Page 5 of OMG Christmas Tree
Luckily, I had a truck. And if luck was truly on my side, this tree would come home with me.
I gave her what I hoped was an understanding nod. “I have an idea.” I pointed back toward my ride. “How about I take the tree off your hands? I’ll pay you cash, and we’ll get you out of this ditch.” I flashed the reliable Bennington smile, the one that melted hearts and won votes (depending on the Bennington).
She squinted at me, tilting her head as if noticing me for the first time. “I’m keeping the tree, but I’ll take your offer of delivering it to my parent’s—Mom’s—I mean, to...the place I’m going to for Christmas.”
Delivery? Okay, she clearly felt agitated and misheard me. Her car ran off the road—understood. This would take more finesse. I held out my hand. “I’m Nick.”
She eyed it, scrunched her eyebrows, and shook with a puffy knit mitten. “Megan.”
“Hi, Megan.” Her name sounded nice as I spoke it out loud. I glanced toward the tree. “How about we circle back to the tree farm and get a size more suitable for you.”
“I picked this tree for a reason.” Her response came quick and firm. “This is the tree I want.”
Okay. “I’ll double what you paid for it.”
“What? Why?”
I took out my wallet and flipped through the bills. We always paid the Sawyers in cash. “I’ve got it all here. Name your price.”
“Name my price?”
She clearly thought I’d chucked my brain across two-lanes into the pasture. Still, I had her. She stood quiet, lost in thought.
“No.” She folded her arms. “I’m not giving you this tree. And I resent how you think I don’t know what size tree issuitable.” She shoved her phone into her pocket and headed for the front end of the tree, yanking the branches.
Plan B or C needed to happen quick. “I’ll help you get the tree where you’re going.” Not at all what I wanted to say.
She let out an exasperated noise as pine needles tore from the branch onto her mittens, sticking out like a buzz-cut on a porcupine. “I would be grateful for the help. Thank you.”
Grateful meant a step toward flexible. I had this. “Let’s make sure the branches aren’t damaged already.” A bent-up tree wouldn’t look so great in the mayor’s mansion for the charity event. The mansion was designated a historic site—our family didn’t live there. Right now, they had one small tree in a front hall. I needed a large tree for the ballroom.
I grabbed for the trunk and jiggled it free from the bush. Megan watched a foot away, so I flashed her a grin over my shoulder as I stepped back to swing the trunk my way.
My boot slipped. One small patch of ice and everything fell off kilter. Scrambling, I windmilled my arms, stumbled back, then forward, tripping over my own feet and landing face-first into the pine.
Megan gasped. “Are you okay?”
My face would heal. My dignity? Nope.
I shook myself free and stood like nothing happened. “I’ll untie the rest of the tree.” Yup. Plenty of untying to do. Yessiree.
“You’d think they’d salt the roads here in Wisconsin.”
The air of contempt in her tone came so distinct I tasted it bitter on my tongue.
“We’re still in Illinois, you know. Is that where you’re going? Wisconsin?” If so, depending where in Wisconsin, this would be a long day.
“Practically. Crystal Cove is the town. I had to look it up on the freaking map.”
I laughed. “Yeah. We’re far up here all right.”
Moooo
Megan shrieked. “Is that a cow?”
I looked up. “Sure is.” The cow must have wandered over for the free show. A thin metal fence separated the animal from the ditch.
She stepped back. Like the cow would hop the fence and, what? Ask for a ride?
