CHRISTMAS AT THE CARDWELL RANCH Read Online Free Page A

purse.
    Teresa stared through the falling snow, trying to conjure Ethan and his old pickup. “We’re good.” That wasn’t exactly true, but it was too cold to get into it out here in the wee hours of the morning. “I appreciate you asking, though.”
    “Hey, we’re friends. You sure you don’t want a ride?” Reggie said, looking around as she found her keys in the bottom of her shoulder bag. “I don’t see Ethan.”
    “He’ll be along soon. He probably just fell asleep. I’ll give him a call. If worse comes to worst, I’ll walk. It’s not that far.”
    Reggie looked skeptical. “You’d be soaked to the skin if you walked in this.” But she let it drop, no doubt sensing that whatever was going on with Teresa, it wasn’t something she wanted to talk about. “Well, then, I’ll see you tomorrow. I just hope it won’t be as crazy as it was tonight.” With that, Reggie stepped off the covered landing and headed for her car.
    Teresa found herself wondering when Mia had come back for her vehicle as she watched Reggie clean the snow from her car and finally drive away. She couldn’t shake the memory of what Mia had said to her earlier.
    Several cars went by, disappearing quickly into the falling snow. Still no sign of Ethan. Reaching into her pocket, she told herself he had probably fallen asleep and forgotten to set the alarm. Her pocket was empty. She tried the other one. Empty. With a groan, she remembered leaving her cell phone on the breakfast bar earlier. She’d been in such a rush to get out of the apartment and away from Ethan, she’d forgotten it.
    Ethan wasn’t coming. Had she really expected him to come after the fight they’d had? She considered going back inside the bar to wait, but she didn’t want Ace to know Ethan had stood her up. As soon as Reggie’s taillights disappeared in the snowstorm, Teresa started the walk home.
    The fight earlier had been another of those stupid ones.
    “I need to know you want to marry me and have this baby,” he’d said while she was getting ready for work.
    “Stop pressuring me.” Ever since she’d told him she was pregnant, he’d been so protective that sometimes she couldn’t breathe. He was determined they had to get married and settle down. His idea of settling down was moving closer to his parents, who lived down in Billings.
    “I don’t think your new friend Mia is good for you. I saw her talking to some guy the other day. I’ve seen him before. He’s bad news.”
    Teresa stifled a groan.
    “I don’t want you getting involved in some drug deal, or worse.”
    She had turned to face him, unable to hide her growing impatience. Ethan had been like this ever since he’d gone to the law enforcement academy and was now working for the Montana Highway Patrol.
    “I’m sure Mia isn’t involved in any kind of drug deal.”
    “Your friend might not realize what she’s getting herself into with a man like that.”
    It made her angry to hear him talk this way. “Mia’s a big girl,” she’d snapped. “She can take care of herself.” When Ethan looked skeptical, she’d added, “Mia carries a gun.” Instantly, she’d wished she hadn’t added that part.
    “She what? ” he’d demanded.
    “It’s just a small one. She wears it strapped on her ankle.”
    Ethan had sworn and begun to pace. “You’re hanging out with a woman who carries a concealed weapon? Does she even have a permit to carry it?”
    “Damn it, Ethan. Stop acting like a narc.”
    He had stopped dead in his tracks. “What?”
    “It’s just that you used to be fun. Now you’re such a...”
    He had waited for her to finish.
    “Cop.”
    Without another word, he’d grabbed his coat and left.
    Still, she couldn’t imagine him not picking her up. He was too concerned about her and the baby. Something must have come up with his job, she thought now as she walked through the deep snow toward the apartment they shared.
    Ethan had been her high school sweetheart. She smiled