Free Santa in a Stetson by Rebecca Winters

everything.”
    â€œOur family can thank my great-grandfather John McFarland four greats back for that. He was Utah’s Copper King. He amassed a fortune worth hundreds of millions of dollars that he invested.”
    â€œI can’t imagine that much money.”
    â€œNeither can I, Allie. He had mansions in London, France, New York and Salt Lake. My father makes sure it gets spent helping other people.”
    â€œLike that program you work for?”
    â€œExactly.”
    â€œNo wonder you love him so much.”
    â€œHe and my mother work together. They’re awesome,” she said, using the teenage vernacular.
    â€œSo’s my dad.” Suddenly Allie moved so her back rested against the headboard. She drew up her pajama-clad knees and locked her arms around them. “My mom left after Matt and I were born.”
    Ah…
    Kathryn put the brush on the table and sank down on the side of the bed again. “How often do you see her?”
    Allie stared at her out of pained brown eyes. “We’ve never met her.”
    An unseen hand squeezed Kathryn’s heart. Never?
    â€œDad met her in Las Vegas when he was a big rodeo champion on the circuit, but they broke up after Matt and I were born. Dad thought she might have gone back to her aunt and uncle’s in Salt Lake where she was raised, but he never saw or heard from her again.”
    â€œAllie…” Kathryn reached out and rocked her in her arms.
    â€œAt least when your family found you, you knew your mother loved you,” Allie sobbed.
    At least I knew that…
    â€œAll my friends have moms except me. Dad can’t talk about it and Matt won’t talk about it.”
    â€œSo you decided to find your mother’s aunt and uncle and talk to them.” It made too much sense.
    â€œYes. Dad said they managed the Beehive Motel near the airport. I was going to take a taxi there, but then I got sick and that guy stole my purse with my money. I was hoping you’d stay through Thanksgiving and help me. Maybe phone them and talk to them for me since you do things like that all the time. Even if they don’t know where she is, maybe they’ll tell you something that would help and we could find my mom together. I just need to ask her why she didn’t want me and Matt.”
    Good heavens. Kathryn slowly let go of her. From here on out, she had to be careful what she said to this fragile girl.
    â€œThe thing is,” Allie added, “I don’t want Dad to know.”
    â€œ What don’t you want me to know?” Colt’s deep voice said.
    Kathryn felt his commanding presence before she saw him walk around the other side of the bed. Allie flashed her a silent message of pleading not to give her away.
    â€œAbout the present I’m getting you for your birthday next week.”
    Allie’s explanation sounded convincing enough,but Kathryn knew her father didn’t believe it for an instant.
    â€œMy lips are sealed,” Kathryn said to Colt with a playful smile.
    â€œThat makes two against one,” he teased back without challenging Allie, but his light tone didn’t reach his eyes. “I guess I’m going to have to settle for being surprised.”
    The tension emanating from him made it impossible to stay in the room. “If you two will excuse me, I’m going downstairs to work on that puzzle.” Father and daughter needed to be alone. She eyed Allie. “I’ll be up in an hour to take your vitals before you go to sleep.”
    â€œOkay.”
    Â 
    C OLT HATED SECRETS . He was glad Katy had chosen to leave the room because he had a few things to say to his daughter in private. After sitting down on the bed next to her, he grasped the hand closest to him. “Your hair looks pretty.”
    â€œShe brushed it for me.”
    â€œMs. McFarland appears to be an excellent nurse who no doubt will be in high demand for the coming