Doc Griffin's Christmas Sleigh: A Wyldhaven Series Christmas Romance Novella

by Lynnette Bonner

  Kin folded his arms, more to clamp his fists in place than anything. “She’ll get her money.”

  Now he just had to figure out how he was going to salvage her Christmas present for Doc.

  His gaze settled on a shiny pair of red runners on a shelf behind the counter, and suddenly he had an idea.

  Chapter 9

  Dixie stood in the kitchen of the boardinghouse looking at Kin in disbelief. With Ellery resting comfortably in the crook of her arm she stirred the pot of stew she was making for the diner with one hand. “He sold my sleigh to someone else?”

  Kin nodded. “I’m afraid so. But… I’ve been thinking and…I have a solution.”

  “You do?”

  “Yes ma’am.” Kin folded his arms and settled more comfortably into his heels. “That is, if you are interested in hearing it.”

  Dixie waved a hand. “I can’t see as I have any choice other than to listen at this late date.” Too late, she recognized the hurt on Kin’s face. “I didn’t mean that I expect your solution to be bad. It’s just I had all this planned out for months and now everything has fallen through. Please, tell me your thoughts.”

  “Well…” Kin laid an envelope on the kitchen table. “I did get him to return the money you put down.”

  Dixie nodded. “That’s a big help. Thank you.”

  “And…” Kin got a little smile on his face. “I got him to throw in a pair of sleigh runners for free.”

  Dixie frowned. How were sleigh runners supposed to make her happy when she had ordered an entire sleigh? “You’ll have to explain.”

  “Well I’ve taken a look at several sleighs both in Seattle and here in town and I don’t see how they would be too difficult to re-create. In fact, most likely I could improve on them. So, if you’ll allow me, I’d like to build your sleigh. And I’ll do it for less than you planned to pay that sleigh maker in Seattle.”

  Ellery began to fuss and Dixie despaired of ever getting the diner’s evening meal ready. “Here.” She passed the baby to Kin without giving him a chance to decline. “Hold her for a moment, would you? Just watch her head. She doesn’t have any strength in her neck yet.”

  Kin’s eyes widened and he gingerly held Ellery from him like she might be a newborn piglet he was assessing for market.

  She squirmed and cried a little harder.

  Dixie grinned at Kin from where she bent over the oven, pulling out the fresh loaves of bread. “She’s not livestock. Tuck her close. Bounce her.”

  Kin awkwardly curled the baby against his chest. He carefully adjusted Ellery to a more comfortable position, curling his big hand behind her head and jigging across the floor. “Let’s just say I am much better at making sleighs—which I’ve never done before—than I am at watching babies.” He gave her a self-deprecating grin.

  Dixie smiled as she set the bread onto the trivets on the table and brushed a strand of hair off her forehead. She had thought she could handle having a newborn and cooking at the same time. But this wasn’t going as smoothly as she would have liked. Thankfully Rose would be done with her nap in just a few moments and would come down to get the baby, but if things continued the way they were, she was going to need to hire yet another worker for the kitchen. Saving money by hiring Kin to make the sleigh might be just what she needed, right now.

  She pierced him with a look. “You’re certain that you can make it in a quality fashion?”

  He nodded and bounced Ellery gently, looking awed that the baby had stopped fussing and set to slurping on a thumb and two fingers. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “All right then. I’m happy to hire you. I’ve never known you to do a slipshod job so I’m sure you’ll make a beautiful sleigh.”

  “I’ll do my best, ma’am. I’ll ride to Cle Elum this afternoon and purchase the wood.”

  “Here I’ll take her.” Dixie swiped a gesture at the envelope on the table. “You better take what you need as an advance so that you can buy the supplies.”

  Kin nodded, looking a little disappointed to return the baby. “She’s a peach,” he said.

  Dixie saw a distinct line of red creep up his face.

  He stepped back quickly and opened the envelope to extract a few dollars, which he held up so she could see what he’d taken. “This ought to cover it, but there’s one thing we’re going to need.”

  “What’s that?”

  “A seat. Joe and Liora have an old wagon that they never use by their barn. The bench is in good condition. I could use it for the sleigh. Would you have time to ride out there and make the deal?”

  Dixie gave him a nod. “I’ll find the time later today.”

  “Thanks. I’ll let you know when I’m back with the wood.”

  A thought struck her. “Will you be able to get it done in time?”

  He nodded. “I’ll make certain of it.”

  Dixie worried her lip as he left the kitchen. She wasn’t going to be able to relax until she saw this completed sleigh with her own eyes.

  Even if they never got it done, she supposed she would have a good story to tell Flynn come Christmas morning.

  Speaking of which, she still needed to find time to speak to him about what had happened at the post office. He’d arrived home very late the evening before and left again first thing this morning.

  Tonight. As soon as she got home from the Rodantes’.

  She would make sure of it.

  With Ellery tied snuggly beneath her coat, Dixie pulled into the yard at Liora and Joe’s and swung down from the wagon.

  Liora stepped from the cabin. She was wiping her hands on a kitchen towel. “Dixie! What a pleasant surprise.”

  She stepped up onto the porch and pulled her friend into an embrace. “Sorry to drop by unannounced. Is now a bad time?”

  Liora shook her head. “No, no. Please, come in. The girls and I were just finishing up this week’s bread.”

  She led the way into the cabin and motioned for Dixie to have a seat at the kitchen table. “Can I get you some coffee?”

  Dixie chuckled. “Always.” She pulled a face as she extracted Ellery from beneath her coat. “Especially now that we are getting so little sleep each night.”

  Liora chuckled. “Oh, I’m so glad you brought her! I’ve been so excited to get that little one in my arms!” Liora poured the coffee and joined Dixie at the table. But she didn’t sit. Instead she reached for the baby. “Oh my! She’s beautiful! Look at all that dark hair!”

  Dixie smiled and relinquished Ellery to her. “Yes, isn’t it adorable? I think she’s going to have Flynn’s curls.”

  Liora bent and chattered to the child. “You are just so beautiful. Yes, you are. Look at your big eyes, and those rosy cheeks. Your daddy is going to be kept busy fighting off the callers. Yes, he is.”

  Dixie chuckled. “Flynn has been perusing shotgun ads in the Sears and Roebuck catalogue.”

  Liora laughed. “I’m sure Joe will do the same when our time comes.”

  Excitement trilling through her, Dixie swept her with a glance. “Are you—”

  “Oh! No!” Liora blushed. “Not yet.” She pressed her lips together. “So, what brings you by today?”

  Dixie let the subject change go, and stirred half a teaspoon of sugar into her cup. “Christmas.” She pulled a face. “Can you hear the bitterness in my tone?”

  Liora chuckled. “Do you need help figuring out what to give to Flynn?”

  Dixie shook her head. “I know what I’m giving him. But with Ellery’s early arrival, I’ve had a few setbacks.”

  Liora glanced down at the baby in her arms tucking the blanket away from her face. “Have you put kinks in your Ma’s Christmas plans?”

  Dixie chuckled and rolled her eyes. “Oh, you have no idea.”

  Liora looked up at her. “Really?”

  Dixie nodded. “I was supposed to pick up a sleigh in Seattle but I can’t take her on that long of a trip. And when Kin arrived to get it for me, the sleigh maker had already sold it to someone e
lse.” She waved a hand. “It’s been quite the ordeal. But, thanks to Kin’s ingenuity, I hope that we are on our way to a solution.”

  “How can I help you?” Liora cocked her head.

  “Kin tells me that you and Joe have an old wagon and the seat is in fairly good condition?”

  Liora squinted her eyes. “Well, ‘fairly good condition’ might be a bit of an exaggeration. But I’m more than happy to let you look at it and decide. In fact, it’s just been sitting out by the barn. If you want it, we would be happy to give you the seat. Joe’s mentioned several times that he needs to just chop it up and burn it.”

  Dixie brushed away the offer. “No, no, no. I would definitely want to pay. But yes, I would like to look at it, if you have time to show me?”

  “Of course. We can go out right now.” Liora led the way through the kitchen to the side of their barn. The old wagon canted at an odd angle because it only had three wheels. But just as Kin had said, Dixie could see that the seat was in fairly good shape. With a little bit of padding and upholstery it would work just fine for what they needed. She gave a satisfactory nod and patted the seat like it might be an old friend. “Yes. This is just the thing.”

  Ellery fussed a little and Liora bounced her. “Oh good. I’ll have Joe unbolt it just as soon as he gets home this evening.”

  “Perfect. And I’ll have Kin drop by to pick it up.” Dixie reached her arms to take Ellery. “If you’ll forgive me for rushing off, I have to go visit with Jacinda to see if she has any material that would be appropriate for upholstering the seat. I’m trying to squeeze all these errands in while Flynn is out at the camps on his rounds.” She gave Liora a wink. “Which reminds me, I never asked what you are giving Joe? Do you know yet?”

  Liora nodded, and gave a surreptitious glance around the yard. “Would you like to see it? I’m really very excited about it.” She laughed. “Probably a lot more excited than I have a right to be.”

  Dixie smiled. “We get a lot of joy from giving gifts to those we love, don’t we? I would love to see it.”

  Liora led the way to the small building where the women she and Joe had helped to escape the camp brothels stayed. In a small side-room, Liora approached a sheet-shrouded crate and when she pulled back the lid Dixie couldn’t help but give a small gasp.

  The saddle was indeed the most beautiful piece of workmanship she had ever seen. Crafted from a beautiful mahogany leather with red overtones, the seat-housing and flaps were hand tooled and embellished with brass. Dixie reached out and stroked a hand over the seat. The leather was smooth and soft and stretched over a firm padding. “Oh, Liora. He’s going to love it.”

  Liora smiled in satisfaction and pressed the lid of the crate back into place. “I know. I can hardly wait for Christmas Day to arrive.” She chuckled.

  Dixie tucked Ellery into the warmth of her coat. “Well I’d really best be on my way. Thank you, again. So much.” She held out a few bills for payment.

  But Liora refused to take them. She smiled. “Like I said, no payment necessary. Truly. Our pleasure.”

  Dixie gave her a quick hug. “Very kind of you. Hopefully I can make it up to you one of these days.”

  Dixie’s relief carried her all the way into town where it doubled again upon seeing the perfect red upholstery material presented to her by Jacinda. She reached out to touch it. “Oh Jacinda, It’s lovely.”

  Jacinda smiled. “It’s left over from the benches at the bank. Good and sturdy and should last for years to come.”

  After settling on a price, Dixie promised that Kin would stop by to pick up the material and then hurried toward home. It was almost time for Ellery’s feeding. But more than that, Flynn should be home by now. She could hardly wait to see him and throw her arms around his neck.

  Thank the Lord for her wonderful neighbors in Wyldhaven. Flynn would get his Christmas present, after all.

  He was there, waiting for her, when she stepped back into their apartment above the diner. He hurried forward with a bit of a frown, and she was reminded that she still hadn’t spoken to him.

  He took Ellery and glanced toward the frosty window. “You’ve been out in this cold?”

  “Yes.” Dixie tugged off her gloves, her gaze never leaving his beloved face. “I kept her tucked inside my coat the whole time to ensure she stayed warm.”

  A slight furrow still puckered the skin between his brows and Dixie was thankful that Rose was down helping out in the kitchen, because she’d never wanted to kiss her husband more than she did right now.

  She stepped right into his space and looked up at him, reaching one hand to soothe his frown. “Flynn, there’s something I need to tell you.”

  He swallowed. “Okay.” Concern darkened the hazel-blue of his eyes.

  She realized that instead of calming him, she’d only raised his concerns, so she hurried on to say, “I spoke to the Kings today. Ethel apparently had a conversation with Pricilla Hines yesterday that concerned Ben and me.”

  A muscle in Flynn’s jaw ticked. “Yes. She did.”

  Dixie tilted Flynn a look. Had he truly been afraid that she would cheat on him with Ben King? She clasped her hands behind his neck. “Ben King has been helping me with a Christmas project, and nothing more.”

  The light returned to his eyes. “Oh.” One corner of his mouth lifted. Ellery fussed a little but settled right down when he bounced her.

  “Were you really worried?” Dixie couldn’t help but feel a little hurt by his doubt.

  He swallowed. “I’m tired, Dixie. So tired. I think my exhaustion clouded my judgement.”

  Which was partly why she had wanted to get him this sleigh so badly. It would save him several hours each week.

  She quirked him a smile. “And there was that little incident where my husband showed up in town a few years ago as your patient.”

  Flynn smiled but shook his head. “And where I was tempted not to treat him to hurry him to his death. But, just like I’m no longer that man, I know you aren’t that woman. Can you forgive me for doubting?”

  “If you’ll forgive me for acting in such a manner that caused your doubts.”

  His eyes crinkled at the corners. “It is the Christmas season.”

  She nodded. “It is.”

  He grinned. “So, what did you get me?”

  She laughed. “Wouldn’t you like to know!”

  He lifted one shoulder. “It was worth a shot.” He leaned past their daughter to dally his lips over Dixie’s.

  And as Dixie released a sigh of contentment, she couldn’t help but be thankful for the season of Christmas that had brought her to this place in her husband’s arms.

  Dear Reader,

  I hope you smiled at least a few times as you read this story. And that this Christmas season you’ll remember that the heart of Christmas isn’t about the hustle and bustle and perfectly kept surprises, but about the Savior, King of all creation, who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage. (Philippians 2:6 NIV) Instead, He humbled Himself and was born in a lowly Bethlehem barn so that later He could die for the sins of all mankind! What an amazing Love!

  If you enjoyed this story, please leave the book a review. It doesn’t have to be long, but every review helps spread the word, and the world needs more uplifting stories!

  Wondering if Kane Carver is going to recover and if Sheriff Reagan is going to figure out they’ve been the ones causing trouble? Or about what’s going to happen to Joe’s saddle? (Because you know it wouldn’t be a story without something going wrong, right?) I invite you to read the next episode of this series titled Deputy Joe’s Christmas Saddle. You can read a short excerpt of it on the next page.

  You can find all the books in the Wyldhaven series here on my website.

  Merry Christmas!

  Chapter 1

  When Liora woke on this early December morning, Joe was just leaving on his rounds.

  She yawned and worked up the
courage to push back the covers and face the cold. “I’ll get you some breakfast.”

  Joe bent over her and placed a kiss on her forehead. “Stay in bed. I’ll take some of those hard-boiled eggs you made last night and a couple slices of bread.”

  She squinted one eye. “You sure that will be enough?”

  “Plenty.” He reached for his boots. “I’ll build up the fire and the house will be nice and warm by the time you need to get up.”

  Liora wasn’t going to argue. She couldn’t linger in bed too much longer, but she would take a few more minutes of leisure any day of the week. “Be safe,” she cautioned him.

  “Always.” It was his usual reply. And she knew that he did approach his job with thought and wisdom. None of that prevented her from praying for his safety throughout the day.

  As a deputy for the town of Wyldhaven, Joe was kept pretty busy out at the logging camps. Especially with them growing as rapidly as they were. Cities all along the west coast were booming and that had increased the demand for wood, which had in turn increased the amount of workers living in the camps.

  Yes, she often fretted about him, and the town really needed a few more lawmen, but today she would be kept so busy she really didn’t have time to worry.

  After giving herself another few minutes of rest, she tossed back the covers and hurried into her dress, thankful that Joe had so thoughtfully stoked the fire, because just as he’d said, the house had warmed considerably.

  Thinking of Joe’s thoughtfulness brought to mind the Christmas present she’d purchased for him—a brand new saddle that boasted hand-tooled leather and brass accents. His current saddle had seen better days, but he’d been putting off getting a new one, claiming his current one sufficed. But with the many long hours he spent riding for work, Liora knew this new one with the thickly padded seat was going to be much more comfortable. She could hardly wait to give it to him. He was likely going to chastise her for the amount she’d spent, but she’d been saving her egg and cream money all year and he was worth the price and more.