Free Sleigh Bells in Valentine Valley by Emma Cane

were warring inside her, and she actually found herself looking forward to the tree-lighting.
    That evening, Ethan came over so they could walk to the town hall together, Barney moving almost briskly in front of them in his excitement. They cut over to Main Street, where the old-fashioned lampposts were wrapped in greenery. There were single candles in most of the second-story windows, along with wreaths; candles lined the paths to some shop doors. Kate heard sleigh bells and turned in surprise, because how could there be a sleigh on Main Street? A horse and wagon with SILVER CREEK RANCH on the side drove by, the reins held by a wizened old man, who was all bundled up. A couple dozen tourists sat on the benches inside, their faces reflecting the Christmas lights.
    Kate and Ethan walked the few blocks west toward town hall, enjoying the Victorian carolers strolling about in costume. She kept pointing out the characters—someone in a Tiny Tim costume complete with crutch, ladies corseted into gorgeous gowns, men in top hats with long, bushy sideburns—until Ethan finally said with exasperation, “Mom, they do this every year. So does Vail.”
    â€œOh. Well, I’m enjoying it,” she added in a more subdued tone, tugging on Barney’s leash to keep him from sniffing under Victorian skirts.
    â€œThen you can enjoy this stuff every weekend, because they’ve been going all out for Christmas the last few years. There’s even a Christmas market over in Silver Creek Park, all these decorated wooden huts with stuff for sale. I know we don’t have a big Christmas skating show like they do in Vail, but we’re doing okay.”
    He grinned at her and she grinned back, knowing he was trying to make her feel better.
    â€œI’ll buy you some roasted chestnuts,” he said. “I tried ’em a couple years ago—not bad.”
    While they blew on their chestnuts and tried not to burn their tongues, Kate saw other booths selling hot chocolate, spiced cider, pretzels, and Christmas cookies. There were lots of people enjoying the evening, streaming in from the side streets—Bessie Street, Clara, and Mabel, all nineteenth-century names reminding people of the past. She heard ladies in three-part harmony and, to her surprise, saw the widows perched on stools outside the massive stone façade of the Hotel Colorado. They were seated beneath one of the arched columns, surrounded by poinsettia plants in the snow. They, too, were clothed in nineteenth-century dresses, shawls, and bonnets, but it was the perfect blending of their voices that brought Kate to a halt, made her breath catch at the haunting beauty of “Silent Night.”
    â€œOh, Ethan,” she murmured, squeezing his hand. “Aren’t they wonderful?”
    He nodded, watching for a moment, before his gaze began to roam the crowd again. She let go of his hand, and after listening to another few songs, she waved to the widows and continued to walk up Main Street.
    The tree was a massive evergreen planted on the grounds of the town hall long ago. The hall itself had spotlights highlighting the stone clock tower and the wreaths on the doors. Crowds of people mingled there, but it didn’t take Kate long to spot her brother, whose three-year-old was perched on his shoulders. Diana had the baby, and their six-year-old held Walt’s hand. Barney moved among them eagerly, rubbing against legs as he begged to be petted.
    Once reunited with family, Ethan seemed to take that as permission to start texting on his flip phone. Kate let it go on awhile, knowing he and a friend were supposed to meet up.
    Ethan briefly glanced at her. “Dad’s here. He got away from the tavern after all.”
    â€œGood for him,” Kate said, though inside she winced. Tony was going to be sick of her after just a couple days. But then again, at least she didn’t have to feel bad about depriving him of a holiday tradition