She put a finger over his lips. “Dunder is one amazing reindeer.”
He wrinkled his forehead. “We’re talking about the same reindeer, right?”
She glanced over her shoulder at his family with their backs to the cell, blocking Rory’s view of them. Aspen looked over Forest’s shoulder and smiled. Forest tickled her side, and she turned around again.
“He–” she stopped and wrinkled her nose. “I’m not even sure what to call what he did. Magicked?” Her eyes brightened right before she said, “Christmassed. He Christmassed me.” She put her face closer to the bars and whispered, “I met Santa.”
Drake blinked. “Ginger came to the ranch?”
She shook her head. “I’ll tell you all about it later. I promise. We need to get you out of here so I can tell you that I love you, too, and I don’t want to go back to Montana or be anywhere that you are not.”
His heart expanded, and he tried desperately to get closer. Stupid bars. “Hey! Rory! Get me out of here so I can kiss this woman.”
Rory stood up and hoisted his belt. “Kiss through the bars if you have to.”
“What?” asked Forest. He grabbed Mitzi around the middle and kissed her.
She stared up at him with hearts in her eyes. “What was that for?”
He lifted a shoulder. “I was just showing Rory that Christmas Eve kisses have to be without bars.”
“Yeah.” Jack dipped Natasha low and gave her an on-screen kiss. She came up breathless, her hand over her heart.
“Pah-lease.” Faith jumped into Caleb’s arms, wrapped her legs around him while he spun in a circle and kissed him like they’d not seen one another for months. “That’s how it’s done.” She hopped back down and Caleb gave them all a lopsided grin.
Drake groaned. The bars were cold against his forehead. “Mistreatment of the prisoner.”
Rory chuckled as he pointed to the door. “There’s no kissing in jail. Take it outside.”
A general groan sounded.
“Bunch of hooligans,” mumbled Dad, right before he pecked a kiss on Mom’s lips.
The groaning got louder.
“Oh hush!” Mom swatted at them all. “I didn’t raise you in a barn. Don't act like it.” She adjusted her Christmas sweater and faced Rory. “What do we need to do to bring my boy home for Christmas?”
Rory hooked his thumbs in his belt. “I need proof that they’re married.”
Clove was suspiciously quiet and Drake worried she’d hightail it out of there. You didn’t push a woman like her into getting married. You wooed her with love and attention, building trust over time.
“That’s the only way?” asked Dad.
“That’s the only way,” confirmed Rory. “The way they’re painting it in Windy Plains—he was either off on a romantic getaway or he was stealing a reindeer.”
“What if we prove he didn’t steal the reindeer?” asked Mitzi.
“Can you prove that?” asked Rory.
They all exchanged looks. She dropped her chin. “Not really.”
“Then we’re back to the wedding scenario.” Rory scratched his clean, shaved chin.
“Does it matter when we get married?” Clove asked.
Drake considered her, while Rory considered the question. What was she getting at? Did she want to marry him? Obviously not today, while he was locked away like a criminal.
“I don’t suppose it does—so long as you tie the knot before I call Windy Plains.”
