Page 50 of The Sound of Sleighbells

Consternation showed in Digger’s face. He didn’t reply.

Even as she spoke, more pieces of the puzzle fell into place. “The cocaine,” she said. “Silas’s mechanic found it in my station wagon. Ed’s fingerprints were all over it. Is that why you came back here—because Ed told you where he’d stashed it?”

Digger’s cocky grin had vanished. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. “And I sure as hell don’t know anything about any cocaine.”

“Yes, you do. And before I’m through with you, the sheriff will know, too.” Ruth could see Skip coming out of the house. She started the engine, closed the window, and honked the horn, urging her son to hurry.

By the time Skip climbed into the passenger seat, Digger had disappeared. Ruth gunned the engine. The lumbering station wagon roared out of the gate and down the lane.

“Are you all right, Mom?” Skip asked. “I saw Digger. I know you don’t like him.”

“I’m fine,” Ruth answered, and she was. But she needed to decide what to do next. Since Digger hadn’t found the cocaine, he probably hadn’t broken the law. But the sheriff would want to know about his connection to Ed. Judd would want to know, too. She would tell him before she spoke to anyone else.

Janeen and Tammy remained silent. They could still be scared. Ruth would talk to them at home and make sure they were all right. For now, everyone could use some Christmas cheer. She switched on the radio and turned the song up loud.

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way . . .

They sang along, all the way home.

* * *

By the time the doctor had checked Abner and signed his release, it was almost eleven o’clock. Abner could sit and stand with a back brace and get around with a walker, but he was still on pain pills and far from ready to be home alone. Judd picked him up in the vintage Pontiac Firebird that served as his extra car and set out for the ranch, where the old man would stay and recuperate for a few days.

“Boy, am I glad to get out of that hospital,” Abner said. “It was like being in prison. And I won’t even mention the food.”

“I know just what you mean.” Judd forced a chuckle. He hadn’t planned on a houseguest at this busy time, but none of Abner’s other friends had a spare room and an adult who’d be home to look after him. Yesterday, while Ruth visited Abner in the hospital, he’d set up a bed for the old man, made sure he had a comfortable chair in front of the TV, and stocked the fridge with takeout from Shop Mart. The preparations took a big bite out of his Saturday work time, but with Abner’s family living out of state, somebody had needed to step in.

He’d turned the three youngsters loose in his shop to work on the harness. By now he could trust them to do the job without supervision. But time was growing short. With the parade on Saturday, the 19th, school wouldn’t be letting out until the day before. That left less than two weeks of after-school work for the harness to be finished, the sleigh to be readied, and the horses groomed for the parade.

And there was no guarantee that Abner, the perfect Santa, would be healed in time. People were getting worried.

“Chester Filson plays Santa for the church party,” Grace Delaney had offered when she’d dropped off Skip and Maggie on Saturday morning. “If Abner isn’t ready—”

“No!” the three youngsters had chorused.

“He’s too skinny,” Maggie had said. “And his ho-ho-ho sounds like he’s got a bad cold. Like this. Hew-hew-hew.”

“Maggie, that’s not nice,” her mother had scolded. “Alice Wilkins called yesterday and asked Sam if he’d be willing to fill in. Sam was Santa two years ago, for the Christmas ball, but he swore that he’d never do it again. Anyway, now that he’s mayor, he can’t be Santa, too.”

“Everybody wants Abner,” Trevor had said. “He’s like the real Santa.”

“You don’t believe in Santa, Trevor,” Maggie had said.

“Maybe not, but to the little kids who’ll be watching the parade, Abner is the real Santa.”

“Then he’d better get well,” Judd had said. “And we’d better help him.”

The same thought passed through Judd’s mind now as he drove through the ranch gate. He knew Abner didn’t want to disappoint the children, but even in the cushiony seat of a smooth-riding car, the old man clenched his jaw with pain. He was going to need rest, good food, and the right kind of movement. The physical therapist at the hospital had given him a printout of exercises to do, but he wasn’t ready to do them alone. He was going to need help.

As he drove past the shed, Judd saw an empty space where Digger usually parked his Yamaha. The issue of Digger called for some attention, too. Judd needed to talk to his former friend and get an understanding of his plans, if he had any. Once Digger had a place to go, maybe Judd could work on getting Ruth back into his life.

Meanwhile, there were saddles waiting to be finished and shipped. At least he’d have a few days after the parade to work, but they wouldn’t be enough. He needed more time, but somehow he would have to manage everything.

He parked the car next to the porch and came around to help Abner up the steps. He could tell that every step was painful, but Abner didn’t complain.

“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this, Judd,” he said. “I know you have work to do. I’ll try not to take much of your time.”

“We just want you back on your feet.”

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