Starlight Web (Moonshadow Bay #1) - Yasmine Galenorn Page 0,86

a few blocks over to the edge of town, down by the marina where the winter carnival had set up.

Each year, Moonshadow Bay held a seasonal festival, but the Winter Carnival was always my favorite. While we didn’t always have snow, the decorations alone gave an icy look to the town. Vendors came in from all the small towns and farms nearby. A temporary skating rink had been set up in the center of the marina, and there were various games.

There were also sleigh rides, thanks to Withers’s Sleigh Rides, though the sleighs could actually be outfitted with wheels like carriages for years when there wasn’t enough snow for the runners to work. The sleighs themselves were beautiful, with red velvet seats and gold trim. Ribbons bedecked the sides, and each sleigh was drawn by two beautiful onyx-black Friesians, their manes silky and flowing.

“Look,” I said, pointing. “Withers brought his sleighs out. I always loved these rides when I was young, and I loved the horses even more.”

Killian glanced at me, then strode over to the booth. He talked to them for a moment, then nodded, exchanging a couple bills for a ticket. He returned. “We’re set. At 12:30 we take a twenty-minute carriage ride around town.”

It suddenly occurred to me that he was trying to make certain I enjoyed myself. It had been so long since a man put my feelings first that it felt alien. But that didn’t stop me from grabbing him and giving him a hug.

“Thank you! I can hardly wait!”

“Well, while we wait for our turn, let’s check out the vendors.”

We circled the carnival, looking at all the booths. There was everything from handblown ornaments to homemade candy and cookies to hand-knit sweaters and hats, but I didn’t need much of anything. I did buy a very large peppermint stick and some fudge, but otherwise, it was just fun to walk hand-in-hand with Killian.

We were near the edge of the marina. I glanced out at the bay. The water looked icy and beautiful with the snow falling on it, and suddenly my life in Seattle seemed like a thousand miles and a thousand years away. We stopped by a steel drum band. They also had a xylophone player, and Killian and I started to dance with a few of the others who had gathered to listen.

Just then, a noise caught my attention. A tiny mew, coming from near the xylophone.

I stopped dancing and walked over toward the musician. It was then that I saw a small box near his feet. I peeked in and—huddled in a swath of blankets—were two kittens, a black one and a little tortoiseshell. They couldn’t have been more than eight weeks old, and they had that perpetual look all kittens did that combined wide-eyed wonder with winsome cuteness.

As I knelt by the box, the man laid down his mallets and leaned forward.

“You looking for a pet?” he asked.

I glanced over at him. “They should be inside. How old are they?”

He shrugged. “Six weeks at the oldest, I’d guess. I found them in my backyard. I let my daughter keep one but we can’t have more than one pet in the apartment, so I thought I’d bring them down here today. You interested?”

I lifted them up, one at a time, to get a good look at them. They both struggled until I brought them close to my chest and then they burrowed under my chin, especially the tortie. Instantly, I knew they were mine.

“What’s your name?”

“Clyde. Clyde Baker.” The man smiled, his teeth brilliant and white against the rich brown of his skin. “They like you.”

“I love them,” I said, burrowing my nose in their fur. “How much?”

“Like the snow and the wind and the rain, these babies are a gift from nature. Promise me you’ll be good to them?” he asked, then added, “I don’t think I even need to ask. I can see it in your face. You’ll be their mama.”

“I’ll be their mama, yes. And of course, I’ll take care of them. I’ll give you my number in case you ever want to come visit them.” I stood, turning to Killian.

He was smiling. “We’ll take a sleigh ride another time. Let’s get these kittens back to the car. We can stop on the way home for supplies, and I’ll check them out when we get there.” He turned to Clyde. “I’m a vet, setting up a new business. I’ll give you my card and if you ever need