Snowy Christmas Read Free

two
hundred years, and by rights belonged in the Rosemoor estate and
should be passed to his heir. But at least she was now off his back
forever.
    He kissed the top of Peggy's head. "Come on,
Pegs. Time for a celebratory walk."
    He jumped up. Thank goodness he had his dog.
She'd been a lifesaver since he got her three years ago. Funny to
think that when his brother, Jonathan, suggested he have a dog,
he'd thought he wouldn't cope with one. Now he wondered how he'd
have coped without her.
    Taking long walks with Peggy around the acres
of garden and estate lands he loved so much had helped him survive
the mental trauma and stress. His dog had been there for him,
offering unconditional love when he needed it most. Peggy was a
better companion than any woman could ever be.
    Today he would walk for the pleasure of it.
Sensing his mood, Peggy yelped with excitement, picked up her ball,
and raced ahead as he took the corridor to the back of the house.
He entered the laundry room near the back door where he kept his
dog-walking gear.
    He pulled on Wellington boots and his old
coat, scarf, and hat. After taking Peggy's leash off its hook, he
stepped out the back door into the crisp, fresh air of a clear
winter's day.
    "Perfect." He almost felt like running today,
so he did, sprinting across the gravel and along the path to the
gate into the parkland, energized and hopeful.
    Peggy ran at his side, barking.
    "It's all right, Pegs. I'm not going crazy.
I'm happy." Scary to think this was the first time he'd felt really
happy in the whole three years since he'd acquired Peggy.
    Out of breath, he slowed to a walk when he
reached the fifty acres of short wet grass dotted with mature
trees. This parkland landscape was part of the heritage of Rosemoor
Hall, and he'd refused to allow it to be divided into fields and
farmed. From the windows of his apartment in the east wing of the
hall, he enjoyed watching the deer and rabbits that lived here, and
the occasional fox.
    Grinning to himself, he had a spring in his
step as he walked. He even hummed a song for a while. Then he
noticed a figure with a white dog on a leash coming towards him. As
the figure came closer, he could see it was Ned Tiptree's sister,
Emily. Marcus wouldn't admit it, of course, but he hadn't
remembered Ned even had a sister.
    Emily wore glasses today, and a white wool
hat pulled down over her ears.
    "Good morning," he shouted as they got
closer.
    She raised a hand in greeting. "I hope it's
okay for me to walk here?"
    "Of course. Feel free to walk on the estate
lands. All the tenants do."
    "Great. Thanks."
    Marcus halted ten feet from Emily because he
didn't want to make the little dog nervous. It bothered him that
she was scared of him. He would never hurt the cute little
creature, and was determined to make friends with her.
    • • •
    There was something different about Marcus today. He
was smiling a lot and had a lighter, more upbeat tone to his voice.
He exuded a vibrant energy and enthusiasm she hadn't noticed
yesterday. With his dark good looks, he would always be attractive,
but this morning she could hardly tear her gaze from him.
    "How's Snow White?" he said.
    "Settling in. I brushed her and trimmed the
hair around her eyes so she can see. She was such a good girl. She
just sat still and let me do it." Emily bent and stroked Marcus's
black Labrador when she came up, tail wagging eagerly, to sniff
Snow White. The little Westie seemed unafraid, and wagged her tail
as well.
    Emily noticed Marcus taking in the makeshift
collar and leash she'd made from a piece of blue plastic rope. "I
haven't had a chance to go shopping yet. Ned's taken the car
today." A half truth. Ned had taken the car, but she
couldn't afford to buy new things for Snow White until she earned
some money.
    "I'll give you a ride into town. I need to go
in today sometime, anyway."
    "Oh." Emily glanced down and petted the dogs
some more. She didn't want Marcus to know how short of money she
was. If not