Linda Crowder - Jake and Emma 01 - Too Cute to Kill Read Online Free Page B

decorations like kitty toys. 
    Emma chopped up leftover turkey for the cats as a treat and made sandwiches for her and Jake. They ate as they talked and decorated the tree.  She turned off all the lights and they both gasped when Jake flipped the switch to light the beautiful tree.
    Christmas was Emma’s favorite holiday.  She loved the music, the decorations and the smell of fresh pine in the house.  Sparky sat looking up at the tree, her eyes wide, while Peachy purred and rubbed against their legs until Emma reached down and picked her up.
    Jake sprang up suddenly and caught Sparky just as she made a flying leap toward the center of the tree.  “You little monster,” he scolded her.  “That is not a kitty toy.”  The cat squirmed but Jake held her firmly.  He looked at Emma, “We may have a problem with this one.”
    “Not exactly full of Christmas spirit,” she agreed.  “I hope she doesn’t pull the tree over.”
    Jake held Sparky up and looked into her face.  She licked his nose and purred.  “Yes, I know.  You’re too cute to kill.”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    6
     
     
    Fort Caspar was an outpost of the United States Army established to guard the telegraph lines during the Civil war.  Caspar Collins, a young officer, was killed just outside the Fort during a rare Indian raid. 
    The name “Fort Collins” had already been given to an outpost in northern Colorado, named for Caspar’s father.  When the government decided to re-name the Fort in Wyoming to honor the son, they were forced to use his first name.  In doing so, they spelled the unfortunate young man’s name wrong.  The Fort, and the city which followed, became known as “Casper.”
    When the Fort was reconstructed and dedicated as a museum, the decision was made to right the old wrong.  Fort Caspar Museum attracts visitors from all over the world, sitting halfway between Yellowstone National Park and Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
    Emma started volunteering at the Fort one summer when her caseload was low and she found herself with time on her hands.  She’d continued to volunteer whenever she could because she enjoyed meeting the visitors and hearing the stories of their travels.
    The Fort was a busy place during the summer but in the winter, the Fort buildings were locked and visitors came to see only the museum exhibits.  Every December, the Fort had a special two evening event where families gathered at the museum to make decorations similar to what frontier families in the 1860’s might have made.  Some took their decorations home but many used them to decorate the museum’s two Christmas trees – one inside and a living tree in front of the Fort’s commissary building.
    Emma was happy to volunteer to work the front desk during the event so that the museum’s small paid staff could work with the visitors.  Jake dropped her off and promised to return at the end of the evening to pick her up.
    Emma greeted the museum director as he opened the door for her.  “Glad you could make it,” he told her, “we’re hoping for a big turn-out tonight.”
    “I’m sure you’ll get a lot of families,” answered Emma.  “It’s cold but at least it’s not windy and the snow stopped early enough the roads are clear.”
    She settled in at the desk and spent a happy three hours greeting museum patrons, answering questions and ringing up sales from the gift shop.  Sheriff Newsome stopped at the front desk as Emma was putting a stuffed ferret, the Fort’s mascot, into a bag for an excited little girl.
    He smiled at the girl and nodded hello at her parents then turned to speak with Emma.  “Nice crowd you have tonight,” he said.
    Emma nodded.  “It’s been steady since we opened.  There aren’t so many people that the families feel rushed but enough to make the evening a success.”
    The museum director came up beside the desk and greeted the Sheriff.  “Reggie!  Glad you could