Chapter 1

Surprise!

Fear traveled around the table leaving in its wake wide eyes and mouths hanging slightly agape. Silent pleas for help directed all eyes toward the family matriarch. She was their only hope for salvation after the foreboding announcement.

Kitty cleared her throat as her first attempt to speak failed. "Calleigh, that's very kind of you to offer but…but fruit cake is…" She stumbled valiantly for the right words. "Very difficult even for an experienced cook."

Nothing was going to daunt the spirited red head from her latest challenge. "I know that in the past I have not proven myself to be much of a cook…" A scowl accompanied by a piercing glance silenced those unflattering utterances.

Once again, Kitty tried to reason with the younger woman's choice. "Sweetheart, fruit cake is one the most…most time consuming, not to mention difficult cakes to make."

"I know!" Her exuberant response was matched by a confident grin that bubbled to the surface. "That's why I picked it. If I'm going to give this cooking thing a try, I might as well start at the top. This is something we only get once a year." A prayer of thanks was muttered somewhere among the naysayers but the culprit was wise enough to remain anonymous.

"Christmas is only a week away. Honey, a fruit cake has to age-"

Oooh." Clear blues shone above a thoughtful pout. "Well, I guess that means I'll have to get up earlier to give it more time."

With a slight grimace of frustration, Kitty made another attempt. "No, honey it should age at least a month."

"A month?" For a moment it seemed as though a reprieve had come through for the Dillons. But Calleigh was not going to let a little thing like the aging process stand in her way. "It will just taste fresher than usual."

Once again, hopeful eyes gravitated from the fledgling baker to the more accomplished cook. Kitty made still another attempt to alter the girl's decision. "Why don't you make a pie? We could do it together? You know, a little mother daughter bonding."

Calleigh offered a loving sigh. "Momma, that is so sweet and I love doing things together but-" it was that last word that killed any hope the family still possessed. "But I want this to be my contribution to Christmas dinner." The grin had softened to a gentler, loving smile. "I want to give you all something special. Something to show you how much I love you all."

Silence once again, dominated the room but this time, fear had been replaced by guilt. Kitty's gaze came to rest in the marshal's shameful blue eyes. Staring at the eager young face across from him, Matt couldn't resist the name he had used when she was a child. "Sweet Pea, we're all sorry for doubting you. I'm sure this year's fruit cake will be the best one we've ever tasted."

=()()()()()()=

"What are you going to do?"

Kitty turned away from the dressing table, a frown firmly in place. "What am "I" going to do? What happened to, this will be the best one we've ever tasted?"

Matt punched up the pillow and stuffed it behind his head. "Well what did you expect me to say? She was looking at me with that same sweet smile she had when she was little. I didn't have the heart to hurt her."

"But you expect me to?" Kitty walked across the room, studying the coward that shared her bed. She started to turn away when a handful of strong fingers wrapped around her wrist pulling her down onto the bed. Kisses silenced her objections, coaxing her into a forgiving mood.

She nestled in beside him. "I'll figure something out. Maybe she'll change her mind."

Matt's hands began a sensual exploration of his wife's body. "We should probably make love while there's still time."

"What do you mean, still time?" Despite the suspicious tone, her body was very agreeable to his ministrations.

Matt grinned down at her as he positioned himself between her long, shapely legs. "We might all be dead from food poisoning soon."