Page 126 of Bailey

CHRISTMAS EVE:

Bailey had done her best to prepare Reeves for the tree lighting ceremony at Whiskey Mountain Lodge. “This is what I invited you to last year,” she told him, hoping to break him out of the stupor he’d fallen into.

He’d come to a complete stop just inside the doors of the lodge, and Bailey could admit the transformation of the main area was quite impressive. “We were here three days ago,” he said.

Bailey smiled and linked her arm through his, leaning her head against his bicep. “All my aunts and uncles work on it,” she said. “They got the tree this morning and set it up, and they used to decorate the whole thing before anyone would arrive, or they’d let guests do it. But now, anyone who wants to come a few minutes early can add something to the tree.”

She looked up to the second level where Stockton stood with his new girlfriend, Hannah. She leaned out over the railing and hung something on one of the upper branches. Stockton did the same, and they smiled at one another, something magical hanging in the air.

Christmas magic, and Bailey loved how it infected her too.

“We can do some of the decorating?” Reeves asked.

Bailey took a step forward, clearing the area in front of the door as Reeves went with her. “Yeah, come on,” she said. Two ladders still stood near the tree, and that middle section always seemed a little bit bare.

“If you want to get up on one of the ladders,” Bailey said. “I’ll hand you ornaments.”

“All right.” Reeves moved to the closest one and climbed up a few steps. “There’s plenty of empty space here.”

Bailey started to sort through the boxes of ornaments that remained, finally selecting one with blue, pink, purple, and gold spheres covered with silver embellishments. They still had hooks in the tops, and Bailey lifted the lid and handed up the first one to Reeves.

They’d planned to stay at Whiskey Mountain Lodge tonight in a couple of the upper rooms, to be here to celebrate Christmas with her family tomorrow as well. Reeves claimed not to have any traditions past making his dogs a special meal and eating ham sandwiches for a couple of days.

The barking of dogs met her ears, and Laney quickly turned toward Sir and Pansy, who both got to their feet. “It’s okay,” Bailey said. “They’re just my momma’s dogs, and you’ve met them before.”

Reeves had asked Boston to check on his goats that night and in the morning, and he’d agreed. Bailey loved that they had such a large network of people they could ask for help.

Hydrangea let out a howl and a couple of high yips, then her tail started to wag like crazy as Momma’s two big dogs entered the living room.

“Sorry,” she called from around the corner, only making an appearance a few seconds later. By then, Sir and Pansy had greeted Stonewall and Carlisle with plenty of sniffing and circling happening.

Bailey waved away her concern as Hydrangea paced on the couch, whining in excitement several feet from the bigger dogs. “They’re fine,” she said.

“I knew someone had arrived,” Momma said. “Because they were really keen on coming out here.”

“It’s just us.” Bailey handed Reeves the last ornament from the box, then smiled at her mother and received her hug. “It’s Reeves’s first time here,” she said. “And he wanted to decorate the tree.”

“You guys have lovely trees at your place,” Momma said as they parted.

“Nothing like this,” Reeves called from the ladder.

Bailey picked up another box of ornaments, this one all red and gold, and frowned at it.

Reeves chuckled. “You can put red ornaments on the tree,” he said. “This isn’t even yours.”

Bailey glared up at him for a moment. “Just so you know, there will not be any red ornaments on our Christmas tree.”

“No, ma’am,” he said, his voice serious, but his face filled with teasing. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

Bailey simply found the color abrasive and liked blues and silvers much better than red and green.

“Ah, it is Bailey,” Daddy said as he came down from upstairs, grinning for all he was worth.

“Merry Christmas, Daddy,” Bailey said, and she eased into his arms as well.

“I think this side looks good.” Reeves climbed down from the ladder and dusted his hands as if he had been doing terribly difficult work. “Howdy, sir.”

Daddy chuckled, shook Reeves’s hand, and then pulled him into a hug. “How many times do I have to tell you not to call me sir?”