Kidnapped on Christmas

Chapter 12

He ran ahead of me, dragging me behind him by my wrists. He refused to say where we were going each time I asked. I grew more and more suspicious of his plans.

He stopped dead in front of a small stable. It was all alone and a ways from the hustle and bustle of the village. I have yet to see it and grew curious as to why he brought me here. He pushed the doors open and told me to shut my eyes. He softly spoke as I walked in.

"Dear Santa,
All I want for Christmas is a pony named Pie. I want her to be brown with white feet and a white strip on her face. Her mane and tail will be long enough to braid and she will love hugs.
But we don't have enough room for a real horse to a rocking horse will do.
Thanks,
Kat."

He finished reading my letter and asked me to open my eyes. He was standing behind a small rocking horse that matched my description.

"You kept that all these years?" I asked, pointing to the wrinkled up letter with the messy hand writing.

"Yeah. It was the thing you wanted most. I know everyone thinks you wanted a rocking horse. And that's what you told people. But you wanted a real horse." He smiled brightly and opened a stall door.

A light brown horse with four white socks and a strip down her face walked out. Her hair was even braided. I stood there and starred at the horse.

"Are you just going to stand there or are you going to hug one of us?" He chuckled. I ran over and hugged him tightly.

"Thank you so much Steven." I hid my face in his neck to hide the tears.

"You deserve it." He rubbed my back gently. "Now give Pie a hug and see what happens."

I pulled away from him and glanced at the horse. There was one thing I hadn't checked. Dose she love hugs? I stepped up to her and hugged her around the neck. Her head lowered and it felt as if she was hugging back. I looked over my shoulder to Steven.

"You matched the description perfectly." I said softly.

"She has everything you need to ride her too." He added. I hugged him again as the sound of a bell rung through the village.

"Son of a nutcracker. My dad is home already." He looked around nervously. "We have to get you home." He pushed Pie back into the stall and moved the rocking horse in a hidden location. "Come on." He grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the stable.

"Why do I need to leave now?" I pulled away, but couldn't get out of his grip.

"Because you and your entire family won't get your Christmas wishes." He looked me in the eyes, they were filled with determination. "Your family wants you home as bad as you want to be home."

"But I don't want to go home now. I want to stay with you." Tears started to form again.

"Your dad is there." He blurted.

"What? Why?" I shook my head.

"He knew that going to get you would hurt you both. So he went to check on your mother and brother. He's still there, taking care of them. On let's go. Ming Ming should have a sleigh ready." I reluctantly followed him.

He was right. Ming Ming was standing near a sleigh drawn by Chet and Fret. I sighed and climbed in. Steven didn't hesitate to take off as soon as he was in. I waved goodbye to Ming Ming and started to cry.

Once I felt it alright to speak again I started asking questions.

"Why can't I stay?" I bellowed.

"Because this is my year to be trained to be the new Santa. I wouldn't have any free time to spend with you. And it would just be easier to have you at home with your family. Besides I want you to graduate High school before coming to live with me. So by next Christmas, if you keep your grades up, I'll come and get you." He explained, never taking his eyes off the sky.

"What is Santa training?" I asked.

"When a Santa gets too old he teaches his first born son, usually when his son turns twenty-five, to do his job. He would take his son around the village and show him how to do all the jobs. Like choosing new elves and reindeer, how to make toys, how to tell naughty from nice, and everything in between. For a year I'd basically be my dad's little helper and never leave his side." He sighed.

"You don't want to do it do you?" I put a hand on his shoulder.

"I want to be Santa, but I don't want to spend all that time with my dad." He shrugged. "We never see eye to eye on things."

"I understand, my mom and I are the same way. She works a lot too." He sighed softly and put an arm around me, pulling me into his chest.

"Everything will be fine in a year." I rested my head on his shoulder and waited.

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Merry Christmas eve!!!!!!! I'm so excited are you? I hope you get awesome gifts like Kat did! Pretend that horse in the picture has a braided mane and tail and loves hugs. I'll try to update tomorrw for you.

~Nesster.