Drake took a step forward, ready to wipe the yuletide greetings off his face and then mop the floor with him. Hoffman lifted his chin, daring him to come at him.
How did this man ever get elected?
Drake pulled himself back. It wouldn’t help his cause if he was in a cell when the senator, representative, or president called. Okay, maybe the president wouldn’t call, but he wouldn’t put it past Mom to arrange a presidential pardon for Felix. Hey, if they can pardon a turkey on Thanksgiving, why not a reindeer on Christmas?
Oh man, he had a lot of explaining to do to his family. The images of Felix helped smooth things over. They got that he was trying to help the ranch. At least that was something they understood.
Hoffman turned on his shiny black boot and marched back inside.
“I think he’ll be comfortable here short term. Don’t you?” Clove asked. The automatic waterer ensured Felix didn’t get dehydrated and the horse feeder was full of fresh food. She frowned. “He’s used to more space. Can I come walk him later?”
“I doubt it.” Drake hated telling her no.
Mayor Winston sauntered around the side of the building. He’d been out front waving goodbye as the children loaded onto the bus. His secretary showed up for a few minutes to take pictures. No doubt they were already on the mayor’s social media pages.
“What do you think?” He beamed as he waved his arm toward the cell–er stall. “Deluxe accommodations for our newest resident.”
“They’ll be fine until we take him home.” Drake could barely get the words out. He didn’t like this guy. He was slippery.
Clove smiled, although it didn’t reach her eyes. “I’ll be back this afternoon to visit.”
“Sure. Sure. Anytime. We’ll need to get a ticket booth or some such set up. Until then, you’re welcome back here.” He whistledJingle Bellsas he left.
Clove's mouth dropped open, and she snapped it shut.
Drake ground his teeth. Even on the ranch, where reindeer were a business, they didn’t have a ticket booth. Yes, they charged for some events, but the proceeds went to pay for hay or other essentials. They didn’t see the animals as money-makers; they were family.
Clove approached the fence, and Felix stuck his head over to listen to her soft whispers.
Drake hated what this was doing to her. How had he ever believed that he could kidnap Felix and no one would be hurt? He would have broken Clove’s heart–the idea almost broke him.
She came back, and he draped his arm across her shoulder as they walked to the truck. “I need to apologize for kidnapping Felix and Hannah.”
She lightly punched him in the ribs. “So you admit you stole him!” Her tone was light enough that his defenses didn’t jump to attention.
He pulled her close and kissed her hair. “Yes. And I’m so very sorry. I should have . . . I don’t know what I could have done, but taking him was really, really, dumb.”
She snuggled into his embrace. “I forgive you.”
He opened her door, and she paused before climbing in. She placed a hand on his chest and even though he wore four layers of clothing; he felt the contact all the way to his bones. “Thank you for saying that.”
He nodded, his tongue too thick and awkward to say the actual words. She climbed in and he took a long-way-around-the-truck walk to get back his ability to speak. He got in the chilly cab and started the truck. “Do you think he’ll behave?” Everything he’d seen of the reindeer said that he’d stay where he was told to stay, but if he got lonely for Clove, he might fly out of there to visit.
“I talked to him. Promised to get him out soon and asked him to give Hoffman a little trouble now and then.” She giggled. “He’s looking forward to a few reindeer games.”
Drake chuckled. “You’re devious.”
She flipped her blond hair over her shoulder. “I prefer the term saucy.”
He grinned at her, taking in her whole, lighthearted flirting and the brightness in her eyes. She felt better having seen Felix’s stall and knowing they were taking care of him. He enjoyed doing that for her. Whatever darkness had snuck up on her this morning was once again put away. He wanted to keep it there and to do that, he had to prove his words from earlier. “Are you tired?”
She nodded. “Worn through emotionally, but fine otherwise, why?”
He threw his arm over the back of the seat and looked behind them as he backed out of the spot. “Because I want to get the trailer fixed as soon as possible and I could use some help.”
She gasped in delight and straightened her back. “I’m game. I want to be out of this town ASAP.”
He picked up a piece of her hair and twirled it through his fingers. “I like the way you think.”
