Love Me Tender (33 page)

Cassidy gazed around Jess and Evan's living room. It was everything that Christmas morning should be. A fire blazed in the river stone fireplace, carols played softly in the background, and a tall Douglas fir sported twinkling lights, tinsel, and a variety of ornaments, most of them homemade. Under the tree were dozens of brightly wrapped packages.

It brought back happy memories of family Christmases when she was small. Now here she was, having been more or less adopted into this family gathering: Jess and Evan, Miriam and Wade Bly, Brooke and Jake Brannon, the two babies, and of course, most importantly, Robin and Dave. This afternoon, the three of them would head over to Dave's parents' place for a second family gathering, and a turkey dinner. Robin had told her that her mom's family and her dad's traded each year who got Christmas morning with them and who got dinner.

Cassidy, wearing the red cashmere sweater Maribeth had saved for her, accepted a mug of hot chocolate from Evan and a slice of blueberry cinnamon coffee cake from Jess. Settling contentedly on a couch beside Dave, she watched Robin commandeer the doling out of gifts.

It was a slow process. One gift to her mom, and then everyone waited while Jess opened it and exclaimed with pleasure. Then a gift to Miriam, then Brooke.

Cassidy thought that, while there were bound to be gifts for her under that tree, she'd already received everything she could possibly want. What a weird trick of fate that only months after being diagnosed with a life-altering chronic illness her life was fuller and happier than she'd ever imagined it could be.

She still woke each morning wondering if her body would let her down, and she still suffered an occasional pseudoexacerbation, but there'd been no fresh attack of MS. One thing she'd learned: having an unpredictable disease made her feel grateful and lucky for each healthy day.

And she'd had some terrific days. Last week, she'd spent hours with her brother, sharing memories and catching up, and then she'd watched him wed lovely, warmhearted Mags. She'd also spent time with her parents, some of it awkward, but she could see the changes in them, including a willingness to put her and JJ first. At least sometimes.

And then there was Dave. Their relationship was real. Not perfect, but perfectly wonderful as they shared fears and doubts as well as tenderness and passion, every moment filled with love.

While Cassidy was busy counting her blessings, Robin had identified presents for the babies, which she helped them open, and moved on to presents for the men. With glee, she said, “And now it's my turn!” She chose one from Cassidy, a calendar with photos of wild horses for each month, and seemed thrilled to bits.

“Oh gosh, Cassidy, I forgot about you.” Robin's eyes twinkled as she handed over an envelope. “This is from me.”

Inside was a Christmas card with a drawing of several wire-mesh caribou pulling a sleigh holding Santa and a bag of gifts. An original work of art by Robin. “What a terrific card!” A slip of paper fell out and Cassidy bent to retrieve it. It was a check for twenty-five dollars drawn on the girl's bank account and made out to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada. Cassidy gazed up in wonder.

“So they'll find a cure,” Robin said.

“Oh my gosh. That's the best present ever.” She reached out to hug her warmly, this girl who'd become as dear to her as a sister or a daughter.

Jess rose. “I'm glad you think so.” She came over and handed Cassidy another envelope. “This is from Evan and me.”

“From Jake and me,” Brooke chimed in, flourishing another card.

“From Wade and me.” Miriam had another.

“And me.” Dave added one to the pile accumulating on her lap.

By now, tears were slipping down her cheeks. “You guys, this is amazing. Thank you so much.”

Dave handed her two more. “These were entrusted to me. They're from JJ and Mags, and your mom and dad.”

Miriam leaned forward to offer a tissue and Cassidy blew her nose, which must have been as red as her sweater. She had a chance to recover as, for the next half hour, Robin choreographed more rounds of gifts. Thank heavens Cassidy's presents had all come in one fell swoop, or she'd have been a teary mess all morning.

The pile was seriously reduced when Robin flourished another envelope. “This is for you too, Cassidy. Open it.”

Another check? But she'd already received checks from everyone in the room. She slipped a finger under the sealed flap and drew out the card. This, too, was Robin's artwork. A wild horse stood on a hillside, gazing up at the moon, where three wild geese flew in a V. “Wow, that's gorgeous.” She opened the card and read, in Robin's neat handwriting:

“Two wild geese?” She gazed at the girl, touched. “What a cool idea.”

“They're me and Dad.” Robin put her hand on Cassidy's shoulder, where her sweater covered her tattoo. “So you don't have to fly alone anymore. Do you like it?”

“I love it. It's fantastic! I love you, Robin.” Again, she hugged the girl; then she flung her arms around Dave. “And I love you too. I would be so proud and happy to fly with both of you.”

“Did you see the goose in front?” Robin asked eagerly.

“The goose in front?” Cassidy held the card closer and noticed that Robin had glued a bit of silver glitter on the edge of the goose's wing. “It has a sparkle. Is that the moon on its wing?”

“No,” Dave answered. “It's Caribou Crossing magic dust.”

“What?” Cassidy turned to him and her mouth fell open as he held out a little box covered in black velvet. Was that what it looked like?

He snapped it open to reveal a gorgeous ring, a gold band with Native American carving inset with several small, sparkly diamonds.

“Yes!” The word burst out of her mouth.

Soft chuckles rose around her.

The man she loved with all her heart grinned at her, his dimple flashing. “That's my Cassidy. Always one step ahead of me. You're not going to wait for me to ask?”

Embarrassed, laughing and crying at the same time, she said, “No! I mean yes. I mean, oh God, Dave, yes! Yes, yes, yes!”

When I wrote
Home on the Range
, the second Caribou Crossing Romance, I knew that Jess's ex-husband, Dave Cousins, the nicest man in town, deserved his own romance. I also knew he wasn't yet ready for it. He needed a longer time to grieve the loss of the woman he believed to be the love of his life. Now, in the fifth Caribou Crossing title, it's Dave's turn to find romance.

If Dave and Cassidy's love story resonates with you, I hope you will consider making a donation to a multiple sclerosis society to assist in supporting and finding a cure for others like Cassidy.

Thank you to my editor, Martin Biro at Kensington, for letting me continue the Caribou Crossing series, and for being so amazing to work with. Thanks to my agent, Emily Sylvan Kim at Prospect Agency, for her unwavering support. And thank you also to my wonderful critiquers, beta readers, and research assistants: Nazima Ali, Michelle Hancock, Crystal Hunt, Celia Lewis, Linda Locke, Mary Ann Clarke Scott, and Brenda Worthington (all errors are mine, not theirs).

I love sharing my stories with my readers and I love hearing from you. I write under the pen names Susan Fox, Savanna Fox, and Susan Lyons. You can e-mail me at [email protected] or contact me through my website at
www.susanfox.ca
, where you'll also find excerpts, behind-the-scenes notes, recipes, a monthly contest, the sign-up for my newsletter, and other goodies. You can also find me on Facebook at facebook.com/SusanLyonsFox.

International best-selling author
Susan Fox
(who also writes as Savanna Fox and Susan Lyons) is a Pacific Northwester with homes in Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia. She has degrees in law and psychology and has had a variety of careers, including perennial student, computer consultant, and legal editor. Fiction writer is by far her favorite, giving her an outlet to demonstrate her belief in the power of love, friendship, and a sense of humor.

Visit her on the web at
www.susanfox.ca
.

HOME ON THE RANGE

 

For Evan Kincaid, the best thing about his dusty hometown was watching it fade into the distance. Jessica Bly was the only one who didn't treat him like an outsider, and their friendship ended with one mind-blowing night of young passion. Now they've both got the lives they planned—Evan in New York, Jess with her beloved horses in Caribou Crossing. But business has brought Evan back to Jess's Crazy Horse ranch on a mission that could destroy whatever's left of her trust.

 

Ten years ago, Jess wanted one perfect night to remember Evan by. What she got was a broken heart and a secret that's kept them strangers ever since. The boy she knew was sexy and sweet; the man he's become leaves her breathless. And no matter how much she tells herself that country girl and city boy don't belong together, in her heart she wants to believe his home has been right here all along . . .

 

Also features the full-length prequel novella “Caribou Crossing.”

GENTLE ON MY MIND

 

Brooke Kincaid knows second chances don't come cheap. She's spent five years repairing past mistakes and making her life in Caribou Crossing steady and predictable. But now a stranger's Harley has shattered her fence and her peace of mind in one swoop. Because Brooke is drawn to everything about wounded undercover cop Jake Brannon . . .

 

By rights, Brooke should curse Jake for complicating her life. Instead she's offered him a place to heal and a cover story as he searches for a wanted man. Jake knows she's vulnerable, but she's also strong, kind, and hotter than hellfire. It's a combination that could make even a die-hard loner long to put up his boots and put down roots at last, and show her just how good a second chance can get . . .