Tangled in Divine(Divine Creek Ranch 14)(52)

“Hey, where did you go?” Teresa was looking at her with concern, her head tilted. She reached over the back of the couch and grabbed a box of tissues and offered it to Gwen.

It was then that Gwen realized that tears were rolling out of her eyes.

“Please tell me that you’re reliving happy memories of other Christmases.”

Gwen smiled halfheartedly and shrugged. “I had a younger sister. We lost her when she was fourteen to leukemia, on Christmas day. Ever since, Christmas has been difficult. But the tears aren’t sad this time. They’re more…hopeful. You’re very blessed, Teresa.” The pain of Ruth’s loss would probably always be there but it didn’t feel as intense that day.

Teresa looked around the room, sniffed, and grabbed a tissue for herself. “You are so right.” She laid her hand over Gwen’s. “I’m so sorry about your sister.” Gwen nodded and then was distracted by giggling across the room.

“Okay, okay, okay!” Chris growled playfully. “Ganging up on the new guy isn’t fair now!” He was unable to keep the laughter from his voice as Michael and Eleazar each hung from his belt and wrapped their legs around his big tree trunks for legs. Chris glanced at her and winked before going back to watching out for both little boys hanging from him. He took care to not step on them or hurt them as they hung from him like appendages as he walked across the room. Eleazar cracked up and yelled, “Hossie!”

Chris chuckled and peered down at the toddler. “Let go, little dude, and I’ll be your hossie.”

Eleazar cackled as he flopped back onto a pile of wrapping paper which was cushioned by one of the woolen throw blankets Teresa kept in the room. The stone floor would’ve been painful on his back and little head but Chris had made sure he was where he wouldn’t hurt himself when he let go. That thought created a little catch in her chest. Such a sweetheart.

Michael also let go before Chris sat down on the area rug. Angel was nearby, assembling the Air Hog helicopter that Julián had given Michael, while Joaquin motioned to Michael to come help him build a rather intricate log cabin from the Lincoln Logs Chris had given to him.

Teresa sighed happily and then nudged Gwen. Her voice was soft so that the others wouldn’t overhear. “Did the three of you have a chance to talk last night?” Teresa wouldn’t be so bold as to ask if they’d done anything. That wasn’t her way. Well…at least it wasn’t unless Grace was around. If Grace was there they’d both be asking for details. Grace blamed her inquisitiveness on her sister, Charity, claiming that she was a bad influence on all of them. Gwen thought they were all a hoot.

“We did a little more than talk. But yes, we did have a chance to talk some things out.” The thought didn’t give her a feeling of peace or serenity. Instead, she felt that internal “bracing” kick in. That self-defense mechanism that made saying good-bye easier. The problem, and the reason it hurt, was that she didn’t want to say good-bye to them. They’d been so good to her the night before, and had made love to her so thoroughly earlier that morning, that she was in a happy daze.

“Why are you frowning?”

“I’m not frowning.” In fact she had to keep wiping the goofy, sex-saturated grin off her face so everyone wouldn’t know that she’d come more times the night before and that morning than should be legal.

Teresa reached up and gently touched the spot between her brows. “When I asked if you’d talked, you smiled and then this little furrow appeared. Why?”

Gwen looked down at her knuckles, which were wrapped in fresh gauze thanks to Chris, and sighed. “Because last night was the most extraordinary experience of my life but I know I’ll be leaving here.”

“You’re wondering what to do?”

“There’s no question what I’ve got to do, Teresa. I hope that Mr. Wilson will be interested in letting me babysit his ranch while he’s gone because it’ll mean I can stay in the area, but ultimately, I’m leaving in March. I have to. I’ve got to get Zephyr back. I want my ranch back. I’m on pins and needles here. I’d be near panic if Roger Bedford hadn’t assured me he’d do everything he could to get them back. If he does, I need to be able to pay him. To do that, I’ve got to get back on the circuit.” The men glanced up at her for a second.

“Shh…” Teresa gently squeezed Gwen’s shoulder. “It was nice of Mr. Bedford to do that for your family. I have a good feeling about this whole…”

“Shitstorm?” Gwen asked with a smile, feeling calmer. Teresa had the uncanny ability to create calm wherever she went.