Chapter Eight
“There’s really reindeer. I know they said there would be, but I … they’re really here.” The childlike wonder in Maggie’s voice had Walker grinning at her.
She’d not been thrilled with herself earlier and he’d done his best not to make a big deal out of it then and neither had mentioned it since arriving to judge the parade.
He understood her trying to keep from crashing Sarah’s family tree decorating.
Not that Sarah would have minded. Her kind heart would invite anyone and everyone to share in her Christmas joy.
That Maggie had used him as her excuse not to, well, Walker’s chest puffed with some Christmas joy of its own.
He’d seen the shock in her eyes the moment the words had come out of her mouth, but the idea of Maggie spending Sunday afternoon with them appealed to him. A lot.
Watching her take in the portion of the town square they could see from their vantage point on the stage set up on that side of the courthouse, Walker arched a brow. “At the Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer Games? Would you expect anything less in Pine Hill?”
She shrugged. “This place is unlike anywhere I’ve ever been.”
“You’ve traveled a lot?” He’d always lived somewhere in the south and until he’d gone to California for smokejumper training where he’d met Andrew, the furthest he’d traveled was a boys’ trip to Florida after graduating from high school.
Her gaze stayed on the reindeer. “Only with work.”
“Have you had many jobs outside the military?”
Shrugging, she briefly shifted her gaze toward him. “Lots.”
“Such as?” Walker prompted, surprised she’d answered.
“Fast food, waitressing, parking cars, retail sales. Whatever I could find to do.” Maggie gestured toward where the deer were being kept in a small makeshift fenced area.
Several workers stood by the fence, making sure that observers were respectful of the animals.
“Wild animals with all these people around,” She shook her head.
“I hope the paramedics are on standby during the Grandma Games.”
Walker chuckled. “The real reindeer aren’t involved in the Grandma Games.
They’re just here for the festival. As you know, with working at Harvey Farms, they’re quite tame and used to people.
Did you see the game the nursing home sponsored?
It involves using a squirt gun to push reindeer along a track as they chase after a granny.
The winner is the first one to have their reindeer reach granny. ”
“Nope. I knew there were deer at the farm. While working in the shop, I’d yet to see them. As far as the game, I haven’t seen that, either.” Maggie put her hand to her forehead. “These people aren’t right.”
“It was a creative way to transform an old carnival game.”
“Christmas creativity is not something that’s lacking in Pine Hill.”
“True.” Walker agreed but liked the town’s holiday spirit. “Think you can beat me at the Grandma Games?”
Maggie didn’t answer, just continued to take in the business of the parade from where they sat on the stage that had been set up in front of the courthouse.
“I imagine we’re going to be highly impressed by the Christmas floats. With how fabulous everything else has been, the floats could probably give Macy’s a run for their money.”
Maggie gave him a blank look.
“You really don’t know about the best parade? Okay, that does it. You’ve got to watch the parade with me next year.”
“Oh, that Macy’s,” she teased, then glanced around the small grandstand stage where they had been advised they were to watch the parade.
The emcee for the parade, and a few others, was there with them. The parade started with the fire truck coming through. Ben drove and Santa Cole sat in the passenger seat, tossing out candy to kids on the sidewalks.
“I admit Sophie did a great job transforming Cole.”
“That’s Cole?” Maggie gawked at where Santa Cole waved at the crowd.
Walker grinned. “I know, right? I’m glad I chose judging over that because he’s perfect. Ben says he’s fabulous at the schools, too, and that the kids love him. We’ll be going by Pine Hill elementary next week.”
“Do we just put check marks next to the things we like on these forms?” Joshua interrupted their conversation as he studied his clipboard.
“Sarah said they’re just for our reference, that we could use them or jot down notes on our favorites, that whatever system we want to use is fine. We will each rank our top five floats, and the scores will be combined to determine the winners,” Maggie reminded.
Lou’s Diner sponsored the Bells-a-Ringing Butterflies float.
They’d used items left over from Rosie’s winter wonderland wedding to create a magical appearing entry that was complete with a snow blowing machine puffing out fat, fluffy flakes to fall around the crowd as the float slowly passed.
Kids danced around at the edges of the parade, catching snowflakes.
“Wow,” Maggie said from next to him, looking completely awed again.
Walker had a difficult time making himself look back at the float rather than at Maggie’s enthralled face. It was as if she’d never seen anything so magical in her entire life. Maybe she hadn’t.
“I agree,” Walker said, still watching her. “Zoie is going to love growing up here.”
Maggie glanced his way, and still enchanted by the snow-blowing float, half-smiled. “Zoie is a lucky little girl.”
She didn’t clarify if she meant because of the town and its love of the holidays but Walker assumed that was what she meant.
He doubted she was referring to his parenting skills.
On that, no matter how much he tried, he knew he wasn’t doing enough and could never really give his daughter all the things that he’d like to.
The Christmas Cruisers rode their motorcycles in the parade.
Most of the cyclists had various famous Christmas characters riding along in their side cars.
All the bikes had blinking Christmas lights draped over their handlebars.
Walker liked the impressive bikes, wouldn’t mind owning one if not for Zoie.
With his daughter depending upon him, he wouldn’t add anything high risk beyond his job.
The Hallelujah HoneyBs had incorporated Janie B’s preschool to sponsor them and got the kids involved.
It was a simple, but powerful float. Dressed in long pajamas with warm layers beneath, the preschoolers sat on a rug in front of an electric fireplace that served the dual purpose of helping keep the kids warm.
A few parents and at least one aunt, also in pajamas, sat on the rug as well.
Her salt and pepper hair peeking out from behind the night cap she wore, Janie B sat in a rocking chair, reading the children a story about the night before Christmas.
She wore a long red flannel gown that likely was layered above some type of insulated underwear.
There was a fully decorated and lit tree blinking colorfully.
He spotted at least a couple of cardinal ornaments on the tree. His babysitter loved cardinals.
“I like this one,” Walker told Maggie.
“Are you supposed to share that with me?” She gave him a pointed look.
“Maybe not, but there’s Zoie and Amy.” He pointed to where his sister sat with a bundled up warmly Zoie sleeping in her arms. “It’s Zoie’s first Christmas parade.” He pulled out his phone and took some photos as the float paused for judging.
“How can she sleep with the sirens and Christmas music?”
He grinned. “Takes after her dad. She can sleep through anything.”
Joshua cleared his throat. “With your daughter participating on one of the entries, should you have disqualified yourself from judging this contest?”
“I asked Sarah about that when I found out Janie B was having her daycare kids on the float. Sarah said the Christmas festival committee trusted me to judge fairly and for me to not worry about it.” Walker imagined his expression dared the man to question Sarah and the board.
“This town works on a totally different level than most,” Joshua said from beside them, seeming content with Walker’s answer. “People’s word stands for something. Got to love that.”
“You’re from Pine Hill originally?” Maggie asked the veterinarian.
Joshua shook his head. “I applied for a posted position to work with the local vet here and I got the job. Glad it worked out as it’s a good, but busy, place to be. I like it here.”
“Got to look after those cows and horses,” Walker said, his tone weird.
Maggie gave him an odd look, and he flexed his jaw.
“And reindeer,” she added, looking back and forth between the two men.
“Just for the Harveys,” Joshua said over the music that was growing louder as the Hallelujah HoneyBs’ float moved on and the high school marching band moved in front of the set-up stage. The band stopped to perform for them and the emcee.
Lively Christmas music belted from their instruments, momentarily drowning out further conversation.
“Do you get to interact with the deer while you’re at work?” Walker asked Maggie once the band was moving onward to where hearing each other talk again was feasible.
“I’ve walked past their fence while on break but never seen them up close.
During Christmas, Mr. Harvey will keep them in a smaller fenced area so the kids can more easily see them.
Sarah said Jeannie adored them when they picked out their tree yesterday.
Sophie’s dad delivered it. That’s him over by the reindeer, but then, I guess you knew that already with working with Cole. ”
“I’ve met Cliff Davis a few times at various functions.” Walker nodded. “He’s always a little quiet but seems to be a hard worker.”
“He is. I like working with him at the farm.”
“The Harveys have a beautiful place. There’s lots to do, and there’s a great little café that me and several from the firehall like to eat at but have managed to miss their newest employee each time we’ve been out. They serve a mean soup and sandwich.”