Joy to the Wolves (Red Wolf #1) - Terry Spear Page 0,4
ran off. What if the calf could jump over the short fence? White-tailed deer could bound over an eight-foot fence. Maybe a reindeer calf couldn’t leap that high though.
Still, Brooke didn’t want to chance losing him. She had to learn where the calf belonged and return him to his owner.
She continued to talk softly and reassuringly to the calf. The reindeer didn’t bolt, thankfully. In fact, he seemed interested in meeting Brooke, who held out her hand, wishing she had some sort of treat. The reindeer sniffed her hand and seemed gentle and unafraid. She suspected he might be from a reindeer ranch and used to people petting him.
Taking hold of the reindeer’s jingle-bell collar, Brooke walked him toward the shop. Once she and the reindeer were inside, she rushed to turn off her security alarm and turn on all the Christmas lights and the Christmas music, starting with the “Carol of the Bells,” soothing her frazzled nerves. Already a few people were peering in her windows and beveled-glass door, probably wondering if she was ever going to open the shop. She knew what it was like to be standing outside in the cold, waiting for a shop to open on time.
As soon as Brooke opened the front door, the sleigh bells over the top jingled their merry tune, and she smiled brightly at her customers. “Welcome, come in.”
Seven people had been waiting, more than usual, but it was her open house. Brooke supposed she should be grateful there weren’t more customers so she could get things set up before a bigger crowd arrived.
“So sorry for the delay in opening.” At least Brooke had a good excuse for opening fifteen minutes late. She still needed to warm up the scones and make the hot cocoa. She realized her thermos of tea was still sitting on the table on the porch.
She smiled and presented the reindeer. “I had an unexpected guest this morning.”
“Oh my,” the three ladies at the front of the gathered shoppers said when they saw the reindeer calf.
If anyone had been annoyed with Brooke for letting them into the shop late, that melted away the irritation.
“Oh, isn’t he adorable,” one of the women said, pulling out her phone and immediately taking pictures.
“Come in. Shop.” The women were petting the reindeer when Brooke said, “I’ll be right back with the food. In the meantime, if you don’t mind helping, make sure he doesn’t get outside.”
“We’ll watch him,” one of the women said, her voice reassuring and cheerful.
Everyone was taking pictures of the calf. With his jingle-bell collar and the way he was standing next to a Christmas tree decorated in antique and antique-replica Christmas decorations and twinkling lights, the reindeer made for perfect Christmas-card pictures. With the Christmas music playing overhead, the scene was perfect for videos too.
Brooke hoped the reindeer didn’t go to the bathroom in the shop. She would have to take him out on breaks until someone came to get him. Was he thirsty? Maybe.
She fetched an antique-replica washbowl and filled it with water. Then she checked on her phone to see what reindeer could eat. “Carrots!” She had some of those in the shop’s kitchen. Probably a couple would be enough until someone claimed the calf. Brooke set the water next to the tree so the reindeer could drink when he was thirsty.
The calf lapped it up. Poor little thing. He was really thirsty.
Brooke gave the carrots to two of her first customers who were taking pictures of the reindeer. “If you’d like to feed him, they love carrots.”
“Oh, sure, thanks,” one of the women said, and in the spirit of Christmas, they broke the carrots into smaller pieces to offer to other customers to feed the reindeer.
The Christmas cinnamon potpourri scented the air, giving the whole shop a delightful Christmas fragrance. The hot cocoa and cinnamon, cranberry, and blueberry scones added to the festive scents. Brooke set the tray of food and drinks on the serving table in the dining room and was astonished to see the seven people now numbered about twenty, all wanting to see the reindeer calf. Before she had more of a mob scene, she hurried to call the police about him.
“Hi, I’m Brooke Cerise, and I found a reindeer calf in my courtyard this morning. I have him in my shop, Cerise’s Antiques and Gifts. Has anyone reported a reindeer calf missing?”
“This is a joke, right? Call Santa. I’m sure he’ll tell you all his reindeer are accounted for.”