All a Cowboy Wants for Christmas: Waiting for Christmas / His Christmas Wish / Once Upon a Frontier Christmas

Marlee forced aside those thoughts as a more troubling one presented itself. In turning down Carson’s donation for her own personal reasons, she was being selfish. She’d let her feelings overwhelm her good sense. Yet she couldn’t imagine going back to Carson and asking for his money, even if it was for the good of Harmony. Not until she’d attempted to get the funds elsewhere first.

“You okay, boss?” Drew asked.

Carson let his gaze drift to the young man standing in his office doorway who was looking as if he’d found him dancing a jig atop his desk. Carson didn’t blame him, though. It wasn’t often he sat back with his feet on the corner of his desk, staring out the window.

“It’s just that, well, you haven’t been out of your office all day, and every time I look in here you’re just sitting there doing nothing,” Drew said. “You’ve got those investors coming and—”

“I’m heading out in a minute or two,” Carson told him and turned his attention to the window again.

Folks passed by on the boardwalk but Carson didn’t really see them. He was lost in thought—and it didn’t concern the investors he was expecting.

Marlee. She filled his mind. When he’d kissed her all he could think about was bedding down with her. But after seeing her crying in the alley, holding her, comforting her, something in him had changed. At the time the notion that he was falling in love with her had sprung into his head. Now he knew it was true. He loved her. And she was leaving. She’d be gone right after Christmas, she’d told him. Carson didn’t remember a time when he so assuredly did not want Christmas to arrive.