One Tough Christmas Cookie - Lucy McConnell Page 0,10

she said before walking away. Childhood fantasies and wishes were better left alone. She’d done without them for most of her life, and she didn’t need them now. Besides, she was only here to make sure Dad survived. If he did, then she’d head back to Grafton.

If he didn’t … She turned and ducked into a bathroom, ready for the tears to fall. She barely had time to lock the door before her cheeks flooded. How could she love a man who’d let her go and hate him at the same time?

Family was complicated.

She swallowed against the huge lump in her throat only to have another one build right behind it. Some Christmas. If she could skip the whole thing, she would.

Chapter 4

Caleb

Caleb waited until Faith was in the elevator before pushing his hat up and calling home. She was as prickly as a pear and as Scroogey as, well, Scrooge. Her apartment or house or whatever probably didn’t have a single ornament, garland, or wreath. He gave a sudden shiver at the thought.

Still, she was upset by what had happened to her dad, shaken deeper than she let on. Her hands trembled, and she swallowed often enough that he could see the internal fight to hold it all together. She didn’t have to, not for his sake.

He wished he could give her some privacy, but Dunder was counting on him to bring back help.

Besides, she shouldn’t be alone right now. Doc didn’t have a lot of family. He’d been an only child, and his parents were long gone on to their eternal glory. Caleb’s family had taken him in a long time ago, probably when he’d gotten divorced. The short conversation with Faith yielded puzzle pieces—if he could get her to talk some more, he might be able to put the whole thing together.

Dad answered on the first ring. “Merry Christmas.”

Caleb usually responded with a Merry Christmas of his own—even in August—since it was their family’s standard phone greeting. But he didn’t know how long Faith would be gone, and he needed to talk freely. “How’s Dunder?”

“The kids got him moved into the barn. He’s resting in a stall. Stella won’t leave his side.”

His lips ticked up into a half-smile. That girl—woman now—was a trickster but had one of the biggest hearts this side of the Mississippi. “I hope she’s stubborn enough to keep Dunder alive until I can get back with help.”

“Did you find Doc?”

Caleb set his hat on his knee and ran his free hand through his hair. “Yeah, I found him in the hospital. Dad, he’s in surgery.” He tried to deliver the news as softly as possible. Dad and Doc were longtime friends, compatriots in this Christmas quest they’d taken up like knights. Working the reindeer herd, protecting it, was a lifetime calling, one Caleb and his brothers had eagerly accepted when they each turned 21—except for his youngest brother, Drake, who was only 19. Drake was on the fence about sticking around, but that was normal for a guy his age.

Caleb had had the same stirrings to get out of their small town and make something of himself without the family legacy shadowing his every accomplishment. It wasn’t until he’d gotten off the ranch and seen what was out there that he understood how much faith, hope, and goodwill were needed in the world. He couldn’t take a higher calling than to be a reindeer wrangler.

The silence hung heavy between him and Dad. Caleb could picture his father in the home office, running his hand down his face in an effort to retain control over his emotions. He wasn’t a feelings kind of guy, but he was a loyal friend. “What’s the survival rate?”

Caleb coughed uncomfortably. “I’ve been trying not to think about that—I figure asking for a miracle is always a good idea in these cases.” No matter what the odds were on WebMD, which he’d refused to read, surgery was hard on the body, and Doc wasn’t one to take care of himself. If food didn’t come from the Nichollases’ kitchen, it came in a greasy bag from a drive-thru. What more could they have done for him? Caleb prayed the question wouldn’t haunt him forever and that they’d get the chance to see Doc again—real soon.

“Good idea. We’ll all do the same out here.” Dad drew in a breath. “What about Dunder?”

“Doc’s daughter is here, the one he’s always bragging is such a smarty-pants.” Caleb grinned, wishing Faith was here to