12-09-2021, 04:25 AM
She put the dogs’ blankets on the floor and called her mother to let her know she’d arrived. There was a knock on her door before they’d even hung up. Her parents hugged her warmly and greeted Penny and Bella with belly rubs and treats. They informed her that there had been a break in the weather and they’d really like to get down to see the lights.
Marie grabbed the dogs’ sweaters, yes even foul mouthed, .38 shooting, whiskey drinking monster hunters like to dress their dogs warmly when going out in the cold. She put their leashes on and they all headed out of the room. They arrived downstairs and went through the front doors of the hotel, frigid air blasting their faces. The Smiths joined them soon after. Marie realized that she’d forgotten to ask how they’d come to know the couple, but there was no time to inquire now.
There was a carriage sitting near the curb with no line. The sign said Big L’s Carriage Rides $15. She wondered who Big L might be. As they neared, she and the driver made eye contact and Marie tensed.
“Big L?” She asked lifting an eyebrow.
“At your service ma’am” the man with dark hair, wearing all black replied. “Maybe you’d like to sit up here with me, you’d be able to see more and not be so cr...”
“Nope” she said, cutting him off.
The dogs however thought that was a great idea. They clambered into the carriage, climbed over and sat right next to him, then looked at Marie to see if that was ok.
“Marie, really” her mother said.
Marie just shrugged and chose to sit where she could watch the driver’s back. One just doesn’t have their back toward Loki because you could just never be sure who’s side he’s on.
The carriage was one of those two seat affairs with the seats facing each other and was pulled by two gorgeous matching Fjord Horses. The seating gave the passengers the opportunity to visit as the rolled off to look at the lights, the sound of the horses hooves echoing in the night.
Oh and visit they did. There was a lot of talking and oohing and ahhing over light display. Marie mostly stayed silent, her eyes never straying from Loki’s back. She just couldn’t figure out what he was doing here. She had a feeling she’d be finding out soon.
She had to admit, the lights were pretty and the clip-clop sound of the horses was relaxing. She was snug and warm between here parents with the blanket that was covering them. At the end of the ride her parents were delighted to receive a big old fashioned candy cane. Marie declined. Penny and Bella wagged their tails happily and offered paws to shake for ear scratches and treats.
“Marie” her mother scolded, as they walked back toward the hotel, “That man was nice. I can’t believe how rude you were”
“Let it go mom.” Marie warned.
Her mother decided that she would, for now. Though she would probably bring it up again because to her mind it didn’t matter if she was five or thirty five Marie was her baby and she’d raised her better than that. She hoped the Smiths hadn’t noticed how sullen Marie had been.
Marie’s father joined her and said “The Neil and Donna said they couldn’t help but notice how Marie kept staring at the carriage driver. They were surprised the two hadn’t exchanged numbers, so I invited him to the party. Maybe they have something in common. They both like horses so that could be a start.”
Marie’s mother looked at him, eyes wide “Oh Ted, I’m not sure that’s a good idea, something about him seemed to set Marie off.”
“But Maggie, she needs to date more. She spends all her time at that ranch, just her and that hired hand. People are bound to talk.”
“Well let them talk. Marie is doing what makes her happy.”
Happy couldn’t describe what Marie was feeling at that moment as she paced her room and went over every possible scenario of why Loki could have shown up here. The Smith couple bothered her as well. Who were they? She thought she knew all of her parent’s friends.
She went over to the nightstand, pulled out her .38 and made sure it was loaded - again. She then poured herself a glass of whisky to try and wash down the bad feeling she was having. She crawled into bed but couldn’t sleep. She got up and went to the other side where Penny and Bella were sleeping between the bed and the wall and lay down on the floor with her .38 in reach. She had to get some sleep because her mother wanted to get some Christmas shopping done the next day.
A few hours later a groggy Marie heard something in the room. The dogs were growling softly. She opened her eyes to see a figure reaching toward where she had been on the bed. She grabbed the pistol and cocked the hammer back. The figure stopped mid movement and ran to the door. She thought she saw a flash of a red hat in the light coming in from the lobby.
“Girls, I don’t think that was Santa” she said as she switched on the light.
Marie grabbed the dogs’ sweaters, yes even foul mouthed, .38 shooting, whiskey drinking monster hunters like to dress their dogs warmly when going out in the cold. She put their leashes on and they all headed out of the room. They arrived downstairs and went through the front doors of the hotel, frigid air blasting their faces. The Smiths joined them soon after. Marie realized that she’d forgotten to ask how they’d come to know the couple, but there was no time to inquire now.
There was a carriage sitting near the curb with no line. The sign said Big L’s Carriage Rides $15. She wondered who Big L might be. As they neared, she and the driver made eye contact and Marie tensed.
“Big L?” She asked lifting an eyebrow.
“At your service ma’am” the man with dark hair, wearing all black replied. “Maybe you’d like to sit up here with me, you’d be able to see more and not be so cr...”
“Nope” she said, cutting him off.
The dogs however thought that was a great idea. They clambered into the carriage, climbed over and sat right next to him, then looked at Marie to see if that was ok.
“Marie, really” her mother said.
Marie just shrugged and chose to sit where she could watch the driver’s back. One just doesn’t have their back toward Loki because you could just never be sure who’s side he’s on.
The carriage was one of those two seat affairs with the seats facing each other and was pulled by two gorgeous matching Fjord Horses. The seating gave the passengers the opportunity to visit as the rolled off to look at the lights, the sound of the horses hooves echoing in the night.
Oh and visit they did. There was a lot of talking and oohing and ahhing over light display. Marie mostly stayed silent, her eyes never straying from Loki’s back. She just couldn’t figure out what he was doing here. She had a feeling she’d be finding out soon.
She had to admit, the lights were pretty and the clip-clop sound of the horses was relaxing. She was snug and warm between here parents with the blanket that was covering them. At the end of the ride her parents were delighted to receive a big old fashioned candy cane. Marie declined. Penny and Bella wagged their tails happily and offered paws to shake for ear scratches and treats.
“Marie” her mother scolded, as they walked back toward the hotel, “That man was nice. I can’t believe how rude you were”
“Let it go mom.” Marie warned.
Her mother decided that she would, for now. Though she would probably bring it up again because to her mind it didn’t matter if she was five or thirty five Marie was her baby and she’d raised her better than that. She hoped the Smiths hadn’t noticed how sullen Marie had been.
Marie’s father joined her and said “The Neil and Donna said they couldn’t help but notice how Marie kept staring at the carriage driver. They were surprised the two hadn’t exchanged numbers, so I invited him to the party. Maybe they have something in common. They both like horses so that could be a start.”
Marie’s mother looked at him, eyes wide “Oh Ted, I’m not sure that’s a good idea, something about him seemed to set Marie off.”
“But Maggie, she needs to date more. She spends all her time at that ranch, just her and that hired hand. People are bound to talk.”
“Well let them talk. Marie is doing what makes her happy.”
Happy couldn’t describe what Marie was feeling at that moment as she paced her room and went over every possible scenario of why Loki could have shown up here. The Smith couple bothered her as well. Who were they? She thought she knew all of her parent’s friends.
She went over to the nightstand, pulled out her .38 and made sure it was loaded - again. She then poured herself a glass of whisky to try and wash down the bad feeling she was having. She crawled into bed but couldn’t sleep. She got up and went to the other side where Penny and Bella were sleeping between the bed and the wall and lay down on the floor with her .38 in reach. She had to get some sleep because her mother wanted to get some Christmas shopping done the next day.
A few hours later a groggy Marie heard something in the room. The dogs were growling softly. She opened her eyes to see a figure reaching toward where she had been on the bed. She grabbed the pistol and cocked the hammer back. The figure stopped mid movement and ran to the door. She thought she saw a flash of a red hat in the light coming in from the lobby.
“Girls, I don’t think that was Santa” she said as she switched on the light.