Page 10 of A Raging Merry Christmas

“Show us the way,” Savage said.

We followed Clint around the corner and found a huge order stacked against one wall.

“We only want the big trees. Someone else will be along for the others,” Savage informed Clint.

After thanking Clint, Savage and I both turned to Wild, who was glowering at the stack of trees. Without a word, we both jumped my older brother and pummelled the shit out of him.

???

Wild sulked all the way back to Reading Hall. He’d have a black eye to show for his surliness, although I’m not sure if it was me or Savage that got that one in. He would also have sore ribs and have to sit down carefully for a week. A steel toe cap up your ass hurts… and I ensured my kick hurt!

I couldn’t believe we’d cut down a tree because Wild had been a surly asshole when all we’d had to do was speak to someone. Those wonderful people had cut every tree and wrapped them. Savage and I threatened to take the one we’d cut to Wild’s house, I’m sure Lynda would have loved it. Not.

Phoe met us outside as we pulled in with our offering to Reading Hall. She looked puzzled, and I couldn’t blame her.

“Hadn’t Clint cut my trees?” she asked.

“Yeah. Except some fucker is a grumpy asshole in the morning and wouldn’t talk to anyone, so we cut this down before knowing Clint had them,” Savage snarled. He cuffed Wild around the back of the head.

I guessed Savage was holding a grudge.

To my horror and trepidation (if Drake saw this), we’d be dead, Phoe’s eyes filled with tears.

“What are you crying for?” Savage questioned, looking worried.

“That you three cared enough to cut me a tree down!” Phoe said, ending on a wail.

“What on earth?” Albert Wilkes, Phoe’s pseudo-father, demanded as he approached.

“The boys cut me a tree down, Albert,” Phoe cried, waving a hand at our truck.

“That was their role, wasn’t it?” Albert inquired.

“Yeah, but they cut it down. They actually cut me a tree,” Phoe sobbed, wiping tears from her eyes.

“I don’t get it,” Albert asked, puzzled.

Nope, nor me either.

“Apparently, Phoe had ordered the trees months ago, which we didn’t know. We thought we had to cut them for her. The fact we chopped this motherfucker down means something to Phoe,” Savage explained.

“Still lost,” Albert replied.

“Makes two of us,” Wild complained.

“You cut it down because you cared about my happiness!” Phoe wailed, and I shook my head. This was getting uncomfortable, damn fast.

“Sure, it’s not because we’re more scared of Drake,” Wild muttered, and I sent him a dirty look.

“Drake loves me too!” Phoe continued, loudly. “I’m so proud of you all. You’ve all found wonderful old ladies and are starting families.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Molly and Demi, Phoe’s two soon-to-be daughters-in-law, approaching.

“And I am going to be a Nan!” Phoe shrieked through her tears and did a happy dance.

Molly and Demi froze on the spot and swapped glances. Both of them shook their heads, and I guessed they weren’t pregnant.

“You are?” Wild asked, suddenly cheering up as he saw the two women now pretending to be statues.