Wilson walked through Determination as like a ghost as he imagined himself. And he was. No one saw him, but he saw them.
He looked in the Connelly’s window and smiled as Mrs Connelly lifted little Samuel up to put the star on the tree top, and laughed as their cat fankled itself in the basket of red yarn she had put aside for some holly branch trimming.
He watched as Sheriff Dan’s wife came in to the office and left a large basket of roast chicken legs, mince pies, and a small token of the Christmas Season on Dan’s desk. “You’ll give them out tomorrow Dan, or you won’t be getting any Christmas dinner yourself, you hear?” “Of course Dear, Christmas is a time for forgiveness.” He turned to the cells. “But you’re in here till the New Year, so don’t get any ideas.”
“Merry Christmas, Mrs Dan.” Said Ramiros from his cell.
“Yes, Merry Christmas!” shouted out Christabel. “You get back to them young uns. Merry Christmas to them all!”
Dan rolled his eyes, and passed the basket to Deputy Sam. “Best make sure they get ‘em all in the morning, or my life isn’t worth living. Jake takes over at 10?”
“Sure thing Dan,” said Sam. “Jake’ll take if from there, Tobes relieves him at 8 in the morning, and I’ll pick up …
….4 in the afternoon. Sorry you have to work Christmas Sam.”
“Hey, let us out and you don’t have to!”
“Y’know, if you shut your trap, it might happen!” and Sam kicked the cell corridor shut and went back to Dan’s desk.
Wilson watched from the office corner as Dan flicked through the paperwork. “What’re they in for Sam?”
“Uh, drunkenness, breach of the peace, and Christabel’s in for the usual.”
’Y’know, I’m feeling mellow today.” He beckoned to Sam and they moved over to the door far from the cells. “Sam,” said Dan sotto voce, “if they behave, let them out tonight when Jake takes over. It’s Christmas. Let’s see if they can behave themselves. We can always pick them up the day after.”
Sam grinned, and lifted Mrs Dan’s basket. He walked between the cells swinging it so that the fragrant spicy fruits of the mince pies wafted their way through the bars.
“You just might get your Christmas wish you ornery sons of a coyote, pardon there Miss Christabel, you’re excepted from that!”
“You’re welcome Sam,”said Christabel, hoisting her corset into a more comfortable position, “you git on home now to your wife and have a swell time.”
“I’ll bring you an extra blanket Miss Christabel. Merry Christmas!”
And Sam wandered through to the front office and looked for an nice warm, snug blankie for each of his prisoners. After all, it was Christmas!
