1225 Christmas Tree Lane Read Free

busiest season of the year. The Hardings had given her tea and sympathy; Ted had been wonderful, too. Beth was grateful for his willingness to watch her animals but she refused to leave him with these ten additional dogs. Soshe’d made it her goal to find homes for all of them before Christmas. Which didn’t give her a lot of time…
    â€œHow could someone just drop off ten puppies?” Bailey asked as she lifted one intrepid little guy off her shoulder and settled him in her lap.
    â€œWho could do that and not be seen?” Sophie added. “I mean, you have people working all over this place.”
    Beth had certainly asked around. “Jeff saw a woman with a huge basket at my door. He thought he recognized her from his church, but when he asked her, she denied it. Then later, Pete, one of the drivers, claimed he saw a man on my porch with a basket. I talked to five different people and got five different stories. All I know is that I’ve got to find homes for these puppies before we leave for Whistler.” And preferably before Kent arrived, although that was highly unlikely.
    â€œHave you found any yet?” Bailey asked.
    â€œNo…but I’ve put out the word.”
    â€œYou’ll do it, Mom,” Sophie said confidently. “I know you will.”
    â€œHow old are they?” Bailey stroked a soft, floppy ear.
    â€œTed thinks about two months. Between six and eight weeks, anyway.”
    â€œThey’re irresistible. You won’t have trouble finding homes,” Sophie said.
    Beth wished she had even a fraction of her daughter’s faith. In October, she’d found homes for four part-golden-retriever puppies. Coming up with those homes had been hard enough—and now ten more. She hoped the season would help.
    She’d offer assistance with training if the new owners wanted it—and she’d push the all-important spay-and-neuter message. Ted had promised to give the owners a break on the price, too.
    Working together, Beth and the girls corralled the puppies and got them back inside the laundry room. Then they washed up for lunch. Thankfully the girls’ favorites didn’t require much effort; the tomato basil soup and toasted cheese sandwiches were on the table within minutes.
    â€œNow I truly feel like we’re home,” Bailey said, spooning up the thick soup.
    Sophie sighed contentedly. “This place is starting to feel more like home all the time.”
    Beth had moved to Washington State following her divorce. For fifteen years she’d taught business and management classes at an agricultural college outside Sacramento. After she and Kent had split up, Beth felt she needed a change. A big one. An escape. She’d read about this Christmas tree farm for sale while browsing on theinternet and had become intrigued. As soon as she’d visited the property and toured the house, she was sold.
    Her general knowledge of farm life and crop cultivation had come in handy. She knew just enough about trees not to be intimidated. Besides, Wes Klein, the previous owners’ son, had helped the first couple of years. She’d soon picked up everything else she needed to know. She hired the same crew each season and was pleasantly surprised by how smoothly things had gone this year, the first year she was on her own.
    In addition to Christmas trees, she sold wreaths and garlands, which were created by three members of her staff who devoted all their time to this endeavor. The Kleins used to have only a handful of orders for holiday wreaths. Beth had turned that into a thriving aspect of the business. Plus, overseas sales of Christmas trees had doubled in the past three years. Beth had always enjoyed the season, but never more than now. She felt she was actively contributing to a lot of families’ happiness this Christmas.
    The girls cleared the table and put their plates and bowls in the dishwasher.
    â€œI’ve got to get back