Santa's Daughter (1st bk of Santa Series) (Completed)

Chapter 18 (Edited)

I wiped my hands after I had finished placing the last haynet in a stall and looked to see that John was on the last stall, finishing up with the waters. A smile appeared on my lips while I watched him, going into my fantasy of him and I together as a couple. A small blush appeared on my face, and I looked down when I caught sight of John looking at me, a goofy grin on his face.

"Ready?" he asked, not hiding back a laugh. "'Cause you have been standing there for a few minutes watching me with a soft smile on your face. Were you thinking of me?"

"Pfft," I replied, my face turning a bit redder. "I wasn't thinking of justyou." I kept silent on what I was thinking about, not wanting him to know. "Come on, we don't want to be late. I'm sure that Mom will be annoyed with us." With that, I turned around and walked away, not wanting to talk about it.

I knew that I might've been caught by him, but I also knew that he wasn't going to say anything about. I couldn't help but shake my head and sighed, knowing that it sucked for him not to say a thing and leaving me feeling as I am feeling.

Silent footsteps sounded behind me, and I could feel John's gaze on my back. There was a bit of sadness in his eyes that I knew about, even though I didn't look at him. I could feel his sadness as if he was hiding something from me and not wanting to tell it.

What could it have been? I did not know, but I wasn't going to push it. I would rather not have him as my boyfriend than not have him as my best friend. In the end, I knew that it was going to kill me, no matter what we did or our relationship status was.

***

"You're late," Mom said, spying me and John coming over towards the truck. She glanced at John before giving me a knowing look, knowing that I haven't done anything with him. Her black hair was pulled into a French Braid, showing off her chiseled jaws as well as her face. She wore a simple coat, not even showing signs of her being cold.

I shrugged my shoulder. "Are you all ready to go?" I asked, not answering her knowing look.

"Well, we have been waiting for you, Mary," Madison butted in, dressed almost like an eskimo. "And how are you not freezing?" She studied my attire of a simple coat with no gloves or hat on my head.

"She is a Clause," Frankie replied. "That is why she is not dressed warmly as you or Tyan." He turned towards the truck before looking over at us. "How are we going to fit everyone in?"

"Well, Mika can hop into the back with Tyan, John, and Madison. You will sit up front with us." I glanced him up and down. "Since you are smaller, you will be able to fit in the middle seat."

Frankie frowned and huffed, causing me to laugh. "I am not that short," he muttered under his breath. "I am taller than most elves and am older than most."

I rolled my eyes and was about to say something when I spotted a truck pulling into the drive. I watched as it pulled to a stop and grinned, spying two male workers that worked with us. "Well, Mack and Jack are here," I said while the truck pulled up towards us and stopped.

"Who?" Frankie asked while two men came out. There was a frown on his face while he studied the two young men in front of us.

It was hard to tell the difference between the two brothers, because they looked so much alike.

For example, they both had black hair and brown eyes. However, Mack's eyes were a little bit darker than his brother's. They were both the same height, standing at 6'2, while being lean and muscular. They both had their father's jaw and their mother's ears and nose.

The only way that you could tell them apart was because they didn't wear the same colored shirts. Sure, they both wore jeans and boots, but most people here wore them, because we worked at a barn.

"Hey, Mary," Jack said, breaking me from my thoughts. There was a grin on his face, while he hugged me, before his brother hugged me also.

"Hey, Jack. Hey, Mack," I said, hugging them back. A smile was on my face, while I stared at the two 17 year olds, glad that I had sort of friends like them. My whole body was relaxed, while I studied them.

'Any directions for us, Mary?' Mack asked in sign language. He cocked his head, probably waiting for me to say something.

I nodded my head, knowing why he didn't say a word to me and used sign language. "Can you look after Lanshin, please? Jankin was hurting him this morning. And I have a feeling that something bad might happen to him if Jankin is alone with him, even with the other dogs."

Mack nodded his head. He grinned and looked at his brother, waiting for him to get what he was supposed to be doing, while we were at the horse auction barn.

"Anything for me?" Jack asked. There was a grin on his face, also, while he waited for me to say something. He had stuffed his hands into his pockets, probably cold.

I nodded my head and glanced at him. "Can you move Star to Barn Twelve where a black Arabian stallion is placed and see if something doesn't happen between them?" A small smile appeared on my face, while I thought on how Bello looked so much like my own horse.

Jack nodded before looking at Frankie, who had came towards me. There was a frown on his face, while he moved himself in front of his brother.

"Who are they?" Frankie asked, curious. He fiddled with his glasses before looking at them.

"Mr. Flanskey, this is Jack and Mack, twins. And Jack and Mack, this is Mr. Flanskey, my teacher," I said, making introductions. I gestured towards which twin is which, helping him know who was who.

"Hi," Jack said, while Mack nodded hello.

'I am going to go to the Dog Barn,' Mack said. 'I am sure that you all need to get going.'

I nodded, knowing that I couldn't stand around and chat any longer. "Can you tell Jack to call me if anything happens to Jankin or Lanshin, please?" I asked.

Mack nodded his head before going off to the Dog Barn. He waved goodbye, knowing that I would be able to see it.

"Well, I'll see you when you get back," Jack said, nodding his head goodbye. He started to walk away, not giving us a second glance, while he started to whistle a happy tune.

I grinned and shook my head before following Frankie into the truck. I couldn't wait to see which horses needed the most help and find Copper, my reindeer.

I just hoped that I wasn't too late to save him.