Read Online A Lilac Creek Christmas ( a Lilac Creek Dog Story) by Dana Landers - Free Book Online

 
     
    There was no place on earth, as far as Julia was concerned, as beautiful as Lilac Creek at Christmas time.  She drove slowly down the main street, taking time to enjoy the lights and decorations that every shop owner had taken great care to put in place.  The old fashioned lamp posts were adorned with live greenery and red bows, and strings of white lights stretched across the narrow cobblestone street.  A recent snowfall had turned the whole town into a true winter wonderland full of the magic that was Christmas. She was looking forward to getting home to her family and the evening that lay ahead.  It was tree decorating night, probably the biggest Christmas event next to the arrival of Santa himself.  She knew everyone would be waiting for her, the lights and decorations all laid out.  Sam would have made a big pot of chili for a quick and easy supper, and the girls would gobble it down in their haste to get to the decorating.
    “Mom’s home!” The chorus of voices greeted her as she opened the door.  Jasper sauntered over for his usual ear scratch and gently licked her hand to let her know he too was glad to see her.  Julia gave his scruff a little extra ruffle as she looked into his cloudy brown eyes.  “Hi my good dog,” she whispered right into his ear.  She knew he probably couldn’t hear her, but she never stopped talking to him anyway.  Within minutes she was swept into the excitement of the evening.  Just as she predicted, supper was gobbled down and tree decorating began.
    Jasper curled up by the fire watching the activity in his house through droopy eyes that wanted to sleep.  His people were bustling about more than usual and he could sense the excitement in the air.  He couldn’t hear their voices anymore but he was an expert at reading body language and facial expressions and he could sense the love…always so much love coming from his people, but right now especially there seemed to be a real surplus of good feelings coming at him.  Brinn was practically jumping up and down with excitement and he could tell Emma was just as excited but she was trying to be more grown up about it.  The thing that was causing all this flurry of emotions was something they called Christmas.  Jasper knew that it came around every year when the weather turned cold and snow covered the ground.  He remembered trips into the woods when he would have a heyday chasing squirrels and rabbits while Henry looked for a special kind of tree. He would chop it down and they would bring it home and stand it up in the living room.  More recently, Jasper had accompanied his new family while they too hunted down the perfect tree to bring home.  It had always been one of Jasper’s favorite outings. He didn’t chase squirrels and rabbits anymore because his vision was going and the world now seemed to be covered in a kind of haze.  He was still invited to come along, though, and he wouldn’t have missed it for the world.  Just being with his people was enough.  He still enjoyed the smell of the outdoors and of all the critters that lived there, and as he sauntered along behind his people, he replayed the glory days of many a chase in his mind. Now he was content to lie here and watch as his family transformed the house from everyday to magical.
    “It’s perfect!” announced Brinn as the final decoration, the star at the top of the tree was put in place.  Every year they took turns placing the star. Last year Emma had been given the honor of placing the star, and this year that honor fell to the youngest member of their family, Kaylee.  Kaylee was born the summer after they had moved to the old farm.  It was here that they had also met Emma, and taken her in, first as a foster child, and now as a permanent member of their family.  Kaylee was too little to put the star on by herself but Sam had easily lifted her to his shoulders so she could reach.  Kaylee clapped her chubby little hands as she stared at