Cowboy Lawman's Christmas Reunion

by Louise M. Gouge

  As she tried to reason out their conflict over where Gerard was when the fire began, his burned coat seemed to be the only clue. Later, she’d ask him what happened. For now she watched Isabelle in the little choir and thanked the Lord for her daughter’s obedience and sweet disposition.

  The door of the church opened behind her, and she turned to see the object of her ruminations. “Gerard.” She rushed to embrace him, but he wriggled from her arms.

  “I’m late for my part.” He pulled an unfamiliar woolen poncho over his head and flung it on a pew, then ran down the aisle in time to take his place in front of the painted inn where Mary and Joseph sought shelter.

  “Thank You, Lord,” she whispered as she stared after him. What wonderful thing happened to set him free? Was this another example of Justice’s grace toward someone he considered a criminal?

  Behind her, she felt more than heard a large presence approaching her. A pleasant shiver swept down her back. She turned to see Justice, his expression a mixture of doubt and... Was that joy?

  He grasped her hands. “Come with me. Please.”

  Though confused, she let him lead her into the cloakroom by the front door.

  “Evangeline, I was wrong.” Contrition emanated from his voice and his eyes. “I assumed Gerard started the fire because his coat was found at the scene, but he didn’t leave it there.”

  That was enough to start her tears flowing all over again. Lucius had never once admitted to being wrong.

  “Gerard gave his coat to Deely Pine because Deely said he didn’t have one. After Gerard returned to the library, Deely and Cart started the fire.” Justice sighed deeply. “I questioned the other two boys and learned Hugo Giles paid them to cause trouble for you, so what Gerard meant as a kindness, they used to get him in trouble. To his credit, Gerard was more angry than hurt by his supposed friends’ betrayal. They’d been using him all along.”

  Not surprised at all by Hugo’s evil plan, Evangeline spared him only a moment of anger. Lucius’s cousin could never hurt them again.

  “I was wrong, too.” She gave Justice a watery smile. “I wouldn’t confront Gerard when he got into mischief because I knew he was angry about his father’s death. I was afraid I’d make matters worse. But after you saved him from the cougar, he changed. I’m not sure why, but he’s becoming the happy boy he used to be, and I’m thankful for it.”

  “I could see that.” He chuckled ruefully. “When he was more concerned about missing this rehearsal than going to jail, I should have seen the Lord had changed his heart. Will you forgive me for being harsh with him when it was Lucius and Giles who deserve my anger?”

  “I do forgive you.” She gazed up into his beloved face and saw love reflected there. “I can see it’s your job to be firm with troublemakers. Will you forgive me for my harsh words?”

  “I do forgive you.” He took her hands in his. “And now I have one more question for you.”

  “Yes?”

  “Will you marry me?”

  The question took her by surprise. As it echoed in her mind, she couldn’t stop a smile from overtaking her lips. Still, there was much to consider before she accepted. “I—I don’t know. Do we have any other matters to discuss before we enter into a permanent bond?” From now on, she’d insist on discussing everything so shadows of the past couldn’t come between them.

  “You mean before you’re trapped in a marriage like your first one?” He didn’t give her time to respond. “Evangeline, I promise you now I will love and cherish you and your children until my dying day.”

  She touched his beloved face, which still bore a remnant of soot in the blond stubble on his cheek. “I know you will.”

  He likewise caressed her cheek. “Don’t keep me in suspense. Will you marry me?”

  She smiled at him, and this one she was sure lit up her eyes as well. “I will.”

  He tugged her into his arms, and she rested her head against his broad chest, giving herself permission at last to love him without reservation.

  He lifted her chin and bent to kiss her, a sweet chaste kiss that promised so much more.

  * * *

  Justice would have preferred to take Evangeline and the children home, but he needed to visit Deely’s mother and Cart’s aunt to explain why their boys would be in jail until the circuit judge came to town. Newly married to a farmer, Cart’s aunt was glad to be rid of him and refused even to visit him in jail. Deely’s mother broke down in tears, grief-stricken her son was turning out to be as bad as his father, who’d been hanged for stealing horses. Leaving Mrs. Pine’s ramshackle house on the edge of town, Justice prayed for some way to help the boys before they were too deeply entrenched in a life of crime. Sending them to prison would put them under the influence of older inmates who would lead them further astray. He’d consult with the Northam brothers before making a decision.

  As he rode back to the jail, he passed the hotel, which was festooned for Christmas with evergreen bows and red ribbons. Colorful lamps glowed in the windows, and through the glass front doors, he saw in the lobby a tall Douglas fir tree decorated with candles and blown glass ornaments from Germany. For the first time in many years, he permitted the joy of the Christmas season to flood his heart. Tomorrow he’d buy presents for his soon-to-be family. And Wednesday, after Gerard’s suspension was over, Justice would return to work side by side with Evangeline on the Christmas village, their special gift for the town that had reunited them after so many years.

  He awoke the next day with another idea. He asked Marybeth to excuse the Benoit children from the rehearsal. Then after school he collected Isabelle from the schoolhouse and Gerard from the library and, with Evangeline’s permission, took the children to the ice-cream parlor. With cookies and a steaming cup of hot chocolate in front of each one, he practiced being their father.

  After inquiring about their day and learning important details—Isabelle’s favorite subject was writing and she liked to play with dolls, and Gerard was interested in arithmetic and guitar playing—he got down to business. Or he would have if Gerard hadn’t beat him to it.

  “Are you going to marry my mother?”

  Justice smiled at the boy’s earnest tone. “I want to. Would you like that?”

  For several agonizing heartbeats, the boy seemed to be thinking it over. “Then you’d be my father.”

  “And mine.” Isabelle gave her brother a look of annoyance much like her mother might do if she was being ignored.

  “I’ll actually be your stepfather.” As he said the words, they didn’t feel right, no matter how accurate the title was.

  Gerard sipped his hot drink. “I like Father better. Or maybe Dad.”

  “I’d like that.” A lump formed in Justice’s throat. They’d come a long way in the past two months, but they still had a ways to go. “Do you think we can get along?”

  The boy smirked, an expression reminiscent of Lucius’s. And yet somehow different. “Does that mean I have to mind you?”

  “I don’t mind minding you.” Isabelle blinked blue eyes full of trust, which endeared her to Justice all the more.

  “Thank you, sweetheart.” He touched her cheek, then turned to her brother. “How about you?”

  Gerard thought for a moment, his expression turning serious and a bit sullen. Justice felt a moment of concern. Had he been wrong? Had the boy not changed? Or maybe the boy was simply mulling over an idea.

  “What if we don’t agree about something?” Gerard asked as he eyed him skeptically. “Will you get mad and make me mind you anyway?”

  He deserved that question, considering how angry he’d been about the fire. “I’d prefer to talk things out with you and come to an agreement.” He hoped he’d learned his lesson and in the future wouldn’t assume the worst about the boy.

  “But if we don’t agree, will
I still have to mind you?”

  The answer to this simple question could seal their future relationship, but Justice must respond honestly. “Yes. As your father, it will be my job to guide you and help you become a man. You’ll have to trust I know what’s best for you.”

  Instead of adopting his former sulking attitude, Gerard nodded. “I understand. Like Jesus had to obey His Father and die on the cross, even though He didn’t want to.”

  Justice could have explained that in truth Jesus had died willingly, yet he decided to save the explanation for later. For now, he was profoundly moved by Gerard’s connecting their impending relationship with the heavenly example. “Something like that.”

  As Gerard grabbed another cookie and munched it, Justice considered urging him to ask Jesus into his heart right now. But maybe he already had, if his change of attitude was any indication.

  “You can marry Mother,” Gerard said. “Can’t he, Izzy?”

  She answered by jumping from her chair and throwing her arms around Justice’s neck. “May I call you Daddy?”

  He hugged her close. “Nothing could please me more.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  The next ten days passed quickly for Evangeline. With the Christmas village to complete, presents to make, the Christmas pageant to be presented on Christmas Eve and a wedding to plan, she barely had time to think. She and Justice did take time to attend Nolan and Electra’s Christmas ball, where everyone congratulated them on their engagement. Surrounded with love on all sides, she dismissed every memory of her past and looked forward to a wonderful new future.

  She helped Justice complete the miniature blacksmith shop—an addition to their original plan—on the same day townspeople banded together and rebuilt Burt’s business. The anvil and hammer head had survived the fire, along with several other reparable iron tools. When ranchers donated some items and pitched in money to pay for others, the tough, muscular blacksmith almost came to tears. Making tiny replicas of the tools proved a challenge for Justice’s large hands, but Evangeline watched in amazement as he whittled them to perfection.

  She stayed up late each night working on Gerard’s coat, plus the other gifts for her growing number of loved ones. By day, she saw an increase in the number of patrons visiting the library because many ranchers had more time to read in the winter.

  Susanna insisted she must make Evangeline a new dress for the wedding. Evangeline agreed, but only if it was a practical blue wool suit she could wear all winter. Her cousin surprised her with a matching suit for Isabelle. Her Singer sewing machine was kept busy for days, with the two of them taking turns using it.

  On Christmas Eve morning, Evangeline, Justice and Susanna moved the village from the library to the church reception hall and set it up in the center of the room.

  “What a grand surprise,” Reverend Thomas said. “Sheriff, this is delightful. Everyone will enjoy it, not only the children.”

  Justice shrugged as if the effort had been minimal. “My pleasure. If not for Evangeline’s excellent painting, it wouldn’t look half as good.” He put his hand at her waist and gave her a sideways hug. “Let’s lock the door so no one will see it until after the play.”

  Later that evening, the children gathered at the front of the church to present their pageant. Mothers had made costumes, and Nate had refreshed the scenery he’d built for past plays. Evangeline sat in the front row with Marybeth and Electra on one side of her and Justice on the other.

  “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed,” read fourteen-year-old Kip Bean from the second chapter of Luke’s Gospel. As he continued to narrate the story of Mary and Joseph’s trip to Bethlehem, the children portraying the holy couple walked down the center aisle, a “donkey” beside them. Fond chuckles filled the room as the little boy wiggled his long, furry ears.

  Evangeline held her breath when Gerard’s big moment neared. “Joseph” knocked on the door of the inn, and her son emerged.

  “Do you have a room for us tonight?” Joseph waved toward Mary, who looked properly weary.

  Gerard blinked several times, and Evangeline’s heart stood still. He’d forgotten his few simple lines.

  “There’s no room in my inn,” he finally blurted out. “But you can have my room.”

  The sanctuary was silent for five full seconds. Mary and Joseph gaped at Gerard. Several people coughed, or perhaps cleared their throats to keep from laughing at his mistake. Evangeline opened her mouth to whisper the correct line, but Justice touched her arm. “Let him work it out.”

  “Or you can stay in the stable.” Gerard waved toward the stable setting across the podium. “It’s warm out there with all of the animals and quieter than in here.”

  Several people now chuckled out loud, and Joseph exhaled with relief. “Thank you, kind sir.”

  Gerard went back inside the inn, and the moment was forgotten as the more important story continued. But to Evangeline, her son’s generous offer further revealed his change of heart. After all, he’d been pleased to get the part because he wanted to be mean to Mary and Joseph. Now he wanted only to be kind to someone in need, just as he’d done for Deely in giving him his coat. Justice leaned toward her and squeezed her hand, his gray eyes filled with paternal pride. She could ask for nothing more precious this Christmas or any other.

  * * *

  “Next year we’ll add a train.” Justice studied the village to be sure nothing else was missing. He reached across the six-by-eight-foot board and righted a bent tree.

  Around him, children and their parents identified the various Esperanza buildings.

  “That’s the church.”

  “That’s the school.”

  “A blacksmith shop just like the new one.”

  “The hotel.”

  “Tiny people with smiles on their faces.” This from Marybeth Northam.

  “Mrs. Benoit painted those,” Justice said.

  “Look.” Gerard moved to the front of the group. “The livery stable has a Nativity scene. I can see Mary and Joseph and Baby Jesus lying in a manger, just like in the Bible.”

  “Oh, my.” Mrs. Winsted stepped up to the group, tears sparkling in her eyes. “There’s my store. Why, Justice, you’ve made a replica of our town, Christmas decorations and all.” The lady hugged him, the privilege of an older matron.

  “It was our pleasure.” He nodded toward Evangeline, who stood on the other side of the display. She rewarded him with a smile he felt clear down to his toes.

  Mrs. Winsted laughed. “Ah, yes. And you two will have another project to attend to next week.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He’d already experienced plenty of good-natured ribbing from the men around town about his upcoming marriage. The ladies, of course, were quick to offer Evangeline any help she might need. “Tomorrow we celebrate the Lord’s birth. Wednesday, we get hitched.”

  Others came to admire the village and offer their thanks to the artists. Justice hadn’t started the project to garner praise, but their graciousness made all the work well worth it. The important idea was that children would appreciate their town, their families.

  “Boss, what shall I do with those two?” Deputy O’Shea had brought Deely and Cart to the pageant and now watched over them as they ate cookies with the other children.

  Justice sighed. He’d put them in separate cells because they’d fought, each one blaming the other for the fire. “Did you have any trouble with them during the play?”

  “No, sir. Rand sat with me to help out.” O’Shea shook his head. “Seemed to me Cart enjoyed it, even shed a few tears when the preacher gave the message at the end. Deely sneered through the whole show, especially when Gerard made his mistake.”

  He wouldn’t correct his deputy. Gerard hadn’t made a mis
take. He’d revealed his change of heart and brought an abundance of joy to both Justice and Evangeline. “You’d better take them back to the jail. We’ll keep praying they see the error of their ways.”

  After a night of community fellowship, the townspeople returned for church on Sunday, Christmas Day. As always, Reverend Thomas gave a soul-stirring sermon about God’s great gift of love in sending His Son to bring salvation to a lost world. At the end of the service, Cart Fendel answered the invitation to accept Jesus as his Savior. While Justice was pleased, he also knew the boy must still pay for his crime. He’d known criminals who’d pretended to have faith to avoid punishment.

  After church, Justice and Evangeline joined the Northams at the big house on Four Stones Ranch. After a feast at which everyone ate too much, Justice gathered his soon-to-be family and returned to town.

  “This is where we’ll live.” He drew the horses up to the house he’d never expected to fill.

  “Wow.” Gerard jumped out of the buggy and ran toward the front porch. “Come on, Izzy. Let’s explore.”

  “Wait—” Evangeline reached out but caught air.

  “Let them go.” Justice laughed. “It’s their home now.” He leaned toward her and kissed her. “Merry Christmas, my love.”

  * * *

  “Merry Christmas, my darling.” Evangeline savored the kiss, looking forward to many more to come. Then she bundled up the burlap sack she’d brought from Susanna’s and waited for him to come around to lift her down from the buggy.

  “What’s in the bag?” Justice took it from her as they walked toward the house.

  “You’ll see.”

  “Huh. Well, I have a few secrets of my own.” He smirked playfully.

  Indeed he did. To Evangeline’s surprise, when she entered the house, Gerard and Isabelle were sitting on the parlor rug playing with an adorable black-and-white puppy like the ones raised by the Northams. Near the roaring hearth sat several other presents wrapped in brown paper.