said they’d passed that point somewhere back in that school parking lot, and she worried the inside of her cheek, knowing he was right, but determined to prove him wrong. As long as he kept his hands, looks and smiles to himself.
Their eyes met as they rounded the corner, and his expression said he understood.
But then he smiled, which indicated he kind of liked their current roller coaster of emotions, and if she was totally honest with herself, she did, too. Which was another reason to make sure she applied the brakes, ASAP.
Dorrie skipped ahead, leading the way into the second barn. Then she sighed, exasperated, and led them back out the other side. “I forgot, Luke.”
“And then you remembered.”
She nodded and dashed around the perimeter fencing. “Luke says that animals like being outside on nice days, just like kids. So they’ll be over here, not in the barn.”
“I want to show her the sheep!”
“They’re my sheep. I get to show her!”
“Aiden, that’s selfish!”
“Mom!”
“Dad!”
Rainey stooped to their level as they curved around the rustic fencing. “How about you all show me? Dorrie, you tell me the ewe’s name. And Aiden, you and Sonya introduce me to the lambs.”
“But there are three babies.” Aiden’s frown said that didn’t add up, but then he grinned and pointed to his father. “Dad can tell you the last baby’s name.”
“That’s fair,” Luke supposed. As they approached the sheep pen, the sight of three little lambs, cozied together in the shade of a small wooden hutch, made Rainey sigh again. Their white fleece gleamed against golden wheat straw, and the image was like a shot from an old-world Nativity scene. “Oh, how precious! Aren’t they the sweetest things?”
Luke met her eyes, his expression saying the lambs might have some stiff competition today.
That look made Rainey long to be the sweetest thing in Luke Campbell’s life.
She was anything but that, so she turned back to the animals.
“They’re using these guys for the living Nativity at my parents’ church this year.” Arms loose on the uppermost rail, Luke turned his attention back to the lambs. “Testy O’Brien is bringing a somewhat stubborn donkey, and in lieu of camels, my three alpacas will take the place of the wise men’s mounts.”
A living Nativity scene. Home for the holidays. Christmas with her girls.
Tough emotions rose within Rainey. For the past three years, she’d volunteered to oversee the vet clinic and kennel in Oak Park, allowing others to spend the day with family, hoping to feel less alone.
She’d wept as she cared for the small creatures, wishing things were different. Wishing she was different.
But now she was back home, with her girls and her family. And a chance to have a real Christmas together.
She swallowed hard, pushing rough emotions aside as she grasped hold of the here and now. “That will be beautiful, Luke.”
He made a face. “My mother’s idea, and I’ve got the animals, so why not let her have her fun?”
“Grandma said I could help,” Aiden added. “But I have to dress warm.”
“Can we help, Mommy? Like we did last year?”
“Yes, can we?”
“We’ll see.” She didn’t dare make promises she might not be able to keep. But if she could, she’d have the girls at that living Nativity, marveling at the simplicity of Christ’s birth.
Chapter Four
Bubble-bath clean, his short curls still damp, Aiden dived into bed, and Luke breathed in his scent. The boy’s innocence took him back to those first years, holding his baby son, so perfect, so awesome. They should have been the quintessential family, Mom, Dad, beautiful baby boy.
What wretchedness had stolen Martha’s self-confidence, or had Luke been fooling himself all along?
Maybe both, he realized as he read Where the Wild Things Are for the tenth time in as many days. And then he did a mine sweep underneath the bed to assure his son that none of Max’s yellow-eyed friends lingered in Aiden’s room.
Luke kissed him good-night, straightened the covers, then paused when Aiden said, “I think this was the very best day of my life, ever! Thanks, Dad.”
“You’re welcome.”
He didn’t have to dissect the boy’s emotions to figure out his meaning. The girls had been regular visitors over the past two years. And he’d gone to the McKinneys’ farm just as often.
The difference today was Rainey. Her warmth, her attitude, her calm acceptance. Her presence turned snack time into a royal event. Her composure helped the kids think anything was possible.
Aiden hadn’t wanted the day to end.
Neither had Luke.
The boy had begged for the girls to stay for supper.
Rainey declined gently, then explained there would be other days to get together soon. And that if Aiden followed directions, she and Luke would make sure it happened often.
Aiden believed her, and that in itself was a step forward. And now he was falling asleep, a happy child, a mood his father longed to sustain.
Sleep was the last thing on Luke’s mind, but his grown-up dreams weren’t made of make-believe. A lawman and father had to see the big picture. Yes, she was beautiful, and no male on the planet could ignore that.
But it wasn’t the superficial that drew him, it was the wounded spirit within her, and that’s what he needed to avoid. Pained souls called to him, like the menagerie of livestock living in his barns.
His phone rang. He glanced at the readout, saw his mother’s number and clicked on it. “Hey, Mom. What’s up?”
“Dad’s taking the boat out tomorrow. The weather’s supposed to be wonderful. He wanted to know if you and Aiden would like to hang out over here.”
“We’d love it.” Luke sank into a wide-backed chair. “What time is good?”
“We’re going to church first, so anytime after eleven.”
“That will give me plenty of time to take care of the animals,” Luke noted. He ignored the church reference. His mother left it alone as well, and that was almost worse than her nagging him.
Jenny Campbell didn’t hassle. She dropped little pearls of wisdom into innocent conversation and then let her children wallow in free will. But she and Dad were always there to pick up the pieces as needed.
That brought Luke back to
