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“You’re not embarrassed to be with me?”
“Why would I be embarrassed to be with you? Believe it or not, I’m still in shock that you have feelings for me,” I replied, and she giggled.
“There you go, being all honest again.”
Rolling my eyes, I pulled the keys out. “Let’s go, darling. Our ride awaits.” I shoved the door open and plopped my boots to the ground. She gently let the blanket billow onto the seat before following me out.
Closing the door behind her, I shoved my hands in my pockets and walked to the oncoming horse and sleigh. Bells jingled as they trotted down the street, and my gaze lifted once more to my mischievous little brother.
And yes, he was grinning mischievously. Despite the Christmas lights on the roofs being the only thing to illuminate the street, I could still see that stupid smirk on his face.
I glared at him; he’d definitely done something. “You’re dead,” I mouthed, and he merely winked.
Pulling the horses to a stop, my mom gasped. “Tenley! What are you doing out in the cold? Wait, what are you doing in the cold with Weston?” Her excited gaze narrowed as she pulled the coat tighter around her shoulders.
She was dressed up much like Mrs. Clause and I assumed Cassidy and my mom were cooling the horses down from a long day of work before untacking for the evening. Planned very much by my devious little brother who sat beside her. He adjusted his wild rag, tucking it tightly into his Carhartt coat but didn’t say a word.
“Didn’t want to bother you or anyone while y'all were at the festivities, so I called Doc Tenley,” I grunted.
“Oh, so it was a cow thing.” My mom frowned.
“And I was just taking her home, but my truck died,” I finished, tossing a thumb over my shoulder. Sliding my gaze to Cassidy again, he leaned back in his seat and wiggled his brows.
“Well, hop in you two. We were giving the horses a stretch away from the crowd to calm them for the evening and can drop Tenley off at home before we head back to close up for the night,” my mom finished.
“Thank you, Nancy!” Tenley replied cheerfully, and quickly dashed around the outside of the sleigh. The deep forest green of the sled blended in with the dark plum color of the sky, the only lights that illuminated this empty street were those Christmas bulbs blinking along the rooftops.
I followed Tenley, sheepishly, as she pulled herself up into the sleigh and plopped herself down on the wooden seat.
“Grab the blanket beside you dear, it’s a bit chilly tonight,” my mom instructed, using her gloves to tug the red hat tighter over her ears. “Oh, and share with Weston. He’s not dressed for this either.”
I watched a sly grin fill Cassidy’s face again as the sleigh rocked when I pulled myself on in. Tenley snagged the fleece Christmas blanket with little gingerbread men and candy canes scattered upon it. Sitting down beside her, she let it drape across both my legs and hers.
Cassidy asked the horses to walk on and the sleigh lurched forward. Faint Christmas music from the festival danced through the air as the animals quietly jogged onward. Crisp smells of pine and freshly fallen snow whispered around us as the sounds of hooves were muffled against the ground. Tenley sat stiff beside me, wrapping her arms tightly around her as a small flake of snow settled against the bridge of her nose.
She began to shiver and I saw my mom glance over her shoulder. Her gaze met mine and she subtly nodded to Tenley beside me before turning back forward.
The quiet snow began to fall faster, dusting the brim of my hat and coating a thin layer against the top of the thick blanket that we were sitting beneath.
Taking a deep breath, I sighed and scooted directly next to Tenley. I bumped against her body and subtly placed a hand against her leg beneath the blanket. She smiled to herself, then quickly wiped it off of her face, trying to hide her happiness from me. I pretended not to notice, and she tipped her head gently against my shoulder.
Her soft touch filled my heart with warmth as she relaxed. Christmas lights twinkled amidst the softly falling snow as Tenley and I sat still against each other. Our bodies barely brushed against each other, but it was enough. A gentle smile slipped across my lips. This was at least a little romantic, ending another failed date with a quiet horse drawn sleigh ride.
An audible sigh of contentment escaped Tenley’s lips and I glanced down at her as her ears turned the same shade of pink that was coating her cheeks. Still, I didn’t say a word, but I squeezed my hand against her leg once to let her know I felt the same way. Maybe this ruined second first date wasn’t all that ruined.
She even briefly kissed me earlier. It had been quick, but it had been something. Tomorrow would be more than something, tomorrow would be the redo we both wanted, and then I would tell my mom. I would tell my family and the whole world. But first, I just wanted a few, planned hours alone with Tenley. Uninterrupted time to just be together that wasn’t for any other reason than to simply spend that time with each other.
We’d never had that. And as much as I loved these little adventures we always ended up on, I was craving that. Maybe, I admitted to myself, more than she was. But what was so wrong with that? What was so wrong with wanting to feel normal with her for a couple hours?
My eyes flickered down to hers as the animals trotted along and found she was asleep. Quietly snoring against my shoulder. I brushed some hair from her face, the brim of my hat keeping the snow off of my cheeks. Tucking her a little tighter against my shoulder, I smiled.
You know, even if things didn’t go perfectly, tomorrow would be the first Christmas Festival I’d spent with someone in too many years to count. That was such a strange feeling. Someone outside of my family felt like home to me. Someone who wasn’t related to me by blood made me feel like that kid who couldn’t sleep because they wanted to catch Santa sneaking down their chimney. Someone who had once so stubbornly said we were merely friends was fast asleep in my arms. Completely trusting of a man whom the town thought to be a monster.
It was time to change that monster narrative that still ran around. She was the reason. She was the only reason I needed or cared about.
Chapter 6
Iglared at Cassidy the entire ride back to my truck. Once again, a goodnight kiss was thwarted by the presence of others staring and I was becoming more and more frustrated by everything. The sleigh ride had been cute, but now that she was safely in her house, I was feeling pent up with annoyance and cold. Tugging the blanket tighter around my shoulders, I frowned.
