Snowflake bounded over, nuzzling her head and neck all the way around the man several times over.
Forest’s laughter boomed through the rafters. “Watch those antlers, girl.” He turned to move his splinted arm out of the way for her to continue her excited show.
She backed up and then butted him in the side with her nose.
“I know. I know. But it took me a while to find you.” He rubbed her neck and her face. Then he pushed her chin away and danced to the side. Snowflake chortled and danced after him. The two frolicked.
Mitzi shouldn’t have been moved by the scene in front of her, but there was something about the way Forest transformed when he was around the playful reindeer that had sugarplum fairies dancing through her stomach. He was boyish, free, and yet all manly shoulders, facial hair, and strong legs. The delight on his face was like a boy on Christmas morning, a stark contrast to the man she’d caught breaking into her barn and the patient she’d helped into the house the night before. This guy, this was two parts the Forest of her childhood and one part the man of her dreams—a dangerous combination if ever there was one.
Billy looked up at her, and Mitzi looked down at him to gauge his reaction. Snowflake never acted like that—at least not around her. She leaned over to whisper in Billy’s ear. “It looks like they know each other.”
Billy nodded and swiped his nose with the back of his hand. His eyes were deep green wells of misery and pain.
Mitzi held her breath, her heart breaking for her son. Snowflake was his best and only friend here in Idaho. The boys from his old school had stopped video chatting with him months ago. She understood—for a kid, proximity was the motivating factor in friendship, and Billy just wasn’t close enough to stay on their minds. Their lives went on without him. His should have too, except … it hadn’t.
“Forest?” She said his name before her thoughts had gathered. Motivated by the emotions roiling inside her son, and feeling them all inside herself as well, she knew she had to take action. “Can I speak to you outside?”
Forest rubbed Snowflake’s snowflake. “Stay out of trouble, you.”
She snorted, basically challenging him to make her. He laughed and wagged a finger her direction before following Mitzi out of the barn.
Once they were a safe distance from the aged wooden structure, she turned to face him. His playful nature was put away as he adopted his adult face and stance. The glint in his eye said he’d be up for playing anytime, but there was also a business side to him.
Goodness, she spent much too much time contemplating this man. She needed to put more brainpower into figuring out how to save her son’s heart. “Clearly, Snowflake came from your ranch.”
He went to fold his one arm over the other and thought better of the idea, shoving his hand into his pocket. “I’ve been looking for her for almost a year.”
Mitzi nodded. “Billy found her last Christmas. She was in bad shape. Her leg was broken.”
Forest let out a gust of air as he turned to go back to the barn.
Mitzi grabbed his elbow—on his good arm—to keep him from charging in to check on her. “We splinted it and took care of her.”
Forest eyed her from the side. “You did?” He seemed to consider his words carefully. “Did Snowflake do anything out of the ordinary?”
Mitzi thought back. “She let Billy harness her easy enough … there were a couple of days she just wanted to sleep.” She huffed a laugh. “And she broke into the house to eat oats, but other than that, she’s a pretty normal reindeer.”Except I swear she can talk to me. We have full conversations. Oh, and she’s my kid’s best friend.She added all the last mentally. “We want to keep her, Forest.” She held her breath, praying he would agree.
Forest began shaking his head.
Mitzi reached for him again but thought better of it. “She’s happy here. Billy takes her out every day, and they tromp through the woods together. She has food and shelter. What more could a reindeer ask for?”
Forest scowled. “It can’t happen.”
“Why not?” Her tone was demanding, indignant.
Forest’s eyes turned navy blue. “For one, there’s the permits. We hold the only one in the U.S., and we’re pretty much grandfathered in.”
“I’ll apply—”
“Secondly,” he cut her off, “you’re in violation of at least seven statutes and three laws by keeping her here and treating her injury yourselves.”
Her mouth dropped open and she snapped her teeth shut. “She would have died if not for us.”
Forest held up both his hands. “I’m not complaining, just educating.”
She viciously unzipped her coat to let some cold air in—she was burning with righteous indignation. “I don’t need youreducation,” she spat at him. “We’ve done fine up till now without it.”
He shrugged as if sayingso you thinkorfor an amateur.
