Page 16 of The Christmas Lodge
The pep talk helped her to slow her breathing, but the grand total did still leave her wincing a bit. Investment or not, this money was coming out of her own account, and it was a doozy.
“Does the store have a delivery truck?” she asked, handing over her credit card. “I need this delivered to the Spielman mansion.”
“That’s right, word has gotten around town that St. Nick’s granddaughter was restoring it.”
Lacy ignored the mention of her grandfather’s nickname. “A delivery truck would be super helpful,” she hinted.
Clark got the message. “The store does have one, but I can tell you right now that it won’t make it up the hill to the mansion. Don’t worry, though—my friend often helps out with deliveries in cases like this. Let me give him a call.”
Relieved, Lacy thanked him. While she waited for Clark’s friend to arrive, she began drafting a list on her phone of what tasks she would tackle first at the mansion. Having a plan of attack always helped her to feel more prepared, and she soon lost herself in the process of strategizing her efforts at the house. In what seemed like no time at all, Clark announced that his friend was here. With an effort, Lacy pulled her attention away from her phone just in time to see Derek walking through the sliding glass doors of Mitchell Hardware.
Lacy’s jaw dropped. “There’s no way you’re a delivery man too,” she said as he approached.
Derek grinned and Lacy was downright ashamed of the way those pesky butterflies suddenly erupted in her stomach at the sight of it.
“I’m just used to navigating the snow, and my truck is the most reliable in town for getting through, so lots of folks call me for help with things like this.”
“He’s a regular knight in shining armor,” Clark joked, clapping Derek on the shoulder, while Derek rolled his eyes.
“I’m going to take a wild leap and say that this mountain of supplies is for the mansion?”
Lacy nodded. “Yup, you can see how taking a box at a time on foot would take me a while.”
The three of them began carrying boxes out to Derek’s truck, and she instantly saw why he was called on to help people all the time. His pickup truck was massive, easily one of the biggest she’d ever seen. It practically exuded power and, though she didn’t know much about trucks, she figured this one was an all-terrain off-roading type of rig. The huge wheels were covered in snow chains as well, which was an instant relief. The thought of sliding backward down a hill in a vehicle wasnotsomething she wanted to experience.
“This old boy is up to the task,” Derek said, his voice close to her, and she jumped slightly, whirling to see him standing beside her.
“Excuse me?”
Derek slapped the side of his truck. “It looked like you were studying my truck, and I just wanted to reassure you that he can handle just about anything.”
“The ‘old boy’ meaning your truck.” Lacy bit back an awkward chuckle, but Derek laughed aloud.
“If you ever hear me refer to myself as an ‘old boy’ please, slap me on the spot and never speak to me again.” Derek opened the passenger side door for her. “It’s not a dogsled this time and I’m transporting your supplies anyway, so how about I give you a lift to the house?”
“Thanks, I appreciate it,” she replied. Ignoring his proffered hand, Lacy grasped the door handle and heaved herself up into the cab of the truck, inordinately proud that she was able to do it without help.
Lacy had been used to taking care of herself for most of her life, and all of this small-town hospitality was still throwing her for a loop. It seemed that everywhere she turned, someone was offering to open a door or, in Sarah’s case, offering her a free pastry. Derek made his way around the truck, climbing into the driver’s seat with ease. The truck started up with a powerful growl when he turned the key in the ignition. Soon they were pulling out of the parking lot and making their way through the snowy streets.
“You know, you still haven’t come by my shop for your complimentary dogsled ride,” Derek pointed out as they drove. “My teams are starting to worry that you haven’t forgiven them yet.”
Lacy wasn’t quite sure how to answer that, and she definitely wasn’t sure how she felt about dogsledding in general. Best, she decided, to avoid the invitation in general.
“Your line of work is rather interesting. Not many people can say they work in the dogsledding industry.” She glanced over at his profile. “What made you want to do it in the first place? How did you get started?”
“I think it all came together in one of life’s interesting quirks of fate. An ex-champion dogsledder chose Snowy Pine Ridge as the place he wanted to settle down when his competitive career was over. He gave some of the people in town lessons, so dogsledding has pretty much always been a part of my life.” Derek smiled at the memories. “When he moved away to retire closer to his family, I decided I didn’t want dogsledding to leave with him, and I decided to carry on where he left off.”
“It sounds like you’ve expanded on his original vision.”
“A bit. I stay busy.”
Derek pulled the truck to a stop in front of the mansion. Lacy blinked, shocked that the drive was already over. She had gotten so immersed in Derek’s story that she hadn’t noticed the truck easily taking on the hill leading to the mansion.
“Let me help you get unloaded,” Derek offered, and Lacy was only too happy to accept.
They worked in companionable silence, forming an assembly line of sorts as Lacy climbed into the bed of the truck and handed him boxes, which he carried up the front steps and placed in the grand foyer. Once Derek had unloaded the industrial sander and shop vac for her, he pretended to tip his hat to her, which made her smile.
“Thanks for all your help. I really appreciate it.”
