They lifted over the fence. She yelped and gripped the sled. Drake laughed. He’d forgotten the thrill of flying.
Over one more fence and they blew past his parents’ house just as the door flew open. “Oh!” Mom gasped and then surged out into the cold. “Merry Christmas!!”
Drake waved and kept going.
His brothers and their families ran out from their houses—yelling and cheering and whooping at the sight of Felix pulling a dog sled. He was magical and strong and beautiful and all their hopes for the ranch and their children were in one big fur ball of an amazing reindeer. Their excitement was too much to contain, and they raced forward.
Drake turned the sled and went back up the lane. This time, Caleb and Jack ran alongside them, laughing and pounding each other on the back.
Forest was already halfway to their parents’ house, knowing that was their final destination. “Look at you!” he yelled to Felix. “You’re perfect! Look at that rack! You’re amazing!”
Felix twitched his ears:I could get used to this place.
Forest laughed and tripped, catching himself at the last second.
Drake pulled to a stop in front of his parents’ house. Pax raced down the steps and stopped just shy of Felix. He stared and stared. “You did it,” he whispered. He turned around and yelled to his parents, who stood on the bottom step. “He did it!”
Drake was torn from the runners and hugged and pounded and congratulated and passed from brother to brother. He turned to share the moment with Clove and his breath caught in his throat as his dad reached down like the gentleman he was to help her out of the sled.
Dad had his hat over his heart, having removed it out of respect for Clove, and one hand extended.
Clove stared up at him, worrying her bottom lip as she contemplated his offer for help. Time seemed to slow down and the sounds of celebration faded into a buzz in the back of Drake’s thoughts. She trusted him, but could she extend that trust to Dad so quickly?
CHAPTERTHIRTY-THREE
Clove stared at Abner’s hand as he waited to help her from the sled. She couldn’t believe she was face-to-face with the man in the videos. The man who had shown her another version of a father, a version she wished she’d had growing up.
He looked softer in the daylight. His white beard was as full as Saint Nick’s, his head as bald and his belly as—well, jelly. He had on a heavy work coat and a matching felt hat, which he’d removed upon addressing her. She’d seen men do that before, but never for her.
“We’ve looked forward to meeting you, Clove.” His blue eyes twinkled.
“Y-you have?” she asked, dumbfounded. “Why?” Her brain turned on. “Oh, because of Felix. Of course.”
He chuckled, and the sound was pleasant and comforting. “We’re thrilled to have Felix on the ranch, but we’ve been waiting for a woman who could capture Drake’s heart. You my, dear, are the answer to many prayers.”
She shifted, not sure how she felt about that. No one ever wanted her. Her dad certainly didn’t, and Grandma took her in. The two of them learned to love one another, rely on one another, and formed a family bond. Although, maybe Grandma loved her from the start and it was Clove who took her sweet time. Yeah, that was probably the case. Funny how looking at things backwards brought clarity.
“I’ve never been the answer to anyone’s prayer before.” She took his hand, though she made sure to support her own weight and only use Abner for balance. Drake’s stories about his fight with pneumonia last year gave her caution.
“I’m willing to bet my stocking that’s not true,” he winked at her as he tucked her arm into the crook of his elbow and walked her towards the rowdy crowd praising her reindeer as if he were the first one they’d ever seen.
Natasha burst through the group and threw her arms around Clove’s neck. “You made it!”
Clove stepped back to maintain her balance. Abner let go of her and allowed his daughters-in-law to overtake her, as their husbands had overtaken Drake.
“You must be freezing!” Mitzi exclaimed, while rubbing her arms to create warmth.
She wasn’t freezing at all. Whatever magic made it possible for Felix to fly also kept her warm. It was truly an enchanting experience. One she hoped to repeat someday.
“Oh! I wish we’d been able to vlog your trip here instead of keeping it a secret.” Natasha bounced on her feet. “You know what? We’re going to use your homesteading experience, mix it together with wilderness survival in the winter, and do a ton of posts.”
“That sounds like fun?” Clove asked, not quite sure what the right response was.
“I want to hear all about Felix.” Faith took her hand and pulled her through the crowd to her reindeer. Mitzi and Natasha followed, chatting easily about the upcoming holidays and what they were contributing to the big dinner. Would she be required to make something? Where would she cook? Where would she sleep tonight?
More important than all of that was the question: Where would she shower?!
Felix was busy impressing the men with his tough-guy act. She didn’t want to interrupt him with the guys, but she needed his strength. She put a hand on his shoulder and he leaned into her, ready to hand over whatever she was looking for.
