🌲🎁Gift of a Mystery📖❄✨
by Ann 🎶
🌲🎁🍩Chapter 2📖❄✨
“It’s snowing!” Joe’s excited and awed whisper held no less enthusiasm than if he had shouted it loud enough for all of Bayport to hear. All of Bayport, or at least the rest of the Hardy household, appreciated him using a lower volume right then.
Joe could feel the coolness near the glass window he and his brother were peering through at one in the morning. “Mom and Dad wouldn’t let us go out now, huh?”
“Especially since we’d have to wake them up to ask them.” Frank’s dark eyes watched the steady flow of sparkling snowflakes swirling around in the light wind. He wanted to go out there just as much as Joe, but he didn’t think it very likely to get permission to go outside at this hour. Besides the time, their detective dad had just gotten back earlier from being away for two days on a case.
“Are you volunteering?” asked Joe.
“What do you think?”
“Yeah, I didn’t think so.”
“Good thinking.”
“Hey, look! A deer!” exclaimed Joe, still talking quietly not to disturb his parents, and also not to startle the deer that had made an appearance in the front yard. And another, this one little. They were getting a late night snack before the snow blanketed the yard and surrounding area.
Frank nodded while he watched the graceful movement of the animals. With the snow coming down, gathering on the trees, bushes, grass and road, and the clouds in the dark night sky as the deer ate of the available greenery, created a living winter scene.
The two brothers watched for a while, enjoying the sight, and also trying to figure out a way they would be allowed to go outside. When they heard quiet footsteps behind them, they knew it was too late to jump back in bed without notice.
“Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad.” Frank greeted them before turning around as their parents stepped up.
“It’s snowing!!!!” Joe didn’t have to be quiet anymore to keep from waking anyone up.
“And two deer came and are eating right now.” Frank gestured toward the direction where they were.
Fenton and Laura joined their two young sons at the window and looked out at the picturesque view.
“Wonderful. There and in here.” Laura leaned against her husband’s arm that was lovingly around her. She smiled at him then down at Frank’s and Joe’s happy faces.
Joe looked over at Frank silently asking if maybe their parents would let them play outside now. Frank’s silent answer held a not sure expression. Joe returned that with a look that said they seemed to be in a good mood!
The deer had continued their walk through the Hardys’ front yard. By the time the quiet, beautiful animals were almost out of sight, Joe and Frank silently agreed to ask their mom and dad if they could go outside for just a little bit. Even just five minutes!
As his sons were deciding that, Fenton’s thoughts were on how much he loved these three. He always missed them whenever he had to be away on a case. They were his dedicated prayer warriors as he battled thieves, murderers, arsonists, corruption, morally bankrupt, insidious individuals and groups with evil, destructive plans. His wife and sons being three of the main reasons he worked very hard to make the world a better place, ethically and morally.
Leaning down some, Fenton very quietly asked Laura what she thought about letting the boys play out in the snow for just a little bit as a special treat. He’d already found out when he’d gotten back, from Laura and their sons, that Frank and Joe had helped their mom as they should while he’d been on the case.
Once Laura had also given quiet consent, Fenton casually said, “I sure would like to go out there for a little while.”
“So would I.” Laura looked from Fenton to their two sons and back again. “Do you think we could talk these two into coming along with us?” She sounded hopeful, but not sure, as if it would take a lot of talking into. “It’s late and cold.”
Fenton nodded, super seriously, pretending not to notice the two wide-eyed boys looking up at them. He started to ask, “Would you two like–“
“Yes!!” Joe answered with excitement. “Let’s go!”
Fenton chuckled. “Let’s all change into warm clothes more appropriate for the wintery outdoors, okay?”
Joe would have liked to be able to just run right out there, but he did realize the wisdom in what his dad had said. He knew it wouldnt take him long to get ready. The faster he got outside, hopefully the longer they could play.
“Complete with jackets, gloves, knit caps, and boots,” Laura clarified with a smile. Didn’t hurt to be specific. Of course, one of her three boys had to say something.
“Awwwww. Really?”
Laura smiled at Fenton and answered his question. “Yes, really.”
So a fast-paced big flurry of activity started up in the Hardy home.
In a fairly short time, all four members were ready and meeting in the kitchen before heading outside. The snow coming down had already erased the hoofprints of the deer. An occasional light wind would toss around the snowflakes in an exuberant celebration. It was an awe-inspiring sight with a feeling of a protective calm accompanying the soft quiet sound of the snow.
“This is awesome!” Joe was grinning big as was his brother.
Frank scooped up a handfull of snow and tested its packing ability. He’d observed that the snowflakes swirling around and gathering on the trees and grass in their yard appeared to be mostly light and fluffy, with enough moisture for packing. Frank tossed the snowball from one hand to the other. His assessment had been accurate.
“Guess what, Joe?” Frank called to his brother several feet away. He noted that Joe was intent on something, but was facing the other direction so he couldn’t see what it was, but he had a pretty good idea.
“What, Frank?” Joe then pivoted around and threw the snowball he’d just been working on while simultaneously diving to the side in an attempt to miss the anticipated throw from Frank.
The elder Hardy brother also had anticipated Joe’s move and had his strategy ready to go. He gave a throw that had factored in not where Joe was when he turned around, but where he was likely to be after that. Considering speed and timing, Frank adjusted accordingly as the direction was confirmed by Joe’s course of action.
As Frank was pitching the snowball, he dove in the opposite direction to avoid Joe’s incoming snowball, which sailed past him. The one he threw, though, did find its target. Splot!
He grinned and stood back up from where he’d landed. The next splot! that was heard came courtesy of a smiling Joe Hardy as his second snowball found its target.
“Remember, you told me backup’s important.”
“We were talking about detective work. But, nice one.” Frank eyed Joe watchfully, wondering if his brother had had a chance to make three snowballs in total.
“Thank you.” Joe lifted his hands to show he’d used up his wintery arsenal.
They all played in the snow for a short while, until Fenton said it was time to go inside. Joe wanted to ask for longer, but he knew that would be ungrateful, so he kept from doing so. He was really glad they’d gotten to be outside in the middle of the night. As he started for the house, he caught his dad’s eye and they both grinned.
While the Hardy family got ready for bed a second time that night, Joe noted the sudden appearance of a gift bow sitting on one of the bookshelves near his desk.
Going to the bookcase, he looked at the shiny blue bow. It was the kind that came in a plastic bag with several in it. Picking the bow up, Joe saw that the strip of paper covering the sticky part to attach it to a present was still there. He was sure that was Clue #2 from his brother.
Joe wanted to think on it some more, but he needed to give Frank his second clue.
“Frank,” he called then when his brother looked over, Joe held up his hand and in sign language, did the letter ‘a’. “Clue number 2.”
Frank waited for more, but that was the entire clue “Fist bump? You’re going to punch me?” He was fairly sure those weren’t the right decodes, but he had to kid his younger brother. “Is there a coin in your fist? Part of an illusion? Are you signing ‘A’ in sign language?” Joe wasn’t letting on if he’d guessed correctly one way or another. Frank was impressed with his little brother. This was an intriguing puzzle Joe had constructed.
“Goodnight, boys,” called their father from down the hall. That was the ‘lights out, go to sleep’ signal.
With all of the excitement of the snow and the mysteries, it was difficult to wind down. Frank and Joe knew the best way to show their appreciation to their mom and dad would be to go to sleep. Later they could wake up when it was light out and do more detecting and playing in the snow. There was a very good possibility that school would be closed, depending on the amount of snow that settled down for a visit.
That was getting guaranteed with each snowflake accumulating on trees and the ground out there as the Hardy family were getting some good sleep. One of Fenton’s gifts to his wife and sons were brand new comfy pillows and sheets. He’d stopped at a specialty store on his recent case to get the Made in the USA gifts. Quality meant not shopping at big box stores.
Another surprise for the Hardy family was on the way and would soon be arriving….literally.
🎁A CLUE TO CHAPTER THREE —->THIS WAY🎁
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Hardy and Drew Mysteries 