Page 54 of Love, Lies and Sleigh Rides
“Did you see the wagon? They’ve got their farm name on the sides. Do you think he’s going to let us slap our Loom & Lyre Farms logo next to his?” He turned around to see if Jed still sat atop his wagon, listening. Thankfully, Jed had the decency to make himself scarce.
“We should talk to Fallon. There has to be a mistake,” said Elaine. She shifted her Mrs. Claus dress to her other arm.
Kade intended to do exactly that. Only, when he’d entered the building a few minutes ago, he’d had second thoughts about confronting Fallon in such a crowded space. There was no mistaking her alarmed look when she spotted him. He should probably cool down first.
He took out his phone. If he could still get the truck from Chase, explain there had been a misunderstanding, he’d tell Jed they didn’t need the wagon.
“Kade.”
It was Fallon, hurrying toward them, her expression stricken.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, looking from him to Elaine. “Is it your dad again?”
“Pops is fine. What’s wrong is Jed Clevelle thinks he’s driving my parents in the parade. What happened to using the pickup?”
Fallon let out a relieved sigh. “Plans changed. What’s wrong with using the wagon?” Her eyes drifted past him to the wagon, sitting in the parking lot, decorated with fir boughs and red bows. Fallon’s eyes lit up. “It’s beautiful. Lucy did a wonderful job, didn’t she?”
Kade took a deep breath. “Yes, she did a great job.” He enunciated the words to control his voice. “But our problem is with the wagon itself. Or rather who it belongs to.”
Her eyes flitted back to him. “I don’t understand.”
“Jed Clevelle is the same guy who’s been pushing my father to sell him part of the farm since they moved to town. He’s been a source of anxiety for Pops for months now. The guy doesn’t take no for an answer.”
Shock registered on Fallon’s face seconds ago, but it slowly turned to irritation.
“How was I supposed to know that? I felt it was a good substitution for the sleigh. When I mentioned using the truck, you didn’t like that idea. Remember?” She looked to Elaine, who’d grown silent.
“You could have told us.”
Fallon nodded, scuffing her boot on the gravel. “Yes, I should have. I dropped the ball,” she said quietly, her jaw tight.
“I’m afraid I have worse news,” Elaine said. She let out a deep sigh, looking up at the sky. “Your father is staying home today. He wasn’t feeling himself again when he woke up this morning. I insisted.”
“Did he somehow get wind of this news?” He could see Pops staying silent.
“If he did, he didn’t say so.” Elaine chewed on her lip. “It was clear he wasn’t feeling good.”
Kade’s alarm had woken him before sunrise. Since he and his brothers took over the work for Pops last week, his father had been sleeping in. Kade had tended to the animals, eaten a quick breakfast, then headed to town well before eight o’clock. That Pops was sleeping in later than usual because he didn’t feel well hadn’t even occurred to him.
“We should just forget about the parade. There’s too much working against us.” Kade raked a hand through his hair.
Elaine shook her head. “That’s exactly what your father said shouldn’t happen.”
“So, you’re going to ride the float alone as Mrs. Claus?” It was just like her to forge ahead. Nothing affected her, at least not from outward appearances.
Elaine shrugged. “Why not?”
He looked to Fallon. “Do you know if Chase’s truck still available?”
She shook her head. “He’s using it to pull the Bethel Lutheran Church float.”
“I knew this was a bad idea.” He mumbled it, not expecting anyone to hear.
“What’s a bad idea?” Fallon asked. The skin between her brows pinched together even more.
“Hiring someone who isn’t familiar with the festival to revise it.” Fallon flinched when he said it. “Sorry, Fallon, but it’s true."
She put her hands up as if to surrender. “No, I’m sorry, Kade. But when I was brought on board, you weren’t around. Everyone was fine with plans until you came home. I’ve been questioned about details ever since, even watching plans I came up with weeks ago change on a dime without my input. How frustrating is that?”
