Tinsel in a Twist by Laurie Germaine

Author:Laurie Germaine
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Christmas, Santa Claus, fantasy, romance, Holiday
Publisher: Scattered Whimsy
Published: 2021-10-04T00:00:00+00:00

Tinsel—Nov 29 Confession

I SWIVEL ON THE SEAT and let out a breath. As if conjured by our words, a silvery-white reindeer stands before the draft horses, shimmering antlers splaying over her trim back. Though her head doesn’t reach the horses’ shoulders, the equines prance side to side, like they want to escape in a frothing gallop, but something restrains them. Gripping the reins, Herr Müller exchanges terse words with Niklas.

The Silver Reindeer angles her head, her gaze boring into mine. Crumbling candy canes, she wants something. How am I going to decipher what that is? Biting my lip, I push aside the blanket.

“Tins.” Niklas grabs my arm. “What are you doing?”

“You want me to talk to her, don’t you?” I slip free and fumble with the door latch.

“I’m coming with you.”

The reindeer snorts and sidesteps the horses, shaking her head as we exit the carriage. The driver shouts a warning. Even though we, too, stand taller than she does, we approach the reindeer with cautious steps. She bobs her head and strikes the pavement with a hoof, her toffee eyes blinking.

“It’s okay, I’m a friend.” I stretch toward her, palm out. “Maybe you already know that. We’ve been searching for you—”

The SR makes a guttural noise, noses her neck, and stares at me.

Aw, snowman. I tug the brim of my newsboy cap. “I’m sorry. I don’t ... I can’t—”

She rears and paws the air. The horses neigh. I stumble backward into Niklas, whose arm comes around to anchor me as he pivots us both, putting himself between me and the reindeer.

Suddenly, he’s gone with a shout. I turn just as the SR flings him onto her back by her antlers.

“No! Niklas!”

She rockets into the air, and I wave my arms over my head. “Come back! What are you doing?”

The carriage rattles behind me, and I spin about, my mouth dropping as Herr Müller takes off, shouting at his horses. “Wait, where are you going?” I race after him, but he travels too fast and vanishes around the bend.

Bumbling to a stop in the empty lane, I glance at the sky. There’s no sign of the SR. Where did she take Niklas? Is she bringing him back? I cup my mouth and holler, “Niiiklaaaas!” Holy holly berries, this is a disaster.

Silver flashes above. Two seconds later, the Silver Reindeer lands and shakes Niklas off her back. He crashes to the ground beside the bushes lining the path.

“Niklas.” I hurry over to him, glaring at the SR. For a slight creature, she’s got attitude. “Whose side are you on?”

She brays, stomps her hoof, and disappears into the sky again. Groaning, Niklas pushes onto all fours and retches into the bushes.

I kneel beside him and rub his back. “I’m so sorry. Are you okay?” Of course he’s not okay. A mad reindeer gave him the flight—and fright—of his life!

Niklas collapses onto his side and swipes his mouth. “I don’t care what the legend says. That reindeer is not our ally.”

“This is my fault. I didn’t want to tell you, because I didn’t want you to think less of me than you already do.

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