Chapter 4 #2
The townspeople had been collecting small lanterns from a long table near town hall.
Some were plain white while others had been painted by children.
Volunteers moved through the crowd now helping light the battery candles inside each one.
Couples stood shoulder to shoulder while friends gathered in clusters.
Even shop owners stepped out from behind their booths to watch.
Brice leaned out from behind her table and was enchanted by the sight. She had heard about the Lantern Lighting from at least a dozen customers over the past week.
Everyone had described it differently. Some called it a town tradition and others said it belonged to the White Pine Pack first but passed down through generations before humans were invited to take part.
Alanis had shared with her that the lanterns represented remembrance, guidance, and hope during the darkest part of winter.
Brice liked the thought of honoring those who were gone from here.
Rue Biljon stepped onto the small platform in front of the town hall. She was tall and composed and her gray-streaked dark hair was pulled back away from her face. Even at a distance, the alpha carried herself with a quiet authority that commanded respect by all. The crowd settled almost at once.
“Evergreen Hollow," Rue called out. Her voice carried across the square. “Thank you for coming together tonight.”
A cheer rose up through the air.
Rue smiled. “Every year as winter deepens and the nights grow longer, we light these lanterns to remember that no one in this town walks through the dark alone.”
Brice’s chest warmed. Around the square, lanterns began to glow one by one. Children gasped while adults smiled. Snow fell softly through the light. Rue flipped on the light to her own lantern that had been waiting for her at her table.
“For those we love,” Rue said.
“For those we love,” The crowd answered, soft but united.
“For those we miss,” she guided them.
“For those we miss.”
“And for the lights still waiting to find us,” Rue said.
Brice’s throat tightened unexpectedly as she turned on her lantern.
“For the lights still waiting to find us,” she whispered with everyone else.
The square brightened as the final lantern came to life. Warm gold shimmered against the snow. It was a beautiful sight to behold. Brice scanned the crowd, searching before she could talk herself out of it.
She found Keena near the edge of the square. The enforcer stood half in the shadows. Her face turned toward the lanterns. She wasn’t smiling. She wasn’t even pretending to, but there was something in her expression that made Brice’s heart squeeze tight.
Pain.
Not anger or dislike. Just raw pain.
Then Keena looked toward her. The distance between them felt enormous. Brice didn’t know what passed over her own face, but Keena seemed to see too much of it. Her shoulders tensed and her jaw tightened.
Before Brice could even think about lifting a hand, Keena stepped backwards into the shadows and vanished.
Again.
Brice let out a breath. This time she didn’t feel offended. She was curious.
Why had there been so much pain on Keena's face? She had to be running from something and at the moment, Brice was suspecting that it wasn’t her.
The sky had deepened to a rich navy blue. The stars glimmered above while snow lazily fell in graceful spirals. The crowd had thinned out and vendors were starting to pack up.
Brice’s feet and back ached.
Her fingers were cold and her cheeks hurt from smiling.
Her book supply was nearly wiped out.
“Not bad,” she murmured. She looked over at the few remaining books and nodded with satisfaction. She had sold far more than she had expected, handed out flyers and had about ten people promising to stop by the store this week. The market had been a great idea.
She began packing the unsold books into two sturdy boxes. She hummed along to the distant holiday music that played from the bakery stall. Around her, vendors broke down their stalls.
Brice’s voice vibrated. She pulled it out of her pocket and saw a text from Nandi.
Hey! I’ll be over in a sec to help. I’m helping a few others right now then I’ll be over to help break down your table.
With as much as Brice had sold, she should be fine. She sent a quick text back to her.
I can get it. Go home and enjoy the rest of the night.
She tucked the last of the books into a box then bent to lift one of the heavier boxes onto her wagon. It shifted awkwardly in her arms.
“Oh, come on,” she muttered. The box was heavier than it looked. It was packed with the hardcover books and a few holiday anthologies. She managed to get it on the wagon, but when she tugged the handle to test the weight, one of the wheels caught in a rut of packed snow near the curb.
The wagon didn’t move.
She pulled again.
Nothing.
“For the love of all that is holy,” she muttered. She planted one boot against the ground and tugged harder. The wheel jerked free all at once and the wagon lurched toward her. The top box tipped dangerously off to the side as Brice stumbled backwards. “Oh!”
A strong hand caught the edge of the box before it could fall. Another arm slipped around Brice’s waist and steadied her with barely any effort.
“Easy.”
The single word was low and husky with a calmness to it that made Brice’s whole body go still.
Keena.
For one brief moment, Brice forgot about the wagon, the market and the snow. The box was currently held in place by the woman who had appeared out of nowhere and Keena’s arm was firm around her waist.
Even through the layers of her coat she could feel the heat radiating from the shifter and the controlled tension in her muscles.
“I had it,” Brice said. Her cheeks warmed at her clumsiness.
“Clearly.” Her lips were close enough that they almost brushed Brice’s ear.
Brice turned her head enough to see her. That was a bad idea. Keena was close enough where she could see the tiny snowflakes that were melting against her eyelashes.
Her heart gave a little flutter of a dance.
“Are you always this smug when rescuing people from book-related disasters?” Brice asked.
Keena’s gaze dropped to Brice’s mouth before lifting again. “Only when the books are in danger.”
A laugh escaped her.
Had Keena just made a joke? Her eyes widened in disbelief. There on Keena’s lips was an almost smile. The briefest curve of her lips.
Keena released her slowly as if she had just realized she was still touching her.
The loss of contact was immediate and Brice missed the feel of Keena’s body next to hers.
She blinked and smoothed her hands along her jeans to keep from doing something as stupid as to reach for Keena and make her put her arm back around her waist.
“I can help you get these back to the shop,” Keena said.
“You don’t have to do that,” Brice shook her head.
Keena shrugged. “I know.”
“But aren’t you on duty?” Brice glanced around and saw there were very few vendors left. She glanced down at her wagon before looking back to Keena.
“Yes.”
“Does enforcing include helping haul books through the snow?”
“Apparently, tonight it does.” Another small smile ghosted Keena’s lips. Brice grew excited at the tiny almost smile. She decided that she wanted to collect those smiles like rare first edition books.
“Thank you,” Brice said softly.
“You’re welcome,” Keena said. She took the handle of the wagon before Brice could protest. The market continued to close around them as they secured the boxes properly and tucked a blanket over the top of them to keep the snow off.
Brice grabbed the folded tablecloth, her cash box and the small sign for the booth.
Heart and Story was only two blocks away, but with the snow falling and most of the crowd had thinned out, the walk felt quieter than it should have.
They moved along Main Street side by side and the wagon wheels crunched softly over the light coating of snow.
Above them, the strings of lights glowed brightly against the deep blue sky.
The scent of the market lingered behind them and they passed shops whose window displays were lit up to showcase what they had to offer for the season.
For a while neither of them spoke, but Brice found she didn’t mind. Walking with Keena was peaceful. She stole little glances at the wolf shifter unsure of what to say. Keena’s silence felt different than it had at the bookstore. It seemed less like a wall that had been constructed between them.
“So,” Keena said at last.
Brice almost tripped over her feet in shock. She swallowed hard and glanced over at Keena. Was she about to try to strike up a conversation between them? Brice had to beat down her excitement and try to remain cool.
“So?” Brice repeated slowly.
“How are you liking Evergreen Hollow?”
“I love it!” Warmth spread through Brice’s chest. She was amazed that Keena was actually taking an interest in her. She bit back the silly grin that threatened to take over her face. She didn’t want to scare Keena away with her enthusiasm.
“Already?” Keena glanced down at her. “You’ve only been here a few months.”
“Six months,” she said, “but I knew almost immediately.” Brice looked around at the snow covered street, the lights, and the cozy storefronts. “Every week I seem to find another reason to stay.”
“It’s not too quiet?” Keena asked.
“I needed the quiet. After living in a big city for so long, the noise was just too much,” she admitted. Which was true. She hadn’t been cut out for big city life and the hustle and bustle.
Evergreen Hollow was much more her speed. She could really enjoy life in a place like this. If she had opened her bookstore back in Boston, it wouldn’t have been the same and the start-up cost—would have been astronomical.
“Why a bookstore?” Keena asked. She guided the wagon over a snow covered bump on the sidewalk. She was careful to ensure nothing fell out of the wagon.