They crossed the snow toward the carport, agreeing to stop in the ski shed to see what Nicole knew. Jack’s strides were long and decisive, but she felt the pulse of tension rolling off him.
Nicole was inside her store, just finishing up with two men renting skis, thanking them for their business.
She took one look at Cindy, then Jack, and her smile faded.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, coming out from behind the counter.
“Did you see Dad and Benny leave?” Cindy asked.
Nicole frowned, looking toward the large display window. “Yeah. An hour ago? A little more? They were laughing. Benny was bouncing in the sleigh like it was the best day of his life. Why? What’s wrong?”
“They should have been back thirty minutes ago,” Jack said. “And Red’s not picking up his phone.”
“Really?”
Cindy forced calm into her tone. “We’re going to take the UTV and check around. MJ has the guests. Gracie’s on her way.”
“What can I do?”
“Call Cindy if you see or hear anything,” Jack said. “We’ll find them, don’t worry. We’ll find them.”
Holding hope from the determined tone in his voice, Cindy went with him to the utility vehicle they used in much better weather. The old snowmobile had died a few years ago and Cindy had wanted to buy another, but…they were expensive, and she had put it off.
Now, she regretted that decision.
“You think this can get us over the trails?” she asked as they hopped in.
“The short trail, not over the creek or…” He closed his eyes. “I wish I hadn’t agreed to let them leave without me.”
“Don’t blame yourself, Jack,” she said, yanking on her seatbelt. “Take the main trail as far as we can, then get help if we don’t see them.”
Snow sprayed behind the UTV as the old beast rumbled forward, Jack’s jaw set with a whole host of emotions Cindy couldn’t read. The wind burned her cheeks, and her heart thudded like a drum.
“I should tell you something,” Jack shouted over the engine. “About Benny.”
Cindy narrowed her eyes against the wind. “What about him?”
“He’s under the impression that if he saves the lodge, you’ll get him a puppy.”
Her breath caught. “What? I never said that?—”
“You kind of did, though you might not realize it,” Jack said grimly. “And he’s holding onto it. He thinks if he does something big, heroic…you’ll make good on the promise.”
Is that why he and Red hadn’t come back yet? “Well, how is he going to do that?”
“TikTok videos.”
“What?”
“He’s turned ‘Grumpy Santa’ into a thing on social media and he’s the one responsible for all the business and sleigh rides.”
Cindy’s jaw dropped. “That’s why people are all calling Red ‘grumpy’?” She choked a laugh. “Benny did…wait, how? He’s not allowed?—”
Jack pointed toward the thick pine trees. “Maybe they went back to that snow hut down by the creek.”
She followed his gaze, but it was impossible to see from here.
“I hope not,” she said. “The creek always spooks Copper. I know that—but did Red?”
