A Christmas Love Story
Chapter 1
I couldn’t have picked a worse day to pick out a Christmas tree. The snow was coming down and piling up on the roads and it was slow going. The Christmas tree farm was only 15 miles away but it seemed like 50.
Finally the sign came into view…Taylor’s Christmas trees ½ mile with an arrow pointing east. Slipping around the corner my tires lost traction and for just a second, adrenalin shot through me as the side ditch loomed deep to my right. Slowing to a crawl the car righted itself and my heartbeat returned to normal.
I’d never been to this Christmas tree farm before although I’d passed it a few times. Acres of evergreens spread across the landscape of trees in all sizes and shapes. They surrounded the big farmhouse and the big red barn and now with the snow it resembled a Norman Rockwell painting.
Christmas was in evidence with lights strung everywhere. Wreaths of real boughs and big red bows, gift wrapped boxes piled in a real sleigh sat in the yard just waiting for a dappled horse to pull it. There were few cars in the parking area, not many souls like me to wander out in this snow storm.
A little store attached to the barn donned a sigh that said…Start here. Christmas music played from well placed speakers to drift it seemed from out of nowhere. Opening the shop door, bells jingled to welcome visitors. The scent of fresh cut pine mixed with the smell of hot coffee soon made me forget about road conditions and I was lost among all the beautiful decoration and the Christmas spirit filled me with sweet memories.
The place was empty so I just begin to browse around. Then hearing the bells jingle I turned to see a man enter the shop with a family on his heels. His hearty laughter filled the room as did his handsome presence. He was perhaps six feet tall and although his parka was a little snug over his tummy, his broad shoulders balanced out his frame and with muscular arms and legs he certainly looked the part of a real woodsman.
His longish hair beneath his knitted cap was dark and sprinkled with white as was his beard. Removing his gloves he turned my direction and met my stare. His dark eyes shaded for a moment then sparkled with interest. For the briefest of moments his face held a look that I recognized…he liked what he saw.
With a soft chuckle he said, “Be with you in a minute, Hun” then turned his attention back to the family that was waiting to pay for their tree.
I turned away to browse and let my racing heartbeat slow down. I’d been single for several years and pretty much adjusted to the fact that I might remain so. Dating appeared to be obsolete in this new age of free sex and although I’d dabbled in that lifestyle for awhile, it just wasn’t for me. Now I just tried to stay busy and not think about those feelings that stirred every so often to remind me that they were still alive and well.
Lost in thought as I looked over a display of Christmas CDs, I hadn’t heard that family leave or hear him approach me. Suddenly I felt him close behind me and I could smell the cold air freshness about him mixed with a tantalizing man’s cologne. Oh those feelings inside me were alive and well alright!
I felt him lightly touch my back as he said, “Now pretty lady, what can I do for you?” I felt my face flush and a momentary tug to let what I was thinking slip off my tongue. Oh I wanted him to help me! But instead I told him that this year I’d decided on a real tree for a change.
“Well you came to the right place,” he said. “Would you like to walk around to see what you can find or would you like me to take you in my sleigh?” I thought to myself, “fat chance that I wanna walk!” But I said…”Sleigh? You have a sleigh?”
He laughed and said, “Of course! With sleigh bells and a dappled horse to pull it. C’mon hun, I’ll show you.” Pulling on his gloves and holding the door for me he turned and flipped over the open sign to read “Be back shortly” then putting his arm around my waist he guided me around the corner and I could hardly believe my eyes! A scene straight from a Christmas card and once again those feelings stirred to life.
To be continued….
Copyright blbadgley
11/28/08
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