14. Lee
14
LEE
After we've returned to our cabins and cleaned up, we all head in another convoy of trucks to Harry's land where George and the Arrys are waiting to give us our planned surprise.
When they lead us into Harry's giant equipment shed, the very last thing I expect to see inside is a bunch of snowmobiles and gear. That's not to say I'm not excited as all get out because it seems like years since I last rode one.
What makes it even better is that I have my sexy husband here to cuddle up to as we glide through the crisp white snow.
Colt's eyes widen as he takes it all in. All of the men seem excited about our presumed plans. It doesn't take long to realize why.
“Oh, it's so on,” Toby says, rubbing his gloved hands together. “I'm goin' to smoke the whole lot of y'all.”
“Never thought all of y'all would be so competitive,” George says with a laugh. “It's sure goin' to be fun to watch though.”
“Believe me, growin' up with four brothers and a little sister who still thinks she's the toughest out of all of us. Means we had no choice but to be competitive,” Rhett says with a laugh.
“Never had siblin's,” George says wistfully. “It was just me and my parents. Now it's just me.”
“Naw, Georgie. You've got us,” Larry says, hooking an arm around his friend's shoulders and roughhousing him a little.
“Yeah, George. We're your brothers by choice. You ain't gettin' rid of us now. We've helped you give the town Christmas. That's a bond for life,” Gary adds.
“Thank you,” George says, looking all of the Arry's in the eye before turning back to the Bull Mountain crew. “OK. Since we know y'all love a good challenge, we decided to incorporate our thank you surprise for all of y'all with one last contest–winner takes all. I've even made another special Rainbow Springs Christmas Challenge trophy for whoever reigns supreme.”
“You did that for me, didn't you,” Toby says with a wicked grin. “I knew you were a good one, Georgie.”
“Not too sure about that , but we figured y'all needed one last hurrah before you head on back home to Bull Mountain,” Cary explains.
Red nods. “As long as y'all are comin' to have some fun right along with us.”
A wide toothy grin appears on George's face. “Wouldn't miss it. Then I can cross 'bein' part of a Bull Mountain contest' off my bucket list.”
After Harry explains what the plan is—race to the edge of the glacier five miles away—we all choose our snowmobile of choice and gear up, the shed echoing with the sound of engines revving up as we get ready.
“Climb on, Lee,” Colt says, pulling me close as I move in behind him and wrap my arms around his waist.
Turning his head, he dips down to kiss my lips, his warm breath tickling my skin. “Get ready, sweetheart. We're ridin' to win.”
“Aren't we always,” I reply.
Harry and Cary slide the back doors to the shed as wide as they can go, revealing a blanket of untouched snow trailing through the moonlit trees. A rush of cold crisp air washes over us but by the look on everyone's faces, it's adrenaline and our deeply embedded competitive spirit that's keeping us warm now.
One by one we move toward a makeshift starting line. George and the Arry's buddy up in two teams of two, bar Gary who tells us that he'll be the start-finish man and the ultimate judge on who becomes the champion.
Grinning wide, Gary stands to the side of everyone, rugged up nice and warm with a bright red and black-furred trapper hat and balaclava covering most of his face. “Follow the markers till the glacier. There you'll find a checkered flag just like this one,” he explains, waving his flag in the air. “The first team past the line wins.”
Toby looks around. “Where's the trophy I'll be claimin'?”
“It's safe and secure, Toby. But don't start countin' your chickens before they hatch. Maybe it's Rainbow Springs's turn to claim a trophy,” Harry says with a laugh before turning to the rest of us. “Y'all ready?”
“Yeah!” we call out before getting our game faces on.
Gary waits until we've settled down and the drivers' hands are poised on the throttles. “Are we all ready?” he asks, earning curt nods. “Get set… Go!” he shouts, waving the flag downward as we all launch off the starting line and shoot forward, slowly forming a two-snowmobile-wide line through the trees.
The snow crunches beneath the skis of our speed machine as Colt deftly maneuvers us through the twists and turns of Harry's forest trail. The wind whips at my face, stinging my cheeks, but I can't help the exhilarating rush that courses through me. Especially since I'm doing it with my husband.
Colt leans into the turns and I follow his lead, his body moving in sync with the machine beneath us as I cling to him tightly, feeling every bump and dip in the terrain as we chase that elusive win.
As we break through the tree line, the moonlight dims to a light silvery glow highlighting the vast expanse of snow stretched out before us. In the distance, I can make out the dark crevice where the glacier must be. After some searching, I spot the black and white checkered flag calling us to victory.
Except, just as we're about fifty feet away from claiming the win, Toby and Dee come speeding past, Dee's hands waving high in the air as they both cheer themselves over the finish line, stealing the win from us at the very last moment.
The rest of the group soon reach us and laugh and cheer as Toby and Dee do their own version of a victory dance. Funnily enough, it's not all that different from the Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer routine they rolled out at the Singing Canary.
I can't help but chuckle at Toby and Dee's jubilant celebration, all of our laughter echoing through the air as we watch their shenanigans. There's a reason those two were destined to be together, and right now proves it.
“Looks like we got beat fair and square, sweetheart,” Colt muses, turning around in his seat to face me. Since the race is over, and there's no reason not to, I climb into his lap and hook my arms over his shoulders, giving him a playful pout.
“Guess we'll just have to settle for second place this time around. But just you wait, I demand a rematch when we're back home. We'll race those two around the mountain if we have to.”
Colt smirks and shakes his head, dipping down so he's all I can see. “You're damn cute when you're feelin' the need for vengeance.”
I quirk my brow. “Maybe I just wanted to steal a win from Toby for once.”
Colt leans in, resting his forehead against mine. “Don't worry, Lee. I'm always a winner with you by my side,” he murmurs, before kissing me soft and slow, pouring all his love into it the same way he always does.
After kissing me mindlessly, we pull apart and Colt helps me off the seat, leading me over to where the others have gathered, all of the headlights from the snowmobiles shining on us.
George pulls a trophy out of his backpack, this time it is a cup being held up by a gnome in a Santa hat in the shape of Bull Mountain's twin peaks. “For the winner,” he announces. “A prize only fittin’ for the most competitive man in all of Spring Haven.” George hands it over to a waiting Toby and Dee, who both hug him before turning to their fellow competitors and taking a bow. Toby lifts Dee in the air with one arm, and hoists the trophy over his head with the other as he lets out an almighty “yeehaw!” in celebration of their win.
Once everyone has congratulated the winning couple, Gary turns up in his truck before hopping down and moving back to lower the tailgate. That's not unexpected. What is surprising is the Sallys getting out of the vehicle and making their way toward us, all of them rugged up nice and warm from head to toe.
“Gramma!” Star says, rushing over to Ruth. Rhett, Colt, and Landry join her, each one of them moving to help the other three Sallys in the snow, making sure they're all safely delivered to the snowmobile circle as I'm now calling it.
“What do you have there, Gary?” Austin asks as he goes to the truck to help.
George, Larry, Cary, and Harry all share a knowing look. “This is the next part of our thank you gift. A Northern Lights viewin’ party with your choice of hot chocolate or spiked eggnog. As for our extra special guests. It didn't feel right not havin' the Sallys here, so I called by their cabin and brought them along too.”
“Don't forget Mellie's famous Christmas cake and Gingerbread,” Larry adds, grinning as he places a cooler and picnic basket on the ground in front of us.
We gather round, laughter and chatter filling the air as we all chip in to fill and pass out steaming mugs of hot chocolate or the spiked eggnog—a fairly even split between the two—and slices of Mellie's yummy baked goods.
Once we're all settled, that's when we look up to the sky and watch the gorgeous light show, the swirling colors of the Northern Lights dancing in mesmerizing patterns and casting a magical glow over the land.
It doesn't matter how many times I witness Mother Earth's magical show, it never fails to take my breath away.
After the light show starts to fade a little, George clears his throat to get our attention, his eyes sparkling in the headlights. He raises his mug in the air.
“I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you all again for what you've done for our little town. A week ago we were wondering whether we'd even get to have a tree in the town square and now we've not only got the biggest one we've ever had, we've got a whole Christmas festival to look forward to tomorrow?—”
“And Santa! Don't forget about that ,” Toby adds, making George laugh.
He winks. “Yes, yes. Can't forget Santa, can we?”
“Don't think Tobes would let you,” Austin muses.
“Don't think Tobes will let anyone forget anythin' ,” Larry adds with a hearty chuckle.
“Can I get back to my toast?” George asks, his brow arched and lips twitching.
Toby smirks and waves his hand George's way. “Yes, yes. Santa says go ahead.”
“As I was sayin' , this Christmas would not be as memorable or as special without havin' all of y'all here with us to celebrate. I'm so glad that I messaged Ruthie all those months ago and that you're all here now,” George says, his voice thick with emotion before he clears his throat and continues. “So, with that in mind, please raise your mugs as we toast to new friends, old traditions, and the spirit of Christmas that y'all brought with you to Rainbow Springs.”
“Here, Here,” we reply in unison, the sound ringing out in the stillness of the cold snowy night.
I lean my head against Colt's chest, relishing the warmth of his body and listening to the steady beat of his heart as he presses a tender kiss to the top of my head.
“I love you, Leah Roberts.”
Turning in his arms, I melt against him and tip my face up to his. “Love you forever, Colton Roberts.”
Then, under the stars and feeling like we're the only two people on earth, my husband kisses me gently.
Toby might've won the trophy, but the biggest prize of all is this—us.