Free Santa in a Stetson by Rebecca Winters Page B

the horror of waking up to find their baby missing from her crib. Colt’s panic when he’d first learned Allie had gone off and no one knew where she was had given him a small taste of their terror.
    He reflected on Ms. McFarland’s phone call to him and could only praise her for the calm way she’d let Colt know Allie was all right. That was because she knew how to talk to frantic parents.
    She was no ordinary woman. Colt couldn’t compare her to the other women he’d known over the years. In all fairness, probably some of them hadn’t been out for all they could get from him, but he’d never let those relationships last long enough to prove him wrong. Allie hadn’t been completely off in her assessment.
    He rubbed the back of his neck, experiencing a new level of panic. All he had to do was look at his daughter. The telltale stars in her eyes when she talked about Katy bordered on hero worship. Allie could have searched the world over and not have found a more heroic person to idolize than the nurse who’d accompanied her to Bozeman.
    Ms. McFarland needed to get back to her life. They needed to get back to theirs. Once Allie was better andColt was alone with his daughter again, he would confront her. He suspected why she’d gone to Salt Lake without telling him, but needed to hear it from her. When everything was out in the open and he could tell her he understood her reasons, then their lives could return to normal.
    He handed Allie the brochure. “Keep this for your scrapbook. When you’re old, you’ll be able to tell your grandchildren that you were once taken care of by one of the most famous women in America, certainly the most altruistic.”
    â€œAltruistic? I never heard that word before.”
    â€œIt means unselfish concern for the welfare of others. The McFarlands could have invented the word,” he murmured. “We’ve encroached on her generosity long enough. She needs to get back to her other responsibilities.”
    â€œWhen is she leaving?” Allie cried out.
    â€œIf your temperature returns to normal by tomorrow, then I’ll drive her to the airport.” That was a given. If Allie’s temperature shot up again, he’d ask Dr. Rawson to make a house call.
    â€œBut she said a couple of days—”
    â€œToday and tomorrow represent a couple of days, honey. I’m going downstairs to do some work. I would imagine she’ll be up soon to get you ready for bed. I’ll peek in on you later to kiss you good night.”
    Her crushed expression was the last thing he saw before he almost bumped into Matt coming up the stairs. “Hey—where are you going so fast?”
    â€œI’m getting the DVD they passed out at the football banquet from my room. Katy wants to watch it.”
    â€œMaybe you could visit your sister for a little while first? If we take turns, she won’t be so bored.”
    Matt got that impatient look on his face, but he muttered, “Okay.”
    â€œThanks. Who knows? Before long it might be you lying in bed with the flu, wishing someone would keep you company.”
    Colt found their guest seated on the couch in the great room. She was watching the national news while she talked to someone on her cell phone.
    Illuminated by the fire, she made a riveting picture, Before her glance flicked to his, he’d picked up on the serious tone of her conversation. While he waited for her to hang up, he wandered over to the puzzle and fit in some pieces.
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    K ATHRYN HAD EXPECTED M ATT to come back into the room. The sight of his dark-haired father prompted her to tell her sister that unless something changed with Allie, she’d see her at the airport at noon tomorrow. She hung up and turned off the TV.
    â€œForgive me for ignoring you, Colt.”
    He looked across at her with his keen gaze. “You didn’t have to do that for me.”
    No, but he’d brought a