Page 10 of How The Mountain Man Stole Christmas
“Fin, is he doing alright? I know how it was to lose my parents and that was hard, but I can’t imagine losing a spouse, someone you committed to spending the rest of your life with. She was so young; they’d only just gotten started.”
“It hasn’t been an easy road for him but he’s doing pretty well most of the time. He’s started to talk about her more. I think that’s important now that the girls are getting a little older and starting to understand more. Christmas was always a big deal, so I know Kaleb wants to keep that tradition going for the girls too.”
“I envy those girls. I don’t remember ever having a Christmas.” Harper stared down into what was left of her luke-warm coffee. “They’re so lucky to still have one parent, and an uncle of course.” She leaned over, nudging Fin with her shoulder.
“So, you didn’t have any Christmas growing up, at all? Where did you go?”
“My parents died when I was young, seven or eight. I don’t’ remember much about them or my childhood, it gets harder the older I get. Anyway, after they died, I became a ward of the state because I had no other family to be found.”
Harper busied herself with the Carharts from the box and a pair of winter boots, surprisingly in her size, while Fin put his winter garb on.
“I was in and out of foster homes until I was fifteen or sixteen. There was a diner in the town in Maryland where my last foster parents lived, and I just hung around bugging everybody until the owner agreed to give me a job washing dishes. Eventually my rented parents told me to beat it, that I was too much trouble so Max, the owner of the diner let me stay in the two room apartment upstairs. I think he and his wife felt sorry for me and she made him do it.”
Once they were both dressed, Fin motioned for Harper to go ahead of him outside. She continued to explain that she’d lived there until she found a want-ad online for the post office in Holly and applied. That was a little more than three years ago.
Chapter Five
Fin had no clue what to say to Harper about her childhood. He never imagined she’d had it so rough and here he was trying to take advantage of her last night. At least a tiny bit but he’d thought she was equally as interested.
I really need to take things slow, damn it.
“Damn Harper, I don’t know what to say. That’s a hell of a story.”
She smacked him on his padded arm. “Don’t go feeling sorry for me. I’m a big girl and I’ve been taking care of myself just fine up til now. So, are we going on this ride around the farm or not?”
Far be it from him to make a lady wait. “Sure thing ma’am. Follow me.” Fin took off across the drive to the barnyard where the tractor was parked next to the equipment barn.
Donning a pair of pink Carharts, stocking cap and wool mittens, she tried to keep up but Fin kept focus on his path as he heard Harper stomping over the crunchy snow trying to keep up with his long strides. He’d always been a mover when he walked.
“Would you slow down; I can’t keep up with you.” Fin paid no mind to the tiny scrap of woman following him and stopped when he reached the tractor.
Are you going to be able to climb up there?” He motioned to the fender above the tractor tire, smirking. Years ago his dad had welded an iron bar right next to the fender and attached a cushy bar stool stationary type seat so his mom could ride the fields with their dad.
“I know you think your funny, but don’t you worry about me. Just get yourself up there, I’ll manage.” She watched Fin get situated on the John Deere then took a minute to contemplate her current situation. The clothes were bulky, but she could still move.Watch this Lover boy.
With more ease than even she expected, grabbing hold of the green fender, Harper stepped up on the trailer’s hitch and slipped up beside Fin within seconds.
“Hey I’m impressed, I didn’t even need to help you.” Fin snickered as she got situated.
“Very funny, haha. Now, are you taking me somewhere or are we just going to sit here all day so you can pick on me?”
Fin pumped the choke a couple times and turned the small starter key. Once he got the tractor running, he told her loudly, “make sure you hold on.” Then they were off.
***
Over the next few hours, he took Harper through so many fields up and down the mountain side filled with all different kinds and sizes of trees that she lost count. The last field theypassed was closest to the house with a cleared parking area and a big sign that saidCut Your Own Christmas Tree.
Harper tapped him on the leg and pointed out toward the field. “Do a lot of people come out here to get a tree for Christmas?”
Fin stopped the tractor where they were and cut the engine so he could hear her better and they didn’t have to yell at each other. “A fair share do. We get people coming from all around, not just Holly. For some people it’s a family tradition to cut one every year. With Holly being our hometown, we make it easy for most residents. We support the local Boy Scout troop and set up in an empty lot so they can sell the trees in town versus everyone having to come up the mountain. The tree farm gives them a big discount and the boys, along with their parents have a blast taking turns doing the selling.”
He looked like he wanted to say more but didn’t.
“Is everything okay Fin?”
Even through his thick bib overalls, the electric current pulsed through him from where her gloved hand rested on his leg. He’d been trying to keep things on an even playing field but the more time he spent around her the more he liked her and that meant he also needed to be honest with her about his feelings and thoughts no matter what.
“I just want you to know I didn’t mean to come across wrong when you were telling me about your childhood earlier. If you’ll let me, I’d really love to give you the kind of Christmas you’ve never had before, here with us.” He looked at her expectantly, his brows arched. “Since you’re stuck here with us for a while anyway.”
