Christmas Spirit (Cutter's Creek Book 12)

by Annie Boone

  Felicity held up the small mirror by the handle. The fake gold paint on the frame was peeling away in spots and a small crack split the center. It still gave her a clear view of her face which was all she needed it to do.

  She pinched her cheeks, adding as much pinkness as she could to her sallow cheeks. She patted the side of her head, making sure every strand was pulled back in a nice chignon that Lana had taught her.

  When Lana wore her hair like this, she was able to add ringlets that fell to her shoulders. Felicity, though, couldn’t even get one curl to stick, no matter many hot pins or paper she wrapped it in. Her black hair was wavy and not quite poker straight like her mother’s, but it still wouldn’t hold the curl. She was learning to make the best of what she had, though.

  Felicity ran her hand over the full skirt of the dark green dress she was wearing. Lana let her borrow it – actually, she’d insisted that Felicity wear it. She said that it would enhance her dark hair and eyes. Though she had to admit, the gown did make her feel pretty. The kind of woman Josh might have on his arm.

  The muffled knock on the door made her heart beat loud and fast. He was here. She stilled, listening to her father invite Josh and his sister in. She had invited Lana to make everyone a little more comfortable. Her friend could fill any awkward silence and her parents loved the girl to pieces.

  No sense dawdling, and it would be rude to make them wait on her, anyway. She walked out of her room and fixed a nervous smile on her face to greet their guests.

  Josh turned to her, his eyes slightly widening, and then his gaze ran over her. Was something wrong? She reached to her face, patting her cheeks. Nothing seemed to be on them. A wide smile crossed Lana’s face as she walked to her, taking her hands.

  “You look so lovely!” She turned to face Josh. “Doesn't she?”

  Josh just slowly nodded, his eyes never leaving her. He had a silly grin on his face, but Felicity wasn’t sure why.

  “Hmm,” her father uttered, almost under his breath.

  Felicity cut her eyes to him trying to read his face. She couldn’t. He seemed a little annoyed, but she couldn’t imagine why.

  Her mother clapped her hands in front of her waist, drawing everyone’s attention. “Supper is on the table,” she announced.

  They followed her to the small table in the kitchen. The spread was impressive. Pan-fried steak with gravy, roasted potatoes and carrots, snap beans, and a platter of homemade biscuits filled the table. Even though she was almost too nervous to eat, she felt her stomach grumble as the aromas wafted their way.

  Felicity had cooked the green beans. Hopefully, she hadn’t messed them up. Cover them with water, add salt and pepper, an onion and a spoonful of bacon fat. Simmer until they’re tender. This was the only direction her mother had given her and not one step was forgotten.

  She had kept her attention focused on that black pot while she waited for it to simmer. Not even the robin knocking at the window distracted her. That bird had pecked and pecked, but she had paid it no mind.

  Finally, her father had thrown a handful of breadcrumbs out the window and it had flown away. She had been determined to get it right and nothing had distracted her. And Heavenly days, she hoped her focus would pay off!

  Josh pulled out a chair and waited for her to realize he was holding it out for her. She wasn’t used to having someone do this for her and when she noticed him waiting, she smiled shyly. A small heat crept into her cheeks as she went to him to be seated.

  “Thank you,” she said, trying very hard not to mumble.

  “Josh, my boy, come sit by me.” Her father patted a chair next to him. Josh pushed back the chair next to her and made his way to the top of the table next to her father.

  Felicity looked mortified and glanced at Lana. She had hoped for a show of support, but what she got was a smirk. Her friend seemed to be enjoying how uncomfortable this whole thing was for her. At that moment, she wished she’d have the opportunity to get her back, but deep down she knew that would never happen.

  After her father blessed the food, she focused as her mother spooned a pile of green beans onto Josh’s plate. He raised a forkful to his mouth, and she held her breath while he chewed. No change flickered across his face. He even scooped up a second forkful. Had she done it? Had she been able to cook something edible? Her mother looked her way, and a smile slipped across her face.

  As the meal progressed, her father asked Josh several questions about the ranch and his father’s health. She was glad to note that the elder Garrett had been well enough to leave his room and spend some time with his family. This was excellent news.

  “The Festival Council has asked him to judge the Christmas cider and baking competitions.” Josh’s voice broke into her thoughts.

  Felicity’s gaze snapped up. His father would be a judge. She took a bite of the pan-fried steak, the juicy meat having lost its taste with the new revelation.

  “Yes, Ma thinks it will be good for him. After thinking about it a bit more, I think so, too. He’s been cooped up for so long and being around people in a festive setting might work wonders.”

  It could be good for her, too, she realized. Would his father be more keen towards her cider because she’s courting his son? He could help her win and snag his son in the process. A smile pulled at the corners of her mouth. But then it quickly turned to a frown. She’d have to figure out how to make the cider first.

  A nudge pressed on her rib. She turned to Lana, who got a knowing smirk on her face. That girl had the same idea as her. Maybe, just maybe, she had a chance. Tomorrow she’d work harder on her cider recipe.

  ***

  Josh followed her father out the door as the older man lit a pipe, the thick smoke billowing into the night air. The moonlight cast a low glow over them, competing with the lantern overhead. He took a big puff and then pulled the pipe out of his mouth turning to face Josh.

  He pointed the pipe at him. “What are your thoughts towards my daughter?” The big man’s eyes took on a fierce look.

  Josh swallowed hard. The mayor had never looked this protective over his daughters. But he imagined that a man who did so had someone worthy of protection.

  “My thoughts? About Felicity. Well, Mr. Lipscomb, I’d like to get to know her and understand her for who she is today. She’s been my sister’s friend for a long time and I respect that. I think she’s a remarkable woman.”

  The man took a step towards him, narrowing his eyes, and Josh fought the urge to stumble back.

  “Well, let’s get one thing straight. My Felicity is a sweet girl but often distracted by the world around her. She finds joy in things others don’t give a hoot about. So, you best not expect her to fit some mold. I don’t want no man trying to change her free spirit, you hear?”

  He more than heard his words. He felt the threat through every part of him. “It’s her free spirit that made me take notice of her.”

  A smile split the mustache and salt and pepper beard that covered Henry Lipscomb’s face. “That’s good to hear. Good to hear, indeed.”

  Nine

  Felicity walked into the small kitchen with a fresh basket of sugar plum berries in her hands. She strained her muscles to lift the basket to the table and let out a whoosh of air. Mae Lipscomb was sitting at the other end of the table, peeling potatoes and watching her daughter’s expectant face.

  Felicity shook her head at her mother’s task. She couldn’t peel potatoes. The last time she’d tried, she’d almost lost the tip of a finger. She had a scar to prove it.

  Her mother chuckled as she set the knife down. She walked to the shelf and picked up the largest bowl there. Looking at Felicity, she tilted her head to the side. “Have you fed the robin?”

  “Before I came back.”

  She nodded. “And the bunnies? They’ve had a little nibble, yes?”

  Felicity thought of the cottontail that often waited under a bush. She usually tossed it a carrot or some other vegetable scrap. This morning it got a
few sugar plum berries. “Her, too.”

  “Are there any other creatures waiting for a meal?”

  “Mother, why all the questions about the animals? They’re all fine, just like always.”

  “Just trying to see if all the normal distractions have been taken care of.”

  Felicity frowned in understanding. “I think so.”

  “Good, if we can keep your wandering mind focused, you’ll be able to get your batch of cider finished today. Now, watch. And also listen. And then, do as I say.”

  Her mother began sorting through the various berries, tossing out ones that were too firm, and keeping as many of the very ripe ones as she could. “The riper the better,” she said. “We want them to be very juicy. Not rotten, but almost is fine.”

  Felicity looked at her mother in alarm. “What? Almost rotten? That sounds just horrible!”

  “The ones we use will not have gone bad, Felicity. When they’re just about past their prime, they’re still good. We don’t want to waste any of these beautiful sugar plum berries. They’re delicious!”

  Once the colander was about halfway full, she took a big wooden spoon and started pressing the berries slowly. A small trickle of juice ran into the bowl. The aroma of the sweet and tart sugar plum berries began to fill the room.

  “This is how you keep the skins and other stuff from ending up in the cider? Mine looked a mess when I put the whole things in boiling water. I never thought about this way.”

  Her mother just raised an eyebrow at her and continued to mash the berries to get the juice. Once her mother had all the juices pushed out of the berries in the colander, she scraped the skins and seeds into another bowl.

  Her mother handed her the colander. “That bowl there is for the part we can’t use. Now, here. You do it.”

  Felicity took the colander and looked at her mother expectantly. Then she picked through the bowl of fresh fruit finding many ripe berries, and a few not so ripe. She placed the good ones in the colander.

  “So, I use the spoon to mash the berries to get the juice. And it will run into this bowl. Right?”

  Her mother nodded.

  Felicity mashed and mashed, using as much muscle as she had.

  “I had no idea these things could make so much. These are juicy!”

  “They are, indeed. They’re perfect for preserves and for cider.”

  Once she couldn’t push any more juice from the berries, she lifted the colander, a small energy filling her. The level had increased in the juice bowl and no scraps spoiled it.

  Her mother smiled and nodded with approval. “Now we continue doing this until we have enough juices to make a full batch.”

  “And then?”

  “Then we add the spices, put the juices in jars, and let them sit for about a week. Have you picked your spices, yet?”

  That was all she had to do? Surely her mother missed something. Felicity planted a hand on a hip. “This just can’t be right. It’s that easy? I can do this?”

  “Of course you can, dear. You can do anything you set your mind to. Always remember that.”

  Felicity pulled in her bottom lip. “I waste too much time on silly things, don’t I?”

  Her mother wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and pulled her close, kissing her forehead. “God gave you a creative mind, but your creativity doesn’t have to be limited to drawing.”

  “I suppose you’re right. I struggle with that, though. I think I get caught up in other things, too.”

  “Maybe. There’s no shame in being fascinated by animals and all that’s around us.”

  “But it won’t help me cook for my husband. When I find one, that is.”

  “But it might lead you two on some interesting adventures.”

  Felicity pulled from her mother’s embrace. “Well, Josh wants a wife who can cook and I’m pretty sure I want Josh for my husband.”

  Her mother raised her brows. “Are you sure of that? That Josh is the one for you?”

  Felicity nodded with a shy smile.

  “How do you know he wants a wife that can cook?”

  “I heard him say it, but doesn’t every man want a wife that can cook?”

  “Let’s see what he does. But let's not get distracted. Have you thought of spices for your cider?”

  Felicity nibbled on her bottom lip. “I don’t know. I looked at Grandma’s recipe and it seemed odd. Lana said it would be so different than the others that people may not like it. I’d like to do something different, but I don’t want it to be so different that people hate it. I want to win.”

  “I know, but maybe a little different is good.”

  “Cutter’s Creek’s residents would never go for it. They don’t like different, remember?”

  Her mother’s eyes darkened, and she leaned into Felicity’s face, making the girl take a step back as tension filled her.

  “We are the daughters of a wonderful woman who just happened to be born in China. And if the judges don’t like her flavors, then they don’t deserve them.”

  Guilt nipped around Felicity’s heart. How the town had treated her grandmother was a sore point in the family. It had been a long time ago, but the scars were still there.

  Her mother briskly turned around and walked to the pantry, grabbing a small wooden box from a top shelf. She came back with it and placed it on the table. She looked at it with near reverence before flipping up the lid.

  Felicity waited for what was coming next.

  “We’ll make your grandmother’s recipe. I’m sure the judges will love it because it won’t be like the same old sugary sweet ale that gets passed around every year. They’ll be begging for the recipe.”

  “But we won’t give it to them because it’s our secret family recipe.”

  Her mother smiled and then started laughing. “That’s the truth! Now, take a look at what we have here.”

  Her mother pulled out several small glass bottles. Felicity looked at them with interest and confusion. “How can we put these in the cider? It’s liquid.”

  “We put them in the juice and cook the juice. These things will add their flavors. Then, before we put the cider in jars, we’ll remove these and only their essence will remain.”

  Felicity looked confused. “If you say so. I think I’ll have to wait and see how it works to understand.”

  Her mother shook her head and laughed. “You’ll see, dear. I promise it will work.”

  Felicity took one of the bottles and opened it. She breathed deeply and a sharp pepper smell surprised her. It brought back memories of the dear woman who had given her such love. Holding her when she cried. Making her laugh with funny stories. Singing her to sleep with the Chinese lullaby.

  “What’s this one?”

  “It’s a Chinese peppercorn. Sichuan it’s called. We’ll only use a tiny bit of that. It’s very hot and too much would be a big problem. This is a star anise pod. What a unique flavor that will add!”

  “Oh, I know what this is! Cinnamon.”

  “Yes, also cloves and some dried ginger and orange peel.”

  The women stood side by side opening each bottle and smelling the contents. The exotic aromas were almost intoxicating to Felicity. She couldn’t wait to see what the sugar plum cider would taste like with these spices added.

  “I agree, Mother. This is the perfect way to honor Grandma’s memory. And you’re right. If people don’t like it, they’re the ones who will miss out. Let’s get started!”

  Ten

  She couldn’t believe how her arms ached. After hours of pressing berries and stirring the cider as it simmered, she realized she’d used every muscle to total capacity. And she was so tired!

  At least she had been successful in completing the batch. She had eleven full jars of cider sitting in the pantry. The flavors would continue to blend and soon the brew would be ready to drink.

  The Chinese spices had infused into the juice perfectly, just as her mother promised. She’d been amazed and proud when she ta
sted it. Full of the Chinese spices and only a hint of Sichuan peppercorns, it was wonderful. Her mouth watered at the thought of the taste she’d had. Josh was sure to love it.

  She walked out the back door and pulled her coat tighter. Wrapping her wool scarf around her face as a bitter wind nipped at her cheeks, she looked up at the dark clouds. They’d grown thicker since this morning when she had been out picking the berries.

  Her feet fell on the dry leaves, the crunching sound filling the air, as she walked. She made her way to the edge of the woods. This was probably foolish, but she wished she could go see those bears again. She’d like to feed them, but that was a foolish thought. Doing something dangerous like that was something even she wouldn’t do.

  Hoofbeats sounded behind her. She turned and couldn’t help the flutter that filled her heart. Josh came riding towards her with his hat tight on his head and a wool coat snug over his shoulders. The darkening sky framed his strong figure as if he was on the cover of a penny book.

  Josh pulled the horse’s reins and slowed. Soon he was stopped beside her. He tipped his hat towards her, his friendly smile spreading across his face making his chiseled cheekbones more noticeable.

  “Howdy there, Felicity.”

  “Hello, Josh,” she said, squeezing her hands together in front of her waist, while looking at the dry dirt on the ground. A thump sounded, and she glanced up noticing Josh had dismounted and now walked toward her.

  “Well, looks like I get the shy Felicity today.”

  He reached out and stroked her shoulder gently. His touch seared into her skin through her coat and her blouse as his bright blue eyes danced with mischief

  She tipped her nose in the air, like Lana often did when she wanted to put a man in his place.

  “I will be who I am, Josh Garrett, and you’ll not try to change me.”

  He chuckled. “There’s my girl. Come with me.” He took her hand once again. “I’ll take you to see the cattle. And I’ll let you hold the reins.”