Sleigh Ride (Minnesota Christmas Book 2) Read Online Free PDF

judgmental either. “It was difficult for me too, at first. They listen to everything we say, even if it’s not directed at them.”
    Arthur was about to explain about Thomas, how he knew all about kids picking stuff up like sponges, but then the door to the conference room opened and a two-foot-tall, blond-haired, wide-eyed little boy stuck his head in. “Mr. Higgins? Is it story time?”
    An equally blonde mother, flush with embarrassment, scooped up the child. “I’m so sorry,” she said to Gabriel. “He got away from me.”
    “It’s all right, Julie.” Gabriel had smiled at the mother, but when he addressed the boy, he crouched and held out his hands. His whole demeanor changed, and the way he lit up, animated and bright, made Arthur’s breath catch. “Noah, I’m so glad you came today. I have to finish talking with Mr. Anderson, but then yes, we’re going to read stories.”
    Noah bounced on his heels. The boy put his tiny hands in Gabriel’s and held on, the librarian an anchor to his joy. “Can we read the Doctor Duckling book, please , Mr. Higgins?”
    “I’m so sorry, sweetheart, but it’s not here. Remember, I have to borrow it from another library for us to have it, and last week they asked for it back.”
    It physically hurt Arthur to see the way the boy wilted. “But I love the Doctor Duckling book.”
    “I know you do, and I wish I could give it to you. But we had it last month, and we have to wait our turn.”
    The boy’s eyes filled with tears, and the mother got embarrassed all over again. Gabriel soothed her and the boy both with platitudes and airy promises of someday. All Arthur could think of though was how this had to be that funding issue. If the library had a decent budget, Gabriel could order the damn book for the kid to wear out.
    If this were a fancy suburb instead of a dying small town, the mom would have ordered the book for her kid a long time ago. Maybe some people in Logan could, but Arthur knew Julie Peters. Her husband drove truck for the mill, and he was laid off now too. They had four kids, and her working outside the home wouldn’t pay for childcare unless she left town. There wasn’t money to buy Doctor Duckling books. Christmas probably had them sweating as it was.
    The mother and child left the room, and Gabriel stood to face Arthur. “I’m sorry, but it looks as if story time is starting early today. I can’t help you with your mother, but in short, I agree the sleigh-ride idea is a well-intentioned plan unlikely to yield the kind of funds the library needs. What would serve us best is a grant, which I’ve applied for, but they’re competitive and rarer by the day. I don’t mind if you bow out of the fundraiser—I’m sure we won’t have any trouble finding a replacement Santa—but you’ll have to extricate yourself on your own. Have a good day.”
    Arthur watched the guy walk away, wanting to argue but not really knowing how. He’d been dismissed, but he couldn’t bring himself to leave, because when he did he was stuck playing Santa.
    This was how Arthur ended up at story time at the Logan Public Library for the first time in almost thirty years.
    He hung out with his back to the wall in the farthest corner of the room, practically standing in Gabriel’s office. Crossing his arms over his chest, he settled in to watch and wait. The room was surprisingly full. The kids were all down in front, arranged in a clumpy semicircle around Gabriel’s rocking chair. A few mothers sat with their children, but otherwise the parents and grandparents scattered themselves in the back, some sitting, a few standing. Several children fought with one another, and the parents near them were too busy gossiping to settle the argument. One father managed an unruly set of young twins, constantly herding them into the circle like a weary referee. A little girl in the front row complained loudly to no one in particular that her underwear was itchy and she wanted to take it