LITMIR.BIZ

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Will jumped up and down and Chloe beamed, as if he had just offered to take them to Disneyland instead of merely agreeing to let them do something nice for him.

      “We can go home and work on the snowflakes and paper chains tonight before the party and bring them back here tomorrow,” the girl offered.

      “Thanks.”

      He supposed that meant he would have to have a couple little kids underfoot for a while the next day. The prospect wasn’t as unpleasant as it should have been.

      He frowned. He had never much liked kids and couldn’t see that changing now, when he was thirty-four years old.

      “Maybe you could make some snowflakes,” Chloe suggested. “You can’t do anything else while you have a broken leg.”

      Andrea tried and failed to hide her wince. “I’m sure Sheriff Bailey has plenty to do without worrying about cutting out paper snowflakes, honey.”

      Like what? See how many puzzles he could guess right on Wheel of Fortune or if he could win Final Jeopardy?

      That sounded about as pathetic as he felt right about now, so he opted to keep his mouth shut.

      “Your dinner just needs to be popped into the microwave when you’re ready,” Andrea informed him. “Is there anything else I can do for you before we leave?”

      “I think I’m good. You’ve done more than enough already. I’m not sure the guilt trip Wynona laid on you really required you to decorate my house for the holidays.”

      She opened her eyes a little wider. Hers were green like Chloe’s but the soft green of unfurled leaves in spring. “What guilt trip would that be?” she asked, trying to look innocent.

      He was a hardened law enforcement officer and knew when someone was innocent and when they weren’t. “I grew up in the same house with Wyn. I know just how adept she can be at emotional blackmail.”

      She chewed on her lip, watching her kids as they discussed their decorating plans between them. “If you would rather the children didn’t put up a Christmas tree, I can talk to them later and explain things to them. Don’t feel obligated, really. They’ll be fine. This time of year, they’re easily distracted.”

      Marshall knew that’s exactly what he should do—just tell her he didn’t want a Christmas tree.

      It had been really sweet of them to make the offer—especially Chloe, who was obviously still nervous around him. If the little girl was willing to do the work to get over her fear, he couldn’t refuse her the opportunity.

      “It’s fine. I have to stare at these same walls for the next few weeks, so I guess a little holiday spirit would at least brighten the place up for me.”

      Andrea’s relieved smile sent a weird little shaft of warmth through his chest. “That’s very kind of you. Thanks. I never want to discourage my children from doing nice things for others, especially when they come up with the idea on their own.”

      “Glad I could be of service,” he said, unable to keep the dry note from his voice.

      “Don’t worry about the tree,” she added. “I’ll take care of it.”

      “Are you sure? I was planning to trudge up the Mount Solace trail in the snow later so I could cut one down.”

      She made a face. “Ha-ha. I’m sure I can find one.”

      Andrea glanced out the window, where big, fluffy flakes were beginning to fall like puffs from the cottonwoods along the creek. “Here comes more snow. I heard we’re supposed to get several more inches tonight before it warms up later in the week. I worry about you here all by yourself.”

      He didn’t like being the object of anyone’s pity. For reasons he couldn’t have explained, it bothered him more, coming from her. “I’ve got a phone. I should be fine.”

      “Have you arranged with anyone to shovel the walks for you?”

      He hadn’t thought that far ahead. “No. I’ll call around, see if I can find a service to take care of it for me.”

      “Or you could ask a neighbor boy,” she suggested. “Louise and Herm Jacobs have a grandson who probably could use the cash, especially just before the holidays.”

      He stiffened at the suggestion. “That might work,” he said slowly, wondering why he hadn’t thought of it himself.

      “His name is Christopher. He’s got a...bit of an attitude, but he’s basically a good kid. He’s had a rough time of things lately. His mother died this summer, which is why he’s living with his grandparents. Oh, you probably know that already.”

      “Why would I?” he asked.

      She looked briefly confused at his tone, which he just realized sounded abrupt and almost angry. “You’re from Haven Point and I know Louise is friends with your mom. You probably knew Christopher’s mom, Nicole, their daughter.”

      For a tense, weird moment, he didn’t know how to answer that. “Not well,” he finally said. “She was five or six years older than me.”

      “It’s so sad, about her car accident.”

      She’d had a blood alcohol level of twice the legal limit and had driven head-on into oncoming traffic. The tragedy was the young couple who had died, as well.

      “So do you want me to ask Louise about having Christopher keep your walks clear for the next few weeks?” she asked when he didn’t respond.

      That might be easier. He couldn’t imagine picking up the phone and asking for Christopher. He just couldn’t do it.

      No. This wasn’t something he wanted to leave to anyone else. “I’ll give her a call.”

      “Fine. Well, we’ll be back tomorrow, bearing snowflakes and paper chains and enough Christmas spirit to power all the boats in the Lights on the Lake parade.”

      “Can’t wait,” he answered. Much to his surprise, the words weren’t even a lie.

       CHAPTER FIVE

      “OH, I’M SO GLAD you could make it, Andie.” McKenzie Shaw Kilpatrick beamed at her as she opened the door to her beautiful lakeside house. “Hazel will be so thrilled.”

      “Are you kidding? I wouldn’t miss it. I’ve been looking forward to this all week long.”

      “And hello, Mr. Will and Miss Chloe. Welcome to my home.”

      Chloe giggled at the dramatic greeting and shook McKenzie’s hand solemnly while Will just craned his neck to look behind her.

      “Where is Rika?” Will demanded. “I want to give her a great big hug.”

      “Hey, no fair.” Kenzie gave a pretend pout as she bent down to his level. “Where’s mine first?”

      Will beamed and threw his arms around her neck.

      “You give the best hugs of any four-year-old boy I know, sir,” Kenzie said. “Let me take your coats, and then you can go find Rika and Hondo. They’re hanging out with the kids back in the den.”

      “Yay! Hondo looks scary, but he’s not at all.”

      “You’ve got his number, don’t you? That guy is nothing but a big old softy.”

      Until that summer, Will had been terrified of big dogs after he’d been bitten by one in the neighborhood. Thanks to Wynona and her gentle dog, Young Pete, Will had been able to lose his fear and now he embraced all things canine—especially the little Havachon they had rescued from the shelter before Thanksgiving.

      “Just head down that hall and you’ll find dogs and kids and toys. Maddie Hayward is here and so are Ty and

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