Page 25 of The Mountain that Saved Christmas

Feelings of curiosity and excitement course through me. I've always liked surprises—it's one of the many reasons I wanted to come here to meet George and give him his wish—but since I'm usually the oneorganizingthem, I'm not often on the other side of it.

“Let the boys keep their secret then,” I reply. “Aggie, you go check in with everyone and see if they need anythin'. Frankie, go see Toby at Santa's Grotto and help him out. Dottie and I will go around the square and help finish wrappin' the tinsel around the poles.”

“Moretinsel?” Aggie asks, her brows sky high. “Don't you think there's enough?”

I stare blankly at her. “There canneverbe enough tinsel.”

“Or glitter,” Frankie adds. “Tinsel, glitter?—”

“Food,” Dottie says, just as her stomach growls and her cheeks tinge red.

I giggle and shake my head. “Didn't I see you sneakin' some peppermint bark at the bar?”

“Yep,” she says. “And the chocolate brownies that Melly made. They were delicious.”

Frankie snorts. “You forgot about the Candy Apples youhadto taste test.”

“I did. Can't go sellin' anythin' that we're not sure passes inspection,” Dottie adds. “I was just doin' what needed to be done.”

Aggie arches a brow. “And that meant you had to tasteeverythin'?”

Dottie's slow-growing grin beams so bright is lights up her entire face. “Yup!”

I chuckle and pull her in for a hug. “Never change, Dottie. Never change.”

“I'm a growin' lady. What can I say?”

We all laugh at that. “Mmm hmm, apparently you are,” I reply.

“Can I just say one thing?” Dottie says, looking around at all of us, continuing after we all nod her way. “I'm so glad we're here together, doin' this good deed for a good man and his deservin' town. But most of all, I want to make sure y'all know that you're the best friends a woman could ever ask for.”

“Aww,” Frankie says, looking teary-eyed as she sidles up to Dottie and hugs her around the waist. “Right back at you.”

“Ditto,” Aggie says, pulling a handkerchief from her jacket pocket and blowing her nose so loud you'd think a foghorn was going off.

“Thanks for comin' with me on this crazy road trip. Y'all didn't have to, and I appreciate your trust and love and support, always,” I tell them.

We move in close, forming a four-way hug huddle, all of us smiling at each other with glassy eyes.

“Now, are we all goin' to start singin' Kumbayah or are we goin' to get out there and do what we're here to do?” Aggie asks.

“We're havin' a moment here, Agnes,” Frankie replies, arching a single brow.

“Yeah, Iknow,” she replies in herduh-like tone again. “But there's work to do and a Christmas wish to give. We have a plan, let's get to it, yeah?”

She may not be the most subtle person, but she's got a point. “OK, keep your shoes on. We all know what we've got to do, but are there any questions?”

“Nope,” Aggie says.

“I'm good,” Dottie replies.

“I don't think so,” Frankie adds before she pouts. “But Iwasenjoyin' our little moment till Aggie ruined it.”

I step back and clap my gloved hands together. “All right then. Let's get to it.”

Then, with a shared and determined nod, we split off and go in different directions to finish the job of creating the perfect winter wonderland for George and the townsfolk of Rainbow Springs, all the while making the most of our last few days left in this picturesque Alaskan mountain town.

Later that afternoon, after all the stalls have been set up and adorned with festive flair, a loud whistle cuts through the air.

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