“Are you ready to do this?” He gazed into her copper eyes and knew they had only a few moments before Jack and Lily would pound on their door, anxious to discover what Saint Nicholas left in their stockings as well as rip into the packages beneath the tree.
Jemma released a sigh and wrapped her arms around his neck. She inched closer to him and kissed his chin, followed by a spot on his neck that made him groan and tighten his hold on her.
“I shall most likely sound like an ungrateful, uncaring wretched excuse of a person, but my preference would be to stay right here with you all day. Unfortunately…” she kissed her way down one side of his chest and up the other, igniting tendrils of fire every place her lips touched. “The children will be most excited to see what gifts await them and I need to begin preparations for dinner as soon as we finish breakfast. Before our day erupts into a busy whirl of activity, I want you to know how much I love you, Thane Jordan. I’m so grateful to be a part of your life and be loved by you.”
“I love you, too, Jemma. So, so much.” Thane nibbled her ear as he pulled her closer against him. “You’re the only, and the very best, gift I could ever want.”
“Oh, Thane, my love, when you aren’t teasing me without mercy, you say the nicest things.” Jemma kissed him again, trailing her fingers across his chest and down his sides.
As he nuzzled her neck, pounding on the door drew their attention. Jemma grabbed her dressing gown off the end of the bed and hastily pulled it on while Thane rolled off the other side of the bed and yanked on a clean pair of Levi’s then slipped on a shirt.
He opened the bedroom door and grinned down at Jack and Lily who both stood wide-eyed, waiting for him and Jemma to join them.
“Merry Christmas to you both! It looks like Santa found the cabin even though you were worried he’d fly right by.”
Jack had made it perfectly clear to Thane he no longer believed in Santa, but went along with the stories for Lily’s benefit. As he stood gazing at the packages beneath the tree and bulging stockings hanging on the mantle, Thane thought maybe the boy might still believe in a little Christmas magic.
Thane knew he certainly believed in the magic of the season as he gazed at his pink-cheeked wife. Or maybe it was the wonder of being in love.
Either way, he was a very happy man as he gazed around their cozy cabin, trimmed with fragrant pine boughs, satiny red ribbons, and a beautiful Christmas tree they’d spent one day riding all the way out to the tree line to chop down together and bring home.
As he swung Lily into his arms, the little girl giggled excitedly. Thane carried her over to the fireplace and handed her a stocking filled with nuts, an orange, a handful of wrapped chocolates, and a whistle she promptly blew with sharp, shrill bursts until Jemma distracted her with a piece of candy.
A smile stretched across Jack’s face as he emptied his stocking. He stuffed a chocolate in his mouth then unwrapped a pocketknife. Reverently holding it in his hands, he glanced at his uncle.
“I think Santa knew a boy like you could use a good knife. I know you’ll take good care of it, just like I showed you.” Thane squeezed the boy’s shoulder with a gentle hand and felt his heart soften at the look on his nephew’s face. He recalled the day Henry gave him the knife. It was a Christmas morning when Thane was Jack’s age.
His brother’s words of “keep it sharp and dry, and it should last you a lifetime,” echoed in his ears.
“If you’d rather have a new knife, you can pick one out next time we’re in town, but I thought you might like to have this one, since your dad gave it to me when I was your age.”
Jack nodded and threw his arms around Thane’s waist, giving him a tight hug. “Thank you so much, Uncle Thane.”
“You’re welcome, son.” Thane bent and kissed the top of the boy’s head, swallowing down the emotion in his throat. “I think we should open the rest of these presents.”
Jemma had been nearly as bad as the children when Tully brought a huge crate out to the ranch in the back of his wagon a few days earlier. She noticed it shipped from a store in New York, but her many questions to Thane went unanswered.
He’d simply told her, ‘It’s Christmas, the season of secrets and surprises.”
After the children were in bed the previous night, Thane brought in brightly wrapped packages and tucked them under the tree. When Jemma tried to peek, he playfully smacked her bottom and assured her good little girls minded their own business if they wanted to get any presents.
Now, they both sat on the sofa, watching as Jack and Lily gleefully opened their gifts.
“When did you order the toys for them, Thane?” Jemma leaned against his side, smiling as Lily showed her a beautiful baby doll. Thane not only purchased the doll, but a little bed for the doll to sleep in. Jack carefully removed a train set he’d admired in New York from a box. Thane scooted down on the floor to help him set up the track.
“The day we stopped in New York at that store where you bought the cookbooks, I saw the kids admiring some of the toys. I went back and purchased a few things then asked the owner to ship them just before Christmas.”
Surprised he had thought that far ahead, Jemma stared at her husband, amazed by his thoughtfulness for two children he barely knew at the time he bought the gifts.
Lost in her thoughts, she startled when Thane handed her a large package wrapped in plain brown paper. “I think you’ll like this one.”
“What is it, Thane?” Jemma felt the package, convinced it held a picture frame.
“Open it and see.” He grinned at her and put a hand on her knee. The warmth from his fingers made heat flow through her extremities, so she forced herself to focus on opening the package. Jack and Lily stood beside her, waiting to see her gift.
When the paper fell away, Jemma gasped as she gazed at a painting of her beloved cottage. She had no idea where or how Thane found it, but she loved it.
“This is wonderful, Thane.” Her voice broke and tears clouded her vision as she looked from the painting to her husband. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, sweetheart.” Thane kissed her cheek then took the painting and hung it on a hook he’d already installed above the mantle of the fireplace. “Now you can visit the cottage any time you like, at least in your memories.”
“It’s a perfect gift. Wherever did you acquire it?” Jemma rose from the sofa so she could study the painting.
Thane wrapped an arm around her waist as she stepped beside him and kissed her temple. “When you agreed to marry me, I asked Weston about having it painted. I knew you’d miss your home and I appreciated the sacrifice you were willing to make to marry a stranger you didn’t much like and move to a remote ranch in America. He commissioned the artist and sent the painting to Tully when it was finished. I couldn’t have you finding it before Christmas, could I?”
“I love it, Thane, and you.”
“I love you, too, Jem. More than anything.”
“I’m so glad.” Jemma lifted her face for a kiss, but Lily shoved against her legs.
“Are you going to get all smoochy again?”
Thane laughed and picked up the little girl, placing noisy kisses on her cheeks, making her giggle. “You better get used to us being smoochy, Lily. I love your aunt very much and can’t keep from ravishing her with kisses.”
Jemma’s heated glance made Thane wish the children hadn’t gotten up quite so early that morning.
In need of a distraction, he pointed to the painting. “I think it will look wonderful above our new fireplace.”
His wife gave him a befuddled glance. “What new fireplace?”
“The one in the new house we’re going to build in the spring as soon as the snow thaws. I plan to build you a proper house with a big, sunny kitchen, a parlor for you and Maggie to sit in and drink tea, and an office for me. You just tell me how many bedrooms you want and we’ll have one of my friends in town draw up the plans.”
“I don’t care how many bedrooms, but c
an it please, please have a bathroom?”
“You can have three, if you want. I know you hate the outhouse.” Thane smirked at her as joy filled her face.
Jemma squealed and wrapped her arms around both him and Lily. “This is marvelous, Thane! I can hardly wait!”
“Spring will be here before you know it and I for one will be glad to have a little more room and privacy.” He winked at his wife then tweaked Lily’s nose. “Weston sent a letter addressed to us both. I thought we could read it together.” He plucked an envelope from the branches of the tree and handed it to Jemma.
“Let’s sit down on the sofa.” Jemma took a seat while Thane sat next to her and settled Lily on his lap. The little girl clutched her new baby doll in her arms while she sucked on a peppermint stick. Jack sat on the floor beside Jemma and looked at her with an expectant gaze.
She used her fingernail to break the seal on the envelope and removed a thick piece of parchment with another envelope. Quickly scanning Weston’s letter, she gasped in surprise.
“Oh, Thane. There’s a letter from Henry!” Jemma set aside Weston’s missive and picked up the envelope with Thane’s name on the front, written in Henry’s hand. “Here, you read it.”
Taking the envelope from her, Thane tore it open and removed a sheet of paper. Holding it above Lily’s head, he began reading aloud…
My beloved brother, Thane,
If you are reading this then the unthinkable has happened and I have departed this life long before I would choose to leave.
Undoubtedly, you will find the terms of my will to be unacceptable, crazy, and obscure. There is a method to the madness, little brother. Although I haven’t laid eyes on you in more than a dozen years and, as I write this, have just recently discovered you reside in the wilds of Oregon, I know you are a good man. It’s who you were raised to be. A good, honest, caring man.
I was able to discover you have no need for the money I plan to leave you upon my death. I congratulate you on your successful enterprises. I always knew you could take care of yourself, and quite well, I might add.
The reason I have left Jemma without a penny isn’t out of cruelty or because I don’t value what she sacrificed for my family. On the contrary, I am forever in her debt. She dedicated her life to my children, to giving them a mother’s love even before we lost my dear, sweet Jane. She is witty, intelligent, charming, beautiful, stubborn, and infuriatingly independent. My fondest wish, one I had hoped to somehow bring about while I lived, was to introduce Jemma (one of the very finest women I’ve known) to the finest man she could meet, my own brother.
Had I left her with means of support, she would have no reason to wed. If I’d not made it clear to Weston he would need to insist you travel to England to settle my estate, you’d remain a lonely, crusty ol’ bachelor on that sagebrush-covered ranch of yours.
I certainly hope as you read this, you have made Jemma your wife. I imagine with the two of you holding such strong opinions on nearly every topic, it makes for some interesting moments. How I wish I could witness the sparring that no doubt takes place. You both possess a passionate zest for life as well as tender hearts.
Cherish each moment you have together, because the days flee so fast.
Please raise Jack and Lily as your own. Tell them how much their mother and I loved them and will miss them. Please love them as though they belong to you, because they now do.
Above all, love each other and know you are held in the deepest regard with the truest affection.
With all my love,
Henry
Jemma opened her arms to Jack while tears rolled down her cheeks. The boy climbed onto her lap and sniffled, brushing away his tears. Thane clenched his jaw and cleared his throat, staring into the fire until he could control his emotions.
“It seems Henry got his wish,” Thane said, lifting his gaze to the solid beams of the ceiling, scrambling to regain his composure.
“I’m glad he left me without a penny and at your mercy,” Jemma whispered, gazing at her husband, grateful for Henry’s plotting.
“Me, too, sweetheart. I’ve never known a finer Christmas than this one spent with all of you.” Thane moved his arm so she could lean against his side.
The rest of the Christmas gifts sat forgotten as they quietly lingered in the tender moment, content to be together, wrapped in the gift of love.
When Weston summoned him to England, Thane never dreamed he’d return home a man rich beyond measure. It wasn’t the money he inherited, but the children and beautiful woman who gave him untold wealth.
“Is Henry my papa?” Lily asked, breaking the silence.
“Yes, poppet. The letter is from your papa.” Jemma dabbed at her tears and gave Lily a watery smile.
The child stared at her. “Is he coming back?”
“No, honey. Your papa isn’t coming back, but he’ll always be with you. You carry a little piece of him right here.” Thane tapped Lily’s chest with his index finger.
“Does Jack got Papa in him, too?” Lily stared at her brother’s chest.
“He certainly does.” Thane smiled at the boy who looked so much like Henry.
“And you’re my papa now?”
Thane looked at Jack before he answered. The boy nodded his head. “Yes, honey. I’m your daddy now and Jemma is your mama. We’ll do our very best to take good care of you and your brother.”
“May we call you Mama and Dad?” Jack asked, looking from Jemma to Thane. “Do you think Mummy and Papa would mind?”
“Oh, lovey, I think they’d be quite pleased.” Jemma kissed Jack’s forehead and gave him a hug.
“We’d be proud to have you call us Mama and Dad.” Thane spoke the words around the lump in his throat.
He bent over and placed a kiss on Jemma’s cheek, watching the light of the fire reflected in the coppery depths of her eyes. “It seems Henry knew what he was doing all along.”
“He most certainly did.” Jemma offered Thane a sassy smile. “Even if he sentenced me to a life of outhouses, cowpies, and howling coyotes.”
Thane chuckled and kissed her again. “Don’t forget sagebrush, snakes, and dirt, my lady. Or the man who loves you more than anything else in this world.”
Jemma’s heart shone from her eyes as she fastened her gaze to Thane’s. “No. I’d never forget him. Not for a single moment.”
Crumpets
Prior to writing this story, I’d never tasted a crumpet. Since they aren’t readily available to purchase in my little corner of the world, I decided to make a batch. After searching for an authentic recipe, I reached out to a wonderful friend in England and she shared one that was easy enough even I could follow the directions.
The key component of crumpets, from my limited understanding, is to have plenty of holes in the surface to hold the melted butter. Crumpets were quite popular for teatime in the 1800s and many British families continue to enjoy them today, particularly for breakfast. You can top them with jam, eat them plain – but most definitely serve them with a spot of tea.
Crumpets
2 cups flour
1 package instant yeast
1 tsp. granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups warm milk
2/3-1 cup warm water
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
oil for cooking
Mix flour and yeast in a bowl. Set aside.
Warm milk until it no longer feels cool to the touch, but isn’t hot. (Think baby bottle temperature.) Add sugar and stir until dissolved then stir into flour mixture with a wooden spoon.
Continue stirring 3-4 minutes until batter is smooth. Cover and set aside for at least 20 minutes, up to an hour. It should rise up in the bowl and have holes on the surface.
Fill a measuring cup almost full of warm water. Stir in the baking soda and salt until dissolved, then slowly add to the batter. You want the consistency to be like heavy cream. If it still seems too thick, add a little more water. Cover and set aside for
20 minutes.
Heat a griddle or cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Pour a little oil in the bottom. You will need rings for cooking the crumpets. I used pancake rings, but you could use a round cookie cutter, a jar ring, etc. Make sure your rings are well-greased inside. (You can also purchase special crumpet rings if you are so inclined.)
Spoon the batter into the rings until they are about three-fourths full. Cook a couple of minutes until bubbles appear and the surface looks set. Remove rings, turn over and cook another two to three minutes. Serve immediately with plenty of butter or toast before eating.
Author’s Note
Research is something I enjoy entirely more than I probably should. With a love of history, it truly is fun for me to dig into old facts, photographs, and details to find little golden nuggets to include in my stories.
Crumpets and Cowpies is the first book in the Baker City Brides series. Originally, I intended this to be a stand-alone Christmas book. After I met the characters and began writing the story, I quickly changed my mind and made it into the first book in a brand-new series.
I began research for this story by selecting a town. I wanted somewhere with train service. Somewhere in Oregon. Somewhere close to the mountains with miles of sagebrush and a lack of close neighbors.
Baker City, Oregon, is located in the Northeastern section of the state. While I-84 runs right past the town today, back in the 1800s, it was a stop along the Oregon Trail.
In the 1860s, a gold rush brought travelers to the area. Another surge in the gold industry began in the early 1890s, which is when this series takes place.
Known as the “Denver of the Blue Mountains,” Baker City offered many of the conveniences found in larger cities during its boom era.
Today, many old buildings remain and visitors in town can stay at the Geiser Grand Hotel, a National Historic Landmark. The hotel opened in 1889 as the Hotel Warshauer. The Geiser family later purchased and renamed the hotel, but if you’re ever in Baker City, be sure to pay it a visit.
Crumpets & Cowpies: (Sweet Historical Western Romance) (Baker City Brides Book 1) Page 29