Her Hometown Hero(41)

That stopped Sage. She walked beside him, turning her head to see if he  was serious. That was a pretty great tradition. "Really? Can you point  out any that you've planted?"

They moved through the trees of various heights. "I planted those four  over there. Camden planted those three," he said, pointing to three huge  pines. "And Michael planted that small group. The four over there,  looking kinda frail, Jackson planted. I wanted that one Cam planted for  our Christmas tree last year, but you would have thought I'd wanted to  slay his firstborn. I don't think we've ever cut down any of the trees  we've planted. We'd rather see how much they've grown each year."

The area was crowded with trees, and as Spence and Sage weaved their way  through it all, she stopped to examine different ones. She'd exclaim  that she'd found a perfect one, then find fault with it after circling  it a few times. After an hour, Spence lifted her into his arms and  kissed her again.

"What?" she asked when she was able to catch her breath.

"I never realized there was such science to picking out a Christmas  tree. You do realize that I'll need you by my side each year from here  on out so I don't make such a grievous error as to get an imperfect  one."

"Are you making fun of me, Spence?" she asked in mock anger. She knew  she could be a bit unbalanced in certain shaky situations. It was just  who she was.

"Make fun of you? I'd never be so foolish as to do something like that."

As she flung her arms around his neck and rested her head against his  chest, the snow coated their shoulders, and she didn't even notice. It  was cold and wet, but all she could think about was how safe she felt.  Even the stinging of her red nose and cheeks didn't bother her when she  was in his arms.

Then she spotted it. They had to have passed it before, but she knew  this was the tree. It stood about ten feet tall, which would be fine  with the soaring ceilings in his living room. The branches were full and  lush, with ample room for a whole lot of ornaments, and the tree was  almost calling her name.

She pushed off against him and walked over to it, then circled it  several times before stopping and nodding her head. "This is the one.  It's a perfect tree," Sage said, a smile lighting up her face. This was  the first time she'd ever come out to the woods to cut a tree, and  though she'd been resistant the entire way, it now looked like Spence  wasn't the only one addicted.

"Are you sure? I don't want to cut it down and then have you change your mind," he said as he picked up his ax.

"I'm positive. Swing away, Mountain Man."

"I knew I should have worn that red-checked flannel." Spence flexed his  arm, walked over to the tree, and bent to clear the snow from the base  so he could see what he was doing before standing back up.

"Now that's a fantasy I've never had," she said as she watched him lean  back and then swing the ax forward. She was mesmerized by the rhythm,  the accuracy of his body in motion. A slight sweat broke out on his brow  and she found herself wanting to tackle him and have her way with him  right there on the frozen ground. Just for cutting down a tree.  Ridiculous.                       
       
           



       

"Timber," he called as the ax cut through the last of the base and the  tree began to fall. The snow cushioned its fall, and a swirl of fresh  white powder flew up into the air. He quickly removed a few of the  bottom branches to give himself a bigger area to hold on to and then  turned toward her. The snow was falling so thickly at this point that  they had only about six feet of visibility in front of them.

"I think that storm has hit," he said as he grabbed the tree with one hand and took her gloved fingers with the other.

"Yes, it's really coming down. I hope you know your way back to the truck."

There was a rustling in the bushes to Sage's left, and she stopped.  "What was that?" she whispered, knowing they should probably move, but  her legs were frozen solid.

"It's just a deer."

"Are you sure?" Her knees finally unlocked, and she started walking beside him again.

"Positive. We need to hurry, though. I want to get down the hill before this turns into a full-blown blizzard."

His pace was making her breathe heavily. She was used to being on her  feet all night long, but she wasn't used to hiking through snowy woods.  When his truck came into view, she breathed a sigh of relief, then  attempted to help when he lugged the tree onto the bed of his truck.  When he opened the passenger door for her, she heard rustling again and  whirled around toward it.

"Oh, Spence!"

He turned in the direction she was looking, and before them, practically  close enough to touch, were several huge stags, their antlers reaching  toward the sky.

"They're gorgeous, and must be having a hard time finding food if  they're getting this close," he said, wrapping an arm around her.

"Do you think they'd let me pet them?" She was surprised by how much she  wanted to. She'd normally be thinking of the diseases they could be  carrying, or the bugs in their fur.

"Not a great idea. They might get a bit upset when they find out you don't have anything to offer them."

Sage reached out to the deer anyway, but the one in the lead got spooked and ran off. The others followed.

"We need to go," Spence told her. He lifted her inside the truck, then quickly moved around to the driver's side.

Once he started the engine and the heater kicked in, Sage began  shivering. She hadn't realized how cold she'd become. Though she'd  layered up, brutal temperatures like these really seeped in.

"Now we need to get into town and pick up ornaments," he announced.

"You don't have any? Everyone has ornaments."

"No. This will be my first tree at my own place. We've always had one at  Dad's, after all. There wasn't room for one while I was in school, and I  just didn't bother when I was in Seattle. What was the point? I was  there on my own," he said with a shrug.

"That's . . . sad," she said. "Even when I was in my small dorm room,  I'd get one of those little trees they have in pots. It wasn't much, but  I put tiny lights and decorations on it. It made me smile. When I left  for home for the break, I would take the tree to a shelter nearby and  they loved it. It's not Christmas without a tree."

"Agreed. But I always came home for Christmas-when I didn't have to  work, at least. I just never felt the need to decorate. You'll have to  come to the ranch, though. Dad goes all out."

"So does my grandma. I've been so busy with work, and then it seems I'm  with you during all my free time. I really should get over there. She's  probably been sad that I'm so close to town now, but not bothering to  visit."

"Ha. You don't know your grandmother that well, then," Spence said. "She  and Eileen and Maggie seem to have events planned for every night of  the week. They play poker, have a dance class, and run the local toy  drive. This is a busy time of year for them."

"They play poker? How would you even know that?" Sage couldn't picture  her grandmother, Maggie Winchester, and the very petite Eileen Gagnon  playing poker. In her imagination, only burly old guys smoking cigars  and guzzling whiskey did such a thing.

Spence chuckled. "I know a few people who have complained about the girls being sharks and wiping them out."

"I just can't believe it. I wonder what else I've missed out on while I was in med school."

"Don't worry. If there's anything you've missed out on, you will hear about it. There are no secrets in Sterling, I'm afraid."

"That's something I've always hated about this place, Spence. Absolutely no privacy."                       
       
           



       

"On a positive note, there's little crime because no one can get away with anything."

"Except for Grace," she grumbled.

"You clearly need a partner in crime-a top-rate detective-to help you find some answers."

"And you're telling me that you're that detective?" She couldn't hide her skepticism. Still, Camden was his brother.

"I'm a man of many skills, Sage."

She agreed with that statement 100 percent.

They somehow managed to make it down the mountain, then pulled up in  front of the only store in Sterling that carried tree ornaments. Spence  practically cleaned the place out of supplies, making the shop owner a  happy man. Christmas was only a week away, and the fellow had most  likely been thinking he'd have to unload it all at clearance prices. On  the other hand, the dust Sage found on some of the packages suggested  that the man just stored unsold holiday stuff and brought it out again  the next year.