Free Santa In Montana by Janet Dailey Page A

into place broke the restraint she had placed on herself.
    Hands clenched, Cat swung away from the door. “Why? Why? Why?” she berated herself in a barely audible murmur.
    â€œWhy did I react like that?”
    Yet the reason was obvious, even to Cat. Pride. She had such an abundance of it. And in her determination to convince him she wasn’t some man-hungry widow, she had been trapped by her own pride, totally incapable of responding in kind when Wade had indicated an interest in her. Cat knew she was attracted to him, sufficiently so that she was curious to know where it might lead.
    â€œAnytime.” The word echoed in her mind, with all its undertones of polite indifference, and total lack of encouragement for Wade to come back.
    She told herself it was probably for the best that this had happened. Otherwise she would have lived in hope that he would come back to the ranch. At least now she knew that would never happen. The best thing was to block him from her mind, forget she’d ever met someone named Wade Rogers.
    With a determined lift of her head, she retraced her steps to the dining room, entering just as Laredo emptied the contents of the carafe into his coffee cup. Cat immediately seized the excuse to gain a few more moments to herself.
    â€œHere. Let me take that and I’ll fill it back up.” She reached for the insulated carafe before Laredo could set it back on the table.
    â€œDon’t need to fill it for me,” Chase stated. “I’ve had enough.”
    â€œThere are others who might want a cup,” Cat reminded him and headed for the kitchen.
    Chase watched her leave, then slid a wry look at Laredo. “I get the feeling she hasn’t forgiven me for teasing her about Wade,” he said, without an ounce of remorse in his voice.
    â€œAnd I have the feeling you’re hoping she gets so mad that she’ll stop talking to you at all,” Laredo replied with a knowing look.
    â€œPut a quick end to the nagging, wouldn’t it?” Chase countered, eyes twinkling, then pulled in a deep breath and released it in a satisfied sigh. “It’s been a full morning…and a busy one. Think I might stretch out and close my eyes for a bit.” He retrieved the cane propped against the arm of his chair, and dipped his head toward the kitchen. “If she wonders where I am, let her know I’ll be in my room.”
    Jake stared at him in amazement. “Are you really going to take a nap, Greypa?”
    â€œYes, Jake, I really am.” Chase pushed out of his chair and headed for the west wing, the end of his cane thumping the floor with each stride.
    Worried, Jake risked a sideways glance at his mother. “I don’t have to take a nap before I go sledding, do I? ’Cause Luke—he’s ’specting me right after lunch.”
    â€œIf you finish your milk, you can skip the nap.”
    Jake didn’t give her a chance to reconsider, grabbing the milk glass and downing its contents in two long gulps. “All done,” he announced, pushing the glass on the table and sliding off his chair in one continuous motion. “Let’s go.”
    With an amused shake of her head, Sloan stood up and tossed a glance at Jessy. “I guess I didn’t really want that second cup of coffee.”
    â€œGood thing.” Jessy smiled back at her. The small smile stayed in place while she listened to the run of conversation between Sloan and Jake when she joined him in the entry. Jake was still chattering away when they went out the front door. The silence was instant. “It’s amazing how quiet the house seems after Jake leaves,” she remarked to Laredo.
    His only response was an agreeing sound as he continued to contemplate the dark surface of his coffee. Jessy made a sideways study of him, noting the expression of deep thought.
    Curious, she asked, “What’s those wheels of yours turning?”
    It was a