All I Want for Christmas: A Kinnison Legacy Holiday novella (12 page)

Dear Reader,

I loved revisiting End of the line, especially at my favorite time of the year—Christmas! There is so much community spirit, traditions that remind me of my own small-town upbringing, which I am able now to appreciate so much more than I did when I was young. There’s more on the horizon for the folks in End of the Line, Montana—new visitors, new generations, and with it new businesses. In celebration of Betty’s new bakery, Sunrise Bakery—I’d like to share one of the special recipes for Christmas that is tradition around our house. These are great for tucking into a tin or gift box and giving out as special gifts during the holiday. (Provided they make it out of the house!)

Watch for more recipes coming from Betty’s Café and the Sunrise Bakery!

CRACKLY GINGER COOKIES

2 cp. sifted flour * 2 tsp. baking soda * 1 tsp. cinnamon * 1 tsp ginger * ½ tsp cloves

1 tsp salt * ¾ cp. oleo or butter (softened) * 1 cp. white sugar * 1 egg * ¼ cp. dark molasses.

Sift dry ingredients. Cream butter and sugar. Add egg and molasses. Beat with mixer until fluffy. Stir in dry ingredients. Chill (30-40 min) Roll into walnut size balls. Roll in sugar. Bake on greased baking sheet 350 oven for 10 minutes.

Read more about Rein and Liberty’s tumultuous beginnings in the Kinnison Legacy trilogy. Here is a sneak peek to RUSTLER’S HEART! Enjoy!

RUSTLERS HEART

(Book II, Kinnison Legacy)

Chapter One

Rein wiped the sawdust on his jeans, grabbed his coffee mug, and took a long swallow. He’d been up since before dawn, starting in on the details left to make the cabin ready by Friday.

Since Aimee’s arrival at the ranch on a semi-permanent basis, he’d spent more time on the cabins for more reasons than simply giving them privacy. Wyatt had had a sudden change in heart about the project. He’d relinquished hold on his share of the ranch in order to collectively refinance and put more money into permits and materials to build the cabins and ready them for use. They’d given themselves a target date of two years to complete the project. Dalton, Michael Greyfeather and Tyler Janzen from Janzen Plumbing and Heating had come on board to help. That gave Rein the freedom to do what he loved which was to design and build the rustic furniture that would grace the interior of each cabin.

However, Wyatt’s unexpected news recently of a woman named Liberty who claimed to be their half-sister, punched up the clock for completion of the sample cabin when she stated she needed a place to stay. The idea of having a half-sister hadn’t settled well with Dalton, and frankly Rein questioned why she would suddenly make contact after all of this time. Then again, she was only twenty-one, a kid in most respects, still fishing around to find her place in this world.

He stood for a moment at the screen door to the backyard and assessed whether there would be time to put in the brick patio he’d planned. The crisp spring air invigorated him. He loved to wake early and watch the sun climb high in the sky as it burned off the heavy mist over the mountains. Last night he lay awake on the cot he’d brought down to the cabin and with the windows open, listened to the sounds of the creek and the forest that had become a part of him. He’d come to the ranch a grieving young man, bitter about the way things had turned out for him, but found serenity and purpose in the ability to use his hands to create something from natures bountiful resources. His Uncle Jed had taught him to give back to the land and to others. For him, it was the force that drove his inspiration to see his uncle’s dream become a reality.

“I see you couldn’t sleep, either.” Dalton rubbed his eyes and let the screen door slam behind him.

Rein had just finished shaving down the front door prepared to place it in the frame when he had more help. Dalton spotted the cot set up in the corner of the living room and made a beeline for the coffee maker on the kitchen counter. “All the comforts of home. You may have a roommate soon if those two can’t keep it down.”

“You’re just in time. Grab those hinges and help me get this up.” He lifted the solid pine door from the sawhorses set up in the middle of the vacant cabin. He was glad he’d chosen to put in a tile floor with the heat conductors beneath. With the three of them hard at work yesterday, they’d managed to accomplish getting the bedrooms, bath, and kitchen ready. Now they only needed Tyler to come in and do his thing with the plumbing. Aimee offered to pick up a few necessities to complete a temporary living arrangement—a few dishes, pots and pans, toaster and other incidentals that she would pick up when she went in to Billings this week for the last fitting of her wedding dress.

Rein slipped the shims into place and had Dalton hold the door steady while he drilled in the hinges. “You do look a bit haggard this morning, Dal.” Rein smiled.

Dalton narrowed his bloodshot eyes on him. “We’re going to need to get another cabin ready. Those two are like rabbits… loud rabbits.” He blew out a weary sigh.

Rein chuckled. Of course, he’d had a good night’s sleep after he chose to come down to the cabin. He couldn’t have been happier to see Wyatt rescued from the self-imposed prison he was in. Aimee had changed him and for the better, but at the same time it sent a ripple of change through all their lives. Dalton as a rule was less receptive to change. He liked continuity, liked for things to be a certain way—in particular, his way. Though Rein knew that Dalton wished nothing but happiness for his brother.

“I was so damn tired this morning from listening to those two last night that I nearly forgot the new rule of not walking naked through the house.” He scrunched his face and rubbed a hand over his unshaven cheek. “Aimee just about caught me in my all together suit if it hadn’t been for those throw things on the couch.”

Rein shook his head and laughed. “Okay, let’s see if this works.” Dalton stepped back and Rein opened and shut the door several times to check for fit. He’d get around to adding a lock later. They’d never had any trouble with prowlers of the two-legged variety at the ranch--raccoons, snakes and the occasional curious skunk were the worst offenders.

Dalton trudged across the room to refill his cup.

“That about does it. Tyler said he’d be out later today.” Rein flipped a switch and set in motion on an overhead light and fan combination in the middle of the living room ceiling. He studied it and was pleased to see that the balance was correct and the fan blades were nearly silent, even at high speed. He shut the light off and looked at Dalton. “I think we’re ready to haul the furniture up from the workshop.”

Dalton eyed him. “You really like this, don’t you?” he asked.

He picked up the broom, swept up the mess of sawdust he’d created, and dumped it into a box of debris ready to burn. “Getting to watch you work your ass off? Nothing makes me happier.” He tossed Dalton a grin and received the finger in return.

“I mean this whole thing—this project.” Dalton waved his hand over the room.

Rein shrugged. After he graduated with his business/marketing degree, he returned to the ranch to help by using his expertise, but it was the discovery of his Uncle’s private journal that outlined in specific detail his plans for the ranch that became his inspiration. Reading the journal, he saw himself between the pages and realized the idea was born of Jed’s experience of raising three ‘lost’ boys without a home and no clue where their lives were headed. It was in taking on his Uncle’s vision that Rein began to utilize a love he’d always had of design, and building with his hands. Eventually, it was Wyatt, who suggested that he turn the third section of the multi-car garage into a workshop.

Rein leaned against the counter and gestured to Dalton with his cup. There was no better smell in the world than fresh coffee and wood shavings. “I just love to build shit. You know that.” He brushed off his comment and blew across his coffee.

“Yeah, it’s more than that, isn’t it?” Dalton prodded.

Rein sighed and shrugged his shoulder. “I don’t know, maybe. I’m twenty-nine, I have no kids, no wife or even a prospect of one. I’ve spent most of my life on this ranch. Maybe this is what I can create to leave as my legacy. Besides, from a business standpoint, if we can get this off the ground and rent out these cabins, we could put the ranch on the map, as well as improve things for End of the Line. More tourists equal more money, equals more business, equals…”

“Yeah, I got it.” Dalton sipped his coffee and studied him. “And you think that’s what Jed wanted?”

Rein shrugged. “His journal kind of intimates it, yeah. He was part of the chamber as you remember. He was always looking for new ideas to help, improve the community. You know that as well as me.”

Dalton nodded. A short silence stretched between them.

Rein narrowed his gaze and studied the man who was as close as any blood brother. “You aren’t normally this chatty of a morning. What’s up? I have a feeling you’re leading up to whatever is really bugging you. So let’s get it out, because I haven’t got all day to try to wrestle it out of you.” He knew Dalton’s moods like the back of his hand. Of the two brothers, he’d spent more time with Dalton, especially on business trips. Rein had the book knowledge for running the ranch, while Dalton was a good old boy with a flair for schmoozing the socks off the stingiest buyer. His only downfall was he drank too much. More than once, Rein and Wyatt had had to rescue Dalton from many a late night bar episode, and he realized that his troubled brother was still running from the demons in his past. Rein couldn’t imagine what being abandoned by his mom would do to a kid, but he’d observed the results of in both men he considered older brothers. Wyatt, who’d tried once tried to regain a normal life with a woman he’d fallen in love with was burnt. They accepted his choice to be a recluse that is the persistent school teacher taught him a hard lesson about love. Things were good now and with their wedding around the corner, even better. But Dalton found solace for his past in a bottle and, so far, nothing had been able to pull him away from his rebellious ways. Rein considered himself lucky in some respects, his grief eventually gave way to the realization that for the time he had them on this earth, his parents cared about him, just as Jed had done. Maybe that’s why he felt such a vested interest in seeing this project through. Rein took a wild stab at what his gut sensed was Daltons problem. “This is about Liberty, right?”

Dalton shrugged as though the topic alone was hard to handle. “I don’t know. It just doesn’t feel right. I mean what if this broad has some crazy vendetta, you know? I have no idea what kind of picture Eloise painted of me and Wyatt.”

“Broad? You do realize you’re talking about your half-sister, right? What are you saying… like she’s going after you with a chainsaw in the middle of the night or something?” Rein laughed.

Dalton raised a brow.

“You’ve watched too many of those damn crime shows.” He put his cup down and stretched out the kink in his back from sleeping on the cot. “I guess we’ll find out a few days.”

Dalton didn’t respond and Rein felt compelled to convince him he was out of line with this. “From what Wyatt told us about her, it doesn’t appear she’s the serial killer type.”

“That’s just it. All he knows is what she told him. How do we know if any of it is true? How can we be certain of anyone’s background that chooses to come here? That’s my chief concern.”

He considered Dalton’s comments. “You make a valid point and like Wyatt said, that is something we’re going to have to address when we begin drawing up the rental agreements. But really, there is a multitude of ways to do a background check on someone if a person wanted to.”

Dalton shrugged. “Yeah, you’re right. I should do one on this Liberty chick. Good idea, bro.” He reached over and slapped Rein on the shoulder.

He hated to feed into Dalton’s obvious displeasure with Wyatt’s decision to allow Liberty to come in and live off them until who knows when. But if there was one thing Rein despised more than anything, it was a freeloader and if little Miss Liberty thought for one minute that she was going to stay here, eat their food and use their services for free, she was in for a serious wakeup call.

Curious now, Rein rinsed out his cup and pulled on his work gloves. “Let me know what you find out. Meantime, let’s head over and pick up that furniture before that storm blows in.”

Dalton finished his cup and frowned as he followed him out the door. “In case you hadn’t noticed, the sun is brilliant and there isn’t a cloud in the sky.”

Rein fished the keys to his truck out of his pocket and eyed the sky above. “Yeah, but I heard an owl outside the cabin last night.”

Dalton rolled his eyes to the heavens. “Jeez, you and Wyatt and that damn American Indian mumbo-jumbo.”

Rein just tossed him a smile.

***

She checked her watch. Ticket in hand, Liberty waited on the scarred wood bench at the seedy bus station in the worst possible area of town. The clerk, safe behind her bulletproof glass and steel barred office looked out with a sullen face at the handful of passengers who waited for the nine-thirty bus. She looked again at the schedule, with a couple of transfers in Utah and Montana; she should arrive in Billings by midnight Friday. She’d packed in haste and brought only what she could carry in her oversized duffle. The rest she carried in a book bag and a small purse that she wore across the front of her body. The remainder of her last two paychecks she had stashed in her boot. She glanced at the couple beside her, newlyweds, she guessed from the lip-lock and their Vegas standard issue matching gold bands. Her gaze darted to the man across the aisle. He sat quietly watching the couple, holding his briefcase close to his side. His expression was dour, disapproving of their public affection. He caught Liberty’s curious look and pulled his attaché’ closer to his side. Her choices severely limited, she shifted in her seat to look at the black retro wall clock and double-check the time. The soft whispers between the lovers reminded her of the mistake she’d almost made less than a year ago, just after her mother died.

***

“I suppose you’ll be expecting to move back home now that your mother’s gone.” She’d ridden, not by choice, but by request, by her father in the funeral homes limousine. Funerals were as much a public appearance for her father as any other he showed up for in Vegas. Nothing was left to chance. Appearances meant everything to her father, they always had. Today he was extending his benevolent hand to her… in his own controlling way. Just as she’d seen him manipulate her mother the last years of her life. Liberty knew his game. She’d observed it all her life and only as she’d gotten older had she come to resent and rebel against it.

“Did your housemaid quit again?” she tossed at him, watching row after row of headstones pass by as they left the burial plot.

“Now see there. That’s what I’m talking about. I try to extend the olive branch, Liberty Belle and you slap it out of my hand. The problem with you is that you never learned to appreciate everything I gave you.”