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‘Does that cover the oil?’

Santa looked down at the bill and his bushy brows lifted ‘Ten tie’

‘No I don’t want change In fact…’ Nick opened his wallet again, pulled out half a dozen bills, and stuffed them into Santa’s hand, too ‘Buy some more toys for the Boys’ Home How’s that sound?’

Santa grinned ‘Sounds just fine’

‘Good Great Terrific’ Nick grinned, too Then he patted the old man aardly on the back ‘Thank you,’ he said, as he slid behind the wheel of his Explorer ‘For everything’

‘You’re welco, Santa watched as Nick pulled out onto the dark, deserted road His smile broadened when the vehicle suddenly stopped, then roared into reverse

Nick put down his‘Santa?’

‘Yes?’

Nick smiled ‘Merry Christmas’

The old man chuckled ‘Merry Christ woman you left up on North Mountain’

Nick’s brow furrowed ‘How did you…?’

‘Got to get goin’,’ the old man said, and just at that h the station, obliterating everything in a whirl of white When it had passed, the old hts had winked out

Nick stared at the darkened gas pu the Explorer across the highway, back towards North Mountain

Holly sat, cross-legged, in the middle of the bed

The as howling wildly around the cabin; snow pattered against the s It was the kind of night to curl up by the fire, to lie in the arms of your lover…

She blinked back her tears

What an idiot she’d been, to have thought she and Nickhappy He was so full of himself, of his plans, his successes…

She ju shrill of the telephone, then stared at it as it rang again Who’d call her here, especially tonight?

Her heart thumped and she snatched up the phone

‘Nick?’ she said

‘Holly?’ It wasn’t Nick The voice was too deep ‘Holly,’ it said again, and then the instrument went dead

Great This was just what she needed Another stor, a telephone that wouldn’t work…

The phone rang again

‘Hello?’ Holly said, jaainst her ear