The sleigh ride was only a day away now and certainly, no one wanted to miss it. There would be singing of Christmas carols, a wagon ride through the wintry countryside at night, with a full bright moon expected, with fresh baked goodies to eat, but most of all Louis and all the kids would have a chance to cheer up Charlie.
It was a long two weeks, but finally Christmas Eve had arrived.
Louis had spent all day adorning the wagon in festive trimmings, baubles, all manner of adornments and ornaments. The jingle bells were displayed on all sides of the sleigh. When Louis shook them, they made a most delightful chime. The red ribbons were strung down the all the leather reins that Charlie would be wearing, with each laced intricately into his bridle. Louis even placed bells on Charlie's bell boots that would cover his front and rear hooves. This would make a very melodious and rhythmic sound as Charlie walked along the earthen road that night.
Louis gave Charlie a thorough bath that day in the barn by the water trough. When Louis was finished grooming Charlie he looked squeaky clean, and so very handsome. Louis used every comb in Charlie's grooming kit to give Charlie a wonderful sheen to him that he last wore when he was a younger horse. Charlie was; washed and dried, brushed, pampered, and clean-shaven from the tip of his long tail, to the tips of his soft ears. Louis took extra care to brush his long stately mane, and white tail to be as fluffy as they had ever been before.
"Charlie this sure is going to be fun," proclaimed Louis as he was brushing Charlie for the last time in the early evening "I have never seen a more perfect night for a sleigh ride. The moon will be full and bright in the sky, and I even heard the weatherman on the radio say, we might even get a light snowfall later on tonight."
"That sure would be great Louis, to have a full moon tonight or maybe even a little snowfall. And you know how much I always look forward to singing Christmas carols on the sleigh rides, and hearing Mr. Beamer's story telling."
"Charlie you've never looked more attractive. You're sure a good-looking horse," said Louis admiring his handy work.
Charlie just grinned widely showing his slightly bucked teeth.
"Louis, did you get Charlie and the sleigh all cleaned up?" asked Mr. Beamer as he entered the barn through the side barn double Dutch doors "and is Charlie ready to get hitched up now, and get going?"
"Hey?ya? Mr. Beamer, sure is a pleasant night for a sleigh ride?ugh?"
"Hey Charlie, you're right about that. It's just beautiful out right now."
"Yep, we're all ready Mr. Beamer just look at Charlie, he's a new horse! I washed and cleaned him up all day."
"Charlie looks wonderful Louis, you did a great job. Here I brought you some leftovers from dinner. We ate up at the farmhouse. I just knew you we're too busy to come up," said Mr. Beamer as he handed Louis the covered dinner plate he held in his hand.
"Hattie May wasn't too happy with you missing dinner again, and staying down here in the barn all day."
"Well I had to get ready for tonight. I wanted to make sure everything goes just right because everyone's coming tonight," said Louis as he sat down for a moment to eat his dinner.
Mr. Beamer hitched Charlie up by himself while Louis ate his dinner.
All of the animals in the barn had been quiet most of the day, and into the early evening. They had been listening to Louis and Charlie as they discussed the events from the past few weeks about the fair, Jupiter the Show Horse, the talk about tonight's sleigh ride, the horse thieves, and all the talk about Charlie maybe retiring soon, from delivering the summertime ice for Mr. Beamer.
It was Friday night and Christmas Eve was finally here.
Everyone invited arrived promptly at six o'clock out back of the main farmhouse in front of Mr. Beamer's barn. As they were waiting in the rear yard, they were drinking hot apple cider that some of the girls had made that day and had brought along for the ride. Hattie May brought down some fresh baked brownies and sugar cookies. Molly had brought the most important thing of all extra lipstick. Chug and Short Stack brought their appetites, and some of the girls showed up with more decorations for Charlie and the wagon in case they were needed.
Mr. Beamer poked his head out of the side doors. Upon, seeing that everyone was present out front, he flung open both of the large front barn doors, with a flurry. Out sashayed Charlie, with his newly decorated sleigh into the yard.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present to you, "Charlie the Jingle Bell Horse", said Mr. Beamer as he pointed over in Charlie's direction.
Everyone applauded loudly. They all congratulated Charlie on how handsome he and his sleigh looked.
Charlie looked glorious!
He had on a new green floppy hat, which was covered with beautiful red ribbons, and bright blue baubles. Charlie wore a large green pine wreath around his neck, which Louis had painstakingly made, it was covered in silvery ornaments, and fancy jingle bells. His back was cloaked with a woven cloth pad, highlighted with red and green stitching that matched his leg stockings and the bell covers around his hooves, his long mane and tail were long and free flowing, from just being brushed, Charlie had not felt this young in years, nor had he ever looked more attractive.
Neatly hung around the sleigh were the sleigh bells that Louis had found in the attic, fresh pinecones and small Christmas wreaths lightly highlighted them. The sleigh's wooden sleds all had red ribbons hung around and throughout them. Four gas-lamps were hung from the front and rear of the sleigh to illuminate the path ahead and behind for the night. Strewn around the backend of the sleigh was new dry hay, and there were enough wool blankets thrown about for everyone to stay warm, throughout the joyous night that lay ahead.
"Charlie you look just wonderful," said Mrs. Beamer as she took to the jump seat at the front of the sleigh.
"Why thank you Mrs. Beamer. You seem very cheerful this evening."
"Louis the wagon looks delightful," said Cindy as she opened her eyes wider to get a better look at the all the decorations "and Charlie, I've never seen you look more clean and shinny".
"Why thank you!" said Charlie with a quick stomp on the ground of his two front hooves.
"Pass those pies back here", declared Chug as he and Short-Stack climbed into the back of the sleigh, both began smacking their lips.
"Hi, Louis can I sit in front with you later? I've got a secret to tell you," said a coy Molly as she alighted into the back of the sleigh, sitting next to Cindy.
"Sure Molly, as long as you don't try to give me a kiss again with those "big red lips of yours" said Louis as he puckered up his lips making a smacking sound to the delight of his young friends.
Everyone started to laugh at this jester, but not Molly. She just turned and whispered something into Cindy's ear. They both started to laugh. Molly look intently at Louis's delightful cobalt blue eyes again, and his adorable bright red hair.
Hattie May climbed in the front seat, sitting down next to Mrs. Beamer. She had on a superb cotton shawl wrapped tightly around her. Muncy enthusiastically jumped in the front seat. He nudged up under Louis's arm, trying to get a quick hug. Finally, Janie Parker, Mildred Waters, and Tessie Whitman all found their way into the back of the sleigh. All were bundled in oversized coats, scarves, mittens, and woolen hats.
Everyone settled in for the night's ride ahead.
All passengers were comfortable aboard, and ready for a wondrous night ahead, that all would surely remember, for the rest of their lives.
Off the procession went through the front gates of the farm and down into the sleepy valley below. White snowdrifts were as high as the sleigh on both sides of the road. The snowdrifts were all aglow from the inviting, yellowish moonbeams that were now enchantingly shining down on them from above.
The late December full moon was high in the early evening sky, comforted by a lone, singular star hanging in the darkened sky nearby. Tremendous gray and white clouds drifted o
verhead sporadically, covering the moon and the stars, as if to be playing a child's game of hide-and-seek, for all below to witness and share in their game.
The moon was a heavenly sight as it hung above the earth, but it had a strange and most peculiar glow to it, as if to portend or give a gentle hint of, odd things to arrive later this evening. The winter's air was thin and cool. It was drifting in from the north, pushing the wintry clouds along in sleepy waltz.
This gave a wintry chill to all, as all rode along.
Hot apple cider was brought along to warm the hearts and souls of all that were present. Kept warm in a covered wicker basket, with a cloth napkin were all the pies, cookies, and brownies.
Conversations this night were kept carefree and festive, and were in keeping with the mood of the season. Laughter and jingle bells coming from the sleigh could be heard throughout the quiet valley, as the wagon ambled and swayed along this night, down the old country road. Neighbors came out of their houses to watch Charlie and the sleigh glide by, and to sing along to the Christmas carols being sung by everyone on board.
All wishes this night were of having a very Merry Christmas.
The shy moonbeams slowly began to fade behind the every present march of evening clouds. The cold winter wind from the north began blowing in with a little more passion and determination now, as the night slumbered on.
"Merry Christmas Charlie; I've never seen you so happy" said Ms. Trumble the Schoolmaster, as they passed by the front of her farmhouse, which was decorated in some of the finest Christmas decorations the kids had ever seen.
"Merry Christmas?Ms. Trumble?Merry Christmas" yelled all the children together, as they waved over in her direction.
"See you back at school after the winter break" called out Molly "have a very merry Christmas Ms. Trumble".
Charlie was keeping a nice steady pace, as Mr. Beamer guided the wagon farther down the road.
They now came upon the Mayor's farmhouse. The Chief of Police Mr. Thomas Pinkerman and his wife were over visiting for the evening's festivities, when they heard Charlie's jingle bells coming through the open front Dutch-doors. George Penneywell the Mayor, Bernice and Thomas came outside, all heading towards the front gates, to say hi.
"Hi Charlie...hi?Louis, sounds like you're all having fun tonight."
"Hi, Mr. Beamer?good night for a sleigh ride" said George as he reached out, shook Mr. Beamers hand. He then gave Charlie a friendly pat on the head.
"The weather's turning a bit but we've got some hot apple cider to keep us warm," said Mr. Beamer as he held up a small cup in front of him, giving all present a warm loving toast.
"Looks like it's going to snow later on tonight" said Hattie May as she pulled her woolen hat down further over her ears.
Just then, a few snowflakes lightly touched down on Charlie's ears.
"Well, look at that. I should be forecasting the weather instead of baking pies all day," said Hattie May as she smiled broadly. She held out an open hand, catching the first freshly fallen snowflakes of the evening.
The snow now started lightly falling down all around the valley. It just seemed to go hand in hand with the evening, and perfectly planned by a higher power from above.
"We'll Happy Holiday's everyone," said Bernice as Charlie started up once again.
"Merry Christmas to all" loudly called back Mr. Pinkerman as the sleigh was getting farther and farther away, down towards the last bend in the road.
Mr. Beamer gave another slight tug on Charlie's reins as Charlie placed one hoof in front of the other in a playful manner. He began to prance about as the sleigh ambled along.
Charlie with Mr. Beamer leading the way, started to sing the loveliest of Christmas songs. All the children sung along as well, as Charlie pranced and danced about to the children's soft, cheerful voices.
The snow began falling steadier, and as it fell, it wrapped Charlie in a white blanket of snowy delight. The light from the gas-lamps cast off a subtle glow to light the road, ahead and behind them.
After the singing of a few Christmas carols, Mr. Beamer recited a few Christmas poems he had written just for this evening.
It was getting to be almost eleven o'clock now. Some of the children were starting to nod off into a peaceable sleep, with dreams of the presents that would surely arrive for them early this Christmas morning from Santa Claus.
"We should be getting back to the farmhouse," said Mr. Beamer.
Hattie May nodded her head in agreement, now nestling down a little closer, next to her good friend, Mrs. Beamer. Mr. Beamer called out to Charlie.
"Charlie everyone's had their fill of singing Christmas songs and carols tonight. It's time to be getting back, to the warmth of my barn."
Charlie nodded in agreement.
At the next crossroads, Charlie slowly turned the sleigh around, heading back up the road, towards the warmth of Mr. Beamer's barn. The gentle sounds of the jingle bells had everyone now hypnotized into a deep dozy sleep, except for Mr. Beamer, Louis, and Molly.
Molly gently started to crawl over Cindy who was sleeping. She gingerly climbed into the front of the sleigh into the buckboard, lightly she sat down next to Louis. Louis ever so slowly moved over to let Molly sit next to him. He gave a small push to a sleeping Muncy, so Molly could comfortably sit down next to him.
"You know Louis I've been trying to talk with you for some time now but, you're always busy with, flubbing catches, or busy with fancy horse races, your endless daydreaming or chasing bank robbers into the night. I can never seem to get you alone for one moment...to talk with you," said Molly quietly into Louis's ear.
"Yes?well?we can talk now?Molly."
"You know Louis: I tried to talk with you at the ballpark the day that you caught or almost caught that ball. Then I tried again by the Ferris wheel, then at the kissing booth at the county fair, and lastly at the big ceremony in Mr. Beamers barn; where you and Chug got that reward money from the Governor. You just always have something going on Louis."
"We'll I've got a lot to do Molly," said Louis with a little smirk and smile on his face "I mean I'm not getting any younger".
"We'll I've just been trying to tell you?that?I've got?a?you know?a real thing for you Louis. You know...I like you, don't you?"
Louis gave a quick glance, and honest smile towards Molly.
"I mean Louis?I really like you. Do you know what I'm trying to say to you Louis?"
"Of course I do Molly. I really like you as well. Big red lips or not."
Molly gave Louis "The Look"?after that crack.
She gently, and ever so lightly, laid her head down on Louis's shoulder.
Louis turned to face Molly, looking deeply into her soft inviting chestnut brown eyes. "That was the only thing Molly needed from Louis at that moment". Louis then turned his kind gaze away from Molly, towards the snowflakes falling down from above, took a deep breath; silently placing Molly's soft loving hand in his hand.
Louis and Molly looked together forwards down the snow covered road the rest of the night, not needing to say another word to each other, all the way back to Mr. Beamer's barn.
Enough had said. Both knew that fate had finally touched.
Together their future was sealed. Louis and Molly slowly feel asleep in concert to the sounds of melodious jingle bells, and snowflakes gently falling all around.
Charlie the Great White Horse and the Story of the Magic Jingle Bells Page 17
