Clove stepped closer to Felix, who snorted like a brahma bull, ready to give the stranger a manners lesson. “Easy there.” She stroked his neck. “He didn’t mean any harm. He’s just excited to see such a handsome reindeer.”
Felix lowered his eyelids:Do I look stupid to you?
She pressed her lips together to hold in her chuckle. He could tell the difference between flattery and placating—good to know. “Easy there. We don’t want to assault someone in front of a police officer.” An officer who took his sweet time walking less than fifteen feet.
Felix scraped his hooves back a mere six inches:I haven’t touched him. Yet.
Clove stepped up to his shoulder and placed a hand on him. “Easy there, big guy. Let’s see what he wants.”
The officer approached with one hand held out to ward off Felix. “Do you have control of the animal?”
Clove and Felix exchanged a look.
He’s joking, right?Felix asked.
Clove spoke out of the side of her mouth. “Play along.” She grabbed the harness at his cheek. “I’ve got him!'' She called to the officer.
Drake grunted. With one flick of his chin, Felix could launch Clove across the street and all three of them knew it even if the other two did not. Not that Felix would ever hurt her. “Is there a problem, officer?” she asked innocently.
“We’ve had several calls about a reindeer wandering around town.”
The other man clapped his hands in rapid succession. “Yes. Yes. A reindeer. Twelve days before Christmas. Isn’t that just perfect? Twelve days. It’s just like the song.”
“What song?” Clove asked, wrinkling her brow in confusion. She finally took a moment to look him over. He wore a name-brand blue ski jacket—even though there wasn't so much as a bunny hill in sight and a pair of matching snow pants. On his head was a white cowboy hat that matched the piping on the coat and his gloves. He looked like he’d stepped out of a photo shoot except that he wasn’t quite that pretty. His middle-aged stomach pressed heavily on the zipper, and he didn’t have a lick of hair on his head. Also, his nose looked like a lightbulb—in shape, not color. Though the longer they stood in the cold, the brighter red it became.
“The twelve days of Christmas, of course. On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me—a reindeer!” He held his arms out like he was presenting Felix to a live studio audience. “He’s absolutely perfect. Just what I needed.”
“Excuse me?” Clove said. Who was this guy and why did he act like he owned the street and anyone walking on it?
Felix huffed:I was going to say that.
“I can assure you, Felix is not here for you.” Drake shifted the sacks in his right hand at the same time he regretted the mocking way the policeman said “wandered” but there was no taking it back. He put on a bright, friendly face.
“He looks angry.” The officer tucked his thumbs into the front of his belt. His official green coat, with a star over the chest, came in at the waist. Had he tucked it in? Weird.
“He’s the nicest reindeer you’ll ever meet.” Clove stroked Felix’s cheek.
“Yeah, right,” the officer mumbled. “It’s against zoning to have a large animal within city limits. No cows, horses or reindeer. Chickens are okay.”
Drake’s eyes sharpened. “Does the law specifically state no reindeer? Because if it mentions cows and horses specifically, but not reindeer, then it doesn't necessarily preclude them.”
Which means that you’re wasting your time, Clove thought. She silently applauded Drake. He’d said something about his mom filing paperwork and doing legal things for the ranch. He must have picked up some of her wisdom. Bless Anna!
“I should detain you all while I look it up.” He pulled off his aviator sunglasses and pinned Drake with a look.
“Yes! Do that. Detain them all.” The man rubbed his palms together.
Drake grinned as if he had a trump card.. “You could. But where ya gonna keep him?” Before the officer could climb any higher on his figurative high horse, Drake said, “Tell ya what. We’re staying over at Miss Judy’s place. Going that way right now. If you find a reason to detain us, you come on over and we’ll be there.”
“We will?” Clove said under her breath. She had no desire to stay in a town with these two. The shorter guy salivated over Felix and she wasn’t sure if he wanted to cook him up for Christmas dinner or keep him as a trophy. Either option was unthinkable. If she could ride Felix, they’d be halfway out of the state by now.
“Our trailer had an unfortunate run-in with a pole and Otis is helping get us up and running. As soon as it’s ready, we’ll be out of your town and out of your hair.” He worked hard to sound calm. A vein in his neck throbbed, giving away his desire to grab her and Felix and run. He looked dangerous in his simmering state.
The cop studied Felix. “His antlers are too big.”
Felix lowered his brow, thundering. He stomped a foot.
Clove stepped slightly in front of his body, her hip and side up against this chest. He wouldn’t run her over to get to the cop—it was against everything inside of him. Still, Drake gave her a look that said she was a brave woman and she warmed under his admiration.
