The Winter of Candy Canes (A Sweet Seasons Novel) Read Free

suggested.
    “You're not setting me up with Josh, so just forget it.”
    “Fine.”
    “Find out for me, though, if Santa needs a Mrs. Claus,” Tamara said.
    “You're going to find some way to be the Christmas queen, aren't you?” Candace asked.
    “Even if I have to marry old Saint Nick.”
    They both laughed.

2
    On Saturday morning Candace reported to the wardrobe area to get fitted for her elf costume. She was surprised to see Kurt there.
    “What are you doing here?”
    He smiled. “I'm here to speak to the elves. It's the only time you're all going to be gathered together.”
    “Why do you need to speak to us elves?” she asked, momentarily distracted as she saw Lisa walk in, flipping her blonde hair.
Seriously
,
she's not going to be an elf
, Candace thought in despair. Lisa had been a thorn in Candace's side for months. She was Kurt's ex-girlfriend and not at all happy about the “ex” part. Lisa glared in Candace's direction, and Candace grimaced, fighting the urge to say something rude.
    “Candace, you listening?” Kurt asked.
    “Sorry, what were you saying?”
    “I'm here to talk to all the elves. You see, as an elf, you're part normal referee, part crowd control, and part costumed mascot.”
    “So, you're here to give us a mascot pep talk?”
    “Something like that.”
    “How hard can being an elf actually be?” she asked, more to herself than him.
    “You're kidding, right?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Elves get hazard pay.”
    “Seriously?” she asked. The recruiter had failed to mention that. Half of her was wondering how much more money she would see in her paycheck, and the other half was now really worried. What on earth would merit hazard pay at a theme park during Christmas?
    “Seriously,” Kurt confirmed. “I did it last year. Never again.”
    Before she could ask him anything else, the head of the costuming department, Janet, clapped her hands and called everyone to attention. “All right, go ahead and take a seat if you can find one. Hit the floor if you can't,” she instructed.
    “I'm on,” Kurt said, walking toward Janet.
    Candace sat down on the floor, envying Lisa the folding chair she had acquired. Candace glanced around. There were about thirty people present besides Kurt and Janet. She thought she recognized one or two of them from Scare, but Lisa was the only one she knew by name.
    “This is Kurt, one of our outstanding mascots who works in the History Zone. He's here to give you some instruction, some ground rules, and some survival tips,” Janet said without even a hint of a smile.
    Candace initiated a brief round of applause. Kurt winked at her, and she blushed.
    “Out in the park, I play Robin Hood, Zorro, the Lone Ranger, and occasionally others. Last Christmas I was sitting where you're sitting, ready for elf orientation. I figured because I was a mascot being an elf would be a piece of cake. I was wrong.”
    His tone had become increasingly grim, and Candace shivered.
What in the world have I gotten myself into?
she wondered.
    “You are the last line of defense. You are all that stands between thousands of excited, frightened, hopeful kids and Santa Claus. And they will go around you, over you, and through youto get to him. Last year an elf tripped and fell, and five hundred kids trampled him. He got out of the hospital last month.”
    Around her, people stirred and muttered to each other in frightened tones. Candace had to admit that her own heart was starting to race in fear. This had to be why Josh had said it was a level-one stress job.
    “So, here are a few tips. Rule number one. Remember, you're the adults. What you say goes. Don't let them intimidate you. Also, don't let their parents intimidate you. Just follow your procedures. Make sure you call for security if they try to mob Santa.”
    Candace noticed that several people near her were looking pale and nervous. She didn't blame them. She didn't like the sound of things either. She also wondered