A Gift Horse: 12 Days of Heartwarming Christmas (The Christmas Carousel Book 2)

By Beth Carpenter

Luke Mueller has good reasons to keep to himself. After his fiancée and best friend cheated him out of his company three years ago, he moved to Christmas Town and started a business restoring antique farm equipment. His only real friend was the octogenarian next door. Since she had no family around to support her, Luke pitched in to help, especially after she grew ill.

Now her granddaughter, Gwen Heatherton, has inherited the farm, and Luke wants nothing to do with a woman so self-centered she wouldn’t even visit her dying grandmother. But when Gwen requests his expertise to restore Christmas Town’s carousel in time to celebrate the anniversary of her grandmother’s friends, he agrees to help. For her grandmother’s sake.

As he works alongside Gwen in the carousel restoration, Luke discovers she’s not the selfish person he thought she was. If anything, she’s too generous with her time and energy, constantly volunteering for whatever needs doing, and in Christmas Town in December, that’s a lot. When Luke gets saddled with a canine escape artist, Gwen is there to help with that too.

The more time he spends with Gwen, the more Luke grows to admire her. He slowly learns to trust again. But Gwen has a secret that involves Luke. If he finds out, the foundation of trust they’ve built may be destroyed. And trust isn’t something that’s easy to restore.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Beth Carpenter
• Release date: Oct 9, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463446478

Beth Carpenter

Beth Carpenter grew up on a farm reading everything she could get her hands on, from cereal boxes to the encyclopedia. Saturday visits to the library were the highlight of her week. Due to motion sickness, she couldn't read on the school bus so she made up her own stories instead. She still consumes books like popcorn and loves to create happy endings for her imaginary friends. She believes dogs, books, and laughter are key to happiness. And dark chocolate. And love. 

Book preview

A Gift Horse

A Christmas Carousel Story

12 Days of Heartwarming Christmas

By Beth Carpenter

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2018 Beth Carpenter

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Other Books by Beth Carpenter

Harlequin Heartwarming

Northern Lights Series

The Alaskan Catch

A Gift for Santa

Alaskan Hideaway

An Alaskan Proposal

Sweet Home Alaska

Alaskan Dreams

An Alaskan Family Christmas

An Alaskan Homecoming

An Alaskan Family Found

An Alaskan Family Thanksgiving

Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense

Kidnapped in Alaska

Alaskan Wilderness Peril (Coming Dec 24, 2024)

In Memory of Barney

Canine Escape Artist and Loving Pet

Special thanks to Anna J. Stewart, Liz Flaherty, and Brenda Sasse for their help to make this book the best it can be, and to all the Heartwarming authors in the 12 Days of Heartwarming Christmas collection. It’s been a blast working with you.

CHAPTER ONE

The magic of Christmas Town must have skipped over the old farmhouse next to Gwen Heatherton’s farm. Nary a bow, candy cane, or twinkle light embellished the facade of the gray saltbox. Apparently, the occupant didn’t go in for frills. Gwen parked in front of the house and walked to the front door, passing a no soliciting sign on the way. Personally, she preferred welcome mats, but to each his own. She raised her hand to knock. Then she lowered it.

What, exactly was she going to say when he opened the door? She needed a plan. A persuasive argument on why her reclusive next-door neighbor should volunteer his time to help repair the town’s carousel.

Of course, if she’d followed her original plan, she wouldn’t be in this situation. Back in the fall, when every committee in Christmas Town was recruiting volunteers for this or that activity, Gwen had refrained, telling herself that this year, she needed to focus all her efforts on her brand-new herbal business. Next year, she could give in to her urge to volunteer.

But just before Thanksgiving, the company that was supposed to restore Christmas Town’s antique carousel in time to celebrate Seymore and Elaine Garland’s sixtieth Christmas Eve anniversary had gone bankrupt. Word had gone out that they desperately needed volunteers, especially since so many people were committed elsewhere, and Gwen had felt compelled to help. After all, Elaine had been one of Gwen’s grandmother’s lifelong friends, and Mimi had loved carousels. Gwen decided she could find time to volunteer for a couple of hours.

Trouble was, Gwen didn’t paint, or do carpentry, or fix engines. She could grow herbs, make soaps and lotions, and in her former career running finance in her parents’ restaurant supply business she could crunch numbers with the best of them, but none of those skills were particularly valuable to the carousel committee. But she could cook. She could bring food for the people working there. Maybe some snacks now and again.

Yet somehow, when she’d stopped in to talk with John Richardson and Lisa Garland, the people in charge of the project, she heard herself promising to provide lunch for the workers six days a week until the carousel was done. And when the high school drama class decided to put on a play as a carousel fundraiser, Gwen had volunteered to handle decorating the cafeteria for a cookie sale and reception afterward.

If only she’d stopped there, but of course she didn’t. While she was checking out the nonexistent cooking facilities, Gwen had overheard John telling someone he was having a heck of a time getting the right parts for the carousel. Immediately, she’d thought of the sign on her neighbor’s gate, Vintage and Antique Farm Equipment Restoration. If her neighbor knew where to find parts for antique tractors, why couldn’t he find them for antique carousels? She’d blurted out her idea to John, and predictably, he’d assigned her the task of recruiting him. Which was why she was now standing on her neighbor’s doorstep, trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach and summon up the courage to knock.

Neighbor might be too strong a word. Even though only a rail fence and a grove of trees separated the farm she’d inherited from his place, she’d only happened across the man a handful of times in the seven months since she took over her grandmother’s farm, and their brief interactions didn’t fill her with confidence. She would greet him and he would nod, his bushy mountain-man beard giving him a forbidding look, as though he disapproved of her.

Maybe he did. If he knew about the envelope taped to the front of a carton holding the carousel music box, he would certainly disapprove. She shifted from one foot to the other. Her Grandmother Mimi had left the farm and everything on it to Gwen, except…that one box she found in the pantry with a note to pass it on to Luke Mueller. Ordinarily, Gwen would have been quick to follow Mimi’s wishes, but Mimi had given Gwen that music box when she was just a little girl. She must have forgotten. So for now, that box was tucked away on the bookshelf while Gwen decided what to do with it.

But he couldn’t know about the envelope, or he would have said something. No, it was just Gwen’s guilty conscience making her imagine his disapproval. Still, he wasn’t the friendliest person in the world.

She looked toward her car. Maybe she should call instead. He had a business, so presumably she could find a phone number. Or even an email address. And then she wouldn’t have to talk with him at all. Yes. That was a better idea than dropping in.

Gwen turned to go. As she stepped off the tiny porch, a board crackled in the cold. An unearthly howl issued from within the farmhouse. What in the world? She looked over her shoulder toward the door, which jerked open to reveal her neighbor, beard and all, glowering at her.

No solicitors. Didn’t you read the sign?

She took a step back. Yes, but I, uh—

An animal dashed past him. He tried to snag it on the way by, but the brown and white dog wriggled through his arms and ran toward Gwen.

Grab him!

Gwen did as instructed, dropping to her knees and wrapping her arms around the squirming dog. He licked her face, his tail thrashing madly. He looked to be mostly beagle, which explained the noise she’d heard.

His master hurried down the stairs and grabbed the dog’s collar. Sorry.

That’s okay. Gwen stroked the beagle’s head. I like dogs.

He looked at her more closely. You’re Margarite Heatherton’s granddaughter.

Yes. She smiled.

He didn’t. What do you want? He dragged the dog toward the house, but the beagle wiggled and twisted, trying to return to Gwen.

I, that is, the carousel committee—

With a practiced shimmy, the dog slipped his collar, and the man was barely able to catch him before he got away again. He wrapped his arms around the dog’s ribs and hoisted him to chest level, where the beagle pumped his legs as though running through the air. The man jerked his head toward the door. Inside.

It wasn’t the warmest invitation Gwen had ever received, but she’d take it. She opened the door to allow him to carry the wriggling dog through, and followed him in. She found herself in a living room with a brown couch and armchair facing a brick fireplace. No wreath over the mantel. No Christmas tree. Not even a throw or a pillow. A desk with a computer and two large monitors was wedged into the space under the stairs. The only decoration in the room was a glass-fronted case holding a dozen or so decorative boxes.

The man continued to wrestle with the dog. Shut the door, would you?

Gwen did, and he set the dog on the floor. As soon as the dog had four feet on the ground, he dashed over to Gwen, wiggling his whole body.

Hi, cutie. She crouched down to rub the dog’s ears. What’s his name?

I don’t know.

She looked up. You don’t know your dog’s name?

He’s not mine.

Then why —

I’m keeping him for someone.

But they didn’t tell you his name?

No. At her raised eyebrows, he shrugged. The woman who owns him had to go into the hospital, and her landlord asked if I could keep the dog for a while. He figured the dog would get into less trouble out here in the country. He looked at the empty collar in his hand. He figured wrong.

Oh. Interesting. He was doing someone a favor. Maybe that boded well. She stood and smiled at him. Well, anyway, I’m here on behalf of the carousel committee, and—

You joined a carousel committee?

I’m not on the committee. I just volunteered to—

Why?

Why, what?

Why did you volunteer?

What difference did it make? Because this project is important to the people of Christmas Town.

You’ve only been in Christmas Town a few months.

What does that have to do with anything?

He shrugged. You don’t have any history with Christmas Town, and you don’t seem like the type to volunteer for something that doesn’t benefit you.

What? Where did that come from? He didn’t even know her. As it happened, she was exactly the type, which was why she was there, trying to recruit him to the carousel project instead of where she should be—mixing up a new batch of lavender body butter to replace the jars that had sold out in two of the Christmas Town shops. Her college roommate, a psych major, had accused Gwen of being a people pleaser. Gwen had denied it, but there was truth to the accusation. Quitting her job and moving to the farm she’d inherited from her grandmother may have been the first decision Gwen had made solely for herself in possibly her whole life. But that was neither here nor there.

She stood up a little straighter and looked directly into his dark eyes. For your information, I do have a history with Christmas Town. When I was younger, I used to come here and spend several weeks every summer with my grandmother. And I don’t know where you get off insulting people who are just trying to help the community, but I’m not particularly interested in your opinion of me. Liar, her inner voice chided. She ignored it. I’m only here as a representative—

Of the carousel committee. Yeah, I got that. He pulled a wallet from his back pocket. I don’t know about this carousel committee, but if you’re selling fruitcake or wreaths or something, I don’t want any. I’m sure it’s a worthy cause. Here’s a twenty-dollar donation. Will that do?

No, that’s not—

Forty? He pulled out another bill.

I don’t want money.

No? He raised one eyebrow. Gwen had always wished she could do that. That’s refreshing.

Sorry?

Never mind. So, what are you after? I’m not signing any petitions.

That’s fine, because I don’t have a petition.

Well, I doubt you’re here because of my delightful personality.

That was for sure. I’m here for your expertise. Your sign says you restore antique farm machinery.

Yes, I do. The carousel committee has some farm equipment that needs restoration?

No, it’s the carousel that needs restoration.

He shook his head. I do farm equipment. I’m sure there are people who specialize in carousels. They should hire an expert.

They did. Unfortunately, the company they hired went bankrupt before they could finish the restoration.

I see. So, they want to hire me, instead?

Well, actually, they’d, uh, already paid the money they’d raised for the project to the company.

The company that went bankrupt.

Exactly.

So, you want me to work for free.

She tried to think of a way to soften that statement, but that was the gist of it. She nodded.

On a carousel?

Yes.

And why should I give a hoot about this carousel?

It’s historic. And if he restored antique farm equipment he must like history, right? It was one of the original rides at Knowles Wonderland, the old amusement park outside Christmas Town that closed this July. The Garlands, who used to own the toy store, talked Trent Knowles into donating it to the town as a tourist attraction.

The Garlands are in on this? Seymore and Elaine? For the first time, his face reflected a hint of interest.

You know them?

Yes. He reached down and buckled the dog’s collar onto its neck. They were good friends of your grandmother’s.

He knew who Mimi’s friends were? He must have been on friendlier terms with her grandmother than Gwen thought. Not that it mattered now. "That’s why I’m involved. Because the town was all set to get the carousel restored in time to honor Seymore and Elaine’s sixtieth wedding anniversary, but after Eastco went bankrupt, John Richardson—who used to work for them—came to town to try to make it right. He’s heading up the