Page 45 of Run, Run Rudolph
“Well done on bossing them into action.”
She snorted, her eyes smiling at me as we removed our mitts to open the big bags, so they’d be ready to fill once we went back into the wind and snow.
“You know you don’t have to stay. I mean, there’s probably not much else we can do for Rudolph other than ice his hip with the bags of snow.” She looked shy, tucking a lock of hair behind an ear.
“And miss out on possibly seeing Santa? Not a chance.” I shot her a quick wink, and her cheeks, pink from the cold, turned pinker.
The reindeer didn’t seem to be dangerous, but I still felt a protectiveness in case Tamara got herself in too deep tonight with her love for all living creatures, and needed help.
“I just don’t want you to feel obligated or responsible, because you think of me as family.”
“All the more reason to stick around.”
She nodded slowly, chewing on her bottom lip again.
“So, you still believe in Christmas?” Tamara asked cautiously, like she was aware of the strangeness of asking an adult man her question.
“I definitely do now.”
We shared a burst of laughter.
“I should have guessed,” she said. “Every December you provide complimentary care to several in-need patients each day.”
“You inspired me to do that.”
“I did?” She looked surprised.
“Yeah, and I wish I could do more.” Sometimes that was all the veterinarian care some of the animals got.
“But you believe.” There was wonder in her expression, so fresh and bright I wanted to lean in and kiss her again.
“I believe in that elf you had stuffed in your trunk.” I raised an eyebrow in her direction.
She gasped, eyes widened. She quickly dropped her gaze to the bag in her hands. “He likes it in there. And, anyway, he let himself out. ”
“Who else are you hiding from me?”
“Nobody.”
“Really?”
“I swear.”
I heard a giggle. I stopped rustling the bag I was opening and listened. I leaned into the stall where Rudolph was giggling to himself. Having never heard an animal do that, I smiled.
“What’s so funny?” Tamara asked him. “Are you still drunk?”
“Blitzen sure is.”
Tamara and I both automatically looked up toward the sky, even though we couldn’t see it or Blitzen through the barn’s roof.
“They wouldn’t fly if they were too tipsy, would they?” she asked carefully, and Rudolph laughed. She groaned, placing her hands against her cheeks. “What have I encouraged them to do?”
“I guess we wait and see.” I crouched and took Rudolph’s pulse. “As for this guy, he’s probably reacting to the painkillers.”
The reindeer’s eyes were giant, dark saucers.
“He’s high?” she asked, flopping onto an overturned metal feed bucket, using it as a seat. She then moved to kneel in the straw, gently stroking Rudolph’s front flank, her voice wobbly. “I’m messing up everything tonight.”
