Page 22 of Rebel Moon

Her face half buried under the blanket and her cheek now on my shoulder, Madeleine laughed. “A drumming angel. That should be a thing.”

Ivy’s voice held the last note of the song and then it was quiet, other than the sounds of the horses’ hooves in the snow and the bells around their necks. We were at the ranch entrance by then, heading toward the hitching post not far from cabin four. When the sleigh stopped, we all stayed for just a second more.

Grant got out first, offering his hand to Luci. They called goodnight and then headed toward their cabins. I hopped out and held out my hand to Madeleine. “You ready to call it a night?”

“Do we have to? It’s so warm here.”

“Let’s get you inside. It’ll be warm in your cabin too.”

She took my hand and I helped her down. Once she reached the ground, she swayed slightly. “Ground’s kind of crooked here. They should fix that. Not safe.”

“Ground’s fine. I think you might need a big glass of water.”

The others were scattering to their cabins, calling goodnights, and nobody was paying us much attention.

She reached for me. “Cowboy, I think I need your help finding my cabin.”

I tucked her arm into the crook of mine. “Slow and steady wins the race. I got you.”

“You’ll have to tuck me in. Because I don’t think I can get my boots off.” She giggled. “You’ll have to tug real hard to get them off me. I have wide feet like a duck, but you can’t make fun of them.”

“I’m sure they’re lovely feet.” Like the rest of you.

When we reached her cabin, I helped her up the stairs to the small porch.

“Do you have your key?” I asked.

“I dunno. Maybe. I think it’s in my coat.” She looked up at me from under the porch light. “Check the pockets.”

“Um, you’re wearing your coat.”

She giggled again. “Duh. Right.” She dug her hands into both pockets and came out with the key. “Here it is.”

I unlocked the door and gently guided her inside.

“Ivy loses her keys all the time. Did you know that?” Madeleine asked as she sank into the leather chair by the unlit fireplace.

“Jack mentioned she’s kind of scattered at times.”

“She’s overcome so much.” Madeleine’s voice cracked. “So much. And she’s such a fine person. It’s not an act, you know. She’s really that nice. Which is weird that she’s friends with me, right?” She straightened her legs. “Here’s my boots. You have to tug hard. You can’t be afraid to hurt me.”

I hung my hat on the back of the chair and knelt on the floor next to her. She was right. It took some major tugging, but I pulled one boot off and then the other. Her feet were encased in socks, but she’d been accurate in her description. They were wide and kind of flat. “How do you wear heels with these feet?” I asked, setting the boots aside.

“It’s torture. Every day. But I have to look the part.”

I was still on the floor. She was still on the chair. But she planted both feet on the floor on either side of me and sat up straight. “Do you want to know a secret?”

“Not really,” I said.

“I’m going to tell you anyway because you need to know.” She leaned closer, her breath smelling sweet. Her full, pouty mouth was enough to drive me into a long, slow spiral of trouble. “I want you to kiss me. Really bad.”

I swallowed and told myself to get up but somehow I remained, knowing that if leaned forward another two inches she’d kiss me, and what would come afterward, when she sobered up, was too awful to contemplate further. She would wake up hating herself and me.

I placed both hands on her shoulders. “I don’t think tonight is the night for that.”

Her expression immediately went dark. “How come?”

“You’ve had a lot to drink and maybe that’s clouding your judgment.”