Read Sleigh Bells in Valentine Valley for Free Online

childhood—maybe since birth—one that made a person feel the center of his thoughts. He bantered with ease, making the ladies blush and chuckle. He had such a way with people.
    Nate turned to Emily. “You sure you still want to come the night before Thanksgiving? You’ve been having such long days this week leading into the holiday.”
    â€œYou couldn’t win without my cheerleading,” Emily insisted. “Just let me get my coat. Steph said she’d lock up.”
    After Emily hurried into the kitchen, there was an awkward pause, as if Nate and Tony didn’t know what to say to Kate. Ethan just looked at his phone. Maybe it would just have to be up to her to make things easier.
    â€œI remember when you guys used to play on the pond at the Silver Creek Ranch,” she said.
    Nate and Tony exchanged an amused glance, and she was glad to see Tony think about the past in a happy way. But his expression faded to politeness when he looked at her.
    Nate said, “Yeah, I seem to remember you insisting you could play, too. Sprained your arm good from a simple fall.”
    â€œYou bodied me out of the way,” she protested.
    Ethan looked between them all, his expression curious. “Mom, you played with the guys?”
    â€œSure I did. After I was knocked over, your poor dad insisted on carrying me all the way to the pickup, like I’d broken a foot.”
    Tony’s lips pressed together in a line, and she hoped he was restraining a smile rather than a frown. She remembered feeling safe and loved because of his concern. And being held in his arms always left her breathless—at least it had in those early days. She wondered if he was thinking the same thing, because he looked away, his expression neutral. Toward the end of their marriage, she hadn’t had time for many hugs, and soon Tony had stopped trying to give them. It was a little thing but something that caused her great regret. She had a lot of regrets.
    She wasn’t sure if their silence had grown awkward, for Nate cleared his throat and seemed almost relieved when his wife emerged from the kitchen.
    â€œReady!” she called cheerfully. “Kate, are you coming?”
    She felt Tony’s gaze on her and quickly said, “No, no, I haven’t even unpacked, and my mom is expecting me. But thanks for the invitation. Have a good time.” She turned to the stack of pie boxes, only to find Tony picking them up before she could. “You don’t have to—”
    â€œBe right back,” he called to Nate and Ethan. “Where’d you park, Kate?”
    She almost wished Ethan had helped as well—and that was a baffling thought. Why would she not want to be alone with her ex-husband? After wrapping her scarf back around her neck and buttoning her coat, she held the door for him. “To the left and around the corner,” she said, catching up to walk at his side.
    The snow crunched under their feet, sounding loud in the stillness of a town closing down for the night. Somewhere in the distance, Christmas music played.
    â€œI’m sorry if that was awkward for you back there,” Kate said, her breath a mist in front of her.
    Tony glanced at her from beneath the brim of his cowboy hat. “What are you talking about?”
    â€œEmily seems really nice, and she doesn’t realize . . .” She trailed off, but Tony said nothing. “You know, that Nate’s your friend, and Emily doesn’t know me and—”
    â€œKate, this is your town, too.”
    She nodded, glad he couldn’t see her red cheeks as she unlocked the Range Rover and opened the rear door. Of course it was her town. She’d never been self-conscious about this kind of stuff before, so she shouldn’t start now. What was wrong with her?
    Tony set the tall stack of pies down, and together they rearranged them so they wouldn’t be damaged. Then she pressed the button to close the