ready in time for supper. They could even have cake for supper! She’d always wanted to try that.
Anna headed out the door, the heat of summer blasting her in the face. What ingredients do I need? I have everything but carrots, right? We own a bakery, she reminded herself, not watching where she was going. What else could I possibly—WHOA!
She ran smack into a young man holding a giant block of ice. The impact sent the ice flying. The block smashed to the ground, breaking into a million pieces in front of the market.
“Hey!” the stranger barked. “You’re going to need to pay for—” He spun around and looked at her in surprise. “Oh.” His eyes widened, and he stepped back. “It’s you.”
“You mean it’s you!” Anna was equally surprised. She remembered him from years before. She had looked for him several times but had never seen him again. “You’re the boy who talks to his reindeer.”
As if on cue, the reindeer walked into view, nudging the stranger in the back.
“Not a boy, first of all. And I talk for my reindeer,” he said. “His name is Sven. He wanted carrots, but now that you broke my ice delivery, he won’t get any.”
The reindeer snorted.
He turned to the animal. “I’m not being rude,” he whispered gruffly. “She broke the ice. Now we don’t get carrots.” The reindeer snorted louder. “Fine!” He spun around again. “Sven said I’m barking at you.” Kristoff looked at his feet. “So sorry…even though it was your fault.”
“It was an accident,” Anna said. She couldn’t help noticing the way his shaggy blond hair fell in front of his brown eyes. The two of them stared at each other for a moment. Then they both looked away. “I’ll pay you in cookies if you want,” she offered. “I make the best ones in the village.”
The reindeer started to prance.
“You make the only ones in the village,” the young man deadpanned.
“How would you know?” Anna replied. “Did you ask about me?”
He pulled his wool cap down on his head. “No. Maybe.”
She flushed. “I’m Anna. My parents own Tomally’s Baked Goods. What’s your name?”
“Kristoff,” he said, then turned to his reindeer. “Sven, we need to go get more ice before—”
At that moment, Goran emerged from the market, saw the ice on the ground, and placed his hands on his head. “No! I’ve been waiting for this delivery all morning!”
Anna winced. Goran had run the market as long as she could remember. Her parents had always been thankful that he was agreeable to bartering goods. A well-timed cinnamon roll had won her favor sometimes when she forgot money for groceries.
“I’m sorry. It was out of my control.” Kristoff side-eyed Anna. “I can get you more, but it will take a few hours.”
“A few hours? I needed this ice now to keep my groceries cool in this heat!” Goran complained.
“I can get it to you this afternoon,” Kristoff promised, “but if I could get the supplies I need now, I can get it faster. My ice ax is pretty dull. And Sven is out of carrots.” The reindeer snorted.
Goran folded his arms across his chest. “No ice, no trade.”
“But you’ve done it before,” Kristoff reminded him, getting annoyed. “Help me out!”
“Not today!” Goran folded his arms across his chest. “I needed that ice now.”
“Goran, maybe I can help. How about some cinnamon—” Anna started, but Kristoff stared her down.
“Back up while I deal with this crook here.”
Goran narrowed his eyes and stood up straighter. Anna had never noticed how tall he was. He was bigger than Kristoff. “What did you call me?”
Kristoff stood nose to nose with him. “I said—”
Anna jumped between them. “Okay, I think this is my fault! You need ice, he needs an ice ax to get the ice. Can’t we come to some sort of arrangement?”
“I don’t need your help,” Kristoff said.
“Actually, you do,” Goran growled.
“Goran, put the carrots and ice ax on my tab,” Anna insisted. “I’ll be back with some cinnamon rolls to keep you happy, and then Kristoff will return with ice before you know it.” Anna looked from one man to the other. “All right with everyone?”
Goran silently handed Anna the carrots, then went inside the market to retrieve the ice ax. Anna smiled at Kristoff, feeling pleased, but he didn’t share her joy.
“I don’t do handouts,” he said.
“Who said it’s a handout? You’ll pay Goran back, and if you want to pay me in ice, too, now you know where to find