Holiday in Stone Creek Read Online Free PDF

depressed?
    Nah, he decided.
    But a man sure as hell could.

    A SNOWMAN STOOD in the center of the yard at the homeplace when Olivia drove in, and there was one of those foldout turkeys taped to the front door. Brad came out of the barn, walking toward her, just as Meg, her sister-in-law, stepped onto the porch, smiling a welcome.
    "How do you like our turkey?" she called. "We're really getting into the spirit this year." Her smile turned wistful. "It's strange, without Carly here, but she's having such a good time."
    Grinning, Olivia gestured toward Brad. "He'll do," she teased.
    Brad reached her, hooked an arm around her neck and gave her a big-brother half hug. "She's referring to the paper one," he told her in an exaggerated whisper.
    Olivia contrived to look surprised. "Oh!" she said.
    Brad laughed and released her from the choke hold. "So what brings you to Stone Creek Ranch, Doc?"
    Olivia glanced around, taking in the familiar surroundings. Missing her grandfather, Big John, the wayshe always did when she set foot on home ground. The place had changed a lot since Brad had semiretired from his career in country music--he'd refurbished the barn, replaced the worn-out fences and built a state-of-the-art recording studio out back. At least he'd given up the concert tours, but even with Meg and fourteen-year-old Carly and the baby in the picture, Olivia still wasn't entirely convinced that he'd come home to stay.
    He'd skipped out before, after all, just like their mother.
    "I have a problem," she said in belated answer to his question.
    Meg had gone back inside, but she and Brad remained in the yard.
    "What sort of problem?" he asked, his eyes serious.
    "A reindeer problem," Olivia explained. Oh, and I got off to a fine start with your friend the contractor, too.
    Brad's brow furrowed. "A what?"
    "I need to get out of this truck," Ginger transmitted from the passenger seat. "Now."
    With a slight sigh Olivia opened Ginger's door so she could hop out, sniff the snow and leave a yellow splotch. That done, she trotted off toward the barn, probably looking for Brad's dog, Willie.
    "I found this reindeer," Olivia said, heading for the back of the Suburban and unveiling Rodney. "I was hoping he could stay here until we find his owner."
    "What if he doesn't have an owner?" Brad asked reasonably, running a hand through his shaggy blond hair before reaching out to stroke the deer.
    "He's tame," Olivia pointed out.
    "Tame, but not housebroken," Brad said.
    Sure enough, Rodney had dropped a few pellets on his blanket.
    "I don't expect you to keep him in the house," Olivia said.
    Brad laughed. Reached right in and hoisted Rodney down out of the Suburban. The deer stumbled a little, wobbly legged from riding, and looked worriedly up at Olivia.
    "You'll be safe here," she told the animal. She turned back to Brad. "He can stay in the barn, can't he? I know you have some empty stalls."
    "Sure," Brad said after a hesitation that would have been comical if Olivia hadn't been so concerned about Rodney. "Sure," he repeated.
    Knowing he was about to ruffle her hair, the way he'd done when she was a little kid, Olivia took a step back.
    "I want something in return, though," Brad continued.
    "What?" Olivia asked suspiciously.
    "You, at our table, on Thanksgiving," he answered. "No excuses about filling in at the clinic. Ashley and Melissa are both coming, and Meg's mother, too, along with her sister, Sierra."
    The invitation didn't come as any surprise to Olivia-- Meg had mentioned holding a big Thanksgiving blowout weeks ago--but the truth was, Olivia preferred to work on holidays. That way, she didn't miss Big John so much, or wonder if their long-lost mother might come waltzing through the door, wanting to get to know the grown children she'd abandoned so many years before.
    "Livie?" Brad prompted.
    "Okay," she said. "I'll be here. But I'm on call overThanksgiving, and all the other vets have families, so if there's an emergency--"
    "Liv," Brad