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Discover the beginning of the Christmas Cabin series in this Christmas suspense short story.

This Christmas … an attack changes everything.

Wisconsin, 1928—Instead of preparing for Christmas, Sheriff Casper Yarwood must track an outlaw through his forested county. Success is within his grasp. Until the criminal threatens the life of a woman Casper admires.

One cabin in the Northwoods … a decade of Christmas miracles.

Danielle Grandinetti is an award-winning inspirational romance author fueled by tea, books, and the creative beauty of nature. Her stories combine romance, mystery, and suspense against the backdrop of the 1930s to tell the tale of finding home and hope in hard times. With a master’s in communication and culture and a passion for intercultural communication, storytelling has been her heartbeat for as long as she can remember. Married to her hero, Danielle is a second-generation Italian-American, a dairy farmer’s granddaughter, and a boy mom from Chicagoland who now lives along Lake Michigan’s Wisconsin shoreline.

Friday, December 21, 1928
Northwoods, Wisconsin

Sheriff Casper Yarwood peered around the giant oak tree, gaze pinned to the unsuspecting outlaw poking at his campfire in the deepening dusk. Cold air whispered of possible snow. Casper rested his palm against his pistol grip. He’d leave the weapon holstered. For now. He doubted Walter Branzon would go willingly.

Six months ago, Branzon held up the Manitowish Waters General Store. Casper had been there, could have stopped him. Should have stopped him. Except Branzon took the kind old Mrs. Holland hostage and, once he had his take, tossed Mrs. Holland at Casper. He had no choice but to catch her before she crashed into the hot wood stove.

Casper pressed his free hand into the bark of the oak, the biting pressure forcing his mind back to the present. His nose twitched against the chill. Hunting an outlaw wasn’t how he wanted to spend the weekend before Christmas. But when the rumor came into the office this afternoon that Branzon had been spotted up on the northern edge of his county, Casper left immediately to track him down.

The outlaw speared a piece of meat and rotated it over the flames. Casper dropped to a crouch, weighing Branzon’s weapon against his distraction. The man had proven his willingness to kill, even in front of a lawman. The memory of the two men who had tried to stop Branzon as he’d made his getaway forced Casper to rub his temple. With Mrs. Holland in his arms, Casper had been powerless when the pair jumped Branzon, only to receive fatal gut shots for their effort.

Lord, steady my mind. Help me bring Branzon to justice.

Peace relaxed Casper’s shoulders. He blew into his hands. Time to apprehend a murderer.