Book Description

Jackson Riley's unplanned stop at the Cedar Falls Horse Auction sets in motion a series of events that will forever alter his future. Immediately after walking into the arena he hears the familiar sound of a whip cracking and a horse cry out in pain. Within seconds he prevents the man from striking the horse again and orders him to drop the whip. When the man says the horse is worthless and can't be trained, Jackson snaps, "You don't train a horse with a whip." He's shocked when he says he'll open the biding on the horse with an offer of $20.00 and the man accepts. Steven Whitfield, who is standing nearby, witnessed Jackson Riley's defense of the horse and immediately senses something special in the young man. He sees the letters "U.S.M.C." tattooed on his right bicep and learns that Jackson was recently released from active duty. They laugh when Jackson admits he has no place to stay, no job or place to keep his newly acquired horse. In fact, he doesn't even know the horse's name, but as the Christmas season is fast approaching he decides Christmas is a perfect name for her. In a matter of a few minutes Steven Whitfield offers him a job, a place to stay and a barn to keep his horse, which Jackson quickly accepts. By the end of his first day at Whitfield Acres, he knows the names of all the horses, their diets and their special needs. Of course, he's also made friends with Rooster and Rita, the barn dogs and Hank, Sylvester and Sylvia the barn cats.Jackson settles in and easily makes friends in Cedar Falls and Steven is impressed with his work ethic and love for animals.He stays busy at the barn and works late in the evenings putting an old wagon in tiptop shape. He's also received permission from Steven to put up a heavy bag in the storage barn, where he spends time pounding away at his demons. Yet, it's his beautiful mare, Christmas, who has quickly attached herself to him and listens to his stories of an unhappy childhood. There is no doubting her love for him and she willingly follows him without having to be led. Then there are the times when she watches him work on the old wagon and sometimes pokes her head over his shoulders as though inspecting his work. In no time at all she's learned to close her stall gate and Steven laughs and asks when he'll be teaching her to drive his truck.The Whitfield's daughter, Taylor, arrives home for the Christmas Holiday, but before she can be introduced to Jackson, she finds him working in the barn. She snaps an order to him to saddle her horse and when he hesitates slightly, she barks her order again. When he suggests that she should calm down before she overheats, she says she's already passed the boiling point. Shortly thereafter their first meeting ends in a splash and she vows to hate him and her mother demands that Steven fire him. Steven refuses and Taylor finds herself in the barn with Jackson once again. He's talking with Christmas and tells her she's beautiful. Taylor bluntly tells him he has no right to call her beautiful and he replies that he's talking to his horse. When she demands to know if he's comparing her to a horse, he replies, "Only the back end." Although she makes every effort to avoid him, it's her father who continues to find ways to keep them together.A chance encounter with a little girl and her mother while she and Jackson are shopping for Christmas ornaments brings Taylor and everyone in the store to tears. Now, her promise to hate him is crumbling and the road ahead is a bumpy and sometimes funny ride. To add to her dilemma, Christmas gently nudges her into Jackson's arms and very close to a kiss. Jackson is also on a quest to find his mother and their reunion just before Christmas sets the stage for completing a journey he so desperately wanted. And, when Taylor admits she's in love with him, she fears her heart is about to be broken.