Page 10 of Christmas at Wolf Creek
“Welcome to Sweet Treats!” the woman calls out. “What can I get for you ladies?”
Kat steps forward, leaning conspiratorially over the counter. “Actually, we’re looking for Eleanor. Is she still working today?”
The woman’s eyebrows rise slightly. “Ella? She’s in the back, working on some new recipes.” Her expression turns curious. “Oh, you must be her husband’s family?”
“Ah, yeah,” I say before I can think better of it. “We’re visiting from out of town.”
The woman looks genuinely surprised. “Well, isn’t that something. Ella’s never mentioned there were so many of you. As a matter of fact, she never mentioned any of you.”
An awkward silence falls as we all absorb this information. Of course, Ella wouldn’t have mentioned us—until a month ago, we didn’t even know each other existed.
“It’s... complicated,” Lana offers with a gentle smile. “Could we surprise her? We won’t keep her long, want to steal her away for a bit of Christmas shopping.”
The woman studies us for a moment, then breaks into a warm smile. “Well, any family of Ella’s is welcome here. I’m Helen, by the way. Let me get her—but act surprised! She’s been working so hard lately, she deserves a little fun.”
Helen disappears through a swinging door, leavingus exchanging guilty looks.
“Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea,” I murmur. “If she’s been keeping a low profile...”
“Too late now,” Kat shrugs. “Besides, it’s just shopping. What could go wrong?”
The door swings open again, and Ella emerges, wiping flour-covered hands on her apron. Her hair is pulled back in a messy bun, and there’s a smudge of what might be chocolate on her cheek. She freezes when she sees us, her eyes widening in alarm.
“Surprise!” Kat exclaims, throwing her arms wide. “Your favorite sisters have arrived to rescue you from pastry prison!”
“What are you doing here?” Ella hisses, glancing nervously at the curious customers now watching our exchange.
“Operation Christmas Decoration,” Mia explains, linking her arm through Ella’s. “We need your expertise. The lodge is in desperate need of holiday spirit.”
“And we missed you,” I add, seeing the genuine panic in her eyes. “It’s been three whole days since we saw you at the ranch.”
“I’m working,” Ella protests, though her expression has softened slightly. “I can’t just leave in the middle of my shift.”
“Actually, you can,” Helen interjects, appearing with Ella’s coat and purse. “Frank says to take theafternoon off. You haven’t used a single personal day all year.”
“But the gingerbread village—”
“Will still be here tomorrow,” Helen insists, practically shoving Ella’s belongings at her. “Go have fun with your family. That’s an order.”
Fifteen minutes and several pastry purchases later (because we couldn’t leave without trying the famous cinnamon rolls), we’ve successfully extracted a still-protesting Ella from the bakery.
“I cannot believe you just did that,” she mutters as we stroll down Main Street. “Do you have any idea how many questions I’m going to get tomorrow?”
“You can tell them we’re your husbands’ long-lost cousins from Ireland,” Kat suggests brightly.
Despite herself, Ella laughs. “They already think I’m mysterious enough, being the widow who moved here from nowhere with a small child. It would only fuel the gossip mill more than it already has, so I told them the truth. You’re all newly discovered family.”
“Speaking of fuel,” Mia interjects, “I smell coffee. Can we caffeinate before shopping?”
We duck into a cozy café across from the town square, claiming a large table by the window. Once we’ve ordered an assortment of holiday-themed lattes (peppermint mocha for Kat, Mia, and me; gingerbread for Kori; eggnog for Lana; and plain black coffee for Ella, who rolls her eyes at our “dessert drinks”), thetension seems to drain from her shoulders.
“So,” she says, wrapping her hands around her mug, “Christmas decorations?”
“The lodge needs serious holiday help,” Kat confirms. “We’re thinking lights, garlands, possibly a tree tall enough to require professional installation...”
“And where exactly are you planning to find all this?” Ella asks, an amused smile playing at her lips.
“That’s why we kidnapped you,” I explain. “Local guide. Point us to the best shops.”