Page 38 of Meowy & Bright

“Yes?” She digs behind the counter and pulls out a worn check register. “How much?”

“No.” I shake my head. “Not that. It’s just …” My palms get sweaty, and I feel like I’m trying to kick a field goal to win a game. Not just any game, the biggest game of my life. “Wouldn’t it be great if you could get Ruby to come help out? She knows how to bake.”

“She better. I taught her all my tricks.” She smiles. “I don’t know, Knox. She’s so busy with her job ever since she graduated college. She hasn’t even come to visit. It was like pulling teeth to get her home at all the past few years, what with her course load and everything. And now she’s in the big city.”

“I know. But surely she’ll get some time off for the holidays? You need help, and it seems to me like Ruby is the only one who can step in for you. Especially since you keep getting so many orders.” I gesture toward Olin.

“Twenty more.” He shrugs.

“Twenty cakes?” Mrs. Lane’s eyes widen. “For who? There’s no way you’re eating all this. Look at you. All muscle.”

Olin shrugs. “I have clients who love your cakes. What can I say?”

Mrs. Lane raises a brow but readies her pen to take his order.

I give Olin a brief nod before swinging the door open, the bell tinkling in the cold December air.

“You know what?” Mrs. Lane calls after me.

I turn, my breath coming out in steam as a snow flurry surrounds me. “Yes, ma’am?”

“You’re right. I’m going to call Ruby. She needs to come home. It’s been too long. And I know our little town isn’t the fast city life, but I need help.”

I smile and try to play off the way my heart leaps and my body heats. “She’ll come running if you say you need her. She’s a good girl, Mrs. Lane.”

“She is.” She nods and waves me away as I let the door close.

I stand there staring down the quaint Main Street of Reindeer Valley. A few cars pass as I wait, my heart still pounding as I think about Ruby finally coming home where she belongs.

The bell rings behind me, and Olin steps out.

I pull a list from my back pocket and hand it to him.

“More?” he asks.

“More.”

“What are we going to do with all these cookies?” He groans.

“Get to work.” I hitch a thumb over my shoulder and stride away, the snow swirling around a few cars as they pass. Olin goes back into the bakery, adding to his order.Myorder.

I smile as I pull my coat tighter around me and head for my mechanic shop. I have to get ready for Ruby, though I don’t think she’s ready for me. But once she’s here, that’s half the battle. All I have to do now is convince her to stay.

She was meant for Reindeer Valley. And more than that, she was meant forme.

2

RUBY

“Ruby, in my office.” Mr. Brooks orders as he passes by the front of my desk.

My stomach drops. I thought he was still out of town. I've been enjoying this week without him here. Well, enjoying it more than I normally do. This place is a bit more tolerable when he’s out of the office and on one of his daddy’s yachts trying to escape the cold of the city.

I don’t blame him. There’s something about winter in the city that doesn’t work for me. Back home in Reindeer Valley it’s much different. I actually love the winters there. The smell of snow is always in the air. As well as the sweet scent of my grandma’s baked goods. Whenever you step outside, it’s a reminder that the holidays are closing in. Just thinking about it makes me a bit homesick.

“Ruby!” Mr. Brooks barks my name this time. I jump from my seat and scurry after him. He holds the door to his office open for me, closing it the second I cross over the threshold. “How is ‘The Dog Whisperer’ campaign going?” He motions for me to take one of the chairs in front of his desk.

“I sent you over the final drafts last night. If Mr. Barks and you are happy with the changes I made at his request, then we should be good to go.”

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