Wintertime. It was always one of Mary Travis' favorite times of the year. All the beautiful, fluffy, white snow always made her feel like a kid again. She could remember all the hours upon hours she'd spent playing outside in it. Making snowmen, sled riding, and best of all--the snowball fights she and the other children in town would have.
Standing at her front window, admiring the fresh coating of snow that had fallen the night before, she noticed the gunman in black making his way down the street. A few doors down from hers, he turned into the alley and out of sight.
Probably making his rounds behind the buildings to make sure no miss-doings were happening back there, she thought to herself.
Grinning mischievously, she grabbed her gloves and coat and put them on before going out her front door. Turning the opposite way she'd seen Chris go, she headed towards the back of her building and crouched down awaiting her prey.
Hearing his spurs getting louder as he got closer to her, she quickly formed a perfect sized snowball. Just as he passed her she launched it directly at his back.
WHACK!!!!
Perfect shot! she thought proudly to herself.
Instinctively, the gunfighter quickly turned towards the assailant with his gun drawn. Shock didn't describe his reaction upon discovering Mary hunched over laughing at him.
"Come on now, Chris. Don't tell me you'd shoot someone for smackin' you with a snowball!" the blonde woman said playfully.
It took a few moments for his shock to register and subside. Putting his gun away, Chris bent down, grabbed a handful of snow as he answered, "Never shot anyone -only soaked them to death though!" Then counterattacked as she screamed and tried to dodge the incoming snowballs.
She put up as good a fight as he did, impressing him in doing so. Then again, she almost always impressed him with about anything she did.
They continued throwing snowballs at each other, playing and laughing like children. 'Til Chris' last snowball hit her smack-dab in the head, knocking her to the ground. He quickly was by her side.
"Mary? Mary, did I hurt you?" he asked worriedly.
As she pulled her hands away from her face he could see she was smiling.
A split second later she laughed, "Not as bad as I'm gonna hurt you!" Then threw a hand full of snow right in his face.
Quickly she turned to escape, but as usual he was much faster. Grabbing her by the waist, he pulled her back to the ground. He put his leg over her to keep her there.
Wiping the wet snow from his face he scolded, "Now that was not very kind of you at all, Mary. And for your punishment, 'til you say uncle, I'm going to tickle you!"
As his fingers began tormenting her sides, she laughed and squirmmed, unsuccessfully trying to get away.
Finally, not able to withstand anymore, she cried out, "UNCLE! UNCLE!"
Chris stopped tickling her and leaned back trying to catch his breath after laughing so hard with her. Rolling off her, he laid down beside her as they both calmed down a bit. Once her breathing returned to normal, she remembered something else she enjoyed as a child.
Looking at him beside her she asked, "Have you ever made snow angels before?"
"Nope." he replied.
Beginning to move her arms and legs, she showed him how to make a snow angel. When they were both done, Chris stood up and looked at her still lying in the snow.
Now that's definitely an angel lying in the snow, he thought pleasantly to himself.
"Are you just going to stand there, Mr. Larabee? Or are you going to help me up?" she asked.
Bending down to offer her his hand, he teased, "After you assaulted me with those snowballs, I should just leave you lying in that snow!"
"Aw Chris, don't be such a sour grape! Snow's meant to be played in and tossed about!" she defended.
Smiling, Chris noticed Billy's sled by her backdoor and headed over to grab it. Taking her hand and leading her towards the hill behind the buildings, he added, "It's definitely meant to sled down, too!"
At the top of the hill, Mary gasped when she realized Chris intended on going down the other side of it-which was a lot steeper than what they'd just climbed up.
"I don't know, Chris. I won't even allow Billy to go down this side of the hill!" she pleaded.
"Are you going to tell me that you, Mary Travis, who stood up against a wagon full of drunken scum, is afraid of a sled ride down a tiny little hill?!?!?!" he dared her purposefully.
And it got the reaction he planned on. Straightening her back and squaring her shoulders, Mary looked him directly in the eye before sitting down on the toboggan. Satisfied with himself Chris climbed on behind her and wrapped his legs around her.
Taking the rope handle from in front of her, he leaned his face forward next to hers and whispered in her ear, "Hang on sweetheart, you're goin' to have the ride of your life!"
Then in a flash they were headed down the hill, screaming in delight.
Once again at the top of the hill, Mary pleaded, "Let's go again, Chris! Come on. It was so much fun! Please, one more time!" as she held his hand trying to get him on the sled again.
"I thought you were afraid of that hill. Why would you want to do it again?" he asked teasingly.
"No, it was great! You were right..." she tried to explain but he cut in.
"What was that? I was right, did you say?" he joked with her.
"Oh, I see how you are, Chris Larabee! Dare me to do something, then when I do and enjoy it, you tease me by not letting me do it again!" the blonde lady protested.
"I don't think anyone could prevent you from doing something you want to do!" Chris added.
Suddenly, an idea struck her and she proceeded to try it.
She walked over to Chris and put both her hands on his chest, leaned closer to him and asked, "Please, Chris. Please, let's go down the hill once more, pretty please with sugar on top!" she begged.
Knowing the perfect move would make him decide in her favor, she leaned ever closer to his face and stopped only inches from his lips and breathed, "Please?"
Sighing, Chris answered, "Okay" just before he believed their lips were going to touch. But, to his sudden surprise, she quickly pushed away from him and sat back down on the sled.
Oh, that little witch! he rudely thought of her as he realized it was all part of her plan. He muttered under his breath, "Just you wait, missy!" He took his place behind her and once again pushed them off down the hill.
They rode the hill one more time after that ride. After climbing the hill for the third and final time, Mary suggested some hot cocoa for them both.
Inside the newspaper office she started some water for the cocoa. They dried their clothes with some towels while waiting for the water to boil.
"Now I can see why Billy's always begging me to go down that hill. It's so much fun," she admitted.
"I haven't played in the snow like that for years. It was a lot of fun," he said smiling.
She returned the smile and proceeded to tell him about her childhood memories of playing in the snow 'til her hands and feet were numb.
They relaxed in front of the fire, enjoying each other's company while drinking their cocoa.
When Chris was done, he sat his cup down and stood up.
"I'm gonna have to get back out for my watch now," he explained as she also sat her cup down. After she stood up, he started coming closer to her. He rubbed her arms up and down as he told her, "I had a really great time today, Mary. We should do it again sometime."
Then he leaned down as if to kiss her. Thinking he was going to do that, Mary closed her eyes. Very lightly, he touched her lips with his, then whispered, "Thank you" and pulled away from her.
That's it? her brain registered. He's teasing me back, she thought as she watched him grab his hat and exit her place, chuckling.
"Oh, you just wait, Mr. Larabee! There's still months and months of snow ahead of us! Which means lots more snowball battles, too!" she exclaimed aloud.
The End
