Christmas in Evergreen Tidings of Joy - Nancy Naigle Page 0,31
including the old grist mill. “It’s still a working mill in the spring and summer. Very primitive, but productive. It’s really pretty too that time of year. And over there is where Allie’s grandfather used to live and practice. Like Allie, he was a veterinarian. A lot of people would bring their animals to the big barn for his care. Allie focuses more on pets in her clinic in town, but she still does large animals too.”
“And this was his truck?”
“It was. He used it for his house calls, and Allie does too.”
“This truck really gets around.”
“He may not look it, or always act like it, but he’s one of the more reliable things in town.”
“I’m sorry. But, he?” Katie’s brow lifted.
“Yeah. He. You’re really an Evergreen somebody if you’ve driven the red truck. And we all know he’s a he.”
“And let’s be honest, what’s more picturesque and appealing to tourists than a big red truck hauling Christmas trees?”
There she went again, assuming everything was part of a big marketing master plan. “Yes. I suppose that’s one way of looking at it,” Ben said.
“What’s the other?”
He sucked in an exaggerated breath. “A truck is a good way to haul a tree.”
“You’ve got me there.”
“I hate to even say this when we’re having so much fun, but why do you keep making this all about tourism?”
“If you were me, writing an article about Evergreen, what’s the angle you’d take to translate the monumental amount of ‘Christmas magic’ here?”
“I don’t know.” He really hoped she’d see the town for what it really was. “This town is genuinely filled with good hardworking people who enjoy sharing their love of the holiday and the true meaning of the season.”
“Not just the commercial side? I mean, there are ten-foot blow-up snowmen, the magic snow globe. Oh, and we wouldn’t want to forget that every single store-front, without exception, is decorated. And those people wishing Merry Christmas at the train station. You really think I should believe that was a coincidence?”
“Why is that so hard to believe?”
She pressed her lips together and lifted her shoulders. “It’s my experience that when a situation seems too good to be true, it probably is.”
He waited, hoping she might elaborate. It was kind of sad that she couldn’t just enjoy the joyful mood around here for what it was.
“Okay, so once, before Mom and Dad split up, Dad took my brother and me to see Santa at this little place outside of the city. It seemed like we’d been transported to the North Pole. There were even elves with pointy shoes and ears serving hot chocolate. We got our picture taken with Santa. I was so excited. I still remember what I asked Santa for that night.”
“So you’ve been around people who love Christmas for what it is.”
“Not exactly. You see, later that night when we got back, Dad realized my brother had left the picture behind. We heard Dad telling Mom about how he’d wasted two hundred bucks on the charade, and we weren’t even appreciative enough to keep track of the picture. Then he told Mom what I’d asked for. Santa couldn’t even keep a secret? Not only did I figure out Santa wasn’t real, but it was pretty clear the whole experience was just one more way to turn a buck.”
Ben could see why she might be a little sour on the idea, but then, why had she come in the first place? He looked into her eyes. He could see that childhood memory hanging like a dark curtain over her mood, but she was here now. She really wants to believe in Christmas magic. “I guess you just need to see for yourself.” He turned down the gravel lane that led to the tree lot.
“Fair enough,” she said quietly.
So many other vehicles had already driven down this path today that the snow was packed down into two vertical strips, making it like steering a slot car to the barn.
A couple of goats played King of the Mountain on a snowdrift next to the fence, and cows dotted the snow-laden pastures as they lazed in the sun.
“This is so pretty.” Katie sat forward in her seat to get a better look. “Business must be really good. That new barn is huge.”
Ben hadn’t really thought of it that way. Henry worked long and hard to afford that new building. He could see her point though. The shiny red metal barn highlighted how faded the old wooden one right