The Christmas Token

by Shanna Hatfield

  Greg mumbled something Blake couldn’t hear, but it earned him a smack on his arm from his wife as he helped Luke turn the tree.

  “Stop! That’s perfect,” Dora said, noticing Blake in the doorway. “What do you think, dear? Doesn’t that look wonderful?”

  “Indeed, it does,” Blake agreed. He couldn’t tell much difference from where it was before Luke moved it, but if it made Dora happy, that was what mattered. “Filly said lunch is ready if you’d all like to convene in the kitchen.”

  “I’m so hungry I could eat…”

  “Everything, dear,” Dora said, patting Greg’s stomach as she interrupted him. “You tend to eat everything Filly cooks.”

  “Only because it’s so good,” Greg said, taking Dora’s hand and hurrying to the kitchen.

  Luke walked with Blake, shaking his head at his parents while he tried to wipe a glob of sap off his hand onto the leg of his denim pants.

  “I have to agree with your father, Luke. Filly’s cooking talents are exceptional,” Blake said as they neared the kitchen.

  “Thanks. She’s an exceptional woman,” Luke said, thumping Blake on the back with a thoughtful look. “There are a few of those around here, although not all of them can cook.”

  Grinning as they stepped into the kitchen, Blake strode to the table and held Ginny’s chair before taking a seat beside her.

  Enjoying a nourishing lunch of chicken soup with warm bread and an assortment of cookies, they hurried to pick up the kitchen then went to the parlor to trim the tree.

  Blake stood back and watched until Ginny tugged on his hand and asked him to help. Handing her ornaments, she placed them on the tree. When she stood on a chair to reach some of the taller branches, Blake tried not to notice the way her soft blue wool dress draped around her curves and outlined her figure.

  Fumbling with a blown glass ball, he forced himself to pay attention to what he was doing. Luke caught his eye and gave him a look that clearly expressed his thoughts about Blake being hopeless where Ginny was concerned.

  “I think that’s it,” Filly said, standing back and admiring their combined efforts. Festooned with an assortment of heartfelt ornaments, strings of popcorn, and candles waiting to be lit that evening, the tree looked lovely.

  “Isn’t it beautiful?” Dora mused, linking her arms with Ginny and Filly.

  “It is beautiful, Mother,” Ginny said, leaning her head against her mother’s shoulder, but looking directly at Blake. “I’m so glad we’re all here together.”

  He wondered if that included him and decided it did when she gave him a private smile.

  “We better head over to the church and trim the tree there,” Greg said, helping Dora and Filly gather the unused ornaments and return them to a trunk.

  It didn’t take long for the six of them to bundle into their coats and make the walk to the church. Chauncy was already there, starting to place ornaments on the highest branches of the tree.

  “I’m glad you all came over. The thought of doing this alone is daunting,” Chauncy said, smiling at them as he accepted ornaments the women handed to him to place on the branches they couldn’t reach. While Greg and the women helped Chauncy with the tree, Blake and Luke finished setting up everything for the children’s program.

  Admiring the tree when the last ornament was in place, Filly and Ginny decided to add a few more decorations to the church using some discarded branches. Chauncy found some baskets to work as containers and they set them around the front of the church, adorned with bright red bows.

  “I don’t think the church has ever looked so nice,” Chauncy said, pleased at the festive appearance. “Thank you all, so much.”

  The new lectern drew everyone’s attention and words of praise over the design and craftsmanship flowed freely, making Blake embarrassed.

  “It’s wonderful, Blake,” Ginny said, squeezing his hand as she stood beside him. “I don’t know how you had time to make it with everything else you’ve been working on. Remember, I’ve seen your workshop recently.”

  “Thank you,” he said, not knowing why everyone made such a fuss over his work. He loved taking a piece of wood and drawing out something unique and artistic from it. “It was a pleasure for me to make it, especially since it’s for our very own pastor.”

  “I’m sure Chauncy will enjoy it for years to come,” Luke added, stepping beside his sister and looking from her to Blake. Raising an eyebrow at the carpenter, he subtly tipped his head to Ginny.

  Blake nodded and cleared his throat.

  “Say, Ginny, I’ve still got my tree to decorate. Would you mind helping me?” Blake asked, hoping Ginny would agree.

  “Certainly. Would you like to go now?”

  “Yes, if you don’t mind.”

  “Let me tell Filly and Mother,” Ginny said, starting to walk over to where Dora and Filly added a few greens along the top of the piano.

  “I’ll tell them, Ginny Lou,” Luke said, holding her coat. “You two go ahead.”

  “Okay,” Ginny said, thinking her brother was being abnormally helpful.

  Blake slipped on his coat and waved at Chauncy as he walked Ginny to the door. “We’ll see you all in a little while,” he said, ushering Ginny outside and back to Granger House where his wagon waited.

  Hitching the horses, they were soon heading out of town. Ginny saw Nigel walking down the street and quickly pulled the blanket from her lap around her shoulders and over her head, hoping he wouldn’t recognize her. It seemed to work because he just frowned at Blake as they drove by, continuing on his way toward the church.

  “That was close,” Ginny said, trying not to giggle as she and Blake left the town behind them.

  “Too close,” Blake said, glad Ginny hid her face and hair. Even from afar, those golden curls were hard to mistake as belonging to anyone other than her.

  Breathing deeply, Blake glanced at Ginny and smiled. Rosy cheeks and bright eyes let him know she was enjoying herself.

  “Having a fun day?” he asked, pulling the team to a stop in front of his house.

  “A wonderful day,” she said, resting her hands on his shoulders as he came around the wagon and lifted her down by the waist.

  Instead of letting her go, his hands moved around to her back, drawing her into the circle of his arms. Their gazes connected and Ginny felt her heart begin to beat rapidly. Her lashes lowered as Blake’s head bent closer. When his lips met hers in a demanding kiss, she returned his ardor, wanting to savor the taste and feel of his insistent mouth.

  She leaned against Blake as he finally ended the kiss, lightheaded and deliciously warmed from the inside out.

  “What was that for?” she whispered, holding onto the lapels of his coat to keep from sinking into the snow beneath her feet.

  “Because you look so lovely and young and perfect today,” Blake said, brushing an errant curl behind her ear then walking her up the front steps and inside his front door.

  He heard her gasp in surprise as she looked around at his newly decorated home.

  “You’ve been busy, Blake. I’m quite impressed,” Ginny said, picking up a shepherd boy from a hand-carved nativity set he’d made years ago.

  “‘Tis the season,” he said with a teasing smile, before going back outside to get the tree. Once they had it safely standing in a bucket in the corner of the front room, Ginny helped him place his few ornaments on the branches and asked if he had any ribbon. He found a spool of ribbon his mother had left behind in a box of sewing supplies and Ginny quickly tied bows on some of the branches.

  “There, that looks better,” she said, standing back to look at the tree. “It’s really quite lovely.”

  “I think it’s missing something,” Blake said, going to his bedroom and returning with a small box wrapped in plain brown paper. Handing it to Ginny, he gave her a warm smile. “I think you should open this.”

  Taking it from his hand, their fingers brushed and the contact made tingles dance up her arm.

&nbs
p; “It’s not Christmas yet, Blake. Shouldn’t I wait until tomorrow?”

  “No. You need to open this one now. Please?” Blake was ready to beg if that’s what it took.

  Ginny sat on the sofa and removed the paper, revealing a jewelry box with an intricately carved heart surrounded by flowers and vines on the lid.

  “Blake, it’s beautiful,” Ginny said, rubbing her hand over the top, knowing how much effort Blake put into it. It was a work of art and something she would always treasure.

  “Open it,” Blake said, offering her an encouraging smile.

  Carefully lifting the lid, Ginny couldn’t stop the tears that rolled down her cheeks. Her hand covered her trembling lips and she looked at Blake with blue eyes full of love.

  “Don’t cry, love,” Blake said, getting down on one knee as he knelt in front of her and brushed at her tears with his handkerchief.

  Taking her hand in his, he kissed her fingers then reached into the box and removed the carved wooden heart he’d given her the day she left town a decade earlier.

  “Genevieve, I gave you this heart ten years ago, not just as a Christmas token, but a reminder that you held my heart in your hands. You’ve had it all these years,” Blake said, smiling at the woman he knew he'd love for a lifetime.

  He knew Ginny wasn’t perfect, but neither was he. Nobody was perfect, and that was fine with him.

  Unable to envision a future without her in it, without her standing beside him, he decided the time was right to do something about that. “You’ve got a terrible temper, you tend to meddle in things that aren’t any of your concern, and I’ll probably starve to death if I expect you to learn to cook well enough to prepare three meals a day, but I love you, Ginny. More with every passing moment. I can’t promise life will be easy, but I can promise to love you until my very last day on this earth, until I draw my last breath. Please marry me, Genevieve. Say you’ll be my wife.”

  “Oh, yes, Blake. Yes!” Ginny said, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him with all the love she’d carried for him in her heart.

  “I’m so glad, love,” Blake said, sitting on the sofa beside her and pulling her into his arms.

  His lips touched her forehead, her cheek, her jaw, her ear then returned to make her lips his own.

  “I’ve waited so long for you to be mine,” Blake whispered, softly running his thumbs along her cheekbones, brushing his knuckles along her jaw, and gazing intently into her face. “Would you be terribly upset if we have a short engagement?”

  “Not at all, Blake. I don’t care about a big, fancy wedding or any of the frippery Mother will think is necessary. I just want you,” Ginny said, blushing slightly at her admission.

  Rubbing her fingers over the beloved little heart in her hand, she suddenly sat up and looked at Blake. “You aren’t asking me just because of Nigel, are you?”

  Blake laughed and kissed her again before responding. “How can you even ask that? I’ve been planning for weeks to propose today. In case you didn’t notice, that box has your first name carved into the design and it took me a while to get it just right.”

  “I did notice and I love it,” Ginny said, boldly kissing Blake again.

  Scooting off his lap, she got to her feet and looked at him. He stood and wrapped his arms around her. “What’s going through that lovely head of yours?”

  “I just don’t want you to feel rushed or pressured to marry me, Blake. I want, more than anything, to be your wife, but I don’t want you to feel trapped.”

  “Never, love. I’ll never feel trapped by you, although I admit I entirely like the idea of being trapped somewhere with you for a while.” Blake pressed hot, moist lips to her neck and made her lose the ability to think of anything except the strong arms holding her, the tempting lips kissing her, and her love for one of the kindest men she’d ever met.

  Lifting his head, Blake gave her a cocky grin. “Unless you plan to sit back down on this sofa and spend what remains of this afternoon having your way with me, I suppose I better get you back to town so you can prepare for the church service and program tonight.”

  Ginny blushed and slapped playfully at his arm, shaking her head.

  “The things you say, Mr. Stratton, are highly improper. Even if we are engaged,” Ginny said, relishing the sound of that. She was finally engaged to Blake! Giving up on all the dreams she had as a young girl of being his wife, it was now truly going to happen. This was the best Christmas Eve she’d ever experienced.

  “I rather like the sound of that - being engaged, I mean,” Blake said, helping Ginny slip on her coat. She still held the heart in her hand and looked from it to Blake’s tree.

  “I think I’d like this to stay on your tree,” she said, hanging it on a branch.

  “I’d like that very much, but only if you come visit it often,” Blake said, grinning broadly.

  “That would be satisfactory,” Ginny said, picking up the jewelry box and putting it in her coat pocket before slipping on her gloves and pinning on her hat.

  Blake gave her another quick kiss before escorting her outside to his waiting wagon. It didn’t take long until they were driving around the edge of town. Blake said it would help keep Nigel from seeing them, although Ginny thought Blake just wanted to take as long as possible to get her home.

  Stopping the wagon in front of Granger House, he jumped off the seat and hurried around to lift her down. Together, they ran along the back walk to the kitchen door and inside, laughing as they entered the room only to find Filly and Dora looking grim-faced as loud voices rang down the hall from the parlor.

  “He’s here,” Dora said, taking Ginny’s hand in hers and squeezing it.

  Ginny removed her outerwear and took a deep breath, prepared to go confront Nigel, but Blake put a restraining hand on her arm.

  “You don’t need to see him, Genevieve. I’ll speak with him. Why don’t you share what transpired this afternoon with your mother and Filly?” Blake suggested, walking through the kitchen and down the hall.

  Ginny, Filly, and Dora followed close behind with Ginny whispering about Blake’s proposal. They had a hard time containing their excitement as they stood in the hall and exchanged hugs and quiet words of congratulations.

  Although they didn’t enter the parlor, they remained in the hall where they could listen to the men.

  “I won’t stand for any more of this nonsense. You know where I can locate Ginny. You might as well tell me so we can catch the evening stage,” Nigel demanded, shaking a finger at Luke.

  Blake felt some grim satisfaction that Nigel’s nose sported a dark bruise. If the arrogant little man didn’t calm down, Blake didn’t know if he could resist giving him a matching spot on the other side.

  It was almost comical watching the small fellow try to intimidate Luke, who stood a foot taller and almost twice his width. Nigel could easily pass for a young boy with his scrawny frame and stature.

  “She’s not going anywhere with you, Pickford,” Blake said, stepping into the room.

  “Oh, yes, she is. A simple man like you couldn’t possibly understand who I am or what I have to offer her. There is no question that I would be the better choice. It’s clearly me,” Nigel said, puffing out his thin chest. “I’m not leaving until she agrees to come with me. Mummy has already sent out the invitations.”

  “We didn’t receive one,” Greg said, looking pointedly at Nigel. “Don’t you think the bride’s parents should be invited?”

  “Mummy knew you were visiting Luke here at the end of nowhere and were indisposed,” Nigel said, sneering at Greg. “Besides, we’re only inviting people who are of a certain social standing.”

  Ginny had to hold her hand over Dora’s mouth to keep her from screeching at Nigel’s implication that the Granger family didn’t meet his mother’s expectations of social class.

  “Out, Nigel. Get out of my house and don’t come back,” Luke said, grabbing the man by his arm and hauling him to the door. With Blake and Greg
flanking him, Nigel didn’t see the women standing in the hall.

  “As soon as I find her, we’re leaving!” Nigel said, standing on the step, adjusting his mussed coat and straightening his hat.

  “You’re leaving, but not with Ginny,” Blake said, taking a menacing step Nigel’s direction. “In case you’ve forgotten it’s Christmas Eve. Use some of that social class you’re so proud of flaunting and realize that pulling her from the arms of her family on Christmas Eve is barbaric.”

  “Fine,” Nigel said, brushing at his coat sleeve, afraid to make eye contact with the man who popped his nose the previous day. “I’ll wait until after the service at church this evening, but then we’re leaving.”

  Before anyone could protest, he marched down the steps and across the walk, stomping his way back to town.

  Luke and Blake watched him go then turned to see the three women looking at them wide-eyed.

  “What are we going to do?” Dora asked, reaching out to Greg, who offered her a comforting hug.

  “I’ll tell you what we’re going to do,” Blake said, turning to Ginny, who looked at him with confidence and hope. He ushered her into the parlor and the others followed, waiting to see what Blake had planned.

  “I know you just agreed to marry me, love, but will you marry me today? Right after the Christmas Eve service?” Blake asked, grinning at Ginny’s stunned expression. “Nigel is planning to marry you whether you like it or not and that contract he has says you agreed to it.”

  At the crestfallen looks on the women’s faces, Blake continued. “There is a clause, however. One Nigel seems to have forgotten. If either party finds someone else to marry and does so before the contract can be fulfilled, it is null and void.”

  “So you mean if Ginny marries you before Nigel can get her to leave, there’s nothing he can do about it?” Dora asked.

  “That is correct,” Blake said, pulling Ginny against him. “Would you mind terribly if we get engaged and have a wedding all in the same day?”

  “I don’t mind, Blake, it’s just that I don’t want you to feel pressured into doing this. I don’t have a dress and nothing is ready and…”