by Jenna Brandt
She had been kind to the children the night before; handing them candy canes and laughing at their antics as they ran around the town’s Christmas tree. Plus, her voice, she had the prettiest voice as she sang the carols with the crowd. He would have sworn she was an angel singing if he hadn’t known any better. If he wasn’t careful, he was going to find himself smitten with the spirited woman.
George raised his hand to knock on the door to the Holt’s residence. The previous night he had been nervous about spending it with the Holts and their extended family, wondering if he would feel like an outsider. Her family, however, was just as kind and generous as Willa had always been to him while they were friends in Rockwood Springs. He enjoyed his time with them, so when he was invited back to celebrate Christmas Day, he immediately agreed. It didn’t hurt he was going to get to spend more time with Elizabeth as well.
The door opened to reveal Arthur, Willa’s little brother, on the other side. “Come on in, Mr. Caldwell. Everyone’s in the parlor by the fire.”
George followed Arthur through the house and into the room that was filled with the Brown and Holt families as well as a few of Willa’s friends and their husbands and children from town. It was still hard for George to keep them all straight, but they’d always been nice to him. Though unexpected, he wasn’t put off by their presence.
George took a seat in the empty upholstered chair by the fire while Arthur took a spot on the floor by the tree.
“We want to thank all of you for being here with us for Christmas,” Willa said to all of their guests. “I’m so happy to be surrounded not only by our family, but by our dearest friends. To celebrate, we have a gift for each of you under the tree.”
“You didn’t have to do that,” Penelope exclaimed. “I thought we were simply exchanging little family gifts like jams and pies.”
“We didn’t want any of you to feel you needed to bring anything, so if anyone asked, that was what we told them. God has blessed us richly, and we want to be able to share those blessings with all of you,” Harrison explained. “Please, take the gifts as a small token of how much each of you mean to us.”
Willa and Harrison went around the room handing out gifts to everyone. They took turns opening them, starting with the children. The girls were given dolls and the boys tin soldiers. The women received beautiful hats with matching scarves, while the men were given new pocket watches.
As Harrison handed George his silver watch, he wasn’t sure what to make of the expensive gift. Though his family had always had food on the table and clothes on their back, they didn’t have the amount of money for such an expensive item, let alone to give one away.
Reluctantly, George took the gift, knowing it would be rude to reject it. He flipped the watch back and forth and realized that not only was it made of pure silver, it had his initials engraved on it. “How did you even know I would accept your invitation to be here, let alone have time to get this personalized for me?”
“We were going to give it to you no matter what. I placed the order months ago,” Harrison explained. “You may not realize it, but you showing up in Silverpines when you did made both Willa and I realize our feelings for each other. If you hadn’t come, we might never have admitted it was more than a business arrangement. Not to mention, when Willa told you how she felt about me, you were a gentleman and didn’t continue to pursue her. You stayed her friend, but didn’t interfere in our relationship, and not many men would be so inclined. The watch is just a small way for us to say thank you.”
“Thank you,” George said with a nod. “I appreciate the thoughtful gift.”
George looked around the room, watching everyone’s excitement over their gifts. Elizabeth seemed pleased with her black hat with an array of feathers coming up from the purple band. It had a matching purple scarf which she was currently wrapping around her neck. “Thank you, Willa. I love them,” she declared with a gorgeous smile.
“You’re welcome, Elizabeth. When I saw them over in New Harbor, I knew they would be the perfect set for you.”
The guests spent the next hour looking at each other’s gifts and talking about the events from the previous night.
“I have one more gift for Willa. I hoped it would arrive in time, and it did two days ago,” Harrison said. “Will all of you come and join us out front?”
The group made their way out of the house. Arthur was the first to explode with excitement. “A car! You got Willa a car? I want to go for a ride.”
Willa’s eyes snapped to Harrison with shock. “I thought you were joking about getting me a car. This must have cost you a fortune to have it shipped from back East.”
“It was nothing. I figured you deserved it. I enjoy spoiling you.” Then gesturing to it, he added, “Go on, get in.”
She gingerly climbed into the driver’s seat, glancing around at what to do.
“Your hands go here,” Harrison explained as he took them and placed them on the steering wheel.
“You’re going to have to show me how to drive this thing,” Willa pointed out. “I hope I don’t end up crashing it.”
“You’ll be fine,” Elizabeth assured her. “I drove cars in Boston all the time.”
“You did?” Harrison asked, his eyebrows shooting up in disbelief. “How did you manage that? I know Aunt Gerty would’ve never let you buy one.”
“Several of my friends had them and let me drive them whenever I wanted,” Elizabeth explained with a mischievous smile. “I even participated in a race or two.”
“You didn’t,” Willa gasped, her eyes rounding in shock.
Elizabeth nodded. “Don’t tell Aunt Gerty though. It would probably kill her.”
The group spent the next hour looking at the car as well as taking rides up and down the road that led to the Holt residence.
“Your turn,” Harrison said to Elizabeth as he climbed out of the driver’s seat. “Show us what you’re made of.”
“Seriously? You’re going to let me drive your new car?”
“Correction, Willa’s new car, but I’m sure she won’t mind,” her brother said with a smirk.
“I don’t. I’m actually excited to see you drive. It gives me hope that I might actually master it someday.”
Elizabeth climbed into the car, then glancing over at George, she offered, “Would you care to join me?”
George looked over at Harrison and Willa. He didn’t want to overstep. “Is it all right?”
Harrison gestured to the car. “Certainly, enjoy yourself.”
George jumped into the passenger seat, excited to not only be in a car for the first time, but to be next to Elizabeth in it.
“You ready for this? It’s going to be exhilarating,” Elizabeth promised.
George nodded as the vehicle’s engine revved and Elizabeth shifted the gear. It thudded down the road and he could feel the power vibrating through his body. He watched as Elizabeth expertly shifted the gears each time it was required while swiftly navigating the road.
“You’re really good at this,” George observed. “You weren’t joking when you said you’ve driven a bunch of times.”
Elizabeth nodded. “I love it. Not as much as horseback riding, but it’s a close second.” She stopped at the end of the road and hopped out.
“What are you doing?” George asked with confusion.
“It’s your turn.”
“My what?”
“You need to drive. It’s seriously one of the most fun things in the world to do.”
“I don’t feel comfortable driving your brother’s new car,” George protested.
“Come now, it’s fine. I’ll take full responsibility. If anything should happen, I have plenty of money to replace this car.”
George scrunched up his face as he thought about the offer. It was very tempting, as he’d always dreamed about driving one when he heard about them as a child, but he never actually thought he would get a chance to do so. What could it hurt?
He got out of
the passenger seat and made his way around to the driver’s side and climbed in. Elizabeth explained what he needed to do, then went back around to the other side.
“Let’s go,” she said with a giggle, the sound nearly as intoxicating as the thrill of anticipating driving for the first time.
George pressed the gas pedal and the car took off down the road. The jolt of speed shocked him, and he had to let off slightly to adjust it. The steering wheel was harder to control than he had expected, and each bump in the road caused it to want to burst out of his hands. “I’m not sure about this, Elizabeth. I feel like this car has a mind of its own.”
“Don’t be silly. It’s just a machine,” she dismissed his complaint. “Just focus on holding the steering wheel tight while you watch the road.”
George did as she directed, and for a moment, he thought he had the beast subdued. That was until he hit the edge of the road and he heard a loud thud. The car started to swerve, and try as he might, George didn’t seem to be able to get it back under control.
“Hit the brakes, George,” Elizabeth shouted from beside him. “Before it’s too late.”
He pressed the pedal with his foot, hoping to make the wild ride stop. To his relief, they were screeching to a stop on the side of the road. George breathed heavy, squeezing the steering wheel with his hands. He glanced over at Elizabeth who was clutching the edge of the window with her gloved hand and her lips pressed firmly together.
“I think I’ll stick to horses,” George confessed. “Much more reliable than metal beasts.”
Everyone came rushing up to the car with frightened looks on their faces.
“Are you both okay?” Harrison asked, arriving just ahead of everyone else.
“We’re fine,” Elizabeth assured her brother as they both climbed out. She gestured to the back tire on her side. “I’m not so sure about your car. I think the rear tire might need repairing.”
Harrison came around and looked at it. “I think you’re right. I suppose we need to make sure the road is more even before we go around driving again.”
“I can cover the cost,” George offered, though he was certain it would probably take all of his savings, he wanted to do the right thing.
“Nonsense, it’s my car. I’ll pay to have it repaired,” Harrison countered.
“Actually, it’s my fault and George warned me he might crash the car. I’ll cover the cost,” Elizabeth explained.
“I’m not having my little sister pay to repair my car,” Harrison protested.
“I thought it was Willa’s car,” Elizabeth corrected with a smirk.
“It is, you know what I meant,” Harrison defended.
“I think you got this car for yourself, and said it was for Willa so you could justify it,” Elizabeth teased. “But that’s okay, brother. Isn’t that how marriage works?”
The rest of the group laughed at Elizabeth’s observation before they all headed inside. They made their way back into the parlor and discussed the exciting events of the afternoon.
A few minutes later, the butler entered the room and announced it was time for the evening meal. Everyone entered the dining room again, and to George’s elated surprise, he was seated next to Elizabeth today. Did Willa plan it, or dare he hope, had Elizabeth requested it?
He pulled the chair out for her, noting that she looked exceptional in her bright, green dress. The color stood out majestically against her pale white skin, making her even more beautiful, if that were possible.
“Green is most assuredly your color,” George whispered as he sat down beside her.
She tilted her head to the side and arched an eyebrow as her lips curved up in a smile. “Thank you. I’ve always been partial to it myself.”
“You should wear it often. I can’t keep my eyes from you.” He realized when he said the words, they were telling of how intrigued he was by her. Normally, George would’ve been uncomfortable showing such a vulnerable side of himself. For some reason with Elizabeth, however, he wanted her to know he was interested in her.
“If that’s the case, I suppose I should wear the color as much as possible,” she whispered back, her eyelashes fluttering as she turned to face him. “I like the thought of you watching me.”
George’s breath hitched in his chest. Dare he hope that she was starting to have feelings for him, or was she simply toying with him? They’d known each other less than a week. He wouldn’t have dared hope for such a possibility, except as he stared into her eyes, he swore he could see desire reflected back.
The maids entered the room and placed plates of food in unison in front of each guest. The meal passed with pleasant conversation about their families, both of them focusing on each other rather than turning to anyone else at the table. It was clear Elizabeth genuinely cared about her aunt and brother, and missed her parents.
“I wish they could have lived long enough to see my brother happily married. They would have been glad for that,” Elizabeth confided. “My mother often worried Harrison was too focused on proving himself business savvy to our father.”
“He is, you know, business savvy. I didn’t want to like him when I met him, but once I let myself get to know him, I realized there was more than just a bank account behind him. Harrison has a keen eye for a good investment and has helped Silverpines rebound from the fire. Beyond that, he’s also a genuinely good person.”
Elizabeth nodded. “I’m lucky to have such a wonderfully patient brother. I haven’t been the best sister to him, especially lately. Anyone else would have given up on me, but not Harrison. He’s faithful to a fault.” Elizabeth looked over at Willa and her face became dark for a moment. Switching subjects, she inquired, “What about you? What’s your family like?”
“My mother passed away five years ago, and my father owns and operates the livery in Rockwood Springs. He’s an accomplished horse trainer and I learned all I know about horses from him.”
“Really? I grew up around horses, too. I had a stable full of them. Afternoon rides were my favorite part of the day, probably because it was the one time I could be myself, rather than the pristine lady my mother expected me to be.”
“That’s hard, having to live up to other’s expectations,” George pointed out. “My father thought I was going to take over the livery, so when I told him I was coming here to Silverpines, he was furious. He told me not to give up my future for a woman. Part of me wonders if he was right, since all I have to show for my endeavor is a cot in a room behind a livery I don’t even own. I’m saving up to change all that. I want to open my own horse ranch, but sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever be able to make that happen.”
“You seem the sort that you could do anything you put your mind to,” Elizabeth observed.
“That’s kind of you to say,” George said. Not liking to think about his lack of financial prospects, he changed the subject. “We should go riding sometime.”
“I’d like that,” Elizabeth exclaimed. Then glancing over at her brother, she added, “Well, as long as I can convince the warden to let me out of my cell.”
“We can always take a chaperone along with us,” George suggested, wanting to make any accommodations needed to make it happen. “I would want the same for my sister, Lydia.”
“You have a sister?”
“Two of them, actually; one older and one younger. My oldest got married when I was still a kid. She married a sheriff, and they have three children together. As for my little sister, she’s engaged to be married. The family wants me to return to Rockwood Springs before her wedding.”
“What do you want to do?” Elizabeth probed.
“I have to admit, when things didn’t work out with Willa, I was ready to go home. Then I met Evelyn, and I decided to stay to pursue a relationship with her. When she jilted me for a lawyer from New Harbor a couple of months ago, I was completely caught unaware and in shock for a good while. I’ve just recently found my footing again.”
“So, does that mean you will be r
eturning to Rockwood Springs?” Elizabeth inquired, the tone in her voice almost sounding as if she were troubled at the thought of him leaving.
“I’m not sure what my plans are going to be. Just when I thought it was time to leave, something happened to change my mind.”
“And what was that?”
“You came tumbling into my life,” he stated bluntly.
Her eyes grew wide with surprise, and she opened her mouth to say something. Before the words manifested though, the servers again entered the room carrying dessert and interrupted their conversation.
By the end of the meal, George felt as if he knew a side of Elizabeth that made her even more attractive. Though he doubted she recognized it herself, she was deeply moved by her family, and genuinely seemed interested in hearing about his own life. When he arrived at the Holt home that day, George hadn’t been sure if what he was starting to feel for Elizabeth was simply physical attraction or if it could be more. As he left, he realized that she was the complete package, and there was no way he was leaving Silverpines when there might be a chance he could convince her to take a chance on him.
Chapter Four
As the rest of the week passed, Elizabeth looked forward to going into town whenever she could, especially when it meant stopping by the livery to deposit her horse. Any reason to see George was worth it, though neither of them had progressed whatever was going on between then from friendship to something more. She hoped tonight that would change.
Elizabeth placed the golden mask on her face. The perfect touch for the New Year’s Eve masked ball that was being held at the mayor’s home. Everyone from town was going to be there including her brother and Willa, the Brown family, and various other people she had gotten to know over the past couple of weeks. Most importantly, George was going to be there.
It was going to be a thrilling evening, more like the nights she spent socializing back in Boston. She couldn’t wait to have George spin her around the dance floor, drink champagne, and count down the new year while being held in his arms—that was if her brother let any of that happen. He still seemed to think that at any moment she was going to create another scandal, despite her constantly assuring him that she would be on her best behavior.