Page 1 of Soldier’s Christmas Crush (Trinity Falls: Home for Christmas #4)

WILLOW

W illow Wright looked out over the freshly cut Christmas trees for sale at Cassidy Farm, feeling like a kid again.

The tourist farm was a fun place to visit any time of year. Willow had plenty of fond childhood memories of coming here for pick-your-own blueberries in the summer and apple cider in the fall. But there was just something magical about Cassidy Farm at Christmastime.

Children chased each other around the trees while adults considered bunches of holly, pine boughs, and fresh wreaths laid out on tables. The fragrance of the evergreens combined with the dusting of snow on the ground to complete the holiday scene.

Willow wandered through the tree section, searching for something specific.

She and her brother Ransom always used to beg their mom to buy the biggest trees—balsams and firs that were far too tall to fit in their low-ceilinged living room.

But today she was looking for the tiniest tree they had—one she could lift onto the roof rack of her car by herself, and then carry up the narrow staircase to her new apartment.

My own apartment…

She had already filled the two reusable shopping bags on her shoulder until they were practically bursting at the seams. After being away for so many years, she couldn’t resist indulging in all the local treats.

She had even grabbed five of Cassidy Farm’s famous, freshly made pies to bring with her when visiting friends and family.

So far, she was having a pretty amazing day, with even more to look forward to in the coming weeks.

Life was good.

Mostly. There was still one thing troubling Willow, but she wasn’t ready to think about that visit just yet. Today was just for her.

When she interviewed for the nursing position at Tarker County General Hospital she was thrilled when they offered her a job on the spot. She accepted the salary offer, but negotiated for her start date to be after the new year to allow herself a bit of a buffer.

Willow had always dreamed of becoming a nurse. Her time in the Army had allowed her to pay off her degree and gain crucial experience. What she hadn’t expected was the perspective, discipline, and sisterhood that came with it. Those years had shaped the person she was today.

Now she was exhilarated at the idea of being home, and over the moon about her new job, but also in need of a little rest and relaxation.

And if she was being honest with herself, she needed some time to get used to the pace and the solitude of civilian life again.

“Willow Wright?” a familiar female voice called out, snapping her out of her thoughts.

Willow turned to see another young woman with dark hair, hazel eyes, and a megawatt smile.

“Natalie Bell,” Willow cried, recognizing her current landlord from their school days together.

Willow had been lucky to be coming home right as Natalie and her brother were renting out the apartment over Carla’s Place, the senior center in the village.

She and Natalie hadn’t been in the same class, but they both sang in the chorus, and had always been friendly.

It felt like fate when she signed the lease online for the little apartment, and she’d been hoping for a chance to get together at some point to thank her in person.

“Hey, it’s great to see you in real life,” Natalie said, echoing Willow’s own thoughts. “And it’s Natalie Cassidy now.”

She had a dreamy smile on her face, and Willow could hardly blame her. All the Cassidy boys had always been heartthrobs, and now she was married to one.

They’ve got nothing on Jensen Webb , Willow’s younger self argued from the back of her mind .

“Right, you and Shane Cassidy,” Willow said, nodding and trying to ignore her own silly thoughts. “I heard about that. Congratulations.”

“Thanks,” Natalie replied, looking super pleased. “So, is the apartment all right? Are you comfortable?”

“It feels just like home,” Willow said. “Thank you again for letting me take it. ”

“It’s our pleasure,” Natalie told her. “We were so happy when you decided to. Let us know if you ever need anything.”

“Will do,” Willow told her, doubting that she ever would. The apartment was lovely.

“So, have you been over to the center yet?” Natalie asked.

Everyone Willow bumped into asked her that, which always made her smile.

Captain Erik Anderson had opened up a veterans center in Trinity Falls this year, hoping that the rural setting would draw new vets who might not be comfortable traveling to the city to ask for help accessing resources.

He was also sending the vets out as volunteers in the community, something Willow had been happy to get involved with.

Willow guessed that it was a cause close to Natalie’s own heart, since her brother had served as well.

“I sure have,” she said proudly. “I’m going to be working with them up at the Open-Air Market, setting up a first aid station. I’m a nurse now.”

“Nurses are always in demand,” Natalie said with clear admiration in her voice.

“Natalie,” someone called out from the plant center. “Sorry, but can you look at this for me?”

“Cassidys are in demand too,” Willow teased.

“On this farm, if no place else,” Natalie laughed. “See you around?”

“Definitely.”

Willow made her way down the line of Christmas trees, soaking in the upbeat noise of so many families shopping, until she found just what she was looking for .

The little tree was about three feet tall with cheerful green needles. It wasn’t the fullest, most luxurious specimen Willow had ever seen, but it would be easy to carry, and she knew it would brighten up the apartment.

“Charlie Brown tree, huh?” the young woman with a tag that said Melody asked her when she carried it up to one of the plastic tables where Cassidy Farm set up extra registers on busy nights.

“Oh, I don’t know about that,” Willow laughed. “It probably just looks small because there are so many bigger trees nearby. It’ll look just fine all by itself.”

“That’s the spirit,” Melody said.

“Let me give you a hand with that,” one of the teen boys stationed near the tables offered.

“Her bags are probably heavier than that tree, Wyatt,” Melody called to him.

“I’ll get all of it,” the boy decided, heading over.

“Oh, I’m fine,” Willow told him.

“I’d better get something,” the boy said. “My dad will lose it if he sees you walking to your car with all of that by yourself.”

She followed his eyes over to the parking lot, where Shane Cassidy was directing a group of workers.

“You’re Shane Cassidy’s boy?” she asked, letting him take her little tree.

“Yes, ma’am,” he said as they set off.

“So then you know my old friend, Natalie,” Willow said, then immediately wished she hadn’t. Stepfamily dynamics could be rough, especially where teens were involved.

But luckily, that didn’t seem to be the case here .

“She’s the best,” Wyatt said immediately with a genuine smile.

“That’s good to hear,” Willow said.

“My dad is a lot more chilled out now,” the young man confided. “Plus, she knows how to play the guitar.”

“Right,” Willow said, smiling. “She was always amazing on the guitar. This is me.”

She pointed to her mom’s old station wagon. It was as ancient as the hills, but it still ran really well, and better yet it was free.

“You could probably fit this thing in the backseat, you know?” Wyatt pointed out.

“Yeah, but where’s the fun in that?” Willow replied, opening up the back, putting the bags inside, and grabbing a couple of bungee cords.

Wyatt hoisted the little tree up on top and they fixed it in place together. It really did look almost comically small up there. But the sight still made her smile.

“Thanks a lot, Wyatt,” she told him, fishing in her pocket for some singles.

“No tips,” he told her, jumping back as if she might be about to pull a grenade out of her pocket.

“Really?” she asked. “How does your dad get anyone to work here?”

“He pays a living wage ,” Wyatt said in a way that made it sound like he’d heard the phrase repeated a time or two.

“Good for him,” Willow laughed. “Tell him Willow Wright said hello, and congratulations.”

“I will, Miss Wright,” Wyatt said politely, making her feel about a thousand years old .

Maybe he thinks I’m old just because my car is.

She patted the steering wheel reassuringly as she got in, feeling a little guilty for thinking anything bad about the wagon.

She had so many happy memories in this thing.

Mom used to drive them all through the country on clear nights.

Willow and Ransom would sometimes just lie down in the “wayback” and look up at the stars through the rear windshield.

Nowadays, Mom would probably get arrested for letting us do that.

Those had been good times. She missed her brother so much. It was strange, since he was right here in Trinity Falls, but their relationship just wasn’t the same as before.

Don’t think about it…

But as she pulled out of the parking lot and down the gravel drive toward Knowlton Road, the thoughts invaded anyway.

Growing up, she and Ransom had been so close. They never had a dad around, so Ransom made himself his little sister’s protector and supporter. The titles went unspoken, but as an adult looking back, she could see that he had taken his self-appointed responsibility very seriously.

Ransom had kept a sharp eye on her, but he had also always been willing to include her in his games and schemes.

As soon as she was old enough to be allowed, she tagged along with her big brother and his friends on their treks through the woods and excursions in the village, and he made sure everyone was nice to his baby sister .

The one boy he never had to worry about was his best friend, Jensen Webb.

Jensen was always kind and patient with Willow, ready to slow down when she couldn’t keep up, and happy to respond right away when she wanted to practice a knock-knock joke.

As she got older, he was also the one most likely to listen when she wanted to talk.