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Writer's pictureKaren Baney
Sep 15

Tree topper accident

In this scene from Falling for a Humbug Cowboy, Drake Vargas decorates the Christmas tree with his new, bubbly barista, Candi Kaine. It doesn't go exactly to plan.

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Falling for a Humbug Cowboy by Karen Baney

    After she hung the last ornament, Candi turned those sparkly blue eyes on him. “Time for the topper?”

    He nodded sharply.

    “Which is?”

    “A star,” he said as he unwrapped it before handing it to her. The vintage metal and crystal star showed its age with some of the sheen worn away. Every year since he ran the Christmas decorating, he considered replacing it. Except it held so much history. His great-grandmother purchased it back in 1962 on the tenth anniversary of the Vargas Ranch grand opening.

    Candi stopped a few rungs from the top of the ladder. Once Candi snicked the plug into the lights, the antique topper illuminated her skin, making her look radiant. As she reached toward the tree, standing on her tiptoes, Drake noticed the ladder bobble. She stretched out her arm to place the star on top. He quickly steadied the ladder, which threw Candi off balance.     When she let out a yelp, two thoughts flew through his mind simultaneously. One, he should have placed the star on the tree despite his fear of heights. Second, so much for no OSHA violations for the day.

    Drake stood, positioned to catch her. Amazingly, he caught her in his arms, her coppery hair floating around her face. One of her arms landed behind his neck. Her other hand rested on his shoulder. His mouth went dry as he blinked.

    At least that’s what could have happened if he wasn’t the asthmatic, weak Vargas brother. Had he been Derin, yeah, it would have turned out alright.

    Instead, in his attempt to rescue Candi, he acted more like one of those air mattress things stunt people landed on, with far less cushioning or air. Candi dropped like a rock, the ladder falling away from them. She landed on Drake, knocking him to the ground, his head hitting the concrete floor hard. His arms wrapped around the fragile pixie.

As his head swam, two more thoughts danced across his mind. One, she felt totally perfect in his arms, even if she sprawled over him like a sack of potatoes. Two, she had the most amazing lake blue eyes. Must be why he felt like he was drowning.



About the Series

Discover the Vargas Ranch Series

Love is in the air at the Vargas Guest Ranch & Resort near Wickenburg, Arizona. The Vargas family lives and breathes their family motto: We do not deviate from the Lord’s plan. Five brawny brothers keep the ranch and resort running while life lassos their hearts in this epic contemporary cowboy romance series.


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