Shane was more excited about spending Christmas Eve with the Conners, Eppersons, and O’Neils than he’d been about any holiday in years. He always enjoyed the holidays he spent with his father, but the promise of a boisterous, love- and laughter-filled afternoon and evening inspired in him an anticipation and delight that had long been absent from his life. It was that heartwarming stew of emotions that had him out his door and heading to his father’s bunkhouse an hour early.
At his knock, Austin called, “C’mon in!”
When Shane stepped inside and closed the door behind him to keep the swirling snow outside, he spotted Jeremiah lounging in his recliner with a book open in his lap.
“Merry Christmas, Jeremiah,” Shane said. “You spending it with the Hammonds again?”
“Yep. They’re great peopl
