One Perfect Christmas (Short Story) by Stefanie Sloane Read Free Book Online Page A

Robby,
     off you go.”
    The footman obliged and carefully slid his small, wiry frame down the side of Fickle
     until both his feet touched the ground.
    “How long do you believe he’s been gone?” Jane asked, stepping around to Fickle’s
     left side.
    “Close to three hours.”
    She gestured for Robby to give her a leg up.
    “Miss Merriweather, though it is not my place,” Lord Needles said, rounding the big
     horse to reach her, “I do not think it wise of you to be out in this storm any longer
     than is absolutely required.”
    Jane glared at Robby until he knelt down and took her foot in his hands. “Lord Needles,
     though you’ve no reason to do so, I would ask that you grant me one last kindness.”
    He stood motionless, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with her request.
    “Take Robby to the vicarage and ask Vicar Jones to see that he’s given a blanket and
     a bit of warming broth,” Jane continued, throwing her leg over the draft as gracefully
     as she could, considering her attire.
    Though she would appreciate Lord Needles’s kindness until the day she died, Jane needed
     to be away from the man and the secure future that he would take with him.
    “And my answer is no, my lord. I am not willing to give up. Thank you for reminding
     me of who I am,” she added, backing Fickle away before turning him ’round on the path
     and setting off in search of Reginald.

Chapter Seven
    “Why do you hate me so?”
    Lucas stared down at Reginald, Jane’s blasted ass, as he munched on a tangle of thistles
     he had apparently uncovered in the snow.
    He’d ridden the borders of Cavanaugh lands and cut through the south property intent
     on heading for home. His emotions were no more in check than when he’d set out, but
     the weather had worsened, the storm finally making an appearance and fulfilling the
     dire predictions. He could not stay out-of-doors much longer without risking injury.
    Nor could Reginald.
    Lucas blew out a breath of resignation and jumped down from Horatio’s broad back,
     his booted feet landing in snow that reached well above his shins. “Come along, Reginald.”
    The donkey stopped chewing for a moment, as if considering Lucas’s words, then continued,
     clearly unconcerned.
    Lucas held on to Horatio’s reins and reached out for Reginald’s halter, before realizing
     there was nothing to tie the two animals together.
    The driving wind cut through Lucas’s greatcoat like a knife, icy air prodding his
     shoulder blades. He squinted at the donkey through the blowing snow. “I don’t suppose
     you’d simply follow, eh?”
    Lucas tugged Horatio forward and pulled gently on Reginald’s halter. The donkey remained
     where he was in answer to Lucas’s question.
    “I could just leave you to the elements,” Lucas explained to the ass, looking about
     for something to use as a lead. “And I should, really. Poor Horatio here doesn’t deserve
     to freeze to death simply because you wouldn’t leave your precious thistles.”
    Lucas pulled harder on the leather lead. Reginald seemed rooted to the spot, his head
     bobbing forward with each tug, but his body not moving one step.
    “Dammit,” Lucas swore, looking up at the pregnant sky while he considered his options.
    The animal responded with a loud snort.
    “Be quiet, you ridiculous ass,” Lucas grumbled, lowering his head to look at the donkey.
     Just beyond one of the animal’s overgrown ears he caught sight of a small man-made
     lake he and his brother had fished many times as children. On the opposite side of
     the lake, behind a small hill that lay near the banks of the well-stocked water, there
     was a small cottage.
    Lucas gave Reginald an apologetic look. “Here is the situation: I cannot possibly
     drag you to Juniper Hall. It’s too far and we would freeze to death before we got
     there. But that”—he pointed past the lake—“I believe we could manage. If you will
     cooperate.”
    He was reasoning with an ass. It was