One Tough Christmas Cookie - Lucy McConnell Page 0,32

back to him. “She responded to you. Reindeer are good judges of character. I’d trust a reindeer before I’d trust a person.” He pushed off the fencing and held his arms out to the next animal as if welcoming him home from a long trip. “Captain—you look good.”

The reindeer snorted like a bull in the pasture and pawed at the ground. Mr. Nichollas pawed with his boot and then burst out laughing. Captain chortled and nudged his belly.

Faith shook her head. “Are you guys like this with all the reindeer?” There were hundreds of them—knowing them by name and personality was impossible. Unless … unless they were family. Much like her patients who cared for their dogs and their cats like they were members of the family, the Nichollases cared for these animals.

Caleb covered his eyes like he was embarrassed by his dad and Captain. “Those two … I can’t take them anywhere.”

Faith startled herself by laughing. The sound rang out over the open sky and made the reindeer turn to study her. She clamped a hand over her mouth. “Sorry.”

Caleb grinned, placing his hand over his chest. “Don’t be. I think you stopped my world just now.”

She ducked her head and tucked her hair behind her ear. Why did he have to stay stuff like that? She had no way to protect herself from the onslaught of heat that filled her from her lower belly on up.

Captain appeared in her periphery vision, and she took a page out of Caleb’s “how to charm a reindeer” book. “Well, aren’t you handsome and strong?”

Captain bobbed his head. Faith giggled as she gave him the shot. Then she patted his neck. He leaned into her hand before trotting out of the pen to join Chestnut, who looked like she was tired of his macho ways.

This vaccination was unlike any she’d been a part of before, and she found herself eager to meet the next reindeer. Part of her argued that this wasn’t normal, that animals didn’t behave like this and that wranglers weren’t the gentlemen they professed to be.

But there was no arguing with what was right before her eyes. These reindeer were special. They not only understood what people said, but they spoke back in their own ways. A lift on an eyebrow. A cock of the head. A nudge of the nose. It was like learning a whole new magical language.

It wasn’t long before she had to go refill her vest. Caleb met her at the tent door with a mug of steaming hot chocolate. “Take a second and warm up your fingers.”

She wrapped them around the mug “Thank you. I didn’t realize how cold they were.”

“I know. It sneaks up on you.” He tucked his hands in his coat pocket and considered her.

She blew across the top of the mug before taking a tentative sip. It was perfect: warm and with enough chocolate to fill her up. “What?”

“You’re having fun.” He stated it like a question.

Faith took stock of the light feeling she had and the satisfaction of doing work she loved. She lifted a shoulder. “I am.”

Caleb cocked a grin. “Why?”

She rolled her eyes. “Well, it’s not because of you—if that’s what you’re thinking.” She pushed past him and headed to the food tent to put down her cup. Caleb’s laughter followed behind, nipping at her coat and making her giggle to herself. Maybe part of it was because of him. He was called away to help with something, and she continued on without him.

Caleb and his family were unlike any family she’d ever known. She stopped short and stared out over the ranch.

“Is everything okay?” asked Mr. Nichollas from where he ladled himself a mug of cocoa.

“I just figured it out.” She turned to him. “How you all get along and everything is so perfect here.”

His eyebrows shot up.

“It’s the reindeer.”

The eyebrows slowly lowered as if he wasn’t sure where she was going with this.

Faith hurried to explain. “You all have the same vision of caring for the reindeer and put that above all else—even yourselves. It’s always about the good of the reindeer, and that in turn creates harmony.” It made so much sense as to why her father chose this place over his family. He couldn’t get this kind of dedication and purpose at home, so he spent his time on the ranch.

Mr. Nichollas contemplated the contents of his cup. “You’re close. Family is most important, and in turn, the family takes care of the