Christmas on Reindeer Road

by Debbie Mason

  Teddy stood at the threshold of Gabe’s bedroom staring longingly at Mallory. Gabe patted his butt to get him out of the way and then quietly closed the door. “We’ll let her sleep another hour, honey. Why don’t you go help the boys set up the racetrack in the basement?”

  “No. We got too much to do. Everyone’s coming for Christmas dinner, and we’ve gotta plan our proposal before they get here. It has to be really special, Dad.”

  “Mallory proposed to me last night.”

  He rolled his eyes. “That doesn’t count. I wasn’t there, and I want to propose to her too. Should we propose to Oliver and Brooks or would they think it’s weird?”

  Gabe worked to hold back a laugh. “Maybe you could make them a card.”

  “Good idea.”

  “Thanks. Anything else?”

  Teddy’s eyes went wide, and he looked like he might cry. “A ring. You need a ring, and all the stores are closed.”

  He crouched in front of him. “I got her a ring, buddy. Last night when you were having the scan, I called up the jewelry store. They brought some for me to look at.” Like Mallory said, there were perks to living in a small town. He’d discovered the most important ones yesterday. The town had been there for him and his family, and he’d never forget it.

  “Did Mallory see?”

  “Nope, we were sneaky. You would’ve been proud of me. We met in the cafeteria behind a potted plant.”

  Teddy gave Gabe a high five. “Okay, now what about a present?”

  “You saw what I bought her last night.”

  “Yeah, the kissing books, the sweater, and chocolates were all nice but not special enough. You’re not very romantic, Dad.”

  He grinned. His son was in for a surprise. “What would you suggest?”

  “Hmm, how about a dog?”

  “Okay, that sounds more like a present for you guys than one for Mallory.”

  “We’ll get her a girl dog. A little one like Abby has. She can dress it up. She needs a girl, Dad. It’s six against one.”

  “I see. So we’re doing this to even the odds.” He picked up his phone. “Have you ever heard the saying Great minds think alike?”

  “No. Why?”

  “Because this little one is on her way over to us right now.” He showed him a picture of a white ball of fur he’d bought from none other than Dot McFee.

  Dot had dropped by the station on the twenty-second, the same day Gabe had finally taken Ruby’s advice and hired Dot’s daughter-in-law, Dirk’s mother. Dot had suggested the dog would be a good way to make amends to Mallory. Somehow, she’d heard what had happened the night of Teddy’s birthday. It felt a bit like kismet because, after seeing Mallory at the standing stones the night before, Gabe knew he had to keep her in his life no matter what the risk.

  Although it was possible that the dog had been Dot’s way of making amends to Mallory. The older woman explained to Gabe why she’d reacted the way that she had with Mallory. Her own son, Dirk’s father, had been abusing her grandsons and her daughter-in-law. Dot hadn’t known until Dirk had ended up in the hospital with a broken arm.

  It also went a way toward explaining why Dirk had become a bully. Gabe hoped to use the knowledge to find a solution to Oliver’s problem with Dirk. Oliver was a good kid, kind and empathetic. Gabe figured it would help him to know Dirk’s history.

  “Hey, where are you going?” Gabe asked when Teddy took off like a shot.

  “To tell the boys,” he said, then yelled all four of their names at the top of his lungs. So much for Mallory getting to sleep in, Gabe thought, at the same time the doorbell rang. He went to answer the door but the five boys bolted past him, nearly spinning him around in their wake.

  They answered the door. The five of them were staring at whoever was on the other side with their mouths hanging open. Gabe realized why when he approached the door. “Hey, Dot. Dirk. As you can see, the boys are pretty excited about Mallory’s surprise.”

  Dirk handed Gabe the dog crate with the puppy inside. “We kept the other puppies, and we have her mom. You can bring her over to visit if you want.”

  “Sure. Thanks,” Oliver said, then smiled. “You can bring the puppies and her mom here, too, if you want. We got a new racetrack.”

  Dirk nodded. “Cool.”

  Dot smiled and chucked Teddy under the chin. “Good to see you’re all right. No more sneaking off, you hear? Just about gave everyone in town a heart attack.” She offered Gabe a brown paper bag. “Know how much you all like my pancakes.”

  “Wow!” Teddy beamed. “Thank you. They’re my favorite.”

  “Welcome. You all have a merry Christmas and enjoy the pup.”

  “Wait!” Teddy said, and ran into the living room. A few minutes later, he ran back with a Christmas bag that looked suspiciously like the one Gabe had given Mallory. He leaned over to peek inside. Sure enough, it was. Along with the expensive box of chocolates he’d given her, there were also treats that Santa had left for all five boys.

  “Merry Christmas!” Teddy said, and handed Dot the bag. “There’s some stuff for you and your brother,” he told Dirk.

  They’d just gotten the front door closed when Gabe’s bedroom door started to open. “No,” Teddy cried, running to pull it shut. “You can’t come out. Go back to bed.”

  Gabe thought of offering to keep Mallory company, but knowing his youngest, that wouldn’t be allowed until he’d—they’d—proposed.

  Teddy explained the morning’s agenda to the boys. The proposal now included breakfast in bed for Mallory, with Dot’s pancakes as the main course. Hot chocolate with a cinnamon stir stick, oranges, and toast were also on the menu. Teddy wasn’t impressed that Gabe hadn’t thought to get flowers and reluctantly agreed that a poinsettia plant would do.

  “Can I come out now?” Mallory called from behind the closed door.

  “No!” the boys yelled back, mostly because they were stressed. They were trying to make bows and put them in the puppy’s hair, and she wasn’t cooperating.

  “What’s that? It sounds like a dog.”

  “It’s not a dog. It’s me,” Teddy said, and started barking. The puppy barked back at him, and the boys rolled on the floor laughing.

  “It doesn’t seem fair that you guys are having all the fun, and I’m in here all alone.”

  “Buddy, trust me, nothing is ever going to be perfect in this family so you might as well get used to it. I promise, Mallory will love our proposal just the way it is.”

  “Okay, but we need to put the dog in a box and wrap it,” Teddy said.

  “How about we put her in her crate and wrap that up instead?” While the boys took care of that, Gabe took care of Mallory’s breakfast. “Are we all set?” he asked as he placed the mug of hot chocolate on the tray.

  “Yep,” the five boys agreed, and Brooks held up the wrapped crate.

  “You got the song ready to go?” Gabe asked Oliver.

  Oliver nodded and held up his phone. “Yeah, but do we really have to sing?”

  “I think she’d like it, but it’s up to you guys,” he said as he reached his bedroom door.

  The twins and Oliver sighed, and Brooks and Teddy grinned. It had been their suggestion. As Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” began to play, Gabe opened the door and the five boys went in ahead of him, singing along. Only they changed I to we.

  “I thought you said she’d love it,” Teddy said to Gabe when they ended their song by holding up a sign asking Mallory to be their mom.

  “She does love it, silly. These are happy tears. The happiest of tears,” Mallory said, wiping her eyes. “You’ve made my Christmas wish come true. All five of you. And if you haven’t already guessed, my answer is yes. I’d be honored to be your mom.”

  “How about my wife?” Gabe asked as he put the breakfast tray on the dresser and then moved to the side of the bed.

  “You already know the answer to that question.” She smiled up at him, looking surprised when h
e went down on one knee and took her hand in his.

  “Yeah, but our boys weren’t satisfied with that.” He held up the rose-gold diamond engagement ring. “They wanted you to have a sign of my love and commitment to you, and to them.” He slid the ring onto her finger and held her tear-filled gaze. “I didn’t think Christmas would ever be special again or that I’d find someone I wanted to spend the rest of my life with again until you came along and managed to do both. I love you, more than you probably know, Doc. But I plan to spend the next sixty years showing you just how much.”

  “You couldn’t possibly love me more than I love you, Gabe. But I’m happy to have you show me every day for the next sixty years, and I’ll do the same.” She held up her hand to admire her ring. Then she leaned over to kiss him. “It’s the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen. Thank you.”

  “Merry Christmas, Mrs. Soon-to-Be Buchanan.”

  “Merry Christmas, my soon-to-be—” The dog started to bark, and Mallory turned to look at Teddy. “That’s not you.”

  The five boys grinned and placed the wrapped crate on the bed. “It’s from Dad and us,” Teddy said as he began opening the present for her.

  “It’s okay.” Mallory laughed when the twins yelled at him to stop. “Oh, look at you. Aren’t you the sweetest,” she said when the dog came into view.

  “Do you like her?” Teddy asked when Gabe opened the crate to put the puppy in Mallory’s arms. “Dad got you a girl dog cuz we’re all boys.”

  “That was an excellent idea, and I love her. Thank you,” she said and kissed Gabe.

  “Hey, what about us?” Teddy said.

  Mallory laughed and put the dog down to pull Teddy into her arms, showering his face with kisses. “You four get over here too.” The twins, Oliver, and Brooks pretended they were too cool for kisses, but it was obvious from the smiles and laughter that they weren’t too grown-up for motherly affection.

  The dog jumped on the boys, nipping at them and barking.

  “What are you going to call her?” Dylan asked.

  “I don’t know. What do you guys think?” Mallory asked, reaching over to pick up the puppy.

  “Holly, Mistletoe, Fluffy, Snowflake!” The five boys called out the names almost at the same time.

  “What do you think, puppy?” she asked, holding her up. Then she looked at Gabe. “The puppy isn’t a girl—she’s a he.”

  “No way,” Gabe said, then looked. “Oh, wow, you’re really outnumbered now, babe.” He laughed as the boys voted to name the puppy Snowball.

  Teddy patted Mallory. “It’s okay, you’re not too old to have babies. You can ask the stork to bring you a girl. Maybe it would bring you three or four. I think five girls would be too many, don’t you?”

  Teddy didn’t give them a chance to answer, which, in the end, Gabe figured was a good thing. He didn’t relish the idea of a birds-and-bees conversation right before their company arrived.

  “Dad, can you sit behind Mallory on the bed and snuggle her?”

  “Happy to.” He grinned, moving in behind her and wrapping his arms around her. He nuzzled her neck to gagging sounds from the twins, Oliver, and Brooks.

  Teddy interrupted his brothers, directing them to join Mallory and Gabe on the bed for a group hug.

  “Okay now. Mallory, show your ring. Good.” Teddy said when she did as he asked.

  Then he raised the phone and held up his fingers, silently counting down just like Abby did.

  “This is what love looks like on Reindeer Road,” Teddy said, zooming in on them before turning the phone to face the screen. “Merry Christmas from me, Teddy Buchanan, and my family.”

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  About the Author

  Debbie Mason is the USA Today bestselling author of the Highland Falls, Harmony Harbor, and Christmas, Colorado series. The first book in her Christmas, Colorado series, The Trouble with Christmas, was the inspiration for the Hallmark movie Welcome to Christmas. Her books have been praised by RT Book Reviews for their “likable characters, clever dialogue, and juicy plots.” When Debbie isn’t writing, she enjoys spending time with her family in Ottawa, Canada.

  You can learn more at:

  AuthorDebbieMason.com

  Twitter @AuthorDebMason

  Facebook.com/DebbieMasonBooks

  Instagram @AuthorDebMason

  PRAISE FOR DEBBIE MASON

  “Debbie Mason writes romance like none other.”

  —FreshFiction.com

  “I’ve never met a Debbie Mason story that I didn’t enjoy.”

  —KeeperBookshelf.com

  “I’m telling you right now, if you haven’t yet read a book by Debbie Mason, you don’t know what you’re missing.”

  —RomancingtheReaders.blogspot.com

  “It’s not just romance. It’s grief and mourning, guilt and truth, second chances and revelations.”

  —WrittenLoveReviews.blogspot.com

  “Mason always makes me smile and touches my heart in the most unexpected and wonderful ways.”

  —HerdingCats-BurningSoup.com

  “No one writes heartful small-town romance like Debbie Mason, and I always count the days until the next book!”

  —TheManyFacesofRomance.blogspot.com

  “Wow, do these books bring the feels. Deep emotion, heart-tugging romance, and a touch of suspense make them hard to put down…”

  —TheRomanceDish.com

  “Debbie Mason writes in a thrilling and entertaining way. Her stories are captivating and filled with controlled chaos, true love, mysteries, amazing characters, eccentricities, plotting and friendship.”

  —WithLoveForBooks.com

  “Debbie Mason never disappoints me.”

  —FictionFangirls.com

  “Mason takes her romances to a whole new level.…”

  —CarriesBookReviews.com

  “I loved the world of Harmony Harbor and all of the characters that reside there.”

  —CrystalBlogsBooks.com

  “The Harmony Harbor series is heartfelt and delightful!”

  —RaeAnne Thayne, New York Times bestselling author

  “Take another trip to Christmas, Colorado, and you’ll be guaranteed a wonderful time.”

  —RT Book Reviews

  “Christmas, Colorado will get you in the spirit for love all year long.”

  —Jill Shalvis, New York Times bestselling author

  “I’m a big fan of small-town romances, and the Christmas, Colorado series is amazing.”

  —WithLoveForBooks.com

  Also by Debbie Mason

  The Highland Falls series

  Summer on Honeysuckle Ridge

  The Harmony Harbor series​

  Mistletoe Cottage

  Christmas with an Angel (short story)

  Starlight Bridge

  Primrose Lane

  Sugarplum Way

  Driftwood Cove

  Sandpiper Shore

  The Corner of Holly and Ivy

  Barefoot Beach

  Christmas in Harmony Harbor

  The Christmas, Colorado series​

  The Trouble with Christmas

  Christmas in July

  It Happened at Christmas

  Wedding Bells in Christmas

  Snowbound at Christmas

  Kiss Me in Christmas

  Happy Ever After in Christmas

  Marry Me at Christmas (short story)

  Miracle at Christmas (novella)

  One Night in Christmas (novella)

  Fall in love with these charming

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  by Melinda Curtis

  Mary Margaret Sneed usually spends her holiday baking and caroling with her students. But this year, she’s swapped shortbread and sleigh bells to take a second job—one she can never admit to when the town
mayor starts courting her. Only the town’s meddling matchmakers have determined there’s nothing a little mistletoe can’t fix…and if the Widows Club has its way, Mary Margaret and the mayor may just get the best Christmas gift of all this year. Includes a bonus story by Hope Ramsay!

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  Find more great reads on Instagram with @ReadForeverPub

  CHRISTMAS ON REINDEER ROAD

  by Debbie Mason

  After his wife died, Gabriel Buchanan left his job as a New York City homicide detective to focus on raising his three sons. But back in Highland Falls, he doesn’t have to go looking for trouble. It finds him—in the form of Mallory Maitland, a beautiful neighbor struggling to raise her misbehaving stepsons. When they must work together to give their boys the Christmas their hearts desire, they may find that the best gift they can give them is a family together.

  SEASON OF JOY

  by Annie Rains

  For single father Granger Fields, Christmas is his busiest—and most profitable—time of the year. But when a fire devastates his tree farm, Granger convinces free spirit Joy Benson to care for his daughters while he focuses on saving his business. Soon Joy’s festive ideas and merrymaking convince Granger he needs a business partner. As crowds return to the farm, life with Joy begins to feel like home. Can Granger convince Joy that this is where she belongs? Includes a bonus story by Melinda Curtis!