Marry Me at Christmas

“Why don’t you keep Raven on her regular food for the next few weeks? She’s going to have enough stress in her life, getting used to being in a new home and learning to trust that she’s not going to be moved again. That will give you time to research the best diet for her.”

“Good idea.” He patted Raven. “Okay, we have food. She has a bed, but she’s going to need a couple of others. For the family room and the media room. Maybe a new collar and leash. What do you think about a jacket? It’s cold. And toys. We need lots of toys.”

They walked through the store. Jonny picked out a couple of collars for Raven, along with a few leashes. He got a book on basic dog training.

“I want her to learn to go off-leash,” he said. “There’s a lot of land at the ranch. She could go running as much as she wanted.”

Madeline watched him try several dog jackets on the lab. Raven stood patiently as Jonny checked out styles and colors. He settled on a warm plaid cape-jacket made out of a quilted fabric covered in a waterproof coating. He was unbelievably sweet, she thought. Gentle and patient when Raven was hesitant.

They got a couple of soft beds, including one with an orthopedic insert for aging bones. Next up was the toy aisle.

Raven was unimpressed with the toys that squeaked and she didn’t show much interest in the balls, but when Jonny offered her a rope tied like a bone, her brown eyes brightened. She leaned forward and took it tentatively. As she held it in her mouth, her tail began to wag.

Jonny grinned and threw two more into the cart, along with a few balls and a couple of toys he could toss. They got rawhide bones, treats and then headed for the checkout counter. Along the way, they passed a display of doggie Christmas attire. He picked up a pair of antlers and fit them over Raven’s head.

She looked at him, then sighed, as if saying, Really? Is that necessary? But left them in place.

Madeline felt her heart melt a little more with every passing minute. She reached into her handbag and pulled out a business card.

“Cameron McKenzie is a really good vet in town. You have an appointment for this afternoon.”

Jonny took the card. “It’s Saturday. Aren’t they already booked?”

“Probably. I called and begged. I figured you’d want to get Raven checked out right away. Cameron is a friend. I’ve known his wife, Rina, forever.”

“Thank you.”

They moved forward in line. Jonny put the items on the counter while Madeline held on to Raven’s leash. The dog continued to hold her rope bone and wear her antlers. When everything was paid for, they walked out to his SUV.

Jonny hugged her. “Thanks for helping me pick out everything and for the appointment. I want to make sure Raven’s okay. I was going to call on Monday.”

“You’ll like Cameron. He’s a good guy.”

“You’re coming over tonight?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” He kissed her. “I’m getting a tree.”

“You have a Christmas tree.”

“I have a fake tree a decorator put up. I’m getting a real tree. Want to help me decorate it?”

She nodded because her throat was too tight for her to speak. She patted Raven, then got in her car. After taking a breath, she told herself that throat lumps weren’t the same as lightning and that she was perfectly safe on the Jonny Blaze front.

The only problem was that she was pretty sure she was lying.

* * *

“I can do it,” Madeline protested, knowing it was already too late. Jonny had taken the train set from her trunk before she could stop him. “You do remember you have an injured hand, right?”

“I’m fine,” he promised as he carried the box into the house.

It was dark already and chilly. Still no snow in the forecast, which meant she had no excuse not to get to work on time in the morning. Too bad, because being snowed in again sounded really, really nice.

Jonny had made good on his promise to get a real tree. Somehow he’d dragged the professionally decorated one into a corner of the dining room and had set up the new one in the family room. Lights were strung—quite the feat, considering he was working injured. There were boxes of ornaments stacked on the floor, along with a tree skirt still in the plastic wrapper.

“You’ve been busy,” she said.

“We have. After we left the pet store, Raven and I bought the ornaments and lights, then went to the vet, then back to the Day of Giving with a final stop at the Christmas tree lot on our way out of town.”

At the mention of the dog, Madeline turned to look for Raven. She was curled up on her new bed, looking sleepy and content, her rope bone tucked under one paw.