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

sure am.”
    “That’s good then.  It’s been a great day.”
    “Sure has,” He agrees.  “Makes me happy seeing you and Jack together, building a life and a family.  You worked hard to get what you got.  I think of you as a daughter, Edie.  And I’m damn proud of the both of you.”
    Tears spring to my eyes.
    “Skip,” I whisper.
    “Don’t ‘Skip’ me, Edie girl.  From the moment I saw you at the pub, I knew you were something special.  I’m grateful to be a part of your life, and a part of your family.”
    “We’ re glad to have you,” I sniffle.  “You know my parents passed away, and since then, the only parents I’ve had is Jules’.  I miss my parents, Skip, but I know for a fact they’d be so happy if they knew that I found someone like you to be there for me like a parent would.”
    “Awe, damn Edie girl,” he wipes his eyes.  “Got something stuck in my fucking eye.  Must be bugs around.”
    I grin.  He’s so full of shit.
    “Sure, Skip, you’ve got to watch those bugs,” I tease.
    “Come here,” he throws an arm around my shoulders and kisses my head.  “Best Christmas I ever had,” he whispers against my hair.
    “Damn, now I think I’ve got a bug in my eye,” I say through a sob.
    Skip’s body shakes as he laughs silently.
    Yep, definitely the best Christmas, ever.

Epilogue
    3 months later
    I wince as the first pain hits.
    It’s time.
    I push myself off the lounge and waddle into the kitchen.  Olive’s been down for her nap for only twenty minutes and I’d just sat down to relax for a bit, before I had to hang some washing out.
    T aking the two-way radio from its clip, I call Jackson up.
    “Jackson, are you on channel?”
    “On channel,” is his immediate reply.
    “Uh, babe, I think you better come home.”
    “Is everything okay?” He asks, sounding panicked.
    “Yes, well, no, not really.  I think it’s time.”
    “Time for what, darlin’?”
    “ The baby.  I think the baby is coming.”  I hiss as another pain ripples through my stomach.
    “I’m on my way.”
    “Okay.”  I place the two-way back in its holder and watch the clock patiently, attempting to time my contractions.
    The phone rings and, seeing Ava’s name flash on the screen, I answer straight away.
    “Hey.”
    “Hey, I just heard you and Jackson over the radio.  Are you okay?  How far apart are the pains?  Do you want me to come there, or do you want to drop Olive here on your way?”  She fires the questions at me so fast, I don’t have a chance to answer her in between each one.
    “I’m fine. The pains just started, but knowing how quick Olive’s labour was, I don’t want to hesitate in getting to the hospital.  If you can come here, that would be great.  Olive just went down for her nap, so I don’t really want to wake her.”
    “That’s fine.  Oscar is at work with Jeremy.  I’ll be there in ten.”  She hangs up the phone and I decide to get my bags from our bedroom and put them near the front door, for when Jackson gets in.
    Ten minutes later, Jackson bursts through the front door and looks wildly around for me.  Thirty seconds later, Ava comes tearing in.
    “Thank fuck, you’re still in one piece!” Jackson exclaims.
    “Always such a romantic, babe,” I mock swoon.
    “No time for joking, Edie.  Let’s get you out to the car.  Can you walk?  Or, do you need me to carry you?”
    “I can walk, Jackson.  The pains have only just started.”
    “How far apart are they?”  Ava asks just as another contraction hits.
    I glance up to the clock as I grip my stomach. “Ten minutes,” I answer.
    “Okay, well you guys go on ahead.  I’ll be fine here with Olive.”
    “Thanks Ava,” I hug her.
    “Anytime.”
    ~*~
    Fourteen hours and an epidural later, it’s time to push. 
    “You got this, Ace,” Jackson tells me.
    “Okay, Eden, take a deep breath and give us a big push, now.” 
    I do as the nurse instructs, and I push with everything I’ve