The patriarch and his two sons returned the day before Christmas, bracing themselves as the family swarmed them. The two boys were sturdy youngsters with their mother's fair hair and bright smile; while their father was a giant with shaggy white hair and a white beard. All three were dressed in long black woolen tunics with red trim on the hems and sleeves and silver pins at the throat and they rode shaggy ponies with thick manes and tails.

Luke followed Mark and Micah out, frowning as they tried to shoo him back inside. "I feel fine!"

Kris eyed him critically, then smiled and beckoned him over. "Mr McCain, these are my two younger sons, Klemma and Simit. And this is my husband Niikke."

"Call me Nick." The man was even taller than Luke and he extended his hand. Luke reached out with his left hand and shook. "How is it we have the pleasure of your company at this joyous time of year, sir?"

"If I'm to call you Nick, you'll have to call me Lucas." The big man smiled. "I've tried to persuade Kris to use my name but she won't do it. Perhaps I'll have better luck with you."

"Ach! Kristiinná is most formal. She still addresses my parents by their surnames." Nick put an arm around his wife and pulled her to him, kissing her cheek.

Luke stood looking at the man surrounded by his happy family and was overcome with melancholy. He had once hoped for something like this but when he lost Margaret, that dream had gone as well. Her death had taken an essential piece of him, like his legs or his sight. A man can live without legs or sight, but such a lack cannot be ignored. It must be endured every moment-sometimes as a vague awareness all was not well, sometimes brutally dominating the mind when a task that once could be performed easily required adjustments to compensate for what was missing. Mark seemed to sense what he was feeling and came to his side, taking his good hand and squeezing it. His father smiled down at him and for the first time since his wife's death, the thankfulness at what he had triumphed over the sorrow at what he had lost.

Kris was whispering in her husband's ear and his eyes turned liquid with sadness, but his smile was broader than ever. "I am told you are to share Christmas with us, Lucas! That is good. This is your boy?"

"Yes, this is my son, Mark, and our friend, Micah Torrance."

Micah came forward to shake hands. "Did you find all your reindeer?"

"Indeed we did." Nick smacked his hands together. "I have an idea!"

"No!" scolded his wife. "No ideas until after breakfast!"

Nick was abashed and Luke chuckled, remembering with affection how Margaret used to shake her tiny finger at him. "You'd better do as she says, Nick. You know how women are."

The Sami giant met Luke's eyes and there was understanding between them. Nick grinned. "I certainly do, my friend, but after food, you are in for a real treat!"

It was almost two hours before they all went trooping out, Nick leading a string of reindeer. Kris insisted on Luke bundling up in an extra blanket, but although the air was chilly, the sun was bright and he threw it over his shoulder until they reached a big clearing, where he consented to wrap it around himself again. Mark went with Nick as he and his sons led the reindeer to the far trees.

"Now can you tell me what the surprise is?" Luke asked Kris.

"You will see." She shaded her eyes. "You will see now very soon."

They waited expectantly and then the reindeer came flying out of the trees, each one harnessed to a skier, the sound of silver sleigh bells ringing in the air. Mark was last, but he was so light that his reindeer quickly passed the bigger Sami. Everyone cheered as Mark swept into the lead, then Luke said to Kris, "I didn't know you could race reindeer!"

"That was only the first race!" Kris threw up her hands. "Come, girls!" They ran into the trees and after a moment, Nick led his group over to Luke and Micah.

Mark ran to his father. "Did you see me, Pa! I won!"

Luke scooped him up with his good arm. "I wouldn't have missed it!" He turned to Nick. "Thank you for this."

The Sami waved a hand. "It is our tradition. First the men race, then the women. The third race is the most important. The man who won races the woman who won. Whoever wins that race gets an extra gift tonight!"

He had barely finished speaking when the ladies of the family sped across the clearing, Maren and Karen pulling into the lead before they were halfway across. Nick and his sons jumped up and down, shouting, as the little girls brought the race home.

The youngest boy, Simit, clapped Mark on the shoulder. "Come! The twins have tied so you must race them both!"

The boy threw his arms around his father's neck and hugged him tightly. "Wish me luck, Pa!"

He wriggled down and ran off with Simit and Luke called, "Good luck, son!"

Kris and the girls hurried to Nick and the boys and for a moment there were hugs and kisses and thumps on the back, then they all watched expectantly as the third race began. Mark and the twins were evenly matched in size and they were tied across most of the clearing before the greater experience of Maren and Karen gave them a decisive advantage. First one girl, then the other pulled ahead, and the race ended with Mark coming in third.

They came running up to their respective parents, wild with excitement, and no one could have told by observation who had won, who had lost the race. Nick went to collect the reindeer, and they started back singing Christmas carols all the way.