Free A Siberian Werewolf Christmas by Caryn Moya Block Page A

her talk. Her voice washed over and through
him.
    “Oh, no. I took piano lessons when I
was a kid. But I never really learned to read music well. As much
as I love it, I’m not gifted like you are. What about you? Do you
play more than one instrument?”
    “I used to play the Zhaleyka . Sometimes it’s
called the Bryolka . It is similar to a clarinet. But that was when I was much
younger. Like most young boys, I broke mine by fooling around with
it.”
    “I’m sorry.” Maggie squeezed his
hand.
    “Don’t be, life is for
living and sometimes things break.” Hhm,
maybe I need to take my own advice . While
mourning for his parents, he had let life get away from him, until
he was just surviving but not really living. Funny that it would
take a red-haired American to point that out to him.
     
    §
     
    Maggie was so happy she wanted to
dance. She bravely took Slava’s hand, and he didn’t pull away. They
were having a normal conversation, and her heart felt full to
bursting. They walked along the path while Illarion ran and skipped
over the snow. He would occasionally stop and make a snowball and
then throw it at a tree. If it hit, he would crow in delight.
Maggie couldn’t help but chuckle at the child’s antics.
    They walked around a curve in the
trail and there it was. The village. Maggie stood frozen in
amazement. An open meadow was home to ten or so log buildings. Each
had decorative shutters, and light fell out of the windows to land
on the snow. Chimneys belched smoke into the air. It was a place
out of time. Several people walked along the snow-covered road,
some with parcels in their hands.
    “I need to make a couple of stops to
pick up supplies. Was there something in particular you wanted to
see?” Slava put his arm around her waist and drew her closer to his
side.
    “I would love to see some of the
handicrafts. Is there a woodworker or lace maker?” Maggie
asked.
    “Can we go by the toy store?” Illarion
asked, running back and grabbing Slava’s hand. “I need to pick
something out for Katya and Karina.”
    “Yes to all three. Come, let us go see
the toy shop first. I think Vikenti is working there
today.”
    Maggie let Slava guide her down to the
second building that was painted in bright colors with turquoise
shutters and moldings on the windows. From outside she could see
wooden toys of all shapes and sizes, along with child-size
furniture and stuffed animals.
    A bell rang as they opened the door
and walked in. A wood stove kept the building toasty, and Maggie
reached up to unsnap her coat. Vikenti, Dmitry’s father, came out
of the back room and greeted them. He had mentioned his woodworking
hobby at the dinner party. Except for his silver hair, Vikenti
could have been Dmitry’s twin. Illarion ran off to look at the
sleds while Slava and Vikenti whispered behind him. Slava slipped
Vikenti some money before they both turned to her.
    “What can I show
you, malyshka ?”
Vikenti asked.
    “I don’t even know where to start. I
think I’ll just look around, if that’s okay.”
    “Of course. If you have any questions,
just let me know.”
    Maggie nodded and then turned to
wander around the room. There were carved animals and wooden toy
soldiers as well as dolls with painted faces. A sleigh pulled by a
horse caught her attention. The details were intricate, with the
horse’s head and legs moving, as it was pulled across the floor.
She fingered the tiny leather reins and the real horse hair
tail.
    “Do you like it?” Slava asked from her
elbow.
    “It’s a beautiful piece.
But I should find something for the girls.” And you.
    “Dyadya , do you think Katya would like this?” Illarion asked rushing
up to them with a small wooden wolf in his hands. When the string
was pulled, the head raised, like the wolf howled.
    “I’m not sure, what do you
think Magushka ?”
Slava turned, his eyes sparkling.
    She picked up the toy and checked the
construction. The pieces fit very well and if it did