Page 34 of The Christmas Lodge
“Like you said, all that energy will come in handy once she gets the hang of sledding.”
“It definitely will.” Derek raised his arm. “Come on, let me introduce you to the others.”
Over the next ten minutes or so, Derek introduced Lacy to each and every dog from his teams. As they walked and met the dogs, Lacy marveled over and over again at the bond between Derek and his dogs. It was plain as day that they all adored him, and Lacy was struck once again at seeing Derek in his element.
This man is doing exactly what he should be doing with his life, she thought, her heart swelling with wonder.
“They all respond to you so well,” she commented.
“I would hope so,” he said with a chuckle. “Out on the trail, the team and the driver have to respect and trust each other. I spend a lot of time selecting and training my teams, and we get pretty attached to each other.”
“Do you ever have to give any away?”
“At times. I have a pretty extensive and lengthy selection process when I home a trained sled dog with a dogsled owner. They have to be licensed, obviously, but I spend a good bit of time vetting the potential owners to make sure they’re worthy of these amazing dogs.” He frowned and leaned against the wall, looking down at her. “You know, this industry gets a bad reputation—people talk about animal abuse and how this sport is cruel to animals.”
“I don’t think anyone who has seen you with your teams could ever call you abusive.”
“I would hope not. I treat all of my dogs with love and respect, and if a dog doesn’t love the trails or take to sledding, I spend a lot of time finding them a good home.” His gaze intensified, his eyes searching hers. “This work is my life. I want to do it well.”
“I’ll admit I didn’t know much about it before I came here, but I’m glad I know now. I’m sure there will always be people in any profession that abuse their power and give others a bad name, but you’re not one of them.” On impulse, she reached out and brushed his hand with hers for just a moment, before taking it back. Suddenly embarrassed, she changed the subject. “I met Colette today,” she blurted.
Derek blinked a little, but he didn’t seem to mind the topic change. “She’s great, isn’t she? How did the two of you meet?”
“Well, she came to the bakery today while I was talking to Sarah. She… said that she had a problem with what I said about Nicholas in the newspaper article. Apparently she wants me to meet with some woman named Emma so they can set the record straight.”
Derek cocked his head to the side, his forehead wrinkling. “She said it like that?”
Lacy colored a little and blew out a breath. “Well, no. She was really nice about it… I just might not have taken it all with good grace.”
“Hey, it’s understandable. I know this is a sensitive subject for you.” He looked at his feet for a moment, and when he spoke again his voice was soft. “For what it’s worth, I think talking to Emma would be a good thing. I don’t know what happened between you and Nicholas, but I think there might be some misunderstandings there.”
Lacy folded her arms, ready to be defensive again, but she just found she couldn’t. Instead, she leaned against the wall too, and closed her eyes. “Everything I’ve done in my life—my career, my education, all of it—it’s all been to distance myself from Nicholas and my father. I was always told they were dishonorable, and I never wanted to be like them.”
“I can’t imagine what that must’ve felt like for you,” Derek whispered, reaching out and taking her hand.
She laced her fingers through his but didn’t open her eyes. “It was awful, but it pushed me to work hard. It’s my whole identity.”
When Derek hesitated, she finally opened her eyes and saw that he was watching her with an expression so tender it almost broke her heart.
“Lacy,” he whispered. “You’ve worked so hard, and that’s admirable.”
“Thank you.”
“But… but I don’t think your work should define you. Or what your father and grandfather did or didn’t do.”
“I’m not sure I know any other way,” she admitted, and tears began to sting the back of her throat.
Derek put a finger under her chin and guided her to look back up at him. “Over the past week, I’ve seen so many different sides to you, and if there’s one thing I know, it’s that you’re brave. You came to a town you’ve never heard of, have taken on the repairs of a mansion, and”—his eyes danced— “you even went sledding with me. So, knowing that, I know that you can be brave again and learn more about your grandfather. You’re brave and open-minded and it’s a beautiful side of you.”
The tightness that had coiled itself in Lacy’s chest the entire afternoon began to loosen as she listened to him speak.
“I don’t know if I’mthatopen-minded,” she murmured.
“You can be, though,” he whispered. “I truly believe it.”
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
“Do you want me to come in with you?”
