Page 4 of Run, Run Mistletoe
“How do I know you aren’t just trying to get in here to steal something from me?” Her shoulders square off again. “I ain’t got much to steal if that’s your plan. And if Valentine drove you off the road, I’m real sorry, but that’s not my problem. I don’t know you from Adam.”
My head swims at her words but the biggest confusion is how the heck did the city force me off the road! What the devil does she mean?
The menace bleats at me and it’s like my frozen brain finally thaws. I point at the animal that seems to be chewing up a piece of my coat that it managed to rip off. “Are you telling me that that that…animal is named Valentine?”
She smirks and blushes slightly as she moves closer and grasps the collar, smiling even bigger when the crazy animal bumps her hand lightly. “Yeah. Val for short.”
My eyes widen and I snort. “Val? Really?”
Her frosty eyes turn towards me and now that I’m closer, I can see the sheen of pale blue in her eyes. “Yeah. You got a problem with that?”
Val bleats at me and I swear it’s smiling wickedly as the last piece of my ripped fabric disappears into its mouth.
“That thing is evil,” I mutter breathlessly as I struggle up out of the snow. My hands are frozen and I can barely move them.
“She’s not evil. It’s not her fault you wrecked. She was just lost.”
“And she found herself in the road?” I know I’m being a jerk. Know I could be a lot nicer to her. Especially since I need help.
A touch of honey goes further than a pinch of salt as my mama always says.
“Do you have a phone? I couldn’t get a cell signal where the accident is and I need to let my mom know that something happened so she doesn’t worry.”
“Who’s your Mom?” She asks, watching as I dust myself off and eye the goat carefully.
“Ummm. Helena Monroe. She lives in Valentine so I’m assuming I’m actually near the town.”
She sucks in a deep breath and her cheeks go white.
“Oh dear.” Her whispered words hit me as she holds out a hand. “I’m so sorry. I’m Mistletoe Samuels. If Helena is your mom than she’s best friends with my mom. I’m so sorry about this whole thing.”
She drops the gun down, pointing it at the ground. Her timid smile makes me suck in my breath.
“Let’s get you inside and I’ll call the Sheriff and a tow truck about your car. Then we can call to talk to Helena. I’m so sorry.”
She turns to the porch and as soon as her back is turned the menace bleats and reaches a furry head out to nibble at the collar of my coat. I swat at the beast and growl under my breath.
Then I follow the surly angel up the steps to the house, wondering who the heck her mom is and how she became best friends with my mom.
But I’ll worry about that later. For right now, as soon as I step inside, I draw in a deep, warm breath and rub my hands together, waiting for the tingles to hit my frozen skin.
I will never take heat for granted, ever again.
3
MISTLETOE
My eyes open and I sigh, exhausted. One of our lovely policemen stopped in last night to pick up my unwanted visitor but it was so late that I didn’t get them all out of here until ten last night. Which is awfully late for someone who’s trying to run a farm.
I sit up painfully and roll my shoulders. I feel like I’m hitting a hundred years old instead of just thirty-five. Every morning feels like it gets earlier and earlier.
But I’ve got animals that need to be fed and taken care of. It’s too late in the year to be worrying about hay and corn and all of that. That’s all done. But the animals don’t end when winter gets closer.
The chickens need fed and eggs gathered for our family and for the few businesses that I deliver to. We don’t have enough to deliver to more but I do sell fresh eggs to the diner and to the bakery.
And now that I’ve got my first goats, I sell goat’s milk to both of them but mostly this is for my own little enterprise.
I don’t really have time for it, but it’s a labor of love for me.
