I can feel Braden’s eye roll, but he gamely says, “Okay. And you want us to do this every year?”
Did he just sneak in the thought we’d be spending more Christmases together? As a pretend family member or something more? Whichever way, I’ll take it. His family is adorable, and who knows? Maybe we will get closer.
“Sure. Why not?” I find harnesses with sleigh bells and fake reindeer antlers we can strap on the dogs.
“I heard Susanna say they pull a light sled,” Braden says. “I saw it in the shed where the snowmobiles are stored. When I was doing a special assignment in Alaska, I used to mush, although usually I have more dogs.”
“You never told me.”
“That’s because I just met you.” He reels me in for a kiss, and I can feel his excitement rise.
“Let’s do it.”
Taking flashlights and the bell harnesses, we sneak out of the ranch house—easily done since they don’t have an alarm system. Wolf and Blitz are only too happy to go out.
The shed is unlocked, and Braden pulls out a small sled that looks like a beach chair on a toboggan.
“We’re both going to sit on that?” I wonder aloud.
“You’re going to sit, and I’ll be right behind you to steer and help the dogs on any mild slopes.”
Even though I’m not sure this will work, the dogs are excited, yipping and jumping around. The snow isn’t falling as fast, and the moon is high above the dark shadows of the trees.
Braden gets the dogs harnessed and strapped, then shows me how to sit on the sled while he stands behind it, holding on to the handlebar.
“I feel like I’m in the danger seat.” I sit on the sling-like beach chair. “There’s no seat belt, and it’s wobbly.”
“The sled has to be flexible so I can turn it,” he says. “Don’t worry, we won’t be going down any hills or anything.”
“I’m as ready as I can be. All hail to our new Christmas tradition. Moonlight dog sledding.”
“Mush! Yip, yip, yip.” Braden gives the commands and whistles for the dogs to go.
Whoa. Wolf and Blitz are so strong the sled jerks forward. I can also feel Braden kicking off behind me, and we pick up speed.
“Wooo!” Thrills rush from the tips of my fingers and toes to the top of my head. Trees whiz by to the swishing of the sled over the snow, while the dogs stir up clouds of blurry powder.
It’s so magical, I’m speechless. All I can do is imprint everything around me. The happy jingling of the sleigh bells, the motion of the sled whizzing over hill and dale, the flurry of gently falling snowflakes, each one unique and special, the strength of the huskies and their sleek muscles running ahead of me, and right behind me, the protective steel of this sexy and mysterious man, one whose feelings are so deep he’s still mourning for the mother he lost and yearning for his family to be proud of him.
I glance up at him, and our eyes meet, and all I want is to plumb the depths of his secret hurts, removing them one by one, so he can begin to live again. I won’t be too greedy to hope he can ever love, but it’ll be worth it all to find out.
For now, I’m soaking it all in: the magical moonlit night, the snowbound landscape, the sweet-smelling trees, and the backdrop of majestic mountain peaks.
Everything feels perfect, like God has set it all up for an answer to prayer and a glorious Christmas miracle. Thinking about Poppy and the secret we share, I’m more than convinced I did the right thing.
