It Happened at Christmas

by Debbie Mason

  Liz came to stand beside her, stroking the brandy-colored horse in the stall next to Bandit. “I wish we thought to bring them something to eat. They’ve only been back a week and you can already see signs of malnourishment. Look at their coats.”

  Skye took pictures of Bandit and the other horses. As she was about to take one more, they heard a door slam. Liz’s gaze jerked to hers. Skye rushed to the other side of the barn, and peered through a hole. A man, a very large man, was coming their way with a double-barreled shotgun in his hand.

  Running to Liz, Skye grabbed her hand. “We’ve gotta go. Now.”

  * * *

  Gage met Ethan at the front of the Logan County Sheriff’s office. “Don’t go in there half-cocked,” Gage said. “He only fired a warning shot. They’re all right. He’s charging them with trespassing, but I’ve talked to Sheriff Walker, and he thinks with a little persuasion Russo will drop the charges.”

  “This is why I didn’t tell her. I knew she’d do something stupid. I just didn’t know she’d drag my mother along with her,” Ethan said.

  “I saw the pictures, Eth,” Gage said, opening the glass doors. “Russo must have friends in high places, because there’s no way those animals should’ve been returned to him. Walker’s looking into it now.”

  And that bothered Ethan the most. All Skye had to do was call him. He would’ve told her that an agent from the Department of Animal Cruelty had been scheduled to visit Russo at the beginning of next week. But no, his pregnant wife and mother had to take matters into their own hands.

  “Maybe I should let Walker leave them in the cell overnight. Let them think about it for a while,” Ethan said as he followed Gage into the station.

  Gage glanced at him over his shoulder. “They’re not in the cell. They’re in his office with my dad.”

  Of course they were. And that was another thing that irritated him. They’d called Gage instead of him.

  A tall, auburn-haired man in a sheriff’s uniform, with a beleaguered expression on his face, tried to calm down a muscle-bound guy in leather, who said, “They should be locked up, and you know it. They were trespassing, and the crazy one attacked me.”

  Ethan pinched the bridge of his nose. Great, just great. His pregnant wife went after a gun-toting, tattooed Neanderthal.

  “If it wasn’t for the little blonde pulling her off me, she would’ve done some serious damage.”

  Gage, who obviously knew what Ethan had been thinking, held back a grin.

  Ethan ignored him, and introduced himself to Walker and Russo. By the time Ethan got through with the man, he’d agreed to drop the charges. After thanking Ethan, the sheriff followed Russo from the station. He’d decided to check out the stables himself.

  “Always did enjoy listening to you speak legalese. You’re scary good at it. You sure you don’t want your old job back?” Gage asked.

  “Between you and me, yeah, I do. Jordan gave me a couple days to think it over.”

  “I know you, buddy. Don’t let your mom, Nell, or Claudia influence your decision.”

  “What about Skye? Should I let her influence it?”

  “What do they say… a happy wife is a happy life? So yeah, it wouldn’t hurt to have her on board. From what I saw last night, you two are on the same page. She doesn’t want you to take the job as mayor, does she?”

  “No. But don’t mention anything to anyone. I’m going to keep my options open. Think about it over the weekend.”

  “Sure thing,” Gage said as he opened the office door.

  Ethan stepped into the office and froze when he heard his mother say, “All this time he’s been blaming himself for Deacon’s death, Paul. What kind of mother am I that I didn’t see what was going on? I was so wrapped up in my own grief…” Liz broke off on a sob and Paul drew her into his arms.

  “Now don’t start blaming yourself, honey. We’ll…” Paul trailed off as he caught sight of Ethan standing in the doorway.

  “Mom?”

  Skye half-rose from her chair, and turned with a stricken expression on her face. His mother frantically wiped at her face. Stepping away from Paul, she faced Ethan with a forced smile. “Hi, honey.”

  He stared at Skye, his gut twisting at her betrayal, at the anguish he saw in his mother’s eyes. “You told her, didn’t you? You promised me you wouldn’t, but you did. God damn it, Skye, that was not your call to make. You couldn’t leave things alone, could you?”

  Gage put a hand on his shoulder. “Eth, take it easy.”

  “You haven’t got a clue what she’s done, Gage. I’m so sick of—”

  Skye stood up. His mother reached for her hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for him to find out this way.”

  “It’s okay, Liz. In the end, it’s probably for the best.” Skye came to stand in front of him. “Whether you believe me or not, I did it for you, Ethan. I knew there was a risk you wouldn’t forgive me, but I was willing to take it.”

  “Good to know, because I can’t. I can’t forgive you for this. It never ends with you, Skye. There’s always—”

  “Ethan, son, I know you’re upset, but don’t say anything you’ll regret. Skye had your best interests at heart.”

  “I wouldn’t want to see what my life looked like if she didn’t. Because she’s done a pretty good job trying to destroy it up until now,” he said, and as he did in the courtroom, he paced, stating the evidence to support his claim.

  He didn’t realize she had left until Gage said, “I don’t know what the hell is going on here, but you went too far. She didn’t deserve that. I’m taking her home to Madison. And you better get your head out of your ass or you’re going to lose her.”

  As Gage strode from the room, Paul called after him, “Son, tell Walker we need his office for a few minutes. And you”—he pointed at Ethan—“sit. You’re going to listen to me, and once I’ve said my piece, you’re going to listen to your mother. And then you’re going to find your wife and apologize to her. Because as far as I’m concerned, Skye saved you from sharing the same fate as your father.”

  * * *

  Ethan stood in his old office at the town hall, looking down at himself. He couldn’t believe he let his mother and Nell talk him into this. Gage sat with his boots propped on the desk, his arms crossed behind his head. “Did princes really wear purple tights, or are you just special?”

  “Put a sock in it. If you would’ve told my wife to answer her phone like I asked, I wouldn’t be standing here looking like an idiot.” And since Skye refused to see or talk to him, this was what it had come down to. The “grand gesture,” as Nell referred to it. He was making an appearance as Prince Charming in the Santa Claus parade tonight.

  “Honey, you don’t look like an idiot,” his mother said, coming into the office with something gold and sparkly hanging over her arm, “You look very handsome. And it’s not Gage’s fault. It’s your own. You were a jerk.”

  “Thanks, Mom.” It was true, he had been. But in his defense, Skye had shared with Ethan’s mother his deepest, darkest secret. Yes, in the end, it turned out she’d done him a favor. The ensuing conversation with Paul and his mother had changed his life. He’d walked out of the sheriff’s office a free man. Free from the guilt and pain that had dogged him for the last five years. But if his wife didn’t forgive him, if this grand gesture didn’t work, none of that would matter.

  “Found it,” Nell said as she walked into the office holding up the crown Ethan had won at the hamburger-eating contest. She shoved it on his head. “There.” She gave him a once-over, then tugged the purple sparkly tunic down. “Don’t want to scar the children, now do we?”

  Once he stopped laughing, Gage said, “Come on, Prince Charming. The parade is about to begin.”

  His mother took Ethan’s face in her hands. “Skye loves you. She’ll forgive you.” She kissed his cheek, then attached the gold sparkly cape around his shoulders. “Good luck, darling.”

  He had a feeling he’d need it. And so, it
seemed, did Nell, because as he and Gage were leaving the office, he heard her say, “If she pushes him off the float, the crown should protect his head.”

  “Nell, she wouldn’t do that,” his mother said.

  “She killed him off when she read the Cake Fairy story. Just sayin’.”

  As though he sensed Ethan might be getting cold feet—and he was—Gage added, “Lily says it’ll be just like in the movies, and Skye will love it. She gave the plan two thumbs up.”

  “All right, let’s get this over with.” Ethan opened the front doors to a blast of frigid air. As they walked outside, a float rolled by across the street. Sawyer, wearing his hockey uniform, sat in a penalty box decorated with white lights, and two blondes dressed as referees in short skirts snuggled up on his lap.

  “Well, hell, the parade’s already started. You better get going, buddy.”

  Ethan cursed under his breath and took off down the street. “Sawyer, where’s the bakery’s float?” he yelled as he jogged alongside them. He hit a patch of ice and grabbed the garland hanging on the side of the float to regain his balance. The crowd standing along Main Street cheered. He gave them a royal wave.

  “If it isn’t Prince Charming.” Sawyer grinned. “You looking for your princess?”

  “Yeah, you know where she is?” he asked, as the float picked up speed. He held on and scrabbled for purchase in his treadless, knee-high black boots.

  “About four down. In front of the band. Careful,” he said when Ethan’s feet slid out from under him and he nearly disappeared under the float. “Might be safer if you hitch a ride with Fred.” Sawyer called out to the older man.

  Riding a red four-wheeler, Fred, dressed as an elf, motored over. “Sheesh, and I thought my costume was bad. Hop on.”

  “Fred, slow down,” Ethan said, holding on to his crown as they zoomed past the Mountain Co-op’s float. Kids sat around a fake mountain tossing candy canes. “Hi, princess.” A little girl in a pink snowsuit waved.

  Fred laughed.

  “I do not look like a girl,” Ethan muttered, waving as they putted alongside the Naughty and Nice float. Sophia Dane, the owner of the clothing store, dressed as a centerfold elf, stood in front of a gingerbread house.

  “Ethan, you look so pretty,” she said in her heavily accented voice.

  “Can’t get past the band,” Fred yelled over the high schoolers’ rendition of “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.” “Better get off here.”

  Ethan grabbed hold of a majorette as he slipped and slided his way through the band members. He was ready to call it quits when he saw Skye, wearing a white fake-fur cape, standing in front of a cardboard castle waving to the kids.

  Relieved that he’d finally reached his destination, Ethan quickened his pace and hit another patch of ice. He crashed into the bakery’s float. Clinging to the side, he looked up to see his wife staring at him with a stunned expression on her face.

  “Cupcake, I kinda need a hand here.” Her lips flattened, and she turned her back on him. “Jack,” he called out, “slow down.”

  The dark-haired man stuck his head out the truck’s window and started to laugh, but he eased on the gas. Once Ethan regained his footing, he went to pull himself onto the float and got tangled up in the Christmas lights. “You have every right to be mad, sweetheart,” Ethan said, “but I’m going to burn some important parts if you don’t give me a hand here.”

  Seeing his predicament, the crowd started to laugh. Skye sighed, then kneeled down and unhooked the strand of lights. She stood up and helped him to his feet, curtsying to the now-cheering crowd. Out of the side of her mouth, she said, “You look like an idiot.”

  He looked into her eyes. “But you love me.”

  She shrugged, throwing candy canes to a group of kids. “I’ll get over it.”

  “I don’t want you to. I love you.” He took her by the shoulders and turned her to face him. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said what I did. You were right. It helped—talking to Mom and Paul helped.”

  “Good. Now I have to get back to work.” She looked past him, waving.

  “Tell me what I need to do to make it up to you. Tell me what I need to say.”

  “You said I’ve pretty much destroyed your life, so I don’t know why we’re even having this conversation.”

  “Come on, you know why I said that. I was angry and—”

  “You put me on trial.”

  He bowed his head, then lifted his gaze to hers. “I know. And you didn’t deserve that. The truth is, you saved me. My life would be boring and predictable without you in it. You’re my sunshine. I can’t lose you. I won’t lose you.”

  The look in Ethan’s eyes as much as his words soothed some of the hurt his anger had caused earlier. She’d known the risk she’d taken, known he’d feel betrayed no matter how good her intentions. And yet here he was in all his purple, sparkly glory asking for her forgiveness.

  He went down on one knee and retrieved a small box from his cloak. He opened it. “Marry me.”

  She touched the wooden wedding band. She’d met the designer a few years ago at a Wellness Expo. The ring was made from black walnut and crushed Tibetan stone. It was exquisite. The perfect choice for her. “You had this made for me?”

  “Yes.” He took her hand, sliding off his grandmother’s ring, his intent gaze searching her face. “I know who you are. I love who you are. Please say you’ll marry me.”

  And with those words, he swept the last of her doubts and hurt away. But as the float jolted to a stop in the middle of Main Street, she realized there was one more thing she needed to know. She looked over the crowd, then back at him. “Are you going to be mayor of Christmas?”

  “No, I’m getting my old job back. But, cupcake, I have to be honest, one day I might want to run for the state senate again, or maybe I’ll run for DA. And if I do, I want Skylar O’Connor by my side, not Kendall O’Connor.”

  Skye thought about that, thought about how her dad and Betty Jean dealt with their differences. It wasn’t really that difficult, as long as you respected and loved each other. And there was no doubt in her mind that she loved and respected him. For Ethan, she could do about anything. Including support him if he decided to run for political office. Only this time, she’d be as true to herself as she was true to him.

  She smiled. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  It was two o’clock in the afternoon on Christmas Eve, and the McBride household was in a frenzied state as everyone got ready for the big event. “Can someone help me, please?” Skye called from her old bedroom as she tried to zip up her wedding dress.

  “Sorry, that was Liz…” Maddie trailed off from where she stood in the doorway.

  Lily, Annie, and Betty Jean, who had also answered Skye’s summons, plowed into her.

  “Oh, honey bun,” Betty Jean cried, peeking over Maddie’s shoulder, “you look like a fairy princess.”

  “You really do,” Maddie said, coming into the room. “That’s the most beautiful wedding dress I’ve ever seen.”

  Skye thought so, too. The strapless bodice had mother-of-pearl beading, and the skirt consisted of layers of tulle with muted shades of pink at the bottom. She’d found it in a secondhand store.

  “Can I wear it when I get married?” Lily asked.

  “Sure, you can. But look at all of you,” Skye said as they followed Maddie into the bedroom. “You guys look amazing.” They all wore vintage pink dresses.

  Betty Jean zipped Skye up, then placed the delicate tiara on her head. She leaned back, arranging Skye’s long, curly hair over her shoulders. “Perfect,” she pronounced.

  “Thanks.” Skye smiled, then asked Maddie, “You said Liz called. Is something wrong?”

  “No, she just wanted you to know that everything’s ready for the reception.” They were having it at the ranch. “But she still hasn’t heard from Chloe and Cat. And with the snowstorm, Richard and Claudia can’t make it.”

 
; She didn’t mind that the Stevenses were unable to attend, but she’d hoped that Ethan’s sisters would be able to. They were part of the bridal party. “Any word from Vivi?”

  “I’m sorry, sugar. I don’t see how she can get here if they can’t.”

  “Now don’t you count that gal out yet. If anyone can make it, she will,” Betty Jean said at the same time the doorbell rang.

  Lily and Annie raced to answer it. At the sound of a familiar, raspy voice, Skye lifted her skirts and ran from the room with Maddie on her heels. “You made it,” Skye said, throwing her arms around a bedraggled-looking Vivi.

  “I don’t want to interrupt your reunion, honey bun. But we better get a move on.”

  Skye swiped at her eyes and took a step back. “Betty Jean’s right. You have to get dressed, Vivi.”

  “How did you manage to get here?” Maddie asked.

  “Think the mother in Home Alone—that was me. So if I have time, I wouldn’t mind a shower.” She smiled at Betty Jean and extended her hand. “Nice to finally… oomph.” Betty Jean pulled her in for one of her bone-crushing hugs.

  When she finally released Vivi, Betty Jean gave her a thorough once-over and grimaced. “You look like you’ve been rode hard and put up wet, hon.”

  “I wish.” Vivi sighed.

  Skye laughed. “She means you look exhausted, not”—she glanced at Lily and Annie—“you know.”

  “By the time I get through with you, I guarantee one of these gorgeous Christmas boys will make your wish come true,” Betty Jean said as she led Vivi down the hall.

  The phone rang again. It hadn’t stopped all day. “Okay, I’ll get them ready,” Maddie said to whomever was on the other end. “Girls, your grandfather’s coming to get you. Check your rooms and make sure you have everything you need.” Once they were out of earshot, Maddie said, “I want to make sure we’re on the same page. As far as Vivi knows, it was Chance that kidnapped you. We’re not mentioning that he’s Superman, right?”

  “Right. The girls and Gage won’t say anything, will they?”