Billy grinned. Mitzi put her hand around his back and they formed an image worthy of a Christmas card. “We are so very thankful for all that Snowflake brought into our lives.”
Snowflake tipped her head:Does that mean I get carrots for dinner tonight?
Mitzi laughed. “Why not? It’s Christmas Adam—we should celebrate.”
Snowflake bounced happily, drawing laughter and indulgent looks from the adults.
Drake took off his glove and then lifted her hand and removed Clove’s, too. He laced their fingers together and touched his forehead to hers, not even caring that his entire family witnessed his tender affections. She was all too aware of everyone watching–especially because they all went, “Awww.”
“Please try, Clove,” he whispered.
The storm drew back, though it continued to swirl.
“Meet Dunder. If you don’t like him, I’ll eat my gloves.”
His friendly and ridiculous wager jolted her from the storm’s path and she could breathe once again. “Okay.”
In a blink, they swept her up in a tidal wave of people headed for the indoor barn.
“You’re going to love him,” said Natasha. “I’m in his stall as much as possible.”
“It’s true,” said Jack, as he winked at his wife. “But it could be because I’m in there and she can’t get enough of me.”
Natasha smacked his arm and gave him a look that said kisses would come as soon as they had a moment alone.
Mitzi, Billy, and Snowflake meandered back to their house down the lane, Snowflake chanting:Carrots. I like carrots.As they went.
Clove twisted to look over her shoulder and saw Abner and Anna standing with Felix. Abner talked to him while Anna praised him up and down and scratched under his chin.
Felix wasn’t at all worried about her, and she turned back toward the barn, ready to face the king of the reindeer.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-FOUR
Drake wished he had a minute to warn Dunder about how skittish Clove was before he brought them together, but there just wasn’t time. Once the family got set on an idea, they went to work. And they’d grabbed this idea like it was their saving grace.
It might be.
Jack opened the barn door and removed his black felt hat. He stepped back and let Natasha and Faith through.
Faith’s mouth set in a determined line. She, out of all of them, knew what it meant to Dunder to bring another male reindeer into the barn. Caleb kept his hand on her lower back, a physical connection that they both drew strength from.
He moved to put his hand on Clove’s back in the same way, only to feel like he’d hit a wall of sticker bushes before he made contact. He pulled his hand back. Clove was working through all this—his family was a lot to work through—and she needed space like that day in the tent. He could give her that—even though everything inside of him wanted to hold her close.
The ground shook, and Faith stumbled. He grabbed her and they steadied one another. “What was that?” she asked.
He refused to lie. “Dunder. He’s getting impatient.”
They stepped through the door and let their eyes adjust to the brighter light inside. None of the other flying reindeer so much as poked their heads out of their stalls.
Dunder snorted right next to his stall door:I can smell him.
“That’s not Felix, you ninny.” Faith’s voice was too high, strained. “It’s his person. Like Billy for Snowflake. Clove is Felix’s bond.”
He bumped the door with his antlers, and they shook on the hinges.
Jack and Drake made eye contact. “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.”
Drake glared. “You thought it was brilliant five minutes ago.”
