Wrapped Up in Christmas Faith (Wrapped Up in Christmas #5)

Chapter One

The late October wind nipped at veteran Maggie Major’s sleep-deprived body.

Wrapping the tattered quilt, she’d grabbed on her way out of the Victorian bed and breakfast tighter, she hugged her knees to her in the green Adirondack chair.

The chilly early morning shouldn’t bother Maggie.

She’d endured far worse than the small Kentucky town’s cold snap.

Her gaze lifted to the dancing-in-the-wind red, white, and blue flag waving proudly in its spotlit place of honor just beyond the empty firepit.

Pine Hill, Kentucky. What was Maggie doing in an apple pie and baseball, everybody-knows-everybody town?

Not that she didn’t recall the events that led to her stay at the bed and breakfast’s free Bed for Vets.

She could no more forget than the waning night could prevent the rising sun’s pink, orange, and purple streaks painting the dawn sky.

For too long, she’d preferred the darkness.

But just as the horizon couldn’t remain in its shadowy cloak, neither could Maggie.

Life moved onward even when her heart remained in the past.

Maggie sighed, her breath puffing in a white cloud that quickly dissipated in the crisp morning air.

She’d royally messed up. iSecure owner, Lukas Kincaid, a former high-ranking Army Ranger turned international businessman, had given her a job at his security firm and a second chance at life.

All she had to do was go to Kentucky to keep an eye on the cheeriest woman Maggie had ever met after a data breach had revealed her husband’s identity on a job he’d pulled a few years prior.

She wanted to have purpose again. Lukas was giving her the chance that she probably didn’t deserve.

He believed in her. She wouldn’t disappoint him.

More importantly, she wouldn’t disappoint herself.

Over the past eighteen months, she’d done enough of that to last a lifetime.

Wallowing in self-pity and grief had changed nothing but led her down a destructive path she’d been fortunate to survive.

That was Maggie. A survivor. Even when she’d have chosen to not awaken to the bleakness of what had happened the last time she’d sat at the controls of a Black Hawk UH-60M.

She had lived, but the life she’d loved had died that day.

Shivers prickled her skin. Maggie pulled the quilt tighter, wishing it could veil her from the fragmented memories assaulting her senses with blinding pain and the stench of heavy smoke.

From behind where she sat, the Victorian’s back door opened, jarring Maggie’s mind from the past. Footsteps crunched across the frost-coated grass leading to the garden bench.

Every sound was precious. The wind beating the flag lanyard against the metal pole.

The footsteps of the man walking toward her.

The crow of a rooster somewhere off in the distance.

Her own breath. Dragging the edge of the quilt with her, she touched the tip of the tiny hearing aid in her right ear.

She knew it was there, but the advanced model Lukas had her fitted with was so different from the standard one she’d previously had that she occasionally had to reassure herself the fancy model was still in place.

Not that she wouldn’t immediately know with the difference the device made in her ability to hear the world around her.

“Up early, again?” Bodie Lewis paused next to Maggie to stretch his hamstrings prior to his morning run.

The sheriff’s deputy had once served in the Army Rangers with Lukas.

An IED explosion had ended his military career.

In some ways, their histories weren’t that dissimilar.

They’d both been sole survivors. But Bodie had been innocent of the deaths of his brothers-in-arms. Both the Safety Investigation Board and the Accident Investigation Board found Maggie negligent.

Why did she have such a difficult time accepting that?

She squeezed her eyes shut, willing memories to come forth that her brain wouldn’t let her access except in useless bits.

“I recall those days.” Bodie’s tone was calmer than it should be for what he alluded to. “Those nights.” He took a deep breath. “Fortunately, they’re rare these days. Time doesn’t erase the past, but it does help.”

“Glad to hear.” Knowing Bodie had found peace, whether from the picturesque small town, his wife and daughter, or just with the passage of time, gave Maggie comfort that at least some did move on beyond the trauma they’d endured.

Cupping her icy fingers, she blew into them.

“Is that what Lukas is hoping for by sending me to this cozy little Christmas-crazy town? That it’s going to cure me with garland and twinkly lights that are already in some shop windows when it’s not even the end of October yet?

Have these people not heard of Halloween and Thanksgiving? ”

Glancing her way, Bodie arched a brow and focused on the part of what she’d said that she’d rather him not have. “Do you need cured, Maggie?”

“I’m a realist. There are some things that can’t be cured.

” Maggie shrugged, causing the quilt to slip.

The cold air instantly cut through the long-sleeved black T-shirt she wore.

Shivering, she adjusted the blanket back over her shoulders, then tucked her hands beneath the soft material.

Her quivering was from the wind, not his question or her answer.

Lukas had said the Pine Hill job was perfect since it also kept her on the down-low while he made inquiries regarding her crash.

“There are things that can’t be cured. But bad things can go into a”—he hesitated, obviously searching for the right words—“sort of remission. You know the negative is there, the pain, the loss. It never goes away.” He stared up at the flag they’d both been willing to lay down their lives for.

He’d seen his brothers-in-arms do just that. So had Maggie.

“But the bad subsides enough to let life be good again.” He paused, took a deep breath. “There was a time when I would have laughed at anyone who told me that. I was wrong. My life is good, and yours will be too.”

Life had been good. She’d had the career of her dreams, a body that had been whole, and been in love with a man who’d said he loved her back.

Now, good seemed as unattainable as the ability to step back in time.

If only she could do that, step back and undo whatever it was she’d done wrong that fateful night her life had detonated.

“You’re right about the Christmas-crazy town too,” Bodie continued.

“There are those who have Christmas trees in their store windows, but don’t think they slack on the other holidays.

They don’t, as you’ll see with Hamilton House’s Halloween party Friday night.

It takes some getting used to, but Pine Hill’s holiday joy is genuine and contagious.

You’ll quickly learn that with your job at Harvey Farms.”

Part of the requirements for staying at the Bed for Vets suite was to work a minimum of twenty-five hours a week.

As Maggie’s real purpose in being in Pine Hill was to keep Bodie’s family safe when he wasn’t around, Maggie wasn’t keen on the idea of a job away from Hamilton House.

But since she would only work part-time, perhaps the farm wouldn’t be too bad.

She’d learn what she had to do when she started the Monday following Sarah and Bodie’s Halloween party.

Sighing, Maggie wrinkled her nose. “I don’t foresee myself catching on to Christmas trees prior to jack-o’-lanterns and cornucopias.”

“Perhaps not.” Bodie’s gaze cut toward Maggie, his eyes not wavering from hers as he said, “But never underestimate the effect of spending time with my wife. Be warned, Sarah is a major source of spreading holiday cheer. Before you realize what’s happened, you’ll be hit with dancing sugar plum fairies and flying reindeer. Sarah can’t help herself.”

Maggie snorted. She wouldn’t be catching the Christmas crazies.

Having grown up with being bounced from one foster household to the next, Christmas had never held much meaning other than a stark contrast between Maggie’s childhood and the other children at whichever school she’d currently attended.

She’d joined the military immediately after graduating from high school and being deployed over the holidays had never bothered her.

She’d been with her only true family—her brothers and sisters in arms.

“Christmas is just another day.” Every day of life was just another day.

Bodie chuckled. “I believed that once. Sarah always says that Christmas is the best day of the year. Now, I know she’s right.” He half-smiled as he added, “She became my wife on December twenty-fifth.”

“Which doesn’t make it the best day of the year for the rest of the world.

” Maggie was yet again amazed at how the tough soldier Lukas had told her about had softened.

Lukas spoke of some of the missions they’d served together and given Bodie the highest praise.

“I appreciate what you and Sarah are doing with your Bed for Vets program.” Not everyone cared if those who’d served their country were able to transition back to civilian life.

“Sarah is the kindest person I’ve ever met.

I won’t burst her sparkly holidays-are-everything bubble. ”