brody.”

“Oh, I don’t know. I mean, I don’t think Jet would be comfortable in a cage.”

Beth squeezed his arm. “I would never put him in a cage. I have a wonderful area with a nice warm blanket and cushion. I’ll make sure he’s not left alone, I promise. But I need to keep him here so I can see if the antibiotics are going to work. This way, if they don’t, I can try something else.”

The worried foreman rested his large hand on the dog’s head and then nodded abruptly. “Okay. But I want you to call my cell phone if anything changes.”

Purposefully, Beth kept her gaze on the dog as she spoke to Tyler. “Would you stay with Jet for a minute while I get Brody’s information?”

Tyler nodded even though Beth had already walked out of the room. He stroked the dog’s soft fur. “You gotta pull through this, pal, he needs you.” From the other room, he could hear Beth’s soft reassuring tones as she spoke with Brody. Squatting down, Tyler rubbed Jet’s ears. “And she will be devastated if she loses you.”

A sound from the doorway brought his head up. Beth eyes held warmth towards him for the first time, instead of cool distaste from last night. “Would you mind carrying Jet to the house for me? I’ll stay there with him tonight.”

He hoisted the dog into his arms and followed Beth down the back hall. Throwing open the door, she stepped down into the inside corral.

Tyler glanced around; this was his first time in here since he’d finished the building. “Does that corral work out as good as I’d thought?”

Beth stiffened slightly but nodded. “It’s perfect. I can keep them closed in here in bad weather and then, when it’s nice out, I simply push the button and out they go.”

“I’d hoped it’d work out that way.” The vision he had for her clinic and attached small house appeared to be working well.

Beth opened the door to the house. “There’s an area off the kitchen that we’ve set up for situations like this.”

Whoa, we? Tyler wondered about that, but Jet was getting heavy, and he was more anxious to find out where she wanted him. Beth led the way and flipped on a light. A thick pad covered in fleece lay on the floor, and he gently settled the dog in the middle of the oversized mattress. After he moved out of the way, Beth drew a small gate around Jet, leaving him plenty of room for standing up and moving about, but keeping him safely enclosed.

“Not that I think he’ll go anywhere, but I don’t want him wandering around just in case.”

Three kittens darted in and wound around Tyler’s legs. Beth picked up a fluffy white one and snuggled it against her chin. “Plus, it will keep these three from pestering him.”

He smiled at the small puffs of fur and picked up a grey one. “They look suspiciously like Tabby.”

Beth grinned. “They do, don’t they? No, these were abandoned. One of the cowboys found them.”

Tyler held his hand out straight and the tiny kitten perched there looking around.

“Those hands of yours dwarf the poor thing,” Beth teased.

His gaze slammed into hers. She used to say that when he touched her, cupped her breasts in his hands. An image flashed in his mind of Beth half naked, arching her back while he slowly made love to her. His groin tightened painfully.

Red stain crept into her cheeks. She spun around and left the room. He heard water running a short time later. When she came back, she carried a stainless steel bowl and set it inside the pen near the dog.

Tyler set the kitten down. It scampered over to jump on its sibling and they tumbled around on the floor.

She stared at him; her arms crossed over her chest. “Why did you come by?”

Obviously the momentary truce was over.

He pulled the candy box from his shirt pocket. “Flo sent these over for you...and I wanted to apologize for last night. I didn’t mean to ruin your evening.”

She lifted her chin and her blue eyes glinted like ice. “Who says you ruined my evening?”

She was so damn beautiful. Even glaring like she wanted to choke him, he wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her. Probably that wouldn’t be the best move he could make; still, he wondered what she’d do.

“Well, I’m certainly glad about that. I thought I upset you.” He crossed his own arms over his chest. Maybe it was the time they’d been apart that made him see her differently, but even with the short hair that he thought he’d hate, she looked fantastic. Petite, barely five feet two, she always looked like the typical girl next door in jeans and a T-shirt. Last night, in those high heels and that short skirt, the grown woman had taken his breath away.

She moved towards the far corner of the room and opened a drawer. “That’s never bothered you before, why start now.”

She picked up what looked like a walkie-talkie and set it on the counter. Lifting the edge of her sweatshirt, she clipped the second one to the waistband of her jeans.

The sight of her bare belly kicked a thrill through him. The shirt was back in place in a heartbeat, and he caught himself staring. So did she. One eyebrow rose, but she didn’t comment; instead, she spun on her heel and walked out.

He would have liked to looked around to see how she was settled into the house. Then again, maybe not. He pushed away the fact that, when he began this project, it was the intention that they’d live here together.

By the time he caught up with Beth, she was through the door and heading across to the clinic.

“Do you like the house?”

She spun back. “If you’re waiting for me to thank you for all this, you’ll have a long wait.”

Tyler frowned. “I tried to make it everything you dreamed of.”

“Everything I dreamed of?” She frowned. “Are you kidding me? I came home from graduation expecting to find my loving fiancé waiting to welcome me back. All this”—she waved her arms in a wide circle—”was just to ease your conscience.”

“That’s not why I built it,” he argued, but inside, a part of him admitted what she said was true.

She snorted and swung back around, headed to the clinic.

Tyler closed the space and grabbed her arm. “I didn’t do it all out of guilt. I wanted you to have everything you needed.”

She narrowed her eyes and yanked her arm away. “Then you failed.”

He stood there and watched her go back into the clinic.

What did he expect? If the tables were turned, would he forgive her?

Not willing to push her any further, he left the corral through the side door and headed back across the yard.

****

Heaving a fortifying breath, Tyler knocked on the door to the den.

“Come on in,” Cord’s voice resounded through the heavy oak doors.

Tyler turned the thick knob and stepped inside. Beau Sampson had been gone for over three years now, but it was impossible to walk into the ranch office and not expect to see Beth’s father seated behind the massive desk. How many times had he been summoned to this office as a teenager over this or that?

He swallowed hard and stiffened his spine. He wasn’t a kid anymore. Cord hadn’t summoned him here; he’d asked to meet with him.

Cord pushed his chair back and met him halfway across the room. A smile split his brother’s face and he held out his hand. “I know I said it last night, but I’m so glad you’re home.” He clasped one hand on his shoulder and squeezed the other in a handshake. Cord stepped back and looked him over. “It looks like Charli’s cooking agrees with you.”

Tyler grinned. “Is there anyone who it wouldn’t agree with?” Chase Boyd’s daughter was a trained culinary genius.

His brother gestured to the two leather armchairs in front of the fireplace. Tyler swiped his hat off his head and sat down.

Cord sat in the opposite chair. “Flo just brought me fresh coffee, want a cup?”

Tyler shook his head. “In the afternoon? Wow, you really are getting old aren’t you? I bet she brought cookies too, didn’t she?”

“I could lie and say I know it makes her feel good so I put up with it, but, truth is, it’s become a bad habit of mine.”

“I know what you mean.” Tyler nodded. “Charli spoils her father when she’s home, and for some reason, it extended to me as well.”

His brother tipped his head and a questioning look passed over his eyes.

“Don’t even go there.” Tyler leaned back against the chair. “Charli’s a great gal, but I’m not man enough for that firecracker.” He grinned. “Besides, we all know who Charli’s set her sights on.”

Cord laughed through a flushed face. “She’s something else, that girl.” He leaned forward and loosely clasped his hands between his legs, studying Tyler with deep brown eyes. “You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m okay. And, I’m sorry, you know, for leaving the way I did.”

Cord glanced down at his hands and then lifted his gaze back to Tyler’s. “I can’t help but feel if you’d come to me, we could have worked something out.”

Not wanting to hurt his brother any further, he kept his thoughts of how that conversation would have gone to himself. “You’re right, I should have talked to someone and not taken off like that.”

“I’ll admit I was relieved when we found out you ended up in Abilene. Chase is the type of man who can guide you without you resenting it. I figured it was good for you to be there. Though I wanted to, hauling you back here wouldn’t have done any of us any good.”

Tyler agreed. When he first left, he was terrified that Cord would show up and guilt him into going back home. When his brother hadn’t come for him, he’d been almost disappointed. “Yeah, I needed some breathing room. To get away from here and figure out what I really wanted out of life.”

“Do you? I mean, do you know what you want now?”

Tyler nodded. “I want to be a part of the Double B and take responsibility for my part in the business.”

Eyes wide, Cord sat back. “Are you saying you’re coming home for good?”

“Yes.” Tyler said it in such a way that brooked no argument. He didn’t want Cord to think he was wavering in his conviction. He knew what he wanted. “I’ve already talked to Chase about it. To be honest, he’s not too happy. He has this insane thought that the Circle S can’t run without me anymore. He lost his longtime foreman last year, and I sort of filled his shoes. But that’s not where I belong. I belong here.”

“What about Beth?”

Tyler clenched his jaw. He wasn’t going to talk to Cord about his relationship with Beth. “What about her?”

Cord tipped his head. “She’s moved on.”

“I’m aware of that.”

“And you’ll be able to live with that? With her being with Cole?”

Tyler met his brother’s gaze steadily. “I fully intend to do everything in my power to win her back.”

Cord stood and frowned down. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, for anybody.”

Tyler rose slowly. Cord was the shortest of the Weston brothers and it gave Tyler, younger but taller, an immense measure of satisfaction to look down on him. “I love her. I fully admit I screwed up, and have no right to ask her to give me a second chance, but I’m going to. Beth and I have been in love since before we were old enough to know what it meant. I won’t give up on that easily.”

Cord ran his hand around the back of his neck. “You’re my brother, but what you did to that girl...” He paused and tipped his chin up. “The fact that you walked away from your responsibilities here and your role on this ranch, that we can get past.”

“That’s mighty big of you.” Tyler knew he was being sarcastic and didn’t care.

“But the way you left Beth wasn’t right. No man does that, and you were raised better than that. You should have stayed and told her face to face what your feelings were. You have no business toying with her now.”

Biting back his own guilt and rising anger at his brother’s intrusion in his personal business, Tyler shoved his hands in his pocket. “Beth’s a grown woman and she’s never had any problems handling me in the past. From the few interactions we’ve had, it’s more than obvious she’d like nothing better than to skin me alive and leave me for the vultures. I’m smart enough to realize her taking me back will be a long shot at best.”

Cord’s eyes narrowed. “If you hurt her again, you will answer to me.”

Tyler clenched his jaw. He wanted to hate his brother for saying that, but he was right. “I give you my word that I won’t. It’s the last thing I want to do.”

“Okay. We’ll leave it at that.” Cord relaxed and folded his hands casually over his chest. “So, what do you want to do? I mean, it’s obvious from the conversations we’ve had on the phone that you’ve been doing some different things at the Circle S. Nothing says you have to come back here and work under Buck and Sam again. Tell me what your thoughts are.”

“It’s busy for everyone right now. I was thinking we could talk in more detail after Christmas.”

Cord clasped his hand on his shoulder. “Fair enough.”

His brother nodded then crossed the room and slipped into the massive leather chair behind the desk. Their father had died when Cord was only eighteen. He’d shouldered a lot of responsibilities these past twelve years. Tyler wondered if he ever wanted to run away. Did Cord ever wake up and think, ‘what if I just started driving and never came back?’

Tyler turned to the door. Nope. Not him. Cord was the very picture of responsible. He was steady and secure. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that, with Cord at the helm, this ranch was in good strong hands.

****

The tempting smell of bacon and toast greeted Tyler as he entered the kitchen the next morning. Flo flipped pancakes at the stove and added them to an enormous stack on the tray next to her. She sang a Christmas carol as she worked, sometimes almost in a whisper and then at other times belting out the chorus. She glanced up as he joined his brothers at the table.

“I was starting to think that you didn’t eat anymore.” Flo put the platter on the table.

Flo’s welcome home when he’d caught up with her yesterday after church had made him feel even worse about being gone so long. She appeared to have aged in the time he was away. Her steps were slower in the kitchen, and the lines in her face had deepened, but the strength in her body when she’d hugged him close hadn’t changed. The tears that streaked from her eyes made him realize he had a lot of making up to do to a lot of people.

“What do you mean? You were at church yesterday morning, and you weren’t here for dinner last night.”

Flo drew back and settled her hand on her ample hip. “Don’t sass me, boy. I know where I was. It was Sunday morning and at least one member of this family needs to be in that pew. Lord knows I have enough souls to pray for each week.” She leaned forward and pressed her cheek to her husband’s. “And Sam decided we needed to have a private dinner, just the two of us last night.”

The chuckles around the table made the old man frown, but Tyler didn’t miss the affectionate brush of Sam’s hand along his wife’s backside when she turned back to the stove.

“She doesn’t need to cook for you youngin’s all week.” He stabbed a pile of pancakes and poured honey over the entire thing.

Cord folded the newspaper and set it aside. “I’ve been telling her that for years and you know it.”

Tyler poured himself orange juice from the same pitcher they’d had on the table his entire life. Around the room, Teddy, Cord, and Sam all sat in the same spots they’d been sitting in forever. Buck’s chair was empty, but other than that, the entire scene was the same as it had always been.

It was this type of ‘sameness’ that had driven him off the ranch. He had thought if he stayed another minute he’d suffocate. Nothing ever changed. It was the same routine, day in and day out. Now, however, he found it comforting and realized how much he’d missed the very thing that had driven him away.

Flo set a steaming mug of coffee in front of him. Her old, wrinkled hand settled on his shoulder and squeezed. An enormous platter of bacon, ham, and sausage began to move around the table, passed from one hand to another. He took a helping and continued its route over to Cord.

“What time are the kids arriving Wednesday?” Teddy asked.

“Three,” Cord replied, forking sausage from the platter. “I’ll need to be dressed and hidden away before that. Can’t have the kids spying Santa ahead of time.”

Tyler had made sure he came home in time for the annual Christmas party for the Sweet Meadow Children’s Home, a tradition on the ranch started many years before they were even born. Cord and Teddy both sat on the Foundation Board and, though the family gave large sums of money to the Home, the Christmas party was what they enjoyed the most.

“Anyone going into town this morning?” Flo asked, pouring more coffee.

“I need to get in there sometime this week, why?” Tyler tucked into his pancakes.

“The costumes need to be picked up and I ordered a few things at the new candy store. It’s at the corner of Main and Second.”

“Sure, I can do it.”

“Tha—”

Flo’s appreciation was cut off by the door banging open. They all looked up as Buck walked in, flung his hat on the hook on the wall, and grabbed a plate out of the cupboard.

“Don’t you have a kitchen of your own and a wife to eat breakfast with?” Teddy complained as Buck sat down.

“Don’t you have some hot blonde you should still be rolling around with?” Buck quipped back. He smiled up at Flo as she poured his coffee. “Sara can’t stand the smell of bacon right now, or coffee, and I can’t eat another bowl of Frosted Flakes.” He grabbed the platter of pancakes and emptied it onto his plate.

Flo brought a heaping platter of bacon to the table—Buck grabbed it first.

“You wanna take a doggie bag back with you, boy?” Sam asked.

Buck grinned and passed the plate. “No, Sir. You just have no idea how good this all looks.”

Flo cuffed her husband on the side of the head. “Leave that boy alone. I should probably come down and cook for you two each morning. I could do it after this if I…”

“No!” a resounding chorus argued and Tyler grinned at the surprised expression on the older woman’s face.

Flo narrowed her eyes and waved one large finger in the air. “Don’t be thinking that any of you can be telling me what to do, or not to do. I’ll slow down when I’m dead and not a second before.”

Sam shook his head, muttering under his breath.

Their much loved housekeeper grabbed up the empty platter and took it back to the counter. “Besides, I hardly do anything around this place anymore. You hired that outfit to cook for the ranch hands.” Flo spit out the word ‘outfit’ as if it left a bad taste in her mouth. “Susan and Diane are in New York most of the year, and there’s only Beth rattling around in the main house.” She harrumphed. “We all know she doesn’t eat, so what am I supposed to do?”

That caught Tyler’s attention. “Beth? At the main house? Why isn’t she living in the one I built her next to the clinic?”

“She’s never lived there,” Buck said around a mouthful of pancakes.

Tyler swallowed. “What are you talking about? I was there yesterday. It’s definitely lived in. In fact, she had me move one of her patients in there so she could watch the dog all night long. I know she’s sleeping there.”

“If she slept there last night, that’s the first night she’s ever spent in that house.” Cord shook his head. “Grant lives there.”

The bacon stuck in Tyler’s throat and he almost gagged. His neck grew warm as anger built. He’d built that place for Beth, not for the idiot Clark. When she was in college, he’d heard enough of the great Grant Clark. The aspiring vet had been the cause of numerous jealous rages on his part, even though Beth had sworn up and down he was only a friend.

“Ty, calm down,” Cord warned. “Beth wasn’t living there, and it made no sense for Grant to move into one of the outbuildings.”

Tyler set his fork down, appetite gone. Her words from yesterday slammed back at him—she thought he’d built that place to ease his conscience. Damn stubborn woman. She wouldn’t listen to him about why he left, she wouldn’t even let him try to explain, and now this. What else was he going to find out about? Was she more than business partners with Grant? Or was she dating Cole? How serious was that whole thing?

His chest tightened. Before he came home, his mind had pictured how this would play out. Beth would be hurt, and mad, and he’d beg forgiveness. They’d talk it all out, he’d explain, she’d be mad for a while, but he’d manage to convince her how much he still loved her. She knew he didn’t leave because of her; he’d explained it all in the letter he’d left.

Well, he could be mad too. He’d waited in Abilene that whole season for her. It took until Christmas before he figured out she wasn’t coming to him. He had just as much reason to be mad. He at least left a letter, but she didn’t even write or call, just left him hanging.

They’d been childhood sweethearts and lovers since they were teenagers. Not once had he doubted her commitment to him or her love. Not in his wildest dreams did he think he’d come back to find her cozied up to Cole, and her idiot friend from college living in the house he’d built. How soon after he left had both of them come slinking around?

But it all made sense. What a fool he was, no wonder she hadn’t come to the Circle S.

A chair scraped back, forcing him out of his own head.

Sam lumbered away from the table. “Maybe ya’ll have time to be sitting around jawin’ all day, but I got a ranch to run.”

“Oh, okay, old man. No problem.” Teddy laughed.

Sam kissed Flo on the cheek. “I’ll see you at lunch.”

Flo blushed like a schoolgirl and waved her dishtowel at him. “Go on with ya,” she laughed.

The grizzled foreman leaned down and whispered something to his wife.

Tyler stared at the two, marveling at the love they shared after all these years.

Buck pushed away from the table and settled his hat back on his head. “He’s in a hurry to get to the barn so he can take his mid-morning nap.”

“As long as he’s rested by lunchtime,” Flo cackled.

Within seconds the busy kitchen was empty except for Tyler and Flo. He finished clearing the table and stacked the dishes in the dishwasher.

“Did you have a list of what you want picked up at that store?” A drive was just what he needed right now. He waited while she dried her hands on a dishtowel and moved to the refrigerator.

Under a bright magnet she pulled off a slip of paper. “I called this order in, but I decided to get a few more things.” She raised a brow. “You boys don’t think I don’t listen but I do. I know I need to slow down a bit so, I decided this year to buy a lot of the sweets for the party instead of making them. See there, I can compromise.”

Tyler smiled as she handed him the paper.

One dark finger pointed to the inked list. “See these candies here, Beth is insane for them. I try to buy them every time I go into town. In case you haven’t noticed, she’s way too thin.”

Tyler nodded. “She looks like she’s lost weight.”

Flo narrowed her gaze, and Tyler frowned. Flo was rarely angry at anyone, but he definitely felt like he’d just broken a window.

“She’s put on fifteen pounds since this time last year.”

Tyler’s jaw dropped. “What?”

The older woman nodded. “I’m not saying this to make you feel bad. To be honest, no one can be to blame for what another person does in life, but when you left”—she shrugged—”she stopped eating altogether. For a while, she stopped doing everything, work, eating, everything. All she did was lie in bed or ride her horse. Once Grant got here, he got her working again, but she didn’t eat enough to keep a bird alive. That’s where Cole came in. That boy and his father got through to her like none of us could. For a time, he was here so much I was going to make up a room for him.”

Tyler leaned back against the counter stunned by what he was hearing. It was his fault. He’d done this to her. How could I have been so damn selfish?

Flo patted his arm. “But she’s better now. She got some help, and, thank the good Lord, we’ve got our Beth back. So make sure you get several boxes of those candies, she can’t resist them.” The housekeeper reached her hand out to squeeze his arm. “Whatever your reasons for leaving, remember something, Tyler. Family is family, and running away never solved anything. Your problems are always there when you come back. Leaving only delays the fixing of ‘em.”

Still reeling from what he’d just learned, Tyler couldn’t say anything. No wonder Beth hadn’t come to him—she’d been too sick. He couldn’t believe his family hadn’t dragged his butt home, but then, for a long time, no one even knew where he was.

He frowned. Realizing Flo was still talking, he pulled his attention back to her.

“Can you believe next year will be the fiftieth year the Double B has hosted this Christmas party? I was there you know, at the party when I met y’all daddies. I wasn’t even sixteen that first year.”

A grin slipped to his lips. Tyler knew the entire story. Everyone did. It was legendary.

Flo and Sam met and fell wildly in love that year and she never left the ranch again. By the time he’d been born, Flo was a long established household member and was married to the ranch foreman. When the accident took both his parents' lives, the couple moved into their home and finished raising the boys.

Beth used to compare the love Sam and Flo had to their own. “We’ll be just like them,” she used to tell Tyler. “We’ll be together our entire life.”

But while Sam and Flo had been content to never leave the ranch, he and Beth wanted to travel. They wanted to see what else there was in the world besides Texas, and they wanted to live their lives away from their controlling family. She’d work as a vet and he’d train horses, and they’d never stay in one place more than a few months until they found the perfect place to be on their own.

“We’ll never be allowed to grow up if we stay in Sweet Meadow,” Beth had said on more than one occasion.

They’d been in full agreement...until the day her mentor, Doc Pritchard, had handed her his practice.

Flo’s pat to his cheek was like a slap atop his stupidity. He never should have left. Beth had gotten sick because of him, Flo was older looking, Buck and Sara were going to be parents for cripes sake, and he wasn’t entirely sure where he stood with his brothers.

What was that old saying, you can never go home again?

Why did he think that he could?

****

Beth peeled the disposable gloves off each hand and dropped them in the garbage can next to the stall. “I wish I could tell you everything is going to be fine.”

“You don’t have to worry about that with me,” Cole said.

She nodded and planted her hands on her hips, appreciating his understanding. “Any horse carrying twins is going to have a hard time, and I don’t know too many that are able to take them to term or deliver live, healthy colts.”

Cole nodded and rubbed a hand against the back of his neck. A lump formed in her throat. Even with over two years of being a fully qualified veterinarian, she’d never get used to the feeling of helplessness when she was up against nature. Sometimes she’d win and sometimes nature would. In this case, the odds were definitely stacked against them all.

“The good news is, as hard as this is to say, you can try again. You have at least three other mares that would be good matches for Prince.” Beth raked her fingers through her short hair. She’d been hard at work all day when Cole called her to come take a look at the struggling pregnant mare.

“Yeah, I know, but if we can save these two...”

Beth walked over to him. “I’ll do everything I can.”

“Thanks.”

He opened his arms and Beth stepped into his embrace. He needed comfort and assurance and she tried to offer what she could, but, in her gut, she’d already accepted the risks of the horse’s pregnancy. Closing her eyes, she settled her head on the familiar chest. When the hug went on a bit too long, she pulled away. Cole let her go, but the expression on his face told him he’d have rather she’d stay put.

“What?” she asked when his smile faltered.

He shrugged. “How are things with Tyler home?”

Beth picked up her equipment. “I don’t see him much.”

“He’s been home a week and you haven’t seen him?”

“No, I’ve seen him. That first night at the LoneStar and a few times after, but it’s not like we’re sitting down to supper together. I’m out on calls most nights and eat on the road.”

Cole touched her shoulder. “Make sure you take care of yourself.”

“Don’t fuss, Cole. Flo gives me enough grief.”

“She worries.” He grinned. “Hey, what are you doing tonight? How about I buy you dinner at that new place we’ve been talking about trying in the city. We could get all dressed up, make a night of it.”

Her first instinct was to say no. She really didn’t want to get dressed up and go out. But the eager expression in his eyes told her it would be good for him, and she owed him that. He’d been there for her ever since Tyler left. Cole had been very clear the past year that he wanted more than her friendship; he wanted a true relationship with a promise of a future. Beth had let him know she had no intention of that, but still, he’d been the one to pick her back up after Tyler left when all she wanted to do was stay in the dark cave of misery. She’d told him time and time again to date someone else, but he kept insisting he’d wait until she was ready.

She forced a smile. “That would be fun. But you know it all depends on if I get any calls. I hate having to cancel at the last minute.”

Cole grinned and picked up her bag of equipment. “This is me, remember?”

Cole’s father, Doc, had been the only vet in Sweet Meadow until he handed Beth the practice after her graduation. If anyone understood, Cole would. She was still amazed today at how Doc had done it all, especially after his wife died. She had a hard enough time to find any downtime even when Grant was home.

Cole set her bag in her pickup as Beth pulled open the door on the driver’s side. He stopped her with a hand on her arm. “I’ll make reservations for seven. Does that give you enough time?”

She pulled her cell phone off her belt and glanced at the clock. “Yeah, that’s fine.”

He leaned towards her but she ducked her head and climbed into her truck as if she had no idea he had been going to kiss her goodbye.

He stepped back and shoved his hands in his pockets. “I’ll see you in a few hours.”

Beth nodded and put the truck in gear, waving as she headed out the driveway. In her rearview mirror, she saw him staring after and a heavy sadness settled over her. Why can’t I love Cole? He was perfect for her. He was Doc’s son; they were made to be together. No one understood the demands of her job better than he did—the times she had to leave in the middle of the night, the missed dinners. By the time she was sixteen she was working alongside Doc and had gone on calls with him. He’d trained her to be ready to go even if it was the last thing you wanted. It came with the territory and he wanted her to get a good taste of it early on before she even went to college to begin her real studying. Tyler had always struggled with that, but Cole understood completely. This was her life.

Driving the familiar route between her ranch and Cole’s, she thought of Doc. She’d love his opinion on the horse’s pregnancy. She leaned her head on her hand as she drove. Would the older man have some other kind of magic up his sleeve that could give them a better chance to make it? At times like this, when she knew there was no hope, she questioned her decision to be here. Everyone counted on her to save their animals. Didn’t they know it was far more up to nature than anything a vet could do? As Doc always said, “All we can do is try our best, but most times it’s out of our control.” That’s what he would tell her now. “Stop worrying about this, little girl. It’s God’s will what will happen with those twins.”

God’s will. She couldn’t help but fight against it. That was what was exhausting her; she didn’t have enough experience under her belt to learn how to let it not get to her. Or was everything else getting to her?

When Cord had told her that Tyler was coming home for Christmas, she’d convinced herself that she was ready and that seeing him again would be difficult, but not painful. But one look at him at the LoneStar, one dance with him and she was a mess.

Rage brewed inside at what he’d done to her. If he hadn’t wanted her anymore, the very least he could have done was tell her face to face. Instead, he’d run off before she even knew he was gone, and with no way for anyone to find him. By the time Cord tracked him down and knew where he was, Beth had told everyone she didn’t want to know. Tyler’s name wasn’t even mentioned in conversations with her.

What would life be like right now if she and Tyler had hit the road like they’d always planned? Where would they have landed? Would they still be traveling? Would they have come back? Probably to visit, but the plan had been to live anywhere but here.

Didn’t matter anyway. It’d been childish. Didn’t he know that? Hitting the open road, going wherever they wanted, it was a nice fantasy but it wasn’t reality. When Sara and Buck got married, Beth realized that what she really wanted out of life was the same thing. A man who was stable and dependable and loved her so much he’d never imagine life without her. A man like Cole Pritchard.

She scoffed at herself. The problem with that fantasy was as much as she suspected Cole might love her, she didn’t love Cole. There was no chemistry. Was it so wrong to want that physical attraction, that all consuming lust that she once shared with Tyler?

And where did all that get you?

True. Maybe the more mature thing to do was to think with her head and not her hormones or even her heart. She and Tyler had been kids. They’d become lovers way too early and built their relationship on how good that was.

She shifted on the truck seat. They’d certainly spent a lot of time making out. Was that all there was to what they had, then? Hot teenage lust? They’d explored and learned everything they knew from each other, and it had been amazing. Barely a day went by that they didn’t find a way to sneak off and fool around, thinking no one knew what they were up to. Thank goodness they’d always been careful—neither wanted an unplanned pregnancy to mess up their plans.

Yet the few times she and Cole had kissed, it’d left her cold. Unfortunately, her hormones had come to life the second Tyler danced with her. All the feelings she thought were dead and buried sprang up and screamed for attention.

Beth sat up straighter as she drove through the Double B arches. Just because he had the power to make her body respond, didn’t mean she had to let him know. He’d be gone after New Year’s, and life could go back to the way it was. Then maybe she would ignore her body and heart this time and use her head; maybe focus on Cole and what they might possibly have together. Maybe.

****

Tyler took a long swallow of his after dinner drink and watched the flames flicker in the fireplace. December in Texas wasn’t really a time when a fire was needed, but Flo and Susan had both insisted it would be ‘cozy’ to have one tonight. Not for the first time, he wondered where Beth was but didn’t want to ask anyone.

When headlights swept across the large picture window, he watched Cord’s head turn in that direction.

“That must be Beth and Cole.” His brother pushed away from the fireplace and freshened his drink from the small set in bar.

Tyler’s gut clenched at the thought of her out with Pritchard. Where had they gone? Out to a quiet intimate dinner? Over to the other man’s house for an even more intimate evening?

Visions of Beth naked in his arms, blue eyes full of passion and desire flashed through his memory. They’d learned to be lovers together—the thought of her doing all that they had done with Cole was enough to make him insane. He counted off the seconds, wondering what was going on in the car. Why hadn’t she come inside? He hoped she wasn’t bringing Cole in with her. He couldn’t stomach seeing them together again.

The front door opened and closed. Seconds later, Beth walked through the double doors that led to the family room. She paused in the doorway and Tyler glanced past her. No Cole. Good. His gaze returned to her and slid hungrily down her body. The long, black velvet skirt floated at mid-calf, and he recognized the bright red blouse. He’d given it to her one Christmas—and peeled it from her body before that night was over. His large hands had fumbled with the tiny diamond buttons until he finally lifted it from the hem and yanked it over her head. She’d laughed at his impatience, and then reached for his zipper.

Tyler swallowed hard as his groin sprang to life with the memory.

“Stay right there.” Teddy jumped up and walked towards Beth. “Honey, it’s bad luck to stand under mistletoe and not get kissed. I can’t let that happen to a nice girl like you.”

Beth put her hands out as if to ward him off, but ever the performer, Teddy swept her into his arms, bent her over backward until she squealed and clutched at his shoulders for balance.

“Brace yourself,” he teased, and planted a very noisy kiss on her lips, twisting his face back and forth as the rest of them laughed.

When he swung her back on her feet and Beth’s eyes sparkled with laughter, Tyler’s heart jerked. He used to be able to put that type of fun in her eyes. He wanted to punch his brother in the head for being able to do what he no longer could.

Beth met his gaze. Her neck reflexed in a gulp and she looked scared to death that he was going to do the same thing Teddy had just done.

Not a bad idea.

Purposely, he set his drink on the ledge of the fireplace and crossed the room. Her narrowed gaze warned him off, but he ignored her to lean down. He intended to only brush his mouth against her cheek and walk away, but once he was next to her, and saw the absolute dread in her eyes, he couldn’t stop himself. She shook her head and he waited for her to turn and walk away from him, but she didn’t.

He reached out and tucked one loose strand of hair behind her ear and then framed her face in his palms. Even as he bent over, he waited for her to push him away. She didn’t. Her breath hitched and he smelled the peppermint coming from her breath, her blue eyes wide and wary.

“Merry Christmas, Angel,” he whispered and pressed his lips to hers.

He’d planned on it being a quick, chaste, closed-mouth kiss. But, like a long extinguished flame that suddenly burst back to life, the minute his mouth touched hers, something ignited. His head spun and he teased the seam of her lips with his tongue. Her hands settled at his waist but instead of pushing him away as he dreaded, she kissed him back.

Tyler forgot about everyone else in the room when her fingers gripped the waistband of his jeans and she tipped her head as he deepened the embrace. He pulled her closer, wrapped her in his arms. She clung to him and his body roared to life, his groin springing up and pressing into her. She shifted closer.

“Beth you left your purse in the ca…”

It took a second before Cole’s voice registered with either of them.