Dear Santa(20)

    The giant clock in the center of town chimed musically as the snow lazily drifted down upon them, leaving a layer of white on the shoulders of her bright red wool coat.

“To the sleigh ride first,” Billy said, gripping her gloved hand. As before, she felt an instant warmth at his touch. She ignored the warning from earlier, to guard her heart, determined to enjoy every minute with Billy.

The line for the ride was long, snaking down the pathway. Lindy counted some twenty couples ahead of them. She didn’t mind. Everyone appeared to be in a jovial mood, filled with the holiday spirit. A group of Victorian-dressed carolers walked past, their voices blending in perfect harmony. Her attention drifted to the train that sluggishly edged toward the depot and pulled to a stop.

Lindy’s gaze followed the passengers as they disembarked. As she suspected, they included several families. Parents with young children, eager to explore the city. The eager youngsters leaped onto the platform, their voices raised in excitement. The Victorian carolers were there to greet them with a song. One little girl who couldn’t be more than about five or six stared up at the quartet, her eyes wide with wonder.

    Standing behind her, Billy placed his hands on Lindy’s shoulders as the line progressed toward the horse-drawn sleigh. The romance of this outing didn’t escape her.

“It won’t be long now,” Billy said, whispering close to her ear. They were only two couples back from the front.

As she turned to smile at him, her gaze went naturally toward the train platform and the little girl. Then something past the child caught her attention. Lindy’s eyes widened when she saw Brian and Celeste step off the train.

No way.

What were the chances that the two of them would arrive in Leavenworth at the same time she was there? She watched as Brian helped Celeste off the first step. He’d always been the gentleman…until he wasn’t. A shiver went through her. She’d assumed that because she’d forgiven them, this sense of loss and betrayal wouldn’t feel like a kick in the stomach. She inhaled a deep breath and refused to let her thoughts wander down those rut-filled paths.

“Are you cold?” Billy asked.

He must have felt her stiffen. “A little,” she said, rather than go into any details. She purposefully looked away, determined not to let Celeste and Brian ruin her day. If they saw her with Billy, then all the better. That would assure them she had moved on, and she had.

    Billy rubbed his hands down the sleeves of her coat in an effort to warm her. “We’ll be under those wool blankets in a matter of minutes,” he said.

“It won’t be long,” she agreed, as they drew steadily closer to the front of the line.

When their turn came, the young man who was the assistant motioned for Lindy to climb onto the sleigh. Billy had climbed aboard first and offered his hand, which she gladly accepted. As soon as she was seated, he pulled the heavy blankets over her lap and wrapped his arm around her.

Warmth infused her. First from the blankets, and second, from her proximity to Billy. Not only was he attentive, but he was thoughtful, too. The horse and driver took off down a well-worn, snow-packed path into and through the thick woods. The horse’s hoofs kicked up a light dusting of the freshly fallen snow. Christmas music swirled around them and then gradually faded as they continued into the forestland. Their driver chatted amicably as he flicked the reins against the horses.

“Your first time in town, folks?” he asked.

Billy looked to Lindy to answer. “No. First sleigh ride, though.”

“Good to have your sweetheart with you.”

    “Very good,” Billy answered, smiling at Lindy.

Mesmerized by the glow in his eyes, she smiled back and snuggled closer.

The wait, as Lindy suspected, was longer than the ride. Not that it mattered. The few minutes they were in the forest were magical. This was everything Christmas was meant to be. With Billy at her side, and his arm protectively around her. The fir trees that lined the path, their limbs burdened with the weight of the snow, created an iconic winter wonderland. Music from the carolers faded and then returned as they neared the starting point.

As they made the final turn, Lindy noticed Brian and Celeste were in the line, but not close enough that they would easily see her and Billy. She would really rather not run into them.

“You’re chilly again,” Billy said.

As the sleigh drew closer to the drop-off point, she turned to look at Billy. “Would you do something for me?”

“Sure. What do you need?”

“Would you kiss me?”

His smile was huge, and he didn’t hesitate for even a moment. Capturing her face, his hands covering her ears, he slowly lowered his mouth to hers.

Lindy wasn’t sure what she’d expected when she’d made the request. One thing was certain, it wasn’t the intense emotions that quickly laid claim to her. At first Billy’s lips were cold, which only made sense, seeing as they’d been riding through below-freezing temperatures. His mouth warmed quickly as he deepened the kiss. Heat spread through her as she opened to him, raising her arms to rest her hands on his shoulders. She quickly became involved in the kiss. Slanting her head to one side, she was lost in the wonder of the moment. The magic of it. The sensation of being in his arms, as if this was where she had always belonged.