Kris Kringle
Chapter Two: Keeping A Promise

With the princess’ note tucked in the pocket of his vest, Kris quickly made his way out of the marketplace and toward the ranch of Rudy Chesterson, located right outside Calico Village, where most of the residents of Silverbell resided. He would be late for his chores at the farm at which he worked, but it would have to wait, for what could be more important than fulfilling a promise to the royal family? When Kris arrived at the ranch, he found the workers attending to the horses in the open field, located in the center of the property and surrounded by a tall fence. Kris ran up to the fence and called upon one of the workers whom he recognized. “Hey Sam, is your boss around?”

Sam turned around from grooming one of the horses and shook his head. “Fraid not, old boy,” he replied, “Mr. Chesterson is conducting some business to the east today. Should be back by nightfall though.”

Kris sighed and slumped his shoulders in disappointment.

“Something I can do for you?” Sam asked, witnessing Kris’ disappointment in his initial reply.

Kris looked up at the sky, deep in thought, and then fixed his eyes back on Sam. “Tell him I will call on him tonight,” he said finally.

“Will do,” Sam confirmed, and he returned to his work.

Kris made his way out of the ranch, though not with the same speed and excitement with which he had entered. He had to admit to himself—he was extremely curious about what was written on the note that now rested inside his pocket. And had the princess said something about “the shepherds”? Could she be referring to the Dowry family that cared for the kingdom’s only flock of sheep? He tried not to think anymore about it, for fear that his curiosity would become overwhelming and he would be tempted to break the promise he had made to the princess.

As Kris made his way to the ranch where his presence was overdue, he heard a familiar voice call out to him. Crossing the small bridge over the stream that ran alongside the Chesterson Ranch was Kris’ closest friend, Jack. He was the kingdom’s iceman, and was in fact at that moment pulling along a mule-drawn wagon filled with ice to be delivered to the castle. He wore somewhat tattered clothing, but never seemed to mind that his appearance made him look poorer than he actually was. He was a skinny man with stubble on his face and a head of dark black hair, which was partially covered by the short top hat he always wore.

Kris smiled as he saw Jack approach. “What are you doing out here?” Jack teased as he approached Kris with his wagon, “Doesn’t old man Elpert have you locked up to a ball and chain during the day?”

Kris shrugged playfully. “Well it sure beats luggin’ around a frozen rock…”

Jack looked back at his wagon inquisitively. “Is my mum in there?”

Kris chuckled. “Where you headed, my friend?”

“Castle,” Jack answered, “Special delivery for the king. Well, ice is ice so I don’t know how special it is…”

Kris thought for a moment. “Do you ever see or talk to any of the royal family when you make these deliveries?”

Jack shook his head. “Nah. I drop off everything by a back door. Never any interaction with anyone besides a servant and a few guards. Why?”

“Oh no reason,” Kris quickly replied, “Just curious.”

Jack looked over at the castle in the distance. “Maybe today, though, Princess Eva will greet me personally. You never know.”

A large, goofy smile immediately appeared on Kris’ face at the mention of the princess’s name. Jack looked at him suspiciously.

“She might greet me,” Jack repeated slowly with emphasis, “Not you, Smiley Boy.”

Kris’ smile refused to leave his face, though he admittedly was making no effort to remove or hide it. “Well,” Kris replied, “Like you said—you never know.”

While the smile did not leave Kris’ face, the suspicious look also did not leave Jack’s. “I gotta going before all your hot air melts the king’s special ice,” Jack quipped, “But I want an explanation for all”--he waved his hand in front of Kris’ face—“this.” Jack threw the rope over his shoulder that was pulling the mule along. “Catch up at the tavern this evening?”

Kris shook his head. “I, uh, can’t tonight.”

Jack let the rope fall to his side again. He looked questioningly at his best friend. “Why not?”

Kris stood there for a silent moment, trying to think of a substitute for the real answer. “It’s like you said,” Kris finally responded, “Mr. Elpert has that ball and chain on me. I’m going to need to make up all the work I’m missing right now.”

“At night?” Jack questioned with a raise of the eyebrows.

“Mmmm,” Kris hummed affirmatively, unable to bring himself to say anything beyond that to confirm his absolute lie.

Jack picked up the rope again. “Alright Kris Kringle,” he said in a somewhat irritated tone, “You enjoy filling those buckets with milk tonight. I’ll be filling buckets of a different kind at the tavern if you finish your chores and wish to join.”

Jack called out to his mule and began making his way toward the castle, the ice wagon clunking along behind him. Kris sighed. He wished he could tell his friend the true story, but even Kris did not know yet what that whole story was. He would hopefully replace out tonight.

It was nighttime. The kingdom was quiet, and Calico Village beamed warmly with the light of fire from within each of its small homes. Kris’ cottage was smaller than most. It was located toward the edge of the village and at the base of a large hill that overlooked all the homes. Silverbell’s cemetery was just a short walk from his home, and Kris would often spend quiet moments there in his free time, just thinking.

Mr. Elpert—despite the way Kris and Jack had joked about him—was a kind old rancher. He knew Kris to be an exceptionally hard-working young man, and therefore did not punish or pester him when he arrived late in the afternoon to finish his day’s work. Kris had never before been late for his duties. Today was different of course. Today had been very different.

Kris left his home after eating his humble dinner of ham and pea stew. He ate a little less of it than he usually did. He was excited and a little nervous to be seeing Rudy Chesterson tonight. “Will he believe my story?” Kris thought to himself as he walked down the dirt path that led him out of the village. The moon was mostly full that night so that Kris could see clearly where he was going. But then again, he knew the layout of the kingdom so well, he could have made it to the Chesterson Ranch without a full moon or lantern. It was fall, so the weather at night had a chill to it, enough for Kris to wear a light coat. The crunch of the dirt under his boots and the chirping of crickets were the only sounds to be heard.

Kris arrived at the ranch and stood for a moment outside the Chesterson’s home, located near its entrance. He took a deep breath and gave a moderate knock on the wooden door. He could hear the soft creaking of the wooden floor boards as someone inside began walking toward the door. It was opened a few seconds later by a particularly large man, with a graying mustache and a round, cherry-colored-nose.

“Good evening, Mr. Chesterson,” Kris said warmly.

“Rudy,” the man corrected him, gesturing to Kris for him to step inside.

Kris nodded his appreciation and entered the home. It was well-lit and warm. The dining table stood before Kris in the entryway, with a fireplace to the left and a staircase leading upstairs to the right.

“I’m just finishing up my dinner,” Rudy explained, as he made his way back to the table, “You’ll have to excuse my wife who is preparing to retire for the evening. Can I get you anything?”

“No, thank you,” Kris said as he sat down across the table from Rudy.

Rudy returned to eating the steak that lay half-eaten on his plate. “Sam told me you wanted to meet with me tonight, but didn’t say why,” Rudy began, covering his mouth with a napkin as he chewed. “It’s Kris, right?”

“Yes, sir,” replied the guest, “I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me. I won’t steal much of your evening tonight. I just have something….urgent I must share with you.” Kris reached into his vest pocket and removed the note that had been secured there all afternoon.

“If I said this note was given to me for you by Princess Eva, would you believe me?”

Rudy was about to take another bite of steak, when he paused to look up at Kris and then at the note in his hand. For what seemed like a minute, Rudy said nothing as he stared at his guest.

“The princess, you say?” came the eventual reply.

Kris nodded. “This afternoon. She seemed to mistake me for someone else, but insisted I bring this note to you right away. Said it was very important that only you saw it.”

Rudy slowly reached out his hand as Kris placed the note in it. “And… am I the only one to have seen it?” Rudy questioned.

Kris smiled. “I promised Her Majesty I would deliver it to you without looking at it.”

Rudy sat back in his chair. “Am I the only one to have seen it?” he repeated.

“I am a man of my word, Mr. Chesterson,” Kris stated simply in a slightly defensive tone.

The rancher nodded his head satisfactorily. He opened the note and read its contents to himself. Again, Kris sat there in what seemed a long stretch of silence.

“Did she give you any other information or direction?” Rudy asked, looking up from the note.

Kris rubbed one of his fingers as he thought. “She was purposely reserved in what she told me,” Kris answered, “All I know is that she wanted me to get you that note.”

Rudy looked again at the message in his hand, and then carefully placed it in the pocket of his pants. “Well, Kris, I am grateful you did just that.” He stood up from the table, and Kris followed suit. “You sure I can’t get you anything for the road?”

Kris shook his head. “I’m good, thank you.” Rudy opened the door and extended his hand for a shake. Kris grabbed it in a firm grasp and then stepped out into the autumn night.

“One more thing,” Kris remembered as he turned around, “The princess mentioned something about ‘the shepherds’ needing to decipher whatever it is that’s included in that note. Does that mean anything to you?”

Rudy looked up at the stars in the night sky. “Kris, I’m afraid I can’t tell you whether that means anything or not,” he admitted. Kris nodded, and turned around to make his exit from the ranch.

“I mean, I can’t tell you that tonight,” Rudy added, as Kris paused in his exit. This time Kris did not turn around, but merely looked back halfway to show Rudy he was listening.

“But if you were to show up at the Green Pasture tomorrow night, you would get your answer.” And with that, Rudy closed the door.