by Candace Sams
Gavin made sure the animal was actually sleeping by pushing its head gently with one hand. He refused to look at Pru, picked up their empty gift bag, and made his way to the front door without caring if she followed.
“Gavin, don’t go without me. There’s sometimes…Crap!”
Too late, Gavin realized the Rottweiler had a pal. A second, bigger animal bounced down the stairs toward him. He fumbled to get the door open, only to be pushed outside and to the ground by a lighter body moving much faster.
“Move your ass!” Pru commanded. “I don’t have time to use the dust.”
Gavin ran for the sleigh. He was in the driver’s seat lifting the reins in seconds, but Pru was already waiting for him.
“Go!” she implored.
Gavin snapped the reins, and the deer lifted off just as the larger Rottweiler reached the back of the sleigh’s runners.
Pru looked over the side to see the megalithic animal standing on the snow, barking furiously at them. Lights went on in the house from which she and Gavin had just fled. “Comet’s ass, that was a close call!” she rudely remarked.
Gavin put the deer into full lope and guided the team straight up into the night sky. He only slowed when he was sure they were far enough away, and couldn’t be seen by anyone awakened by the barking. He’d had enough.
“Dammit, Pru! Why didn’t you tell me there was another dog?”
She pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. “I didn’t know. Sometimes there are. That’s what I was trying to warn you about when you walked away from me,” she slowly pointed out. “Whenever there’s a dog in the house, you have to stay close to me until I use the dust and we’re sure there aren’t more. If you’d read the union―”
“Do you think that was funny?” he barked out when he saw her lips trembling in the semblance of a smile. “I could have been mauled. I’m six-feet-four and I couldn’t have held that monster off if my life depended on it. And you stood there screwin’ around, asking me if I was sure if the dust was needed,” he spat out. “What kind of smart-ass stunt was that?”
“You move real fast for a big man,” she quipped. “I think you just set a record for the hundred-yard dash.”
“No thanks to you.” He angrily held out his hand. “Give me the damned dust.”
“Not in this century.” She tried to keep from laughing harder, but couldn’t help it. For the first time in my life, I saw you really scared and maybe you’ll heed my warnings from now on.”
Gavin looped the reins over his front peg, stretched across the seat toward her, and tried to grapple the small pouch of magic dust away from her.
Unable to control her fits of mirth now, Pru fought back and managed to land on her side so that he couldn’t grab her pouch.
Gavin glared down at the pointed-eared wench who lay under him and who was ruining every part of Christmas Eve. “Did you really want me hurt? Were you gonna let that animal take a chunk outta my ass?”
She finally sobered a bit and pushed him away so she could sit up. “No. I just want you to listen when I’m talking to you. I did warn you to stay near.”
He stared at her for a long moment. “Would you have given a tinker’s damn if I’d been bitten?”
“Of course I would,” she said earnestly, and then grinningly added, “An injury would just slow us down.”
He rolled his eyes when her excuse had nothing to do with his safety. “I’ll try harder not to get in your way. Seems like that’s all I’ve ever done.”
****
The serious, quiet way he said it and the way he quickly picked up the reins again made Pru sorry for that last sarcastic remark. No Elf wanted anyone permanently injured. It wasn’t in their nature, even if the party concerned was Gavin Frost.
For the rest of the night, Gavin said very little. Even when she tried to bait him into an argument by telling him he was too slow or she complained about any trivial matter, he just averted his gaze and kept his mouth shut. He’d more or less been trying to stay silent all night anyhow. For some reason, it was painful to watch him withdraw.
Seeing the last gift bag on the seat, Pru felt she should tell Gavin about the next particular stop. This was the one Mrs. Claus had warned her to be careful about, but Gavin had no idea how dangerous it could be.
“See those city lights ahead?”
He simply nodded.
“We have to land on the top of a tenement building…the one at the end of the last street. Once there, we’ll go down the fire escape. You’ll see the building I’m talking about. We can’t leave the deer at ground level, it isn’t safe for them.” She finally got a concerned look out of him, but no comment followed.
“Stay close, Gavin. I mean it.”
Again, there was silence.
****
After he landed, Gavin grabbed up the last gift sack and followed Pru down the rusty fire escape to the ground below. It was clear most if not all of the buildings on the city street were unoccupied or looked as though they were. The strong scent of urine hit him hard, even in the cold night wind and with snow piled up several inches high.
Apparently, this was one of those places that regular humans used as a temporary shelter. He knew the world’s populations often rejected a certain number of its citizens, but Gavin just didn’t understand why. Those occupying the invisible, magical North always had a place to live and a warm meal at the end of the day. But this practice was one the human race had followed for eons. He alone couldn‘t change it, though he intensely disliked the situation. He’d been raised to believe no one was disposable. Regular folk of the world seemed to believe otherwise.
He followed Pru down the street until she held up one hand for him to stop. Before she’d walk any farther, he saw her put her hood up over her head and assumed she was covering her sweetly pointed ears so she’d look more human.
“See those people over there?” She pointed to a group of thin, disheveled men and women. “They get the last of our gifts. They need them the most, but we couldn’t deliver them until the thugs in the neighborhood were huddled inside the buildings because of the cold. The poorer people who live here got mugged and had their gifts stolen when we tried to bring them early on other Christmas Eves. That’s why we’re here so late.”
Gavin took a good long look at the destitute people lining an alley not far from where they stood. The strongest of them stood around barrels in which fires had been started. “You come to places like this by yourself?” he asked, finally breaking his oath to stay silent for the rest of the night.
She shrugged. “Somebody has to and I don’t always have a partner. These people need warm gloves, hats, blankets, and food. Some are older and might not make it if they don’t get the supplies we’re carrying. I can’t imagine why thieves wanted to take even those items from them but it happens.” She paused. “Come on…let’s get this done. Keep your eyes peeled.”
So much for good will toward men. “You don’t care if they see us? You’re not going to use your magic dust?” he asked.
She slowly shook her head. “I know it’s bending the rules, but Mrs. C knows I’m doing it and has given her permission. The people here have always thought I was someone from a local mission just dressed up to look like an Elf. I hide my ears, of course, but don’t have the heart to use the magic dust on them. Doing so for even a few minutes would put them in a vulnerable position. It’d leave them in the cold streets sleeping and at the mercy of any thug who might happen along.” She took a deep breath and walked forward. “They try to stay awake late at night to protect one another. It’s safer for them to hide and sleep during the day.”
Something in the vicinity of Gavin’s heart tightened. Pru wasn’t the bitch or die-hard stickler for the rules that she was pretending to be. At least not with other people. She had a heart and was willing to put herself at great risk to help others.
As she carefully crept forward, he stayed close. As soon as she got to the first of the street people, she
reached out for a gift and he put one in her hand. Then, he watched as his Elvish ex-fiancé knelt in front of an older woman who was trying to keep warm. The lady had nothing to wrap around her body and her worn, miss-matched clothing looked very thin and inadequate against the cold. Instinct told him they were being watched. In fact, there were many eyes cast in their direction. His gut also told him that some of those witnessing this particular exchange were hostile. His entire body tensed; he tried to ready himself for anything.
Chapter Nine
“Mrs. Conroy? It’s Prudence. Do you remember me from last year?”
Gavin saw the elderly lady lift her head. The woman smiled and held out her hands to accept the package she was offered. Soon, others snuck out from the darkness of the alley doorways and held out their hands for packages. Some gave Prudence their heartfelt thanks, some simply nodded and walked away. A couple of the more suspicious people simply grabbed the gifts and ran, but Pru seemed determined and stayed. The job was finally done.
She took a deep breath and sighed in relief. “They’re all here this year. None are missing,” she softly told him. “Last year Mr. Deever didn’t make it. I found out later that he’d passed away a couple of months before Christmas.” She paused and added, “He seemed like a very kind man. I missed him and still do.”
Uplifted by her courage and compassion, Gavin asked, “How do you know their names?”
She tilted her head. “I asked. They weren’t very talkative, but I finally got them to tell me who they were some years ago. I think they aren’t saying much tonight because you’re with me. Strangers make them nervous. I didn’t want to be a stranger to them.”
“I can see they trust you,” he softly replied and then glanced around before saying, “Come on. We’ve only got a few hours before dawn.”
Pru lifted her hand and waved. “Merry Christmas everyone! Happy holidays and may your Yule be bright!”
From a far end of an alley, Gavin heard a hoarse ‘thank you’ in reply. He turned, took Pru’s hand in his and was appreciative that she not only wrapped her fingers around his palm, but she actually smiled up at him. He slowly walked out of the alley with her and led her back to the building on which the sleigh was parked.
Sensing movement in the shadows ahead, he quickly pushed her behind him. Three tall men with liquor bottles came into view. They leaned against a brick wall and were situated exactly between them and the fire escape.
Pru put her hand to her waist where her pouch was…or should have been. “Gavin, my magic dust is missing. I must have dropped it.”
“I’m not sure we’re gonna have time to look for it. These guys don’t look friendly, babe,” he warned, using an endearment out of fear.
“Yeah, I see your point. It doesn’t matter except that I might’ve been able to use the dust on them. Even if someone finds it, it won’t be any good when the first rays of Christmas morning touch the pouch. Still…we could really have used it,” she quickly babbled and gripped his muscular arm in alarm.
Gavin did the only thing he could. He squared his shoulders and prepared to do whatever he had to so that Pru could get safely to the roof.
Hoping there wouldn’t be any confrontation was pointless. The men had already seen him and were walking their way. He sensed the trouble coming the way a bird senses a coming storm.
“Get to the roof, Pru…do you hear me?”
“I’m not leaving you―”
“Will you just shut up and do as I say?” he adamantly commanded. “I can’t take them on with you standing here.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” She never got her answer.
One of the men now stood in front of Gavin and swaggered menacingly. He, like his boozing companions, stood inches shorter than Gavin and less sturdily built. But still there were three of them. Pru swallowed hard and backed away.
“What’s up?” the first of the men asked Gavin.
Gavin stood his ground. “We just want to get by. Nobody wants trouble, mister.”
“Do we look like we’re trouble, leather man?” He looked Gavin up and down, noticed his black leather cape and clothing and laughed. “That’s a fine lookin’ piece of gear. Don’t suppose you’d like to hand it over?”
Without hesitating, Gavin took the garment off and handed it to him. “Let us pass. We don’t have any money.”
“Not so fast, leather man,” another of the brutes uttered.
Gavin saw the man look past him toward Pru. He took a step to one side, deliberately attempting to shield her from any further inspection. No one would suspect she was a real Elf, even if her ears were visible, but she was most certainly a real woman and very attractive to a drunk coward looking for a victim.
“Leather man has got himself a real sweet thing there. Don’t he?” the first man asked his companions.
Gavin heard their coarse laughter and watched them point toward Pru. The oily pack began to utter crude remarks to back up their leader’s opinion.
“Let us go,” Gavin quietly countered while staring the biggest of the three cowards straight in the eyes. “I don’t want to hurt anyone,” he insisted.
“Ohhhh…he don’t want to hurt no one. Ain’t he just precious?” The leader remarked as he bore down on Gavin and amplified his harsh demeanor. “Hand over everything you got, leather man. And if we want the bitch…we’ll have her too.”
Gavin critically eyed his position in the alley as compared to his would-be attackers’. “Stand back, baby,” he softly warned.
Pru quietly uttered his name, and he could almost hear it over his pounding heart. Finally, she did as he asked and backed away.
Gavin walked right up to the man harassing him. He stood only a breath away. “I’ll only give you one more warning. Leave us alone. I’ll give you anything you want, but not the girl. We just want to walk away without any trouble.”
“Trouble is just what you got, leather man!”
Before another word left the thief’s mouth, Gavin grabbed the man by the front of his zipped-up jacket and lifted him inches off the ground. As the light from a streetlamp illuminated the face of his assailant, Gavin could see the guy was really no more than a boy. His attacker’s pale face, red hair and blue eyes seemed out of place with the rough character the kid was trying to portray. Luckily, Gavin noticed that his rough actions had the desired response. The boy’s companions backed up at the obvious show of strength.
“Put me down you son-of-a-bitch! Put me down,” the boy squealed.
Gavin shook him. “I ought to take your head off, you little piss-ant. I’ll bet anything I own that you think you can walk all over everyone in this neighborhood. But the fact of the matter is, I’m new here and don’t play by any rules you’ve ever heard of.” Gavin pulled the boy forward and shoved his own face next to the boy’s. “If I see you around here again, I’ll take you and your little friends apart…piece by piece. Do you understand?”
“Y-Yeah. J-just put me down!” the boy yelled.
Gavin threw in one more threat, hoping to keep the street people in the alley safe a little longer by doing so. “Get outta here and stay off my turf. I’m having a hell of a bad night and you just got on my last nerve.” He dropped the kid and watched the boy’s two friends make scattered runs in opposite directions.
Gavin slowly turned around to grab Pru’s hand. His intent was to leave quickly, but he hadn’t counted on the extent of the kid’s cowardice or malice.
It had been a long time since he’d had to fight anyone and such instances had been limited to boyhood, immature challenges. But he instantly realized his mistake when the knife the kid had concealed in his clothing went deep into his right shoulder and slid downward. Gavin felt every inch of the blade as it slid through and tore his flesh.
Gavin roared in fury. Pru quickly backed up several paces and gazed at him in confusion.
He turned back to the boy, took the bloody blade from the kid’s hand and threw it into a nearby gutter. He quickly sn
apped the arm that had been holding the knife and ignored the resulting gut-wrenching scream the boy made. He then threw his attacker against a nearby brick wall. The kid hit it hard and fell into an unconscious heap. The entire incident was over so fast that he hadn’t had time to consider another course of action. He’d simply moved with speed and accuracy; unconcerned for his own safety, but terrified for Pru’s.
He became more keenly aware of how deep the blade had gone and the bleeding it was causing. He reached over his shoulder, brought his hand forward and felt the stickiness of the blood on his palm. Saying nothing to Pru, he grabbed up his leather cape, slung it back around his shoulders and reached for her arm. “Get to the sleigh,” he ordered.
Pru jerked her arm away from his grasp, and stared at the unconscious boy lying in a heap on the snow. She crept forward and put her hand on the boy’s neck. “He’s still alive. Y-You broke is arm, Gavin. I heard the sound of it. W-why d-did you have to strike out like that?” she stammered.
Gavin leaned down, picked the kid up by his jacket front and looked for the nearest doorway. He saw one about twenty feet down the alley.
Pru watched Gavin drag the boy to the door, kick it in and pull the kid inside the building. He quickly came back out and took her hand. This time, she didn’t pull away from him, but couldn’t help staring at a man she’d never known to be violent.
Gavin glanced around them. “Let’s get out of here before that kid’s friends come back. He won’t freeze in that vacant building, though I feel like letting him rot on this filthy street.”
“What did he do to make you throw him into the wall like that? Why did you strike out, Gav?” she shakily said, repeating her former comments in breathy shock.
“Let’s just get the hell out of here,” Gavin replied.
His insistent tone told her something wasn’t right. The threat was over, but Gavin was highly agitated.
