Okay, so maybe he wasn’t too keen on being tattled on. But there was more to that look than a kid who was worried about a PlayStation delivery on Christmas morning. He knew something about the sled—maybe even about Snowflake. Forest could feel it all the way to his insulated socks.
Forest wasn’t in the habit of chasing small children, so he glanced down, letting the boy go and noting the direction he ran. There’d be time to follow his tracks later.
The sleigh was the important thing right now. He hurried to the front and tugged the leather straps out of the snow. One snapped in his hand. It’d been too long and they were far too worn to tell if they’d been cut or if Snowflake had been helped free.
The sleigh was in bad shape. The seat was out of square, and one side was cracked all the way through. If he tried to fly this out today, they’d end up crashing into a tree. Still, the runners were in good shape. That was a relief. Finding wood, screws, and other tools was much easier than finding a place where he could heat and work metal.
He smacked his hand against the side in triumph. He had the sled; now all he needed the was the reindeer to fly it. He glanced at his watch. There was a B&B in town. It was time to clean up and make himself presentable. No one liked talking to the weirdo who crawled out of the woods, but they were happy to open up to the wholesome-looking guy under all this facial hair. Hopefully he was still there. Forest hadn’t seen him in a while.
Chapter Four
“Merry Christmas,” Mitzi told Steve Morley as she shut the cash register.
He tugged the 5-gallon bucket of paint off the floor with a groan. “It will be if I can get the living room painted. Otherwise, I’ll be watching for Santa from the doghouse.”
Mitzi smiled at him. “See ya.” He was a go-getter, and his wife was expecting their third baby. Busy times. Happy times. Good family. She’d thought her ex was like Steve when they’d married. Turned out, he was only good at going to get things that benefitted himself.
She turned to the paint mixer and made sure she’d shut the door so she didn’t slam her thigh into it every time she turned around. Her eyes darted to the clock, and she cringed. School had just let out. She hated that she wasn’t there when Billy got home. She wanted to be the mom with a plate of fresh cookies and hot cocoa, ready to hear all about his math test or history report. That was one thing that had changed between them. He used to tell her everything that happened in his life. Not anymore. Sure, kids kept more inside as they grew older, dealt with the nuances of a classroom on their own. This was different, though, and it made her ache.
The back door opened and a motion sensor triggered on a speaker, sending a “Ho Ho Ho!” through the air that announced Carla’s arrival. She’d gone to the post office to pick up a delivery. Mitzi waited, wondering what Carla had invested in this time. Her boss was always on the lookout for a hot item that was irresistible to shoppers.
Carla, wearing a store hoodie and a pair of jeans, rolled a heavily loaded trolley right up in front of the checkout counter. She flipped her white-and-gray shoulder-length hair off her face. Her gray eyes were tired and had bags that indicated she hadn’t slept well in days. Not that she would tell Mitzi why. That woman was a fortress of feelings.
“Whatcha got there?” curiosity made her ask. The outside of the boxes didn’t have one clue.
Carla rolled her eyes. “Dancing Santas.”
“Isn’t it a bit late in the season?” She motioned to the bare seasonal shelves. They still had holiday lights, but they stocked those all year long, as families liked to use them for birthday parties and such nowadays. The wreaths were sold, as were the other knickknacks. As a hardware store, they didn’t have much room for décor items. However, they were the only store in town that carried things like sheet sets and shower curtains, so having seasonal items wasn’t too strange.
“The order was delayed.” Carla lifted her shoulders. “They were supposed to be my retirement fund—pictured ’em selling like fruitcakes.”
Now she really had to see these Santas. She opened a drawer and pulled out a box knife, handing it to Carla.
Carla shook a finger at her. “Don’t go knocking fruitcake until you try it.”
Mitzi chuckled. “Not going to happen.”
“I should sell my grandma’s fruitcakes in the store! I’d make a million off of them if I made a dime.” Carla set to work opening the first box.
Mitzi went around the counter to help. “You’re always hustling. I’m exhausted just trying to keep up with you each day. I can’t imagine what it’s like in that brain of yours.”
It was Carla’s turn to laugh. “How’s your boy?” She changed the subject as quickly as she changed get-rich-quick ideas.
“I have the best kid on the planet.”
“I’m inclined to agree with you.”
“And that’s why we’re friends,” Mitzi teased.
Carla zipped the knife along the tape and set it on the counter. “I think all moms think that. At least they should. Even stepmoms.” She winked.
Mitzi half smiled and avoided commenting on Carla’s stepson. Ely’s visit last night still irked her. His best personality trait was persistence, and even that wore on her as he continued to show up unannounced in the evenings. If she wasn’t worried about how it would affect her job, she would tell him never to come back.
Carla touched her arm. “And how are you doing?”
“I’m holding it together.” She used to say she wasfine, but Carla saw through that every time. It was easier to be honest with her friend and boss.
The front door opened, bringing in a chill that felt as though it’d blown all the way from the South Pole. It caused goose bumps to raise on Mitzi’s arms. “Welcome to the Hardware Shop,” she said as she lifted her eyes to find her landlady, Louanne, marching her way. She wore a powder-blue power suit with wide legs and a huge button holding the jacket together. All this was under a cream-colored coat with navy buttons. Her blond hair was pulled back into a low bun and held in place with what might have been wall gloss. Her thin lips and pointed nose were made more so by the thick blue liner around her eyes.
