Chapter 4
Eve
I am in hell. Festive, twinkling, peppermint-scented hell.
Blitzen—spawn of Satan disguised as a reindeer—is currently galloping through the front yard of The North Star Lodge, sending my painstakingly arranged decorations flying like Christmas confetti.
I don’t know what the hell kind of cheap ass pen Luke set up, but it only held her for about twenty minutes before Blitzen had barreled through it.
“Blitzen, no! Bad reindeer!” I shriek, lunging toward her just as she charges straight through my carefully placed display of nutcrackers, shattering one into sad, wooden shards.
She doesn’t even flinch. She just keeps running forward like a furry freight train, her giant hooves crunching through the manger scene I spent an hour strategically setting up.
My blood pressure skyrockets as she turns, directing herself toward the life size sleigh filled with faux wrapped presents.
A group of about eight children and their parents stand on the front porch of my parent’s inn, steaming mugs of hot chocolate in hand and mouths agape. My brilliant idea to sell tickets and hot chocolate to families who wanted to meet one of Santa’s reindeer has gone terribly awry.
“I swear to Santa, Blitzen… if you knock over that sleigh, I will—”
Crash!
Blitzen plows into the sleigh, sending it toppling sideways and scattering presents through the yard. One of the toy reindeer detaches and lands with a pitiful little thunk in the snow.
I take a deep, calming breath. Murdering a reindeer would officially put me on the naughty list… right?
“Eve? Honey?”
I spin around to see Mom standing on the porch, her expression torn between amusement and mild panic. She’s clutching a coffee mug that says Don’t Mess with Mrs. Claus, and I could really use a sip of whatever’s inside it right now. Even better if that coffee has a splash of Irish in it.
“I don’t suppose you want to help wrangle this big girl, do you?” I ask, shoving my hair out of my face.
She sips her coffee. “Absolutely not. That sounds like a job for one of Santa’s elves.”
“Traitor.”
Blitzen, now emboldened by her successful path of destruction, makes a beeline for the candy cane decorations hanging from the trees.
“Oh, you have got to be kidding me,” I groan as she expertly yanks one down with her teeth and starts chomping like a delinquent kid in a candy store. That’s all we need… for Blitzen to be on a destructive sugar high.
“Mommy, is Blitzen okay?” One of the children tearfully asks.
Mom claps her hands together. “Not to worry, kids! Blitzen ate a couple of Santa’s cookies and just like when you have a little too much sugar, she’s feeling a little bit of a rush! How about we go inside and heat up some more hot chocolate?”
“Yeah!” Several of the kids throw their hands into the air and rush to the front door where my dad is ushering them inside.
Mom hums, stepping down onto the porch to me. “You know, I did try to tell you that too many reindeer might be overkill. But maybe one is going to be too much for us.”
I whirl around. “Luke did this on purpose.”
Mom blinks innocently. “Oh?”
“Oh, please,” I scoff. “He dumped this beast on me knowing full well it’s his problem child and I wouldn’t be able to handle her.
He’s probably off somewhere laughing his grumpy little head off, picturing me getting trampled while he polishes something with his stupid flannel shirts.
But he is not going to get the best of me. I will get this one under control.”
Mom presses her lips together, trying not to smile. “This one? You mean Blitzen… or Luke?”
I groan and turn back to Blitzen, who has now stolen a second candy cane and is eyeing a third. “Enough, you overgrown Christmas menace!”
Marching over, I grab her halter and tug, but she’s approximately the weight of a moving truck and does not budge. Instead, she flicks an ear at me, chews slower, and continues her reign of sugary terror.
Mom steps closer, her expression softening.
“Eve, honey, I know the inn means a lot to you. It does to your dad and I too… but we need to be smart about this. We can’t go into debt just to win the festival contest.” The serious tone in her voice makes me pause.
I shoot one last glare at Blitzen, who remains entirely unbothered, then turn to her.
“We aren’t going into debt for this, Mom. I promise.”
She sighs and leans against the porch railing. “I know what Luke charges for his reindeer, Eve. Eight of Luke’s reindeer will certainly send us into even more debt. Not to mention, four more Christmas trees and holly and garland from Luke’s farm…”
My stomach clenches. “Luke and I have worked out a deal.” I slide a glare at Blitzen.
As long as I can stick it out with this monster for another couple hours.
“We’re getting a very good price.” Plus I’m pitching in some of my own savings to pay for these added decorations, but I know that would just start an argument between Mom and me.
She watches me for a moment, something unreadable in her gaze. Then she exhales a soft laugh. “You always were the most determined one of the family.”
I flip my hair. “Obviously. And I’m going to make sure we win that competition.”
Mom’s smile turns grateful. “Well, we’d love your help. Although…”
“Although?”
“Not with the cookie contest. Honey, have you tasted your gingerbread cookies?” She sighs and holds one of the cookies I attempted to bake this morning as practice up to me from the pocket of her apron. “You could break a tooth on them.”
I plant my hands on my hips. “Hey! I used Nana’s recipe!”
Mom winces. “Well, you need more practice because something went horribly wrong.”
“Fine. You’ll handle the cookie contest. But trust me… I have a plan.” I point dramatically at Blitzen, who is now nosing at the remnants of my nutcracker army. “Step one: Prove to Luke that I can handle reindeer.”
Mom chuckles. “Luke is very particular about his animals.”
“Yeah, well, I’m very particular about saving Christmas,” I quip.
Her eyes twinkle. “Alright, Miss Claus. Just don’t let Blitzen destroy the whole inn, okay?”
“No promises,” I mutter as she heads back inside.
Turning back to the menace in question, I square my shoulders. “Okay, Blitzen. Here’s the deal. You’re going to be a good reindeer from now on, and I’m going to prove to Luke that I can handle you. Got it?”
Blitzen sneezes directly in my face.
I gag, wiping my sleeve across my cheek. “Great talk.”
I take a deep breath and scan the carnage she left.
At least Blitzen isn’t running laps around the yard anymore, but clearly, leaving her loose is not an option.
If I’m going to prove I can care for a reindeer, I need to set her up somewhere safe.
Somewhere where she can’t eat, trample, or otherwise destroy Christmas.
My eyes land on the old shed near the barn. It’s small, but with some quick adjustments, it could work.
“Alright, Blitzen. We’re making you a temporary home.” I eye the candy canes that are left on the tree and yank one off of the lowest branch. “Come here, Blitzen…” I coax her. “Here, reindeer, reindeer, reindeer….”
I give a little excited squeal as she starts to follow me toward the shed. “That’s a good reindeer. C’mere girl.”
Success! She follows me step by painstaking step into the shed and I toss her an apple slice I have in my pocket instead of giving her even more candy canes.
She chuffs her approval… or maybe her disappointment…
but before she can bolt again, I close the makeshift gate and throw my hands in the air, doing a little victory dance. “Suck it, Blitzen!”
Exhaling, I fall back against the frame of the shed, catching my breath. “This is for your own good, too, girl.”
Blitzen flicks her tail and promptly poops.
I groan.
Still, as I glance around at my work, a sense of satisfaction fills me. This is it. This is step one. If I can prove to Luke that I can handle one reindeer, maybe—just maybe—I can convince him to let me have all eight for the festival… hopefully eight that exclude Blitzen here.
Because if there’s one thing I know for certain, it’s that we need those reindeer to win.
And I am not losing.
Not to Luke.
Not to some big, corporate hotel chain.
Not to anything.
This is my town. My family’s legacy. And Christmas will shine brighter than ever this year.
Even if I have to wrangle every last reindeer myself.