Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Mitch couldn’t sleep.
It was almost six.
It was bitter cold.
It was snowing.
It was Christmas morning, and he couldn’t fucking sleep, even though they’d been up wrapping until late.
So he hauled himself out of bed without waking Cam and stomped into his boots and coat so he could go out to feed everybody.
He made sure all the animals had water and warmth, good food, and clean hay. He stood there in the relative warmth of the barns, trying to think about how baby Jesus had been born in a stable like this.
That was the story, right? Some poor girl had her baby in a damn stable.
He would have said he didn’t think that was possible, but he’d seen Allison give birth twice. Hell, she’d managed to stay living long enough that they could get Rachel without hurting her.
So yeah, mothers were amazing.
Mitch closed the barn up, wandering back toward the house.
Still, he thought he was doing a pretty good job. He couldn’t believe how in six months everything had changed so much. For instance, his back wasn’t hurting him like it had been. In fact, it felt pretty damn good.
He wasn’t working a roofing crew; he was the boss of a group of roofers and tile guys. Hell, he was thinking about getting his contractor license.
He’d managed Christmas. He had a new Wednesday-themed bed set for Miss Sarah.
A huge box of dress-up clothes in all shapes and sizes was wrapped for Rachel.
And he’d gotten Rebekka a couple of them fancy crochet kits where she could learn to crochet critters.
They were expensive, but they were cute, and Pam said that they were absolutely doable for a kid Bekka’s age.
Hell, he’d heard other Girl Scout parents talking about getting them for their girls, so he figured that was safe.
The lights on the house as he rounded the corner shone, making rainbow patterns on the snow. It was beautiful—the tree in the window, lights on the outside of the house, Cam in the kitchen making coffee, smiling at him.
He stomped the snow off his boots and toed them off. No one wanted to step in icy-cold puddles in their stocking feet.
He went into the kitchen, smiling at his lover. “Look at you up and about, making coffee. Don’t hurt yourself now.”
Cam swatted him playfully. “I can make coffee, sir. You be nice. Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas. How are you feeling this morning?”
“I am feeling like Santa came.” Cam wandered over to him, getting right up in his business, muscling him against the counter. “Hey, babe. Have I mentioned how glad I am to be here with you?”
That made him smile, heating him in the core of his belly. “I’m glad you’re here with me too.”
“No, I want you to know I mean it. I didn’t think I was going to be able to be happy doing this like my brothers and sisters—having a home and family, I mean, but this is what I want.”
He let himself stare deep into Cam’s pretty green eyes. “Well, that’s handy, ‘cause it’s what you got, and I’m not letting you go. Ever.”
Mitch let himself take a kiss, sliding his icy-cold hands up underneath Cam’s robe and making him squeal. “Oh man, cold!”
“Yes, I know. I was out feeding your animals,” he teased.
“Some of them were yours from the get-go,” Cam shot back.
“Yes, but most of them were yours—the ones that are problematic, all yours.” He winked at Cam. “Those wild beasts are spoiled rotten, you know that, right?”
Cam beamed at him. “I know.”
“The horses look great by the way. They’re happy. Warm. Fed. All is well.”
“And Sarah wasn’t in there?” Cam teased.
“No. No, Sarah was not in there.” Mitch chuckled. “That hurt your feelings, didn’t it?”
“Actually, no. I think she’s going to be our horse girl. I think Copper Penny’s going to be great for her. I love having another cowboy to commiserate with over hooves and saddles.”
Mitch nodded. “Yeah, Bekka doesn’t care about the animals, more than she wants them to be happy and loved, but she doesn’t show any interest in being out there with them. And who knows about Rachel? She’s gonna be who she’s gonna be. She’s still little.”
Cam poured them both a cup of coffee and they wandered to the front room so Mitch could start a fire.
“I don’t know. I knew I was gonna be a cowboy when I was six.”
“Yeah?” Not him. He wasn’t that…sure about anything. “I didn’t think I was gonna own a roofing company, and I absolutely didn’t think I would be thinking about becoming a contractor.”
Cam’s eyes rolled like thrown dice. “I didn’t want to be anything else.”
“I wanted to be a pro baseball player.”
Cam’s eyes went wide, and he grinned. “I didn’t know that about you.”
“True story.”
“You should go out and play baseball, man. One of those leagues. I would take the girls out to watch you.”
“Can you imagine the teasing from them?” Mitch wasn’t sure about that. He didn’t want to look like a dipshit in front of his daughters.
“Shit, there’s enough of us to make a team all our own. We could all be terrible together. The Halley-Gonzales-Wright team.”
“Don’t forget Bray. Mark loves baseball.”
Cam’s eyes went wide. “Right. Damn. We’ll have to get Bekka to come up with a name. We’ll get shirts.”
Lord save him, he’d been integrated. “I’m in.”
“Good.” Cam held his gaze. “I am too. This isn’t a game. I’m all in, and—”
“Daddy! Daddy Cam!” Rachel stood there, her dark eyes huge. “Santa came.”
“Of course he came. You’ve been a good girl all year.” He held his hands open to her, and she ran to him, cuddling in before lifting her face for a kiss from Cam.
“Uh-huh, but Bekka said Santa might be…busy.”
His girl stressed too much. “Well, she didn’t have anything to worry about, did she?”
“No. I hafta go tell her and Sarah!” Rachel ran off, and he knew it was about to be busy time in their house.
“Want me to go get Mark?” Cam asked him.
“No, I want a kiss, first. You and me are going to have a wild morning. I need a second.” Mitch needed a connection.
Cam muscled right up against him again, that arm in the sling much more mobile now. He got the kiss he needed, Cam taking the lead, nipping at his lower lip.
“When we can, I want to ride you like a prized pony, Mr. Halley,” he whispered.
“Tonight, baby.” Cam winked when the girls all ran into the room, hand in hand.
“Tonight. Bekka, go knock on Uncle Mark’s door, please? Say Merry Christmas?”
“Yes, Daddy! Merry Christmas, Daddy! Cam!”
Sarah stood at the tree, then glanced at him. “Do I need to help feed the horses?”
He shook his head. “I did it. You can help this evening.”
“‘kay.” She went to curl up on the sofa, leaning against Rosie as soon as he settled. She yawned, and he grinned, because she would have stayed in bed a few more hours, at least.
“Can I sit with you, kiddo?” Cam asked.
“Always. I got a blanket.” She made room for Cam and snuggled in, and Mitch had to smile, because his gothy baby had a champion in Cam. He adored her, and she seemed to get Cam in return.
The other two were taking a little longer to fall, but he could see it every day Cam stayed.
“Daddy Cam! Can we open presents? Please?”
Cam went wide-eyed, and Mitch cleared his throat. “How do we do this, girls?”
Bekka led Mark out, the man blinking owlishly. “Stockings. Breakfast. Coffee. Then presents. You know this, Rachel.”
“I know.” Rachel giggled. “But I thought I would try.”
“Oh, now, how is that fair?” Cam groused, his voice a playful growl.
“I’ll get your stocking for you,” Rachel offered. “Daddy will make breakfast. You’re broken.”
“Hey!” Cam laughed, though, winking at him.
“Poor Daddy Cam. Turn on Christmas music, Daddy.” Sarah cuddled harder.
Cam kissed the top of Sarah’s head. “I know. I’m such a sad case. But cinnamon rolls will cheer me up, even ones from a can.”
“Hey! Your momma brought me two pans of homemade. I just have to heat them up.” Mitch winked at Bekka, who went, “Woohoo”.
“Yeah. Yum.” Mitch hummed a Christmas carol as he headed to the kitchen, Bekka going with him as Rachel crawled up on the couch with Cam and Sarah and Rosie.
“I’ll start cocoa, Mitch.” Mark kissed his cheek. Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas, buddy. I’m glad you’re here.”
“Me too.”
Mitch knew later today the whole Halley clan would either come to them or expect them to come out and see and be seen.
He had his family here and Cam’s family out there, and that was the most amazing Christmas present ever.
Even if he did need them all to stop getting beaten up all to hell.