The Santa Express Read online

  “Mom and Dad said the same thing the other day.”

  He glanced at her before doing a U-turn. “Did you come to Montana to speak to the Colemans?” One of the biggest hurdles to the event was getting approval from a rancher to use his barn. Originally, the Colemans were happy to help, but something had changed. Without their support, Santa’s Secret Cave wouldn’t happen and the whole event would be in jeopardy.

  Holding out her hands, Shelley sighed as hot air flowed from the vents. “Talking to the Colemans is at the top of my list. I’d also like to start organizing the flower fundraiser that Bailey asked me to do. I haven’t told my sisters, but I’ll be here for a few weeks.”

  That was news to John. “You weren’t planning on being here until the day before our event. What made you change your mind?”

  Shelley’s hands dropped to her lap. “I finished my contract in Boston earlier than I thought I would.”

  He was surprised that she hadn’t looked for another job. “Well, Bailey and Sam will be pleased you’re here.”

  The sharp glance Shelley sent him made him regret his words. “I didn’t mean that the way it came out. I’m sure lots of people will enjoy meeting you.”

  “You still haven’t forgiven me for assuming you were old, have you?”

  John slowed down as he turned into Bailey’s street. “Of course, I have.”

  Shelley didn’t look as though she believed him. “Even though I didn’t know you were behind me, I shouldn’t have said anything about your age. You’re only twelve years older than I am and I’m definitely not old.”

  Her comments had stung John’s pride, but it wasn’t her fault. Some days he felt much older than forty-two but, that was more to do with what he’d seen, and not the number of years that had gone by. What Shelley didn’t know was that her comments had coincided with one of his not-so-easy days.

  He pulled into Shelley’s sister’s driveway and frowned. “It doesn’t look as though Bailey’s home.”

  “Brooke said she’s in Polson with Steven and Mila. I’ll call her to let her know I’m here.”

  John peered through the windshield. With dark, menacing clouds gathering overhead, the weather was getting worse. “Do you have a key?”

  “I know where she keeps her spare front door key.”

  That made him feel slightly better about leaving her here. “I’ll get your luggage out of the truck.”

  By the time he stepped onto the veranda, Shelley was running her hand along the top of the doorframe. “You’re kidding?”

  She looked over her shoulder and grinned. “Got it!”

  “I can’t believe Bailey would leave her key there. It’s too obvious.”

  “This is Sapphire Bay.” Shelley opened the front door. “Land of no crime, happy families, and an awesome church.”

  John didn’t know what startled him more—the way Shelley’s eyes were alive with mischief or the flattery coming out of her mouth. “You still need to be careful.”

  Her cheeky salute made his heart pound.

  She peeled off her wet hat and sneezed. “Excuse me. I—” Another sneeze ripped through the entrance.

  “You’re soaking wet. How long were you outside?”

  Reaching into her jacket pocket, Shelley pulled out a handful of tissues and blew her nose. “Not long.”

  John looked more closely at her face. With a red nose, bright pink cheeks, and wet tendrils of hair plastered against her forehead, she looked like a pretty, dark-haired cat that had been lost in the wilderness.

  He picked up her suitcases and left them beside the coat stand. “You need to change into some dry clothes, and I need to go home.”

  Shelley sneezed into the tissues. “Thanks for bringing me here.”

  “You’re welcome. Let me know when you’re seeing the Colemans. I can drive you to their property.”

  “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  John nodded and looked into Shelley’s brown eyes. “Remember to call Bailey.”

  “I will.”

  And while Shelley was sneezing into the tissues, he walked back to his truck. He should be happy that she was here to organize their last fundraising event before Christmas. But he wasn’t—and he didn’t know why.

  Shelley took a batch of cookies out of the oven, then checked the pasta simmering on the stove. After John went home, she’d called Bailey to let her know she was here.

  Her sister was just as surprised as Brooke and John had been. Everyone seemed to think it was unusual for Shelley to drop everything and travel halfway across the country. Admittedly, she did have a reputation for over-planning everything but, even so, it was a little demoralizing to see everyone’s reaction.

  She could be spontaneous, she really could. And moving to Sapphire Bay was the most spontaneous thing she’d done in a long time. All she’d needed was an early mid-life crisis to push her into unknown territory.

  A beam of light swung across the small, open-plan living area. Bailey was home.

  Shelley took a deep breath. The first thing her sister would ask was why she was here. The answer to that question was as complicated and uncomfortable as everything else in her life.

  The front door swung open and Bailey rushed inside. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

  Shelley hugged her sister. “Neither can I. It’s been an interesting few days.” She looked over Bailey’s shoulder and frowned. “Where’s Mila and Steven? I thought they would have come inside with you.”

  “They wanted to give us time to catch up. But don’t worry, you’ll see them tomorrow. Steven’s invited us to his house for lunch.”

  Shelley envied her sister’s life. Moving here had been a big step for Bailey. They both knew how much their eldest sister, Sam, enjoyed living in Sapphire Bay, but that hadn’t made Bailey’s decision to resign from one of the largest hospitals in America any easier.

  While Bailey had surprised everyone when she gave up her job and moved here, no one was surprised at her whirlwind engagement to Steven. They were so much in love that they glowed with happiness. And then there was Mila. Steven’s eight-year-old daughter had become an important part of Bailey’s life. Even though they hadn’t set a date for their wedding, they were as close and happy as any family.

  Bailey sniffed the air. “Something smells wonderful.”

  “I ran out of things to do, so I decided to bake. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “Are you kidding? If those cookies taste as good as they smell, they’ll be gone by the morning.”

  Shelley returned to the kitchen. “I made Mom’s creamy Italian pasta dish, too.”

  When Bailey saw the pasta, her eyebrows rose. “You must be hungry.”

  “I thought Steven and Mila were staying.” Turning off the stove gave Shelley an excuse not to look at her sister.

  “I might be wrong, but didn’t you tell me you needed to finish your contract in Boston before thinking about coming here?”

  Shelley stirred the pasta. “I finished the audit quicker than I thought I would.”

  “What about your apartment?”

  “My lease expires at the end of December, so it wasn’t a big deal to leave earlier. My furniture is on its way to Bozeman. Mom and Dad are storing it in their basement. I brought two suitcases of clothes with me and the rest will arrive in the next few days.” Shelley sighed. She was beginning to sound like the super-organized middle sister that she didn’t want to be.

  Bailey touched Shelley’s arm. “I’m guessing that coming here isn’t entirely based around the contract you’ve finished. Has it got something to do with your crazy ex-fiancé?”

  “Jarrod isn’t crazy. He’s delusional. I took your advice and ignored his texts and emails, but he wouldn’t leave me alone.”

  “Did you call the police?”

  Shelley shook her head. “It wasn’t that bad. All he wants is to get back together, but it’s never going to happen.”

  “Thank goodness for that. How long are you staying i
n Sapphire Bay?”

  Shelley leaned against the kitchen counter. “I’m not sure. I’ve got enough savings to last a few months but, if I want to live here, I’ll need a job. Are you still happy for me to stay with you?”

  Bailey’s smile took some of the weight off Shelley’s shoulders. “Of course, I am. Stay for as long as you like. You’ll have to squeeze into the spare bedroom, but it’s warm and comfortable.”

  “You aren’t going to tell me I’m making the biggest mistake of my life?”

  Bailey smile disappeared. “Do you think you’re making a mistake?”

  “It’s the right thing to do. I just wish Jarrod wasn’t one of the reasons I came here so quickly.”

  “Don’t worry about him. I’ve been looking forward to having my two sisters living close to me for ages. Have you told Mom and Dad you’re here?”

  “I called them while I was waiting for you.”

  “What did Mom say?”

  Shelley sighed. “Guess.”

  “They’re arriving tomorrow?”

  “Mom wants to leave Bozeman at five o’clock in the morning. Hopefully, Dad convinces her that it’s too dangerous to drive at that time of the day.”

  Bailey took two bowls out of a cupboard. “Don’t hold your breath. Mom’s as stubborn as you are when she sets her mind on something.”

  Shelley didn’t know whether that was a compliment or another black mark against her.

  “Don’t look so worried. Being stubborn is a family trait—along with enjoying pasta. While we’re eating, you can tell me what you did in Boston.”

  “That won’t take long. Apart from working, I haven’t done anything.”

  “Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Bailey studied Shelley’s face. “What’s wrong?”

  “I feel like life is passing me by. I’m thirty years old. My work-life balance is non-existent and I’ve lost touch with my friends.”

  Bailey gave Shelley another hug. “It sounds as though you’ve come to the right place.”

  “I didn’t know what else to do. I felt all right before Jarrod contacted me. But since then, I’ve had trouble sleeping and I’m second-guessing everything I do. You and Sam have found the love of your lives, you have great homes, and enjoy being part of a special community. I was living in a crummy apartment in a not-so-desirable part of Boston. I left my fiancé standing at the altar two years ago and, since then, I haven’t met anyone I’m remotely interested in. There’s something wrong with me.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with you. And you didn’t leave Jarrod standing at the altar—you called off your engagement the night before the wedding.”

  “That’s just as bad.”

  Bailey handed Shelley a bowl of pasta. “You don’t have to keep living the kind of life you had in Boston. Maybe it’s time for a change?”

  Shelley wiped her eyes. “How do I go from a workaholic accountant to a normal person?”

  Bailey laughed. “No one is normal. We all have things we’re working on.”

  “I’ve got a lot of things to sort through.”

  “Don’t tell me you’ve made a list?”

  A blush heated Shelley’s cheeks. She hadn’t made one list—she’d made three. Then she’d prioritized which bullet points she needed to work on first. “I told you I have issues.”

  “A list isn’t an issue. It only shows how organized you are.”

  Shelley sat at the kitchen table. “Do you think I can change my life or am I a lost cause?”

  Bailey kissed the top of her head before sitting down. “You can change your life, but you also have to celebrate who you are.”

  With a deep sigh, Shelley twirled a few strands of pasta around her fork. What Bailey said was true. But what if who she was wasn’t worth celebrating?

  Chapter 2

  The next morning, John parked his truck on Bailey’s driveway and carefully walked over the icy ground toward her cottage. Shelley had called him late last night to tell him she’d contacted the Colemans, the owners of the barn beside the railroad tracks. They’d reluctantly agreed to meet with Shelley and John at eight o’clock this morning.

  After trying to talk to them for the last three weeks, John didn’t want to miss this opportunity.

  The front door of the cottage swung open and Shelley stepped onto the veranda. She’d replaced her wet hat and coat from yesterday with a bright yellow ski jacket and black trousers. “Hi, John. I’m sorry we have to leave so early.”

  “Don’t worry. I’m just grateful the Colemans agreed to talk to us.” He looked at the large picnic basket she was holding. “Are we dropping something off on our way through town?”

  Shelley sent him a mischievous smile. “This is my secret weapon. Mabel knows the Colemans. I asked her what would help them change their minds about using the barn. Do you know what she said?”

  “I don’t hear any panting or whimpering, so she probably didn’t think a puppy would make a difference.”

  “You’re right, I’m not holding a puppy.” She stepped off the veranda and opened the flap on one side of the basket. “Double chocolate muffins with creamy lemon frosting.”

  John’s eyes widened when he saw them. “You must have been awake before the sun rose to bake all of those.”

  Shelley shrugged. “If it makes a difference, a little less beauty sleep is worth it. Would you like one?”

  Reluctantly, he shook his head. “I don’t want to jinx your idea. Who knows, one extra muffin might make all the difference to their decision.”

  “I thought you might say that.” Shelley lifted the flap on the other end of the basket and handed John a small container. “Here are two muffins for later. I wanted to thank you for driving me to Bailey’s house yesterday.”

  “I’m glad I could help. How’s the sneezing?”

  “Totally gone. I had a hot shower before Bailey arrived home and that did the trick.”

  “That’s good.” John took the basket out of Shelley’s hands. “We’d better leave now if we want to be on time for our meeting.”

  “I brought the project plan and a copy of all of the forms the committee completed.”

  “I brought copies as well.” John opened the door of his truck and placed the muffins on the back seat. “I don’t know what else we can do to make the Colemans change their mind.”

  “That’s where the muffins might come in handy.”

  “I like your optimism, but don’t be disappointed if they don’t make any difference. From what I can tell, Jebediah Coleman can be cantankerous at the best of times. I just hope he’s thought through his decision. A lot of children were looking forward to seeing the Santa cave.”

  Shelley pulled on her seat belt. “Can we create the cave somewhere else?”

  “There isn’t anywhere that’s as close to the tracks. The only thing we could do is take the children all the way to Bigfork. But at this time of the year, I wouldn’t recommend it.” Unfortunately, there were only two places they could turn the steam train around. One turntable was at Polson and the other at Bigfork.

  The Colemans’ ranch at Woods Bay was the perfect mid-point for the journey—and quickly becoming the one thing that could lead to the cancelation of the whole event.

  John reversed out of the driveway. As much as he wanted the muffins to make a difference, he had a suspicion they wouldn’t. Jebediah Coleman was a law unto himself and, this time, he and his old two-story barn were standing in the way of another tiny home, forty excited children, and their parents.

  If he didn’t understand how important the train ride was after this meeting, he never would.

  Jebediah Coleman leaned back in his chair and sent Shelley a steely-eyed gaze. “You didn’t hear me the first time. I don’t want no children traipsing across my land.”

  Mr. Coleman didn’t realize that Shelley had dealt with people who were far grumpier than he was, especially around the end of each tax year. “You’ve already said you’re worried about the children exploring y
our property or getting lost on their way to the barn. What if we built a temporary fence from where the train stops to the barn? It would keep everyone safe and heading in the right direction.”

  Annabelle Coleman nodded in agreement. “That could work.”

  “And who would pay for that?” Jebediah asked in a stern voice. “I don’t have unlimited funds. This event was supposed to cost me nothing.”

  “The church could cover the cost of the fencing,” John said quickly.

  Annabelle turned to her husband. “It sounds reasonable to me, Jebediah. The barn is so close to the old railroad tracks that we won’t know anyone is here.”

  Jebediah frowned at his wife. “That’s not the point.”

  Shelley waited for Mrs. Coleman to reply. For the last half hour, they’d been going around in circles, trying to understand the point Mr. Coleman was trying to make.

  Jebediah and Annabelle Colemans’ two-story barn was perfect for what the fundraising committee needed. Originally, the Colemans were happy to host the last fundraising event of the year. When the steam train stopped beside their property, the children and their parents would walk to the decorated barn, receive a gift from Santa, and enjoy lots of Christmas treats and activities.

  “What about all the children who were looking forward to meeting Santa?” Annabelle asked her husband. “I don’t want to be the person who stands in front of our granddaughter’s class to tell them why Santa isn’t coming to Flathead Lake.”

  Jebediah’s mouth clamped shut.

  Annabelle wasn’t letting her husband off the hook that easily. “You can’t fool me. You don’t want to disappoint the children, either.”

  “Maybe not. But what if everyone wants to come here next year? We’ll be overrun with children looking for Santa Claus.”

  Shelley pushed the plate of muffins closer to Jebediah. “We could tell the children that Santa doesn’t come here every year.”

  “They won’t believe you.”

  John crossed his arms in front of his chest.

  If Shelley didn’t know better, she could have sworn John was losing his patience. “We’ll make it fun. Next year, we could have a competition with clues that lead people away from your ranch and straight to where the next Santa cave would be.” She crossed her fingers, hoping Mr. Coleman could see how hard they were trying to make him happy.