The Nutcracker Reimagined: A Collection of Christmas Tales

by Le Veque, Kathryn

  Just then a tug at her pants leg made her look down. Arnold’s unblinking eyes looked up at her.

  “I just gave you two carrots young man. You need to go bother your mama.” She took the goat by the collar and tugged him to the door.

  When she opened the door, two dogs bounded in to Arnold’s delight. They raced around the room playing before dashing out. Rick’s car pulled up and came to a stop in front of the house and her stomach dipped. They’d not been alone since having sex. Between him going to find the elusive groom and Lucy spending the night, they’d not had time.

  He climbed out of the car and went around to the back. Today he was dressed for the cold. Both he and Harvey had spent a lot of time outdoors checking the shelters and delivering the feed they pulled in wagons behind four-wheelers.

  “Hi,” Rick smiled at her. Even in a thick jacket and a beanie pulled down low, he was a sight. “I brought you something the other day and forgot to give it to you.”

  He carried a dainty brown paper bag, crumpled colorful tissue stuffed into it.

  “It got crushed.” Rick held out the bag.

  Taking the gift, Kennedy shivered. “Come inside, it’s freezing.”

  Once inside, he seemed to grow larger, his presence overtaking all her senses. His gaze moved from her face to the bag. “Open it.”

  “Oh.” Now she felt like a doofus. “Thank you.” She dug out a small purple velvet drawstring bag. Inside of it was a gold chain with a wire-wrapped beautiful pure white stone. She held it up and the light made it sparkle. “Wow. It’s amazing.” She finally dragged her eyes from it to look at Rick, whose smile was just as breathtaking.

  “Where did you find it? I’ve never seen something so pretty.”

  He rolled his eyes and shrugged. “It’s nothing that great. Just a trinket.”

  Kennedy ignored him and hurried to a mirror on the wall beside the door. She put the necklace on. The wire-wrapped stone hung just above the center of her breasts. “I love it, thank you so much.”

  “Not sure why I bought it. It reminded me of you,” Rick said coming up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist. His eyes met hers in the mirror. “I’d like to see you wearing only the necklace. Nothing else.”

  Her slutty body turned hot and gooey and she leaned her head back on his shoulder. “Only if you leave that beanie on.”

  His deep chuckle was like a drug and her brain turned to fog. The plan had been to inform him they could not sleep together again. Her priority was preparing the ranch and selling it, not cavorting with the ranch hand and prospective buyer.

  A bright light from outside lit the room. It was followed by dogs barking and Arnold’s attempt to do the same. The moment broken, Kennedy took a step away from Rick and went to the door.

  It was a dark SUV from which a woman climbed out and smiled broadly. “Rick, we need to talk.”

  “Hi Mom,” Rick said immediately moving away from Kennedy and going to the woman who looked toward her. “I thought you were staying in an apartment.”

  He glanced at Kennedy. “Mom, this is Kennedy.”

  The woman smiled at her and walked up the steps. She was slender with the grace of self-assurance. In slacks and a button-up blue blouse, she wore her shoulder length grey-streaked hair straight. On her wrists there were several chunky bracelets that matched the earrings she wore.

  Kennedy was glad she’d decided to wear a nice sweater with her jeans that day. Although, she was barefoot and her hair was probably a disheveled mess.

  “I had the hardest time finding the place,” Rick’s mother said bending to pet the dogs that demanded attention. Her eyes widened and she hesitated when Arnold joined in. She glanced up at Kennedy. “Does he know he’s a goat?”

  Kennedy laughed. “I don’t think so. Please come in Mrs. Edwards.”

  “Call me Janice. I need to talk to Rick if you don’t mind. I have to hurry back.”

  “Of course not. I have things to do in my office. I’ll leave you two alone.”

  “I’m staying in the studio over here.” Rick pointed to the side of the house.

  His mother dismissed him and walked into the living space. “Very nice home, Kennedy.”

  Ensconced in her office, Kennedy absently rubbed the stone around her neck and wondered what Rick and his mother spoke about. It had been painfully obvious he didn’t want his mother to suspect anything happened between them by the wide berth he gave Kennedy once his mother arrived.

  Although, if she were to be honest, his actions weren’t surprising. A one-time fling did not constitute any kind of relationship. Why was she hoping for more?

  Probably because Rick was the first man she’d slept with since Steve. Because not only had it been the best sex ever, but also because she’d felt a connection with him.

  “Stupid, stupid,” Kennedy mumbled and slid her fingers across the laptop pad. The sooner Rick made an offer on the ranch and left, the better. Once this crazy wedding fiasco transpired and the work was done, she’d ask him to leave. She and Harvey could finish preparing for winter. For the moment, she was stuck.

  Once his mother left, she’d ensure to keep her distance. Hopefully he’d not push to sleep with her.

  When it came to Frederick Edwards, she could not say no.

  Two taps were followed by the door opening and Rick peering in. “Thanks for that. Mom wants to be sure everything is ready for Thursday.”

  “She’s nice.”

  He nodded, his brow furrowed. “I best get on. See you in the morning.”

  Not waiting for her to reply, he left and Kennedy could only stare at the empty doorway. What exactly happened?

  Yes, she’d hoped that he’d not stay, but at the same time, there seemed to be a sort of shift in him. Almost as if his mother being there had spotlighted the fact they had been intimate and he did not like it.

  She was making too much of it. Surely it was just that the moment had been lost with his mother’s visit.

  Just as she went to the front door to fetch Arnold, a ding got her attention. Rick’s cell phone was on the coffee table. On the display a text.

  Want you naked

  See you Saturday.

  The display showed “Tina” as the contact just as the phone dimmed. Of course he was seeing other people. This was a good reminder to stand her ground and stay away from him. Her heart was not ready for a casual relationship.

  Kennedy shuddered at the idea she’d slept with someone who was obviously sleeping with someone else. The rap at the door made her jump and she took a guilty step back from the cellphone.

  “Forgot my phone,” Rick said when she opened the door.

  Making a show of looking for it, she glanced around the room purposely avoiding looking at both the offending object and Rick. He walked in, picked it up and shoved it into his pocket.

  “Thanks.” Flashing a crooked grin, he walked back out.

  Chapter Twelve

  It was time to cut and run. If only he’d not planned the wedding, Rick would be packing up and hightailing it out of Dodge.

  The woman was starting to get under his skin and now listening to the dogs snoring, he pictured her next to him on the couch as he attempted to watch a documentary on some weird type of shit or another.

  He’d definitely decided to not buy the land, but go back to his cabin and stick to the plan of drifting from place to place. Helping friends and maybe working the rodeo for a bit. Do whatever the fuck he wanted.

  Owning a ranch was much like marriage. It meant being tied down. It hadn’t worked in the past and it wouldn’t work again.

  So yeah, he looked forward to getting up every morning and getting out there to help out. The smell of the outdoors called to him, almost as much as the mooing of cows and the horses nickering.

  One divorce was enough of a lesson that when it came to commitment, he was a failure.

  Dingo groaned and rearranged himself not opening his eyes and Rick chuckled. If only he could be as carefre
e.

  He’d lost the mood to head to Kennedy’s bed when his mom had showed up. Before his mom got there, they were definitely headed to bed. However, after a few comments from his mother about how suited he and Kennedy seemed, Rick had sobered up and lost any kind of desire to stay the night.

  Damn he was an asshole. The combination of sitting alone in the dark and what Bruce, the nerd, had said earlier cemented that shit into his brain.

  Kennedy deserved better. After the guy Steve, the last thing she needed was a guy without a life plan.

  Hopefully the wedding would be a success. His sister would be happy and things would progress for the family.

  His cellphone buzzed.

  “Yeah?”

  Tobias chuckled. “Don’t sound so excited to hear my voice. Not the booty call you were expecting?”

  Rick thought back to his text turning down Tina’s offer. “Yeah, you’re not my type at all.”

  “My feelings are hurt.”

  Tobias had prefect timing. A good distraction from his thoughts.

  “How are things there? You buying the place?”

  Okay, maybe not.

  “I don’t think so. I’m not sure I want to go back to the grind of ranching and being tied down to land.”

  There was a beat of silence. “You have to move on man. Look, let me be honest. Your Dad put me up to this. Asked me to find a place for sale and make arrangements for you to work the land and get back to your life. He and the family…they’re worried about you. You sit up in the cabin for days without talking to anyone…”

  “What the fuck? Did Kennedy know about this?”

  “Who? Oh…no…no I didn’t tell her. I told her you would probably waffle back and forth and there was a chance you’d not buy it.”

  In other words, they’d discussed his private life.

  His jaw protested his gritted teeth. “What did you tell her about me?”

  “Nothing man. Just that I had a friend who might be in the market to buy, but that you were not sure. That’s it.”

  Not sure what to believe, he wanted to cut the conversation short, but Tobias continued. “Look. I’m with your Dad. Ranching is what you were born to do. Although you help out at your family’s place, it’s just land he piddles around on. It’s not a working ranch.”

  Finally, after a few more “uh huhs” and “yeah, alrights”, they ended the conversation. He stared at the phone considering calling his father, then his mother, finally he dialed Clara.

  “What?” Her voice, even if curt settled his mind. “Rick?”

  “Yeah.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t know.”

  There was the sound of shuffling and soft voices as she probably told Bruce who called. “Do you need me to come there?”

  Leave it to Clara to never hesitate to take action when it came to him. No matter that she was a brat, she took her role as big sister seriously.

  “Nah. Just thinking about how fucked up I am. I’m sorry.”

  She huffed. “You are an asshole, true. But you also have a big heart. What happened?”

  “Fuck sis…I am lost as hell. Don’t know what to do about it. Can’t seem to move on.”

  “I noticed.” The sound of liquid pouring meant she was about to get a glass of wine and get philosophical.

  Rick waited not sure what to say, not even positive why he’d called other than knowing Clara always calmed his mind and never steered him wrong. Should have listened when she advised him not to get married the first time.

  “So your ex messed you over. But think about it this way, you loved her and that’s good. Now we have proof you do have a soul.”

  He couldn’t help the chuckle. “Great.”

  “Yes. And you’re out there at a ranch. Actually out of the damn cabin. So if this entire wedding thing you ruined got you back out and living, then it’s worth all of my tears.”

  Shit now he was blinking some of his own. “No, I was wrong.”

  “Shut up and listen,” Clara snapped. “Whatever you’re fighting right now. Stop it. Buy the freakin’ ranch. Tell the girl you love her and by the way…whatever you and Mom are planning, it better not include any kind of audience. Because if I know you two, it’s going to be embarrassing as hell.”

  “Good night sis. I love you.”

  Clara told him what she was drinking and he laughed. Apparently, she’d made it her mission to drink all the wine leftover from the wedding. “Hey,” she finally said. “Good night and I’m still mad at you. You still owe me big time.”

  When they ended the call, he stared at the television screen. An older man wearing glasses seemed excited at pointing out the discovery of some sort of bone fragment. Wow, and he thought he didn’t have a life.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Clara

  “I understand you want me to go to the ranch and talk to Rick about buying it. But, this dressing up for it is just plain silly,” Clara repeated as she looked through the windshield at the landscape.

  “So Bruce is back to work then?” Her mother ignored her complaint. “How are you two doing?”

  As a matter of fact, Bruce had not only returned to work, but he seemed rather cheerful about it. Although she understood the geeks at the science research center welcomed him back with open arms, it seemed strange how giddy he’d been that morning about heading back to work. That morning, he’d left especially early, a wild look in his eyes.

  “He’s back to work and we are doing great. Although, he keeps apologizing for everything.” Clara looked to the back seat. “What is that smell?”

  Her mother glanced into the rear view mirror. “Probably road kill.”

  “It smells like flowers. Sweet.”

  “Oh that. I have one of those potpourri packs under the seat.”

  Odd. Her mother always preferred fragrances more along the tropical scents. “Well, it smells great.”

  They pulled into a ranch, just about half an hour from where she and Bruce lived. Immediately she recognized Rick’s car. It stood out next to two trucks and a tiny Fiat. Other than the cows in a snowy field to the right and a couple goats running loose, no one seemed to be about.

  “They might be out on horseback.” Her mother pointed out to a field. “Is that Rick?”

  Clara looked, but there wasn’t anyone anywhere. She squinted and leaned forward and peered out the passenger window. “I don’t see anyone.”

  “Over there,” her mother said, pointing again to the empty field. “On the right.”

  “I don’t see anyone.” She scanned the area slowly. “Either I’m going blind, or you have eagle eyes.”

  Her chuckle stuck in her throat when they pulled up to a barn. On both sides of the doors stood two men dressed in some sort of British soldier costume.

  Clara frowned. “What are they doing?”

  “Beats me,” her mother replied, studying the men. “Come on, let’s investigate.”

  When they climbed out, Clara pulled her coat on tighter. Wearing a dress was such a silly idea. Her Mom was up to something, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. If it was a scheme to get Rick to propose to the lady, Kennedy, or something of the sort, they were about to fail.

  “Oh wait,” her mother called out. “I have something in the trunk.” Clara followed her mom keeping an eye on the men who stood very still. She waved at them, but neither waved back. One did give a subtle nod.

  Her mother produced what looked to be a bouquet. In the mixture of pink and white flowers rose gold glittery stems twisted into a swirl. “How beautiful,” Clara exclaimed, almost forgetting the British soldiers.

  “Hold it for me. I have another thing to carry.” Her mother dug out a white cloak and held it.

  They walked toward the barn. At the doorway, one of the soldiers reached for her coat.

  Perplexed Clara allowed him to remove it, while the other held the flowers. Her eyes popped wide upon stepping past a curtain, the music to the Nutcracker Suit
e filled the air and her mother placed the plush thick cloak on her shoulders.

  “It’s your wedding honey,” her mother whispered.

  The barn was a fantasy of white-flocked Christmas trees and sparkling lights hanging from the ceiling. Clara’s gaze flew from a group of women dressed in ballerina costumes to the huge tree at the front of the space.

  When the March from the Nutcracker ballet played, familiar people, who’d been at her disastrous wedding, walked in from rear entries and ignoring her they silently went to seats. It was as if she were invisible as they took seats.

  The ballerina’s came to life as the familiar Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy played over speakers. Clara had not closed her mouth yet.

  Bruce, Rick, nor her father were anywhere in sight. Strange wedding.

  The ballerinas continued their dance in front of where the people were seated and when the music faded, they lined up side-by-side.

  The music changed to the waltz and just as her father and Rick flanked her. Her father dressed in costume, cut a fine figure. Rick was also dressed in period costume and Clara gasped at how handsome he looked. His grin told her that the rascal knew it.

  Her father took her left arm as she moved the bouquet to her right. When she looked up to the front again, not only had a clergy appeared, but also Bruce, dressed in the Prince’s costume of a blue top and white slacks.

  Her heart fluttered and tears slid down both cheeks as she stopped trying to hold them back.

  With her brother on the opposite side, she walked down the center of the room toward Bruce.

  Through hazy eyes, she noted every guest was dressed in a period costume and some women even donned wigs. Fans fluttered in sync to the music as the soldiers stood side by side along the walls in between the trees. The ballerinas floated back down the sides of the barn leaving her with the two men.

  “Who gives this woman?” the clergy’s voice rang out and both Rick and her father answered that they did.