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

Chapter 27 (Edited)

"Run!" someone, or something, not having to tell me twice.

I grabbed hold of Mika's scruff and pulled her onto Copper. I kicked Copper into a full gallop, hanging onto Mika and onto the lead. "On Copper!" I yelled, letting him know he could fly.

Copper snorted and started to lift off the ground, being careful of the fact that he had a teen and a dog on his back. He fell down a bit before flying to the top of the trees and passing them. He was a bit off balance but didn't fall as much as I thought he would.

"Easy," I said, patting his neck. I couldn't help but grin and love the freedom that flying was giving me. My heart pounded with happiness because of the freedom that I felt.

I wondered if this was what my father had felt when he flew every Christmas. If he did, then I didn't know if I wanted to stay here or give up everything that I ever knew and live with him and become the next Clause.

"Mary, look!" Mika exclaimed, startling me away from my thoughts.

"What is it? The beady eyes didn't follow us did they?" I asked, looking at the ground. I knew that I was going to have to ponder these feelings more, even though my heart was set upon being in Kentucky.

"No, but guess who we found."

"Jankin!" I yelled, causing him to look up at me. "Get down. We need to get him." I frowned, hoping that he was all right.

"But Mary, what if it is a trap?" Copper asked.

"Then that's a risk I have to take," I replied.

He sighed and started to go down, maneuvering through the trees to make sure that we wouldn't get hit by the branches. "Fine, but you owe me."

"The only thing I owe you is a good home, food, and grooming. Take it or leave it."

"Fine, I'll take it," he muttered as he went down far enough for me to grab Jankin without killing myself.

I grabbed him by the ruff and pulled him on as Copper started to run, not fly like before. I took off of my quiver and bow before taking off my coat. "Do you remember where my house is, Copper?"

"Yes, your house is easy to spot on the ground and in the air."

"Three peppermint sticks if you can get us there quickly without flying."

"Deal," he said, picking up speed.

We ran in silence until we came to the gate marking the end of the woods.

"Mary," Mika said, tensed.

I groaned when I saw Cale at the gate and pulled Copper to a stop. I narrowed my eyes at him, not liking him one bit. "What do you want?" I asked, disgust evident in my voice.

Cale gave me a small smile and walked over to Copper. He tried to touch Copper, but I quickly backed him up away from the male that I didn't like. "Nice horse," he said. "He is dirty."

I scoffed and rolled my eyes. "Ya, whatever," I replied. "Now, are you going to tell me what you want, or are you just going to be in the way?"

"Well, I just wanted to talk to you," he said. "Both." He glanced at Copper before looking back up at me. He smirked. "If that is alright with you."

I kept my face blank, but I couldn't help but tense. Did he knew that I could talk to animals? And, was he able to as well? "I don't know what you are talking about," I replied, making sure that my heart rate didn't skip a beat. "Now, if you'll excuse me, you are in my way of getting my dog to the indoor area where there is a heater. "Remind me to contact Jack," I told Mika.

Mika nodded her head but she didn't look back at me. Her gaze was trained on Cale, and there were a couple of snarls coming off of her.

Cale held his hand up in the air, figuring out that I wouldn't give him an answer and probably plow him with Copper if he didn't get out of the way. "I was wondering how you were," he said. He glanced around, and I could tell that he was hiding something. "I mean, you left the-" He clamped his mouth shut, maybe because he wasn't supposed to say something.

"You were spying on me?" I all but screeched, causing Copper to back up. I glared at him, feeling the urge to punch Cale in the throat. "What the hell were you thinking?"

"That's the problem," he said. "I wasn't thinking when I am with you," he said, trying to smooth talk his way out of it.

I scoffed and rolled my eyes. "Shut the hell up and just open the gate. I do not have time for you, and I am really considering about ramming Copper into you if you do not move out of my way."

Cale did what he was told to do and opened the gate. He backed away from gate just as I pushed Copper through. "Dang, Woman," he muttered. "Run me over, will ya?"

I narrowed my eyes. "I am very close to doing so," I warned. "Now, you look cold, do you want to go and get some hot chocolate?" I didn't want to invite him, but I knew that I had to. It was the courteous thing to do.

Cale nodded his head, giving me a smile. "That will be fine," he said, relief in his voice.

"Then just stay away from Madison." With that, I nudged Copper and started to trek back to my house.

"I don't trust him, Mary," Mika said, looking back at him.

I couldn't agree more.