Page 45 of The Sound of Sleighbells

“Why don’t you let me take Butch?” Maggie suggested. “We’ve got a fenced yard, and he can be friends with my dog, Banjo. He’ll have food and toys and everything.”

“That’s a great idea, Maggie,” Ruth said. “Ask Skip to open the tailgate for you. We’ll put him in the back.”

As Maggie led Butch out to the wagon, Ruth locked the door with the spare key Abner had given her. Turning to Judd on the porch, she pressed the key into his hand. “You’ll need this to check the house. Promise you’ll call me the minute you hear how Abner’s doing, no matter now late it is.”

“I promise.”

They stood facing each other. As her warm hazel eyes gazed up into his, Judd was struck by a new truth. All these years, he’d been haunted by the memory of a beautiful, free-spirited girl. But that girl had vanished into the past. Now he was falling in love with a strong, courageous, magnificent woman.

She spoke. “We both need to get going. You go first. Don’t worry, I’ll remember to have Skip lock your place.”

“Thanks. I’ll call you.” Judd strode down the steps to his truck and roared off down the lane, the way the ambulance had gone.

* * *

With Skip in the front seat, Maggie stuffed between the two little girls, and the dog filling up the rear, Ruth drove the graveled lane that led back to Judd’s house. With the engine still running, she parked outside the workshop. “Hurry,” she told Skip as he opened the passenger door and climbed out. “We need to get Maggie home.”

Truth be told, there was no rush to deliver Maggie and the dog to the Delaney house. It was the idea that Digger could be somewhere nearby, watching, that made Ruth’s skin crawl. Common sense told her the man wouldn’t hurt her. But there was something reptilian about his lurking silence—something in that knowing grin of his that made her feel violated. He was probably watching her right now.

It was getting dark outside. Where was Skip? Why was he taking so long to lock a couple of doors? Ruth’s nerves were quivering, but she couldn’t drive away and leave her son.

The girls in the back seat were silent, as if they sensed an unseen presence, just as she did.

The dog growled.

Spurred to action, Ruth punched the radio button and turned the volume up. As “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” blasted out of the speakers, she reached up and switched on the dome light. Light and noise, that’s what would scare the bogeyman away. She’d believed it growing up—but that was before she’d married Ed McCoy. “Hey, let’s sing!” she said.

The singing stopped when Skip came around the corner of the house and climbed into the passenger seat. “What took you so long?” Ruth asked. “I was getting worried.”

“Nothing to worry about,” Skip said. “As long as I was there, I thought it might be a good idea to check the doors and windows in the house, that’s all. Everything’s fine.”

“Good. Let’s go.” Ruth turned off the inside light, shifted gears and, with the radio still blaring, headed out of the yard. Glancing in her rearview mirror, she thought she saw a shadow move in the darkness behind her. She couldn’t be sure—but never mind, she and the children were safe. She wouldn’t think about that now. It was Abner’s condition that had her worried. A back injury could mean anything—a quick recovery, chronic pain, major surgery, even paralysis.

As she drove, she said a silent prayer for her friend.

* * *

It was after ten o’clock that night when Ruth got the call from Judd. Earlier, when she’d tucked her daughters into bed, they’d both mentioned Abner in their prayers. She could only hope those innocent prayers would be heard.

She’d been waiting by the phone, trying to read, when the call came. Her hand shook as she picked up the receiver.

“Judd? How is he?”

“He’s in a lot of pain. They’ve got him on painkillers and cold packs, but the news is good. It’s a strained tendon, along with some muscle spasms. With rest and ice and some physical therapy, he could be doing all right in a couple of weeks.”

“In time for the parade?”

“Maybe. But I’m not going to mention that. We want him to take it easy. He’s sleeping now. I promised to be here when he wakes up.”

“Tomorrow’s Saturday. I’ll go visit him in the morning. How long will he be in the hospital?”

“A couple of days, until he can get up and use a walker. Then I’ll be taking him to my place until it’s safe for him to be home.”

“Thank you, Judd. I know you have work to do.”

“Some things are more important than work.” Ruth could hear voices in the background. “Need to go. I’ll call you if there’s any change.”

With a sigh of relief, Ruth sank back into the sofa cushions. She’d been so worried about Abner. Maybe now she could relax and get some sleep before tomorrow.

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