by Nancy Naigle
Big Ben’s ears flicked back and he took a quicker step, raising his nose into the air. Alert.
“I heard that too, buddy. Whoa.” Mike stopped and listened for a long moment. The only sound was the occasional groan of a pile of snow slipping from a branch to the ground, and tiny branches breaking under the weight of it. “I don’t know what that was.”
Honk. Honk-honk-honk.
Big Ben turned his head back toward Mike.
“Yep, let’s go.” He clicked his teeth and Ben began plodding with purpose through the deepening snow toward the sound.
A moment later he heard the heavy rumble of the diesel fire engine rolling up Main.
Mike stopped Ben near two pickup trucks already there. A car had run off the road into the ditch.
Mike crunched through the snow over toward the guys. “What happened?”
“Vanessa ran off the road,” the fire chief said. “Lilene called it in. She’s in there good.”
“She okay?”
“Yeah. She can’t get out with the driver door against the ditch bank, and the seat belt mechanism locked on impact, so she can’t crawl out the other side.”
Two of the firemen were working from the passenger side to get her out.
Mike retrieved the heavy wool blanket he’d been sitting on from the sleigh, and jogged over to the car.
A moment later he was standing there when they helped Vanessa climb free of the car.
She was shaken, but fine.
He walked over and gave her the blanket from the carriage. “Here you go. This is warm already.”
“Mike?”
He wrapped the blanket around her. “I was out riding. I heard you honk the horn. I’m glad you’re okay.”
“You and me both.”
He wrapped his hands around her arms and rubbed them briskly.
She tightened the wool blanket around her.
“Come on, get in the truck.” He led her over to the chief’s red pickup and helped her inside, where the heat was cranking.
“What happened?” he asked.
“I looked down a half second when my phone beeped, and when I looked up there was this huge deer standing there. I panicked.”
“It happens.”
“On a positive note, the deer got away. Jumped right over the car like one of Santa’s flying reindeer. Swear to goodness.”
“Bump your head?” he joked.
“No. Seriously.”
“You and Big Ben need to quit meeting like this. He doesn’t like me changing up his routines.”
“Send him my apologies.”
“I will.” He couldn’t take his eyes from hers.
“What about you? Do you mind?” She gulped.
“Not at all.” He pressed his lips together. “I like running into you.”
“You know you’ve already proven how cool this town is to me. You don’t have to go to all this trouble.”
“I didn’t send that deer to run out in front of you.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. Guys around here wouldn’t risk losing good venison.”
“Ah. Well, that’s good to know,” she said playfully.
“You know if you’d been even an hour later they’d have had all the roads cleared and you wouldn’t have had any problem at all.”
“Timing is everything.”
“Yes,” he said. “It sure is.” He cleared his throat. “I’m going to use Ben to help them get your car out of the ditch. We’ll take it to James’s Pit Stop down the road. He can fix anything. The chief will give you a ride home.”
“Thanks, Mike.”
“Glad you’re okay. You scared me for a second there.”
She nodded slowly, her eyes wide. Thank you, she mouthed, but the words didn’t come out.
He closed the passenger door and then patted it twice before he went over and unhitched Ben and walked him over to the car.
This wasn’t Ben’s first car pull. He’d pulled cars from ditches for years. It was like a hobby for him.
They made quick work of getting the car out of the ditch; then Mike pulled out his phone and called James. “Hey man, car in the ditch. We’re going to leave it at the shop. More job security for you.”
“Like I need that.”
“Let me know what it’ll take once you check it out. I’ll take care of it.”
“Sure thing, man.”
When Mike turned around, the chief had already pulled away.
Mike rehitched Ben to the sleigh. “A hero again,” he said to him as he got back in the sleigh. “You’re a good horse, Ben.”
He gave Ben the signal and they went silently off toward the house. Mike put everything away and checked on things in the barn before going up to the house. When he led Big Ben to his stall, Scooter was curled up in the middle of the stall waiting on him. Ben leaned down nose-to-nose with the little guy.
Scooter scurried off to safety under the hanging corner water system until Ben came in and slurped three full bowls. The water seemed to disappear as soon as he drank. Fresh water swirled back in, refilling it quickly.
Mike closed the stall door and leaned over the side watching him. “Good job today, Ben.”
Ben lifted his head, his soft eyes looking pleased with the day as well. He leaned back down toward Scooter, who then shook the water from the top of his head that Ben had just dripped on him.
Mike watched the two together. Like old buddies. He left them be, pausing as he exited the barn, wondering what Vanessa had thought when she’d walked through here the other day. He hoped she’d come to the open house. It looked pretty all lit up at night.
He slid the door closed, and walked up to the house.
He stomped the snow from his boots and left them at the back door. “Hey, Misty. I’m back.”
He peeled off his jackets and hung them in the mudroom to dry.
In the kitchen, he grabbed a sausage ball and popped it into his mouth, then walked into the living room expecting to see Misty sprawled out on the leather couch watching television, since school was out until the first week of January.
Clicking through the channels, he stopped on the weather channel to see if the storm system was finally about past. It was supposed to be a fast mover, and it had been dropping two inches an hour for several hours. Faster than anyone could keep clear. Tomorrow would be a busy day of digging out.
After about forty minutes he got up to go check on Misty. Her door was closed. “You good in there? I’m home.”
“No. Go away.”
He stepped back. He hated the mood swings that seemed to steal his sweet little girl from him some days. “You know that’s not going to happen. Open the door.”
She walked over to the door. Eyes red and puffy, she looked like she’d been stung by bees, her lips were so swollen. He tried not to laugh. “What’s the problem?”
“My dress for the dance. Everything. I can’t go.”
“Why?”
“Leave me alone. I’m not going.”
His phone rang. “Hello?”
“Mike? It’s Vanessa. I wanted to thank you for helping me tonight. I’ve got your blanket.”
“Yeah, okay. Right. Good. I’m sorry. I’m trying to deal with a meltdown here.”
“What’s going on?”
“My daughter is in her room crying over a dress, and frankly I’m out of my comfort zone on this one. Part of me hopes it means she’ll never go out on her first date. She may hate life, but I’ll have a happily-ever-after.”
“You know what. I’ll be right over. I think I can repay the favor on this one.”
“But the snow—”
“I know you and Ben just had to pull my car out of a ditch, but I do know how to drive in the snow. Don’t call me, though. I won’t be checking it while I drive in this.”
“Good idea.”
* * *
Vanessa hitched her suitcase in her hand. Everything she needed for a fashion rescue was right in this bag. Thank
goodness Anna had also uncovered several things at the cottage that would help out, like needle and thread and all kinds of lace and stuff. She’d go back for more resources if needed. Buck had kindly offered his truck to get here.
She walked up to Mike’s front door and gave it a hearty knock.
Mike pulled the door open before her hand hit for the third thump.
“Thank goodness you’re here. I don’t know what to do. I told her I’d get her another dress, but she says there aren’t any other dresses. She’s hysterical.”
“It’s her first dance. This is a big deal.” Then she dropped the serious act. “How bad is it? Did you see the dress?”
“Let’s just say it doesn’t look like I got my money’s worth. Kind of looks like those Halloween costumes we wore when we were kids. The kind that was made out of that really shiny material and came with the plastic mask you could never see out of.”
“That’s not good at all.”
“Apparently.”
“Where is she?”
“Upstairs in her room. Last door on the right.”
She playfully pushed her hand against his shoulder. “You go on out to the barn and do cowboy stuff or something. I’ll let you know when to come back.”
“I—”
“We’re going to be just fine.”
He opened his mouth, but she shook her head. “I promise.”
“Fine.” He grabbed a heavy coat from next to the door and walked outside. “You call me if she needs me.”
“You’re on speed dial.”
“Now you’re just pacifying me.”
“The sooner you let me handle this the sooner she’ll be off to that dance. Go!”
He walked out and she regretted how much she enjoyed seeing him rattled. It was sweet. She looked at the staircase, then at the bag of gear. She should’ve made him carry it up before he left. That’s what I get for being so bossy.
With both hands on the handle of the overnighter, she hoisted it up the stairs one step at a time, steadying it on each tread as she went. At the top of the stairs she dropped the rolling bag to the floor and then rolled it down the hall.
She tapped lightly on the door. “Misty?” When there was no response she tapped again. “It’s Vanessa. Are you in there?”
A wimpy “Yes” came from the other side.
“Can I come in?”
“Why?”
“It’s the night of the big dance. We have to get you ready.”
“I’m not going.”
“You can’t miss the dance.”
“I can, and I am.”
“Does your date know yet?”
“I can’t call him. I’m cry-y-ying.”
“I can hear that. Will you please let me in?”
A meager “Yes” followed. Vanessa opened the door. The light was out, but she could see Misty lying on her bed in a heap. She flipped the light on. “Get up.”
“It’s a disaster.”
“It can’t be that bad.”
Misty thrust her hand out from under the covers. “Yes, it can. Look.” She thrust a picture of the dress she bought online at her.
“This is an adorable dress.”
She ripped back her comforter and hopped to her feet.
“Oh. No?” Vanessa knew that she was standing there mouth agape, and that that was not going to comfort Misty, but she was right. It was a disaster. The dress looked about three sizes too big, and what was left of her eye makeup was on her cheeks. For the most part. “What in the world?” She tugged and pinched at the fabric.
“See!”
“I do. This is horrible.” She tried to look for a bright side. A couple of quick darts, a belt, or tweaks would snazz up the dress. “Well, maybe if…” She dropped her hands to the side. “Nope. You’re right. This is the pits.”
Misty started laughing. “You suck at making me feel better.”
Vanessa joined her in the amusement, and they both started laughing. Misty’s tears rolled down her face, but at least she wasn’t in a heap on the floor.
“I brought in the big guns, but girl, I’m not sure I can rescue that dress.”
“It doesn’t even look like the picture when it’s on the hanger.”
“I don’t doubt it. You need to take that off right now. We’re going to get your money back on that thing.” Vanessa turned her back on Misty and retrieved the suitcase from the hall. She plopped it on Misty’s bed and unzipped it. If nothing else it would keep Misty from crawling back in it.
“What time is it?” Vanessa demanded.
Misty looked toward the clock on her dresser. “Six twenty-two.”
“What time is your date picking you up?”
“Luke is supposed to here at seven forty-five.”
“What’s our focus? The dream? Or the fear?”
“The dream. Always,” Misty said.
“We’ve got plenty of time. Go! Get that dress off, and wash your face. Bring a cold rag for your eyes. We’ve got this.”
Misty pulled the parachute of material over her head and tossed it on her dresser as she headed to the bathroom. When she returned, her face was scrubbed clean, and she no longer looked like it was the end of the world.
“Put this on.” Vanessa handed Misty her favorite little black dress. Chanel, it was timeless in cut and had enough stretch to flatter just about any figure. She prayed it wasn’t going to be too short. Misty had a good couple of inches on her, and the last thing she needed was Mike having a heart attack over the length.
Misty had no idea that this dress cost nearly two thousand dollars at the consignment shop. It had been Vanessa’s first real splurge on a dress, but this little dress had paid for itself time and time again over the years. Then again, it wasn’t a jewel-tone or shiny fabric like the dream dress in Misty’s photo. She remembered how important those formal dance dresses had seemed to her when she was Misty’s age. She tried not to take exception to the not-so-impressed look on Misty’s face.
It slid right on, and fit just right. The length wasn’t bad either. Certainly respectable.
“It fits way better,” Misty said with a half nod.
“Very flattering.” Vanessa came around to her side, then took a pair of heels from her bag. “Try these.”
Misty took them then stared back at Vanessa. “Really?”
“Try them on.” Vanessa watched her set the shoes side by side on the floor and step into them.
Misty visibly swallowed and then looked over to her. “Oh my gosh. I can’t believe this.”
“Oh yeah. Much better. Next, we conquer that hair. Add a little makeup, and you’re going to be the prettiest girl at the Winter Festival Dance.”
“You really think so?”
Vanessa stood behind her and straightened Misty’s posture. “Look at yourself. You look amazing. The dress is Chanel. The designer who invented the little black dress. Seriously, you’ll blow the socks off everyone at the dance. Hands down.”
“You’re really going to let me wear this?”
“Sure as I’m standing here.” She clapped her hands twice. “Time’s a-wasting. Go get a chair. I’ve got less than thirty minutes to get this done.”
While Misty went in search of the chair, Vanessa texted Mike to let him know things were in progress and to be ready for Luke’s arrival at seven forty-five, and that he might have to stall if they weren’t quite done.
Before she put her phone down, she picked it back up and added to the text, And be nice to him.
Maybe, he texted her back.
She knew it had been too much to ask. Fathers lived for the day to scare boys away from their little girls.
At 7:45 on the nose, a bright swath of light fanned past Misty’s bedroom window. “He’s here!”
“Calm down.”
“Oh my gosh. I’m going to be sick.”
“No. You’re not. Take a breath.” Vanessa swept the fluffy powder brush over Misty’s face one last time. “You look perfect. Come.” She sna
pped her fingers and pulled her in front of the mirrored closet door. “Seriously. Even if that other dress had looked like the picture, you can never outdo a perfect little black dress. That’s all you need, forever. Accessorize up or down, throw a jean jacket on, or pearls and do tea with the queen.”
“I’ve never looked this pretty.”
“I’d give a million dollars to see those girls who teased you about not being girly enough tonight.”
Misty blushed. “How am I ever going to thank you?”
“Be nice to your dad. He was worried to death. He had a tough day. He had to rescue me, then came home to you in a hot mess.”
“Wait a minute. He what?”
“I’ll tell you another day. Right now, your nice young man Luke is downstairs. Alone. With your dad.”
“Oh, no. This is not good.” She spun and practically fled from the room with Vanessa at her heels.
“Coming,” Vanessa announced. “Sorry we got hung up. Girl talk. You know.”
Luke blanched. “Mist? Misty? Wow.”
Mike stared too, only it appeared that he couldn’t utter a word.
My work here is complete.
When Misty hit the bottom stair, Luke walked straight over to her and handed her the clear box he held in his shaking hand. “I thought you said your dress was blue.”
“It was, well, now it’s black. But black goes with everything.” She took the box from him. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.”
“Want me to help you with that?” Vanessa asked.
“I was hoping someone would help.” Luke wrung his hands, shifting nervously from foot to foot. “I don’t know what to do with that thing.”
Mike clapped him on the shoulder. “Been there.”
Vanessa pinned the corsage to her dress, and stepped back.
“It matches your eyes,” Luke said. “You look pretty.”
“Come on, you two,” Vanessa insisted. “We need pictures.” She took them through no less than a dozen poses before she finally let them get ready to leave.
Mike rolled his lips in, pressing them together, but the glint of those tears was unmistakable. He patted his heart with his two fingers.