Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy

Otherwise, Cole was in for some teasing when they got back to the firehall that night.

What was he thinking? Whether Andrew had seen him or not, it wasn’t as if his friend wouldn’t be able to make an educated guess as to where Cole had disappeared to—and who he had disappear

ed with. If nothing else, the Butterflies probably had a whole slew of informants watching their every move. He wouldn’t put it past them. And yet, he couldn’t make himself pull away from Sophie, no matter who was watching.

When she and Cole arrived back at the booth, Sophie stared at the empty table where stacks of brochures had been when they’d left.

Going around the table, she bent to pull out the box where extras were, and her mouth fell open as she lifted the empty box.

“Wow. They’re all gone!”

“Well, of course they are all gone.” Rosie waved off Sophie’s surprise as if it were no big deal.

How had Rosie given away five hundred brochures that quickly?

“I wasn’t expecting you two back so soon,” Rosie admitted, her gaze going back and forth between Cole and Sophie. “I figured you’d be at least another thirty minutes or so.”

“We looked around a little, but I’m fed and ready to take back over. Thank you for giving me a break, Rosie.” She turned to Cole. “And thank you for feeding me.”

Rosie’s eyes lit up at Sophie’s comment, and the woman’s gloved hands clasped together.

“No problem.” He paused a moment, looking uncertain, then tipped his head slightly. “Night, ladies.”

“Night, Cole,” she said, watching him walk away.

“That there is a fine man you’ve gotten yourself.”

“Agreed that Cole is a fine man, but he’s not mine.”

“Then, child, you need to up your game and make him yours.”

Spoken like a true Butterfly. Sophie laughed. “You’re assuming I want him to be my man—and that I even want a man to begin with.”

Rosie gasped. “Are you saying you don’t?”

Sophie lowered her gaze. It landed on the empty display table. Rather than answer Rosie’s question, she glanced up at the older woman and said, “I’m blown away that we ran out of pamphlets.”

“I recruited a little help, but each one found a home,” Rosie said proudly. “And there you go, clever girl, changing the subject again.”

Recruited a little help?

Sophie eyed her friend suspiciously. “What kind of help?”

“Well, Sue Ellen Harvey came by and said she’d like some to put out at the farm, so I gave her a whole stack of them. She said she’d make sure they ended up in the right hands to get us more volunteers.”

“Ahhhh,” Sophie said, beginning to understand. “Well, I guess I can stick around to talk to anyone who drops by and has questions.”

Rosie shook her head. “Child, you’ve done your good deed for the night. Go, find that young man whom you may or may not want to be yours, walk around and have some fun.” Her eyes lit with excitement. “Maybe you could go for a ride in the Harveys’ carriage. I’m sure I can arrange something special, especially after all the free publicity they’ve gotten out of Lou’s proposal during our carriage ride last year.”

Sophie shook her head. She seriously doubted she’d get Cole to agree to a romantic carriage ride. She’d seen how he reacted when they got near the church booth.

He hadn’t wanted his friend to spot them.

She knew Ben and Andrew teased him—she’d heard them when they’d rescued her from the tree—but she hadn’t thought he cared. Maybe it bothered him more than she’d realized.

“No, I’ll stay here in case more come by. I wouldn’t want to miss anyone who wants to know more. Plus, Cole’s on duty, so I doubt he’d be able to go on a carriage ride even if I could convince him.” She was pretty sure she’d have to set herself on fire while in the carriage to get Cole anywhere near it and her at the same time. “Thanks anyway.”

“Speaking of Lou, was that Alberta Jennings still slurping down the chili when you were getting your snack?” Rosie attempted to look nonchalant, but her tone dripped with icicles.