They laid there for a second in shock.
She pressed up on her forearms; her braids hanging down and her face haloed by the winter sun. Her skin was pink from the cold and her eyes worried. “Did you just save me?”
He assessed his circumstances–not at all hating the feel of her body covering his. The situation was quite comfortable, as a matter of fact. “Yes.”
She hit the snow with her fist. “Don’t ever do that again.”
He blinked. “Fine. Don’t ever throw yourself on top of me, then.”
Her mouth fell open. “I didn’t throw–.” She grit her teeth. “I wouldn’t!”
He couldn’t seem to stop himself. “But you did.” He quirked an eyebrow and smiled knowingly. “Admit you like me.”
“Gah!” She scrambled to her feet, kicked snow on him, and stormed away.
He laid back and laughed up at the sky. He was not laughing at her, but at his own stupidity. Clove went inside the house, the shovel forgotten in her huff. That was fine with him. He needed space to clear his head. He threw his arms and legs out and made a snow angel. The movement released some of his frustration and soothed his soul. The cold seeped into all the angry rivers coursing through his blood.
“What are ya doin’?” asked a little voice.
He lifted his head to see a small boy in a blue coat with a red hat staring at him.
“I’m evaluating my life’s decisions,” he replied and went back to work on the snow angel.
The kid watched him for a few minutes and then flopped into the snow next to him, making Drake miss his nephews and niece.
A moment later, a harried-looking mother stood between them. Her face was splotchy in a way that he didn’t know if it was from the cold or from crying. “Colter Beuford Dixon, what on earth are you doin’?” She dug her fists into her hips, or where her hips would be if her coat wasn’t so puffy.
“‘Valuatin’ my life’s decision,” he replied.
A laugh burst from Drake. “Sorry, ma’am.” He said as he carefully got out of his angel and then helped Colter Beuford Dixon out and brushed him off. “Seems I distracted him.”
“You’ve nothin’ to be sorry about.” She turned on Colter. “You have chores to do.”
Clove came around the corner of the house with Felix on the lead rope. Being with the reindeer soothed her–he could relate to that. Felix held his head high and sniffed the air as he prance-walked beside her. His movements were like a thoroughbred horse wanting to burst into a run.
Colter’s mouth fell open. He grabbed his mom’s hand and tugged while pointing at Felix. “Do you see it?” he asked in a whisper, as if he were afraid of scaring Felix off.
His mom turned to see what he was staring at. “Mylanta!” she exclaimed, tugging Colter behind her.
Drake chuckled. “He’s pretty tame. Do you want to meet him?”
Felix spotted Colter and dragged Clove in their direction. She tugged on the rope. “I do not want to talk to him, Felix,” she ground out through her clenched teeth.
Drake rolled his eyes. “You’re no picnic either, sweetheart,” he called to her, cringing inside even as he said the words. What was wrong with him?
If Clove heard him, she didn’t respond, which made him want to call her sweetheart again–just to see what she would do. Seeing her all flustered did something to him–something he liked but couldn’t put a name to.
Knowing reindeer had a soft spot for children, he motioned for them to come closer. “Felix, come meet Colter!”
Felix broke into a trot. Clove let go of the rope and threw her hands in the air. Drake stepped between Felix and their guests and jogged out to meet him–more for the mom’s sake than anything. Once he had Felix’s lead rope in hand, he walked him over to Colter.
“This is Felix,” he said proudly. His chest swelled, and he realized how proud he truly was of this reindeer. Felix had a beautiful rack, classic really. His pelt was shiny and healthy, and he had a great personality.
Colter stepped forward and lifted a hand to Felix.
Felix took his measure and then dipped until his nose brushed Felix’s mitten. Colter giggled and Felix blew a raspberry. The Spirit of Christmas that hung on children’s laughter filled the air.
Drake turned to look for Clove, wanting to share this moment with her. Her eyes were soft as she watched Felix nip at Colter’s coat with his lips–totally harmless and bringing giggles from deep within the child.
