Love Inspired Historical November 2017 Box Set

by Karen Kirst

  “I’ll hold her.” Henry’s firm tone broached no argument. He softened it as he addressed Dot. “Up you go, Dimples.”

  “Thank you.” Lavinia smiled, but Henry didn’t look her way. She slid next to him, placed a hand on the now-vacant space and looked up at Stuart. “Please, have a seat.”

  He lowered himself, flipping the tails of his formal tailcoat over the back of the bench. His elegant attire made him stand out. Most of the men wore frock coats that had seen years of service. Some of the miners sported ankle-length dusters that had taken on the reddish color of the soil they worked. Although they differed in appearance from the cultured gentlemen her father entertained, the robust men of Sutter Creek worked hard. They were carving a future out of a rugged land and transforming California into a vibrant place teeming with possibilities.

  Stuart leaned close and whispered. “I’m looking forward to the play, the service and our talk afterward. I trust you’ll have an answer for me.”

  “I will.” She didn’t know yet what it would be. She’d been too preoccupied to come up with it, thinking instead about Henry and wondering what had kept him from spending the day at the house as he usually did.

  The minister stepped to the front and the room quieted. “Good evening. It’s wonderful to see so many of you here eager to celebrate Christmas Eve. I appreciate the schoolboard granting us the use of this facility again this year, but I look forward to the day we have a home of our own. The good Lord willing, there will be a church at the corner of Church Street before too many more years have passed. He’s provided the land, and I trust him to provide the funds needed to erect the building.”

  Lavinia couldn’t help but think of the beautiful church where she worshipped back in Philadelphia. Although the rosewood pews were filled with elegantly dressed men and women sitting in their assigned seats, it lacked the warmth of this makeshift church and the goodhearted people in it.

  “Since we have a group of youngsters eager to present the play for us—” the minister inclined his heard toward the curtained corner from which whispers and nervous giggles came “—I’ll keep the opening prayer brief and turn things over to their director.”

  After a short prayer, a young girl walked through the opening in the curtains followed by an older student who served as narrator. A male angel joined them wearing large wings Marcie had admired earlier. The play began with Gabriel informing Mary that she was to bear a child and call him Jesus.

  Lavinia watched for Alex and Marcie to appear with eagerness unlike anything she’d experienced before. She mouthed their words along with them and heaved sighs of relief when they didn’t miss one. Not even the concerts and plays she’d attended back home had brought her such joy or filled her with such pride.

  The children had come to mean more to her than she would have thought possible. If they were sad, she ached along with them. If they laughed, she joined in. If they experienced success, she rejoiced. They’d done a fine job tonight. She couldn’t wait to congratulate them, but she’d have to wait until after the service since the performers had reserved seats on benches up front.

  When the applause at the end of the play finally subsided, the minister stepped to the front once again. “I’m sure you’re eager to enjoy those treats Mr. Hawthorn and Miss Crowne have prepared, which smell so good, and I know the children can’t wait to see what’s inside those pretty packages on the tree, but I have a short message first that I hope you’ll find inspiring.”

  He launched into the sermon with his usual enthusiasm. His engaging delivery took the story just enacted by the children in a different direction. He talked about examining the birth of Christ from a new perspective, making use of a simple question.

  “As we just saw, God spoke to Joseph in a dream, reassuring him that what Mary had said was true, but what if Joseph had been more concerned about the townspeople’s approval than he was about following God’s plan for his life and had set Mary aside?”

  The minister continued talking, but the words sounded like they were coming from the depths of a mine shaft like the one Henry had pointed out to her the day they’d traveled to Jackson. Lavinia stared at the clock above the chalkboard, unaware that her mouth was parted until it grew dry. She closed it and tried to silence the questions bombarding her.

  What if she’d been guilty of overriding the Lord’s plans for her life? What if taking Henry to court wasn’t the right thing to do? She hadn’t even prayed about it. Instead, she’d been bent on doing whatever it took to be granted guardianship of the children, even considering marrying a man she didn’t love. What if she was about to make a terrible mistake?

  Stuart leaned over and whispered in her ear. “Are you all right?”

  Unable to speak, she nodded instead.

  Despite their differences, Henry sent her an encouraging smile. He’d been supportive of her from the start even though she’d resisted his attempts to help. She would miss him greatly. If only things were different…

  What if they could be? What if she surrendered her problems and her plans to her Heavenly Father instead of trying so hard to handle things on her own? What if she trusted Him to do what was best for the children—and for her?

  Lord, I should have come to You a long time ago. I’m sorry I didn’t. I’ve made a mess of things, pushing hard to get what I want. In the process, I’ve even managed to push Henry away. How could he love me when I’ve been out to discredit him? I’m here now seeking Your guidance. Please help me figure out what to do.

  She waited throughout the rest of the message for a sign of some kind. She’d heard of people experiencing a profound sense of peace after they’d given their troubles to the Lord, but nothing happened. She drew in a calming breath, but the sugary sweet scents filling the air made the pitching of her stomach worse.

  The minister said the closing prayer, delivered the benediction and turned things over to Lavinia. She rose on legs that felt about as firm as the creamy filling in the éclairs, made her way to the front and faced the congregation.

  “As you heard, there’s a small gift for each child on the tree. To make things go smoothly, I’ll be removing them. I’ve asked my nieces and nephew to pass them out, so if they will join me—” she nodded at each of them in turn “—we can get started.”

  Alex, Marcie and Dot delivered the presents. The children made quick work of tearing off the colorful tissue paper Lavinia and Henry had used to wrap them. Gleeful shouts followed.

  Lavinia encouraged everyone to visit the dessert tables and help themselves. Mrs. Keyes sat at the piano and played carols as she had at the party for the children’s classmates and their families. Many of the adults headed over to partake of the refreshments, but the children were captivated by the simple gifts she’d given them and seemed in no hurry to sample the sweets. Fathers and older brothers showed the younger children how to spin a wooden top, operate a yo-yo or get a ball on a string into a cup.

  Lavinia extended Christmas greetings to the people nearest her and moved on to speak with several others after that. Frankie’s mother approached her, a plate full of desserts in hand. “The children did a fine job in the play, didn’t they? Alex was as well-behaved as ever. I didn’t think my mischievous Frankie could be so serious, but he looked like a wise man.”

  “Indeed. I’m new to all this and didn’t know what a joy it is to watch a child you love perform.”

  “Makes a mother—or an aunt—proud, it does.” The rosy-cheeked woman looked around the room. “It was mighty generous of you to give the children presents. When times are hard, like they’ve been this past year, they don’t get many toys. There’s some youngsters who’ll be happy to find a peppermint stick and an orange waiting for them tomorrow morning. We’re doing a bit better than most. Frankie will be getting a set of tin soldiers, and I found an adorable little tea set for his younger sister.”

&n
bsp; Lavinia managed to finish the conversation on a cheery note, despite the tightness in her chest. If she’d given the children the presents she’d planned to, they could have overshadowed their parents’ offerings. Her time in Sutter Creek had taught her a valuable lesson—simple gifts given with love meant more than lavish displays intended to impress. Even though they had very little, the people here were more content than many of those she knew back east, who were always striving for more.

  Like her father.

  He had so much, and yet he wasn’t content. He was intent upon expanding his empire, which took him away from home for months at a time. She’d spent most of her childhood under the watchful eye of a governess.

  But her nieces and nephew wouldn’t. Once she was granted guardianship, she could take them to San Francisco with her, where she would care for them herself and see that they had the best opportunities possible.

  Henry’s rich voice reached her with its wealth of rolled R’s, as appealing as the man himself. He was talking with Mr. Nichols while balancing Dot on one hip. The darling girl doted on Henry, and it was easy to see why. He showered the children with love just as he’d been doing ever since they’d lost their parents. He’d even said he was going to stay home with Dot until she started school. For a man as active as Henry, that would be quite a sacrifice. But that’s who he was. He’d do anything for those he loved.

  But she wasn’t one of them.

  She stepped behind the curtained area and blinked to clear her blurred vision.

  A light touch on her arm alerted her to the presence of another. “What’s wrong, Lavinia?”

  She spun around. “Oh, Gladys, it’s you. I thought it was—” She pressed her lips together and placed a hand over her racing heart. She’d come too close to admitting how much she’d hoped Henry had come looking for her.

  Gladys folded her arms and frowned. “I saw you watching Mr. Henry. Has he done something to upset you? If so, I’ll have a word with that young man.”

  “It’s not him. It’s me. So much has happened since you left on your honeymoon, and it’s left me in a bit of a quandary.” She told Gladys about the letter from her father, the offer Stuart had made after she read it and her pending court case.

  “Well now, that’s a fine kettle of fish. In two weeks’ time, you’ve decided to take a stand against your father, received a proposal from a man you don’t love and driven a wedge between you and the one you do. My question is, what are you going to do now? Give up on your dreams or follow your heart?”

  “I can’t follow my heart. I love Henry, but he doesn’t love me.”

  Gladys gave an unladylike snort. “What do you mean he’s not in love? It’s as plain as the wrinkles on my face that he’s head over heels for you.”

  “Perhaps, but he hasn’t said anything. I asked him outright if he could give me any reason not to consider Stuart’s offer, and he didn’t have one.”

  “Oh, he does, all right, but I reckon he’s gone all gallant on you. Either that, or his pride’s acting up.”

  Lavinia shook her head. “I don’t understand.”

  “What I’m saying is that Mr. Henry doesn’t want to stand in your way. He knows the kind of life you’ve been used to, and he can’t provide for you like Mr. Worthington can.”

  “I don’t need all that anymore. I just want…” Her lips trembled and she sniffed. She couldn’t cry. Not here. Not now.

  “Say it, Lavinia. What do you want?”

  “To be with Henry.”

  “Then you know what you have to do, so go out there and do it.” Gladys pulled back the sheet.

  “I can tell Stuart I won’t marry him, but I can’t tell Henry how I feel.”

  “You don’t have to tell him. Turning down Mr. Worthington will show him.”

  She hoped Gladys was right, but she had her doubts.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Watching Lavinia talk with Worthington tested Henry’s resolve. He fought the urge to march across the room and ask the fancy-dressed fellow to leave. If it weren’t for his nieces and nephew, who were busy perusing the dessert table again, he might not have been able to stop himself. Lavinia deserved more than a loveless marriage. Standing up to her father and dealing with his outrage would be better than sentencing herself to a lifetime of lost hopes and dreams.

  She gazed at Worthington, graced him with one of her beautiful smiles and accepted his offer. Or so it appeared, judging by the answering smile on the encroacher’s face.

  The scene sickened Henry, and he forced himself to look away. He didn’t even know why he was letting himself get riled up. After all, Lavinia was out to destroy him, because that’s what taking the children would do. Not that she would win her case and get him ousted as their guardian. Even if he’d unwittingly neglected some finer points of the law due to his grief-stricken state, surely a judge would grant him some leniency.

  If he was honest with himself, he admired her dogged determination to wrest the guardianship from him, especially now that her eyes had been opened and she was acting on her own behalf instead of carrying out her father’s wishes. Her resolve proved how much she loved the children. She’d do a wonderful job of mothering them, but the thought of Worthington filling the role of their father soured Henry’s stomach. That honor was his, but he’d be happier if Lavinia was by his side, helping him bring up their nieces and nephew.

  The trouble was that he had so little to offer, although the conversation he’d just concluded with Mr. Nichols had given him hope. The price the buyer of his hotel up in Marysville had offered, albeit low, would enable him to pay off Jack’s mortgage. If all went well, he’d even have enough left over to meet his needs until he could establish a business, at which time the banker would help him secure a loan of his own.

  Emery Staples sidled up to Henry and chuckled. “Looks like you’ve got it bad, son.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Miss Lavinia. You can’t take your eyes off her. Not that I can blame you. She’s a fine-looking young lady. Hardworking, too. Preparing for this party took some doing.” Emery shifted his gaze from Lavinia to Henry. “Gladys tells me you helped with the baking.”

  “I gave Lavinia a few pointers, but she did most of the work herself.” He couldn’t have asked for a more eager or enthusiastic student. Watching her learn a skill she enjoyed so much had been rewarding.

  “And a fine job she did. I’ve sampled a number of her confections. Might even have to try another one or two, provided my wife doesn’t catch me. Gladys has a mind to trim me down a bit.” He patted his rounded stomach and let loose with a good-natured laugh. “The things a man will do for his ladylove.”

  “It sounds like marriage agrees with you.”

  “That it does. I highly recommend the institution.”

  A tall man in an alpaca coat much like Henry’s stood in the doorway of the mudroom scanning the crowd. He studied the newcomer. Although he wasn’t a local resident, something about the elderly gentleman was familiar.

  Lavinia gasped. “Father?”

  Shock froze her to the spot, but it set Henry in motion. He took a step, only to be stopped by a firm grip on his shoulder.

  “Not to meddle, son, but I reckon Miss Lavinia can fight her own battles.”

  Emery had a point. She wasn’t one to accept help easily, but Henry was prepared to offer it if need be. For now, he needed to get to the children, who were apt to be frightened by the unexpected appearance of their grandfather.

  Worthington, to his credit, stepped in front of Lavinia, but she marched across the room to face her father. “What are you doing here?”

  The room had quieted, with most of the guests riveted on the drama playing out in front of them. Some slipped out, a wise move, since things were likely to get even more heated.

 
Paul Crowne cast his daughter a disapproving gaze. “Come now, Lavinia. Is that any way to greet your father? I’ve traveled all the way from Philadelphia to see you and my grandchildren. Where are the little tykes?”

  Henry reached the children, who stood wide-eyed and openmouthed. He pulled them to his sides. “It’s all right. I’m here.”

  Dot and Marcie clung to him tightly. Alex put on a brave front, but his hands were shaking.

  Lavinia lifted her chin. “If you’d shown even the slightest bit of interest in them, Father, I would be happy to introduce them to you, but that’s not the case, is it? All you care about is how they can benefit you.”

  “Nonsense, my dear. This wild accusation of yours is uncalled for. I’ve come to take the children back with me.”

  “You’re not taking them. I won’t allow it.”

  Crowne mimicked Lavinia in a sardonic tone. “You won’t allow it.” He barked out a bitter laugh. “How droll—and shortsighted. I can give them a better life than they can get here in this rough-and-tumble town.”

  She took a step back and stared at her father, her brown eyes as dark as Henry had ever seen them. He watched her, his muscles tensed. If he wasn’t protecting the children from Crowne, he would have been in the bully’s face, telling him just what he thought of the cruelty he was inflicting on his only remaining daughter. No wonder Pauline had left home and never looked back.

  Emery and Gladys arrived, offering welcome support.

  “Thank you for coming to watch the children,” Henry whispered. “I can’t let Lavinia deal with this on her own.”

  “I know it’s hard,” Emery said, “but give her another minute, son.”

  She cast a glance around the room and returned her attention to her father. Her voice rang out clear and strong. “You’ve maligned me for years, but I won’t stand by and let you speak ill of these good people. They might not measure up to your standards, but they’re my friends.”

  Crowne shook his head. “I knew it. You’ve gone soft. That’s what I was afraid of and why I came. I’m sure it’s all that Hawthorn fellow’s doing. He’s probably convinced you the children are better off here with him, a no-account blacksmith like his brother.”