Christmas Angels Read online

  Even after the self-warning, he did turn and take another look. She was pretty, but he could imagine her looking just as at home in jeans and hiking boots. Most people who came to Antler Creek didn’t stay long, since there wasn’t a hotel. He wondered what her story was.

  He finished his sandwich and settled his bill. When he slid off the stool and started to head outside, he noticed that the woman was still looking over the menu.

  He stopped at her table. “I recommend the ham sandwich. It’s my favorite.” She glanced up and smiled. Without another word, he tugged on the bill of his ball cap. Cursing himself under his breath for the stupid gesture, he turned to leave. Really? Might as well have given her a “howdy, ma’am” to go with the tip of the hat.

  Feeling like a total geek, he hustled out the door.

  Should have minded my own business.

  Elvis lumbered to his feet in the back of Matt’s truck. “Hey, buddy, sorry I took so long.” Matt took a napkin of leftovers from his pocket, which sent Elvis’s tail, what there was of it, wagging so fast his whole body rocked.

  While Elvis took his own sweet time snacking on the ham sandwich, Matt noticed the fancy SUV in the parking lot. A black Range Rover. You didn’t see many of those around here. Was she driving it?

  Elvis plopped down in the bed of the truck, tongue lolling out of the left side of his mouth as if it were ninety degrees out today even though it was a comfortable sixty. At just six months old, he’d already surpassed ninety pounds.

  Matt had a feeling Elvis missed Valerie a little. Before Matt finished building his mountain house, he’d been living and working in Raleigh. He’d planned to get a dog when he moved into the mountain house for good, but when he saw the picture of Elvis up for adoption on the news his heart couldn’t say no. He’d made the adoption and set up doggy day care arrangements, only Elvis ended up with a terrible case of kennel cough the first week, so Matt hired Valerie to take care of Elvis at home, and take him for walks so he’d only have to be alone a couple of hours a day.

  But Matt was staying in his mountain house through the holidays now, and that meant Elvis would have to adjust to not having Valerie around. He’d pouted the first couple of days, but finally was adjusting to being Matt’s right-hand man. Matt was thankful to have the big loving pup at his side. It would be Matt’s first Christmas without Dad, and he needed time to deal with all of that. Having Elvis made the wounds a little less raw.

  It had taken a long time for Matt to get to a place where he could even come back home. But once he did, he realized part of what had been missing in him was the peace this place brought. He felt grounded here now. In a good way.

  Matt shifted the truck into gear and drove over to Goodwin’s Hardware on Main Street to pick up dog food, and a few supplies to keep the deer from completely destroying his cedar trees.

  He whipped the truck into the parking lot, then dropped the tailgate after he climbed out. Elvis hopped to the street next to him. “C’mon, boy.”

  As they walked through the door of the hardware store, the owner, George, waved a hello and then tossed a dog treat in the air. Elvis nabbed it like a Hoover vacuum after a spider.

  “That dog never misses,” George said.

  “Not when it comes to food. Don’t ask him to chase a cat, though. He’ll just make a new friend.”

  “I don’t doubt that.” George came around the counter. “You’re a lover, not a fighter, just like your pa, huh, Elvis?”

  Elvis lifted his chin and woofed.

  “Whatever.” Matt rubbed his hand through his beard. “And please don’t try to set me up again.”

  “You have to get over Robyn eventually.”

  “I’m over her.”

  “No you’re not. She wasn’t your type anyway. She didn’t even like Antler Creek. All she did when she stopped in to pick up things for you was talk about when y’all would be leaving again. She said no person in their right mind could live in a place without a mall or at least one upscale restaurant.”

  “Too bad she never let me in on her true feelings about this place. I thought she saw the beauty of small-town living.”

  “Maybe she did. Maybe it’s that scruffy beard that ran her off,” George teased.

  “I didn’t even have this when she was around.” He touched his chin. “It’s Movember. I’m growing this to raise awareness of men’s cancer.”

  George blanched. “Sorry, Matt. I didn’t even think about that. Your dad was a good man.”

  It was true, but so hard to hear. Choked up, he didn’t respond. Cancer didn’t always give big early-warning signs, at least not big enough for a man like Dad to notice. It had taken him swiftly. Probably a blessing, not that it brought Matt any comfort. He’d give anything to have Dad back. For a year. A month. Heck, a day longer.

  Folks knew and loved Dad, which made moving back a blessing and a curse some days. He changed the subject. “I need some help to deter the deer from completely destroying my cedars. They’re making an all-you-can-eat buffet of them.”

  “I told you not to plant those high-dollar cedars.”

  “Well, they are planted and there’s been no problem until now. When I came around the corner the other day I saw the telltale shape of my once perfectly conical trees nibbled to deer height. I hope I caught it early enough that they only pruned them. I figured a little wire fencing around them would keep the deer back enough to let the trees regain some growth.”

  “Yeah, but now that the deer have found them it’ll be hard to keep them away. They’d get caught in the wire. I have a couple better solutions for you.”

  He hated to think he might have to replace the trees entirely. As it was, it would take a while for them to regain their former shape. He followed George to the back of the store.

  “I’ve got burlap, or it’s a bit more expensive but this polypropylene mesh netting that they used over at the arboretum last year when they had the same problem. This was what was left that they didn’t need. I can sell it to you at my cost. It’s a better long-term solution and it’ll look nicer.”

  “I’ll take it,” said Matt.

  Elvis finally caught up to them and dropped a tape measure at Matt’s feet.

  “Looks like your dog’s shopping again.”

  “Funny thing is he brings things I need.” He patted Elvis on the head. “Thanks, buddy.”

  “Now I’ve heard everything.” George walked back up front to the register, and Matt followed with Elvis on his heels.

  “He does that all the time. I’ll be working and go to get a tool and he will have already carried it over for me. I’m sure it’s a coincidence; I mean, he brings the hammer to me all the time and I don’t need that. He must have some retriever somewhere in his mutt-butt bloodline.”

  “Good thing he has skills. As big as that dog is already he’ll need to work to help foot his own food bill.” George lifted one of Elvis’s paws. “His paw is as big as my hand at just six months? Those giant breeds grow for two years, ya know.”

  “So I’ve heard.”

  George shook his head. “He’s going to be huge.” He tossed another cookie in the air and Elvis snapped it up. “Remember I’m your friend when you outweigh me, Elvis.”

  Elvis licked his lips then pushed his nose under George’s hand. “You’re a good ol’ boy.” George rang up Matt’s order and handed him the ticket to drive around back and load up the purchase.

  When Matt pulled his truck around, the guys already had his stuff on a hand truck waiting for him.

  Loaded up, he drove straight home and gathered the tools he needed to address the deer problem. Elvis lazed in the cool grass, only getting up to chase the occasional falling leaf and bark at it.

  With all of the netting finally in place, Matt gathered up his tools. This time of year the days were so short it was hard to get much done before dark. “Come on, Elvis. You can ride up front. We have to go over to the church and help Pastor Mike.” Elvis hopped in the truck. He sat ta
ll in the seat, then lowered his front paws to the floorboard and rested his chin on the dash.

  George was right. Elvis was going to be one big dog, but it took a big dog with a heart to match to fill the void in his heart that losing Dad had left.

  Chapter Four

  Liz sank her teeth into the ham sandwich. She was in a hurry to get to Angel’s Rest while there was still some sunlight, but she’d been so hungry she figured she’d better stop first so she wouldn’t be in a rush once she got there.

  The Creekside Café hadn’t disappointed. The lunch was good, and folks were just as welcoming as she remembered, and it wasn’t just because of her grandparents either, because no one knew her. Not yet, anyway.

  Conversation from the lunch crowd hung in the air, accented by the occasional clank from the flattop grill on the other side of the counter. By the looks of things, this café had to have been here when she was a kid. The old black-and-white floor tiles looked original, and those chrome red-topped stools at the counter looked straight out of the sixties.

  She was glad the heavily bearded man had recommended the ham sandwich. She’d definitely order it again.

  Maizey, the waitress who’d been kind enough to share some of the local attractions, came back over to check on her. “Everything good?”

  “Delicious. You’ll definitely be seeing me again.”

  “That’s what I like to hear.” Maizey, an older lady with one of those hairdos that look like they were done at the salon, teased and sprayed, rested a hand on the back of Liz’s chair. “Besides the new candle factory, and the antique mall, we are kind of known for our waterfalls in the spring and summer. We also have a new jeweler that’s working at the gem mine. He can cut and set the stones you find down there, but he does gold and diamond work too. He moved here from New York City. Really nice guy.”

  “Thanks. I’ll definitely have to check that out. Seems like you do a good business around here.”

  “Locals mostly, but we’ve been getting more tourists the last couple of years. I think country living has finally become cool again.”

  “Did that ever go out of style?”

  “Not around here, thankfully.” The waitress smiled. “My name is Maizey. Anything you need you just let me know.”

  “I will. Thank you.” Liz could tell Maizey’s offer was sincere. She could picture herself having meals here at the Creekside Café each day until she got moved in too. Just like one of the locals. “I’m Liz. Very nice to meet you.”

  “You too.” Maizey flitted from customer to customer.

  A moment later she was back to refill Liz’s sweet tea, and leave the check.

  Liz took a big sip of her tea. It was the real deal. Just sweet enough to feel like dessert, like Gram used to make.

  The faces at the tables around her were those of hardworking blue-collar folks—most certainly locals, but there were others who, like her, seemed to be passing through for the day. A nice mix. She liked this town.

  Liz paid her check and went outside. Her shiny black Range Rover looked out of place with its side-view mirrors all tucked in like a scolded puppy. She hit the button on her key fob. The mirrors moved out and the engine rumbled to life. She climbed into her vehicle and sat there for a moment taking in the surroundings. The cheerful blue awnings over the front windows of the café looked new. The sign was framed in blue, with CREEKSIDE CAFÉ in fat water-blue lettering. On the telephone pole in front of her, a flyer for a bluegrass-music festival that had happened two weekends ago fluttered in the breeze.

  I’m going to be a part of this town. Just thinking about it made her nearly light-headed. Antler Creek had always felt like home to her; now it would be.

  She picked up her phone and dialed the local contact for the house again. Finally, someone answered.

  “Hi, hello. This is Liz Westmoreland. I bought the house on Doe Run Road at auction this morning. I’ve been trying to get through all morning. I was beginning to think I had the wrong number.”

  “Sorry,” the woman said. “We don’t open the office until noon on Fridays this time of year. What can I do for you?”

  “I’d like to get a key to the house so I can take a look at it. Can you help me?”

  “Oh gosh, the viewing period ended on Wednesday. We don’t allow people in once it’s been sold. It generally just goes straight to the new owner once all the paperwork has gone through.”

  She understood that process, but it wasn’t what she wanted to hear. “I actually didn’t get to see the place before I bought it, and I’m just dying to get inside and look around. I don’t mind showing some identification.”

  “You do realize that the property was sold as-is, where-is. There’s no backing out.”

  “Of course, no I would never.” Liz could tell the lady took her rules seriously. “My grandparents used to own the place. You can’t imagine how excited I am about this. Can you please bend the rules? I’ll sign something taking responsibility. Whatever you need.”

  “Your grandparents?”

  “Yes. They owned Angel’s Rest.”

  “My goodness.” The woman sighed. “I guess it don’t really matter much. Not like you can hurt anything. And everyone loved your grandparents around here. I’m sure they’d make an exception for you.”

  Liz could hear the woman rummaging around for something.

  “Okay, there’s a lockbox on that place. I’ll give you the code. My boss is out fishing this afternoon. If he disapproves of me giving it to you, don’t be surprised if that code won’t work tomorrow.”

  “That’s fine. Thank you so much.”

  “Got a pen? It’s one of those push-button jobs.”

  Liz pulled the pen from the front pocket of her purse. “Got one.”

  The woman rattled off the code, which Liz immediately recognized as the address. She could have just said so.

  “Congratulations on your purchase,” the woman said.

  “Thank you again.” Liz hung up the phone more excited than before.

  With the code in hand she left the café and turned right on Main Street. It was only a short distance to the road up the mountain, which seemed steeper than she remembered. No one else was on the road, so she slowed and took her time around the next bend—a hairpin turn. She white-knuckled the steering wheel, but was relieved to know she was getting close to her destination.

  There used to be a big cleared-off area to the left that backed up to a farm with a few cows and a ton of goats. It had always been the landmark that helped her find Angel’s Rest, but she didn’t remember it being this far.

  The leaves nearly covered this stretch of Doe Run Road after all the wind and rain last night. She slowed down, peering over the steering wheel, hoping she was going to be able to stay on the pavement.

  “I’m coming home, as soon as I find it,” she joked to herself.

  Then, she slammed on her brakes to keep from driving right past the mailbox. It had seen better days, but it was definitely the mailbox Pop had built. The concrete pillar with the river rock was still there, although it could use a good cleaning. Most of it was green from the moss that had taken up residency, and the mailbox that had once been a to-scale replica of one of the cabins out back had deteriorated so much it mostly looked like rotted wood that had fallen on top of the old rural-size metal mailbox.

  She turned in to the driveway. The property was overgrown in the auction picture, but it was even worse now.

  It will be beautiful again.

  She tried to ignore the doubt that filled her as she parked and got out. The wraparound porch always looked so inviting lined up with colorful rocking chairs. Now leaves huddled in the corner.

  Sadly all of the windows had been boarded over too. It made sense. They certainly wouldn’t want vandals tearing up the place when the house wasn’t being tended to. On a positive note, she’d have the boards to do something with. Those sheets of plywood weren’t cheap. Pop used to cut shapes from big pieces like that with his scroll s
aw. Put together, they looked like reindeer. He’d even sold a bunch of them to other people in the town. She wondered if she might see some of Pop’s artwork on people’s lawns this Christmas.

  She stepped back and surveyed the house. The metal roof was new. The logs had darkened over the years, but that was to be expected.

  On a positive note, the place didn’t look like it was getting ready to crumble into a heap of termite dust. Thank goodness, because Dan’s comments had kept her up all night.

  And no sooner had Dan crossed her mind than her phone rang, and it was Dan’s ringtone.

  “Hi, Liz.” Dan’s voice came over the line. “I was going to see if I could use your SUV for the day. I’ve got two showings this evening with an older couple.”

  “Sorry. Can’t do it this time,” she said.

  “What? Really?” He laughed. “No, you’re kidding, right?”

  It struck her that it might actually be the first time she hadn’t accommodated him. “No. I’ve got plans in Antler Creek today.”

  “Why?” He grunted. “You’re not still chasing down that property, are you?”

  His righteous tone annoyed her. “No. I don’t need to chase it down,” she said, determined to not let him get to her. “It’s already mine.”

  “Didn’t I tell you that was a horrible idea?” he said, spacing the words evenly.

  “You shared your opinion, and you clearly stated it more times than was necessary, but you’ll recall it was my decision to make. I made it, and I was the winning bidder.”

  Silence hung on the line. “Can I ask what you gave for it?”

  “No, but I’m happy with it, and that’s all that matters. It’s a great investment in my future.”

  “If it was an investment property you were looking for you know I could have sold you something that you truly could have made some money on.”

  She countered icily. “Why can’t you just be happy for me?”

  “Fine. I won’t say another word about it.”