Over the years, Ben and Ellie never had a problem communicating. So when Ben seems distant, Ellie's confused. Her instinct tells her it has something to do with the contents of an old cardboard box his father insisted Ben take before he passed away. With the children grown, Ben's evasiveness adds to Ellie wishing the holidays were over.

But it's Christmas -- the season of hope and love rekindled -- especially when going back to a wondrous place on a winter's night in the old sleigh decorated in pine boughs and silver bells -- the very sleigh that carried a little boy and that cardboard box on a Christmas Eve journey so long ago.

About the Author

Barbara Briggs Ward is a writer who lives in Ogdensburg, New York. She is the author of the award-winning Christmas story, The Reindeer Keeper, represented by Bergman Entertainment, Los Angeles, for option of film rights and chosen by Yahoo's Christmas Book Club Group as their December, 2012 Book of the Month. Her short stories and articles have appeared in the Chicken Soup for the Soul book, Christmas Magic, the Chicken Soup for the Soul book, Family Caregivers, Ladies' Home Journal, The Crafts Report, Highlights for Children, and is a regular contributor to boomer-living.com. Her projects include creator of the Snarly Sally book series. She has been a featured author on Mountain Lake PBS in Plattsburgh, New York and at Target book festivals in Boston and New York City. Barbara invites you to visit www.barbarabriggsward.com.

Suzanne Langelier-Lebeda is an award-winning graphic designer/illustrator. She earned national awards for art and publication design as a coordinator of publications at the State University of Potsdam. Her projects have included illustrations for the National Park Service Cumberland Island National Seashore Visitors Center, Georgia; Renee Fleming Benefit Concert Materials, New York City; Adirondack Life and Country Living Gardener magazines; St. Lawrence University; Clarkson University; and graphic design for the permanent exhibit on History and Traditions at SUNY Potsdam. She is a member of the Adirondack Artists' Guild in Saranac Lake, New York. In her fine artwork she primarily concentrates on contemplative nature studies that explore intimations in nature by integrating watercolor, drawing, writing, and digital photography. Suzanne invites you to visit www.suzannelebeda.com.