By: Jane Porter
Series: Wyatt Brothers of Montana
Genre: Contemporary Western Christmas Romance
Release Date: November 9, 2021
Publisher: Tule Publishing
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This Christmas he’s confronting the past…
Wyoming rancher Cade Hunt rents a room in Marietta for the month of December for one purpose—to unravel the mysteries of his past. He’s not interested in the local Christmas festivities, even though his pretty landlord Merri Bradley is more appealing than any woman he can remember.
After losing her husband far too early, hospice nurse Merri has dedicated her life to caring for the grief-stricken during their final goodbyes. She loves her busy and fulfilling life and has no time for a brooding cowboy during her favorite time of year. Yet Cade is tempting, and she’s technically his hostess.
But Marietta is full of Christmas magic and miracles. Soon Cade is embraced by the family he didn't know he had—a grandfather and four Wyatt cowboy cousins. For the first time in his life, Cade has a sense of belonging and the desire to set down roots if only he can convince Merri that second chances are the best chance for their own happily ever after.
Age: Almost 30
Physical Description: Slim, medium height, deep blue eyes, thick long red hair
Occupation: Hospice nurse
3 likes in no particular order: Fresh snow, Christmas lights, holiday baking
3 dislikes in no particular order: Fancy cars, men with facial jewelry, and wastefulness
Drink of choice: That first cup of coffee in the morning
Favorite food: Cinnamon rolls (and her homemade cinnamon streusel cake. See her recipe attached!)
Favorite song: Carol of the Bells
Choice of transportation: Her little Subaru
Favorite way to spend an evening: Knitting as she watches the news or a recorded show
Favorite holiday tradition: Preparing, and then distributing, her Christmas dinner gift baskets on December 23rd
1/2 c flour
1/4 c brown sugar packed
1/2 tsp cinnamon
4 TBL butter cut into small pieces
Cinnamon Swirl
1/2 c granulated sugar
1 TBL cinnamon
Bread Batter
2 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 large egg
3/4 c granulated sugar
1/2 c melted butter cooled
1/3 c sour cream
1/3 c buttermilk
1/2 c - 2/3 c whole milk
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
Preheat oven to 350, spray a 9x5 loaf pan with spray
1. Make the streusel topping and put in fridge
2. Max the cinnamon swirl and set aside.
3. For bread mix the dry ingredients in large bowl set aside
4. In medium bowl mix belted butter, sour cream, buttermilk, whole milk and vanilla.
5. Pour wet ingredients into dry, combine just until mixed. Don't overmix/
6. Pour half of batter into greased loaf pan. Add the cinnamon sugar, swirl in a figure S.
7. Carefully spread the rest of the batter over swirl.
8. Top batter with streusel.
9. Bake for 55-60 mins.
10. Remove from pan when cool. Enjoy!
Cade Hunt pulled up to this two-story house that looked like a gingerbread house with its white trim and charming front porch. He shifted into park, temper stirring. He'd only found out a few hours ago that Bramble House had made a mistake in their booking, and had shifted his reservation to the Christmas House.
This isn’t where he wanted to stay. He didn’t do festive and the house was irritatingly cheerful with the fresh white snow on the roof like fresh icing, the exterior a warm barn red, the two story house framed by tall evergreens, the layered branches dusted white as well.
Just a few days, he told himself. It would only be temporary and then he’d be back at Bramble House. Eliza had assured him that she’d be able to work him in early next week, and he trusted her.
Cade turned off the engine, stepped from his truck, and grabbed his duffel bag from the backseat of the cab. The sidewalk was lined with three foot plastic candy cane. The dark green door shouted Christmas with a huge wreath with red and white checked bows and fabric gingerbread boys and girls. Child sized nutcrackers in a glossy red and blue flanked the door. He touched one. It was painted wood. Dot would be laughing if she saw him here. He’d never comment on her holiday decorations again.
He rapped firmly on the green front door and waited. The house was quiet. He continued to wait another moment and knocked even more firmly. Still nothing. His mood went from bad to worse. Eliza had assured him he was expected.
Cade leaned on the doorbell, giving it an extra long push. If that didn’t work, he was gone—
The door swung open, and a young woman stood in the doorway, her face flushed, a crease on one pink cheek. "Mr. Cade?” she greeted him breathlessly.
She was pretty, ridiculously pretty, high cheekbones, beautiful eyes, a full soft mouth. Her hair—long red curls-- fell loose over her shoulders. If she was wearing makeup he couldn't see any, and yet her black eyelashes framed eyes so intensely blue-green they reminded him of the turquoise jewelry Dot liked to wear.
“Yes, ma’am,” he answered, guessing her age to be mid to late twenties. He couldn’t imagine her any older than that.
“Mrs. Bradley is fine,” she said with a warm smile. “Or better yet, just call me MerriBee. Everyone else does. Did you have any difficulty finding the house?"
Mrs. Bradley? She was married then? But of course she was, she was stunning, and she had a smile that probably broke a lot of hearts. "No problem,” he answered. “Very easy to find."
"Good. Sometime it it's hard after it snows." Her small, straight nose wrinkled. "But then you’re from Wyoming. You’re comfortable with snow."
"I am,” he answered. “How did you know I was from Wyoming?”
“Eliza mentioned you run a dude ranch in the Big Horn Mountains.”
“It’s a proper ranch, but yes, in summer, they open it to families who want to play cowboy.”
The edge of her lips curled. “You don’t approve?”
“It’s not my ranch.”
She arched a brow but said nothing else. Instead she gestured for him to enter. “Do you have anything else?” she asked, just before closing the door.
“This is everything.”
“Okay.” She shut the door, flicked on some light switches. “Let me show you around.”
She led him down the hallway pointing out things on her way. “Kitchen is to the left. I'll show you that better later, but it's always open, always yours. Treat it like your kitchen –" she flashed him a quick smile. "Hopefully you keep your kitchen clean. I'm happy doing my own dishes, but –"
"Don't worry. I know how to clean up after myself.”
"I hope I didn't offend you, just thought we'd establish ground rules of fun."
"It'd take a lot more to offend me." His gaze stopped, resting on the decorations everywhere. This was undoubtedly the most festive house he'd ever seen. Wreaths, garland, lights, Santas, nativity sets, Christmas trees. Red, green and white. Personally it was a lot, but it wasn’t his house. And he had his own room. It’s not as if he had to spend all his time in the living and dining room. "Any other rules I should know?"
"Not really rules, I wouldn't put it quite that way, just things that make it more comfortable for you and me sharing space over the next few weeks." She smiled brightly. "But yes, little things like, if something runs out, or we need some more of something, if you could just add it to the shopping list I keep on the counter in the kitchen, that we great. I generally keep all the doors locked, but you'll have your own key. Lots of people in Marietta don't lock their doors, but I do, just because."
"That's easy enough."
"I like to leave the outside Christmas lights on until eleven each night. They’re all on timers, and go off then. The Christmas tree in the living room is on a timer as well. So you don’t need to ever worry about turning any of them off, as that’s handled.”
“Again, good to know."
"I'm happy to pick up groceries for you if you make the list, or for something special you want to drink in the morning. I have coffee, tea, hot chocolate –" she broke off looked at him expectantly.
"I just drink black coffee. Keep it simple."
"I always have plenty. And if you want a different kinds –"
"Not picky. Just drink it strong."
"Perfect." She continued down the hall, pointing to rooms. “You’ve seen the living room, and dining room. There’s a study on that side, overlooking the street, and then a guest room, downstairs here at the end for those who need a more accessible friendly room and bathroom. When no one is here, I use it for a craft room.”
At the end of the narrow hall was a second stair well, paneled in a warm, rich wood. It was narrow but elegant with a gleaming bannister. “I frequently use these stairs to the second floor as it’s shorter when I’m going from my bedroom to the craft room.” She led the way up, turning on more lights. “On the second floor there are four rooms. My bedroom, two guest rooms, and a small sitting room which was once a sewing room. It gets lovely morning light and many of my guests enjoy with a cup of tea or an afternoon glass of wine there, as in summer you see the most gorgeous sunsets.”
“That’s my room,” she added hastily, pointing to a closed door nearest the narrow stairs they’d just climbed. “Yours is there, but if you prefer the Bear room over the Train room, you can switch.”
“You’ve named your rooms?”
“They’re just the themes.” Pink suffused her cheeks. “You have a key to your bedroom, and once you’re settled, I won’t be going in, unless it’s laundry day, and I’m changing the sheets—“
“I can change my own sheets.”
“It’s part of the service—“
“I can do my own laundry, and change my sheets,” he repeated.
“Very well. I won’t be going in your room at all then.”
“I won’t be going in your room, either,” he said, respecting her for covering the house rules. Single woman renting out rooms had to be careful.
“Well,” she said, returning to his door and handing him the key. “I should probably just leave you to settle in.”
Alone in his room, Cade couldn’t mask his horror.
This wasn’t just a house decorated for the holidays, but it literally was a Christmas house. Everything was red and green…every surface looked festive. It was as if a Christmas bomb exploded, covering walls, floors, windows with ribbons and bows and glitter. He didn’t even know if it was tastefully done. It was just done, and it hurt his eyes. He didn’t do Christmas, and he certainly didn’t want, or need, a Christmas tree in his bedroom. Or a train that went around the upper walls on a track that hung just beneath the thick creamy white crown molding.
He reached for his phone to call Eliza at Bramble House. Surely there had to be someplace else he could stay.
This isn’t where he wanted to stay. He didn’t do festive and the house was irritatingly cheerful with the fresh white snow on the roof like fresh icing, the exterior a warm barn red, the two story house framed by tall evergreens, the layered branches dusted white as well.
Just a few days, he told himself. It would only be temporary and then he’d be back at Bramble House. Eliza had assured him that she’d be able to work him in early next week, and he trusted her.
Cade turned off the engine, stepped from his truck, and grabbed his duffel bag from the backseat of the cab. The sidewalk was lined with three foot plastic candy cane. The dark green door shouted Christmas with a huge wreath with red and white checked bows and fabric gingerbread boys and girls. Child sized nutcrackers in a glossy red and blue flanked the door. He touched one. It was painted wood. Dot would be laughing if she saw him here. He’d never comment on her holiday decorations again.
He rapped firmly on the green front door and waited. The house was quiet. He continued to wait another moment and knocked even more firmly. Still nothing. His mood went from bad to worse. Eliza had assured him he was expected.
Cade leaned on the doorbell, giving it an extra long push. If that didn’t work, he was gone—
The door swung open, and a young woman stood in the doorway, her face flushed, a crease on one pink cheek. "Mr. Cade?” she greeted him breathlessly.
She was pretty, ridiculously pretty, high cheekbones, beautiful eyes, a full soft mouth. Her hair—long red curls-- fell loose over her shoulders. If she was wearing makeup he couldn't see any, and yet her black eyelashes framed eyes so intensely blue-green they reminded him of the turquoise jewelry Dot liked to wear.
“Yes, ma’am,” he answered, guessing her age to be mid to late twenties. He couldn’t imagine her any older than that.
“Mrs. Bradley is fine,” she said with a warm smile. “Or better yet, just call me MerriBee. Everyone else does. Did you have any difficulty finding the house?"
Mrs. Bradley? She was married then? But of course she was, she was stunning, and she had a smile that probably broke a lot of hearts. "No problem,” he answered. “Very easy to find."
"Good. Sometime it it's hard after it snows." Her small, straight nose wrinkled. "But then you’re from Wyoming. You’re comfortable with snow."
"I am,” he answered. “How did you know I was from Wyoming?”
“Eliza mentioned you run a dude ranch in the Big Horn Mountains.”
“It’s a proper ranch, but yes, in summer, they open it to families who want to play cowboy.”
The edge of her lips curled. “You don’t approve?”
“It’s not my ranch.”
She arched a brow but said nothing else. Instead she gestured for him to enter. “Do you have anything else?” she asked, just before closing the door.
“This is everything.”
“Okay.” She shut the door, flicked on some light switches. “Let me show you around.”
She led him down the hallway pointing out things on her way. “Kitchen is to the left. I'll show you that better later, but it's always open, always yours. Treat it like your kitchen –" she flashed him a quick smile. "Hopefully you keep your kitchen clean. I'm happy doing my own dishes, but –"
"Don't worry. I know how to clean up after myself.”
"I hope I didn't offend you, just thought we'd establish ground rules of fun."
"It'd take a lot more to offend me." His gaze stopped, resting on the decorations everywhere. This was undoubtedly the most festive house he'd ever seen. Wreaths, garland, lights, Santas, nativity sets, Christmas trees. Red, green and white. Personally it was a lot, but it wasn’t his house. And he had his own room. It’s not as if he had to spend all his time in the living and dining room. "Any other rules I should know?"
"Not really rules, I wouldn't put it quite that way, just things that make it more comfortable for you and me sharing space over the next few weeks." She smiled brightly. "But yes, little things like, if something runs out, or we need some more of something, if you could just add it to the shopping list I keep on the counter in the kitchen, that we great. I generally keep all the doors locked, but you'll have your own key. Lots of people in Marietta don't lock their doors, but I do, just because."
"That's easy enough."
"I like to leave the outside Christmas lights on until eleven each night. They’re all on timers, and go off then. The Christmas tree in the living room is on a timer as well. So you don’t need to ever worry about turning any of them off, as that’s handled.”
“Again, good to know."
"I'm happy to pick up groceries for you if you make the list, or for something special you want to drink in the morning. I have coffee, tea, hot chocolate –" she broke off looked at him expectantly.
"I just drink black coffee. Keep it simple."
"I always have plenty. And if you want a different kinds –"
"Not picky. Just drink it strong."
"Perfect." She continued down the hall, pointing to rooms. “You’ve seen the living room, and dining room. There’s a study on that side, overlooking the street, and then a guest room, downstairs here at the end for those who need a more accessible friendly room and bathroom. When no one is here, I use it for a craft room.”
At the end of the narrow hall was a second stair well, paneled in a warm, rich wood. It was narrow but elegant with a gleaming bannister. “I frequently use these stairs to the second floor as it’s shorter when I’m going from my bedroom to the craft room.” She led the way up, turning on more lights. “On the second floor there are four rooms. My bedroom, two guest rooms, and a small sitting room which was once a sewing room. It gets lovely morning light and many of my guests enjoy with a cup of tea or an afternoon glass of wine there, as in summer you see the most gorgeous sunsets.”
“That’s my room,” she added hastily, pointing to a closed door nearest the narrow stairs they’d just climbed. “Yours is there, but if you prefer the Bear room over the Train room, you can switch.”
“You’ve named your rooms?”
“They’re just the themes.” Pink suffused her cheeks. “You have a key to your bedroom, and once you’re settled, I won’t be going in, unless it’s laundry day, and I’m changing the sheets—“
“I can change my own sheets.”
“It’s part of the service—“
“I can do my own laundry, and change my sheets,” he repeated.
“Very well. I won’t be going in your room at all then.”
“I won’t be going in your room, either,” he said, respecting her for covering the house rules. Single woman renting out rooms had to be careful.
“Well,” she said, returning to his door and handing him the key. “I should probably just leave you to settle in.”
Alone in his room, Cade couldn’t mask his horror.
This wasn’t just a house decorated for the holidays, but it literally was a Christmas house. Everything was red and green…every surface looked festive. It was as if a Christmas bomb exploded, covering walls, floors, windows with ribbons and bows and glitter. He didn’t even know if it was tastefully done. It was just done, and it hurt his eyes. He didn’t do Christmas, and he certainly didn’t want, or need, a Christmas tree in his bedroom. Or a train that went around the upper walls on a track that hung just beneath the thick creamy white crown molding.
He reached for his phone to call Eliza at Bramble House. Surely there had to be someplace else he could stay.
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The Wyatt Brothers of Montana Series:
Montana Cowboy Promise releases March 29, 2022
Writing stories since she was a young girl, Lara’s dream of being a novelist became a reality with her Men of Honor Series.
An avid reader, she worked as a book reviewer for 18 years with various organizations. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a Masters of Divinity in Chaplaincy.
Lara loves tea, baseball and living in San Clemente, California with her husband and two dogs.
Places to find Jane Porter:
Giveaway ~ Tule Publishing is offering up an eBook copy of Jane's MONTANA COWBOY MIRACLE.
To enter: Answer Jane's question. “What's your favorite Christmas cookie?”
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I loved this book. My favorite Christmas cookie is iced sugar cookies.
ReplyDeleteSugar cookie
ReplyDeleteSoft sugar cookies are my favorite!
ReplyDeleteYou guys are my kind of people! I loved sugar cookies. I'm just not good at the actual icing part.
ReplyDeleteThe recipe looks good. I like chocolate chip cookies.
ReplyDelete