Page 28 of Fire and Ice
“Oh, she is certainly one of my top customers.” Chelsea smiled at Archer. “She’s a sweetheart.”
“Don’t know about that.” Archer looked at her with amusement in his vivid green eyes. “But as far as sisters go, she’s not so bad.”
Chelsea glanced into the corner where all the white boxes stood. “It looks like the annual toy drive is going well.”
“We’re ahead of our daily goal so far.” Grady thumped his mug on the table. “The residents of King Creek are generous.”
“Do you know how the soup kitchen is doing this year?” She picked up her Oreo. “The donation boxes at the grocery store usually look like they’re brimming with canned and boxed food.” She twisted the cookie apart and ate the half without filling.
“Last I heard, they’re short on hams for Christmas dinner,” Hunter said, “The local 4-H club kids are working hard to get more donations.”
“My store can contribute to that cause.” Chelsea gave a slow nod. “We pick a charity to support every year. We like to see where the greatest need is and help fill it.” She ate the other half of her cookie with filling.
“They’ll appreciate it.” Beckett picked up his mug. “Local charities get a lot of support from our town’s businesses.”
“And the surrounding ranches.” Archer raised an Oreo. “Our ranchers tend to be generous folks.”
“The new holiday decorations look great.” Chelsea nodded in the direction of Main Street. “It’s nice of the fire department to do the decorating every year.”
“The city council finally voted to put money in the budget for them,” Grady said. “The old bunch were looking pretty ratty by the end of last year.”
“You all found a terrific fir for the town square, too.” Chelsea remembered seeing the huge fir strapped down on one of the firetrucks. “The tree-lighting ceremony was lovely, and the elementary school kids sang O Christmas Tree so sweetly.”
“My son, Micah, is in the choir.” Archer wore a fond expression. “He’s excited to sing in front of the mayor and the rest of the town.”
Chelsea thought back on holidays past. “I can remember when my sisters and brothers were little and how excited they’d get about Santa and his reindeer landing on our roof.”
“It’s all my son talks about.” Archer chuckled. “He sent his note to Santa yesterday at the post office holiday letter drop.”
“I’m sure he’ll get a letter from the jolly old elf soon.” Chelsea shifted in her seat. “The Lions Club’s members are great about that.”
Grady pushed back his chair. “We’d better get going.” He took Chelsea’s hand as she stood, and he helped her into her jacket. “We have some Christmas shopping to do.”
The men got to their feet as Grady put on his own jacket, and everyone moved back into the common room.
“It was great meeting you all.” Chelsea smiled as they stopped in front of the door. “I’m sure I’ll see you around town.”
After goodbyes were said, Chelsea and Grady left, headed downstairs, and out toward his SUV.
“Christmas shopping, huh?” She looked at him with amusement as they walked.
“Had to think of some reason to get going.” He gave her a wicked grin. “I wanted you to myself again.”
She laughed as they reached the passenger side of the blue Nissan. “I really could do some holiday gift buying.”
“There’s plenty of time left in the day.” He opened the door for her, took her hand, and helped her into her seat. “What do you say to walking down Main Street and doing our shopping locally?”
“Sounds like a great idea.” She put on her seat belt as he shut the door and went around to his side of the vehicle.
“We’ll start along one side of the street and walk down the other, back to the SUV.” He drove to the lot near Founders Park, at the far end of Main Street.
Once they were out of the Pathfinder and on the sidewalk, Grady took Chelsea’s hand, and they strolled by Hannigan’s Feed Store, pausing a moment to look at the Christmas window display. A holiday scene with a pair of white horses hooked up to a sleigh carrying a cowboy Santa and brown and white cattle in the background. Artificial snow lay on the ground, and lights circled the window, creating a cute display.
He glanced at her and smiled, squeezing her hand tighter. Their eyes met and the moment seemed to last forever, and then it was gone.
They moved on to the next window, which was Susie’s Salon. She had a silver mannequin head and shoulders, its wig done up in an elegant holiday style, a red velvet bow, and a sprig of holly on top. Boxes wrapped in metallic green, silver, and red paper with elaborate trimmings were arranged prettily around the mannequin, and a red garland rounded the large window.
The next shop was Ashlyn’s Cards and Gifts store. The whole window was taken up by a brightly lit small Christmas tree, with a variety of Hallmark ornaments covering its top to the lowest branches.
