Page 6 of Texas Christmas

To my surprise, Peter stepped in front of me almost protectively.

“Dad, this is Doctor Abigail Southerland.”

Mr. Jeffers took a step to the left so he could get a better look at me around his son. His eyes bounced between us.

“Are you...uh, is this a date?”

There was obvious shock in the older man’s tone. I saw a flush rise up Peter’s face again. The blushing was adorable.

I took a step forward, reaching my hand out.

“No, Mr. Jeffers. I’m here from Animal Services. We had an abuse allegation, so I came out to investigate.”

“Abuse allegation?” Peter’s father was immediately irate. “That’s—.”

Peter interrupted him. “It’s okay Dad, I showed Abby around and she has determined that it was a false complaint. It was probably that asshole Neal Thurston.”

Mr. Jeffers frowned. “Language, son.”

I could practically feel Peter trying not to roll his eyes.

“It’s fine, Mr. Jeffers,” I interjected before Peter could apologize. “But I’ve bothered you folks long enough. I should probably get back to the road and find my car.”

Mr. Jeffers shook his head.

“I don’t think you’re going anywhere, little lady.”

I couldn’t decide if I was offended by his sexist language or pleased that he’d called me ‘little’. I was many things, but little was not one of them.

“What do you mean, Dad?”

“We just got an emergency alert. The officials are closing the roads. The rain we got yesterday is freezing rapidly, and we’ve already had half an inch of snow. They’re saying this is going to be the worst storm we’ve gotten in fifty years. Everyone is supposed to shelter in place until the storm passes.”

Peter turned to face me, and I could swear he looked happy about the news.

“Guess you’re staying with us.”

Peter

This was great. Abby was trapped here, and while we were waiting for the storm to pass, I could get to know her better and convince her to spend the rest of her life with me.

Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew I was thinking like a crazy person, but I didn’t care. The perfect woman for me had literally dropped out of the sky and landed on my ranch, and now she couldn’t leave for a while. There was no way I was letting this opportunity pass me by.

“We can put you up at our place,” Dad said.

Behind Abby, I shook my head frantically.

“Abby can stay with me, she doesn’t even know y’all.”

Abby looked between us curiously. “Technically I don’t know any of you. But where will I be the least bother?”

“My place,” I said.

“With me and my wife,” my father said at the same time.

“Um.” Abby seemed confused. “Maybe I can try to make it home. The roads can’t possibly be that bad yet. Plus, I don’t have any clothes with me.”

“You can borrow some from my mama,” I told her.