Page 32 of The Cowboy's Christmas
“Christmas is coming,” Sophie announced happily.
“It is,” Savannah agreed even as a jolt of alarm went through her.
“There’s some fun stuff happening in town. Quinntoldus.”
“Christmas stuff,” Sophie added.
“Cocoa and maybeSanta,” Jessa added, putting extra emphasis on the jolly old elf’s name.
The girls were practically dancing with excitement, unaware that Savannah’s expression had frozen in place.
“He didn’t know,” Deke said from the doorway. “How could he?”
She kept a smile on her face for the benefit of her nieces as she said mildly, “Because I told him.”
“Did he understand what you were telling him?” Deke asked.
“I don’t know. There’s one way to find out,” Savannah replied. She pulled the hair elastic out of her hair, then after snapping it on her wrist, turned to face her little nieces, her heart twisting as they stared up at her with hopeful eyes.
This was exactly what she’d wanted to avoid. A trip to Marietta, decked out in all its Christmas splendor. She wasn’t ready. It was crazy that she could handle Matt’s photo on the mantel, but she couldn’t handle seeing the clever decorations he’d fashioned for the lampposts while he’d worked on the city crew.
“We can go?” Jessa asked.
“We have to see when it is,” Deke replied. The girls turned toward him, and he said, “Why don’t you two go and warm up the big chair for story time.”
Their little faces fell, making Savannah feel exactly like the grinch that she’d told Quinn she wasn’t.
“I want to see Santa,” Sophie said.
“We have to talk and make plans.” He gestured toward the door with his chin. “Go on,” he said. “Pick a book and I’ll be in in a minute.”
“Okay.” Sophie and Jessa trudged out of the living room.
Savannah met her uncle’s gaze. “Guess this is kind of a done deal.” There was no way she was going to keep her nieces from Christmas activities in Marietta now that they knew about them.
“We don’t have to go to everything,” Deke said. There truly was something going on for the entire month of December and they could pick just one event, but it was obvious that the event had to include Santa.
Savannah nodded. “I know.” Then, despite the small voice whispering to her that she needed some time to collect herself, she grabbed her coat off the hook and headed for the door. She was going to have a word with Quinn.
