Conner helped the young man climb onto the seat. Before getting up himself, he went around to the back of the sleigh and rocked it slightly to free the runners from the ice. The route would follow the road made for hauling Christmas trees, over the pastures to the hollow where the trees grew, around in a wide circle and back the same way. By now, the snow was solidly packed, a perfect surface for the sleigh.

He checked the horses one more time. Either of the huge beasts could have pulled the sleigh alone, but they had worked side by side all their long lives. They were a superbly trained team, calm and steady, each one supporting the other.

On this, the first run of the season, Conner wanted to make sure there’d be no unpleasant surprises, especially for the horses. Special coverings had been fastened to their massive hooves to keep them from slipping on the ice. Conner inspected all eight to make sure none of them had come loose. The brass jingle bells had been strung over the harness, not under, to ensure that they wouldn’t press against sensitive skin. Conner checked each string to make sure nothing was going to swing or drag. All good.

“Ready?” he called up to Daniel.

“Yes, sir!” Daniel gave him a military salute, probably something he’d learned from a movie. Conner dismissed a tug of misgiving. Maybe he should have refused to let Megan’s brother sit with him on the driver’s bench. But Megan had allowed it. Besides, the kid looked so damned happy.

It will be all right, Conner told himself. Last year, in the Christmas parade, Rush’s little girl had sat beside him, in that very spot. She’d been just fine. Daniel would be fine, too.

Conner rocked the sleigh one more time to make sure the runners were free. Then he clasped the handle and swung up to his place on the bench.

Glancing back over his shoulder, he gave Megan a wink and a smile. She was bundled in the quilt, with one arm around the dog. Her mouth smiled back at him, but he caught a glimpse of worry in her eyes. He would take no chances with the safety of her precious brother, Conner promised himself.

“Ready?” He glanced at Daniel. “Hang on tight. We’re off!”

Conner gave the reins the barest flick against the horses’ broad rumps. Moving as one, Chip and Patch leaned into their heavy collars. With a gentle creak of straps and buckles settling into place, the sleigh glided forward over the snow.

“We’re moving!” Daniel whooped with elation. Conner urged the horses to a brisk, steady walk. Their motion set the bells to jingling. The air was brisk, the sky sapphire blue, the snow a glistening white carpet. A flock of crows swirled above the horizon, then settled somewhere out of sight.