Her Mistletoe Protector

Nick wished the same thing, but no sense in going back, trying to change the past. In his opinion, it was never too late to believe in the Lord.

He closed his eyes and bowed his head. “Heavenly Father, we thank You for the food and shelter You’ve provided for us, and we ask You again, to keep us safe from harm. Amen.”

“Amen,” Joey echoed.

Nick lifted his head and opened his eyes to find Rachel standing behind Joey’s chair. She’d approached so quietly he hadn’t heard her. He tensed, expecting an argument, but she simply added “Amen” to his prayer.

He immediately pushed back from the table. “Here, take my bowl of oatmeal, I’ll get more.”

She hesitated for a moment but then accepted his hot cereal and took a seat next to her son. He was touched at how they both waited until he returned before eating.

They were too busy eating to talk much. He watched with amusement as Joey quickly emptied his bowl. “Can I have seconds?” he asked anxiously.

“Of course,” Nick responded, exchanging a knowing look with Rachel. Joey hadn’t eaten much yesterday, but it appeared his appetite had returned.

“So what’s the plan for today?” Rachel asked.

“I’m not sure yet,” he answered honestly. “I should check in with my boss again, see if he can give us anything further to go on.”

She darted a glance at Joey and nodded. He sensed there was more she wanted to say but didn’t feel she could talk freely in front of Joey.

When they were finished with breakfast, Rachel insisted on doing the dishes, so he took the opportunity to do a quick perimeter check. The only problem was that Joey wanted to come with him.

He glanced helplessly over at Rachel, silently pleading with her to help. As much as he liked spending time with the boy, he needed to make sure the area around the cabin was secure. And he didn’t want Joey to come outside with him until he was convinced they were safe.

“Joey, I need you to dry the dishes for me, okay? There will be time later for you to play outside.”

“That’s women’s work,” Joey mumbled, lightly kicking at the chair.

“No, it’s not,” Nick corrected. “I did the dishes last night, so it’s only fair you take your turn.”

Joey’s disgruntled expression faded as he considered Nick’s words. “All right,” he finally agreed, going over to pick up the dish towel.

Rachel ruefully rolled her eyes and he quickly ducked outside before he broke into a wide smile. Sometimes, it paid to be able to double-team kids.

The thought caused him to pause before heading soundlessly into the dense wood. As a single mother, Rachel didn’t have anyone to count on when it came to raising Joey. She had to play the role of both parents.

Was it any wonder she was so protective?

He focused on the task at hand, moving slowly and methodically so he didn’t miss any signs now that it was daylight. The day was overcast, denying him the sunlight he would have preferred. He stood in the clearing, imagining that the log cabin was the center of a large clock with the south side, straight ahead from the door, at the twelve-o’clock position. He began to make his way around the circle.

In the three-o’clock area, he found a tuft of brown fabric stuck to the tip of a branch that was roughly shoulder height. He stared at it for a long minute, trying to estimate how long it had been there.

He could check the internet for how long it had been since the last snowfall, but he figured, from the dusting on the ground, that it had been within the past day or two. But if the snowfall had been light, the tuft of fabric might have survived intact.

By December the gun deer-hunting season was over, but bow-hunting season lasted until January. Was it possible that someone dressed in camouflage-colored clothing had been through here recently, bow hunting? Uncle Wally’s land was posted, but considering no one had been up here lately, he figured the No Trespassing signs didn’t mean much.

He wanted to believe there was a hunter in the woods rather than some other random person. Because if it wasn’t a hunter, then he was forced to consider the fact that this cabin might not be as safe as he’d thought.

* * *

Rachel finished the dishes and then went over to straighten up the quilts on the bed. Near the end table, she found an old Bible. Opening the flap, she was surprised to discover it belonged to Nick’s mother.

She carried the Bible back to the main living area, wondering if Nick’s mother had left it here or if it belonged to Nick, himself? The book was clearly old and well used. The edges of the paper were gold and there were small cutouts for each of the Bible sections. In the center there was a place for family names and she discovered it had been filled in with neat handwriting stating the names of Nick and his two sisters.