The Christmas Token

by Shanna Hatfield

  “Of course we will, dear,” Sarah said, hugging Ginny to her side. “What a lovely thing for the two of you to do.”

  “Like Ginny said, no one should be alone on Christmas,” Blake said, glad to see Luke was no longer coughing and Filly resumed stirring the gravy. “Speaking of Christmas, did you like your present, Filly?”

  “Oh, Blake, if you mean the chair, it’s wonderful. We plan to put it in the nursery,” Filly said, giving him a pleased smile.

  “How’d you get it here from the bank?” Blake asked, looking at Luke.

  “I waited until Filly fell asleep then woke up Dad and made him help me haul it back here. Bart thought we were up to some sort of mischief and wouldn’t stop barking. I just knew she’d come running down the stairs and catch us red-handed. Fortunately, she slept through Bart’s racket.”

  “Yes, I did, but you were half frozen when you came back to bed,” Filly said, kissing Luke’s cheek as he stepped next to her at the stove. “I assumed you were up to something but knew enough to refrain from asking. Thank you for stamping the chair, too, Blake.”

  Normally, Blake didn’t stamp the furniture he sold locally with the Roxbury insignia. He sold unstamped pieces at a significantly reduced price from the stamped pieces he shipped overseas, or even to Portland. Luke asked him if he’d add it to the rocker, since he hoped the piece would become a family heirloom.

  “Stamping the chair?” Dora asked, confused, looking from Ginny to Blake. Ginny shrugged her shoulders.

  “I’ll show you, Mother,” Luke said, taking his mother’s elbow and leading her to the parlor where the rocker still sat near the tree. Turning the chair over, he pointed out the fox head with the words “Roxbury House” on the bottom of the chair’s seat.

  Dora sucked in her breath. “You’re Roxbury House, Blake?”

  “The one and only,” he said, grinning at his new mother-in-law, amused by her wide-eyed glance his direction.

  “Goodness gracious! Several of my friends have been all abuzz about your work and one recently returned home from a trip to England with the most beautiful chair and table,” Dora said, pride filling her face at her son-in-law being a famous furniture maker. Turning to Sarah, Dora took the woman’s hand in hers, giving her a warm smile. “Your son is extremely talented as well as in high demand.”

  “Yes, he is,” Sarah said, gazing lovingly at her only child. “What makes his father and me proud, though, is that he keeps his feet on the ground and has such a good heart.”

  Dora nodded as she and Sarah returned to the kitchen. Ginny, who couldn’t bear to be away from Blake, sat on his lap in a chair by the fire, visiting with Greg and Robert until the first guests began to arrive.

  Within ten minutes, the sound of cheerful laughter and good-natured teasing filled the house.

  When Nigel knocked on the door, Luke offered him a welcoming handshake and invited him in.

  “Thank you, Luke, for opening your home to me today,” Nigel said, feeling oddly humbled by Ginny and Blake’s insistence he join them for dinner at the Granger House. After the trouble he stirred up, insisting Ginny marry him, he assumed they would run him out of town as quickly as possible. The last place he expected to find himself was sitting at their dining room table, filled with a sumptuous feast.

  Luke seated Filly then took his chair at the head of the table. After asking Chauncy to bless the food, a lively conversation flowed, wrapping those there in a comfortable familiarity.

  Erin jabbered away at Percy Bruner, who sat next to her, making silly faces that kept them both entertained. Chauncy and Abby visited with Dora and Sarah while Greg talked banking with Luke’s assistant, Arlan, and Robert asked George and Aleta about their mercantile.

  Full from the good meal, the guests adjourned to the parlor where they sang carols and played a few games.

  As the afternoon began to give way to evening, the guests declared it time to go home. Ginny and Blake stood on the front porch waving to Chauncy, Abby and Erin as they strolled toward town, only to turn around and find Nigel watching them.

  “Have a happy life, Ginny,” Nigel said, kissing her cheek then shaking Blake’s hand.

  “You as well, Nigel,” Ginny said, patting his arm. “You’ll find just the right girl for you. I’m sure of it.”

  “You know, Nigel, dear,” Dora said, walking out the door and linking her arm with his. “My dear friend, Mrs. Atwillinger, mentioned her daughter, Hortense, is back from an extended trip abroad. She’ll no doubt be looking for someone to provide amusing companionship since so many of her friends have moved away or married.”

  “I might look her up when I return to the city,” Nigel said, nodding his head to Dora. “Thank you all for a nice day. I suppose if I’m going to catch the stage, though, I must make haste.”

  “Yep. You’ve got about thirty minutes before it leaves,” Luke said, shaking his head as Nigel hurried down the steps, across the front walk and back into town. Rounding on his mother, he grinned. “Hortense Atwillinger? Really, Mother, Nigel wasn’t that bad, was he?”

  Greg laughed and slapped Luke on the back. “Maybe that cotton-headed shrew and Nigel would make a good pair.”

  “You two are awful,” Ginny said, grinning as they all returned to the parlor and sat around the cozy fire.

  Packages to and from the newly married couple still sat beneath the tree waiting to be opened and Luke and Ginny insisted they’d waited long enough to get to them.

  Blake passed out the gifts he’d made, varying from practical to whimsical. One for Filly and Luke sat hidden in Ginny’s room and Blake hurried to retrieve it, setting it in front of Filly.

  When she removed the blanket that covered it, tears filled her eyes.

  “Blake, this is too much,” Luke said, gathering Filly in his arms as he looked in pleased surprise at his new brother-in-law.

  “Not for my future niece or nephew,” Blake said, smiling.

  “It’s lovely, Blake. Thank you so much,” Filly said, giving him a hug then running her hand over the smooth wood of a lovely baby cradle, made to match the rocking chair. “I think this baby will be thoroughly spoiled.”

  “It won’t be for lack of trying,” Greg said with a broad grin.

  Ginny got to her feet and began handing out packages wrapped in shiny paper and tied with red ribbon. “Much to everyone’s surprise, no doubt, I made my gifts, too.”

  “What did you make, darling?” Dora asked, accepting the gift Ginny handed her.

  “Open them and see.” Ginny clasped her hands under her chin until Blake tugged her back onto his lap and they watched together to see the astonished looks on the faces around them.

  Ginny painted portraits or landscape scenes for everyone and Blake provided the frames. Dora sat alternately hugging hers to her chest and holding it out to look at. It was a sketch of Ginny and Blake, one Ginny had made when all she had were hopes and dreams of spending a future with him.

  “Now you can remember us both when you go home, Mother,” Ginny said, making fresh tears spring from Dora’s eyes.

  “About that,” Greg said, looking at Dora as she nodded her head. “With Ginny moving here permanently and our first grandchild coming next summer, your Mother and I have decided to move back to Hardman.”

  “What?” Luke asked, shocked at his father’s words.

  “Don’t worry, son. We’ll be building a house of our own in town,” Greg said, grinning at Luke. “I’ve already made arrangements to purchase a lot and we’d like to begin building it as soon as the snow melts. Our hope is to be able to move back before the baby arrives.”

  “That’s wonderful,” Ginny said, hugging first Greg and then Dora. “But what will you do, Dad?”

  “Do? Why, I plan to retire, dear girl. To fish and hunt and ride a horse whenever I feel like. I hope, on occasion, Luke will let me play with his cows and maybe my new son-in-law will let me help in his shop once in a while.”

  “Absolutely, sir,” Blake said, reach
ing out a hand to Greg. “I’d be honored to have your help anytime.”

  “It sounds like you’ve got it all planned out,” Luke said, smiling at his parents, relieved to know he wouldn’t be residing under the same roof as his mother. As much as he loved her, he didn’t think he’d enjoy having her in his home on a permanent basis.

  “That’s splendid,” Robert said, slapping Greg on the back while Sarah smiled her agreement. “You’ll have to keep an eye on these youngsters and apprise us of their activities. Blake is not the chatty sort when it comes to writing us letters.”

  “We’d be happy to keep you informed,” Dora said, clasping Sarah’s hand in hers with a watery smile.

  “Speaking of plans,” Luke said, addressing Robert and Sarah, “we don’t know what yours are for the remainder of your visit, but we’d love to have you stay here with us as long as you like.”

  Filly nodded her head in agreement.

  “Thank you for your hospitality, Luke,” Robert said, liking the idea of staying at the Granger House for the next few weeks, giving Blake and Ginny the privacy of being alone at their home. “We’ll take you up on that offer, but only if you promise to allow us to return the favor this spring. We’d be so pleased to have all of you visit our estate.”

  Luke felt Filly grasp his hand and squeeze, and could see his mother’s excited smile across the room. “I think that might be a fine idea, as long as Filly feels up to traveling.”

  His wife rolled her eyes and sighed. “You might amend that statement, Luke. It won’t depend on how I feel as much as it will on his hovering and if he decides I am well enough to go.”

  Sarah and Dora laughed while Greg winked at Luke. “She’s got you there, son.”

  “Are you sure you don’t mind staying here, Mum?” Blake asked, hoping his mother would say “no.”

  “Why would we mind, Blake? The Grangers are lovely hosts, we have a beautiful room next to a bathroom, and Filly’s creations in the kitchen are quite noteworthy,” Sarah said quietly, smiling at her son. “To tell you the truth, dear, I can’t say that I’m disappointed we won’t be at the home place. You still haven’t installed indoor plumbing, have you?”

  “No, Mum,” Blake said with a soft chuckle. “But we’ll be adding on to the house in the spring and putting in a bathroom, among other things, as quickly as possible.”

  “That’s wonderful!” Sarah said, leaning over and patting Ginny’s hand. “In case I didn’t mention it in the hullabaloo last night, I’m so very pleased to have you in our family, Ginny. We’ve always loved you like a daughter, and now Blake made it official.”

  Hugging the kind woman, Ginny kissed her cheek then grasped the hand Blake placed on her waist as he once again pulled her back to his lap. “Thank you, Sarah. You’ve always been like a second mother to me and I can hardly wait to spend more time with you.”

  “When you come to visit, we’ll make sure to plan a few days for shopping in London,” Sarah said, already excited at the prospect of having the Granger women visiting. “We’ll eat at one of my favorite tea rooms, shop, and the men can tag along just to carry our purchases.”

  “Keep tempting me with such pronouncements of fun, Mum, and we might just stay home,” Blake teased, giving his mother a mischievous smile.

  “You never cared much for big cities or shopping, did you, son?” Robert asked, joining their conversation.

  When Blake shook his head, his father grinned. “I can’t say that I blame you. Not with all this delightfully fresh country air and big open sky. If we didn’t have so many responsibilities at home, we might just move back here for part of the year.”

  “Oh, quit teasing the boy,” Sarah said, giving Robert a nudge. “You know your father loves every inch of his home and wouldn’t ever leave it again.”

  “Only if you leave it, Sarah,” Robert said, putting an arm around his wife’s shoulders. “Wherever you go, that’s where my home is.”

  “I see where you get your romantic tendencies,” Ginny whispered to Blake. He grinned and subtly moved his hand up to caress her side.

  Suddenly, their thoughts turned to each other and away from the conversation taking place around them.

  Forcing herself to answer a question Filly asked for the second time, Ginny looked back over her shoulder at Blake with such a gaze of longing, he began to feel inflamed.

  “We better get home before it gets too late or cold out,” he said, setting Ginny on her feet then jumping up beside her.

  “Must you go already?” Dora asked, wrapping her arm around Ginny’s waist as the group walked to the kitchen. Filly packed a basket with leftovers while Blake helped Ginny on with her coat then slid into his.

  “Thank you for the delicious meal, wonderful gifts, and lovely day. All of you,” he said, smiling as Ginny pinned on her hat and tugged her gloves over her fingers. “We really must be going, though.”

  “Let me run out and help you hitch up your team,” Luke said, starting to put on his coat.

  “No need,” Blake said, tipping his head to Luke. “We brought back the sleigh for the folks, but we’ll just ride my horse home. I’ll bring in a wagon tomorrow and collect our gifts and Ginny’s things.”

  “I’ll help you saddle him, then. I need to feed the livestock anyway,” Luke said, following Blake out the door.

  It didn’t take them long to return to the kitchen. “It’s cold out there,” Luke said, sidling up to Filly and placing cold fingers against her warm neck, making her squirm.

  “Don’t you get any ideas, Blake,” Ginny cautioned as he took her arm and walked her out the door.

  “I’ve got plenty of ideas,” Blake said, his breath hot on her neck. “They don’t, however, involve cold hands. I was thinking more along the lines of your delectable lips and our warm bed.”

  “Blake! You can’t… you mustn’t say such things,” Ginny protested, although her giggles detracted from any disapproval she might have expressed.

  “I can and I will,” he said, mounting Romeo then leaning down to pull Ginny across his lap. She nestled against his chest and he reached down and felt along her hip.

  “What have you got in your pocket, love? You’ll have a hole poked through me before we get home,” Blake asked, still trying to find the object in question.

  “Just this,” Ginny said, reaching into her pocket and pulling out the wooden heart Blake carved for her all those years ago. Ten years ago to the day, he gave it into her keeping and now she had not only his Christmas token, but also his heart and the promise of his love for the rest of her life.

  “Thank you, Genevieve, for accepting my heart and my love. They are yours to keep for as long as I live.”

  “And mine are yours, Blake. I love you so,” Ginny said, wrapping her arms around her husband’s neck and kissing him deeply as they rode through town.

  “Merry Christmas, love,” Blake said, drawing her closer against him as the horse carried them home. “Merry, Merry Christmas.”

  ###

  Chocolate Coconut Kisses

  Like Blake in the story, I love coconut sweets, especially paired with chocolate. These cookies are simple to make and oh, so good!

  Chocolate Coconut Kisses

  ½ cup egg whites (4 medium eggs)

  1 ¼ cups sugar

  ¼ tsp. salt

  ½ tsp. vanilla

  2 ½ cups moist shredded coconut

  2 oz. unsweetened chocolate, melted and slightly cooled

  Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

  Separate eggs and beat whites until frothy. Gradually add in sugar. Continue beating with mixer until very stiff and glossy. Stir in salt, vanilla, coconut and chocolate until mixed.

  Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls two inches apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment.

  Bake about 20 minutes or until set and delicately browned. Lift off paper, lay a wet towel on the hot baking sheet. Place paper on the towel. Steam will loosen the kisses. Slip off with a spatula onto a serving plate or platter
.

  Snitch one and savor the bliss then force yourself to share.

  Author’s Note

  Back in the late 1800s, Hardman was a bustling town along a stage route through Eastern Oregon. Anticipating the arrival of the railroad in town, it instead went through Heppner, about 20 miles to the north. Without the railroad to bring in business, the town began its decline. By the 1920s, trucks replaced horses and mail routes changed. The last business in Hardman closed in 1968.

  Today it’s considered a ghost town and about 25 residents still live there. For more details about the town, this website offers a few: http://www.ghosttowngallery.com/htme/hardman.htm

  Although this is a work of fiction and most of the town in Hardman Holidays stories exists only in my active imagination, the town did boast a skating rink, four churches, a school, and newspaper office in the 1880s.

  The Christmas Bargain is the first book in this series, introducing Luke and Filly Granger, as well as many of the other characters. Originally, I did not intend to write more than one story about the town. Then the Granger family and their friends became quite dear to me and I knew I had to share Ginny’s story.

  I hope you enjoyed her holiday romance with the dashing Blake Stratton.

  If so, I hope you’ll consider sharing your thoughts in a review.

  Thank you for reading The Christmas Token.

  Happy Holidays!

  The Christmas Bargain (Hardman Holidays, Book 1) - As owner and manager of the Hardman bank, Luke Granger is a man of responsibility and integrity in the small 1890s Eastern Oregon town. Calling in a long overdue loan, Luke finds himself reluctantly accepting a bargain in lieu of payment from the shiftless farmer who barters his daughter to settle his debt.

  Philamena Booth is both mortified and relieved when her father sends her off with the banker as payment of his debt. Held captive on the farm by her father since the death of her mother more than a decade earlier, Philamena is grateful to leave. If only it had been someone other than the handsome and charismatic Luke Granger riding in to rescue her. Ready to hold up her end of the bargain as Luke’s cook and housekeeper, Philamena is prepared for the hard work ahead.