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RATING / WARNINGS: G / NONE

SUMMARY: ADAM COMES FACE TO FACE WITH A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS EVE VISITOR

The sun had only just set, but the trail through the woods was already growing dark. Adam Cartwright urged his mount to a brisk pace through the light dusting of snow that covered the path. Sport snorted, his breath becoming visible on the cold air. He tossed his head proudly and lifted his feet high as he went, leaving a clear trail of hoof prints behind him.

It was Christmas Eve, and Adam was hurrying to join his family for the beginning of their celebrations. He smiled to himself as he rode, thinking of what awaited him as soon as he arrived home. There would be a festive supper by candlelight, then the candles on their tree would be lit and he and his father and brothers would take their places around the hearth to sing carols, accompanied, of course, by Adam’s guitar. There would be popcorn and cookies, spiced cider and hot cocoa, and a great deal of laughter. Then, just before they all retired to bed., Ben would bring out the old family Bible and read the Christmas story from the book of Luke. That was a part of their family tradition that went back as far as Adam could remember.

In the morning they would rise early to exchange gifts and dress in their best to head into town for church. After the service and the exchange of greetings with all their friends there, they would return home for the climax of the day, the magnificent feast prepared by Hop Sing.

Suddenly an unexpected sound intruded itself over Adam’s pleasant anticipations. The silvery tinkle of bells came drifting through the air from around the next bend in the road, closely followed by the sound of many hoof beats and shouts of "Whoa now! Whoa there!" in a resonant voice.

Adam reined in Sport and gazed curiously up the path, when what to his wondering eyes should appear, but a runaway sleigh pulled by four small deer! So startled was he by this apparition that the out of control vehicle with it’s frightened passenger had whizzed right by him before he was able to react. Urging his horse to the pursuit, he quickly caught up with the fleeing deer. Reaching out his hand he grabbed hold of the bridle on one of the leading deer and, slowing down, gradually brought the sleigh to a safe stop.

It was only when the sleigh’s driver scrambled down from his seat and landed on the ground that Adam got a good look at him. He was a short, rotund little man

dressed in a suit of leather that, in the fading light, appeared to be of a rusty reddish color. The suit and his cap were both trimmed in what looked like soft greyish rabbit fur. His face was framed by a well trimmed grizzled beard, through which his smile shone with a remarkable warmth. The eyes that peered through his spectacles were dark, and lively. As Adam dismounted the little man stepped forward to meet him with his gloved hand extended.

"Thank you! Thank you, young man! I could have been in real trouble if you hadn’t come along just now. I don’t know what got into my friends here. They’re usually such steady creatures."

Adam took the man’s hand, his face showing his amusement at the scene before him.

"I take it you’re headed to be the main attraction at someone’s Christmas Eve party. I must say I’ve never seen a more realistic get up."

"Oh, I have a great many stops to make tonight. And as for being ‘realistic’, why I suppose I’m just as real as anybody else is." The little man’s eyes twinkled.

"Excuse me for asking," Adam said as he cocked an eyebrow, "but aren’t you supposed to have eight deer?"

"Oh, I do, but all eight aren’t needed to pull the sleigh at once. I find things work best if I use four for the first half of the night, then switch to the others for the second half. That way none of them get overtaxed."

Adam found himself slightly taken aback. The man was starting to sound as though he really believed himself to be....

"Uh...I don’t believe you actually told me your name," he finally said.

"The man looked at him with a kindly gaze. "But you already know my name, son. It’s Nicholas."

"Named after the saint?" Adam inquired.

Nicholas chuckled. "Not exactly."

Adam looked on bemused as the man stepped up to each of the deer in turn, laying his hand on each of their muzzles and whispering in their ears. The animals became calmer and the jangling of their harness bells became quieter.

"I think they’ll be all right, now," Nicholas said, "and I really have to be getting on. I have an awfully tight schedule tonight you know."

"Of course," Adam returned in a low voice, still not certain what to make of all this.

Nicholas climbed back into the sleigh and took up the reins.

"Thank you again for your help, Adam. Don’t be surprised if you find a little something extra under the tree tomorrow morning. And a very Merry Christmas to you and all your family!"

And with that, Nicholas clucked to his deer and the sleigh took off down the path. Adam stared after them until they disappeared into the deepening darkness. Then suddenly a thought occurred to him. "Wait a minute. I never told him my name. How did he know who I was?" His eyes widened. "No, it can’t be..."

He continued to stare down the path after the vanished sleigh for a long moment. Finally, shaking his head, he turned Sport around to resume his original route. As he looked up he noticed that it was becoming quite a starry night, and it was time for him to be getting home He was anticipating the about to commence festivities more than ever. There was just one thing. If there was in fact an extra present for him under the tree on Christmas morning, how would he ever explain it to his family?

THE END