Christmas in Sawyer Falls Read Online Free

nodded. “Sh ado w belongs to my son, Andrew. He wandered off from us when we were on a walk yesterday. We’ve been worried sick about him.” Then, to An drew, she added, “Andrew, why don’t you come here , please, and thank Mr. Murphy.”
    Andrew remembered his manners, walked over to Ben and like a little gentleman, held out his hand. “Thank you, Mr. Murphy! You’re even better than Santa!”
    Ben chuckled. “Well, that’s the best compliment I’ve received in a long time.”
    “Where did you find him?” David asked
    “Wel l, actually I saw him last night out trotting along highway 12. I stopped and tried and called for him but he wouldn’t come near me, he took off. Then, this afternoon, I found him at my place in the barn. I saw that he had a collar with tags on but the phone number was worn off, I could only read the address. He looked like he was well-loved so I thought I’d just drive him over. ”
    “Highway 12? You wouldn’t be the new vet who bought the Foster farm, would you?”
    “I am him, indeed. I’ m a veterinarian now , but with more room in the barns at the new place , I’m focusing more on raising and showing horses. That’s my true passion. But I guess if a dog out wandering the country had to pick a barn to crash in, he picked the right one. I checked him over and he seems to be in perfect health. Maybe just a little tired. ”
    “Highway 12?” Hannah asked, her voice shaking slightly. She could feel the color draining from her face. “He was heading home. To our old home, that is. Andrew and I moved in with my parents after my husband passed away.”
    “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.”
    He said it in a way that was truly kind and not the uncomfortable, awkward way that some people respond at hearing that her husband was dead. She hadn’t even meant to open up to this stranger before her, but the thought of Shadow out in the woods heading for the direction of their old home tugged at her heart.
    “Thank you. And thank you, again, so much, for bringing Shadow back. We just put up flyers all over town today. In fact, we’re offering a reward for his return. And it looks like that should go to you. Let me get my purse, and this time I’ll try not to drop it, ” she said as she headed to the closet to grab her checkbook.
    “Oh no, I couldn’t take any money from you. I didn’t even know there was a reward out for him. Seeing the look on your son’s face is payment enough.” He looked kindly down at Andrew and then back to Hannah.
    She tried to control the butterflies that fluttered in her stomach when he looked at her, but it proved too hard a task. She felt hot and flustered and did not like the feeling of not being in control. He was just a man. Just an incredibly h andsome man looking at her with piercing green eyes.
    Andrew looked up at Ben and then to Hannah with a twinkle in his eye. Oh, please don’t say anything about Santa bringing you a new daddy , she silently pleaded. “Um, Andrew, why don’t you take Shadow i nto the kitchen and make sure h e has plenty of food and water. H e’s probably hungry.”
    Thankfully, Andrew obeyed without so much of a word about Ben being a gift from Santa.
    Tess walked over to stand next to Hannah and smiled politely at Ben. Hannah noticed that she had a bit of a twinkle in her eye, too, and wondered if she sh ould send her off an errand as well .
    “Hi! I’m Hannah’s mother, Tess. We’d love to repay you for bringing Shadow home and if you won’t take any money, maybe you’ll take our food. Why don’t you come by for dinner tomorrow night? ” Then she quickly added, “ Please say yes, it’s the least we can do.”
    Hannah laughed softly to herself. Leave it to her mother, she thought. Tess must have seen the way that Ben and Hannah looked at each other, must have felt the electricity between them and she wasn’t going to give up this opportunity so easily.
    “Uh, I guess I could do that. I don’t have plans