Holden tugged the pole out of its rut and untwisted the pieces. “Okay. Hurry back. And be quiet.”
How was it possible that the two trees were identical heights? It was as if they were back to square one, neither family having an edge over the other. His dad was going to lose his mind.
A blip in the track had “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” suddenly morphing into “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” It also had Holden’s heart faltering out of rhythm. When the new song stuttered and repeated day eight three times in a row, Holden took that as a sign to hightail it out of there. The wheels were falling off.
“No army crawling,” he said when Lance came up to his side. “We make a run for it.”
The music shut off completely.
The light Holden had anticipated from earlier flashed on, flooding the mountainside.
“Run!” Holden whisper-yelled.
The two raced toward the rickety shed. Lance got there first. Holden threw the poles behind the structure.
“Hello?” The sound of Rachel’s voice had Holden’s stomach doing somersaults. “Is someone there?”
CHAPTER17
She saw them. Two men, just like back at the market. She was certain of it.
But when Rachel ran into the house to tug on her snow boots and jacket, the shadows that crouched behind her dad’s old work shed were gone, the only things left behind three long pieces of plastic pipe.
“Could this day get any weirder?” She blew into her cupped hands. Her fingers were freezing. It was the coldest day of December yet. No one would dare to be out in these elements unless they had good reason to be.
Her eyes must have been playing tricks on her. It was the only plausible explanation. But the fresh tracks in the snow made her feel a little less crazy. Someone or something had been out there.
But she hadn’t heard anyone. The only reason she even ventured outside was to investigate the malfunctioning speaker. Apparently, keeping the power on for a full week wasn’t an ideal use for an electronic item. Her father wouldn’t be thrilled, but they’d have to come up with another Christmas carol plan.
Heading back inside, Rachel cast one last extensive gaze over the yard, coming up short with explanations.
The full moon hung in a blanket of navy above, accented with shimmering stars that glittered like rhinestones. It sure was beautiful country up here. The atmosphere was unpolluted, the air clean. Christmas in the city was an extravagant event filled with decorated stores and fancy shop windows, but the summit provided a different backdrop. One where even Mother Nature got in on the celebration.
She took one last look at their tree. It was perfect, even more majestic than the one she’d picked out with Buddy. Oh, how she wished her sister and sweet grandma could see it. Angling her gaze heavenward, she hugged her arms close. Maybe they could. That hope filled her with a warmth like no other, and when she finally trekked back into the cabin, even the fire in the hearth couldn’t compete.
Rachel heard the footfalls first and then saw her mother’s figure coming down the stairs. Paula buckled her robe around her middle with the fabric belt and grinned. “You couldn’t sleep either? Something wake you?”
“You know? It was actually the lack of noise that did. Dad’s speaker is on the fritz and the music cut off.”
She moved with her mother to the kitchen, knowing the routine. Back when she was a child, a sleepless night called for a cup of lemon tea and a splash of honey. Paula got the kettle ready while Rachel snagged the bear-shaped squeeze jar from the cupboard. She pulled out a barstool and took a seat.
“I was getting so used to that loop of music as constant background noise that I didn’t even notice it had still been going until it stopped.”
“Funny how we don’t truly miss something until it’s gone.” Paula angled her head. “Do you ever miss it here? Because it sure is nice to have you home, sweetheart.”
It had been nice—and confusing and even a little weird. “Yeah, I have missed it.”
“Do you ever think of coming back?”
“To Snowdrift?” Rachel perked up in her seat.
“Yes. I mean, for longer than just the holidays. Your father was going on and on all night about how much he loved having you back in the store, working side by side again.”
“Mom…”
“I know.” Paula shed the smallest smile. “It’s not like you’d be content here, living a simple life. I’ve always known that.”
“It’s not that,” Rachel said. “It’s just that I’m finally so close to living the life I’ve worked so hard for.”
