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  “But we’re too different. You’re from a prominent family and you’re used to things money can buy. My father was a miner. We never had two sticks to rub together. I’ve spend the past fifteen years traveling, guarding gold shipments, chasing outlaws. I don’t have a home.”

  “Do you want one?”

  He changed his stance and looked aside, thinking. “Yeah, I want one.”

  “Jonah, you know me. At least I believe you do. My life is what’s expected of me. I live here, I live there…I travel. I’m courted by a man who wants to be governor one day. No one ever asked me what I wanted.”

  Silence lapsed between them. A horse clomped by on the street below the window. “What do you want?”

  Her expression softened…her chin trembled. “You.”

  He couldn’t bear that she feared his rejection. He stepped close and placed a palm on either side of her lovely open face. “I want you, too. But I don’t want you to give up anything. Don’t want you to do this now and regret it later. I love everything about you. Your braveness, your honesty…the way you get riled when you think someone’s talking down to you. I love your tenderness and your stubborn streak.

  “Suspected I loved you already, but when you stood up to me, holdin’ that cat, and gave me the ultimatum, I was convinced. You’re more woman than I can handle, but I’d sacrifice anything to give it a try.”

  “Then kiss me.”

  He obliged her, pouring his feelings into the moment, hoping she felt how much he wanted her.

  She leaned back enough to ask, “What about Hayden and Jillian?”

  “A judge is hearing us today. We’ll ask him to place them in our custody just as soon as we’re married. If that’s what you want.”

  “It’s exactly what I want.” She accepted another kiss. “Where will we live?”

  “Anywhere you like. My traveling days are over. I turned in my badge yesterday. I sure don’t want to be governor, but I’d like to try my hand at a ranch.” He drew back to look at her. “Would you want to be a rancher’s wife?”

  “Thanks for asking.” She spread her hands over his chest. “There’s nothing I’d like better.”

  Jonah took a deep breath. “Maybe that judge will be up to marrying us this afternoon.”

  Meredith then laughed and kissed him again, until she thought of something. “I’ll need a dress!”

  It was his turn to laugh.

  ISBN: 978-1-4592-1439-2

  SNOWFLAKES AND STETSONS

  Copyright © 2011 by Harlequin Books S.A.

  The publisher acknowledges the copyright holders of the individual works as follows:

  THE COWBOY’S CHRISTMAS MIRACLE

  Copyright © 2011 by Jill Strickler

  CHRISTMAS AT CAHILL CROSSING

  Copyright © 2011 by Connie Feddersen

  A MAGICAL GIFT AT CHRISTMAS

  Copyright © 2011 by Cheryl Ludwigs

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