Free The Dawn of Christmas by Cindy Woodsmall Page A

trees.”
    It was hard to believe, but she liked the idea of spending a little time with Levi. “I’ll be right back.” She went inside the store and told her roommates she’d meet them at the house later. Edna had given each of them an area of the store to pack up, and as long as she got hers done before Monday, it didn’t matter when she did it. She hurried out the door, grateful for the distraction.
    Levi pulled his attention from the random items displayed in the store’s window. “Ready?”
    “Ya.”
    They walked down the sidewalks of the historic downtown. After a while they stepped into a café and ordered a couple of cold drinks to go. The conversation stayed light as they discussed the weather, Tobias, how well their handiwork was selling, and how Levi was progressing with the training of a yearling. It seemed as if Levi knew she couldn’t talk about what really weighed on her. Not yet.
    She had tough decisions to make now that the store was closing, and talking about them with someone who had nothing to gain, no reason to try to steer her one way or the other, was like a godsend.
    But was he as he appeared, or was she so desperate for answers she was seeing what she wanted to? She prayed, asking for guidance on whether to turn to Levi for advice.
    They meandered across the thick grass of the park, watching as some people were dismantling their booths. Children milled about with leashed dogs. Across the way, men led horses to trailers while other workmen dismantled the arena that had been set up so riders could demonstrate some of the stunts they would perform at next month’s rodeo.
    Levi took a sip of his orange soda. “Looks as if maybe you shoulda set up a booth here to sell your goods.”
    “The city doesn’t allow the town shops to set up booths for Stone Creek Day. Since I work for Farmers’ and they sell my stuff there, I fall under the can’t-have-a-booth category.” She played with the straw in her cup, poking at some ice chips. “I was boxing up the last of my craft items when you showed up.”
    “I could take them back with me. Beth would be happy to put them on consignment in her store.”
    Sadie paused, staring at him. That was a great offer—if she could snatch it up and not analyze it to death.
    Levi lowered his drink. “You have a look on your face like the one I get when I’m baffled by a horse’s behavior and unsure what to do to get him to do what I want him to do.”
    If he was this intuitive with his horses, he was no doubt a remarkable trainer. “I’m sort of baffled by all of life right now.”
    “Been there a dozen times. Want to tell me about it?”
    She did, but the idea of actually sharing her thoughts made her squirm. What if his opinion affected her final decision and he was wrong? “Maybe later.”
    They remained there, a few yards from the lake, taking in the sights. A cooling breeze played with the strings to her prayer Kapp. A baby cooed nearby, and she searched for it.
    A few feet away a woman sat on a blanket with a little one dressed in pink and wearing a silky headband. The baby girl was about six months old. She sat on her mother’s lap. The woman smiled at her child. “Is that right?” She waited for the baby to respond. “You tell Mommy all about it.”
    The baby seemed mesmerized by her mother, cooing as if her tender sounds actually formed words. A toddler in a beige dress was asleep on the blanket next to the woman and her baby. The mom brushed black hair off the sleeping child’s neck, her face glowing, as if this moment made up for all the nights of walking the floors while her little ones wailed.
    Sadie and Levi headed toward the lake. Behind them a huge ruckus broke out. Men and women shrieked, yelling words Sadie couldn’t make out. Some were grabbing their children and scattering. A man’s voice rose above the clamor. “Stop him! Somebody grab a rein!”
    A black horse appeared out of nowhere and thundered toward them.
    Sadie slung her