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One Year Later
Grace
“What about this one?”
“Too scrawny.”
Boone trudged a few paces away, bending backward as if trying to see just how high up the tree climbed. “This one?”
I shivered. I still wasn’t good with being out in the snow for too long, though I loved to sit inside and stare out at its beauty. Then again, I had Boone to warm me up whenever I got too cold.
I shook my head. “Too tall.”
My husband gave me an exasperated sigh. “You’re impossible.”
“Admit it,” I said, looking at the forest landscape, the snow glinting off the branches of trees. Pine trees of every shape and size stood like spokes in the snow, spearing upward toward the cloudless blue, December sky. “Most of these will be too tall for the cottage.”
The home we now shared.
“We need something with a little personality,” I added. “Something short and squat.”
Boone repositioned his grip on the chainsaw and glanced around. “All right, then. Take your pick.”
I trudged through the snow in new boots that were much better quality than those I’d worn during our first adventure in these woods. I also wore much thicker socks, so my toes were toasty warm.
My stomach grew queasier the longer I stood here, but we couldn’t go back to the cottage without our tree. Boone had harnessed Hazelnut to a special kind of sled, one that would drag our Christmas tree behind the sleigh as we made our way back.
Everywhere I looked, the trees were just so…high.
“I don’t see anything short enough—wait.” I rotated on the snow, gripping my stomach and waiting for the nausea to pass.
I swallowed. There, behind me, stood the perfect little tree. Its branches weren’t completely full, but it wasn’t too high, and the scraggly twigs bespoke of its character.
Boone crunched through the snow toward me. He wore his wool-lined coat, a cowboy hat, and thick gloves.
“This one? You’re sure?”
“I’m sure.” I became more attached to that little tree the longer I looked at its stout stature.
It was almost like it was trying its hardest to be the kind of tree it was meant to be. I could already envision the colorful bulbs I wanted to wreath it with. And the little sleigh ornament Boone had given me during our first sleigh ride together.
Not wanting to wait any longer to be together, we’d gotten married during the summer, and I hadn’t had the chance to hang that ornament up yet.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said.
Taking a battle stance, he revved the chainsaw. It whirred to life, and he hacked into the trunk with mechanical power. I lost count of how long it took, but soon enough, the little tree released a few crackling sounds and toppled to the snow.
Grinning with excitement, I hurried back to where Hazelnut stood with the sleigh. I gripped the horse’s reins and guided it just the way Boone had taught me, back to where he stood inspecting the newly fallen tree.
I’d already learned so much. Since I’d returned to Montana, I’d spent every possible hour I could in Boone’s company. Junie hired me for upkeep and room checks. It was now my job to clear rooms once guests checked out, to replace bedding and look for items that had been left behind.
I also left mints on the pillows and delivered fresh towels to each room. This saved Junie time enough to deal with balancing the books and the appointments.
I’d gotten much more accustomed to being around horses than I ever thought I would be. Boone had taught me how to clean, feed, saddle, and ride Hazelnut and the other horses at the inn. Junie joked that soon enough I would be driving the sleighs, but I declined.
I was happy working inside, out of the cold.
Besides, soon enough, I’d be too busy to keep working at the inn anyway.
