Page 72 of No Good Deed

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Troy set up the last chair and stood back to check the space. It might have been too small to be considered a festival, but they’d had a fun town day and the beginnings of a tradition they would expand for the next year and all the years after that.

Today, they’d had a snowman making event in the space that would eventually be Phail Way Park. They’d taken pictures to post on the website that Piper would create.

Then they’d shared a potluck supper in the saloon. Troy could imagine it next year when they had more time to decorate. As it was, they’d asked everyone to bring one Christmas decoration for the evening.

Santas, reindeer, snowmen, and elves sat around the room, along with garlands and stars. With the arrival of the crew from Midnight Lake, the town had become even more environmentally conscious, and this Christmas decor was all about using what was available.

It made him nostalgic for his family and for his team. They’d spent more than a few Christmas seasons in deserts and mountains, working to keep the people safe and take down those spreading pain and evil for their own gain.

Piper’s arms wrapped around his waist, and she leaned into him. “You okay?”

He turned to hug her properly. “I am.”

“You were sad there. Thinking of those who aren’t here?”

He laughed and kissed her hair. “Exactly right. How did you know?”

She leaned back. “You looked pensive. That’s when you’re usually thinking about how to make life better for someone.”

Wow. This woman blew him away with her thoughts and how she viewed him. He raised an eyebrow and stared into her eyes. He let his love for her shine through. “What am I thinking now?”

Her smile widened slowly, and her eyes sparkled. “You’re thinking very good thoughts. But not ones for public discussion.”

He laughed and kissed her lightly. “Right again. We’ll revisit those in a couple of hours.”

“Sounds like a Christmas tradition I can get behind.”

“Ready to get the Saloon’s first Christmas movie started so we can get to those?”

She grinned and kissed him. “Good plan.”

Knowing Piper preferred not to be the center of attention, he let her head off to the side after one last kiss. Then he moved to the front of the room and clapped his hands. “Grab a seat, everyone. We’re about to start.”

Every chair filled up with more people standing near the back. He was pretty sure every person in town was here, and his heart swelled with pride for Piper and her amazing ideas.

Once they were seated, he spoke again. “Our movie for tonight is the original Rudolph. Piper is going to pass out Phail cards for everyone and a pencil. Phail cards work exactly like Bingo cards except better.”

A few people helped, and soon, everyone had a card. Troy held up his own. “The game goes like this. Each of the cards has different moments from the film on it. There are also fake moments that don’t appear in the film. Every card has at least one way to win. When the moment happens, you read it out loud and then mark off the square on your card. When you connect five in a straight line, call out Christmas Phail to get your prize. Got it?”

It was fun, with everyone calling out their squares throughout the film.

Santa says Ho Ho Ho.

Yukon Cornelius throws an axe.

Rudolph’s nose lights up.

One of the other reindeer is mean to Rudolph.

A boat.

A toy that talks.

A gift opens.

Near the end of the movie, Troy slipped out of the room into the kitchen. Piper followed him and helped him into the Santa suit they’d borrowed from Jim and Carl.

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