Breath of Christmas by E.A. West

Author:E.A. West [West, E.A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: christian Fiction
ISBN: 9781611162479
Publisher: Pelican Book Group
Published: 2012-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

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The wind picked up a bit during the afternoon, making it feel even colder.

Esther petted Molly as the dog leaned against her legs and provided extra heat and a windbreak.

“You’re such a good girl. I just wish you were keeping your human warm, right now. A little cold air never hurt me, but Robbie … well, I don’t have to tell you.”

She looked up at the scoreboard. If Robbie got even a mediocre score with his last run of the day, he would still be in the finals. His comments as they left the lodge earlier sprang to mind. Maybe the conceited comments she’d teased him about really were just confidence. His scores had certainly proved the truth of his snowboarding ability.

The bell sounded, indicating another run was about to begin.

A quick glance at the scoreboard confirmed it was Robbie. Esther looked up at the top of the slope in time to see him drop into the course.

His moves were as impressive as before, but something seemed off.

Molly sat up a little straighter as he continued down towards them, her ears up, her gaze intent. As he approached the last jump, the dog stood and whined softly.

Esther’s heart pounded as she struggled to restrain the dog now pulling at the leash. Nothing like this had happened during any of Robbie’s other runs, and she didn’t like the way Molly’s forehead wrinkled as she looked uphill.

Robbie landed his last trick and bent over coughing as he patted his pockets.

Molly yanked the leash from Esther’s hands and darted to him as he slid across the finish line and fell into a sitting position on the snow-covered ground.

“Robbie! Are you OK?” Esther dropped to her knees, terrified by the squeak in every gasping breath he took between coughs.

He yanked off his face mask as he dug into a pocket on Molly’s vest, pulling out an inhaler. As soon as he lifted it to his mouth, the dog moved behind him, leaned against his back, and let out a low, rumbling growl.

Esther reached for the leash, but Robbie put out a hand to stop her as he took another puff of his inhaler. Confusion joined her fear and brought tears to her eyes. Never had she felt so helpless.

Would Robbie breathe more easily, or would he produce the laminated card requesting an ambulance?

She did the only two things she could think of—she prayed for his healing and undid the bindings holding his boots to his snowboard.

He dropped his inhaler on the ground.

Molly moved to his side and leaned against his chest as she continued the odd growl.

Robbie closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against the dog’s neck, wrapping his arms around her as the squeak lessened and his coughing subsided.

Esther realized a concerned crowd had surrounded them.

Robbie lifted his head and met her gaze with anxious eyes. He took a shallow breath. “The growling … helps.”

So that was why he hadn’t wanted her to grab Molly’s leash. The dog knew what she was doing.

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