Izabelle

I turned around and my heart skipped a beat.

Hunter stood with one shoulder casually propped against the doorframe, his gaze sliding down me with appreciation. "Beautiful."

My belly flipped. "Is it still a surprise where we're going?"

One corner of his mouth lifted. "Top secret."

"Alright," I said, dying to know where he was taking me. "Can you at least tell me if I'm dressed appropriately?"

He nodded. Since he was wearing jeans and boots too, I figured I was safe.

We drove to a little German restaurant and ate dinner before driving into the country. Gradually, the quiet starry sky was illuminated with the words Jesus loves you.

Thousands of twinkling lights filled the sky. It was Christmas Wonderland.

"You like Christmas lights, so I thought I'd bring you to the place where they've got more of them than anywhere else."

I practically bounced in the seat. "I've always wanted to come here."

He seemed pleased, and relaxed as if he'd been worried that I wouldn't like it. "We can drive through or get out and take a hayride. There's also a bonfire, music, and shops inside if you want to take a look."

"Can we do the hayride?" I clapped my hands together in anticipation.

He chuckled. "I thought you'd like that."

It was everything I'd ever wanted to do around the holiday. Inside the little town with lined with a wooden walkway that circled small shops that sold homemade crafts and items including hot cocoa and kettle corn.

The town smelled like a Christmas tree. A huge bonfire roared from the center of the town and people crowded around it as they listened to a live band playing on a nearby stage.

I stared in awe at the marvelous sight of it all. Everywhere I looked there were lights, sparkly decorations, and people who were clearly overjoyed to be a part of it all.

Holding my hand, Hunter led me toward the hayride where we sat next to a happy, older couple holding hands and looking into each other's eyes. They looked so in love.

"Are you warm enough?" Hunter asked, looking ready to take off his coat and hand it to me.

"Yes, if I get cold, I'll just scoot closer. You're very hot."

Beside me, the older woman laughed, and I realized how she could have misinterpreted what I'd said. I glanced up at Hunter and saw his amusement.

"Don't fret, honey. Your man is very dashing. How long have you been married?"

"What? Oh, no, we're not married."

"Hmm." The woman glanced at her husband. "Now Laura, these two lovebirds don't need you interfering."

The woman's mouth formed her perfect O. "I wasn't going to interfere, Tom. Look how lovely and in love they look. Perhaps lend a word or two of encouragement."

"We're engaged," Hunter told the couple, offering his hand first to Tom before turning his warm gaze to Laura. "I'm Hunter and this is Izabelle. If you have any advice, we'd sure appreciate it."

Laura smiled, clearly delighted, and I was glad that he'd made her happy. "You have to tell her you love her like you mean it."

Tom smiled like he was used to indulging his beloved wife.

"He does," I said, smiling.

"And not just when you're making love," she added seriously.

I blushed. "We're waiting until we get married."

"Good for you. The Lord will surely bless the two of you." Laura smiled at Hunter. "I know it seems old-fashioned to you young folk, but women like a man that will make a fool of himself over her."

He nodded. "Yes, ma'am."

Tom started coughing and Laura looked over at him and her eyes widened. She turned back to Hunter quickly. "Now I don't mean for you to shout your love so loudly that you're getting the police called on you. That's not what I mean when I say make a fool of yourself."

I listened to Laura with interest, and I saw that Hunter was as well.

"I only did that once," Tom informed us stoically. "She hasn't let me forget it."

"I've forgiven him," Lauren said squeezing her husband's hand.

I was struggling not to smile and I could see Hunter was having the same problem. "What else do I need to know?"

Laura turned her approving eyes on me. "Oh, he's a keeper, honey. Men can never get too much advice from a woman, but getting one to accept it isn't easy."

"Now this is the most important of all." Laura beamed, her wise eyes lifting from mine to Hunter's. "You must always put the Lord first in everything you do. Ask for His guidance and wisdom, beg forgiveness of sins, and never doubt his love."

Hunter took my hand in his. "We will."

She glanced over at Tom. "Aren't they the sweetest couple?"

"Yes, dear."

Hunter's thumb rubbed over my knuckles and I shivered. He pointed out various Christmas exhibits and they were all amazing. My eyes drank in all the glittering lights, but it was difficult to give them my full attention when I was sitting so close to Hunter and my heart was picking up speed with every brush of his leg against mine.

When the ride stopped in front of a dazzling giant tree beside a manger scene.

"You want to look around?"

"Sure," I told him, noticing that most everyone was getting off the hayride and looking at lights or heading over to the refreshments.

"The hot chocolate is the best here," Tom told us. "Pay no mind to the rumored stories gossiped around. There's no such thing as ghosts."

Hunter looked like he might ask about the ghost stories but seemed to think better of it. "We remember the chocolate and ignore the gossip. We do that anyway," he said with a smile.

Laura had a dreamy look in her eyes and she leaned over and whispered. "The night Tom proposed he gave me this."

She showed me a little hammered silver ichyths attached to a string of brown leather. "He made it himself."

"It's beautiful." I'd never seen a more fascinating, unique piece of jewelry. "There's something about it that draws the eye."

She smiled and gave a slow nod. "It was the early symbol of Christians long ago."

I thought of Sam and my heart squeezed. "A reminder to be fishers of men."

"Yes," Laura said, pleased. "I'm giving it to you."

"Oh, no, I can't take something this precious."

"Tom makes jewelry. He can always make me another one. It's important you take this." Her gaze flicked to mine. "It was meant for you, Izabelle."

I didn't know what to say. At all. I didn't want to hurt her feelings. "Thank you."

Laura fastened the fish around my neck. "Never take it off. It will keep you safe."

A shiver passed through me. "Thank you again. It's very sweet."

"God has plans for you and Hunter," Laura said with a knowing smile.

Tom leaned over and kissed her. "Let's leave these kids alone. Peace to you Hunter and Izabelle."Hunter and I said goodbye and we watched them, marveling at how incredible it would be to still feel that in love after all of those years.

We stood facing each other our breathing was labored and puffs of white air filled the distance between us. We were lost in the moment until the driver of the hayride call out to us.

"Last call unless you two want to hike back," he said good-naturedly.

Hunter's hands encircled my waist and he was about to lift me onto the hayride when he glanced back. "I don't see Tom and Laura."

I scanned the crowd and saw that he was right. They weren't on the hayride.

"Hey, we're missing an older couple," Hunter told the driver.

"I don't think so," the driver said, shaking his head. "We've got all twenty-five people, now that ya'll are here."

"No, they rode beside us on the way here," Hunter insisted. "Tom and Laura. I don't know their last names."

At that piece of news, the driver roared with laughter. "Tom and Laura Winfield? Ha, ha, yeah that's a good one, buddy. Now get on so we can take off."

"What are you talking about?" I asked, knowing we were missing something but clueless as to what it was.

The driver pointed toward the wishing tree and I saw the big glowing sign that I hadn't noticed before. It read, IN MEMORY OF TOM AND LAURA WINFIELD BELOVED MOTHER AND FATHER.

"Hunter." I reached for him.

"I see it."

"But they were just here."

"Wouldn't be the first time someone has reported seeing 'em. They always make people happy. We try to keep it close to the vest since we wouldn't want it gettin' out that the old place is haunted. Bad for business."

Hunter and I just looked at each other.

The driver frowned. "You two aren't loose-lipped, are ya'll?" he drawled with a thick accent.

"We won't say anything," Hunter assured him. Leaning down he said to me, "They'd think we were crazy."

The ride back to Christmas Wonderland was interesting. Hunter and I marveled at what had happened with Tom and Laura.

"Ghosts are unbiblical." I glanced at him.

"For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go."

"Angels," I whispered, climbing into Hunter's SUV. A chill swept through me as we started for home.

"Are you scared?"

"Not of ghosts."

Maybe it was because Hunter kept glancing in the rearview mirror, exited before we should have, and then stepped on the gas.

Checking the passenger mirror, I saw a dark car speed up as well and pulled right behind us.

"Make sure your seat belt is fastened," Hunter said calmly.

"It is." I was scared and couldn't believe how relaxed he was.

"Tell me what you want for our wedding."

I knew that he was trying to get my mind off of the car behind us so I played along. "You. Lucy and Kyle. Our friends."

"I thought all women wanted their wedding to be a big deal with a fancy dress, flowers, and catered menu."

"Seems like a waste of money. I don't mind something small—unless you've changed your mind and want a big wedding."

"I don't think there's a man alive that would say he wanted that, but I'd do it in a heartbeat if it made you happy."

He floored the SUV and the engine growled. "What kind of dress do you want?"

My breath shook. "Simple but pretty."

"Hold on, Izzy!"

A second later I heard a loud crash and everything went dark.