Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
“I love Dasher. I think he’s just as special as Rudolph,” Mindy said, brushing the fur on the reindeer.
Hadley nodded. It was truly magical. Seeing reindeer with huge antlers had startled her at first, but their huge brown eyes and velvet coats were beautiful and when one gave a gentle huff and dipped his head as if saying hello, she’d been won over. She didn’t have a favorite reindeer, but agreed they should all be loved the same. She adjusted the bells around Dasher’s neck.
“Are you having a good time with your Daddy tonight?” Mindy asked.
Yes. Good.
“I’m really sad you’re leaving soon, but it’s been so nice meeting you. Do you guys think you’ll come back and visit?”
Yes. Daddy.
Mindy frowned as she stared at the Daddy card.
“Did you and your Daddy talk about it?”
Hadley nodded and Mindy smiled. “I’m getting so good at talking in Hadley.”
A giddy giggle escaped Hadley before she slapped her hands over her mouth.
“Hey, no,” Mindy soothed, touching Hadley’s arm. “Don’t hide your laughter from me. I love to hear it.”
Hadley lowered her hands and Mindy gave her a reassuring smile.
“Finish up, Little girls. Santa is on his way to collect his reindeer,” Miss Samantha said, walking by and speaking to her group.
“Someone was unkind to you, weren’t they?” Mindy asked, her eyes full of tears. “Because you’re a little different? Is that why you don’t like to talk?”
Hadley nodded.
“I’m really sorry, Hadley. That’s awful. You know that’s a reflection of their own insecurities, right? They aren’t happy with themselves, so they point out perceived faults in others. Usually it’s things that others can’t change because it makes them feel better about not working on the things in themselves that should be changed. I hope one day their ugly words won’t live in your heart.”
Hadley hugged the Little girl tight. Her words had been very wise for a pseudo-four-year-old. Mindy hugged her back and cupped Hadley’s face. “You’re perfect just the way you are.”
“Okay, everyone, jackets and gloves on so we can get the team back to Santa. He needs to get back to the North Pole so he can make sure everything is running smoothly for tomorrow night,” Master Travis said. “Once you’re dressed, line up outside, please.”
Mindy’s Daddy helped them back into their winter jackets and gloves before guiding them outside to the small group of people waiting for Santa.
Master Travis and Tiago, whom Hadley now knew was one of Eloise’s Daddies, helped hook the reindeers into the harnesses connected to Santa’s sleigh before leading Rudolph outside with the rest of the team following. Hadley was a little disappointed his nose wasn’t bright enough to light up the whole ranch, even if it was super sparkly.
“Look! There’s Santa!” one of the school-aged Littles yelled.
Hadley squinted and sure enough, the large, jolly man was walking down to his sleigh. He carried his empty red bag over his shoulder and rang a bell in the other hand.
“Ho! Ho! Ho!” he yelled.
The Littles jumped up and down, clapping. Hadley observed them and realized in some ways she wasn’t so different after all.
Santa walked down to his sleigh and made a big show of checking out all his reindeer.
“Wow, I think this is the best my team has ever looked!”
Hadley felt a surge of pride at his words. They had been the best Reindeer Team ever.
“Thank you so much, boys and girls. You did such a great job being good this year and with my team. Santa is so proud of you all.”
Everyone cheered and the Bigs clapped for the excited bunch. Hadley wished her Daddy was here so he could hear how proud Santa was of them. She hoped she would make him proud too.
“Do you guys think you could help me with one more thing?”
“Yes, Sir, Santa! We can help you with anything!” Mindy shouted. Hadley wasn’t so sure they could help Santa with anything. What if he needed directions? Hadley wasn’t a directions type of girl. North? South? She could only tell you to turn left or right at the toy store.
“I forgot to give out a very important gift tonight. It’s the only one left in my sack. Do you guys think you could help me find the Little it belongs to? Since I’m not at the North Pole, I’m a little fuzzy.”
Poor Santa. Hadley thought maybe he needed some cookies.
“Yes!”
“Yes!”
“We can help you find the person, Santa!”
“I know everyone on the Ranch, Santa, I can help.”
Hadley smiled at all the people willing to help Santa. What a wonderful group of friends.
“Perfect,” Santa said, pulling his bag to the front of him and digging around in there. He pulled out a tiny box.
Oh, it was sooo teenie. Maybe it was a pacifier for a nursery Little.
“Okay, this present is for Hadley Bright. Does anyone know where she might be?”
“That’s you!” Mindy squealed.
That was her. Oh my!
Everyone talked at once and Hadley found herself a bit overwhelmed. She wished her Daddy was here.
“Quiet down, quiet down, please. Santa needs to hear,” Master Travis corrected the group.
Hadley reached for Mindy’s hand and Mindy took it. “It’s okay. Do you want me to walk with you?”
Hadley nodded, thankful Mindy offered.
Her friend walked with her to the front of the group.
Hadley tapped her Hadley card.
“Hi, Hadley. It’s so nice to meet you again.” Now that she was standing in front of Santa she thought maybe he sounded familiar. More familiar than she remembered when she met him earlier.
“I am so sorry you didn’t get this present earlier. I don’t know how I missed it.”
“Maybe a naughty elf snuck it into your bag,” Mindy offered.
The grownups chuckled.
“A naughty elf in my toy shop? Perish the thought!” Santa said with an exaggerated shiver.
He held out the present to Hadley. With trembling hands she took the beautifully wrapped present.
She stared at him, waiting for further instruction.
“You may open it, little one.”
Gently pulling the ribbon off the box, she shoved it in her pocket, not wanting Santa to think she was a litterbug. She tugged one piece of tape off before neatly unwrapping the rest of the paper. It was a black velvet jewelry box. Opening the lid, she gasped when one of the most beautiful rings stared back at her. It was a multi-diamond, oval-cut in what Hadley would assume was white gold. It was a perfect engagement ring. Was it really hers?
“Hadley?”
She looked up from the box to see her Daddy kneeling in the snow. She looked down at the box and then back at her Daddy before running into his arms so fast they both fell backwards on the snow. Hadley hit her face on the ground before Finn could catch her, but she didn’t care. She covered his face with kisses.
“Yes, yes, yes, yes!” she whispered, her excitement overriding her fear of talking.
She was lifted off him and set on her feet. Then Santa helped Daddy to his feet. Chuckling filled her ears, but she didn’t care.
“Can I ask the question first, Peeps?” Daddy laughed.
She nodded.
Finn took her hand. “Hadley, I love you more than all the stars in the sky and all the sand on the beaches combined. The last week has been the best week of my life and I know I can’t leave the Ranch without making sure I spend the rest of my life with you by my side. Will you marry me, baby?”
“Yes! Yes! Yes!” Hadley answered again.
Finn picked the box up from the snow, where it had fallen when she’d plowed into him, and pulled the ring from its velvet nest. He knelt back on one knee and slid it onto her finger. It fit perfectly and sparkled just like the snow. Hadley thought it was the most beautiful engagement ring ever.
“I love you, sweet girl,” Finn said before standing and pulling her into his arms.
“I love you, Daddy.”
Finn took her mouth in a heated kiss full of promise and passion. Master Travis wolf -whistled and Santa pretended to cover Rudolph’s eyes.
Finn released her mouth and laughed. “Best. Christmas. Ever.”