Page 22 of Lonesome Moon

“I’m fine. But I should get going before …” I trailed off before I said something that would hurt her feelings.

“Before anyone sees you. I know.”

I slid my feet into my boots and grabbed my jacket from the back of one of the chairs.

“Thanks for last night,” I said, voice gruff. “Sorry about the sleepover.”

“It’s fine.”

Thank God we hadn’t had much of the wine she’d opened last night or who knows what would have happened? I might not have been able to resist her. Had she offered, that is. Which she wouldn’t have.

“Okay, well, I’ll see you later today,” I said. “Are you going into town with the group?”

“I can’t. I have a Zoom call with my team this afternoon.”

I couldn’t tell if that was a lie or not, but I didn’t ask anything further. “Do you want me to pick a family for you off the tree?” I asked.

“Yes, would you? Thanks.”

“See you at dinner, then?”

“Yes, I’ll be there,” Luci said.

I hurried out of there as fast as I could—looking both directions—but no one appeared to be up and about yet. It was only seven. After last night, everyone was probably sleeping in. Once I got to my cabin, I went inside and shut the door behind me as if I were being chased.

If anyone had seen me leaving her cabin, I was toast.

That afternoon, I joined the group that went into town to shop for a family off The Giving Tree, feeling unsettled and deeply conflicted about leaving Luci that morning in such a hurry. Regardless, I plucked two Christmas wish lists off The Giving Tree at the Christmas Market. One for me and one for Luci.

I read them standing near the tree. The first was the Davis family. There were two children, an eleven-year-old boy and a girl, age seven, being raised by their grandmother. Matt asked for a soccer ball and cleats. Sophia wanted a set of markers, a baby doll, and a nightlight. Rosie, the grandmother, asked for a quilt—or blanket—and slippers.

The Coleman family was a single dad raising a thirteen-year-old girl and twin boys, age four. Their note said he’d been out of work for several months. He asked for work gloves and thermal socks. The girl, Ella, wanted headphones, and a journal with a lock. That made me chuckle, thinking about her four-year-old brothers. The twins asked for spaceship pajamas that matched, a red wagon they could share, and a train set.

I read them over twice, an ache in my chest. It wasn’t much, but at least I could give them a good Christmas.

I’d decided on the way in that I was going to take care of Luci’s family for her. She would never allow me to if I asked permission, so I decided to beg for forgiveness after the fact.

I wasn’t going to find most of the items on the lists at the Christmas Market, but I’d order those online when I got back to the ranch. The lodge had Wi-Fi, so, despite the sketchy cell service, it would be no problem. We were still weeks away from Christmas. Today, I would grab some items they hadn’t asked for but probably needed.

Beck approached, holding onto his own list.

“Wanna team up?” Beck asked.

“Sure.”

We started by stopping by Helen’s Handknits. She remembered me from the previous visit and asked where Luci was.

“She had some work things to take care of,” I said. “So I’m shopping for her family too.”

“What can I help with?” Helen asked, getting up from her chair and setting her knitting aside.

In short order, Helen helped me find a knitted blanket for everyone on the list, slippers for Grandma Rosie, new hats, scarves, and gloves for the kids in both families, and thermal socks for the Coleman father. We then headed to a gifts booth, where I found a nice smelling candle for Grandma Rosie and a beautiful leather journal for Ella. I chose boxes of chocolates for both families from the sweet shop as well as ordered homemade pies to be delivered on Christmas Eve. Finally, we headed over to the toy shop where I found not only a set of homemade wooden trucks and cars, but a train set. There was also a really cute baby doll, and I couldn’t resist getting the little stroller that went with it.

By then, Beck and I were hungry, so we grabbed a couple of sausages from the cart and sat on a bench just outside of the gazebo to eat. After we were done, Beck grabbed our trash and tossed it in a bin, then came back to sit next to me. I could feel he had something to say.

“Out with it,” I said.

“Yeah, okay. Well, I saw you coming out of Luci’s cabin this morning.”