by Stella Clark
But thinking of her only made his heart hurt.
Zack dropped his head in his hands as the sermon continued. He searched his heart for the truth, seeking to better understand what he was doing and what he needed to do. Though he hadn’t promised Della marriage, for there hadn’t been a proposal, he hadn’t planned for not marrying her.
Was that an option? He wasn’t certain. It only prompted guilt and discomfort as he thought about telling her to leave.
After the closing prayer, Zack was one of the first people to stand up. “Let’s go,” he told Ross. “We’ll see your Aunt Leah and the others tonight. I want to check in on the ranch. We should leave now.”
Ross nodded, picking up his hat and making their way into the aisle. Everyone joined there as well, so it was difficult to make their way through the crowd. He grabbed hold of his son’s hand and nodded to the people he recognized.
“Annabeth,” someone said next to him, “It’s so good to see you again.” Everyone talked and chattered away as he walked.
“I can hardly believe the weather these days. It’s been so cold.”
“That was such a lovely sermon, wasn’t it?”
“We’re looking for our daughter, you see. She disappeared.”
One voice stood out, though he didn’t know why. He didn’t recognize the voice. But then he realized he had recognized the accent. It was similar to Della’s New York accent. When they neared the back of the church, he paused to look around.
Leah had her family gathered in the front of the church, talking to Nancy Heim, the pianist. Robert was the only one not in their group, for he was talking to the Calhoun family who ran the haberdashery. There were other familiar faces in the crowd as well.
His gaze fell upon someone who looked like Della. Zack blinked. But it wasn’t Della. It was an older woman who had the same hair, all pinned up. The woman was refined and looked out of place in Montana. He assumed she was the one with the similar accent and wondered if Della knew them.
“Papa?”
Ross’s voice pulled him from the daze. Zack shook his head and then turned to his son. “Right. Let’s go home.” He cleared his throat as they made their way home. Ross had toys to play with as Zack went out to check on his men and his cattle. They had things under control, of course, but it was good to spend some time with everyone.
And as usual, he grabbed Ross and they made their way over to the Ganey ranch for Sunday supper. They had missed it the week before with Ross’s ailment, but hopefully now, life could go back to normal. As they stepped inside his sister’s house, he could smell the roast cooking.
Ross ran down the hall, and Zack followed after him.
“Come in,” Leah called to them. “You’re nearly late. We’re about to say grace.”
Zack obeyed and found everyone seated. He took the seat beside his son and across from Della. After a short nod to her, he gave another nod to his sister who quieted everyone to say grace. Everyone then dug in cheerfully, talking and enjoying their food.
“Victoria cake!” Ross announced excitedly when dessert came around. “That’s my favorite!”
Henry laughed beside him. “And mine!”
“And Papa’s,” Ross added as he passed the platter to Zack. He grinned at his boy and nodded. If he hadn’t had his fork readily available, Zack was certain Ross would have dug in with his hands. “Mmm! They’re just like Mama’s. She makes them just like this. Well, she used to,” he added softly.
When he glanced over, Zack tried to give his son a smile. He patted him on his shoulder but couldn’t muster up the words. Ross was right. Everyone in town knew about the way Ella could make the perfect Victoria cake. People asked her to make it all the time. And he could never get enough of it.
“That’s very sweet,” Leah broke in gently. “And correct. Ross, Ella made wonderful cakes. We thought it was time to enjoy the cake again. Della was kind enough to make it for us.”
Ross bounced in his seat. “Della, you made this? It’s really good. Papa, can Della be my new mother?”
His head jerked up in surprise. Zack felt his stomach drop. Though he wanted to think of something to say, Zack had no words. He glanced at Della who looked at him through wide eyes.
Blinking, Zack glanced at his son and then at his sister. “If you’ll excuse me,” he choked out.
Then he left the table.
When Leah found him on the back porch, she handed him his jacket. “That wasn’t very polite,” she told him.
“I know,” he scowled. He had realized his mistake but there was nothing he could do about it now. He had made too many mistakes lately and it seemed impossible to resolve them. The lump in his throat hadn’t gone away, and he couldn’t bring himself to return inside.
She put out an arm, but he walked around her. His sister huffed. “He’s just a boy. Of course he has feelings. That wasn’t meant to hurt you. But you know Della and Ross deserve an answer to that question, don’t you?”
He stopped to give her a look. “I can’t.” It took all his strength to keep his voice from breaking. “It was a mistake. I should have never sent for Della.”
Leah licked her lips as she appeared to think for a minute. Then she squeezed his arm. “Even after everything? She came all this way. I know she cares for you and Ross.” His sister hesitated. “I won’t tell you what to do. Only that it’s been two years, Zack. You’re only hurting yourself more by not letting go. Do you understand?”
He inhaled sharply and shrugged. It didn’t matter. He had made up his mind.
Chapter 13
Christmas Eve was a wonderful morning where everyone played. There was music and dancing and games. Della hadn’t enjoyed an occasion like it since she and her siblings were young and still had enough to do around the house. Before they had gone out into society.
It made for a bittersweet day. Between all the fun, she thought of her family.
Hopefully, they were well. She thought about the letter she had left behind. It had been short, only telling everyone that she was safe where she was going. She wanted to live her life in freedom and joy in a way she had not been able to do for the last twenty-three years. She didn’t want to be a burden, and she didn’t want to feel like a prisoner.
Though she loved them and wished them well, she knew her way of life had not been desirable. Living confined was not the way for anyone to live.
Everyone settled around for an early supper. The children had been practicing their speaking in school recently and wanted to put on a small reenactment of the nativity. It would be the show of the evening, and they were all buzzing around excitedly.
As she sat down, however, she noticed two plates were not set for Zack and Ross. She glanced around hesitantly before clasping her hands together. Henry was just arguing with his littlest sister, Lacy, when there was a knock at the door.
Her heart skipped a beat. Had Ross and Zack come to join them?
But then she was reminded that the table was full. She glanced over at Leah and Robert who shrugged to one another. They didn’t know who it was. Whoever was at the door had not been expected.
“I’ll get it!” Henry jumped up and ran off.
“Then I get to say grace,” Lacy exclaimed, clapping her hands together.
“Hush,” Leah quieted her children as she followed Henry. She paused at the end of the table as they heard the door open.
Henry spoke loudly for everyone to hear. “Hello! Merry Christmas Eve. I’m Henry. Welcome to the Ganey household. What can we do for you?”
Della couldn’t help but smile at how well he spoke. She was about to comment to Leah and Robert, but the next voice she heard made her freeze in her chair.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, young man.”
There might have been something said after that, but Della stood up so quickly that her chair fell over behind her. It echoed in her ears as she questioned herself that she might be dreaming.
But if she was, how was she to wake up?
“Father?” Her brow furrowed as she murmured the name softly.
But it couldn’t be. She was a world away from them. There was no way they could find her. Unless, of course, Hazel had said something. Della put a hand to her stomach as it began to churn uneasily. Her feet led her around the table and down the hall. She couldn’t help herself. She had to make sure she wasn’t imagining his voice.
When Della stepped into the hall, however, she found her parents.
Donald was still tall with his shoulders thrown back. And Judy still looked like the beautiful socialite she had been raised to become. She stared incredulously, wondering how they had come so far. Why were they there?
Her question was answered as her mother cried out. Clasping a hand over her mouth, the older woman swept over and pulled Della into a tight hug. A soft sob escaped just as Della watched her father follow closely behind to sweep them into his arms. She couldn’t move, frozen in confusion.
“We’ve been looking everywhere for you, young lady,” he announced to her.
Through her bleary tears, Judy explained. “Everywhere, Della. I was so worried! Why did you leave us like that?”
“I…” Della hesitated as they pulled away.
She glanced around as Leah grabbed Henry’s arm in the doorway. She gave a quick nod to Della, and they disappeared to give her privacy.
She swallowed as she turned back to her parents. “I told you. I wanted my freedom. I didn’t want to be hidden away anymore.”
Her mother tugged her into another hug, nearly pulling her off her feet. “Oh darling! You were never a burden. We had no idea you felt that way until your letter. We were only trying to protect you. That’s all. Had we known… I never wanted to drive you away.”
She was stunned as her mother kissed her cheek and hugged her tightly once more. Her eyes fell upon her father who nodded. The man looked like he was trying to hold back tears. He had never cried before. It was the most bewildering reunion she could ever imagine. But the knot in her stomach began to loosen.
Not certain of what else to do, Della sat with her parents and caught up with them.
They wanted her home. They wanted her as part of their family. And they would give her anything to know she could do whatever she wished. It was a misunderstanding that had never been made clear. Della’s heart grew light as she learned the truth. They were only trying to protect her. All three of them apologized, lightening the loads on their heavy hearts.
Afterward, Della introduced her parents to the Ganey family who invited her parents to join them for supper. More space was set up around the table, and everyone enjoyed a hearty meal. Della found joy in her heart and only wished that her final confusing relationship could be cleared up.
She had only told them the smallest details about her relationship. And when they asked, she simply told them that they were still unwed, and he lived nearby. Much more in her life was finally making sense. All except for Zack Heston. As she glanced at her parents, she wondered what might happen next.
Chapter 14
It was Christmas tradition to take an evening ride around the ranch.
Zack could hardly believe it was Christmas Eve again. Time was flying by and soon, his son would be a man. He glanced over at Ross who looked around with a serious expression. Mountains descended upon them within the next couple of miles, and everything was wrapped in a cold layer of snow.
“Ross?” The boy was too sober for a boy of his age. “What’s on that mind of yours?”
He slowed down when Ross didn’t respond. The boy shrugged and then darted a hesitant look over. Whatever it was, he didn’t want to say it. “Nothing.”
“Oh really?” Zack chuckled, feeling lighthearted for once. “Somehow, I doubt that.”
Ross shrugged again. “It’s only… I guess I thought Della came here to have Christmas with us. I thought she was my present. But Uncle Rob said maybe not, and I shouldn’t talk to you about it.”
The lightness in his chest tightened. He had forgotten how perceptive Ross could be as a child. A lump formed in his throat. He searched for the right words to explain. “It’s not that. I only… I don’t know if she’s right for us.”
“But I like her,” Ross mumbled. “And she said she likes me.”
They fell quiet, and Zack couldn’t help as his thoughts turned to the young woman.
She was pretty, he knew that. She was also smart and kind, which was obvious from their time together and as she had cared for Ross. It made his stomach queasy again just thinking about her. He couldn’t explain the feeling, and it had been a long time since he had felt like this so much. Was it the winter? The cold? The food?
Then Zack realized he hadn’t felt queasy like that since Ella.
His heart pounded in his chest as he thought about the young lady who had looked for him and watched him curiously whenever they were together. She would smile at him. And it was clear she adored Ross. Della was so good with him, patient and cheerful.
She was cheerful. And wise, from everything Ross had said.
The truth slowly began to dawn on him.
As they made their way quietly back to the house, Zack realized he had been wrong about everything from the beginning. He had been drowning in fear all along of embracing something new. It was easier to deal with the miserable life he already knew than embrace someone to replace his Ella.
But what would Ella think?
Even as he asked the question, he recalled one of the last conversations they’d had together. Ella had been in and out of consciousness, clutching his hands with the last of her strength. She had begged him to carry on, to be happy, if anything happened. He could hear her voice now, reminding him of this.
How had he forgotten?
“Papa?” They had reached the house, but he was still sitting atop his horse.
Zack blinked and turned to his son, stunned over his realization. “Yes?”
“Do you like Della?”
“Yes.” The word slipped out before he could help himself. And as he said it, Zack knew it was true. He thought back to their missives about how sweet she was, how she craved a life out of the city. She wanted to find a new home, and he had told her he would help her.
And all he had done so far was let her be at his sister’s house. He was a fool.
“I have to see her.” Zack swung his horse around.
Ross hollered that he was coming. Zack rushed them the two miles between the ranches as he thought more and more about Miss Della Prescott. He thought of her sweet nature in caring for Ross, and how natural she had looked in their house. He recalled watching her decorate their Christmas tree and read stories to Ross. He thought of her at the kitchen table and remembered the strange knots in his stomach.
He had always assumed they meant everything was wrong, but he had misinterpreted them. He realized that now as he swung off his horse in the yard and helped Ross down. As he discovered the truth, he felt a weight slip off his shoulders. Zack could only hope now that Della would forgive him for his ignorance.
Together, they barged into the house as his sister’s family finished singing a Christmas carol.
Breathless, Zack pulled his hat off as he looked around the parlor. Every seat was full. His sister and her family sat around cheerfully. Two strangers who looked vaguely familiar sat in chairs. And beside them was Della.
When his eyes fell on her, he could feel the pounding in his heart start up all over again.
“Della,” he managed breathlessly.
She had the sweetest face. It reminded him of the mornings when she came over to visit Ross who always clapped for her. Even then, as he tried to collect his thoughts, Zack watched his son cross the room and tug Della up onto her feet. She glanced between the boys as she smiled nervously. But there was still that sparkle.
It was a Christmas miracle, he decided, the unconditional love she had shown his son. He only wished he had realized that sooner. But now, he had a chance to fix it.
“I’m in love with you.”
Everyone stared. Zack didn’t know what had compelled him to say it like that. But it was too late to take it back. He tried to smile as she stared in surprise. “I haven’t showed it well, but that’s because I didn’t realize it until now. After our missives and your arrival and how you took care of Ross, I… I couldn’t do anything else. I still don’t understand it, and I might need more time, but I do. Inside and out. I don’t know why it took this long, and I don’t know why you didn’t tell me about that mark, but it doesn’t matter. I love you.”
She started to smile and then paused. “But I did, Zack. I wrote you a whole letter about it… And I don’t… what changed? I mean, you didn’t tell me about Ross in your missives, and I haven’t…”
He shook his head. “But I did. I sent it after my invitation.”
Her brow furrowed for a minute before she started to laugh. Della covered her mouth as she crossed the room to him. “Then our correspondences must have been lost. No matter. That… none of that matters.” She took a deep breath and then smiled hopefully. “You may take your time, as long as you need it. I’ll wait here for you.”
When he took Della in his arms a second later, Zack was amazed at how right it felt. Just as he mustered up the courage to kiss her, however, Ross started to cheer. The two of them jumped as they remembered they weren’t alone.
Everything followed in a rush. Leah joined the cheer with laughter. The whole room brightened up at the news that Della was staying. Zack learned that the strangers were Della’s parents who had hoped to take her back to New York City.
Zack thought he would worry about that later. Della had promised to give him time.
However, by the following morning, his heart had lightened so much that before their noonday meal, he took Donald and Judy Prescott aside to ask for their blessing to marry Della. They agreed only after he promised to wait until June when they could visit again.
“What are you doing in June?” Zack asked when he pulled Della for a walk after the children had opened all their gifts. He’d had an early talk with his son, and everything was falling into place. Though it intimidated him to move so quickly, everything felt right.