12
The day began with a sense of urgency. This was the last day to get everything ready for Christmas. There still seemed so much to do. Holly didn't need to remind either children to get up and do their chores. Emily happily bounded out of bed and set a pot of water on the stove to boil. Jake got up and was out the door before Emily finished making Daisy's mash. Soon the door slammed again and Holly was alone in the house. She had biscuits to make for the day and she also needed to prepare an overnight dough for Christmas day.
The house was quiet, and it smelled a mixture of yeast dough and flour, sap and pine. Holly wiped the flour from her hands upon her apron. She looked out the window to see if anyone was about. She could see no one.
She took off her thin leather boots, which now
