Page 29 of The Mountain that Saved Christmas

“Yeah!” we call out before getting our game faces on.

Gary waits until we've settled down and the drivers' hands are poised on the throttles. “Are we all ready?” he asks, earning curt nods. “Get set… Go!” he shouts, waving the flag downward as we all launch off the starting line and shoot forward, slowly forming a two-snowmobile-wide line through the trees.

The snow crunches beneath the skis of our speed machine as Colt deftly maneuvers us through the twists and turns of Harry's forest trail. The wind whips at my face, stinging my cheeks, but I can't help the exhilarating rush that courses through me. Especially since I'm doing it with my husband.

Colt leans into the turns and I follow his lead, his body moving in sync with the machine beneath us as I cling to him tightly, feeling every bump and dip in the terrain as we chase that elusive win.

As we break through the tree line, the moonlight dims to a light silvery glow highlighting the vast expanse of snow stretched out before us. In the distance, I can make out the dark crevice where the glacier must be. After some searching, I spot the black and white checkered flag calling us to victory.

Except, just as we're about fifty feet away from claiming the win, Toby and Dee come speeding past, Dee's hands waving high in the air as they both cheer themselves over the finish line, stealing the win from us at the very last moment.

The rest of the group soon reach us and laugh and cheer as Toby and Dee do their own version of a victory dance. Funnily enough, it's not all that different from the Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer routine they rolled out at the Singing Canary.

I can't help but chuckle at Toby and Dee's jubilant celebration, all of our laughter echoing through the air as we watch theirshenanigans. There's a reason those two were destined to be together, and right now proves it.

“Looks like we got beat fair and square, sweetheart,” Colt muses, turning around in his seat to face me. Since the race is over, and there's no reason not to, I climb into his lap and hook my arms over his shoulders, giving him a playful pout.

“Guess we'll just have to settle for second place this time around. But just you wait, I demand a rematch when we're back home. We'll race those two around the mountain if we have to.”

Colt smirks and shakes his head, dipping down so he's all I can see. “You're damn cute when you're feelin' the need for vengeance.”

I quirk my brow. “Maybe I just wanted to steal a win from Toby for once.”

Colt leans in, resting his forehead against mine. “Don't worry, Lee. I'm always a winner with you by my side,” he murmurs, before kissing me soft and slow, pouring all his love into it the same way he always does.

After kissing me mindlessly, we pull apart and Colt helps me off the seat, leading me over to where the others have gathered, all of the headlights from the snowmobiles shining on us.

George pulls a trophy out of his backpack, this time it is a cup being held up by a gnome in a Santa hat in the shape of Bull Mountain's twin peaks. “For the winner,” he announces. “A prize only fittin’ for the most competitive man in all of Spring Haven.” George hands it over to a waiting Toby and Dee, who both hug him before turning to their fellow competitors and taking a bow. Toby lifts Dee in the air with one arm, and hoists the trophy overhis head with the other as he lets out an almighty “yeehaw!” in celebration of their win.

Once everyone has congratulated the winning couple, Gary turns up in his truck before hopping down and moving back to lower the tailgate. That's not unexpected. Whatissurprising is the Sallys getting out of the vehicle and making their way toward us, all of them rugged up nice and warm from head to toe.

“Gramma!” Star says, rushing over to Ruth. Rhett, Colt, and Landry join her, each one of them moving to help the other three Sallys in the snow, making sure they're all safely delivered to the snowmobile circle as I'm now calling it.

“What do you have there, Gary?” Austin asks as he goes to the truck to help.

George, Larry, Cary, and Harry all share a knowing look. “This is the next part of our thank you gift. A Northern Lights viewin’ party with your choice of hot chocolate or spiked eggnog. As for our extra special guests. It didn't feel right not havin' the Sallys here, so I called by their cabin and brought them along too.”

“Don't forget Mellie's famous Christmas cake and Gingerbread,” Larry adds, grinning as he places a cooler and picnic basket on the ground in front of us.

We gather round, laughter and chatter filling the air as we all chip in to fill and pass out steaming mugs of hot chocolate or the spiked eggnog—a fairly even split between the two—and slices of Mellie's yummy baked goods.

Once we're all settled, that's when we look up to the sky and watch the gorgeous light show, the swirling colors of the Northern Lights dancing in mesmerizing patterns and casting a magical glow over the land.

It doesn't matter how many times I witness Mother Earth's magical show, it never fails to take my breath away.

After the light show starts to fade a little, George clears his throat to get our attention, his eyes sparkling in the headlights. He raises his mug in the air.

“I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you all again for what you've done for our little town. A week ago we were wondering whether we'd even get to have a tree in the town square and now we've not only got the biggest one we'veeverhad, we've got a whole Christmas festival to look forward to tomorrow?—”

“And Santa! Don't forget aboutthat,” Toby adds, making George laugh.

He winks. “Yes, yes. Can't forget Santa, can we?”

“Don't think Tobes would let you,” Austin muses.

“Don't think Tobes will letanyoneforgetanythin',” Larry adds with a hearty chuckle.

“Can I get back to my toast?” George asks, his brow arched and lips twitching.

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