Page 86 of The Clause in Christmas
Luke hopped down from a…
Cassie blinked.A sleigh?A real honest-to-goodness sleigh? Pulled by two magnificent Clydesdales, their reddish coats gleaming in the moonlight.
Luke grinned as he leaped up the porch steps to greet her. His gaze traveled from her beaming face to the brooch on her coat lapel, and he didn’t bother to hide his admiration. “You look beautiful.” Slipping his hand around her waist, he bent to kiss her softly, stealing her breath for the second time.
When their lips finally parted, Cassie gripped his shoulders, still a little wobbly on her feet. “We’re going on a sleigh ride?”
“Technically, it’s a carriage. Sleighs don’t do so well without snow.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, large feathery snowflakes drifted from the sky, as if on cue.
“You were saying,” Cassie teased.
“Wow. I don’t think snow was in the forecast for tonight.”
“Grandma Edith probably ordered it just for us.”
Luke laughed. “You’re probably right.”
“It won’t ruin your plans, will it?”
“Not at all! I always plan ahead, just in case.”
As Luke helped Cassie climb into the carriage, she saw what he meant. Several thick, heavy blankets lined the seat and she spotted a thermos filled with what she suspected to be Sadie’s famous hot chocolate.
“Ready?” Luke asked, climbing in beside her.
Cassie beamed her approval. “I can’t believe a carriage ride was on the Christmas Calendar!”
“It’s not.” Luke grinned, tapping the reins to signal the horses.
They whinnied, whipping their black manes as they trotted forward.
“It’s not?” Cassie echoed in confusion.
“We’re on our way to the Christmas Calendar’s activity. The carriage was my idea.”
Touched beyond words by his gesture, Cassie planted a kiss on his cheek.
“I guess it was a good idea,” Luke chuckled and Cassie snuggled in closer, pulling the blanket around them.
As they traveled down a quiet one-lane road, the soft jingle of bells complemented the peaceful silence of their surroundings. Moonlight reflected off the bright white snowflakes, transforming them into glitter cascading from the sky. Enraptured by the sight, Cassie didn’t even notice the sting of the cold air against her cheeks.
“We’re almost there.” Luke transferred the reins to one hand so he could slide the other around her shoulders, pulling her into the warmth of his body.
A contented sigh escaped Cassie’s lips, her wispy breath disappearing into the stillness of the night as she cuddled closer.
As they rounded a bend in the lane, the pines grew denser until one final curve in the road led them to a small clearing in the trees.
Cassie clutched Luke’s hand, unable to believe the spellbinding scene before her.
In the distance, hedged by a thick forest, a single pine stood draped in golden twinkling lights.
“What is it?” Cassie whispered.
“It’s called the Wishing Tree.” Luke hopped down and looped the reins over the hitching post. Reaching inside his pocket, he withdrew two slips of paper and a pen before climbing back into the carriage. Handing one slip to Cassie, he said, “You write down your wish, roll it into a scroll, and tie it on the tree.”
Cassie stared at the blank white space. What could she wish for? All her wishes were already coming true.
