Santa In Montana Read Online Free

presents.” His gaze shifted to a front window as sunlight flared off the windshield of a pickup reversing away from the house. Jessy sat in the cab’s passenger seat. “For one reason or another, it’s been a good many years since all of us have been together for the holidays. It’d be good if I could come up with special gifts for each of you to mark the occasion.”
    â€œIt would be,” Cat agreed readily and turned to leave, adding over her shoulder, “Just give me your list once you have it done and I’ll get them for you.”
    His response was a laugh like snort. “Yeah, you’d like to know what your present’s going to be. I know you. This year I’ll do my own shopping, thank you.”
    Cat started to protest, then shook her head in amusement. “Whatever you say, but you’re going to find out shopping isn’t as easy as you seem to think it is.” She continued out of the den bound for the kitchen.
    Chase could have told her that the difficulty usually depended on the object a person wanted to buy. But he wasn’t about to arouse her curiosity any further, and wisely kept his silence while he pondered the possibilities. One was obvious; the rest weren’t.

Chapter 2
    By noonday, the chinook wind had diminished in strength to a stiff breeze. Most of the ranch yard’s snow cover had melted; only the occasional shrunken drift lingered in the sheltered areas.
    Crossing the ranch yard, Trey Calder angled toward the heavy-timbered bar. Christened Chase Benteen at birth he was the third Calder to bear that name. The distinction had early on earned him the nickname of Trey, and he’d answered to Trey ever since. The outdoor life of a rancher had left a bronze cast to the hard angles and planes of his face, features that were a hallmark of male Calders. He stood three inches over six foot in his stocking feet. The riding heels of his cowboy boots added another couple inches to that.
    As he neared the barn, the side Dutch door swung open. Out hopped his young son who instantly clamped a hand on top of his cowboy hat to keep the wind from blowing it off. Trey allowed a small smile to play with the corners of his mouth at Jake’s action then flicked a brief, identifying glance at Sloan when she appeared in the doorway behind their son.
    By then Jake had spotted him. “Hi, Dad.” He broke into a run, but the muddy ground sucked at his boots, giving a clumsy gait. “Wha’cha doing?”
    â€œLooking for you.”
    â€œGuess you don’t have to look anymore ’cause I’m here, huh?” Jake reasoned.
    â€œThat’s right.” Trey slipped an arm around Sloan when she joined them. “What have you two been up to?”
    â€œI been working, Dad,” Jake declared very matter-of-factly.
    Fighting back a smile, Trey worked to match his young son’s tone. “Get a lot done, did you?”
    â€œYup.”
    â€œReally.” But the sideways glance he gave Sloan was skeptical.
    â€œIt’s true,” she assured him, with mock seriousness. “He helped feed the horses and gave Jobe a hand cleaning out the stalls, then held a horse for Tank while he trimmed its hooves.”
    â€œTank said I was a real good helper.” Jake fairly beamed with pride at the remembered praise.
    â€œWith all the work you’ve been doing, I’ll bet you’re hungry,” Trey guessed.
    â€œReal hungry.” Jake confirmed with an emphatic nod. “Sure glad it’s lunchtime. Mom and me was just headed to the house to eat. Mom said Aunt Cat would prolly have the food on the table by now.”
    â€œLet’s hope so.” By common consent, they all struck out for the Homestead, but at a pace that Jake’s shorter legs could match.
    â€œHey, Mom.” He turned, walking sideways. “Do you s’pose Greypa has found a husband for Aunt Cat yet?”
    â€œA husband?”