Rescuing Christmas

by Nancy Lee Badger

  A feeling of overwhelming relaxation kicked in. Instead of emailing various people, or checking the stock market, he stared out the window of the store. All kinds of people walked by wearing heavy coats, hats, and gloves in every color of a rainbow.

  Sarah Jane stopped beside him and passed him the bag of rice. Inside was his phone with its battery detached. “The rice will soak up any moisture. Keep the bag tightly closed. It should be okay to plug in and recharge tonight. Everything else good here?”

  He stared at the bag, then back at her. “Snowflake Valley raises intelligent women, I see.” Then he pointed out the window. “All I see are people decked out in heavy coats, scarves, and hats. If the temperature is dropping, that is good for the prospect of the festival, right?”

  Sarah Jane glanced out the window as well. “Well, yes, but it takes those temperatures for nights on end to get that skating pond to freeze completely. The police have been doing their best to keep kids away from it. They are very eager to skate. Others like to slide down the hill on the far side, to see how far they can slide out onto the pond.”

  “I think that is the slope where my car crashed? That looked pretty steep.”

  “That’s why they do it. A frozen pond would really help get the festival off the ground, and snow would mean sledding, snowman building, and sleigh rides. The whole town’s praying for snow.” She hurried away to help a customer, while he considered what he could do to help the town succeed with their Christmas Festival.

  The idea of assisting people he did not know was foreign, but he liked Elinor. She was strong, caring, casually dressed under all that fire gear, and nothing like the women he knew. Mona would like her. Mona was always dissing his choice of women and voiced her displeasure of him seeking out companionship in another country, especially over the Christmas holiday. She asked him why traveling all the way to Canada to spend a week or so with some woman was his idea of celebrating the season. What would she say if she saw him now, wearing jeans, sneakers, and a flannel shirt? Not an Italian shoe or silk tie in sight.

  The smile on his face, reflected in the shop window, suddenly turned to wide-eyed shock as a car slid sideways towards him and the store’s plate glass window. The screech of tires, the slam of rubber and chrome against the curb and a tilting light post was followed by the sound of shattered glass.

  “Lord Almighty!” Sarah Jane cried. Other customers crowded the window, which had luckily missed becoming a statistic on an accident report.

  Bradley jumped to his feet and headed out the door. He slid to a stop beside the car as the horror of his own accident rose up. Water from a street puddle covered the sidewalk and began to freeze. Holding onto the broken lamp post, ignoring the sparks that showered down on his head, he reached the driver’s door the same time the shrill peal of sirens grew louder.

  The driver rolled down his window. The old timer looked dazed and he had a bump on his temple where he must have hit the edge of the door. The vehicle’s engine died and Bradley made sure the driver’s door was unlocked. He peeked inside the rusty gray sedan. “Are you the only passenger, sir?”

  “Aye. Oh, I feel strange. Am I bleeding?”

  “I do not see anything obvious, but you have a nasty bump on your temple. Please stay still, sir. Help is coming.”

  “I don’t know what happened. I was suddenly sliding. Ice, maybe?”

  “Could be what happened. It has grown pretty cold.”

  The elderly man glanced up at Bradley. “Where be your coat, boy? You’ll catch your death.”

  Bradley laughed, “I forgot to grab my coat. Listen, why not stay still. I hear my friends in the fire department coming.”

  “If you insist, but my wife’s gonna’ kill me. I just got this car’s radiator replaced.”

  Bradley loosened his shoulders and stared down the street, as if he could will the rescue vehicles to arrive, just by wishing. He was glad the old man agreed to stay inside the wrecked car. Looking around the vehicle, Bradley saw no other injuries to pedestrians. Thank goodness no one was on the sidewalk the moment the car had crashed.

  The car had hit the curb and pole with a lot of force. With the adrenaline in his system subsiding, memories of his own recent accident threatened to make his stomach roll. The moment of fear, as his silver luxury rental car careened down the muddy slope and into the pond, had taken too much out of him. Was he feeling his age?

  A fire truck lumbered up Main Street, wary of the other vehicles that had smartly turned around in order to keep the road clear. Would a New York City taxi let a pedestrian force him down another street? Looking toward the direction of the inn, another man stood directing traffic away from the scene.

  The engine stopped nearby and Bradley recognized several of the men. A red pickup pulled in several yards back and Elinor hopped out wearing what he had heard described as bunker gear.

  He could not help the smile that spread across his face. Then he frowned, since she was frowning at him. He had no idea why, then wondered if she had been able to visit her father in the hospital.

  Chapter 6

  The first thing Ellie noticed after she parked her dad’s red pickup out of the way of the accident was Bradley Aaron Wainwright. He aimed a smile her way, while he stood beside a crushed gray sedan half on the sidewalk. A light pole outside her sister’s store was crumpled. The car had nearly flown into her store.

  Then she frowned at him. Where was his coat? His cheeks were bright red from the wind, and he shivered. Frowning, because she worried he’d catch his death, she headed toward the scene.

  The firefighters exited the truck and surrounded the wreck. Several took charge stopping traffic on both the street and the sidewalk.

  Sparks rained down near the front of the wreck, from a disconnected wire that led to the closed ice cream shop. Instead of showering water on the lamp post, the fire truck driver was on the radio, asking dispatch to notify the power company.

  Water and electricity don’t mix.

  As Ellie hopped up onto the sidewalk about three car lengths from the accident scene, she thought about her latest call to her dad. He had woken from a nap, wanting to go home to his own bed. She agreed, as soon as the doctors gave him the go ahead.

  He’d cursed the doctors, and she promised to check in with him and the doctors soon, but she had some paperwork to finish. When she’d stepped inside the fire house, the shift had just started for the paid personnel, but she was technically off-duty. Several volunteers would join them if the alarm sounded. Since she was at the fire house when the call came in for a single car accident on Main Street, she decided to go, then head directly from there to the hospital. Easy-peasy.

  How does the saying go…best laid plans?

  The moment the alarm echoed through the bay, before she had finished pouring herself a cup of coffee, she ran to her dad’s truck and stepped into her fire gear. The dispatcher blared, “Engine 1, Ambulance 1, single car motor vehicle accident near 233 Main Street. Time of your tone, 14:45.

  The address shocked Ellie and she wished she was already barreling down the back street in the engine’s wake.

  A car wreck in front of my sister’s store? Not good.

  She prayed no one was hurt. Hopefully, the dispatch would send updates as they hurried toward the scene. Police would be responding, as would the county ambulance. She shoved her feet into her fire boots as the bay door opened and men scrambled onto the engine. By the time she’d hopped into the pickup truck, the fire truck had disappeared around the corner that led to Main Street. She spotted Mac turning on the lights of his wrecker. She waved and assumed he’d be getting a call any minute. Main Street was too congested for too many rescue vehicles, so she had parked back some distance.

  On the one hand, she was glad for the quick response. She hated to play catch-up, but she knew the crew were well trained. Still, she ought to be at the front of the fray, giving orders.

  She hoped her dad didn’t hear about this. Unfortunately, she feared
a big crowd would witness her late approach to the scene. She didn’t even get to taste her coffee.

  On the sidewalk, she pushed away thoughts of her father, her late arrival, and the deep blue eyes of the man frowning at her at the accident scene. Why was he standing in the frigid cold without a coat? Was he trying to get sick?

  Another siren meant the ambulance would arrive soon. They still didn’t know if anyone needed medical help, but if the unit was nearby when they heard a call, they normally responded.

  She was glad she had slipped on her heavy firefighter coat and boots. She strode down the sidewalk at a brisk pace. Sparks shooting into the sky were a concern but her crew knew to keep the public away from such dangers. Bradley, though, stood too close.

  He pointed up, and she followed the path of his finger to watch as a small fire flickered along the rain gutter of her sister’s store, and suddenly spread to the pharmacy’s roof. No one else seemed to notice.

  “Get a four-inch hose on nearby roofs while keeping away from all wires,” she ordered. She didn’t want all the stores to go up in flames. Several firefighters noticed where she pointed. Boots thudding across the pavement proved they had listened. Within a minute, a light spray of water landed on top of her sister’s roof, then to the stores adjacent to hers. The crew did their best to keep away from the flashes of loose wires.

  The small fire sputtered and went out. Pleased at how they had responded to her orders without hesitation, she smiled at her sister, who had witnessed the roof catch fire. Sarah Jane did not need problems like this.

  Still looking up at the roofs as she headed toward Bradley and the accident victim, she slipped. A patch of ice caught the heel of her left boot, propelling it forward while she fell backward. Before her head hit the pavement, strong arms wrapped around her middle, slowing her descent. “Thanks.”

  “You are welcome. Try to stay on your feet, next time.”

  Hauled to an upright position, she straightened and turned to find Bradley glaring at her.

  “I didn’t fall on purpose!” Miffed at the holier-than-thou tone of his voice, she shrugged her shoulders and plopped her helmet on her head. Ignoring his glare was the only way to keep her attention aimed at the crash victim and her crew. When he set his hands on her hips and pulled her back into his chest, her body allowed the assault.

  What am I doing?

  Facing him, their eyes locked. Bradley’s blue orbs beamed at her through his glasses while he licked his lips. How had she forgotten he wore spectacles?

  Kind of endearing.

  The heat beneath her cheeks, where Bradley’s hands had caressed her skin, and the pressure against her body when he’d pulled her close, must have caught the attention of her crew. Wolf whistles and laughter erupted. The sudden noise pushed them apart. Even worse, Sean Peabody was marching toward her.

  “Ellie, are you hurt?”

  “No, Sean. Mr. Wainwright must have been walking by when I slipped on that patch of ice. What are you doing here?”

  “I’m a volunteer firefighter. Don’t you remember?”

  She noticed Sean did indeed wear firefighting gear. He must have been on the schedule, but she hadn’t had a chance to look over the roster. Half the volunteers reported to emergencies on even days, the rest on odd days. She had been so consumed with her father’s injury and the problem surrounding the Christmas Festival, she had neglected to keep up on paperwork and the rosters.

  “Right. Sorry, I forgot. Um, thank you for coming out. Hello, and thank you, too, Mr. Wainwright.” His smirk in her direction heated her insides, but when he turned to nod at Sean, his face turned unreadable. Sean moved away to talk with the approaching police cruiser.

  “Did you, by chance, witness the accident?”

  Bradley brought his attention back to her. “I did. I spoke to the driver and told him to keep still. I recall that was what you tried to get me to do.”

  She smiled at his statement. “Well, the police will want to talk to you. Where is your winter coat?”

  He was rubbing his hands up his arms. The blue and green plaid flannel shirt brought out the blue of his eyes. A black T-shirt peeked from beneath the flannel, leaving enough of his neck exposed that the skin had turned pink from the cold. His hair was a windblown mess. It looked good on him.

  “Are your teeth chattering?”

  “It is a tad cold out, today. These jeans are better than the borrowed sweatpants, but I should go back inside. I left my laptop and sandwich unattended.”

  “Sandwich?” Her stomach growled.

  “I was enjoying coffee and a fabulous roast turkey sandwich created by hand by the shop’s beautiful owner,” he answered, smiling. The light in his eyes suddenly darkened. “I thought the car was going to come right through the window, into my lap. Two car accidents in two days might mean somebody is telling me something. Besides, a broken front window would have ruined Sarah Jane. I see what this business means to her.”

  They both glanced toward where her sister stood in the open door, worrying her bottom lip with her teeth. Bradley gave her sister a thumbs up sign, which brought an immediate smile to Sarah Jane’s face.

  “Why don’t you go back inside? I’ll have an officer find you, once the scene is cleared.”

  “Will you be coming with him?” Bradley stepped closer.

  She tilted her head up and caught the glimmer of hope in his eyes.

  “No way, Mr. Wainwright. She’s the fire chief and has reports to go over, after she hands out the orders for cleaning up the scene.” Sean added from close behind her. “We don’t leave oil, gasoline, or broken glass at an accident scene.”

  Ellie turned to the firefighter. “You are absolutely right. How about we pick up this glass, then spread some sand on the sidewalk.”

  “I’ll get one of the guys to radio the town snow-plow driver to cover the road. He’s probably at home watching a game.” Sean laughed, and headed back to the truck without waiting for her to answer.

  “I need to go back to the fire house.”

  Bradley straightened and glared at Sean’s back, then patted her arm.

  What am I, a pet to be reassured?

  As Bradley disappeared inside the bookstore, Sean chuckled. Spinning around, Ellie glared at him, where he had stopped about ten feet away. “I thought you had a chore to accomplish. I don’t appreciate you butting in. He saved me from falling on my ass in front of the men and townspeople. I appreciate that. Back to work. I need to go see dad.”

  Sean sauntered closer, but she held her ground, even when he leaned in close to her left ear.

  “Whatever you say, sweetheart. Besides, I’m taking you to dinner tonight. I’ll pick you up at eight.”

  Before she could tell him exactly what she thought of his idea, he joined the men making sure the wrecked car stayed stationary, so that the driver could be carefully removed.

  The fire in the power pole’s wires burned out and the burning roof tiles smoked. Water dripped off the roofs, and she worried ice might quickly form. The air had turned seasonably cold. Would the Christmas Festival be saved?

  A heavy snowfall would be the cherry on top.

  Pushing away thoughts of the festival, she zeroed in on the scene. Firefighters worked alongside the ambulance crew, while two police officers took over traffic detail. Mac and his tow truck stood waiting, out of the way. She turned her attention to the people standing too close, with her sister among them. Why hadn’t she followed her customers inside?

  “Sarah Jane, you look worried. Everything okay?”

  “I heard the water splashing on the roof. Was mine on fire?”

  “Not too bad. The crew with the hoses made sure it didn’t spread to your store. All the fires are out. Did you see the accident happen?” Part of her job was gathering as much information as to the cause of accidents, while the police officers kept the scene and responders safe.

  “No. I heard a horrid screeching sound, then watched Bradley race out the door, leaving behin
d his coat, his lunch, and his laptop. He’s inside, now, shivering. Looks kind of angry, too.”

  She sighed and stared at the toes of her boots. “Sean mouthed off in front of him. I don’t think they like each other.”

  “I think they’re jealous of each other.”

  “What? That’s crazy!”

  “Sean has asked you out quite often. You told me so, yet you went on only one date with him. Bradley looks at you the way Dad used to look at Mom. Like he couldn’t breathe. Well, I have to get back to my customers.”

  Watching Sarah Jane walk back inside the store, Ellie thought about what she’d said. Could it be true? Did Bradley like her? What of it, though? He didn’t live around here, and was out of her league. He probably had lots of women fawning all over him in New York City and in Montreal.

  A young firefighter walked up to her. “What can I do, Chief? The cops took over traffic detail, and the ambulance crew got the old fella in their rig.”

  “Spreading sand on the sidewalk from corner to corner is imperative. The water dripping off those roofs is freezing on contact. Until the sun reaches this side of the sidewalk, let’s make it safe. We wouldn’t want anyone to slip.”

  He laughed too loud for her comfort, and she knew he’d witnessed her near-fall. The police officers kept traffic out of the way, allowing Mac to get the vehicle loaded. As he and the car headed to his garage, and the ambulance headed toward the small but efficient hospital, she gave the engine driver permission to return to the fire house. She asked him to advise dispatch the scene was clear, all except for sanding the roadway.

  “Speak of the devil!” The young firefighter said, pointing to where the ambulance headed. Coming their way was the town’s plow truck. A sander on the back end would coat the road and make sure no other accidents occurred.

  At least, not until the next one.

  One police officer headed away, probably back to the police station on the next road. Officer Rudy Jackson parked his cruiser in an empty space down near her dad’s pickup, then headed inside the bookstore. She wanted to accompany him, to see how Bradley fared.