Chapter 15
Zane
When I heard Iz gave Sadie the old truck to use to get to and from the farm, I spent the entire morning putting snow tires and chains on it before the weekend.
The storm isn’t going to freeze us over, but it’s the first of many to come.
I don’t want her skidding around and having an accident.
It’s downright dangerous at this time of year without appropriate tires.
“I’m so sorry,” Iz says when I look up from the ground. “I didn’t think about the tires or the chains. The truck barely ever leaves the farm.”
“It’s fine. Good excuse for me to check everything, and make sure the old girl still runs okay.” I can’t be too hard on her, she’s been helping out at The Lodge all morning since we’re a couple of staff members down with the flu.
“How is our newest recruit doing?” She wiggles her eyebrows, and I’ve no idea what that’s all about.
“She’s fine. I got her answering calls, and servin’ all mornin’. She’s already resurrecting the filing system, because apparently I’m a slob in the office.”
Isabelle giggles. She’s been on my hide for ages to try and sort something out, but she and Mom don’t have time to sort my paperwork out right now. “Glad to hear she’s fitting in. I’ll swing by shortly and show her around the lodge properly.”
“Fine, but I don’t want you overworkin’ her. She’s good with the customers, and I don’t want her runnin’ away.” A few seconds pass, and I glance up again. My sister is staring at me with her eyes narrowed. “What?” I ask.
“You don’t want me overworking her? Since when did you care about that?”
“Like I said, she’s good with the customers. They like her.”
“You’ve changed your tune. Let’s hear you say it.” She crosses her arms over her chest. “That I did the right thing.”
I roll my eyes. “Don’t you have work to do?”
“I came by to check on Sadie, actually, but it seems my concern is unwarranted. For the first time ever,” mumbles that last part.
“She’s fine. I’m not a total monster. I just like things done a certain way.”
“Wow, and Sadie hasn’t told you to go jump off the mountain?
I’m impressed, big brother, you may be getting more mellow with age.
” She flounces off toward the farm office, and I shake my head.
I’m almost done, and now I’ll be able to sleep at night knowing the tires are safe.
I mean, I’d be worried about whoever was driving it, not just Sadie, then a thought occurs to me.
Does she even know how to drive? She’s from New York, don’t most people in the city take cabs, the subway or walk?
There’s a distinct possibility she may not have a driver’s licence, or know how to drive a stick shift. I rub my chin. Well, shit.
I head back to the office. The snowfall overnight wasn’t huge, but enough to coat the ground in a thicker layer of snow than the day before. The storm coming in won’t hit hard, but it’s a gentle reminder that anything can happen this time of year.
When I get back to the office, Sadie and my sister are laughing about something. Clearly I’m not in on the joke, because they both stop, trying to contain themselves, when I enter.
“I still say JB needs to take over the Butterfingers bakery, but you didn’t hear that from me.”
I pique a brow. Mrs. Thorne has run the bakery in town for years, and Jo-Beth has worked there over the holidays for as long as I can remember — as well as keeping her part-time job at The Dusty Spur.
I give Iz a chin lift. “Everythin’ okay with Mrs. T?”
Isabelle nods, but I see the teary look in her eyes. “She’s doing okay, but her son is making her slow down, something she’s not happy about, but it needs to happen. She isn’t getting any younger.”
“Is she thinking of selling?” Sadie asks, all jokes long forgotten.
“She’s been talking about it for a while, but she’s a stubborn old thing. I think JB would be perfect. She’s an excellent baker, Mrs. T could show her the ropes, and the quality wouldn’t have to go down just because somebody new took over,” Iz says.
Mrs. T means a lot to all of us. She was my home economics teacher, and the one who taught me how to cook. Thanks to her, I’m not a starving bachelor and can make more than mac ‘n’ cheese.
“Maybe JB and Mrs. T both need a push?” I suggest. “We know the old bird won’t sell to just anybody, which is why she’s held on so long.”
“And JB is a little shy about her baking,” Iz goes on. “Though I don’t know why, her sugar cookies and gingerbread are out of this world.”
“I can’t wait to try them. I love how festive everyone is in Alpine Falls,” Sadie says thoughtfully, as my attention turns to her.
She’s wearing her bobble hat inside, and it’s quite adorable.
It makes me wonder if New York even gets this cold, but we’re up in the mountains now, all bets are off.
“It’s so sweet. There’s even a store dedicated to ornament repair, you guys have thought of everything. ”
“Oh, Mr. Mackie has had that shop forever,” Iz draws out the word forever with a slight eye roll.
“He’s a carpenter by trade, but he and his wife, Audrey, love decorations more than life itself.
Mr. Mackie is in charge of the town Christmas lights — hence why he and Mrs. T’s husband, Larry, sometimes have Christmas light wars because Larry likes to give unsolicited advice, it’s a thing. ”
Sadie laughs, and it’s a sweet sound. Everything about her is sweet. Dear god. What is this woman doing to me? “I can only imagine the passion that goes into decorating this town.”
“Ooh, that reminds me.” Iz claps her hands excitedly. “You should come and help decorate the tree in the town square over the weekend, it’s tradition. We postponed because of the front moving in. Say you’ll stop by?”
“I’d love that,” Sadie says, a genuine smile on her pretty face.
I thumb behind me. “Speakin’ of the storm.
I put snow tires and chains on the truck this morning, you can take it if you need to pick anythin’ up.
” I clear my throat then add, “Feel free to use it as your get around vehicle if you like, we don’t use it much around here with the ATV and snowmobiles. ”
Her eyes fall on me, and she smiles softly. “Thanks, boss, that would be great.”
My brow furrows.
Boss?
Holy shit, I like the sound of that for all the wrong reasons. “Though, it is a stick shift,” I add.
Her face falls. “Oh.”
“Yeah.”
“Well, it’s been a while, but I have driven one back in Colorado on my parents’ property,” she says. “It couldn’t be that hard.”
I don’t know if this is a good idea, but before I can offer to give her a couple of lessons — mainly for her safety as well as everyone else’s in Alpine Falls — the door jingles and two customers enter.
Before I can blink, Sadie greets them like she’s been working here her entire life, not just for twenty-four hours.
“Good morning, welcome to Lawless Christmas Tree Farm!” I haven’t heard that friendly trill to her voice before, maybe she saves it for the paying customers, but nevertheless, they beam back at her.
“You must be Sadie!” The woman in a huge puffer jacket says, rubbing her hands together. “We spoke on the phone, I’m Deidre, and this is my husband, Jack.”
“Oh, right!” Sadie claps her hands together excitedly.
“I’m so glad you decided to stop by. Here at Lawless Farms, we have the very best Christmas trees in all of Wyoming.
We’re the only farm in the Mountain West subregion that’s open year round, and not only that, you can come along for the ride and choose which one you’d like, and have it delivered. ”
Well, it’s all part of the service, at a price, of course.
Isabelle shoots me a glance, waggling her eyebrows.
“Well, isn’t that just the cutest thing ever, Jack?
” Deidre coos to her husband. The couple have to be in their seventies.
“We’re so grateful for your help. We only arrived yesterday, and we’re having our whole family here for the holidays.
The Airbnb over by Alpine Lake is housing us all, and it is just the most gorgeous little cabin! ”
That would be Betty Lovemeiser’s place, a two-story, magnificent views, and can house up to fifteen people, so not exactly little, but if they’re here for a month, they have money.
“Well, you’d better head on over to Mr. Mackie’s store — Trinkets and Treasures — on Main Street, they sell the cutest Christmas ornaments and more tinsel than you can poke a stick at,” Sadie goes on as I stare at her.
“Then, I highly recommend the tasty treats at Butterfingers Bakery, the sugar cookies are out of this world, and the lemon shortbread? Don’t even get me started! ”
My sister lets out a little squeak, and I just continue to stare. Holy hell. This woman is good.
“You’re just a doll!” Deidre isn’t just flushed from the cold outside, she’s genuinely excited about this whole expedition.
“I think she’s got it under control,” my sister whispers, and I agree. She has.
Before I can answer, Sadie’s face finds mine. “This strapping man is the resident lumberjack — and one of the Lawless family members — he’s the one in charge of locating and rehoming your future tree,” Sadie goes on, wafting a hand at me with a great big smile.
Locating and rehoming? It’s like she’s been practicing this spiel and knows exactly how this farm runs, when really, she doesn’t know jack shit. She’s selling it, and I like that a lot.
I tip my head slightly. “I’ll fire up the ATV, do you have a four-wheel drive?”
They nod. “We picked it up at the airport,” the husband says.
“Well,” I say, looking back at Sadie. “I guess it’s time to come with me and locate and rehome the next Douglas fir for these fine people.”
The couple beam as Sadie’s eyes go slightly round. It’s the only time in the last few years that I’ve smiled and genuinely meant it.