Page 1 of How The Mountain Man Stole Christmas
Chapter One
“Why can’t just one of these letters have my name on it?”
Harper sifted through the mail one piece at a time, postmarking each envelope of blue, red, and green. Funny how the holidays brought out every color of the rainbow, precisely the reason her special Santa stamp was black, so everyone could see it because it was rare to see a black envelope. As she inked each one, she absently read the names, wondering what great news the sender was sharing with the receiver of that special once-a-year card.
She’d started a tradition of feeling sorry for herself because she already knew there would be no special cards for her. Harper had no family and didn’t even have a special somebody to spend the holidays with.
“Looks like I’ll die an old post marm.”
“Oh, heavens child, give yourself a break.”
Harper jumped where she stood, scattering the stack of letters all over the counter and floor.
“Good Lord Elsie, couldn’t you warn me next time you sneak back in here after hours? You scared me half out of my wits.”
Elsie Whiddamore was a lively woman in her mid-sixties who was happily born and raised in Holly. After losing her husband early on, she took over for him, doing the job of head postmaster or postmistress in her case, and raised her four children as a single mom. After thirty-five years and retirement knocking at her door, she’d hired and trained Harper to take over as her replacement. She still came a few days a week, mainly because it had been her life for so long, she just couldn’t stay away, but also just did some part time work to help pass the hours.
Elsie only laughed at the younger woman as she approached the front counter to stand beside her.
“My dear, you need to relax a little. You’re only twenty-four, why be in such a hurry?”
“I just feel like an old spinster working at the post office.” When Elsie raised an eyebrow at her, Harper rephrased her thoughts. “Okay, that didn’t come out right and I don’t mean to say that’s what you are.”
Harper took a deep breath and contemplated for a moment before continuing. “You had everything in life that I want so your situation doesn’t count.”
The older woman only continued to look at Harper.
“Don’t get me wrong, I love this job and I wouldn’t trade for the world that I’ve gotten to know so many wonderful people in town but seeing them come in every day, it gets me to thinking about all the things I never had growing up and makes me want what they all have. The big family gatherings on Christmas with a massive feast and oh, there was this tradition I heard theMcCormick’s talking about last week where they let their kids each open one present on Christmas Eve and then the rest the next morning.”
Harper bowed her head in disappointment.
“It sounds like so much fun. Just once, I’d like to have what they all have.”
She swung her arm to encompass the whole of the town of Holly.
“I’d like a family of my own.”
The older woman placed an arm around Harper’s smaller frame, lending what comfort she could. Then Elsie pointed toward the front of the building.
“See that red metal mailbox over in the corner all by itself? Why don’t you write a letter to Santa telling him what you’d like for Christmas this year and put it right on in there? Never know,” her predecessor winked at her. “You might just get what you want for Christmas.”
Harper shook her finger at Elsie. “Yeah, maybe if you believe in all that, but about that box, how does that thing get in here anyway? I know I didn’t bring it and you say it’s not your doing, so how?” She held a hand up to stop Elsie from speaking. “And please, don’t tell me it’s Santa’s secret. I found out the hard way a long time ago there’s no such thing as Santa. I think I’d be better off throwing my wish in a wishing well, not that I believe in those either.”
“Tsk-tsk,” Elsie whispered, “such a cynic. Don’t you let the customers hear you saying such a thing. As for that box, I wish I knew but it’s been here every Christmas I have. I never see it show up and I never see it disappear. Why not join the rest of the town and write that letter? Maybe you’ll get lucky. And if you’reso included, go ahead, and wish on that old wishing well too. I know it’s done me a favor or two over the years as well, so you just never know.” She squeezed Harper’s cheek with her time weathered fingers.
“Now, I’m going home, and you should too. There will still be plenty to do tomorrow.”
Elsie wrapped her scarf about her head before donning a pink ear-flapped hat and matching wool-lined parka then headed toward the front door, winking at Harper as she tapped that red mailbox on the way out.
“Tootles.” The older woman wiggled her fingers.
Harper shook her head in disbelief as the elderly woman unlocked the front door and left. She was under no illusion about Santa being the one sneaking that letter box into her lobby. Elsie knew more than she was sharing but she was also as stubborn as they came and there was no way any answers would slip from her lips. The graying woman was right about one thing though, it was past time to go home, and all that mail would still be there in the morning. She may be single and lonely, but she still needed to have some kind of life away from the post office, even if it was only dinner, television and sleep.
She cleaned up the mess from all the envelopes falling everywhere when the woman had startled her. After locking the back door, Harper reached for her coat, lunch bowl and bag, and headed for the front door. Standing on the sidewalk outside of the post office in the cold early evening air, she dug into her over-stuffed catch-all bag looking for the ring of keys and a quarter for the wishing well when a touch on her shoulder had her dropping everything.
***
“Damn, I’m really sorry. Here, let me help.”
