Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 31777 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 159(@200wpm)___ 127(@250wpm)___ 106(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31777 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 159(@200wpm)___ 127(@250wpm)___ 106(@300wpm)
Well, other than the fact that it sounded like lots of fun.
She helped Cat pull it toward the entrance of the barn.
“I cannot believe that Papi wouldn’t let us go into town. It’s like he thinks we are up to no good!” Cat grumbled.
“Um, we are up to no good,” Maeve pointed out.
“Yes, but he didn’t know that for sure,” Cat said. “We could have been up to plenty of good. All he said was no. And Gray did too. Pretty sure Tobias and Jenner would have said yes. They’re far more reasonable.”
Hmm. Immy wasn’t so sure about that. She remembered the spanking that Tobias gave her before they left to come here.
They weren’t that reasonable.
Still, compared to Gray and Alejandro maybe they were.
“Come on, let’s go,” Cat said. “I need to think. And I think better when I’m sledding.”
“Maeve, do you want to come?” Immy asked, stopping by her friend and crouching down.
“Yes, but I think I’ll just watch. Don’t want to chance anything. Just in case.”
Immy nodded. That was smart.
They headed out of the barn.
“Catarina, what are you up to?” Rafael asked.
Immy let out a squeal of shock and she felt Maeve jump beside her as they turned to see Rafael and the Scot standing there. But Cat just sighed and continued to tug the sled along. “We’re going sledding. You can come if you want.”
“That’s good, since we weren’t looking for an invitation, Little Queen,” the Scot replied with a grin. He ran his gaze over them all. “Hats. Scarves. Gloves. Good, you’re all rugged up.”
Immy was. She had on a white puffy snowsuit, white gloves with red pom poms and matching scarf and hat. She looked adorable, if she did say so herself.
Maeve had a dark purple jacket and matching gloves, scarf and hat. While Cat was . . . in black. She thought that might have more to do with her dark mood than anything.
Cat huffed as they walked past all of their outdoor decorations. There were six large deer pulling a sled with Santa sitting in it. At night, they all lit up. And some of the trees had been decorated with twinkling lights.
“Here,” Cat said. “You guys can do the sled pulling.”
Rafael huffed out a breath, crossing his arms over his chest but the Scot grabbed the sled.
“You’re in such trouble, you know,” the Scot told Cat.
“Me? I didn’t do anything!”
Rafael snorted.
“I didn’t! I’m innocent.”
“You are never innocent,” Rafael told her. “You’re always in trouble.”
“Only because Evil Elfie keeps tattling on me. Oh, and so do you.” Cat scowled at Rafael. “Now, Santa is going to leave coal in my stocking!”
“I’m pretty sure that my elf was tattling on me too! Oh, poor Cat.” Immy rubbed her back. “You’ve been good most of the year, though, right? Surely you won’t get any coal.”
“Hmm.” Cat tapped her chin.
Uh-oh, if she had to think about it this hard then the answer probably wasn’t a good one.
“Never mind,” Immy told her hastily. “Let’s go sledding and forget all of that. I’m sure you’ll still get some gifts.”
“I’m starting to feel a bit left out that I didn’t have an elf,” Maeve said.
“Don’t be,” Cat told her. “You won’t sit comfortably for the whole time they’re here.”
“Oh, have you heard anything from Faith?” Maeve asked Cat.
“Yes! Alejandro spoke to Reuben this morning. They got caught in a storm. Apparently, they’re hoping to get through by car and Alfie and Ralph are going to fly back here to be with their families for Christmas.”
“I’m just glad they’re all right,” Maeve said. “I know Faith didn’t want to get on the plane.”
“She was doing so well at flying, too,” Cat said as they walked through the forest to the bottom of the cleared sled track. The Scot was still pulling the sled while Rafael kept his gaze on their surroundings.
Surely they were safe here? What was he searching for?
“Is everything okay?” Immy asked him in concern. “Should we not be out here?”
“What? Oh no, everything is fine,” Rafael told her.
“Rafael just likes to be prepared. Maeve, where are you going to watch from?” Cat asked.
“Actually, I might wait down here and take photos.”
“You’re not sledding?” the Scot asked Maeve.
She shook her head.
He and Rafael shared a look.
“I’ll wait down here, you stay up there,” Rafael said. “I’ve let the others know where we are. I think some of their guys were going to come out and watch.”
The Scot nodded and walked up the slope with the two of them.
“Do you want to go first, Immy?” Cat asked.
“No, you show me how it’s done.” Now that she was out here, she felt a bit nervous as well as excited.
But as she watched Cat fly down the slope, her excitement grew. It was like flying!
“She’s not going to be happy when she realizes she has to tug it back up here on her own,” the Scot said with amusement. “No, wait, here’s Tobias. He’ll probably help her.”