How The Mountain Man Stole Christmas

Chapter One

“Why can’t just one of these letters have my name on it?”

Harper sifted through the mail one piece at a time, postmarking each envelope of blue, red, and green.

Funny how the holidays brought out every color of the rainbow, precisely the reason her special Santa stamp was black, so everyone could see it because it was rare to see a black envelope.

As she inked each one, she absently read the names, wondering what great news the sender was sharing with the receiver of that special once-a-year card.

She’d started a tradition of feeling sorry for herself because she already knew there would be no special cards for her. Harper had no family and didn’t even have a special somebody to spend the holidays with.

“Looks like I’ll die an old post marm.”

“Oh, heavens child, give yourself a break.”

Harper jumped where she stood, scattering the stack of letters all over the counter and floor.

“Good Lord Elsie, couldn’t you warn me next time you sneak back in here after hours? You scared me half out of my wits.”

Elsie Whiddamore was a lively woman in her mid-sixties who was happily born and raised in Holly.

After losing her husband early on, she took over for him, doing the job of head postmaster or postmistress in her case, and raised her four children as a single mom.

After thirty-five years and retirement knocking at her door, she’d hired and trained Harper to take over as her replacement.

She still came a few days a week, mainly because it had been her life for so long, she just couldn’t stay away, but also just did some part time work to help pass the hours.

Elsie only laughed at the younger woman as she approached the front counter to stand beside her.

“My dear, you need to relax a little. You’re only twenty-four, why be in such a hurry?”

“I just feel like an old spinster working at the post office.” When Elsie raised an eyebrow at her, Harper rephrased her thoughts. “Okay, that didn’t come out right and I don’t mean to say that’s what you are.”

Harper took a deep breath and contemplated for a moment before continuing. “You had everything in life that I want so your situation doesn’t count.”

The older woman only continued to look at Harper.

“Don’t get me wrong, I love this job and I wouldn’t trade for the world that I’ve gotten to know so many wonderful people in town but seeing them come in every day, it gets me to thinking about all the things I never had growing up and makes me want what they all have.

The big family gatherings on Christmas with a massive feast and oh, there was this tradition I heard the McCormick’s talking about last week where they let their kids each open one present on Christmas Eve and then the rest the next morning. ”

Harper bowed her head in disappointment.

“It sounds like so much fun. Just once, I’d like to have what they all have.”

She swung her arm to encompass the whole of the town of Holly.

“I’d like a family of my own.”

The older woman placed an arm around Harper’s smaller frame, lending what comfort she could. Then Elsie pointed toward the front of the building.

“See that red metal mailbox over in the corner all by itself? Why don’t you write a letter to Santa telling him what you’d like for Christmas this year and put it right on in there? Never know,” her predecessor winked at her. “You might just get what you want for Christmas.”

Harper shook her finger at Elsie. “Yeah, maybe if you believe in all that, but about that box, how does that thing get in here anyway? I know I didn’t bring it and you say it’s not your doing, so how?

” She held a hand up to stop Elsie from speaking.

“And please, don’t tell me it’s Santa’s secret.

I found out the hard way a long time ago there’s no such thing as Santa.

I think I’d be better off throwing my wish in a wishing well, not that I believe in those either. ”

“Tsk-tsk,” Elsie whispered, “such a cynic. Don’t you let the customers hear you saying such a thing.

As for that box, I wish I knew but it’s been here every Christmas I have.

I never see it show up and I never see it disappear.

Why not join the rest of the town and write that letter?

Maybe you’ll get lucky. And if you’re so included, go ahead, and wish on that old wishing well too.

I know it’s done me a favor or two over the years as well, so you just never know.

” She squeezed Harper’s cheek with her time weathered fingers.

“Now, I’m going home, and you should too. There will still be plenty to do tomorrow.”

Elsie wrapped her scarf about her head before donning a pink ear-flapped hat and matching wool-lined parka then headed toward the front door, winking at Harper as she tapped that red mailbox on the way out.

“Tootles.” The older woman wiggled her fingers.

Harper shook her head in disbelief as the elderly woman unlocked the front door and left.

She was under no illusion about Santa being the one sneaking that letter box into her lobby.

Elsie knew more than she was sharing but she was also as stubborn as they came and there was no way any answers would slip from her lips.

The graying woman was right about one thing though, it was past time to go home, and all that mail would still be there in the morning.

She may be single and lonely, but she still needed to have some kind of life away from the post office, even if it was only dinner, television and sleep.

She cleaned up the mess from all the envelopes falling everywhere when the woman had startled her.

After locking the back door, Harper reached for her coat, lunch bowl and bag, and headed for the front door.

Standing on the sidewalk outside of the post office in the cold early evening air, she dug into her over-stuffed catch-all bag looking for the ring of keys and a quarter for the wishing well when a touch on her shoulder had her dropping everything.

***

“Damn, I’m really sorry. Here, let me help.”

Fin bent down to collect the plastic bowl that had rolled away from the woman when he’d accidentally startled her.

He grabbed a few miscellaneous items, handing them to her as she shoved everything else into her bag.

The last item they reached for at the same time, Fin looped his fingers in the key ring and stood.

“Guess you probably need these huh?”

She nodded slightly, not taking her eyes off him.

She did not speak a single word. Was she okay?

Maybe he’d brought on some kind of fit or heart attack?

He really hadn’t meant to scare her. After staring at him for another few moments, a whispered thank you squeaked from her lips, and she promptly turned her back to him.

He heard jangling as the young woman fidgeted with her keys, reminding him there was a reason for his visit.

“I didn’t mean to scare you, honest. I only needed to drop off this letter to Santa before clos…”

She turned so fast he stopped mid-sentence.

“What did you just say?”

Surprise had him catching his breath and Fin couldn’t help but notice how striking her blue eyes were as they bore into him. The sparkles that appeared in their depths when she twitched one eyebrow reminded him of the way tinsel on a Christmas tree sparkled in the firelight.

“Um this letter…” He held up the white stationary envelope with colored Christmas trees all over it. “It’s kind of a tradition with my nieces and I never could lie to them so when I see them tomorrow, I need to honestly be able to tell them I dropped it into Santa’s letter box myself.”

The look she gave him was one of lunacy, as if he’d lost his mind. While that may be every bit true, the story he’d just told her was even truer.

“It is still here, isn’t it? The box? Lord, I hope so; my brother said he saw it last week.”

“Oh yeah, I mean yes, it is here. You wrote a letter to Santa?” Why did she sound so surprised?

“Yes, ma’am I sure did. You try telling three-year-old twins Santa doesn’t exist. Never in my wildest dreams would I be that person. I do whatever those two gorgeous little rug rats tell me to. Hence this letter.”

He held it out to her.

“I’m Finley Cole by the way. Fin for short. Are you the postmaster?”

***

Holy Hotness! Where the heck did this guy come from?

“Uh yes, sorry. I am the postmaster or mistress, oh that sounds horrible. Anyway, Harper Donaldson, nice to meet you.”

Harper shifted her belongings all into one arm so she could offer a hand to shake.

“Are you new around here? Not sure I’ve seen you before but then, I don’t get much further than the post office most days. “

A magnetic force drew them toward each other while charging the air between their palms as their hands touched.

An invisible spark snapped, sending an electric tingle spiraling through her entire body.

Fin glancing down toward his hand told her he’d experienced the same.

Dropping her arm to her side, she scrambled to shift the focus to something else.

“Did you say you wanted to drop that letter in our Santa box?”

“Yes, and yes.”

Is that a smirk? Why do men do that? It makes them look like they’re up to something.

“Excuse me…what?” She’d totally lost her focus.

“It was an answer to both of your questions. Yes, I’m kind of new to town, and yes, I want to drop this letter off. I’m sorry this isn’t exactly how I’d planned for us to meet. Do you need help with that lock?”

She was fumbling with her keys, trying to find the right one without dropping everything else in the process.

Not that it would be the first time. She was also praying he wouldn’t touch her again unexpectedly because she might just have to jump him.

She wouldn’t go into why it’s been so long for that activity.

And what did he mean by this wasn’t how he’d planned for them to meet?

“Thanks, but no, I’ve got it. I am a little confused though, were you planning for us to meet?” She looked back at him.

After the key glided in the chamber, releasing the pins to unlock the deadbolt, Fin reached for the door as Harper swung it open.

“Well maybe.” His feet shifted, his gaze not quite meeting her face. “I’ve seen you around town once or twice when I get to town.” His smile was a bit mischievous.

“Okay…there’s the Santa letter box,” she explained as she pointed to the corner of the lobby, trying to ignore the sexy grin that was making her cheeks warm, not to mention other areas she would never mention because she was a lady and ladies didn’t talk about those things in public or with strangers.

And that’s what he is, just a stranger living in the same town, nothing to get overly excited about.

Except that he was extremely attractive and happened to be a grown man believing in the Santa box.

Unfortunately, he was only one of the many town folks that had already been in to drop off their own letters.

Would people think her nuts to write a letter of her own?

As it was turning out, they might think her more nuts if she didn’t write one.

“Harper, are you okay?” She’d taken a tangent and got lost in her own thoughts and didn’t hear him approach the door.

“Oh, um, yep, I’m okay. Just thinking to myself, nothing important. Are you all done?”

“All done. Thanks for opening back up, I really appreciate it. It might have been an ugly life or death situation come tomorrow if you hadn’t been here.”

“Well then, I’m glad I could help. Don’t want to disappoint your nieces.

” She flipped the sign in the window to Closed and pulled the door shut, twisting the key in the deadbolt after Fin walked out of the building.

Turning around toward the sidewalk, Harper lost her footing and fell right into the arms of Fin, dropping all her things once again.

“Whoa there little lady, I’ve got you.” Looking up into the handsome face of her savior, she was in a pickle now.

“I swear this just isn’t my day.”