The Cowboy Who Saved Christmas

by Jodi Thomas

  “I believe my words were, you took wonderful care of me,” Amelia responded primly.

  “I don’t think that is precisely what you said.”

  Amelia couldn’t argue with him because she couldn’t remember her exact words. And she did think he was wonderful . . . and handsome.

  Clint tugged on her braid until her lips were within kissing distance. “Doc says you should be completely well in a couple of days.”

  “Yes,” she whispered, her eyes on his lips.

  Clint really wanted to kiss her again. But he didn’t. Instead, he stood and told her he would see her later.

  * * *

  The doctor checked on Amelia after dinner as Clint dried the dishes for his mother.

  “Amelia is crazy about you,” Ingrid told him.

  “What makes you think so?”

  “The way her face lights up when she talks about you.”

  Clint smiled, thinking of how she’d blushed when he was teasing her.

  Ingrid handed him a plate and stared at him. “Do you return her feelings?”

  Instead of answering her question, Clint asked one of his own. “What do you know about her husband?”

  Ingrid told him what she knew about Amelia’s marriage to Richard. “Amelia’s sister was so in love with Richard, but, sadly, she died after Annie was born. Richard had serious injuries from the war and he knew his time was near. I know Amelia married him so the girls could stay with her and her parents when he died. Of course, no one could have predicted that Amelia’s parents would die from the fever. That left Amelia all alone with so many responsibilities on her shoulders.”

  “What can you tell me about Casey?”

  Ingrid dried her hands and turned to face Clint. “He’s worked for Amelia’s family for a few years. Amelia’s mother told me Casey fell in love with Amelia from the start, but I don’t think she returned his affection. He told Amelia he would stay at the ranch until she returned.”

  Clint thought about the few times Amelia had mentioned Casey. He didn’t think she had feelings for him, but then again, she hadn’t mentioned Casey was in love with her.

  * * *

  After checking on Amelia one last time before he turned in for the night, Clint walked to the front room and found the doctor sitting by the fire. Two glasses were on the table between the two chairs. The doctor pulled a bottle of whiskey from his bag and filled the glasses.

  He handed a glass to Clint when he took a seat. “For medicinal purposes.”

  Clint laughed as he accepted the glass. “I haven’t had whiskey in a while. It’ll probably knock me out.”

  “I’m counting on it. You look like you could use a long rest.” The doc took a drink of his whiskey, then said, “I’m glad to have this chance to speak with you alone.”

  Clint gave him a worried look, thinking he may give him bad news about Amelia’s condition.

  Seeing the concern on Clint’s face, John held up his hand. “It’s not about Amelia. I think she’s going to be just fine. I wanted a chance to tell you that . . . well, I think highly of your mother. I know it’s too soon, but next year, after she’s had time to recover from her loss, I’m planning on asking her to marry me.” He took a deep breath. “I guess what I’m asking is, would I have your blessing? It would mean a lot to me, as I am certain it would be necessary for your mother.”

  Clint hadn’t considered his mother would ever be married to anyone other than his father. But he wanted her to be happy, and if that included the doctor in her life, then he wasn’t going to stand in the way. “If you make my mother happy, that’s all I care about.” He gave the doctor a stern look. “Don’t ever give me a reason to regret giving my blessing.”

  The doctor looked him in the eye. “Neither one of you will ever have reason for regret. We’re both alone now, and I think we’d like to have someone to share what future we have left. If I’ve learned anything while caring for folks through this illness it’s that we never know what tomorrow may bring. We should all grab as much happiness as we can today.”

  Clint thought the doc sounded very much like his mother. “You sound like Ma.”

  “I take that as a compliment.” He extended his hand. “I’ll make her happy, Clint.”

  Leaning toward the doc, Clint shook his hand. “She’s going to need some time, but I will support her decision. I want her to be happy.”

  John pointed to the blanket Clint had tossed on the floor. “Are you sleeping there?”

  “I can hear Amelia from here if she needs anything.”

  “She’s a fine young woman.”

  “Yes, she is.”

  John glanced at the dogs on a pallet beside Clint’s blanket. “They look as though they’ve already adapted to their new home.”

  “It’ll be nice having some dogs around again,” Clint replied. “Amelia’s girls wanted a puppy for Christmas, so I want Ma to keep them out of sight when I get back. I want to surprise the girls on Christmas morning.”

  “That will be great fun. There’s nothing better than watching the excitement of children on Christmas morning.”

  Clint leaned forward and braced his elbows on his knees. “Now, Doc, can you tell me where I can find a goat?”

  The men drank their whiskey as they planned Christmas surprises before they said goodnight. The doc walked to the extra bedroom where he was sleeping, and Clint stretched out on his blanket by the fire. Within seconds he was sleeping soundly.

  Chapter 9

  “Ingrid, how much chloral hydrate did you add to his glass last night?” John asked as he leaned over Clint to make certain he was still breathing.

  “Just a dash, like you told me,” Ingrid replied, kneeling beside her son and placing her hand on his chest. “He needed some rest. He told me he hadn’t slept much since he left Santa Fe. From the looks of him, he couldn’t go on that way or he would be the next one to get sick. I think he was planning on riding out again today if Amelia decides to stay in La Grange. She looked up at John. “Is he going to be okay?”

  John nodded. “He’ll be fine. Now don’t worry. I wouldn’t have agreed if he didn’t look like he was ready to drop from exhaustion. Maybe we can talk him into leaving tomorrow. But you want him back by Christmas, so he needs to leave soon.” John stood and walked to the door. “While you take Amelia some breakfast, I’ll see to the animals.”

  * * *

  “Did Clint leave?” Amelia asked Ingrid when she entered the bedroom.

  “No, he’s still sleeping.” Ingrid placed the tray on the table while she propped up pillows behind Amelia.

  “I’m sure he’s worn-out. He never slept on our way back. Every time I woke up, he was watching over me.”

  “He was very worried about you.” Ingrid placed the tray on her lap.

  “Ingrid, he was heartbroken when he thought you had died. He rode all of the way to Honey Creek grieving for his family, with no one to share his heartache.”

  “I know. Clint has always been a solitary man, not one to share what’s on his mind. But I think he’s learned he can’t run from his grief; it always rides with him.”

  “He has so much love to give. I saw that when he was with the girls,” Amelia reflected.

  Ingrid smiled. “Clint loves deeply. Sometimes I think he has loved too deeply. He refused to accept the fact that he couldn’t always protect the ones he loved from the evils in the world.”

  Amelia nodded. “He looks after everyone, like a mother hen.”

  Laughing, Ingrid said, “I think you have him pegged, but you’d better not let him hear you compare him to a mother hen. More like a protective lion.”

  Amelia smiled. “I suppose that is a more apt description of him. He is fierce when provoked.” Amelia told her about the three men who came into their camp on the way home.

  “I’m surprised Clint didn’t shoot all three of them if they threatened you. He was a sharpshooter in the war.”

  “I didn’t know that, but he made a very accura
te shot that night.”

  Pointing to the tray, Ingrid asked, “Do you need help today?”

  “No, I think I’m strong enough to hold a fork.” She looked at the tray of food. “This looks delicious. Please don’t be upset if I can’t eat all of it, though.”

  “Eat what you can.” Ingrid sat in the chair and drank a cup of coffee while they talked. “Folks are moving back now. I was wondering if you wanted to come back.”

  “I would like to, but I’m not sure I can keep the ranch. The Nelsons were kind enough to offer us a place with them wherever they decide to go.”

  “You and the girls are welcome to stay here as long as you like.”

  “Ingrid, you and your son have already done too much for me.”

  * * *

  Hours later, Clint awoke feeling confused. He was still on the floor in front of the fire with the dogs cuddled up next to him, but he had no idea what time it was. He could tell by the sun shining through the window that it was well past dawn. He jumped up and ran to Amelia’s bedroom.

  “Good morning.” Ingrid motioned him into the room. “Amelia and I were just talking about what’s been happening in town since she left.”

  “What time is it?” Clint asked, still groggy.

  “It’s nearly two o’clock. I was just about to prepare lunch.” Ingrid headed to the kitchen, leaving Clint alone with Amelia.

  He walked to the chair his mother had vacated and sat down. “I can’t believe I slept so long.”

  “You look better,” Amelia told him.

  Scratching his two-, or was it a three-day-old beard, Clint was surprised he didn’t scare her to death. He needed to see to his grooming. “How are you feeling?”

  “Very well. Doc Sims says I’m on the mend.”

  Clint leaned back in the chair, feeling more relaxed than he had in days. “That’s good news.”

  “Your mother told me many families are returning home. The doc thinks the fever has run its course in La Grange.”

  “I know.” Clint paused for a moment, debating whether he should tell her what was on his mind. He decided he needed to get his thoughts in order before having that discussion. “Do you need anything?”

  “No, your mother has taken good care of me. I’m afraid I’ve been a burden to you both.”

  “You’re not a burden.” He stood and walked to the door. “I need to get cleaned up. I’ll see you later.”

  Clint walked into the kitchen and poured himself a cup of coffee. He told his mother that he would be riding to town for some supplies. “Make a list of what you need and I will bring it back with me.”

  * * *

  By the time Clint returned from town, it was dinnertime. He walked through the front door with his arms loaded down with packages wrapped in brown paper tied with twine. He piled the packages on the table.

  Ingrid turned from the stove, brushed her hands over her apron and pointed to the packages. “What is this?”

  Clint pointed to one large sack. “Those are the supplies you needed.” He handed her a large bundle. “This is a present.”

  Ingrid stared at it, thinking she hadn’t had a present in a long time.

  Smiling at her reaction, Clint said, “Open it.”

  Giggling like a young girl, Ingrid untied the twine and eagerly pushed the paper aside. When she saw the bolts of expensive material, she gasped. Reverently running her hands over the silks and satins, she exclaimed, “Oh my! It’s been such a long time since I’ve seen such beautiful material.”

  “Do you think it will make pretty dresses?”

  Admiring the pink and cream silk fabrics, she replied, “Son, this is much too fine for dresses.”

  Clint frowned. “Mrs. Stanton at the mercantile told me it would be perfect.”

  Ingrid’s eyes widened. “She did? I’m surprised. This material is meant for ball gowns, not everyday dresses.”

  “Perfect. I told her I wanted something very special. Can you make dresses for you, Amelia and the girls?”

  “Of course I can. Are we going to a party?”

  Clint shrugged. “Can you have them done by Christmas?”

  Ingrid nodded.

  “Can you also make a fancy dress for Lucy?”

  Ingrid gave him a quizzical look. “Annie’s doll?”

  “Yep.”

  “I’ll make her doll look like a princess.”

  Clint smiled at her excitement. “I want to see you wearing your new dress on Christmas Day.” He saw that she was about to object, so he added, “No mourning clothes on Christmas.”

  Ingrid gave him a wistful look. “No, your father wouldn’t have wanted us to mourn on Christmas.”

  Pointing to the other packages, he added, “These are all of the other things you ladies wear. I told Mrs. Stanton to put whatever you need in there.” He walked to the stove to see what his mother was cooking. “What’s for dinner? I’m starving.”

  “Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, beans and cornbread. I thought we would eat in the bedroom tonight, with Amelia. She’s already had a full day; John carried the tub to the bedroom so she could have a bath. She looks better, but I think just that little exertion tired her out.”

  “It’s a relief to know she’s on the mend.”

  “John’s talking to her now. We told her it was safe to come home, but she’s worried she can’t keep the ranch. I told her she was welcome to stay with us.”

  Clint pulled a piece of paper from his back pocket and held it for his mother to see. “She won’t have to worry about her ranch now. I was going to tell her later.”

  Ingrid saw the note Clint held was from the bank. Once she read the paper, she gave Clint a hug. “Son, this is wonderful.”

  “I’m going to tell Amelia that I’ll leave in the morning for Honey Creek and bring the girls home. I know Whitt will come back with me, and I’ll tell the other families it’s safe to return if they want to join us.”

  “I hope they all want to come home. We had some lovely neighbors.”

  “I want to tell you what I planned with Mr. and Mrs. Stanton for Christmas. They are going to need your help while I’m gone, and I don’t want Amelia to know.” While his mother finished cooking dinner, Clint shared his plans for Christmas.

  * * *

  Dinner ended, but Clint remained in the room with Amelia so he could tell her he was leaving in the morning for Honey Creek. He told her about his trip into town and that many people were returning to their homes.

  “I’m not certain the Nelsons will want to come back yet.”

  “Do you want to stay with them?” Clint asked.

  “That was our original plan. I told your mother earlier that I’m not certain I can keep the ranch. I don’t know how I can support the girls if I stay here.”

  “Ma told me your concern about the ranch.” Clint pulled the bank note from his back pocket and laid it on top of her blanket.

  Amelia picked up the paper and arched her brow at him. “What’s this?”

  “Read it.”

  Unfolding the paper, the first thing Amelia saw were the three words every property owner wanted to see: PAID IN FULL. Her eyes filled with tears as they met his. “Did you do this?”

  “There’s no reason for you to worry about staying here if this is where you want to be.”

  “But I can’t let you pay off my ranch.” Amelia wiped away her tears.

  “Of course you can. You saw how much gold I found. It’s more than I’ll ever need,” Clint replied.

  “But how can I ever repay you?”

  Clint wanted to tell her he was crazy about her, but he didn’t want her to feel obligated to him. “You don’t have to repay me. That’s not why I did it.”

  They stared at each other for a few moments before she asked, “Why did you do it?”

  “You needed help, and you helped my mother in her time of need. I wanted to do something for you and the girls.”

  Lowering her eyes to the paper, Amelia was thankful beyond measur
e, but she had hoped he might say he cared about her. She knew he cared about the girls, but she had dreams that he might develop deeper feelings for her. Casey had told her he would take care of her and the girls, but she wasn’t in love with Casey. She didn’t know exactly when it had happened, but she’d fallen in love with this tall, handsome cowboy. “This is very generous of you, but I want to pay you back when I get on my feet.”

  All day Clint had planned on professing his feelings for her. He’d even practiced what he wanted to say, but now that he was alone with her, he couldn’t remember a word. “We won’t worry about that right now. Now that you no longer need to concern yourself about the mortgage, and you’re not dependent on the Nelsons; do you want to stay here?”

  Amelia didn’t have to think about her response. “Yes, the girls and I love it here. Your mother said Casey is still at the ranch, so I’ll have some help.”

  Clint bristled, hearing her mention Casey again. “Then it’s settled. I’ll leave in the morning to bring the girls home, and any of the other families who want to return.”

  “I think I should go with you. The girls may not believe that I survived.”

  Clint shook his head. “I don’t think you’re up to making the trip. They’ll believe me.”

  “I should probably go home, then. I told your mother if I need the doctor, Casey can fetch him.”

  Casey again. Clint wanted to ask what Casey meant to her. He figured Casey was waiting for her to return before he asked her to marry him. Nothing else made sense. If a man wasn’t in love, he would have moved on and found employment elsewhere when Amelia left La Grange. “How long have you known Casey?”

  “He’s worked for my family for several years.”

  “If you want to see Casey, I can go get him, but I think you should stay here. At least, until I return from Honey Creek.”

  “It’s not that I want to see Casey, although I probably need to see if he will want to continue working on the ranch. And I’ve imposed on your hospitality long enough.”

  “Why did Casey stay when everyone left?”

  “He told me people would come back once the worst was over. I told him he should leave, but he wouldn’t listen. He stayed to care for what few cattle we had left.”