Read Cowboy Christmas (A Henley Christmas Novella) (Down Under Cowboy series) for Free Online

Jackson says, kissing her on the forehead.  “Let’s go see what Santa bought.”
    Olive stares in shock at all the presents under the tree.
    “Wow,” she says in awe.  I sit her down on the floor and she races straight over to her biggest present – a six-volt Barbie car.
    “Vroom, vroom,” she giggles.
    Jackson helps her open the rest of her presents, while I snap photos.  Then, after a breakfast of bacon, eggs and pancakes, we load up the car with present and drive over to Ava’s house.
    “Merry Christmas!” Oscar opens the door, shouting his greeting.
    “Merry Christmas, buddy,” Jackson and I both say to him.  I give him a hug and then we hand him his present.  Immediately, he sits it on the ground and rips the paper open.
    “Thomas!” He yells excitedly when he spots the wooden Thomas train set we bought him.
    We walk into Jeremy and Ava and share Merry Christmas wishes and exchange presents.  Ava and Jeremy bought Jackson and I a weekend away at a retreat not far from here.
    “We’re happy to have Olive for the weekend.  We thought it would be a good chance for you guys to spend some time together before the baby arrives,” Ava tells us.
    I grin at her knowingly, as she opens the present we purchased for her and Jeremy.  Once she spots it, she bursts into laughter.
    “Smart minds think alike,” we both say at the same time.
    “At least it’s a different retreat,” Jackson laughs.
    “Oscar can stay with us the weekend you guys go away,” I smile.
    The boys take the kids outside to play on Oscar’s trampoline that Santa bought him, while Ava and I get all the food ready for the family lunch. 
    Soon after, Jackson and Jeremy’s parents arrive, along with Skip, Rhonda and Dory.  After greeting everyone and exchanging presents, I give Jules a quick a call.  This is the first Christmas in as long as I can remember, that we haven’t spent together.
    She answers on the third ring.  “Hey, girlfriend.  Merry Christmas.”
    “Merry Christmas back at you!  How was your morning?”
    “Good.  Busy.  Hectic.  But, good.  Mum and I are just getting lunch sorted.”
    “That’s good.  I miss you not being here.”
    “I know, I miss you guys as well.  How’s my little Olly?”
    “She’s good.  She’s loving all these presents.”
    “Awesome.  Well, I better go.  I’ll see you when I get back in a couple of weeks.”
    “Okay. Love you.  Have fun.”
    “We will.  Love you, too.  Say hi to everyone from us.”
    “I will.  ‘Bye.”
    I press end and go back out to help Ava and the other ladies serve the salads.  Just as I enter the kitchen, the boys come inside to carve the ham, chicken and turkey.
    Once the kids are settled at the table with their lunch, we pile our plates full of the delicious food and sit around for hours eating, laughing and enjoying each other’s company.  It’s a perfect afternoon.
    ~*~
    “Do you wanna be a cowboy, baby?”  I laugh as I watch Skip and Rhonda’s daughter, Kazza, dancing on the table.  It’s Christmas night, the kids are in bed and the adults are celebrating.  We’re all sitting out under Ava and Jeremy’s patio.  Along with Kazza, who drove up from Darwin this afternoon, there’s also Dory, Rhonda, Skip, myself and Jackson, Ava, Jeremy and their parents and Ava’s sister, Kennedy.  The only person not drunk is me, but I’m having just as much fun watching everyone else.  About an hour ago, Kazza jumped in the pool in only her underwear, then when she got out, she started dancing on the tables.  She swings her hips to the beat and sings at the top of her lungs, while everyone claps and cheers her on – well, everyone except Skip.  He’s sitting off in a corner, sucking on a VB stubby, shaking his head at his daughter’s performance.
    It’s Christmas, cowboy style , I think to myself.
    “Hey, Skip,” I say, pulling up a chair next to him.
    “G’day Edie, love.”
    “Are y ou having a good time?”
    “Yep,