Samantha McLean hurriedly shed her green velvet dress and reached for her jeans and a warm sweater. Even though the Whitebrook Christmas Eve celebration was still in full swing in the big house, she longed to be out with her favorite horses. Wonder�s Pride, Shining, Fleet Goddess, Precocious. It just wouldn�t be Christmas yet without her yearly ride.
It was a tradition that had been started the Christmas after she�d met Tor Nelson. Tor used to go on Christmas Eve rides with his mother, and now he had given that privilege to Samantha. It was an evening that Sammy always cherished and looked forward to year round.
Sammy slipped into her riding boots, then went down the stairs and into the kitchen that formed the heart of their little cottage. Her coat was still draped over the back of a chair where she�d left it, and she picked it up as she passed by. Then she grabbed a warm hat that she could pull over her ears, and her gloves. She walked quickly down to the barn to get Pride and Goddess ready for the ride.
To her surprise, Tor was waiting for her and already had Goddess tacked up. Sammy smiled as Tor greeted her with a lingering kiss. �Merry Christmas, Samantha,� he whispered.
�Merry Christmas,� she returned just as softly. There was something magical about this night, in the feel of the air, and the way Goddess was prancing. �Let me get Pride tacked up and we�ll go.�
Tor nodded and watched as Sammy readied Pride for their ride. He was struck once again at how incredibly lucky he was to have her. He just hoped she felt the same way about him. Tor had plans for this night, plans that would affect his future.
Minutes later Pride was ready. The young couple led the horses out into the stable yard, then quickly mounted. They set off down their usual trail at a walk, letting the horses get used to the chill air. The temperature was slowly dropping, and they knew they couldn�t stay out too long.
Pride stepped up into the lead, as always. Even though he had been retired for three years now, he still thought he was a racehorse. Sammy rubbed Pride�s neck and then urged him into a canter. Goddess and Tor followed.
They rode silently for almost two miles, before Tor suddenly pulled Goddess to a halt in a clearing. �Sammy, look!� He pointed up at the sky.
Sammy looked and gasped in awe. �What it is?� There appeared to be a line going through the full moon and stretching into the sky on either end of it. It was shimmering.
�It�s a moon pillar.� Tor looked over at her and smiled. �My dad always says that a moon pillar means love is in the air.�
Sammy giggled. �That sounds just like something your dad would say.� Pride snorted just then as if he was agreeing, then pranced sideways. �Alright, Pride. You want to keep moving don�t you?� Pride bobbed his head and Sammy obliged him.
The two rode side by side across the clearing, then stopped to let the horses breathe for a few moments. It had been snowing all day, and the snow was over a foot deep in some places they had been through.
Sammy felt Tor�s eyes on her, and she looked up into his deep blue eyes. �I love you, Samantha McLean,� he whispered. He then leaned forward and gently kissed her.
When they broke apart, Sammy couldn�t resist asking, �What was that for?�
Tor smiled and pointed upwards. They were standing under a tree full of mistletoe! �I get to give you one kiss for every bunch of mistletoe that you can count.�
Sammy laughed and punched him lightly on the arm. �You just want a good excuse to stay out here!� Tor grinned.
�I think I have one. You�re the first girl I�ve ever truly cared about, and that feeling is something that I don�t think I�ll ever lose. In fact, the more time I spend with you, the stronger it gets. I was thinking it would be nice to have you around for always.�
Sammy�s eyes went wide as Tor removed his gloves and reached into his pocket. He pulled out a little box and Sammy gasped.
�I couldn�t decide what to get you for Christmas, so I decided I would give you me.� Tor dropped to one knee and gently grasped Sammy�s left hand in his. �Samantha McLean, would you consent to marry me?�
Sammy felt her eyes fill with tears as Tor opened the little box to reveal a beautiful princess cut diamond, surrounded with tiny emeralds that just matched her eyes. �Yes, Tor, I will marry you,� she whispered.
Tor�s smile widened as he stood up. He removed the ring and put the box back into his pocket as Samantha pulled her own glove off. Tor cradled her hand and slipped the ring onto her ring finger. It was a perfect fit!
Sammy stared at the ring, then looked back up at Tor. �I think this is the best Christmas present I�ve ever received.�
�Then I guess it�ll be pretty hard for me to top this next year, huh?� Tor�s smile softened and Sammy noticed the way the moonlight was shining on his hair, making it seem to softly glow.
Sammy didn�t say anything. She just looked up and saw that they were standing under the largest bunch of mistletoe that she had ever seen. She then reached up and tilted Tor�s head down.
Their lips met just as a light dusting of snow began to fall. Goddess and Pride pranced and nodded their heads in approval as they watched the couple kissing under the mistletoe. Both of Samantha�s special horses agreed that this was the perfect Christmas Eve for their beloved Samantha.