Christmas Wishes...Special Delivery by Mary Manners Read Free Book Online

like a plan with merit.” Gran’s toothy smile was a splash of sunshine. “With the snow lingering, it’s a nice day for a walk. It will be several hours before that roast is slow-cooked and tender enough to fall off the bone. You can ask Kaylee and Rosie to dinner while you’re there. That child is a treasure and, kitten aside, I believe she already adores you.”
    “Kaylee wasn’t thrilled with the cat.”
    “She’s got a lot on her plate and a pet just adds to the mix. But, she’ll come around.” Gran nodded. “Yes, sir, there’s plenty of time to take up some mending.”
    “I guess that’s my cue.” Riley leaned to dip his head beneath the table top and whistled softly through his teeth. “C’mon, Moose. How about a walk?”
     
    ****
     
    “Mom, do we have any extra mittens?” Rosie asked as she poked a small branch into the snowman’s side. At least it looked like a snowman, kind-of, Kaylee thought. The poor guy’s head could use a bit of rounding, and his belly was more than a few pounds shy of plump. Her blonde hair was buried beneath a cherry-red toboggan. As Rosie twisted the branch to secure it, her breath fogged out in tiny white puffs. “He needs some hands.”
    “Run inside and check the laundry room. I think there’s a pair of gardening gloves on the back shelf. With a little imagination, they ought to work.”
    “OK. Be right back.” Rosie spun and dashed toward the steps, calling, “Don’t do anything without me.”
    “Cross my heart,” Kaylee assured her. “Bring a hat for him, too.”
    “I’ve got a hat.”
    “What?” Kaylee spun toward the voice.
    “Will this work?” Riley stood with his arm outstretched. A hunter-green wool toboggan hung from his pinched fingers and a mischievous grin curved his lips. Moose sat as his side, panting a friendly hello.
    “I’m not sure.” Kaylee took a giant step back, her resolve a firm line as she put a measure of distance between them. The hurtful words he’d slung yesterday still stung at the core of her heart. She dropped to her knees to give Moose a hug. “You’ll have to ask the boss.”
    Just then, Rosie rushed through the front door of the guest house, took one look at Riley with Moose at his side, and let out a war whoop. Kaylee groaned as her jaw clenched. So much for hanging on to her resolve.
    “Mr. Riley, You brought Moose!” Rosie lunged from the porch and threw her arms around Moose’s beefy neck. She hugged him for a good, long minute before she turned to give Riley’s leg a squeeze. “Is that hat for Herman?”
    “Herman?”
    “Yeah—him.” Rosie jabbed a finger at the snowman. “Herman. His head is cold. He needs a hat.”
    “Just say the word.” Riley wadded the toboggan and tossed it to her. “Need a lift?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Hop on.” Riley crouched, offering his shoulders, and Rosie squealed as she climbed on. Riley lifted her high into the air, his breath curling as he spoke. “How’s your new kitten?”
    “Princess Fluffy? She’s good. She sleeps in my bed at night.”
    “Really? That’s cool.” He stepped closer to the snowman so she could reach. “And Princess Fluffy, huh? That’s quite a name. I like it.”
    “Yeah. We could have named her snowball, ’cause she’s got all that long, white fur. But Mom said she looks like royalty, so we decided on Princess Fluffy.” Rosie patted Riley’s head. “And she chases a ball of yarn mom made. I wiggle it on the end of a string while she runs. Mom says Fluffy thinks it’s a mouse. Do you think Moose would like her?”
    “I suppose he would. He’s always gotten along fine with our barn cats, and he and Princess Fluffy did come from the same home, you know.”
    “I guess that makes them sister and brother, huh?” She leaned down to stroke Moose’s back. “Do you hear that, Moose…you have a sister. I wish I had a sister, too.”
    The words, so innocent, stabbed at Kaylee. Chances were, Rosie would never know the joy of having