Hannah looped an arm around Molly’s and Cole’s shoulders and gathered them close for a hug as more people arrived in the town square for the lighting ceremony.
Darkness had fallen while she was doing the animal chores back home and now light snow was drifting downward in gentle swirls to frost the pine trees and sparkle on the children’s stocking caps and jackets.
With no wind and the temp hovering just below freezing, it would be relatively comfortable out here for the hour-long program, but maybe her little Texans weren’t accustomed enough to the cold. “Be sure to tell me if you’re getting chilly, okay? We can go home whenever you want.”
“I want a sleigh ride for sure.” Cole tipped his head back to catch snowflakes on his tongue, and even Molly joined in.
“The church is selling hot chocolate and Christmas cookies, so if you—”
“Yes!” Cole exclaimed, tugging on the hem of her yellow ski jacket. “Please?”
Nodding to people she knew from church or the clinic, Hannah led the kids to the food stand at the other side of the square. Painted white with green vertical stripes, its red canvas roof was strung with icicle lights.
Inside, Beth Stone and Olivia Lawson, two of Hannah’s friends from the local book club, were dressed in Mrs. Santa caps and white wigs. Over their winter coats they wore aprons adorned with jingle bells and giant neck-to-knee Christmas trees bedecked with flashing lights.
Both of them beamed when Hannah finally reached the head of the line. Cole looked up at their outfits in confusion. “There are two Mrs. Santas?”
“We’re just her helpers for today,” Olivia assured him with a kindly smile. “She’s very busy this time of year.”
“Keeley told us about you two,” Beth said with a warm smile as she handed Molly and Cole gingerbread men and hot chocolate topped with pastel marshmallows. “We’re both so happy to meet you!”
“Thanks,” Molly mumbled. Cole shyly nodded.
“Love those aprons,” Hannah teased as she handed over a ten dollar bill. “They’re just so understated.”
Beth laughed. “We’re good until the AA batteries wear down. If you really like them, I stocked some extras in the gift area of my bookstore.”
Olivia, an elegant and slender woman of seventy, craned her neck to search the nearby crowd. “So where’s this Texas cowboy of yours? Keeley tells me he’s quite a hunk.”
“A what?” The term was so unexpected from a sophisticated, reserved woman like Olivia that Hannah sputtered on her first sip of cocoa, laughing.
And just then she felt the back of her neck start to burn and knew that, without a doubt, the hunk had to be standing right behind her. Embarrassment flooded her cheeks with heat.
“Hey, kids. Hannah.” His voice rumbled against her ear.
Mortified, she froze for a moment. Had it sounded like she was laughing at him?
Cole turned around and, bless his heart, broke the awkward silence. “We dint know you’re a cowboy, Uncle Ethan,” he breathed in awe. “That’s even better than a soldier ’cause you get to have horses and a gun.”
“He’s not a cowboy, stupid,” Molly said, elbowing him and sending his cup of hot cocoa sloshing dangerously. But then she looked up at Ethan and frowned. “Are you?”
“Nope. Your aunt Hannah is closer to that than I am. She’s got the horse.”
Surprised at his gracious reply, Hannah felt even more awkward about her inadvertent insult.
Molly rolled her eyes. “Penelope isn’t any bigger than I am.”
He lifted a shoulder and smiled at her. “Maybe the next one will be taller. But if you want to see something big, wait until you see the team headed this way.”
“Where? Can we go now?” Cole spun around, trying to peer through the crowd milling in the square. This time his hot chocolate spilled over his mitten and onto his new snow boots.
Panic flooded into his face and he jerked back, his lower lip trembling. “Sorry. I’m really sorry, Hannah.”
The ramifications of his fearful reaction sent a chill through Hannah. She met Ethan’s gaze and frowned, then bent to Cole’s level. “It’s only a cup of cocoa, sweetie. No big deal. I’ll get you a refill.”
He stared helplessly at her, like a rabbit caught in a trap, his eyes sheened with unshed tears.
“Really, it’s not a problem, kiddo,” she said with a smile. She gave him a hug. “And we will go see the horses when they start giving rides after the program. Promise.”
Keeley silently telegraphed unspoken concern as she leaned over the counter to hand Hannah a new cup of cocoa. Hannah shook her head slowly in return before shepherding the children toward the benches set up in the middle of the square.
The thought of a sweet little six-year-old boy fearing punishment made her heart clench.
Someone had been severe with the poor little guy. His father? A former babysitter? Cynthia? None of them would be in his life again, but this was yet one more subject to bring up gently with him when the time was right.
She sat on a bench toward the back of the crowd with Molly and Cole on either side of her. Ethan sat next to Cole and draped an arm over his thin shoulders.
“Hey, buddy, I hear there’s going to be lots of snow for sledding tomorrow. Are you excited about using your new sled?”
Cole nodded, his head bowed.
“I wonder which one will be the fastest,” Ethan mused. “I’ve never had a sled before, so this will be really fun.”
Cole gave him a sideways glance. “Never?”
“Nope. And I’ve never ice-skated, either. I noticed an ice rink on the other side of the square, so maybe that’s something we could all do, too.”
“Molly and me don’t have skates.”
“I’ll bet we can work something out. When we were at the hardware store for the sleds, I noticed that they have a used skate exchange. Good idea for kids who are always growing, right?” He leaned forward to catch Molly’s eye. “What about you? I can see you now—spinning on your skates like a ballerina. Would you like that?”
Molly shrugged and plopped back in her seat, though maybe there’d been the faintest glimmer of interest in her eyes.
The mayor stood at the podium, tapped the microphone and wished everyone a happy Christmas season, then stepped aside. A dozen carolers wearing Santa hats took his place and began singing Christmas carols and hymns, encouraging everyone to sing along.
The beauty of this night, with snowflakes falling and her sister’s two children at her side, filled Hannah with love and gratitude. When Cole reached over to hold her hand, she felt overwhelmed by her many blessings.
She lifted her eyes skyward. Dee, I promise that your children will be safe and loved, and I’ll do everything in my power to raise them as you wanted to.
As the sweet strains of “Silent Night” drifted off into the night, the mayor stepped back up to the podium and shouted, “Merry Christmas!”
With a flip of a switch, all of the trees on the square blazed with light. The tallest, a massive old blue spruce towering thirty feet into the sky, sparkled with thousands of tiny white lights.
“Wow,” Molly breathed. “It’s so pretty here! Like a fairy land.”
Hannah gave her a one-armed hug. “I know. I come every year and I never get tired of it. These gorgeous lights will be on until New Year’s Day.”
Cole tugged on her jacket. “Can we go see the horses now? What if there’s a big line and we can’t have a ride?”
“Problem solved. People used to get cold waiting in line, so the town council decided to sell advance tickets for various time slots. I bought ours this morning online.” Hannah reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out an envelope. “People can still line up for any empty seats, but this way we don’t have to wait. All four of us—you, too, Ethan—need to be on the other side of the square in ten minutes.”
Cole and Molly darted ahead. Ethan fell into step with Hannah, both keeping an eye on the kids.
A dusting of snow sparkled in Ethan’s raven hair and on the shoulders of his navy jacket. She suppressed the impulse to brush away the snow and jammed her hands into her pockets. “So, what did you think?”
He angled a glance at her as they strode after the kids. “Nice evening.”
“Just nice? I thought it was beautiful. All of the carolers, the moment the town square was lit up and—look down the street—all of the wreaths on the streetlamps are now lit up, as well. And check out the lovely shop windows. The town has a contest every year for those displays. I just can’t get enough of it all.”
He chuckled at that. “I can tell.”
She frowned, thinking over the day. “You didn’t need to buy four sleds, you know. I hope you didn’t feel obligated when Cole went crazy over all those choices. I can certainly pay you back.”
He looked affronted. “No. Actually, while I’m here, I’d like to help with their expenses. It seems only fair. You must have spent a lot on the winter clothes you bought them today.”
Hannah felt her hackles rise. “Not necessary. It was fun getting them outfitted with some of the things they’ll need here.”
Just ahead, Molly and Cole stopped along the sidewalk where two massive grays, in gleaming black leather and silver harnesses, stood patiently. One shook its head, sending the bells on its harness jingling.
Cole danced excitedly. “Just look at the horses, Aunt Hannah. They’re pretty! And look at the carriage—it has ribbons and bells and Christmas lights!”
Hannah approached the driver, who was dressed in a Santa suit and already calling for those with tickets for the first trip, and then motioned to Ethan and the children. “This is it—our scheduled ride. Climb aboard!”
There were two rows of bench seats behind the raised front seat for the driver. Cole and Molly sat in middle with two other children who were already on board. Ethan and Hannah ended up in the back, wedged together by another seated couple.
Hannah tried to scoot over to avoid being pressed so tightly against Ethan, but to no avail. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“No problem.” He lifted an arm and curved it around her shoulders, which gave them both a bit more room. “Seems like old times—in my old Chevy truck.”
He remembered that?
From the moment he’d appeared at her door she’d been wary of him, suspicious of his motives and worried about the possibility of a looming legal battle over the children’s future. She’d carefully ignored his physical appeal—he was simply a tall, incredibly good-looking guy, nothing more. But that hadn’t been difficult. She’d only had to recall her hurt and anger at the callous way she’d been jilted—and his brother’s cruel words afterward—to put that foolishness to rest.
But now, sitting so close to him, feeling the warmth of his leg against her jeans and his hard-muscled body pressed against hers, she could sense his strength even through the layers of their jackets. He made her feel safe. Protected.
Which made no sense since she knew she couldn’t trust him one bit. Not when something really counted.
The carriage dipped to one side as the driver lumbered up onto his seat and then twisted around to doff his cap in greeting. “Well, folks, happy holidays to you all! I’m Pete. Frank and Earl here have been pulling this carriage for five years, so we should have a good, steady ride for the next half hour. Grab the folded lap robes stored under your seats if you get cold. Any questions before we start?”
Molly raised a timid hand. “Can you ride these horses?”
Pete chuckled. “Sure. Some folks ride draft horses, but I’ve gotten old and prefer driving. Creaky bones, I guess.”
He shook out some slack in the reins and clucked at the team. They dutifully plodded forward, the bells on their harnesses rhythmically jingling, the leather creaking.
The carriage swayed as the horses clopped down Main Street beneath the swags of Christmas lights suspended across the street between lampposts.
“This is just lovely,” Hannah murmured, glancing up at Ethan.
The rhythmic hoof beats, the warm scent of the horses and the aroma of the surrounding pine forest were almost mesmerizing.
The strong line of his jaw and his five-o’clock shadow were more than a little mesmerizing, too.
She pulled her gaze away and leaned forward. “Look to the left, kids. See that antiques and gift shop with the icicle lights hanging in the windows? It belongs to Keeley, who helped bring us Thanksgiving dinner yesterday. We ran out of time today, but we’ll stop by another day. She wants you to try her yummy cookies.”
Cole turned around. “She’s nice.”
Guessing at his thoughts, she smiled. “You’ll both have lots of friends here, soon. I promise. You’ll get to meet lots of kids at church tomorrow, and on Monday you’ll see them in school, too.”
“I don’t want to go to school. Or church, either,” Molly muttered without turning around. “I won’t know anybody.”
The girl next to her had been staring at the Christmas lights and bickering with her brother. But now she angled a curious look at Molly. “What grade are you in?”
“Sixth.”
“I’m in eighth. But my cousin Joanie is in sixth.” The girl shuddered. “I hope you don’t get Mrs. Stone for math. I heard she’s tough.”
Molly shot a desperate glance at Hannah. “Did I? I hate math.”
“You’re all set to start, but I don’t remember everything on the class schedule they sent me. Except that you got Mrs. Fisher for English. She goes to my church and is really nice, I promise. We can check the schedule when we get home.”
Molly bowed her head. “It’s dumb to change schools now, after everybody has already made friends. I’ll never catch up, anyway. Everything will be different and I’ll look stupid.”
“Well, I’m Faith, and you know me. And I’ll tell Joanie you’re really cool, so then you’ll know her. She’s cool, too.” The other girl gave her a gentle, teasing shoulder bump. “And you aren’t the only new one at school. We got two new kids in my classes just last week. Anyway, Christmas vacation comes up soon and after that it’s like we’re all starting new.”
Molly shot her a grateful look then settled back in her seat.
“Thank goodness for small favors,” Hannah said under her breath. “Monday might not be so hard, after all.”