Santa Clawed

end. Fieldstone.”
    “That would be beautiful.”
    And behind it we could build another screened-in porch. It’s nice to sit there when the weather’s good. Pleasure without the mosquitoes.”
    “It will be expensive.”
    He shrugged. “Can’t take it with you.”
    Given her close brush with eternity, she nodded. “Let me call Coop and thank her.” She rose. “Not that I can ever thank her or these guys.” She smiled down at Mrs. Murphy, Pewter, and Tucker. “Did Pewter really go all the way up there with you?”
    “I did!”
Pewter stood on her hind legs.
    “Every step of the way. Poor Tucker, she fought her way up and down that mountain three times yesterday,” Fair remarked.
    “Well, the first time the weather wasn’t bad. After that, well, I…”
Tucker said no more.
    “And, Mrs. Murphy, you stayed with me the whole time. I’d have a frostbitten nose without you.”
    Murphy rubbed against her leg.
    As Harry walked over to the old wall phone, Fair advised, “I know you’ll want to talk to Susan, but don’t. Not yet.”
    “Why? I tell Susan everything. Well, almost everything.”
    “Whoever hit you probably thinks you’re dead. Given this blizzard, it’s possible he thinks you haven’t been found. But it’s Christmas Eve, so we have two days, thanks to the weather and the holiday, where your disappearance not being in the news isn’t strange. If there isn’t something in the papers on Boxing Day”—Fair referred to the December 26 holiday that was celebrated by some people in the country—“then he’ll know you’re alive. And then”—he breathed deeply—
    “we can’t take any chances.”
    “I’m not. I’m carrying my thirty-eight.”
    He shook his head. “Not enough. Someone is going to be with you twenty-four hours a day.”
    She knew enough not to argue, plus she felt a shiver of fear. “Not in bed with us, I hope.”
    He came right back at her. “You know, we never tried that. Any candidates?”
    She punched him on the arm and picked up the phone. She reached Cooper on her landline, so the connection was clear.
    “Harry!” Cooper’s voice was jubilant. “You sound like yourself.”
    “I am, except for the clunk on the head. Thank you. Thank you a thousand times over, and am I glad I got you a good Christmas present.”
    Cooper laughed. “You could paint a rock. I’d be happy.”
    “You say. But really, Coop, I don’t know how you two got me down from the walnut stand with the winds and the blowing snow. It’s still snowing.”
    “Found out how strong I am, and Fair’s stronger. I’m just so glad you’re all right. Wow. What a gust. This thing isn’t over. It’s snowing hard now. My house is shaking.”
    Harry, hearing and feeling it, too, replied, “That must have been a sixty-mile-an-hour gust.”
    “Can you tell me what happened?”
    Harry repeated to her what she’d told Fair as he washed the dishes. “I don’t remember anything after that.”
    “If something should occur to you, call me. I’ll be over to help Fair with the horses, too.”
    “I will.” Harry felt another blast, plus the cold air seeping through cracks here and there. “Got enough firewood?”
    “Yep. I watched the Weather Channel. Doesn’t look like this will let up until late afternoon.”
    “Hard on the store owners. It will keep everyone at home.”
    Not quite.

M any families gather together on December 24, go to vespers for the traditional Christmas Eve service, return home for a late supper, and then open gifts. Others go to Christmas Eve service but wait until Christmas morning to open presents.
    Despite the weather, the Reverend Jones held the St. Luke’s service, attended mostly by those who could walk through the snow or who drove 4×4 vehicles. Even though attendance was low, Herb enjoyed the special event. Two enormous poinsettias, flaming red, graced the altar. Red and white poinsettias filled the vestibule, too. The glow of candles added to the soft beauty of the night service.
    Dr. Bryson and Racquel Deeds made it, as did Bill and Jean Keelo. Susan and Ned Tucker attended. They lived not far from St. Luke’s. Susan had carried her shoes while walking in her boots, Ned teasing her as they plowed through the snow. Once at church, she left her boots in the cloakroom and laughed to see the rows of boots, other women making the same choice she did. She was happy that her son, now out of college, and her daughter, still attending, had accompanied