Santa Wore Combat Boots (5 page)

“Oh, I’ll prove something all right.” She glared. “I’ll prove that Christmas is just another day, and as long as there are candles and food on the tables, guests at this ridiculous dinner will think it’s great.” She raised her arms in emphasis.

“Well then, let’s go! You’ve got a lot to learn.” Jake watched as her eyes roamed to the coconut cream pie on the counter, and he knew he was the likely target. He couldn’t resist pushing her buttons and stated, “If you can behave yourself, we’ll drop that off to Paul on our way through town.”

“Ugh!” her face registered shock that he’d read her thoughts, and he laughed at the bright pink splotches on her cheeks. “Kids, come down and get your coats, it’s time to run errands.”

“Errands? Already?” Sarah appeared at the top of the stairs, not looking happy at all until she noticed Jake. “Jake! Are you coming on errands?” she asked when she reached the bottom.

“Yes, Mr. Nicklaus is driving us around town.” Emma interjected before raising a brow in his direction. “Apparently I need things for the dinner, now go get your brother’s coat.” She reached to help her son down the rest of the stairs.

“Did you tell her everything?” Sarah whispered, her eyes bright. Jake put his finger to his lips and “shushed.”

“Tell me what?” Emma turned to face them, pursing her lips. “Just what are you two up to?”

He and Sarah exchanged a wink. They’d developed their plan last night. He thought Emma would bust from being left in the dark, but Sarah insisted he keep it a surprise.

“You’ll see.” Sarah giggled, and Jake helped her slip on her jacket. She even took his hand as they walked out the door. This little imp had asked for a traditional Christmas, and Jake was not going to let her down. In the process, he would make sure Emma embraced the holiday spirit once more.

“For goodness sake, you two, let’s just get this over with,” she grumbled while following them out the door.

CHAPTER FIVE

“Do you mind telling me where we’re going?” Emma questioned when she noticed they were leaving town.

“You’ll see,” Jake replied while keeping his eyes on the road. A soft snow filled the air. Emma watched snowflakes smack the window then melt against the glass. A couple miles outside of town she noticed a sign that read KINNEY’S TREE FARM.

“Pine boughs?” She broke the silence, not knowing what his plans were.

“Something like that.”

“Are you going to tell me anything?”

“I’m not sure if I can. You’ll have to check with the boss.” Jake nodded toward the back seat.

“Trees, Mommy! We’re getting trees!” Sarah pointed out the window at fields full of every pine tree imaginable.

“Trees, as in plural? I thought we were just getting great smelling pine boughs?”

“Jake said we could get a real tree for our house. I told him last year we just had the small one from the garden center.”

“And we planted it at Grandpa’s house in the spring, didn’t we?” Emma reminded her daughter, not sure where the child was headed with this.

“I remember. I think Santa didn’t have room on the table for our presents and that’s why he didn’t leave many. Jake promised it would be different this year, and I believe him. Jake is magic, Mommy.”

“He is, is he?” Emma glanced at his profile. So her daughter felt it too. There was no surprise Sarah had taken to Jake. The man was not only handsome, but extremely charming. And now Emma had even more reason to believe he could help her.

“Oh, I wouldn’t go that far.” Jake laughed. “And remember, Sarah, it’s not all about the gifts.”

“I know, Jake. It’s about love and the baby Jesus.”

“So why the plural trees?” Emma asked eager to change the subject. Sarah and Jake had done more than make decorations, and she wasn’t sure how she felt about their bonding.

“One for our house and the other for the community hall. Jake says it will make everyone feel like Christmas.” Sarah grinned bright and wide from the back seat. Emma thought her impressionable daughter needed a reality check.

“Oh really? What if people don’t want to feel like Christmas? What if they just want to come and share some good food and go home?”

“Who wouldn’t want to feel like Christmas?” Sarah’s innocent question tugged at her heart.

“Well, I don’t know, but I’m sure there are some people who don’t.” Emma looked once more at the passing pines.

“They are Scrooges then, because Christmas is pretty.”

“Hum-bug!” Ben exclaimed from his seat, and the truck filled with laughter.

“That’s right, Ben, we don’t want any humbuggers,” Sarah confirmed and high-fived her brother’s mitten.

Emma faced the front as memories of holidays past filled her mind. She remembered the laughter, the love and the joy of being with family and friends. From the time she was a little girl to her married years with Larry, she’d always taken pride in decorating and making Christmas a special season.

Her heart clinched at the reality of recent Christmases. What she’d thought of as making it special, she now saw had been just barely getting by. She’d used minimal decoration, but the kids
were small and she really didn’t think it made a difference. Sarah’s push for a “real” Christmas told her otherwise.

Emma had become a humbugger.

“C’mon, Mommy! Let’s go find the perfect tree.” Sarah pounded on the window and Emma startled.

Emma was so deep in thought she didn’t notice the truck had stopped or that everyone had gotten out. She knew she wanted to make it up to the kids. Right here at the tree farm would be the perfect start.

“Well, look at this. You seem to have thought of everything, Mr. Nicklaus.” Emma tried to keep her tone flat as she looked at Ben all strapped into the toboggan. “What’s in the backpack?” she pointed to his shoulder.

“Supplies in case we need them.”

“Supplies?” Her mood shifted with curiosity and amusement.

“Yup,” Sarah chimed in, quick to stand by his side. “Jake did think of everything, Mommy.” When Sarah looked up at Jake, the ice around Emma’s heart began to melt just as it had last night when she’d caught them all asleep.

“Are we headed to the North Pole?” Emma thought the question was logical enough and the suspense was beginning to grow.

“Kind of, right, Jake?” Sarah and Jake exchanged a knowing look, but refused to fill her in.

“Yeah...something like that.”

***

Sarah helped Jake pull the line to the sled, refusing to ride like her baby brother. Emma couldn’t believe what had gotten over her obstinate daughter. Maybe Traci was right, and having a man around after all these years was good for everyone, not just Emma. With Jake around, Sarah seemed so full of life and happiness.

Not a single complaint came out of Sarah’s mouth as they trekked up and down small hills, sometimes sinking to their knees. Emma admittedly bit back a few of her own when she looked at her watch and noted they had been walking for almost an hour and hadn’t found a perfect tree yet.

“What about this one?” she asked, touching the soft pine needles.

“Too skinny,” Sarah replied after a half-hearted gaze and continued walking. Emma looked to Jake for support. He only shrugged and followed Sarah.

“Wait a minute.” Emma jogged to catch up. “We’ve passed hundreds of trees and you haven’t liked any of them. How about this one here? It’s not skinny.”

“Too round,” came her daughter’s reply.

“Ho-Ho!” Ben chimed in, his dark curly hair peeking from under his hat. “Want out, see ho-ho.”

“Not yet, Ben. We’re almost there.” Sarah patted her brother’s head.

“Almost there? Well, I hate to break it to you all, but we sort of have a time schedule if we’re going to decorate the community hall like you want to.” Emma caught the flash of worry in her daughter’s eyes and wished she could have taken back the words, but she couldn’t. “We must have walked for miles. Just pick a tree and let’s go. Look, here’s one, and it’s fine.”

“No it’s not, Mommy. It has too many bare spots and we can’t hang the ornaments.” Sarah’s voice hitched and Jake crouched beside her, casting his eyes on Emma.

“Emma, we just need to go up over this hill,” he said.

“What are we going to find when we get there, more trees? I honestly don’t see why we have to go any farther.”

Jake squeezed Sarah’s shoulder and stood. He moved close to Emma’s ear, and she quickly blamed her shaky knees on the cold and falling snow. What she couldn’t explain was the warm, liquid feeling that rushed from her head all the way to her toes when he whispered in her ear.

“Trust me.”

Sarah took her hand and tugged. “Please, Mommy?”

“All right, just up the hill and no farther, got it?” Emma let them lead her to the top of the hill. What she saw took her breath away and formed an instant smile on her face. “What is this?”

Nestled among a grove of large trees was what appeared to be the North Pole and Santa’s workshop. Emma knew it couldn’t be true, but the small cottages with smoke pouring from their chimneys and people bustling around told her otherwise.

“The best kept secret at the tree farm,” Jake replied.

“It’s Santa’s workshop!” Sarah squealed and started to rush down the hill.

“Not quite, peanut, but it’s as close as we can get.” Jake grabbed the hood of her coat to draw her back. “And there’s only one way to get down there.”

“How?” Sarah’s eager voice asked.

“Hop on, and hold tight to your brother.” Jake pointed at the toboggan and Sarah squealed once more. Emma followed her daughter’s gaze down the huge hill.

“We’ll beat you to the bottom, Jake!” Sarah climbed behind Ben and wrapped her arms around him.

“Guess again, we’re all going together.”

“Yay!” Sarah yelled.

“
Whaaat
?” Emma’s eyes grew wide. “Oh, I don’t know. I haven’t been on one of these since I was a little older than Sarah.”

“All the more reason to get on now; c’mon, you know you want to. Sit behind Sarah and I’ll be last.”

With one mighty push, they shot down the hill screaming and laughing as snow sprayed their faces. The sled leaned to its side several times, but Jake leaned the opposite way to keep them balanced. When he wasn’t steering the sled, Emma felt his arms encircle her waist.

She felt safe, even at the ungodly speed they were traveling. This man would watch out for them, she believed that. With his help, her family would be whole again.

When they finally slowed to a stop, Sarah was the first to hop off.

“Can we do it again?” She circled the toboggan and pointed up the hill.

“It will take us hours to walk up that hill again.” Emma scooped up Ben. “Why don’t we enjoy being at the bottom for a while?”

“Ho-Ho!” Ben exclaimed and raised his arms.

“Yes, we will see Santa.” Emma felt the first genuine smile cross her face as a happiness she hadn’t experienced in a while filled her. Sarah had taken Jake’s hand and proceeded to pull him to
ward the first row of cottages.

“Hey, you guys,” she called, “are we just going to leave the sled here?”

“Wait, let me tie it down. Stay here, I’ll be right back,” Jake said to Sarah and jogged back to where Emma stood holding the rope. He pulled the sled to a nearby pole and looped the rope around so it wouldn’t slide away. Satisfied with the knot, he turned to catch up to Emma and the kids when he slipped on a patch of ice, landing flat on his back.

“Oh my gosh!” Emma ran to his side with Sarah on her heels. “Are you okay?”

“Jake’s not hurt,” Sarah stated, then reached out as two downy white feathers floated into her hands. “He caught you.”

“Who caught him, honey?” Emma asked.

“The soldier. He caught Jake so he wouldn’t get hurt.”

CHAPTER SIX

Pushed was more like it.

Jake didn’t move. He cautiously surveyed the area, looking for any signs that Larry might be about. There was nothing except the feathers resting in Sarah’s woolen mittens. Jake’s memory flashed to the feathers in Emma’s kitchen and earlier that morning when snow broke loose from the roof. Normally, he didn’t have any problems seeing the spirit.

The message here was unclear.

“Jake? Did you hit your head?” Emma knelt next to him, putting her gloved hand to the back of his head. “Are you all right?”

Her face was like an angel’s, creamy skin and bright blue eyes. He could get lost in them if he let himself. Her full, pink lips begged to be kissed, but he couldn’t. Larry was making his presence known and Jake had to figure out why.

“I’m fine, no need to worry. The only thing hurt is my pride.” He stood and brushed off his jeans. “Let’s get down to business. I do believe we’re on a time clock?” Taking a final look at the tied-up toboggan, he laid his hand at the small of Emma’s back and guided her toward the first row of shops, keeping a watchful eye for anything out of the ordinary.

He could feel a difference in her composure. She seemed more at ease than he’d seen her in a long time. He didn’t want to rush the day, but Emma was right. They needed to find their trees and get back in time to decorate for dinner. This was a good starting point, and if all went as planned, Emma would be full of Christmas spirit by Christmas day.

“Thank you,” she said and looked up into his eyes.

“For what?”

“For this.” She swept her hand before them. “I never knew such a place even existed. This is almost magical.”

“Christmas should be.”

“Oh, I know, but it’s been so long. I’ve almost forgotten what magic feels like.”

“Jake is magic, Mommy!” Sarah pushed herself between them, taking both of their hands. “This is the best place ever.”

“Don’t lose that spirit,” Jake said and squeezed her small hand.

“I won’t, I promise,” she chimed.

“How do you do it?” Emma leaned over Sarah’s head and asked close to his ear.

“Do what?”

“Make your magic.” Emma shot him a knowing look he didn’t quite know what to make of. If he didn’t know better, he’d say she was up to something, but he was the one who surprised her with this little excursion. After all these years of being a helpful neighbor, she had to know there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for her. With that said, what could she possibly have up her sleeve?

“No magic, Emma, I’m just being me.” His face felt hot and he looked away. Damn if she wasn’t the most beautiful woman he’d ever met.

“I don’t believe it, Mr. Nicklaus. There’s something about you I can’t put my finger on, therefore, it must be magic.”

And there it was again, that spark of something unmentionable which passed between them like an electric current. He felt compelled to pull her in his arms, but the thought of retribution from Larry kept his emotions in check.

During the time he’d served with Larry, he had fallen in love with Emma. Larry shared each and every letter with his comrades, and Jake felt like he knew her better than anyone. Even with being a
faceless woman, she had worked her way into his heart. Now after three years of fulfilling a promise to his best friend, he was finding it hard to keep his distance, especially during a moment like this.

“This season is all about magic and miracles, Emma. You just have to believe.”

“You may find this shocking, but I’m starting to see that.” The corners of her mouth tipped up in a smile radiant enough to melt the surrounding snow. She paused a moment as if just then experiencing the same charge he’d been feeling.

“You okay?” he had to ask to break the silence.

“What? Yeah, I’m fine.” She shook her head like she was trying to break free from a daze. “Sorry, I kind of spaced out.” She looked confused, and laughed it off making her more appealing to him with every passing second.

“Ho-Ho!” Ben bounced on Emma’s hip.

“Easy there, Tiger, we’ll see him in a minute. Here, let me take him for a while.” Jake hoisted the toddler to rest high on his shoulders. “How’s the view up there?”

“Yay!” Snow sifted from Ben’s mittens as he clapped his hands.

Jake noticed the continued expression of happiness on Emma’s face. He could almost see the walls beginning to crumble around her. Slowly, she was becoming the woman she used to be. As much as he wanted to take her hand, he kept his own securely on Ben’s knees.

“There are more trees over here,” Sarah pointed and started to run ahead.

“Don’t get too far,” Emma called after her spirited daughter. “I swear, she would keep on going if I didn’t pull her back every once in a while.” Again, she laughed and Jake’s heart swelled a bit more.

“Sometimes you just have to let them go.” He wasn’t sure if he was referring to Sarah or Larry.

“Oh, no, not Sarah.” Emma shook her head. “She will strike up a conversation with a total stranger and most likely leave with them and not think twice.”

“Trust in her.” He didn’t know where this was coming from, but he hoped she picked up on the true meaning behind his words.

“She’s five, Jake.”

“Right, I see your point.” Jake whistled shrilly, and Sarah stopped in her tracks. “Come on back here. We don’t want you to get lost.”

“But this is Santa’s workshop. Who can get lost here?” Sarah returned to his side, looking a little disappointed that she couldn’t be the leader.

“I’m sure you wouldn’t get lost, but we’d like you back with us. Remember, what you do, your brother wants to do and he’s still too little.”

“Oh, yeah, right.” Sarah raised her big blue eyes toward Ben. “How come he gets to ride on your shoulders?”

“I’m giving your mom a break from carrying him. You’ll get a turn next, okay?”

“Thanks, Jake!” Sarah slid her way once more between his hip and Emma’s. She took her mother’s hand and latched onto the hem of his coat.

“I don’t know how you do it.” Emma’s breath produced puffs in the cold air as she spoke.

“Do what?” he asked, casting a knowing smile her way. Her eyes danced like the sun glinting off new fallen snow. This carefree, happy look suited her. He would do his best to make sure she was never troubled by stress and worry again.

“You know what I’m talking about.”

“I don’t think I do,” he teased, knowing darn well what she meant.

“Magic, that’s all I’m saying.” She turned her head to face front as they continued walking down the snow covered, cobbled streets.

The thought of pulling her in his arms was too much. Jake knew he needed a distraction. If he focused on her much longer, he would lose it and do something he knew for sure she wasn’t ready
for. The clock was ticking and they needed to find a tree, a few more decorations and leave enough time to get back to town and decorate the community hall.

“Look! There are more trees!” Sarah shot ahead on her mission to find the perfect Christmas tree. Inside, Jake breathed a sigh of relief.

“Slow down!” Emma jogged after her daughter, and Jake quickened his pace to keep up.

“This is it! Right here!” Sarah danced around a tall, full and round tre
e as if it were a shining star.

“Are you sure?” Jake lowered Ben and slipped off his pack which held his supplies.

“Yes! Yes!” the impish girl chanted, continuing to jump up and down.

“Settle down, Sarah,” Emma coaxed and grabbed the teetering Ben before he plopped into the snow.

Jake pulled out the small hand saw, knelt on the ground and began his task. Every once in a while he would glance at the expectant faces of Emma and the kids. He considered himself a lucky man that she was allowing him this privilege. In a matter of minutes, the tree toppled down and his fan club cheered.

“Not bad, huh?” Jake surveyed the fallen pine and trimmed some of the lower branches. Satisfied, he checked his watch. “Right on time. Let’s drag this back to the sled.”

“We have to get one more. We can’t leave yet.” Sarah pulled on his arm.

“Oh, that’s right, Mr. Nicklaus, you did promise us two trees today.” Emma’s voice sounded flirty and when he looked at her, there was no disguising the gleam in her eyes.

“Are you sure I said two trees?” he teased, knowing Sarah would take the bait.

“Yes, yes you did, remember? One for the community hall and one for our house. We can’t forget, Jake, not this Christmas!” Sarah turned pleading eyes to her mother as if he would really walk away with only one tree.

“I’m just teasing you, peanut. We’re going to need to hurry if we want to make it back to the community hall to decorate.”

“What about this one?” Emma stood by a full, blue spruce which must have been seven feet tall. She could have been a page out of a holiday catalog, standing there in her field jacket, tall boots and her scarf double wrapped around her neck.

“Mommy, it’s perfect! This one has to be for the house, okay?” Sarah raced around Emma and the tree and Jake snatched up his saw.

“What about you, buddy?” he asked Ben, who rested his head on Emma’s shoulder. “Does this look like a good tree to you?” Ben nodded, and burrowed closer to Emma’s scarf.

“I think he needs a nap,” Emma whispered and Jake smiled at the picture the three of them made together. He knew in his soul, promise or not, he would do anything for Emma and her children. A love like he’d never known continued to fill his heart with each passing minute.

“Well, then I’ll cut this fellow down as fast as I can.” Jake stood true to his word, and in no time was pulling both trees back toward the village. Every hundred feet or so, Sarah had him stop and turn the trees over so the branches wouldn’t become flat.

“Let’s give Jake’s arms a break,” Emma said outside one of the shops. “And mine, too,” she added and set Ben onto a wooden bench.

“Good place to stop.” Jake shook out his burning muscles and nodded at the storefront sign. “The Treasure Box. We should be able to pick up the rest of what we need right here.”

“The rest? What else could we possibly need?” She gestured toward the enormous trees. “Oh, wait, pine boughs.”

“No, not pine boughs. We’ll make those ourselves once I trim the branches at home. C’mon inside and check it out.”

Moments later they emerged, their arms loaded with bags of ornaments, ribbon and candy canes. Emma pointed at the window displays, the happiness in her voice carrying through the air. Again, he was filled with a sense of pride and love for her.

“We have gone above and beyond decorating for dinner, Jake. No one has ever done this much.”

“This will be a Christmas everyone will never forget.”

“I’m beginning to believe it. Now how are we going to get all of this, the trees, the kids and the toboggan back up that monstrous hill?”

“Why, the Reindeer Express, of course.” No sooner were his words out, than a train puffed its way through the surrounding forest and stopped at the station. Emma’s lips parted in surprise, and Sarah shrieked with excitement when he produced four shiny golden tickets.

“Ben! Ben! Look¸ we’re going to ride the train just like in the movie!”