Trouble With Christmas (9781455544066)

by Mason, Debbie

  Gage sat up, fighting against a wave of gut-churning light-headedness to push himself to his feet. Pain lanced through the back of his eyes at the movement. He rode it out before crossing to the far wall of the one-room cabin. With his back to the woodstove, he lowered to a squat and, with his cuffed hands, started to awkwardly feed logs into the mouth of the stove. Once he was finished, he managed to push himself upright and cross to the table. He stared down at the pile of leaflets, at Madison looking so damn beautiful it was easy to miss the hurt in her eyes, the angry set of her lips. Given her past, he didn’t want to think what seeing the leaflets and protesters had done to her.

  He prayed to God someone stood up for her when he couldn’t be there. His gaze shifted to Annie and Lily, then back to Madison. Rick really was insane if he didn’t think Gage would do everything in his power to get back to them, to keep them safe.

  By the time he crumpled the last flier and tossed it onto the logs, he could barely lift his arms. For Madison’s and his daughters’ sakes, he had to stay focused. He made his way to the shelf by the window where a metal container held matches.

  Through the grime-smudged glass, he tried to get his bearings. But there was no chance of that with the blizzard raging outside. He listened for the whirr of the sled, but all he heard was the snow pelting the window and a lone wolf’s howl joining the winds. With the storm, it would take Rick a couple of hours to get back with the blankets and supplies. At least the guy didn’t want him dead, just out of the picture until he got his money.

  Nudging the metal container off the shelf with his chin, he sent a shower of matches to the cabin floor. Awkwardly, he lowered himself to his knees and nearly fell on his face. He righted himself, scooping up a handful of matches. Unwilling to take the chance he’d fall, he made his way back to the woodstove on his knees.

  Frustrated when seven of the nine matches snapped, he carefully lit the next. It sputtered out before it hit the paper. He clutched the last one in his hand. “Thank Christ,” he muttered, hearing the crackle of paper, the faint smell of wood smoke wafting past his nostrils.

  He warmed himself by the fire until some feeling returned to his hands. Gritting his teeth, he came to his feet and moved to the edge of the mattress. He groped behind him for the key. His fingers closed around the cold metal at the same time he heard the distant whir of the sled. He fumbled the key. You’ve got time. Focus. He slowed his breathing.

  The sound of the key sliding into the lock sent a rush of adrenaline through him, and he barely heard the snick of release or felt the cuffs fall open. He groaned as he brought his arms painfully forward, working out the aching numbness.

  The sled came closer.

  He picked up the poker resting against the woodstove and went to the window. Headlights bobbed up and down in the distance. Gage got into position behind the door. Several tension-filled minutes later, there was a loud screech of metal against metal and a heavy thud. Gage went back to the window. Thirty feet away, the lights at a sideways angle, the sled appeared to be suspended in midair. Rick’s scream cut off Gage’s curse. The stupid bastard must’ve hit a rock.

  Gage threw open the door and headed out. He battled through the drifting snow to reach Rick, who lay beneath the overturned sled.

  “Hurry! Get if off me. I think my leg’s broken.”

  He dropped the poker by his feet and straddled Dane. Gage angled his shoulder to get better leverage. “How the hell did you not see the boulder, you moron?” he gritted out, as he attempted to push the machine over the rock.

  “I saw it, but—” Rick’s breath sawed in and out “—something ran out in front of me…” He let loose an anguished cry when Gage lifted the sled off his legs.

  “I can’t hold it for long, Dane. You’re going to have to shimmy out from under it.”

  “I can’t. I can’t do it,” Rick’s voice came out a strangled sob.

  Gage’s arms started to buckle. He smoothed the sharp edge of anger from his voice. “Lever yourself up on your elbows and use them to pull yourself out. That’s it. Keep going. Another six inches and you’re good.” Gage gave the sled one more hard push before he let go. Breathing hard, he sprawled across the leather seat.

  “Gage… McBride… Sheriff,” Rick’s panicked whisper rose on each name.

  “What?” Gage slowly turned his head to look down at Dane’s bleached-white face.

  A panicked look in his eyes, Rick’s gaze darted from Gage to the cabin behind him. “Wolf.”

  With slow and careful movements, Gage eased himself off the sled to stand over Rick. “Where’s my gun?” he said quietly.

  “Somewhere, it fell out when…” Dane frantically swept his hands through the snow.

  A low menacing growl came from behind.

  “Stop. Now.” Gage ordered, as he slowly lowered himself, reaching for the poker. The big and scary method would have to work. And he was feeling pretty damn big and scary at the moment. He turned to face down the wolf. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Coulter and Ethan coming up the far side of the cabin.

  It was just one of Coulter’s dogs.

  Gage smothered a relieved laugh, and said, “Forget it. I’m not putting my life on the line for you, Dane.” He tossed the poker and walked away to the sound of Dane screaming. After what he’d put Madison through, he deserved to suffer a bit.

  * * *

  Be at the church at midnight.

  “Wait for us at the church. We’ll be there at eight o’clock on the dot to pick you up. We’re going to have a wonderful life, baby. I promise.” Her mother smoothed Madison’s hair from her face. “Mitch is going to be a real good daddy, you’ll see.” The sun’s rays caught in her mother’s long hair as she jogged to the side of the dusty road in her short black waitress’s uniform to wait for her ride. She turned, blew Madison a kiss, and waved. “Love you to the moon and back, baby.”

  Be at the church at midnight. Rick’s voice echoed in Madison’s head as the bell tolled the hour. Unable to block the old memories, she sat on the stairs outside the church, trying to breathe past her fear.

  The door creaked open behind her. “Any sign of them?” Nell asked gruffly.

  “No, not yet, but it’s just midnight. Rick probably didn’t take the weather into account. Y’all be quiet now. I’m supposed to be alone here,” Madison said, her gaze shifting from the road and parking lot to her left, the stand of trees and open field to her right. She’d been sitting on the steps for the last twenty minutes, watching in frustration as half the town snuck in through the back doors. She didn’t blame them, but she didn’t want to do anything that might put Gage in more danger.

  “She’s upset. She has a Southern drawl when she’s upset,” someone whispered.

  “Well, of course she’s upset—”

  Madison sighed. “I’m fine. Now get… someone’s coming.” She clutched the black satchel to her chest as three shadows crept toward the church. Sliding along the step, she moved to peek through the rails. Fuzzy reindeer ears popped up in front of her. She screamed.

  Jill burst through the doors, gun drawn.

  Sheena jumped up. “Sorry… sorry,” she yelped. “They snuck out of the house.”

  Madison stood on shaky legs, waving the three of them over. “It’s okay. Come on, hurry up and get inside.” Lily, in her reindeer hat, bounded up the stairs and threw herself at Madison. Annie, a black toque pulled low, hung back, gnawing on her bottom lip. Madison held out her hand. With a choked sob, Annie flew to her. She wrapped her arms around them both and held tight. “You two are just like your daddy, do you know that? Nothing could stop you from being here tonight, and nothing will stop him, either.”

  They nodded, sniffed, and clung a little tighter. Their mother, standing beside them, sniffed too. Madison dropped a kiss on Lily’s and Annie’s heads. “You go inside and wait. Grace brought hot chocolate and sugar cookies.”

  Lily gave her a watery smile. “It’s like a party to welcome Daddy home.” T
aking her sister’s hand, she followed Sheena inside.

  As the door closed behind them, Madison sat back down on the steps. Haunted by the look of fear in Lily’s and Annie’s eyes, she buried her face in her hands and did something she hadn’t done in a very long time. “Don’t let them lose their dad, God. Not like this, not now. Please bring him back to us.” She released a shuddered breath. “I can’t do it. I can’t go through this again. I’ll do whatever you ask me to, God. But please, please, let him come home safe.”

  She felt a gentle hand on her back, the soft scent of roses teasing her senses. It was the same fragrance Madison’s mother used to wear. Someone sat down beside her. Madison lifted her head.

  “Sorry.” Sheena winced, her gloved hands twisting in her lap. “I just wanted to apologize for encouraging Rick. I wasn’t in a good place. I know it’s no excuse, but I felt like I’d lost everything: my career, Gage, the girls, my home.” She glanced over her shoulder. “They all pretty much hate me now.”

  You’ve got a real interesting sense of humor, Big Guy.

  “They’ll get over it. I have.” It was true. Nothing mattered anymore, her worries over money, Sheena, what other people thought of her, nothing mattered but Gage coming home to them.

  “I really do love him. But I’d rather know he was happy here with you than lose him forever.” She took Madison’s hand, her eyes bright with tears. “We can’t lose him.”

  Madison squeezed her hand. “We won’t.”

  Sheena nodded, brushing away her tears. “You’ll make a great wife and mother, much better than me.”

  “Whoa, we’re not getting married, at least not yet… I mean…” Lately Madison had let herself fantasize about being married to Gage, and it’d been an amazing fantasy. But it was a big step, and they hadn’t known each other that long. Even if sometimes it felt like she’d known him forever.

  “Maybe not right away, but you will.”

  “Whether we get married or not, Sheena, I want you to know I’ll never try to take your place with Annie and Lily.”

  “Thanks.” She grimaced. “But you’re already more of a mother to them than me. I’m not what you’d call the motherly type.”

  Madison felt a pang of sympathy for the woman. “All they need to know is that you love them. That if they ever need you, you’ll be there for them.”

  “I haven’t been. Maybe you could help me with that.”

  “Sure, you bet.”

  She patted Madison’s hand, then looked out over the parking lot. “I got a call from a specialist.” She frowned. “I’m not sure how he found out about me. He wasn’t the specialist Dr. McBride recommended. But he’s treated cases similar to mine and is pretty sure he’ll be able to help me. He’s fitting me in at four today.”

  Madison knew exactly how he’d found her: Nell. But Madison had made a promise to help Sheena, and for Annie’s sake she would. “Did you know that all Annie has ever wanted for Christmas was for you to come home?”

  She looked stricken. “No… no one told me.” She twisted her gloved hands in her lap.

  Madison covered her hand with hers. “You should stay. I’m sure the doctor can fit you in after the holidays.”

  “I guess I could, but I thought you’d all be relieved to get rid of me.”

  “No. Christmas is a time for family, you should be here with yours.”

  “Thank you.” Sheena hugged her.

  Madison surreptitiously sniffed Sheena’s fur collar. “Do you wear… I forget the name, but it’s a perfume that smells like roses?” she asked when Sheena released her.

  She shook her head. “No, I’m allergic to perfume.”

  In the distance, Madison heard what sounded like the jingle of bells. She straightened, peering through the falling snow. “Do you hear that?”

  Sheena stood and cocked her head. “It sounds like bells.” Her eyes widened. “Maybe it’s Rick. I’ll get inside.” She opened the door. “Be careful, Madison.”

  She nodded as she stood to look beyond the open field.

  The jingle of bells grew louder. “On Donner, On Blitzen…”

  No, she must be hearing things.

  “For chrissakes, Coulter,” grumbled a familiar deep voice.

  “Ho, ho, ho,” someone chuckled.

  Please let it be Gage, she thought, as she took off down the church steps. A white light shone through the frosted mist. Then a team of dogs cleared the trees with Coulter Dane, a Santa hat on his head, holding the reins. The light from the lantern swinging on the pole at the front of the sleigh illuminated his passenger. “Thank God,” Madison cried, running through the snow.

  As Coulter reined in the team in front of her, Gage flung back the furs he’d been wrapped in. He came to his feet, opening his arms in time to catch her.

  “You’re here. You’re really here, and you’re okay.” Tears streaming down her cheeks, she rained kisses over his face. “When you weren’t here at midnight, I-I thought it was happening all over again. I thought I was going to lose you, too.” Her voice caught on a sob.

  Gage’s arms tightened around her before he pulled back to look down at her. “I’m sorry, honey. We had to rest the dogs, and Ethan couldn’t get cell service.” He framed her face with his hands, wiping away her tears with his thumbs. Beside them, Ethan reined in the sleigh carrying Rick Dane. Gage’s expression hardened. “Don’t worry, he’ll pay for what he put you through tonight.”

  “It doesn’t matter. All that matters is that you’re home safe.”

  “You matter. I love you, Madison Lane,” he said and lowered his head.

  “Daddy, Daddy.” Lily and Annie charged through the snow with half the town on their heels.

  “Gage, everyone’s here,” she murmured against his lips.

  “I don’t care, it’s about time they all know how I feel about you,”

  “Umm, I kind of told them that already. I told them I love you too,” she confessed.

  “Good. Now be quiet and let me kiss you,” he said, taking her lips in a passionate, possessive kiss.

  She melted against him and looped her arms around his neck, stroking his hair.

  He yelped, rearing back with a pained grimace.

  She looked from her hand to him. “You’re bleeding.”

  “Shh, keep it down. I’m fine. Hey, Lily, Annie.” He knelt in the snow, wrapping the girls in his arms and reassuring them in his calm, steady voice that he was fine.

  “You’re not fine,” Madison grumbled, then called out to his father, “Dr. McBride… Paul.”

  Gage slanted her an I-don’t-believe-you look. “Really? You’re telling my father on me?”

  “Telling me what?” Paul walked toward them and helped his son to his feet. Nell, Sheena, Ted, Fred, and Liz crowded around him.

  Ethan, wearing a black Ski-Doo suit, got off the sleigh and said, “He’s probably got a grade two concussion. He was out for a bit, he’s dizzy and has a headache, mild case of hypothermia, too.”

  “Thanks a lot, pal.” Gage muttered. “Remind me not to tell you anything again.”

  Ethan ignored him and, along with everyone else, glared at Rick. He whimpered and sank beneath the furs.

  Madison turned to Dr. McBride. “I think we should get Gage to the hospital. He probably needs a CT scan.”

  Gage gave a frustrated shake of his head then shared a look with Coulter. “I’ll take Gage and Madison to the hospital. Snow’s letting up, turning into a nice night for a sleigh ride,” the older man volunteered.

  Paul hesitated, then nodded. “Okay, I’ll take the girls and Sheena with me. Nell, you go with Ted and Fred.”

  Jill, carrying the black satchel, came over. “Good to have you home, Sheriff. You want me to bring Rick in?”

  “Thanks, Jill. His leg’s broken. I’ve got it in a splint. Probably just as easy to have Ethan take him over to the hospital on the sleigh.”

  “Okay. I’ll have Ray meet them there and get this in the safe until morning.” She h
eld up the satchel and instructed the crowd to come at 9 a.m. to pick up their donations.

  It took a while before they could get in the sleigh. Everyone wanted to shake Gage’s hand and give Rick a talking-to.

  Sheena reached up to kiss Gage’s cheek. “I’m glad you’re home. I was worried about you.” She smiled at Madison, taking Annie and Lily by the hand. “Come on, girls. You’ll see your dad at the hospital.”

  Ted and Fred slapped him on the back, and Nell patted his chest. “Don’t be scaring me like that again, you hear? Pretty near took ten years off my life.” She rubbed Madison’s arm, then looked at Coulter. “Thanks for bringing him home to us. You have yourself a merry Christmas, Coulter.”

  Something passed between them, like old hurts had been forgiven. “You too, Nellie.”

  Gage drew Madison into the sleigh with him. Once he’d settled her between his legs, he wrapped the furs around them.

  “All right, folks, gotta get our boy to the hospital.” Coulter slapped the reins, and the crowd parted, waving as they started across the field.

  Above the church, a star appeared. Madison had never seen one quite so big or bright. “Look.” She pointed it out.

  “The Christmas star,” Coulter said. “That’s the same one that guided Gage’s and Ethan’s great-great-great-grandfathers and my great-grandfather to Christmas all those years ago. It’s how the town got its name. Don’t recall seeing it shining quite so bright in a good long while; you, Gage?”

  Gage rested his chin on the top of her head, his arms wrapped around her under the furs. “Can’t say I have, Coulter.”

  Something touched Madison’s cheek. It felt like a kiss, the scent of roses wafting by her nose. As a deep sense of peace enveloped her, she realized her mother hadn’t abandoned her after all. Madison had simply closed her heart and her mind to her presence. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  “Did you say something, honey?”

  Snuggling into him, she lifted Gage’s hand to her lips and kissed his palm. “Just grateful to have you home safe.”