All I Want for Christmas: A Kinnison Legacy Holiday novella Read Free Page B

bed, crossing her ankles. She drew Cody under her arm.
    “What is this story?”
    “Well, it’s about a little boy. Only he’s a baby. It’s called A Cowboy’s Christmas , and it’s one of Mr. Mackenzie’s favorite books from when he was little.”
    Cody looked over Liberty’s arm at Rein, his expression indicating he couldn’t envision Rein ever being small.
    Rein turned on his side, tucking his arm under his head as he listened to his wife read the timeless story that Jed used to read every Christmas at the holiday parties he gave at the Kinnison ranch. Though he’d been older than Cody, he cherished those times, tucking them deep inside. Many years had gone by after Jed’s death when the tattered book sat on a shelf in his uncle’s library. Fortunately, the book was spared any damage from the arsonist’s fire that nearly claimed Liberty as well as Wyatt’s then-pregnant wife, Aimee. It had been Liberty’s quick thinking, her fierce loyalty to her newly found stepbrothers—Wyatt and Dalton—that had given her the courage to go back to Vegas and testify against her former boss at a club where she’d once danced. At first, Rein hadn’t trusted her. She was different than any woman he’d known. She’d worn her dark hair streaked with neon blue and coated her eyes in heavy makeup. Her goth look was only exceeded by her snarly, independent attitude which he would come to understand after hearing about her childhood.
    Their courtship—as it were—had been rocky, akin to a made for TV movie or perhaps a juicy novel. But all had turned out well and now, after two years of married bliss, both were ready—more than ready—to start their family. Having been an only child, he wanted a big, boisterous, chaotic family. He was pulled from his thoughts at the sound of Liberty’s voice.
    “What you do for the least of them, you do unto me.” She paused. “The end.”
    Rein’s lids drooped heavily. He started when he felt a tap on his shoulder.
    “Can you carry him back to bed?” she mouthed.
    Blinking a few times to awaken his brain, he gave her a quick nod.
    Pulling the boy from where he’d snuggled in next to his wife, Rein marveled how little he weighed. He tucked him in his arms, cradling him against his chest. Cody’s little body felt so small, so vulnerable. How could someone, especially a mother, disregard such a precious gift?
    The little boy yawned as Rein tucked the covers around him. He’d made the bed himself, slightly lower to the ground to accommodate short legs. He’d used a cattle brand to burn the Kinnison logo into the wooden bed frame.
    Cody turned on his side and snuggled into his pillow.
    Rein started to leave.
    “Is it okay if I call you daddy… just while I’m here?”
    The voice with its whisper-soft request stopped Rein in his tracks. He glanced back, meeting the blue eyes looking up at him. Rein kneeled by the bed. His heart squeezed when the boy's tiny hand darted from beneath the blanket and touched his.
    “Cody, you understand I’m not your father. But that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t be proud to be your dad.”
    The child seemed to ponder his words. “I’ll only do it when I’m here. Miss Ellie likes it better when I call you Mr. and Mrs. Mackenzie.”
    Rein nodded. He didn’t want to upset the protocol Ellie had implemented, but this was his home. “Tell you what--around here, you can call us mom and dad, okay? Would that make you feel better?”
    Cody nodded.
    He ruffled the little boy’s shaggy brown hair. “Okay, pardner, it’s time to sleep. Horses don’t take kindly to grumpy little boys.”
    Cody grinned.
    Rein got to the door and looked back. “G’night, Cody.”
    “Night, Dad.”
    Tears stung the back of Rein’s eyes and he nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat.

Chapter Two
     
    Liberty awoke to the welcoming scent of coffee and pancakes. She lay a moment in the dusky light of morning and listened to the muted conversation wafting up the stairs