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To pour on the holiday charm

For a Christmas apparel masterpiece

That’s as loud as a five-bell alarm.

Bonus points will be awarded

For creativity and being clever

Because who doesn’t love a festive Christmas sweater?

The answer is no one, ever.

Now dash away, dash away,

Dash away, all.

And enjoy the first stop of many

On this town-wide holiday crawl!

Dasher Daily Download

Spotted: Beth Collins and Gabe McKenzie—back in town—cozied up with their heads together bright and early this morning at the Clatter Café. Word on the Rudolph Run street is that they’re collaborating on the Christmas Dash, a town-wide holiday scavenger hunt, complete with team challenges, that’s sure to take Dasher Valley by storm. Date and time are TBD, but stay tuned to the DDD for all the information.

Comments:

@deacondave – What a great community event. Looking forward to participating. Now to find a team and a name.

@patricereynolds – Watch out, Deacon! The Kick-Casseroles are READY.

@lolanotashowgirl – Gabe’s in town? Will he sign my shirt? Or, better yet, my “undershirt” . . . if you know what I mean.

@DasherDailyDownload has removed a comment – Please remember our community guidelines and keep it classy, Dasher Valley!

@bookstorebeth – Thanks for the publicity, Wallace! We’re excited about this event and can’t wait to share more with Dasher Vallians ASAP.

Chapter 9

Beth

I push the bookshop door closed as a strong gust of early-December wind tries to wrench it open.

Not today, Mother Nature. Not today.

Ivy waves to me through the front window. I give her a salute and turn toward the town green for the Christmas Kickoff. It’s a brutally cold night for it, but hopefully that doesn’t affect the turnout. I bury my chin in my coat, pull up my hood over my stocking hat, and squint against the wind as I hurry along. My mind races with all the moving parts of the Kickoff. I was on the planning committee, and I’m holding my breath, praying everything goes off without issue. Santa will be in attendance, posing for pictures and listening to kids’ wish lists. There’s the cocoa cart and s’mores bar sponsored by the café—both of which are calling my name. I pick up my pace and run through everyone I need to check in with and greet. It’s going to be a busy night. This close to the Dasher Valley 8 selection, I’m doing everything possible to prove my commitment to the community.

I make it a block and a half toward the green when I feel a presence next to me.

I yelp and jerk my neck up and then up farther to find Gabe.

“Gabe!” I give him a good whap with my mittened hand. “Don’t do that!”

“What?” He widens his eyes, glances down at his boots and then over to me. “Walk?”

“You know what I mean. You snuck up on me!”

“I called your name twice.”