The Maverick's Snowbound Christmas Read online

  COZYING UP WITH THE COWBOY

  RUST CREEK RAMBLINGS

  Ah, wintertime in Rust Creek Falls! It’s the perfect time of year to snuggle up by the fireplace and indulge in some juicy gossip. Speaking of snuggling, did you hear that Eli Dalton and Hadley Strickland were forced to spend the night together in an abandoned barn during our recent snowstorm?

  While it may have been a horse in distress that brought the lovely veterinarian out to the Circle D, we’re betting handsome, steady Eli will draw her back. We believe the rancher could melt fair Hadley’s frozen heart—if she can find the courage to reveal her past. So hang the holly, dear readers, and remember that this is the season for miracles. Could a holiday proposal soon be in the works?

  Lying on the blanket beside Eli, Hadley didn’t sleep.

  She was aware of his breathing, his every movement. She tossed and turned, careful not to let her hand brush Eli’s, not to let her arm nudge his. She stayed on her side and her side only. But in spite of the blankets and the sleeping bag, the floor was hard. In spite of the heater in the room, the air was chilled. To her dismay, she began to shiver.

  Eli must have heard her teeth chattering because he turned around to face her. “Are you cold?”

  “Yes. And I’m thinking about tomorrow, and the mom out there and the foal, and the other horses.”

  “World peace, and if your family’s worrying?”

  “My mind doesn’t want to turn off.”

  “I think it would if you got warm. Come here.”

  She could tell he’d held out his arm to her.

  “Come on,” he coaxed. “Combined body heat will warm you up.”

  She didn’t know if she was being stupid to try it. But she was cold. And if she was going to get any sleep tonight, she had to warm up. She moved into the crook of Eli’s arm, and he wrapped it around her.

  “Better?”

  Oh, yes, it was better. Too much better.

  MONTANA MAVERICKS: The Great Family Roundup—Real cowboys and real love in Rust Creek Falls!

  Dear Reader,

  As a child, I was fortunate to have the fun of running free with my cousins on their farm. Not only could we run through pastures but we could also get to know and care for so many animals. During that time, I watched the miracle of a foal being born. It’s a bonding time for everyone witnessing the event. Since my heroine, Hadley, is a veterinarian and my hero, Eli, is a rancher, what better way to begin their romance than watching a foal being born? Add a blizzard and being snowbound and a love story is born, too.

  It’s always an honor to write a romance in the Montana Mavericks continuity series. Big Sky Country is one of my favorite places to visit. Setting a novel there during the holiday season was a treat. I hope you enjoy the joys of the season along with Hadley and Eli’s happily-ever-after.

  Best,

  Karen Rose Smith

  The Maverick’s Snowbound Christmas

  Karen Rose Smith

  USA TODAY bestselling author Karen Rose Smith’s eighty-seventh novel was released in 2015. Her passion is caring for her four rescued cats, and her hobbies are gardening, cooking and photography. An only child, Karen delved into books at an early age. Even though she escaped into story worlds, she had many cousins around her on weekends. Families are a strong theme in her novels. Find out more about Karen at karenrosesmith.com.

  Books by Karen Rose Smith

  Harlequin Special Edition

  The Montana Mavericks: The Baby Bonanza

  The Maverick’s Holiday Surprise

  Fortunes of Texas: All Fortune’s Children

  Fortune’s Secret Husband

  The Mommy Club

  The Cowboy’s Secret Baby

  A Match Made by Baby

  Wanted: A Real Family

  Reunion Brides

  Riley’s Baby Boy

  The CEO’s Unexpected Proposal

  Once Upon a Groom

  His Daughter...Their Child

  Montana Mavericks: Rust Creek Cowboys

  Marrying Dr. Maverick

  The Baby Experts

  Twins Under His Tree

  The Texan’s Happily-Ever-After

  The Texas Billionaire’s Baby

  Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com for more titles.

  Join Harlequin My Rewards today and earn a FREE ebook!

  Click here to Join Harlequin My Rewards

  http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards.html?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010002

  To my veterinarians, Doctors Brian and Jessica, who treat my cats with expertise and caring.

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Excerpt from A Cowboy Family Christmas by Judy Duarte

  Chapter One

  Eli Dalton ran his hand over his pregnant mare’s side. He breathed in the scents of leather, straw, old wood and the dampness from snow that had begun to fall. Worry niggled in his gut. He’d been around horses all his life, and something just didn’t seem right with Amber’s labor. She’d been a wild mustang, and he’d gentled her himself. He couldn’t let something go wrong. He couldn’t lose her foal.

  Leaving her for a few moments to get some perspective, he went to the barn door and peered out. Two or three inches of snow had already fallen. Any other time, somebody else would be around to give him an opinion. Of course, this weekend of all weekends, everyone was gone from the ranch. His parents had left for Missoula for an equipment auction, and Derek, the only sibling who was still living at home, had gone with them, as had his uncle and cousins. One of his sisters, Kristen, might have been some help, but she’d flown to LA with her husband to celebrate an early Thanksgiving with him. Eli’s gaze ran over the miles of fencing on the Circle D. Ranching and caring for horses had been embedded deeply in his soul from before he could remember.

  He heard a noise coming from Amber’s stall. She was down. He rushed to her and ran his hand over her belly...looked into her eyes. She whinnied at him, and he knew there was only one thing to do. Call the veterinarian.

  * * *

  “Don’t you know your biological clock is ticking?”

  Hadley Strickland pushed her wavy dark brown hair away from her face and glanced around the kitchen at the dishes being prepared for the Strickland clan, wondering how to exit this conversation. Her sister Tessa, who lived in LA, had a vacation home on Falls Mountain and was here for Thanksgiving, didn’t hesitate to probe, question or bully. Ever since she’d found her “happily-ever-after,” she was worse. Hadley was just glad her sister Claire wasn’t in the kitchen right now to weigh in on this conversation as well.

  Hadley cast her dark brown eyes on her grandmother Melba Strickland, who was matriarchal and grandmotherly all at the same time. But her grandmother was no help at all because she asked, “Have you dated in the past few months?”

  There were so many ways to answer that question. Hadley put in long hours at the veterinary clinic where she worked in Bozeman. She often covered for other vets when it wasn’t her turn in the rotation. She kept up
on all the latest veterinary journals. On top of all that, she was qualifying for her pilot’s license. However, the simplest answer could usually turn the subject of the conversation in another direction much faster. She didn’t want anybody dwelling on her personal life.

  She added cherry tomatoes to the salad she’d been fixing and said offhandedly, “I’m too busy to date.”

  As a small animal vet, she was thinking of expanding horizons by owning her own practice someday. But for now, if she became a pilot, she might be able to help animals at a greater distance or in the wild. She knew someday her life would come together. But she also knew it might never include romance again. Her family didn’t know her secret, a secret that was embarrassing and showed how foolish a woman could be when she was wildly attracted to a man.

  She could see Tessa was gearing up for another question when the cell phone attached to Hadley’s belt buzzed. She kept it there from habit because she was never without it. Gratefully, she plucked it out of its case, gave a sheepish smile to her grandmother and sister and checked the screen.

  “It’s Brooks Smith,” she murmured. He was the town’s main veterinarian. She always stopped in when she was in Rust Creek Falls to check out his practice and talk to him about the latest advances in animal care. She even helped him now and then. Maybe he wanted to set up a time they could get together while she was in town. He and his wife, Jazzy, ran a horse rescue ranch, and Hadley was always fascinated by the work they did there.

  She held up her finger to her sister and grandmother, indicating she was going to take the call. “Hi, Brooks,” she said.

  “Hey, Hadley. How are you?”

  “I’m good. What’s up?”

  “I need a favor.”

  “What can I do?”

  “I’m tied up on a ranch near Kalispell. Dr. Wellington, a vet working with me, quit unexpectedly, and my backup vet, my dad, just had knee replacement surgery.”

  Hadley knew Brooks and his dad coordinated their practices even though they were in separate locations. Brooks’s dad had been gearing back, hoping to retire soon.

  “What’s the favor?” Maybe he wanted her to go in and check on animals at his practice.

  “There’s a mare in labor at the Circle D, and Eli thinks she’s in trouble. No obvious signs, but he knows horses. She’s down in her stall, and he’s worried.”

  Her grandfather, Old Gene as he was called, came into the kitchen and was studying the women with a probing eye. He spotted Hadley on the phone.

  “So you want me to drive to the Dalton ranch and see if he needs help?”

  “That sums it up. I know it’s snowing and you’re spending time with your family, but Eli wouldn’t put out a call without good reason.”

  “I have all-wheel drive. I’ll be fine. Does he know you’re calling me?”

  “He doesn’t know I’m specifically calling you. I told him I’d try to get somebody out there. I’ll call him back and let him know. Thanks for doing this, Hadley. I owe you.”

  “You owe me nothing. You know, Brooks, I mostly handle small animals. Horses aren’t my specialty.”

  “You’re a vet, Hadley. That counts right now. I’ll tell Eli you’re coming, and I’ll text you his number in case you need it.”

  Drew and Benjamin, two of Hadley’s cousins who were here for Thanksgiving, suddenly made an appearance in the kitchen doorway. Hosting family for the holidays, her grandparents had a full house. Drew and Benjamin were over six feet tall, and with their sudden male presence, the kitchen seemed very small.

  “Are you really going out in this?” Old Gene asked.

  Drew studied her with a worried expression. “This is supposed to be a monster storm. We could get a lot of snow in a short amount of time.”

  “Then I’d better get going,” she said. “There’s a mare who needs me.”

  And before anyone else could protest or stop her, she left the kitchen to dress in warmer clothes and boots.

  * * *

  Hadley veered down the lane to the Circle D, her vehicle’s tires churning up snow as she drove. She’d almost been relieved to leave her grandmother’s boardinghouse, and that was unusual. She enjoyed being with family. But on this visit there seemed to be pressure from her sisters, her grandparents and even her cousins to talk about her love life. She had no love life—with very good reason. No one knew why, and she wasn’t about to reveal it. Her parents were supposed to arrive for Thanksgiving next week, and that would mean even more pressure.

  Pressure for what? Finding Mr. Right when Mr. Right didn’t exist? Pressure to be some woman she wasn’t? Pressure to get hurt again?

  She took the fork in the lane that led to the house and barn. She assumed that if the mare was having problems, that’s where Eli Dalton would be. She thought about this rancher who was supposed to be one of the eligible bachelors in town. Their paths had crossed now and then, most recently at his sister Kayla’s wedding. But there were so many cowboys and ranchers in Rust Creek Falls that Hadley didn’t pay much attention to him. After all, she wasn’t looking.

  As she climbed down from her vehicle and slammed the door, complete silence surrounded her. There wasn’t a creature stirring. Snow fell more heavily now, and she supposed they’d all taken cover as best they could. Montana was beautiful, but the winters could be harsh. Most humans and creatures living here knew how to survive and thrive. She was still trying to figure out the thrive part.

  Opening the back door of her SUV, she grabbed her bag, closed the door and trudged to the barn. After she opened the door, her eyes adjusted to the dimmer light. As they did, she took in the scents—horses, hay, aged wood. She took a few more steps forward, and then she saw him. Eli Dalton was leaning low over his horse. She assumed it was his horse. The way he was caressing her, she saw so much caring just in the stroke of his hand. He was murmuring to her, encouraging her, and something in his tone made Hadley’s throat tighten. That was silly. She’d seen a man’s kindness to a horse before.

  Eli’s hair was dark brown, thick, and fell over his brow as he leaned forward. He knelt by the horse’s back, his own back long and lean as he bent down to the horse’s belly and put his ear to it. His shoulders were so broad. Although he was kneeling, she could tell his legs were long. He was wearing the requisite worn cowboy boots that looked like his favorite pair. His navy insulated vest fell open over his green-and-navy flannel shirt. He was so focused on the horse, he was totally unaware that she’d come in.

  She made sure her boots made a scuffling noise as she approached him.

  He looked up as if startled from his concentration.

  “I’m Hadley Strickland,” she said in explanation. “Brooks Smith called me to help you.”

  He looked torn, as if he wanted to stand and approach her, yet he didn’t want to leave the horse. To help him with that dilemma, she went to him.

  He held out his hand to her.

  “I’m Eli Dalton. We met at Kayla’s wedding briefly. In the receiving line.”

  As Hadley shook his hand and gazed into his eyes, her world seemed to spin a little faster. His grip was firm and warm and urged her breaths to come faster. Recognizing the red flags of attraction, she pulled her hand out of his clasp. “There was a lot of chatter and bedlam at the wedding,” she murmured for something to say. “That’s a wedding for you.”

  He gave her an odd look, and she changed the subject. “So what seems to be the problem?” She looked over the horse again from her golden-brown coat to the white blaze, from her forelock to her nose.

  “I’m not sure. Amber is a wild mustang I adopted. I gentled her. I’ve been with her every day. I’ve been around pregnant horses since I was three, and I know what pregnancy and labor is supposed to look like.”

  “What are the signs that make you think something’s wrong?”

 
“This is a maiden mare from what I can tell, so I know she can foal a bit early or late. She’s not particularly high-strung, so I don’t think she’s resisting the normal process of delivery. Her udder has been swollen for the last five weeks. I’ve been cleaning her with warm cloths.”

  “And she let you?”

  “She trusts me.”

  Hadley took that in. As she knelt beside Eli, she saw the thickened nipple. They naturally developed a thick waxy material. When the nipple got waxed, that was an indicator that the foal would be born within the next day or so. Even though Hadley didn’t often handle large animals, she knew each mare was unique. All the owner could do would be to evaluate all the signs for an impending foaling.

  “Will she let me examine her?” Hadley asked.

  “If I stay here and talk to her, she will.”

  “All right, let me get my gloves on and we’ll do it.”

  Hadley tried to forget that Eli was there as she checked signs of the rump and tail-head muscles softening. “Any changes in behavior?”

  “She’s been more affectionate lately and separated herself from the other horses.”

  “What about appetite?”

  “She hasn’t eaten today.”

  “I see you laid down straw.”

  “I’ll switch it to shavings a few days after birth. Usually this is a natural process, but something’s bothering me about it.”

  “Nothing specific?”

  “No, but I didn’t want to get in trouble with the snowstorm. It was better to have someone here to help than me not having the expertise to handle anything unusual that comes along.”

  Aha, Hadley thought. Eli was a planner. Rumor had it that he was steady and responsible. His attitude today proved it.

  Hadley continued her examination, then stripped off her gloves and put her stethoscope back in her bag. “All we can do is wait. This could be a couple of hours, maybe more.”

  They both heard the howl of the wind against the side of the barn. “Maybe you should leave. Go back to the boardinghouse while you can still get out.”