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CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
Christmas Morning
Allie grinned, snuggled up in the oversized fleece throw that had been draped over the side of the couch. She watched with excitement as the three children grabbed gift after gift with their names on them and gave them a little shake.
“This one is Legos, I know it!” Casey exclaimed, shaking the box again. “You can hear ‘em.”
Molly squealed with delight when she opened the porcelain horse Allie had found for her.
Jackie perched next to the large front window with Pippa. They were smiling and chatting about how they’d never had a white Christmas before. Then Brent entered the room and interrupted them.
“You think this is bad? We should take you guys up to Montana to see the snow up there this time of year. Tell ‘em Luke. The snow came up to our chins one year when we visited the cousins in Rocky Ridge.”
“To be fair, I was three years old at the time,” Luke’s warm voice came from behind her and she glanced back in time for him to hand her a steaming cup of coffee. His smile warmed her more than the beverage ever could.
He walked around the side of the couch and took a seat beside her. She scooted closer to him, enough she could rest her head on his shoulder if she needed to. “Well, I think it’s amazing. I can’t believe some of it’s stuck around so long. The roads are clear so things aren’t still shut down which is good. When did the weather guy say it would warm up enough to melt everything?”
“We’ve been keeping an eye on things. Mom was supposed to come visit for Christmas, but with the weather, her trip was postponed. We’re thinking she’ll be able to come for the new year instead. The temps should be back up to normal in a day or two, so you’ve got one more day of making snow angels.”
Allie smirked. “I wasn’t trying to make a snow angel. Someone made me fall and that was the only way to get up.” She gave Luke a knowing look and the others laughed.
“Dad? What’s this one?” Molly hurried to his side, holding out an envelope. “It’s got my name on it.”
Luke dragged his focus from Allie and gazed down at the envelope. His focus shifted to Brent then back to his daughter. “Well, how would I know? I’ve never seen that envelope in my whole life. Do you know anything about it, Brent?”
Brent made a show of craning his neck to get a better look. “Oh. I think I found that card out in the barn this morning when I went to feed the animals. I thought you put it there.”
Molly appeared to be utterly confused.
Allie winked at her. “How about you open it and see who it’s from?”
Molly was already halfway through tearing the paper open. When she succeeded, she pulled out a picture of a white horse. Her nose scrunched up as she showed it to her uncle. “Why is a picture of Snowshoe in here?”
“Can you read the card that came with it?” Luke gestured toward the envelope.
His daughter pulled out a small three-by-five card and squinted as she read, “Dear Molly. I’ve checked my list twice, and there’s no denying you’re on the nice list.” A grin split her face and her father motioned to the card again, so she continued. “Your uncle has agreed with me and was willing to part with a very special horse. From this day forward, Snowshoe will be yours.” Molly stared hard at the card as if she didn’t understand what she’d said out loud. Then the realization hit her and she squealed. Her head snapped up and she stared at Brent then Jackie. “Really? Snowshoe is going to be mine?”
They both nodded but it was Luke who spoke. “Now you know what that means, don’t you? There’s a great deal of responsibility—”
“I know,” she cut him off. “I have to feed her and exercise her.”
“And continue to train her and keep her clean. She’s a living thing. She deserves respect and love. Do you think you can do that?” Luke took her hand in his, making sure she was focused on what he was saying.
Molly nodded, tears now streaming down her face.
“Good. Then you can keep her. But you need to thank your aunt and uncle and your cousins for giving her to you.”
She threw her arms around her father’s neck, rubbing her face in his shoulder. “Thank you, Daddy.”
Next Molly skipped over to Brent and Jackie with big hugs and lots of thank you’s. Her cousins made it a group hug and then there was laughter and joking about taking care of a white horse.
Luke’s eyes met Allie’s briefly and that’s when she realized she, too, had a few tears escaping down her cheeks. She brushed at them quickly and the morning gift giving resumed until every last present had been opened.
“I’m going to fix us some waffles.” Jackie announced. “Brent, will you help out?”
He’d just flipped on the television and quickly dragged his gaze from the screen. “But I want to see if there’s a game on…”
Jackie gave him a pointed look. “I could really use your help.”
