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COZYING UP WITH THE COWBOY
RUST CREEK RAMBLINGS
Ah, wintertime in Rust Creek Falls! It’s the perfect time of year to snuggle up by the fireplace and indulge in some juicy gossip. Speaking of snuggling, did you hear that Eli Dalton and Hadley Strickland were forced to spend the night together in an abandoned barn during our recent snowstorm?
While it may have been a horse in distress that brought the lovely veterinarian out to the Circle D, we’re betting handsome, steady Eli will draw her back. We believe the rancher could melt fair Hadley’s frozen heart—if she can find the courage to reveal her past. So hang the holly, dear readers, and remember that this is the season for miracles. Could a holiday proposal soon be in the works?
Lying on the blanket beside Eli, Hadley didn’t sleep.
She was aware of his breathing, his every movement. She tossed and turned, careful not to let her hand brush Eli’s, not to let her arm nudge his. She stayed on her side and her side only. But in spite of the blankets and the sleeping bag, the floor was hard. In spite of the heater in the room, the air was chilled. To her dismay, she began to shiver.
Eli must have heard her teeth chattering because he turned around to face her. “Are you cold?”
“Yes. And I’m thinking about tomorrow, and the mom out there and the foal, and the other horses.”
“World peace, and if your family’s worrying?”
“My mind doesn’t want to turn off.”
“I think it would if you got warm. Come here.”
She could tell he’d held out his arm to her.
“Come on,” he coaxed. “Combined body heat will warm you up.”
She didn’t know if she was being stupid to try it. But she was cold. And if she was going to get any sleep tonight, she had to warm up. She moved into the crook of Eli’s arm, and he wrapped it around her.
“Better?”
Oh, yes, it was better. Too much better.
* * *
Montana Mavericks: The Great Family Roundup—Real cowboys and real love in Rust Creek Falls!
The Maverick’s Snowbound Christmas
Karen Rose Smith
USA TODAY bestselling author KAREN ROSE SMITH’s eighty-seventh novel was released in 2015. Her passion is caring for her four rescued cats, and her hobbies are gardening, cooking and photography. An only child, Karen delved into books at an early age. Even though she escaped into story worlds, she had many cousins around her on weekends. Families are a strong theme in her novels. Find out more about Karen at www.karenrosesmith.com.
To my veterinarians,
Doctors Brian and Jessica,
who treat my cats with expertise and caring.
Contents
Eli Dalton ran his hand over his pregnant mare’s side. He breathed in the scents of leather, straw, old wood and the dampness from snow that had begun to fall. Worry niggled in his gut. He’d been around horses all his life, and something just didn’t seem right with Amber’s labor. She’d been a wild mustang, and he’d gentled her himself. He couldn’t let something go wrong. He couldn’t lose her foal.
Leaving her for a few moments to get some perspective, he went to the barn door and peered out. Two
