I assured Logan that I would take my time on the drive to game two, then hung up the phone. Rocky stretched and yawned as we slowed to turn down the Lumber’s driveway. Last night’s storm did more than mess up the roads. It had messed up my mind. I was throwing the Christmas Classic to better my life. Without the ten grand and the scout connections, all I had was a dingy apartment and a league suspension. But another thought went through my mind. It was something I’d never considered.
Could I stay in Chance Rapids?
“Don’t be ridiculous,” I muttered. I had to forget about Evie, the friendly Rapidians, and Rocky.
When we got back to the cabin, I emptied the small bag of groceries that would get me through to Sunday night. I didn’t need a big jug of milk, or a full loaf of bread. I was only going to be in town for two more days.
TWENTY
EVIE
The streetsof Chance Rapids were closed to cars for the weekend. Sparks flickered into the air foam fire pits that were scattered throughout the downtown core. Clusters of Adirondack chairs and beer gardens filled the rest of the street. The Christmas tunes had been turned up, and an orchestral version of “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” floated through the air. The Main Street stores were having big pre-Christmas sales, and people bustled from store to store, arms filled with shopping bags.
A tree vendor had set up a booth next to the Sugar Peaks café. I headed inside to grab a coffee and wondered who got their Christmas tree this close to the twenty-fifth. With my coffee warming my hands, I stopped to talk to the tree farm man. “How much for a small one?” I pointed to a tree that was about my height, five-five.
“That beauty is usually fifty bucks, but I’ll give it to you for forty.”
I checked my watch. “I’ll tell you what. I’ve got a meeting this afternoon. If that tree is still there when I’m done, I’ll take it.”
“Deal.” He shook my hand.
I wove through the crowd and turned onto Oak Street. Horse trailers lined the street. My heart started to pump, and I made my way to the Snowy Peaks Inn. That’s where I was meeting my teammate. Clementine.
She was waiting with a felt cowboy hat in her hand. “I thought that you were going to wear a helmet.” I pointed to the Stetson.
“I am. This is for you. You can’t enter this contest without one.”
“Really?” I took the hat from her and put it on my head. A still photograph of a barrel flashed in my mind. My hands trembled. Adrenaline wasn’t shooting through my body, but it was definitely in every one of my extremities. I couldn’t wait for our practice run.
“No.” Clementine took out her hair elastic and rebraided one of her long braids. “But it looks damn good on you, kid.”
A glance in the reflection of the inn’s window confirmed Clementine’s comment. Then a woman in a fringed jacket, boots with sequins, and a hat with trailing feathers strode past. “I’m going to need some more sparkles. You swear you’ve done this before?” I asked.
“I have. It’s a blast.” She grinned.
“I’ve never done it before, but it doesn’t look too hard.” I bit my lip as I watched a rider and skier fly past us. The horse was galloping, the skier carving turns and hitting the jumps.
“You’ll be fine.” She smacked my back so hard I almost lost my breath. “I’ve got the hard job. All you’ve got to do is keep that horse going straight and fast.”
“I can do that.” I smiled, but nerves still churned in my gut.
Three practice runs later, Clementine had our systems in place. She was right. I felt like I was meant to do this sport. “What are you going to spend your prize money on?” She elbowed me as we led Nutmeg back to the trailer.
My pulse was already racing, but as we neared the ranch’struck, it sped up one more notch. Then Jack got out of the truck and it slowed back down. I hadn’t spoken to Nick since yesterday. The Bobcats’ loss had been broadcast on the radio and I was giving him some space.
GJ had tried to stay positive. “It’s the best of three games.” She’d told me after breakfast. “Nick is saving his best work for the Classic.”
I hoped that she was right. While the mood around town was generally upbeat, whenever anyone mentioned the game, people seemed to deflate. The Bobcats had been ahead by two goals and in the third period, Nick let in three.
Part of me blamed myself. I’d kept him up late talking and had forced him to spend the day looking for Rocky’s home. Was it my fault that the team lost?
After we got Nutmeg loaded up, Clementine hugged me and promised to be there early on Monday. I headed back downtown. The tree man was still there, but I avoided him. Buying Nick a tree had seemed like a good idea earlier, but I changed my mind. Christmas was hard for him. Just because we’d had our little heart-to-heart didn’t mean that anything had changed.
“Evie.” I turned as someone called my name.
Charlotte and her sister Lauren were sitting next to a fire. A young girl roasted marshmallows next to them. “Hi.” I changed course to meet up with them.
“Do you remember Lauren?” Charlotte asked.
