One Tough Christmas Cookie - Lucy McConnell Page 0,94

and hugged him. “I’m so glad you’re better.”

“We all are.” Caleb rubbed between Dunder’s antlers.

A thought hit Faith like a freight train. “Will he go back to the North Pole now? That’s where he came from, isn’t it?”

Caleb took her hand and led her back to the sleigh. “It’s up to the Kringles. If you give him a clean bill of health, he could very well head back up north.”

Her lip pouted out. “I don’t want him to go.”

Dunder turned and glared at her. Stomping his back foot, he made the ground shake beneath them.

“Whoa—that sounded like …”

“Thunder,” Caleb finished.

She ginned. “So that’s where he got his name.”

“Yep, and I think Dunder wants to go back.” Caleb helped her arrange the blanket over their laps. “Being one of Santa’s reindeer is a big deal to reindeer. They’re kind of prideful about it.” He whispered the last part. “You’d damage his ego if you tried to keep him here.”

She rolled her eyes. “In that case, fine. I’ll consider signing off on him.”

Caleb flicked the reins and pulled hard to the right to get Dunder to line up so he faced the open fields and the woods beyond. They moved at a steady, slow pace.

Faith wrapped her arm through his and snuggled into his side. “You know, someone told me that a sleigh ride means something to your family. Is that true?”

Caleb’s grin was full of sexy mischief. She gasped at the sight of it, her blood heating. “It does. And I want to show you why.”

“Okay.” She waited for him to explain.

“You ready, Dunder?” he called.

Dunder gave another stomp.

“All righty, then. On, Dunder!” he called.

Faith’s stomach dropped out as the sleigh lifted off the ground and they cleared the treetops. “Caleb!” she squealed.

Caleb’s laughter echoed into the sky. Dunder joined him, and then Faith couldn’t help herself and laughed too. “This is crazy,” she said into the wind. Surprisingly, the air felt more like a light breeze than the pelting feeling of sticking her head out the window on the freeway.

The sleigh was steady, not rocking back and forth or wobbling one bit. Dunder’s gait was smooth, and she relaxed into the velvet covered seat and enjoyed the view. They flew over the open range, where there wasn’t another soul in sight. “It’s wonderful.” Her heart surged with love, and she pressed a kiss to Caleb’s cheek. “Thank you for sharing this with me.” The sleigh ride was more than a chance to show off Dunder’s abilities. It was Caleb bringing her 100% into his magical world of flying reindeer. No more secrets. “I love you,” she blurted.

Caleb turned slightly so he could see her face. “Faith Saintsbury …”

He sounded so serious. Faith swallowed, not sure what he was going to say but feeling like it would be big and life-changing.

“Will you marry me?” He pulled a small black box out of his coat pocket and opened it to reveal a beautiful Christmas ring.

The image blurred as her eyes filled with happy tears. “I’d love to.” She threw her arms around him and kissed him with all the love flowing through her. Caleb moaned and took control of the kiss, stealing her breath and her heart in one swift move.

Dunder jerked to the left, pulling them apart.

Caleb moaned. “I forgot what an old-fashioned guy he is.” He chuckled as he put his arm around her and pulled her close to his side.

“Old-fashioned?” Faith asked.

“Yeah, he doesn’t like couples getting too cozy before the wedding.”

Her cheeks burned and she turned to glare at the reindeer. “I can guard my own virtue, thank you very much.” She then took Caleb’s face in her hands and proceeded to kiss him until they were quite unable to catch their breath.

When they broke apart, Dunder snorted and lifted his nose in the air.

Caleb laughed. “I don’t think anyone has told him to mind his own business before.”

Faith grinned. “It was totally worth it.”

“Yes, it was,” Caleb said low.

Faith leaned back. “I could get used to a Christmas sleigh ride, wrangler.”

“There’s lots more where this came from.” Caleb winked.

Faith laughed.

“Merry Christmas, my future wife.”

Faith was shocked at how much had changed inside of her since meeting Caleb and his magical herd of reindeer. She’d come to Sleigh Bell Country scared and angry, without a drop of Christmas cheer, and now she was full of hope and love and believed in Santa Claus. For her, it was a miracle. She’d once heard a pastor say that God did