She could see how much this problem was bothering him, and she couldn’t help but feel a surge of sympathy. It was clear he was reluctant to accept help, but she knew he needed it. And she was not one to back down from a challenge. That was how she’d gotten to be the best in her field.
“I’ve done some research, and I’m putting together a formula that may help,” Ginger said.
Ethan hesitated, his eyes flicking to the message on his phone. He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “All right. Tell me about it.”
Ginger’s spirits rose, but she kept her tone casual. “Well, I noticed some signs of a nutrient deficiency in the needles. I’d like to take some samples and run some tests. It’s a long shot, but it might give us a better idea of what’s going on.”
Ethan furrowed his brow, clearly considering her suggestion. “I don’t know. I’ve tried so many things already. What makes you think this will work?”
“I’ve had success with a similar problem before. I can’t guarantee anything, but it’s worth a try,” Ginger said, her enthusiasm undeterred by Ethan’s guarded demeanor. “If I could get the needle samples, I might be able to find out more.”
Ethan’s gaze flicked from Ginger to the trees to his sister. “Okay, I guess that can’t hurt.”
Ginger smiled, appreciating the small victory. “Great. I’ll come back later to gather the samples and run some tests. Hopefully we can figure this out quickly.”
Ginger felt a flutter of excitement. She loved the challenge of figuring out what a plant needed to be restored to health, but her excitement was more than that. She liked the Woodward family. Even though Ethan did seem a bit grumpy, she sensed a vulnerability lurking underneath the rough exterior. And Kristen was very sweet. Ginger could see how worried they both were, which made her even more determined to fix their problem. Maybe with a bit of hard work and some luck, she could pull off a Christmas miracle for the Woodward family.
Chapter4
As Ethan walked back to his cabin, the snow crunched beneath his boots and the cold air nipped at his cheeks. The tree farm was blanketed in a layer of white, transforming the landscape into a serene winter wonderland. The snow-dusted boughs of the trees glistened in the soft light, lending an ethereal quality to the scene.
Just then, George, his mother’s cat, skittered out from behind a tree, surprising Ethan. He had been reluctant to bond with the feline, but there was something comforting about the animal’s presence. Ethan decided to unburden himself in a one-sided conversation with George.
“Hey, George,” Ethan said, crouching to scratch the cat’s ears. “You wouldn’t believe what happened today.”
George meowed and rubbed against Ethan’s legs. The cat’s sable-and-tan facial markings were glossy and shiny against the white fur of his chest. He looked up, blinking his brilliant blue eyes as if encouraging Ethan to continue.
“I met this woman, Ginger. She’s a friend of Mason’s and some sort of tree expert. She thinks she can help with our tree problem, but I’m not so sure,” Ethan confessed, glancing around at the snow-covered trees surrounding them.
George tilted his head, as if he were genuinely considering Ethan’s concerns.
“You should have seen her, George. She was a mess, covered in sap and pine needles, but somehow still… beautiful. And those eyes, so full of hope and determination.” Ethan sighed, feeling a strange mix of frustration and admiration for the redhead.
George meowed in response, as if offering some sage advice.
“Yeah, I know. I should probably give her a chance,” Ethan admitted, standing up and brushing snow off his knees. “But it’s just so hard to let someone else in on this, especially when I’m not sure if she can really help.”
With a soft purr, George followed Ethan as they continued toward the cabin. The snowflakes drifted gently to the ground, blanketing the tree farm in a quiet hush. The peaceful atmosphere belied the turmoil Ethan felt inside.
Chapter5
Ginger rushed into the Cozy Holly Inn, ignoring the welcoming warmth and scent of cinnamon and nutmeg as she pulled a handful of pine needles out of her pocket. She hurried up the stairs to her room, trying not to let her excitement bubble over—or to trip on her own feet. She imagined herself a cute, perky, and determined heroine in one of those heartwarming Christmas movies, ready to save the day while maintaining her quirky charm. In reality, she probably looked more like a flustered academic who’d just discovered a new treatment for plants.
Once inside her room, she carefully laid out the pine needles on the desk and began setting up her portable testing kit. Her fingers fumbled with the tiny vials and droppers, but she managed to keep her clumsy nature at bay. At least, for now.
“Okay, Ginger, you can do this,” she whispered to herself, peering through the microscope at the delicate needles, searching for clues hidden within their green depths. “No pressure, just the future of an entire family business resting on your shoulders.”
She prepared slides, mixed solutions, and scribbled notes furiously, determination fueling her every move. As she analyzed each sample, she couldn’t help but picture Ethan’s face, his guarded expression melting away slowly like snowflakes on a warm windowsill when she finally brought him good news.
“Snap out of it, Ginger,” she scolded herself, shaking her head. “Focus on the needles, not the grumpy guy who can’t decide whether to trust you or not.”
With a renewed sense of purpose, Ginger dove back into her work, her brain buzzing with theories and potential solutions. Once, she had to rush back to her rental car for more vials, and Kringle followed her back to the room, where he took up residence on the windowsill like a furry supervisor. She smiled at him, feeling a strange connection with the curious creature.
“All right, Kringle, let’s save some trees, shall we?” Ginger glanced up from her microscope and found Kringle staring at her, his sky-blue eyes shimmering with curiosity. She chuckled. “You know, Kringle, you remind me of the kids back in my old lab,” she said, carefully adjusting a few pine needles on the glass slide. “Always peeking over my shoulder, trying to figure out what I was up to.”
The cat simply blinked, as if acknowledging her comparison. Ginger continued, “It’s nice to have a little company, though.” She sighed, peering through the microscope again. “I’ve been feeling a bit lonely lately, but this problem is a great distraction.”
Kringle seemed to nod in understanding, shifting his position on the windowsill to get a better view of her work.
