Felix shrugged.He started it.
“Okay, it could be what it looks like,” he admitted. “I’ll pay for damages.”
She shuffled to stand next to him. “How about we don’t damage my home and sit down and have a friendly talk? I’ll get some cocoa.” She pointed to Felix. “Do not break my house, reindeer.”
Felix scowled.I’m not the one holding the rope.
Drake walked up, and around the porch, coiling the rope as he went. “I know all sorts of games. Wait till you see what we can do with a hula hoop.” He loosened the rope and pulled it up and over Felix’s antlers and then nose. “We have relay races too. I’ll bet you’d give Sparkle something to think about on the racetrack.”
Felix lifted his chest.Darn right, I would.
Grandma reappeared, this time through the back door, with a whole tray of food. “I figured you hadn’t had dinner yet.”
He ducked his head. “I ate a protein bar.”
“You can hardly call that dinner. Come on over here.” She set the tray on a small table between two rocking chairs. The scene reminded him of home so much it made him lose his grip on his determination. Felix swung his head around and watched the forest.
“He’s not going anywhere,” Grandma said with a flap of her hand toward the reindeer.
Drake decided to trust her. She hadn’t chased him off the property with a shotgun–yet. He took off his gloves and joined Grandma on the porch.
“Name’s Hannah,” she said by way of welcoming him to dinner. Closer to the house, the winter bite wasn’t as noticeable and the soft light from inside was like a welcome handshake.
“Drake.” He couldn’t hold back his manners.
She offered him a sandwich made from thick slices of roast beef and homemade mozzarella cheese. His mouth started to water. A carafe of spicy mustard with a spoon for scooping it onto the sandwich was all the invitation he needed. It’d been two weeks since he’d had a homemade meal.
She looked him up and down. “You’re a reindeer wrangler, aren’t ya?”
He nodded as he chewed. The roast beef was tender and melted in his mouth. Goodness, the woman plied all his secrets with well-seasoned meat. Might as well implicate the whole family tonight.
She stared out over the snow. According to the map, there was a lake less than a quarter of a mile in that direction. The way she stared, it was like she could see right through the trees to the water. “I told Clove to take Felix to you people. She wouldn’t have it though.”
He leaned back, surprised that she was so willing to send him when Clove was not. “He’s mighty needed.”
“I gathered as much from the videos you’ve been posting.”
He shook his head. “Not me. My sister-in-law. She’s the social media specialist for the ranch. I just take care of the animals and my mom.” That last bit about his mom slipped out and his cheeks warmed despite the cold temperatures.
She seemed to soften as women do when they take a man’s measure and respect what they find. She pushed off the arms of the chair. “I’ll throw together a bag and we can be on our way.”
He choked on his sandwich; the bread turning to cardboard in his throat. “W-we?” He coughed twice. What did she mean by “we”? “Ma’am, I can’t take you with us.”
“Felix won’t go willingly without me.” She disappeared inside.
Felix approached the porch. He grabbed the rope with his lips.You want to try again?
“No,” he snapped, not at all in the mood for reindeer games. Drake considered him. “What do you think? Do you want to go to the ranch? You’ll have an unlimited supply of food, friends, family, a chance to train with the best reindeer in the world, and a warm barn to sleep in at night.”
Felix snorted sarcastically.Will you bring me carrots every night too?
“You can turn up your antlers all you want, but our place is a reindeer utopia..” Drake purposefully ignored the reindeer as he gulped the cocoa that was cooling quickly. “Not to mention we train Santa’s reindeer. We’re the only ones who can.” He stood and dusted off the back of his pants before putting on his gloves.
Felix side-stepped it away from him.I’m not going with you.
“Be reasonable. Hannah is in no shape to make a trip like this,” he appealed to the reindeer’s softer side.
The back door creaked open before Felix could answer. Hannah had a small suitcase in one hand, a bag that looked like it contained balls of yarn, and a green stocking cap on her head in addition to the coat she’d worn during dinner. “I’m ready.”
