Christmas Cowboys, Mistletoe Diner and other Short Stories by Linda Shayne

Author:Linda Shayne
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fiction, romance, angels, holiday, short stories, inspirational, christmas, short story, western, cowboy, award winning, festive, christmas and holiday, christmas adventure, christmas cowboys
Publisher: Remember Point

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SNOWBIRD

by Valerie Scott

Although she was old enough to know better, ten-year-old Willow Rowe wished she had a magic sleigh so she could run away. She was lonely and scared and missed her best friend, Amanda. All she wanted for Christmas was to be in a place where somebody remembered her face.

Almost a year ago, she and her father, Matthew had moved from Long Beach, California to Snowflake, Arizona. He had taken a job at the Apache Railway Company which employed most of the town of five thousand. Though it rarely snowed in Snowflake, the town held its annual Snow Festival the week before Christmas.

Willow’s fourth grade classmates were looking forward to the task of making snow-themed costumes and competing for “best in snow.” Willow wasn’t that excited. Each child was to wear a homemade costume and was expected to sing or tell a story about what made them glow like snow. By applause, the winners, a boy and a girl, would receive a snow globe which contained intricately crafted, miniature statues of the town’s founders, Erastus Snow and William Flake, dressed as snowmen standing before the first house built in Snowflake in 1878.

The festival culminated in the crowning of the high school Snowflake King and Queen. Once chosen, the King and Queen judged the annual snow-cake bake-off. Fruitcake, cupcakes, cheesecake and angel food cake could be entered and then eaten by all. Most of the women in the town entered and even several men who fancied they were chefs. The kids’ favorite competition was the best snowman contest. A snow machine provided the snow for that one and only day there had to be snow in Snowflake.

It was the day before the annual festival and Willow came home greeted by the ever-present Skye Blossom, who was busy decking the halls. “Have you decided what you’re going to be for this year’s show?”

How did she know about her part in the show? She didn’t have any kids. Skye must be a spy. “I thought I’d be a snow-fro and dance like Beyoncé and sing 'I can feel your halo, halo, halo…',” Willow was moving provocatively until Skye said, “you’ll never get to heaven if you carry on like that.”

“I thought your people believed in the happy hunting ground,” Willow said with smirk. “Can you at least make it rain?”

“I’m afraid my powers have dissipated over time. Now it’s homework for you and cooking for me. I’m working on a special recipe for the snow bake,” Skye said.

“What kind of cake?”

“A Navajo snow cake. And yes, it has special powers,” Skye said. “If you finish all your homework, I’ll let you sample the magic.” Skye gently brushed over Willow’s shoulder. “I think you were born to play a snowbird. Its spirit suits you. The real name is Junco and it has dark eyes and comes in various colors. It’s a beautiful little bird, just like you.”

“If I were a bird, I’d fly back to California. Dad seems to like it here…and you.” She shrugged her shoulders, “I miss my friends.

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