The boys took off and Beryl and Annie ducked under the flap of the enclosed booth. The boys had neatly stacked the bins, so laying tablecloths and setting out merchandise was easy. Several other vendors stopped by and Annie was able to get their pledges.
Chief Strongbow and one of his officers stopped by and offered the pledge before she asked, as did a guy she’d never met who owned the gas station and body shop.
“Now there’s some eye candy,” Beryl murmured when the body shop owner left. “How come he never comes to the community pool in the summer?”
Annie nearly snorted Diet Mountain Dew out of her nose. “You keep catching me with that sort of thing when I’m drinking. It’s hazardous.”
Beryl patted her ample chest. “Sorry. But he’s wowzer, isn’t he?”
Annie lifted the tent flap and watched the man’s retreating back. “Nice enough,” she said, but her thoughts were on Reyn.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, just because you’ve got Reyn drooling after you, you’re immune now?”
“No, of course not,” Annie said, and realized how defensive it sounded. She grinned a little sheepishly. “Well, yeah, sort of.”
“Good,” Beryl pronounced. “He’s a good man. Now, where do you want these gorgeous linens?”
It took them two hours to set the booth, but Beryl had a wonderful eye for presentation. The booth looked better than it ever had, thanks to her, and Annie said so.
“It’s fun,” Beryl said, looking at her watch. “Let’s get over to the parade rehearsal.”
“Rats, I forgot about that.” Annie scooped up the last of the packing material, stuffing it in a bin and shoving the bin under the table. “I’m so glad they have extra security this year,” Annie said, thinking of how easily the winter market tents would burn.
“Me too. More beefcake, usually, so hey, I’m happy.”
Annie just shook her head at Beryl’s teasing as they hurried off to get lunch and their robes, and head to rehearsal.
####
Reyn realized he was watching for Annie. Getting shot at, at the daycare fire, had been a shock. He realized he wanted to see her, and be with her because he’d felt the breath of death in that gunshot. He’d gone into the building to work the fire, without realizing that there was a shooter. Afterward, Jake had shown him the shattered glass, and the bullet fragments.
His first thought had been getting to Annie. How, in so short a space, had he fallen under her spell? He frowned. It wasn’t really a spell. He knew that. None of the coven––none of Haven Harbor’s witches––would tamper in people’s love-lives. The witches might make a bit of mischief at the Yule Ball with the mistletoe, and at Samhain, but never anything deep or serious.
So whatever he was feeling was his.
When he saw her, it felt like fire, like she lit him up from within.
“There you are,” he said, dropping a kiss on her cheek. He lowered his voice. “I’m glad you’re safe.”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” she asked as she scanned his features.
“There were shots the other night, at the daycare fire. We think our arsonist was responsible.”
“What? Oh my God!”
“Shhhh,” he soothed. “We’re not sure. But I want you to be extra careful, please?”
“What about you?”
“I’m always careful.”
“Do you think he’ll be there? They say on TV that arsonists want to be there, to watch fires.”
“The fires they set, yes. Jake and his team, and the guys from my side of things, will be watching the crowd as well as the cauldron though, just in case.”
Annie shivered and it gave him the excuse to pull her even closer. “We’re going to find whoever’s doing this and stop them. This guy’s escalating though,” he said, thinking it through as he said it to her. “He started with just the devices, and maybe the truck fire. If the truck is our guy, that’s one thing, but to go from the little devices all the way up to burning a building? That’s major escalation.”
“It really is,” she agreed. “What do we do?”
“Nothing we can do, but be king and queen and work the winter market and try to figure out where he’ll strike next.” Reyn shrugged, trying to set it aside. “Did you get set up?”
She looked surprised that he’d be interested, but beamed. “I did. And I got my first pledges.” She smiled. “It’s kinda weird, isn’t it? Asking people to support the town?”
“A little. Probably less weird for me,” he said wryly, “since I’m essentially asking that, at town council meetings and budget hearings.”
“Yes, that’s true. So,” she said, straightening her shoulders as if to prepare for battle. “What do we do now?”
He hugged her to his side. “We climb up on that.” He pointed to a brightly lit and brightly decorated float. “There are rails to hang on to, and foot warmers to keep our feet warm for the hour or so we’re on the float. We’ll go around the town following the marching band, and then we’ll meet by the cauldron to open the market. The next night’s Yule Eve, so Jim and I will do our bit with the swords.” He worried about the sword thing. He and Jim had practiced, but… “If we do it right, the spark from the swords lights the piece from last year’s Yule log, and Winona dumps it in the cauldron to light this year’s log.”
“I love that tradition.”
“I do too, usually. This year, I’m worried about our firebug.”
“Chief? Ms. Boylston?” Assistant Chief Hamm hailed them, motioning them over. “Let’s get you into places.”
Beryl and Jim were at one end of the float and she and Reyn were at the other with their courts mingled in along the body of the float. Laughter and good-natured teasing flowed throughout the practice and when Patty took Annie aside to tease her about Reyn, several of the other ladies joined in.
“Looks like he’s off the market, ladies,” Patty said, bumping shoulders with Annie. “At least for now. You gonna keep him, Annie?”
Annie didn’t know what to say, but felt herself blush. “There you go.” Patty threw an arm around her shoulder. “Hooked.”
Before too long, the group dispersed and Annie headed back to the store. Reyn followed her in.
“Let’s get a head start on pledges,” Reyn said when he came in behind her. “If we go and walk around town, collecting pledges, I may catch a clue about the next fire. May I buy you lunch too, Ms. Queen?”
“Thank you, Mr. King, you may,” she answered his teasing, but turned serious. “You don’t think the firebug’s finished then?”
“Not by a long shot,” he said, as he took her hand.
Together with Beryl and Jim, they stopped at the deli for lunch, then at the Witches Walk offices, Lydia Webb’s Besom shop, the newspaper and several other spots to collect pledges of protection and support. They hit Pedal Power, and Stan’s CPA firm. Of one accord, the four of them paused by the burned-out daycare.
“Insurance will pay for the rebuild,” Reyn said. “But their business is going to suffer.”
“The coven offered temporary space until they can get rebuilt,” Jim said. “Estelle told me they’d made the offer.”
Reyn looked at Annie, “I hope that hasn’t just painted a target on the coven meeting hall.”
####
Annie’s grandparents brought a laden basket of food into the store with them that evening.
“Here you go, honey,” her grandmother said. “Expect more meals from others as well. The townsfolk pitch in to keep the king, court and queen’s households running while they’re busing getting pledges.”
“Besides, it’s the Yule spirit of plenty, fertility and bounty,” her granddad offered with one of his signature winks. “It’s why Santa and the Green Man are always portrayed as robust and jolly, to remind our hearts and souls that spring and plenty will come again, even on the darkest night of the year.”
“Now, we’re heading to the airport so we can get to Cancun,” her grandmother said with a kiss on the cheek. “Good luck w
ith your booth this year. May it be even more successful than last year.”
“That would be hard,” Annie said to Beryl when she’d hugged her grandparents, and they’d left. “I had a record year last year.”
“Bet’cha beat it,” Beryl said, taking up a Classic Cauldron apron. “Now, I’ll go with you to the market after the parade. Young Chelsea, and the guys can handle the store.”
“Oh, but…” Annie began, not wanting to put Beryl to any trouble.
“Have to be there anyway,” Beryl said, interrupting her. “Might as well have some fun.”
She and Beryl made it to the float with about twenty minutes to spare.
“Milady,” Jim said to Beryl as he lifted her onto the float.
“That’s just showing off, Jim Stansfield,” Beryl said on a bawdy laugh. “I like it.”
“A challenge,” Reyn said in her ear. She squeaked in surprise. She hadn’t heard him come up. “Turn around so I can set you up there,” he added. She turned and he lifted her up so that her feet rested on the float. It was like flying. Her stomach jumped and her heart leaped.
“Thank you,” she stammered as he bounded up beside her.
He offered his arm, and she took it. His kind gestures gave her such a bouncy, happy, connected feeling. “Let’s get to our places.”
“So have people brought you food?” he asked, leading her to their spot on the float.
“Yes, my grandparents first, but then several people dropped by with things.”
“The guys and gals at the station are loving it.”
She wondered how many single women had showed up today, hoping for a private word with the chief.
They waved and smiled as the float moved through town. They tossed small bags of peppermints and gold chocolate coins to the children and the young at heart in the crowd as the float made its way from the high school down Birch Steet, and then a turn on Chestnut and back up Rowan Street, before turning down Main Street to the town square in front of the courthouse.
Dismounting, the kings and queens made their way through the clapping crowd to the enormous cauldron in the center of the square.
Winona Aylesworth, in her ceremonial robe, stood by the cauldron. “The kings! The queens!” the crowd called, applauding more loudly. “The courts!”
They reached the cauldron and split into two groups as they’d practiced, lining up on either side of the big, black basin. Winona stepped in front, and the mayor handed her a microphone.
“Welcome everyone,” she said, and people applauded again. There were whistles and shouted encouragement. “Welcome the summer holly king and summer queen. Welcome the winter oak king and the winter queen.”
Another roar of applause.
“Kings, shake hands,” Winona called out, and the two men did. “Queens, shake hands.”
And I’m up. Annie moved forward to shake hands with Beryl, who gave her a wink.
Winona handed the mic to the two women, who said, in unison, “We the queens of the seasons declare the winter market open!”
Winona motioned for Reyn and Jim and they added the masculine versoin. “We the kings of the seasons declare the winter market open!”
Lights went on in a wave, as all the booths along the market square lit their spaces. People applauded that as well, and broke away to go to various booths and food vendors.
“Are we done?” Annie whispered to Reyn.
“We’re done,” he answered, pulling her in for a kiss. There were still enough people watching the cauldron that yet another round of clapping broke out.
Scarlet, Annie covered her face with her hands. “Oh, my gosh,” she said. “I just kissed you in front of the whole town.”
He grinned. “You did. Wanna do it again?”
She laughed, and shook her head. “Let’s get to work, Mr. King.”
“Absolutely, Ms. Queen.”
They strolled through the crowd and people came and pledged to protect the town. They made their way around the square and ended at Annie’s booth. He bowed her in and followed.
People surged out of the way, but Beryl was ringing up sales for all she was worth. Holiday items were flying off the tables and trees. Two people were checking out the cauldrons. More customers looked at cookbooks. Two women with handfuls of cookie cutters headed toward the cash register.
Annie hurried to bag purchases, and greet people. To her surprise, Reyn jumped right in to help people find things, his robe thrown back over his shoulders. They each were approached every few minutes to shake hands and accept pledges.
####
Reyn worked through the rush, then stepped outside for a bracing burst of cold air. Just outside her booth, two teenagers presided over a table heaped with baked goods, selling their wares for the high school band. One of the guys was his second cousin.
“Hey there,” he said, pointing to a baggie with two chocolate brownies in it. “I’ll take one of those.”
“That’ll be a dollar,” Reyn’s young cousin, Beckett Shapleigh said. “Or, if you’d like to donate five dollars you can have brownies and cookies. There’re some of Miss Annie’s special coffees up front,” he added, pointing to the opposite side of the booth where a gangly young man was working a portable espresso machine with manic fervor. He had a line, but people were waiting cheerfully for their orders.
Reyn handed him a twenty. “Keep the change for the band, and I’ll take the brownies.”
“Wow, thanks.”
He munched a brownie in between directing people to various sections of the booth. He suggested other booths as people asked about things, and sent everyone to the band’s table for goodies.
As the evening wound to a close, Reyn walked to where Annie stood surveying the booth. In the warm light, she seemed to glow. Her excitement at the day’s successes suffused her and he wanted to kiss her again.
He wanted her. A lot.
“Oh, my gosh,” Annie said, as he stopped by her side. “Look at this place.” The booth had been overstuffed with merchandise prior to the market opening. Now, it looked sparse.
“Do you need me to go back to the shop for you?” he asked.
“Oh, thanks,” she smiled at him. “But we’re closing up. I’ll get back over here early tomorrow to restock, since the market doesn’t open till ten.”
She did as she’d done in the shop, rising on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. “Thanks a ton. I’m not sure we’d have managed without you.” She turned to hug Beryl. “I know I wouldn’t have made it without you.”
“I’ll help you close,” Beryl said. “Then I’m going home to soak my feet. I haven’t spent this many hours standing and working for years.”
Other stalls were closing as well, and Reyn realized it was nearly ten p.m. Where had the night gone?
“Beryl, can we walk you to your car?”
“I’d like that if you’re walking Annie home,” Beryl said. “I’m parked not far from your shop, Annie.”
Jim came in at that moment. “Hey, busy night?”
“Yes, very!” Annie and Beryl said together, then laughed.
“Great,” he said, surveying the scene. “I kept sending people over for coffee and goodies from the band kids.”
“So what’ve we got tomorrow?” Beryl said, yawning as they turned off the lamps and tied down the flaps of the booth. “Market, of course, and the lighting of the cauldron.”
“The coven progressive dinner for Yule.” Jim looked at the sky, then fell into step with them. “I think we’ll have snow.”
“What’s Estelle say?”
“Snow.”
They all laughed. “Glad to know you’re not weather-witching now, Jim,” Beryl teased. “Annie, do you have enough staff to cover the booth and store for the dinner hours? Those are going to be busy.”
Annie nodded, and now she was yawning too. “Yes, thankfully, Patty and one of Moira’s florists were free since their booth is almost all pre-prepared centerpieces and wreaths. My regular staff can handle t
he shop.”
They parted ways with Beryl and Jim at the corner. “I’ll drive Jim back to his car,” Beryl said with a wave. “See you tomorrow.”
Annie and Reyn walked down to her store, where Annie stopped. “I’ll go in this way,” she said. “I need to make sure the alarm is set.”
“Do you want me to go with you?” Reyn realized he didn’t want her to leave. He hadn’t gotten to spend a lot of time alone with her. He wanted to be with her.
He wanted Annie.
She looked at him, head tilted just a bit to one side. “Why are you with me, Reyn? I know I asked you to be respectful while we’re doing this Yule thing.” She gestured at their robes. “But you’re taking me on dates. You’re helping with my business, and not just as the fire chief.”
“I want to be with you. I told you, I wanted to ask you out that first day.” He reached for her hand. “I like you, Annie Boylston. I enjoyed dinner. A lot.” He dropped a kiss on her nose. “I like kissing you too.”
Annie’s smile bloomed from a slight upturn of her lips to a full-out, happy expression.
“I’m glad.” She looked at him, her smile a bit whimsical. “I like you too. Men like you don’t usually ask me out.”
“Then they’re idiots,” he said, staying close, but not crowding her. He wasn’t sure what she was trying to say.
“People––men––don’t usually see me next to my sister,” she said calmly, unlocking the door and motioning him in. She keyed in the alarm code, and turned on the backroom lights. “The kids want to come in at eight,” she said on a stifled yawn. “I told them I’d be up and ready for them.”
“Then I probably should go,” he said. He didn’t really want to go. He enjoyed being with her. “Annie?”
She turned to him, twisting the keys in her hand.
“I see you. I want you, Annie Boylston, not your sister. Not the winter queen. Not anyone else. It’s Annie that I want.”
Annie set her keys on a nearby shelf and moved back to stand in front of him. “Then kiss me again, Reyn.”
A YULE TO REMEMBER
CHAPTER SIX
Reyn kissed her, as ordered. In fact, he couldn’t seem to stop kissing her. He’d seen the uncertainty in her eyes, so he set out to show her, rather than tell her, just how much he wanted to stay.
Under The Kissing Bough: 15 Romantic Holiday Novellas Page 121