Tangled Up in Tinsel
Page 20
The wind whipped around us when the driver had the horses go.
“He did do good, Kenni-Bug,” the wind whispered in my air. I tugged open the quilts sitting between me and Finn, snuggling up underneath.
The lights that were strung between the carriage lights along Main Street twinkled even more against the white background. The spirit of Christmas began to fill every part of my being with each sound of the horses’ hooves hitting the impacted snow.
“Is it how you remember it?” Finn whispered as we made our way onto the fairgrounds.
“Even better.” I snuggled closer. “Better than I remembered.”
The tent was filled with a standing crowd. The sled had come to a halt and I took a moment to look around.
There were many fire pits going with people standing around and listening to the carolers sing as they passed. Cottonwood was welcoming Christmas and all it had to offer. No amount of snow could dampen the spirit of this small town.
“May I?” Finn held his hand out. Duke jumped out before me. “We don’t want to miss our front row seats.”
“What is up your sleeve?” I asked.
“You aren’t very good with surprises.” He was right. I think that’s why I was so good at being a sheriff. I liked to keep the peace, know what was going on and no surprises.
I took his hand and got out of the carriage. We held hands and walked up to the fairgrounds’ metal building that was used for the crafts during the summer and the display of pies during the pie competition. He opened the door and Jolee was just inside. Duke jumped and danced around her until she bent down.
“There you are. The show is about to start,” Jolee said and gave Duke some good scratches.
I glanced up and the entire inside looked like the basement of Luke Jones’s movie theater basement. There was a sheet hung up and just enough chairs for me and my girlfriends.
“Enjoy your annual White Christmas movie,” Finn whispered in my ear.
“You did all this?” I asked in disbelief.
“He sure did. In a few short hours too.” Luke nodded and handed me a big bag of popcorn that was littered with melting chocolate chips on the top. “Jolee has your Diet drink waiting for you too.” Jolee waved from the front.
“Thank you.” I turned around to look at Finn. There were tears in my eyes. “No one has ever done something so nice for me.”
“No one has ever loved you as much as I love you.” He bent down. Our lips met in a soft and warm kiss. “Go have fun. I’ll be hanging outside.”
“You’ve got you a good one right there.” Jolee slipped her arm into mine and we walked up to the seats.
“Yeah.” I sighed. “He’s a good one.”
The entire time “White Christmas” played, and Bing Crosby danced alongside Rosemary Clooney, I watched my friends. Then I wondered what I’d be doing if I was in Chicago with Finn’s family. No matter what I’d been doing there, fun or not, I’m sure I’d been thinking about what my friends and family were doing here. I wasn’t sure what next year would bring, but I did know that right now, I was truly grateful for the blizzard. This was exactly where I was supposed to be.
Just like Finn said, he was outside waiting for me and Duke.
“Let’s go under the tent.” He nodded towards the big crowd, hoots and hollers and some whistling. “It looks like we just got here in time.”
Duke trotted beside us, sniffing everyone’s feet and dangling gloved hands.
Finn pointed to the stage.
“And the winner of this year’s is...” Edna Easterly slowly ripped open the red envelope and peeked inside. Mama stood up on the stage in a long red cape with white trim. She and Viola White were holding hands like you’d see on the Miss America pageant.
“Lord help us all if Mama wins,” I curled up on my toes and whispered in Finn’s ear. He smiled.
“Viola White!” Edna Easterly screamed in the microphone.
Mama had already begun her walk and wave, for sure thinking she’d won the title. Viola practically shoved Mama out of the way and stepped right on up to get that crown from Mayor Ryland and batch of flowers from Myrna Savage.
Mama was a pitiful sight as the disbelief showed on her face. True Southern Mama style, she drew back her shoulders, planted a smile on them bright lips and began to clap. When Viola caught wind of Mama, she started to really prance around the stage and blow kisses.
“Ah oh,” Finn said in a scared voice. “Is this going to be a good Christmas?”
“Mama is going to be a sour puss all day,” I said as we made our way over towards the edge of the stage where all the contestants were walking off. Duke had already beat us up to the front.
“I swear you paid them off,” Mama scoffed.
“I did not.” Viola gripped the bouquet of flowers. “They know a real beauty when they see one. Inside and out.” She poked herself in the chest.
“Now y’all stop your bickering.” I shook my head and realized that no amount of spirit that Christmas brought would bring these two to ever see eye-to-eye.
Just then snowflakes had started to fall from the sky. They were even bigger than before. My insides tickled, and I looked up into the falling flakes.
Ding, ding, the faint sound of a bell jingled from above.
“Merry Christmas, Poppa,” I whispered knowing Poppa had gotten his angel wings.
“Merry Christmas to you too.” Finn pulled me in for a Christmas kiss that was better than any present or trip he could’ve ever given me.
About the Author
Tonya has written over twenty novels and four novellas, all of which have graced numerous bestseller lists including USA Today. Best known for stories charged with emotion and humor, and filled with flawed characters, her novels have garnered reader praise and glowing critical reviews. She lives with her husband, three teenage boys, two very spoiled schnauzers and one ex-stray cat in Kentucky.
The Kenni Lowry Mystery Series
by Tonya Kappes
FIXIN’ TO DIE (#1)
SOUTHERN FRIED (#2)
AX TO GRIND (#3)
SIX FEET UNDER (#4)
DEAD AS A DOORNAIL (#5)
TANGLED UP IN TINSEL (#6)
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