The Cowboy's Christmas Courtship. Brenda Minton

his mouth and then smiled across the kitchen at his mother, who had cleared her throat to stop him from going too far.

      “Well, I don’t need you to play daddy to me. I’m doing just fine.”

      Gage got close to her brother. “You’re going to serve turkey, smile and be polite to your sister. If not, we’ll call the police and have a talk with them about you coming home drunk.”

      Layla wanted to scream. Gage Cooper had been home for one day and suddenly he thought he had to ride to her rescue. She could do this. She’d been doing this for a long time. Her eyes filled with tears as she thought about how to take control of the situation.

      Angie Cooper appeared at her side, always warm and smiling, always generous. Layla wanted to sink into her arms, but she couldn’t let herself be comforted right now. It was too risky because she was too close to falling apart.

      “Let Gage do this.” Angie slipped an arm around Layla. “You need to take a deep breath and let people help.”

      Layla nodded, but she couldn’t speak. Her strength was a thin cord that was unraveling. Instead of objections she mumbled something like “thank you,” and then she allowed Angie Cooper to lead her back to the kitchen, where they searched for serving spoons and talked about the weather forecast.

      People were starting to file in. There were families who might not have had a Thanksgiving dinner and people from the community who wanted fellowship with neighbors, talk about the price of cattle and the drought, maybe catch up on other news.

      All around her, people were talking, smiling and laughing. Layla was trying to find a way to hold her life together and keep her brother from ruining his. She served her green bean casserole and kept an eye on Brandon, who had been given the job of serving drinks.

      She avoided looking at Gage. He’d found a kitchen stool to sit on while he served potatoes. From time to time he’d stand and stretch. Typical bull rider with a broken body and too much confidence.

      Once, he caught her staring. He winked and she knew she turned a few shades of red. She could feel the heat crawl from her neck to her face, and probably straight to her hairline. She turned back to the next person in line and served a spoonful of green beans, smiling as if everything was perfect. Wonderful.

      But Gage Cooper smiling at her was anything but perfect.

      When the meal ended and the kitchen was clean, Layla went in search of her brother. She found him upstairs helping Gage carry bags of trash to the Dumpster. The night was dark and cold. The stars were hidden by clouds and the weatherman had said something about snow flurries. It was early in the season for snow in Oklahoma.

      “Time to go.” She stood on the sidewalk as they tossed the bags into the receptacle.

      Gage turned to Brandon. “Get in my truck.”

      “Gage, I can do this.” Layla pulled her jacket tight against the wind and looked from him to her brother.

      “I know that.” Gage pointed to his truck, and Brandon hurried across the parking lot like an eager puppy. Layla felt the first bits of anger coming to life.

      “What in the world?” She watched Brandon climb in the passenger’s side of Gage’s truck.

      “He’s going to help me at the ranch tomorrow.”

      “Why?”

      “To keep him out of trouble.” Gage tilted his hat back and walked toward her. “Layla, I’m trying to help. Maybe show you that I’m sorry.”

      “So this is your way of making things right? You pretended to need help in chemistry.”

      “I did need help in chemistry.” He grinned that Cooper grin that went straight to a girl’s heart. Not hers, though. She knew better.

      “And now I’m just a charity case that makes you feel better about yourself?”

      “You aren’t charity,” he started. “But you’re right. I am trying to feel better about myself.”

      “Use someone else to soothe your guilty conscience.”

      He smiled again, and her heart ached. “There are plenty of people that I need to make amends to. I’ll get to them.”

      “As soon as you’re done with me?” She shook her head. “At least you’re honest.”

      “Yeah, trying to be.” His eyes softened, hazel-green and fringed with dark lashes. “You’re too good for me, Layla.”

      She thought about it for a minute. “You’re right. I am too good for you.”

      “Exactly. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m about done in. I’m going to drive your brother home, and I’ll pick him up bright and early tomorrow morning.”

      “I have to work at the feed store in the morning. You might have to wake him up.”

      “I can do that. And I’ll bring him home when you get off work.”

      She bit down on her bottom lip and stared up at him, wondering if this was another game he was playing, a game she didn’t have the rules for. He liked those games. She didn’t. At the same time, she really needed help with her brother. Hadn’t she whispered that prayer just hours earlier?

      Across the way lights came on in Jeremy and Beth Hightree’s home. The tree in the front window lit up, and a spotlight hit the manger in the yard. Christmas. It was a beautiful, wonderful time of hope and promise.

      “I’m not sure.” She looked from the Hightree’s decorated house back to Gage.

      “Layla, let me do this. The kid’s in trouble and you need help with him.”

      She didn’t want to admit it, but she did need help. She was worried about Brandon, about the guys he was hanging out with and the rumors about what they were doing. It had never been easy for her to accept help.

      The first few years she’d worried that if she struggled, they’d take her brother away. It became a habit, doing things on her own.

      “You can trust me.”

      She nodded and walked away, Gage’s words following her to her truck. She doubted that she could trust him, but for a few minutes she had the very break she’d been praying for.

      She would have to accept that it had been given to her by Gage Cooper. He was home, and she would have to face the past, and the way he’d hurt her all those years ago.

      Chapter Three

      Gage pulled up to the Silver place the next morning. It was eight o’clock and he’d already been to the barn that morning. He’d fed horses, driven out to check on cattle grazing on the back part of the ranch and then he’d had a big breakfast. Jackson had showed up to work with some young bulls they were hoping to buck next spring.

      He walked up to the square white house, just a box with wood siding, a fairly new metal roof and a front porch that could use a few new boards. The only sign of Christmas was the wreath on the front door. He guessed it was still early, barely December.

      The house was silent. Gage knocked on the door twice. No one answered. He turned the doorknob. It was unlocked so he walked inside and walked from room to room. No sign of Brandon. He went back outside. Maybe the kid had actually gotten up early to feed for Layla. But Gage doubted it.

      He walked out to the barn, his left leg stiff in the brace. It was going to be a long two months gimping around. The dog joined him. It wagged its tail, rolled over on its back for him to rub its belly. He obliged and then straightened to look around.

      The few head of cattle were munching hay. He turned, scanning the horizon. That’s when he spotted a lone figure heading across the field in the direction of town.

      “Good grief.” He shook his head and turned back to the truck. The dog followed. “Stay.”

      The