Felix’s eyes glinted, and he twisted, dragging Dunder as he spun in a circle. Dunder jumped away, gathered himself, and charged again. The clatter of antlers colliding was gruesome and Clove shuddered away. They panted with furious effort.
Pushing off one another at the same time, they each took three steps back, lowered their heads, and ran toward one another.
“No!” Clove wanted to bury her face in Drake’s chest, but didn’t dare look away. Time seemed to slow down with each step they took, and she prayed with all her heart that both reindeer would be okay.
In a flash, time started again, and they collided, sending sparks out in every direction. Sparkles followed and then shoots of gold and silver tinsel. The reindeer disappeared in a haze of pyrotechnic clouds.
Caleb and Jack yelled as flames, started by the sparks, appeared on the ramp. “I got it!” they said as they grabbed fire extinguishers from the wall.
“The ropes!” yelled Faith, pointing to the rooftop model on the side of the track. The shingles didn’t catch fire, but the ropes were bright orange.
“On it!” Forest climbed up there and smothered them with a horse–er reindeer–blanket.
When the excitement died down, all eyes went back to the bulls. The cloud dissipated slowly, revealing their outlines first.
Clove’s heart raced, and she forced an exhale.
Both reindeer were still standing.
They no longer faced each other as challengers, but stood together as brothers, shoulder to shoulder, strength to strength.
“It was a draw,” Drake said in a hushed tone. “They’re calling it a draw.”
“What does that mean?” she asked, noting her fingers digging into his shirt. She forced herself to pry them open.
The reindeer lifted their noses and bugled in harmony.
Faith grinned. “Felix passed the test.”
Drake hugged Clove. “You taught him well.”
She laughed. “Like I taught him any of that.” She laughed through the tears of relief coursing down her cheeks. The family spilled off the bleachers, the children dancing around the reindeer, and the adults patting them on the back and praising them both.
Drake kissed her ear. “Looks like we got ourselves a new stud on the ranch.”
She squeezed her eyes shut, thinking of how much work it was to care for a baby reindeer who could fly. “Are you ready for this?”
Drake pulled back and brushed his fingers over her cheek. “I’m more than ready for whatever comes our way.”
She leaned into him, grateful to know that she could borrow his strength when she needed it. He never pushed it on her, never weakened her or doubted her abilities, but was always right there if she needed him.
“I hope so,” she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Because tomorrow is Christmas, and I didn’t buy you a present.”
He nuzzled her neck. “I didn’t buy you one either.”
Her thoughts went all warm and fuzzy. “Whatever will we do?”
“Sleep in?” he asked as he kissed his way down her neck.
“Sounds like a Merry Christmas to me.” She lifted on her toes and kissed him. As his arms circled her and he lifted her off her toes, her heart lifted too, and she realized that Drake made her feel things. She’d been numb for so long, no man had stirred her heart.
Until Drake came along.
She’d thought living this way, with so much energy, would be exhausting, but she was wrong. It wasn’t like she was dragged about by her emotions. It was more like the moments played like music when they’d been silent before.
“. . . love you . . .” Drake continued to whisper sweet words and she let herself get carried away on the melody.
She’d gotten everything she’d not asked for this Christmas—and it was her best one ever. Who knew what would happen next Christmas? She couldn't wait to find out.
