a reindeer wasn’t exactly normal, but he had no other choice, as Rudy seemed determined to get his hooves off the ground.
“No,” Faith groused.
Caleb considered her double meaning and liked her all the more for it. He threw an arm over the back of the deer and kicked one leg out. “I promise I’ll be on my best behavior. You can lock me in the clinic with Rudy.”
Faith considered him. “I might just take you up on that.” Working with Rudy while he held the deer still, Faith was able to give him the shot.
Caleb racked his brain for a way to make this work. Obviously, Rudy couldn’t be trusted to ground himself and needed a babysitter. But he also needed the surgery, and the North Pole needed him. He had the right temperament to be one of Santa’s reindeer. They didn’t really know if he had the speed, because they’d never been able to let him fly at his full potential because of his eyes. Getting even one more reindeer up north would make a big difference.
Technically, Mom could go with Rudy, but she was needed here. Dad might spend a lot of time in the office, but Mom was the brains behind the business. She kept their government permits in order and applied for grants that allowed them to do things like give high-quality veterinary care to the animals—including elective surgeries.
Any of his brothers were out of the question. Jack would see how wonderful Faith was and fall for her himself. Forest would do his best to spill all of Caleb’s most embarrassing moments—including video. Pax would speak little and probably be okay—but he would hate the assignment. And Drake was too young to be trusted with a reindeer off the ranch. He was trying, though—bless his heart.
An idea struck, and Caleb spoke before he thought it through. “Why don’t you talk to Doc about it and see what he thinks? If he trusts me in his house, then maybe you can too.”
Faith stepped closer and looked up at him, her blue-grey eyes luminous in the dimming daylight. “I’ll do that. Thanks for understanding.”
Words. He needed words. Gulping, his mouth dry and his throat tight, he nodded.
Faith slipped out of the stall and headed for Sparkle’s stall next.
Caleb stared after her. He glanced down to find Rudy watching him. This close up, he could probably make out Caleb’s confusion. “I hope you can keep a level head around her, because I’m struggling.”
Rudy shook his head, making his ears flap against his cheeks.
Caleb chuckled, rubbed his head, and locked the stall. “Stay on your feet,” he hissed over the door.
Rudy gave him a look that said, I will if you will.
“Yeah, well, that’s the trick, isn’t it?”
“Caleb?” Faith called.
“Coming.” He hurried in, hoping Sparkle wasn’t hovering off the ground. That was all they needed: a reindeer to out them. Gaining Faith’s trust proved hard enough with regular reindeer; he could only imagine what flying ones would add to the situation.
Chapter 12
Faith
Card-stock stocking cutouts lined the wall of the rehab center, sporting names in glitter, Sharpie, and crayon. Faith wondered if each resident and worker signed their own or if a good Samaritan from the community had come in and decorated for the holidays. Gold tinsel garlands swooped between the stockings and added a garish festiveness to the otherwise sad décor.
A ball of anger grew inside of Faith. This was what her father preferred over coming home with her? “Bathroom breaks,” she mumbled to herself as a reminder of why she should not be upset. Dad was doing her a favor by being here, even if it felt like another rejection.
She turned a corner, noting the Charlie Brown tree with multicolored lights and no ornaments. The saddest part about the whole thing was that it wasn’t even a real tree someone had felt sorry for; it was fake. Her dad must be miserable. He loved Christmas with the eagerness of a little boy waiting for his first bike.
The sound of Dad’s laughter met her in the hallway and directed her to his room. He was sitting up in a hospital bed, wearing red flannel pajamas and watching Elf.
Faith grinned as he cracked up over Buddy jumping across mattresses in the department store. “Do you ever get tired of this show?”
Dad’s eyebrows rocketed upward. “Baby girl!” He held out his arm, pointing to the screen. “This is a classic. I watch it every December and it gets better and better.”
“They say