Chapter Ten: The Ice Surprise. “There is one more thing you have to do to make your clichéd snow day complete,” Ashlyn says after lunch. “What’s that?” I ask, turning to her. A cheeky grin spreads across her face. “You’ll see.” My curiosity is piqued. We rug back up. This time Hemlin and Lyndaria join … More A Dragon For Christmas: Chapter Ten.
Chapter Nine: The Clichéd Snow Day. I expect to have to go to church on Sunday morning, but Hallowed Service, as they call it here, is only held at night, so we have the whole day to do what we want. After breakfast, Ashlyn asks me what I’d like to do. For me, the decision … More A Dragon For Christmas: Chapter Nine.
Chapter Eight: A fireside conversation. Hemlin leaves after supper. Though there is gas in this world, Lyndaria doesn’t have it in the cottage. She uses candles and lanterns, and the glow of the fire to see by. Olen brought his dog in with him for supper. He had kept him in the barn while we … More A Dragon For Christmas: Chapter Eight.
Chapter Seven: An elf, a baker and a suit maker. Olen pulls the sleigh up outside of a stone building. It has two large windows beside a wooden door painted a dark grey. Above it, a small sign reads ‘Suit Maker. Men’s fine tailoring by Fredson S. Threader’. Well, if that’s not a suitable last … More A Dragon For Christmas: Chapter Seven.
Chapter Six: The Pieman. Hemlin is a man in love. I can tell by the way he looks at Lyndaria. The way he smiles the moment he sees her. The way his eyes glisten. He isn’t tall and intimidating like I imagined he would be, but stocky, the top of his head coming to Lyndaria’s … More A Dragon For Christmas: Chapter Six.
Chapter Five: First Meeting. The sleigh stops outside of a little thatched cottage with a white picket fence surrounding it. Poplyn finally leaves our shoulders, jumping onto the back of the sleigh. Olen opens the door, taking Ashlyn’s hand as she steps out. I follow her and Olen grabs our bags. The door of the … More A Dragon For Christmas: Chapter Five.
Chapter Four: An annoying little elf. We aren’t in the bush anymore, the Aussie gums and paperbarks long gone. A forest you would see in a fairytale surrounds us, snow covering the ground and trees. It’s not as cold as I expect. The sun is shining, and there is no wind. Ashlyn lets go … More A Dragon For Christmas: Chapter Four.
Chapter Three: Crossing Over. I throw my new snow jacket into my duffle bag and zip it closed. My first white Christmas, who would have thought? It’s going to be a far cry from the sun-filled scorchers I’m used to. I place my phone and watch in my top draw and pull out the envelope … More A Dragon For Christmas: Chapter Three.
Note: Eroania is pronounce E-roan-i-a. A ute is a two or four door vehicle with a tray on the back. Chapter Two: The Answer. I can’t wait for my usual lunch time visit, and head over to Ashlyn’s as soon as I’ve had breakfast. She is smiling when I arrive so I’m guessing the news … More A Dragon For Christmas: Chapter Two.
Note: Akubra is an Australian version of a cowboy hat. Prologue: The Girl Next Door. I met Ashlyn Sorrows almost two years ago, on New Years Day. The first New Years I had woken up sober since I was seventeen. No more partying for this city boy. I had been reformed. Shipped off by my … More A Dragon For Christmas: Prologue + Chapter One.
Rochelle L. Sharpe 