The Christmas Bargain

by Shanna Hatfield

  The evenings found her in the kitchen at home, trying to squeeze in some of the holiday baking she wanted to have done before Christmas arrived.

  Nights she spent tossing and turning, dreaming of her handsome, charming husband. Luke’s ice blue eyes, lit by an inner fire, haunted her dreams. If she breathed deeply enough, his unique manly scent would flood her senses and fill her with a deep longing, one she couldn’t even begin to understand.

  One afternoon while both the baby and Abby were napping, Filly ran over to the mercantile for some supplies. She waved at Aleta Bruner who was helping another customer and made her way over to the fabric and yarn section. She was looking through some skeins of colorful yarn, trying to think of what she could make Luke for Christmas, when she overheard Melanie LaRoux talking to two of her friends.

  “Isn’t she awful? I don’t know what Luke sees in her,” Melanie said, with a haughty toss of her head.

  “He could certainly have done better for himself,” one of Melanie’s friends said.

  “Well, I heard she worked at the Red Lantern before he married her. That’s why no one saw her around town before. Respectable folk wouldn’t have seen her. Did you hear about her riding through town with her hair down and her skirts up to her thighs? What kind of woman does that?” Melanie said, spreading nasty rumors that would no doubt be around town before the day was through.

  Filly couldn’t hear the rest of their conversation as they left the store, but what she’d heard was enough to make her hang her head and brush at the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks.

  When Aleta finished waiting on the other customers, she found Filly still standing by the yarn, looking as hurt and dejected as she had the first time Abby brought her in the store.

  Putting her hand on Filly’s arm, she gave it a squeeze. “Don’t you pay Melanie and her friends any mind. Her tongue is sharp on both edges and she’s still mad she couldn’t catch Luke Granger. She’s just a mean, spiteful girl who’ll get her comeuppance one of these days. If you ask me, Luke’s blessed he found you and didn’t end up with her.”

  Filly gave her friend a small smile. “Thank you.”

  Aleta patted Filly’s back. “Now, I know you didn’t come in just to look at the yarn. What’s on your shopping list today?”

  Filly gave Aleta the list, her mind zipping between thoughts of finding a suitable Christmas gift for Luke and the horrid things Melanie said. Fingering a skein of light blue yarn that made her think of Luke’s eyes, she added it to her pile of purchases, planning to make him a scarf, but wanting to get him something more, something special.

  “Would you like me to have Percy carry this to the house for you?” Aleta asked. “I could send him over as soon as school is out.”

  “That won’t be necessary,” Filly said, “I can take it with me.”

  Pulling on her gloves, Filly picked up her purchases, placed them in her basket, and started toward the door. Turning back she smiled at Aleta. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome, Filly. And remember what I said. Melanie isn’t worth worrying over.”

  Stepping out into the bright afternoon sunshine, Filly took a deep breath, then another before making her way back to the parsonage. She was nearly there when she felt a warm presence beside her and turned to find herself staring into Luke’s twinkling blue eyes.

  “Hello, wife,” Luke said, kissing her cheek. “What are you about this afternoon?”

  “Just picking up a few things from the mercantile,” she said as they went in the kitchen door of the parsonage. “Abby needed some supplies and so did I.”

  Abby walked into the kitchen carrying little Erin. Beaming them both a smile, she held the baby toward Luke. “Would you like to hold her, Uncle Luke?”

  “You know I would,” Luke said, quickly removing his Stetson and coat. Sitting down at the table, he took the baby in his arms and cuddled her close. Everyone was surprised at how he had taken to the sweet baby.

  “How’s my girl today?” Luke asked as he brushed Erin’s tiny cheek with a light kiss. “I think she gets prettier every time I see her.”

  “That’s what you said the last two times you held her,” Abby laughed, pouring a cup of coffee and sitting down across from Luke.

  “I can’t help it if it’s true. You know bankers look at the facts and the fact is she’s the prettiest baby I’ve ever seen.”

  “She’s the only baby you’ve ever seen, at least close enough to tell if it is a boy or a girl,” Abby teased.

  Filly laughed. “That would explain a lot.”

  Luke pretended to ignore then. “You hear that Erin. Your Mama and Auntie Filly are making fun of me. What should we do about it?”

  The baby waved one tiny hand and hit Luke’s face.

  “I think I’ve just been slapped,” Luke said dryly while Abby and Filly laughed.

  “Not that we aren’t enjoying your company, Luke, but what are you doing here mid-afternoon?” Abby asked, surprised to see him in the middle of the day.

  “You mean I can’t just drop by to see my favorite ladies whenever the mood strikes?”

  “Of course you can,” Filly said, putting away the groceries she picked up for Abby. She made sure the yarn stayed wrapped in paper and out of Luke’s sight.

  “Good,” Luke said, making funny faces at the baby who appeared to be going back to sleep. “I came to see if I could steal my wife away from you Abby, if you are feeling better.”

  “I feel fine and by all means, steal away. I keep telling Filly she doesn’t have to work like a slave for me every day. I’m feeling much, much improved.”

  “I’m glad to hear that,” Luke said, standing up and rocking the baby a few times before handing Erin back to her mother. He picked up Filly’s coat and helped her put it on, then slid on his own.

  “Don’t I get a say in what I want to do this afternoon?” Filly asked as Luke walked her out the door.

  “No,” Luke and Abby answered in unison.

  “Have fun,” Abby called as Luke shut the door behind him.

  Placing Filly’s hand on his arm, he walked them down the sidewalk and toward the bank. When they reached the corner, Luke led her down a side street she had not taken time to explore.

  “Will you at least tell me where we are going?” Filly asked, trying to guess what Luke might be up to.

  “You’ll find out soon enough,” he said, guiding her up the steps of a large building and holding the door so she could precede him inside.

  “It’s the skating rink,” Filly said, looking around. “I’ve never been skating.”

  “Then by all means, let’s remedy that right now,” Luke said with a wink.

  Going to the cashier, he paid for two and then helped Filly put on the rented skates.

  “I’m not so sure about this, Luke,” Filly said, stepping gingerly into the rink. They were the only ones there, a fact she appreciated since she knew she would probably embarrass them both before they were through.

  Luke skated past her, raced around the rink, did a few fancy turns, and then came to a stop with a flourish in front of her.

  Filly smiled. “I can only assume you’ve done this once or twice.”

  “Maybe,” Luke said, a teasing glint warming his eyes. “Give me your hands.”

  Filly placed her hands in Luke’s and he skated backward, giving her direction on how to move her body and feet. Before she remembered to be afraid, she was having a marvelous time.

  Luke was as good at teaching her how to skate as he was at how to kiss. Thinking of his kisses made her cheeks flush and her gaze linger on his full lips. Lost in her thoughts she missed a step and pulled them both down.

  Luke quickly got back to his feet, concerned she was hurt. Helping her stand, he basked in her warm laughter. “I think I like the skating more than the falling down. I’ll try and pay closer attention.”

  Leaning close so his lips were nearly touching her ear, Luke rumbled, “What had you so distracted?”<
br />
  Filly flushed again and took a tentative step on her own. “Nothing you need to concern yourself with.”

  Luke skated behind her, putting his hands to her waist and guiding her around the rink. They skated for quite a while alone, enjoying the experience and one another’s company. They were taking off their skates when the door opened and Melanie and her friends came in.

  Sticking her nose in the air, she huffed. “It appears they’ll let just anyone in here,” she said, then spun around and went back out the door, followed by her friends.

  Filly ducked her head and busied herself with the skates, trying to hide the hurt in her eyes. She felt Luke’s hand on her back.

  “Filly, please don’t take anything she says to heart. She’s just being spiteful,” Luke said, rubbing a circle on her back as he helped her to her feet. She felt the heat of his hand even through her coat.

  “I know, but…” Filly said, brushing away a tear.

  “No buts about it,” Luke said, gently wiping away a tear from her cheek with his thumb. Her skin felt so soft and velvety, he had a hard time pulling his hand away. “Just ignore her. She’ll find something else to be mad about soon.”

  Upset from her second encounter with Melanie in one day, Filly couldn’t stop the words from spilling out. “Earlier at the mercantile I heard her tell her friends that I… that I…”

  “That you what, Filly?”

  “That I worked at the Red Lantern before you married me.”

  Luke jerked his head up and a look of loathing crossed his face. “Why, that little shrew,” Luke said, indignant on Filly’s behalf and mad at himself for ever thinking Melanie was anything but a spoiled brat.

  Placing their skates on the counter, Luke waved a hand in thanks at the attendant and escorted his wife out the door.

  “I’m sorry, darlin’. I don’t know what to tell you except to keep ignoring her. Most of my business associates and our neighbors know that you are a fine lady and I was blessed to find you.”

  “But Luke, my Pa… what Melanie said could have been true if you hadn’t saved me. I’m not anybody, especially not somebody worthy of being your wife.”

  Luke stopped so suddenly on the sidewalk, Filly would have fallen into a snow bank if he hadn’t maintained a firm grip on her arm. Pulling her around the corner of the building so they were out of the public eye, he grasped both her arms in his and forced her to look at him.

  “I don’t ever want to hear you talk like that again. You are one of the most decent, kind, respectable people I know. If anyone isn’t worthy in this marriage, it’s me. You had no choice over what your father did and no one needs to know your background. It isn’t any of their business. All they need to know is that I found a perfectly wonderful wife that any man would be proud to have. No more fussing about it, Filly. Is that understood?”

  “Yes, sir,” Filly said, trying to swallow back the sobs that threatened to undo her right in the middle of town. She couldn’t look at Luke or she might fall completely apart.

  Sensing her struggle, Luke took her hand, placed it in the crook of his elbow, and hurried them both home. When they were safely inside the house with their outerwear removed, Filly turned to Luke and put her arms around his waist, resting her head against his chest.

  “Thank you for being such a good husband,” she whispered, then disappeared down the hall into her room.

  Luke changed his clothes and went out to feed the livestock. By the time he came back in, Filly had dinner on the table and all traces of her earlier concern seemed to be forgotten.

  After he said grace, she passed him a bowl of mashed potatoes and smiled. “Thank you for taking me skating. It was a lot of fun.”

  “You’re most welcome,” Luke said, helping himself to a hot biscuit. “I think you need to have more fun. You work too hard, both here and at the parsonage.”

  Filly gave him a dismissive look. He seemed to forget, and occasionally so did she, that she was at the Granger House to work off a debt. Nothing more. When she started to protest, Luke cut her off.

  “I’m serious, Filly. You slave away here, then you go over there and do the same. I’d be happy to hire someone to help out here or at the parsonage,” Luke said, waving his fork at her.

  “I’m sure that won’t be necessary,” Filly said, staring at her plate. “Abby is feeling like she can take back her household duties and I can handle everything here.”

  “I didn’t say you couldn’t handle it. I just don’t want you overworked and worn out.” Luke said, thinking about when he first married Filly, more than a month ago.

  He had it planned down to the day how long it would take her to work off her father’s debt. Now he knew the debt had been paid tenfold just by the happiness and joy she had brought into his home. To him. He didn’t think it would ever happen, but he was hopelessly in love with his wife. A wife he had been loath to wed, but now wanted and needed more than anything in his life.

  “I’m fine, Luke, but thank you for caring.” Filly laid a warm hand on his and gave it a pat. Before she could pull away, Luke grabbed her hand and kissed her palm. An inner heat turned her emerald eyes to shades of dark green. Luke could get lost in her eyes, like a man alone in a dark forest. Only instead of wandering aimlessly, he’d be running toward the love he saw reflected there.

  Could it be? Could his wife be in love with him, too? Unwilling to push things too quickly and scare her away, Luke knew he needed to continue biding his time, building their friendship and establishing the foundation for a relationship he hoped would last a lifetime.

  The thought that Filly might care for him, even a little, made him turn a look on his wife that brought a telltale blush to her cheeks.

  Waving a hand at him dismissively, she smiled shyly. “Eat your dinner.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Luke said, taking another biscuit while giving himself a mental lecture about taking his time in courting his wife.

  Chapter Eleven

  “What do you usually do for Christmas?” Filly asked Luke over breakfast a few days later. Christmas was only two weeks away and she wanted to add some festive flair to Granger House.

  “Do?” Luke asked absently. He was paying much closer attention to the way his wife’s green dress made her eyes sparkle and her lips look even rosier than usual. Green was most definitely her color.

  “Yes, do. Do you put up decorations? Do you put up a Christmas tree? Do you host a party? What, exactly do you do for Christmas?” Filly asked a bit frustrated. Luke didn’t seem to be paying attention to what she was saying at all.

  “I don’t usually do anything,” Luke said, forcing himself to answer the question. Since his parents moved back to New York, he normally took two weeks off and went back to spend the holidays with them. He had already sent a telegram letting them know not to expect him this year. Leaving out the minor detail that he was married, Luke didn’t want his mother to devour his wife like a cat on a canary. He figured there would be plenty of time to tell them of his marriage sometime in the new year.

  “That sounds sad and not very festive, rather like Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol,” Filly said in all seriousness. “Have you read that story?”

  “As a matter of fact, I have,” Luke said, setting down his cup of tea. “I’m quite insulted you would compare me to the curmudgeonly Scrooge.”

  “I’m sorry, but if the bah-humbug fits…” Filly was cut off when Luke reached over and pulled her onto his lap, then attempted to tickle her sides. She, however, was wearing her corset and he had no luck, but she did giggle at his attempts.

  “That will be quite enough out of you this morning,” Luke said, giving her a stern look which was undermined by the twinkle in his eyes and the kiss he placed on her neck. “What did I do to deserve such a sassy wife?”

  Filly didn’t respond, sliding back into her seat and resuming her attempt at eating breakfast.

  “What would you like to do for Christmas?” Luke asked, wondering
what he was about to get himself into.

  “Are you sure you want to hear?” Filly asked, not entirely convinced Luke would be interested in her holiday plans.

  “I’m sure,” Luke said, taking a large swallow of his tea. “Let’s hear your plans.”

  “I’d like to put pine roping along the stairs and garlands along the mantles and red candles with greenery on the tables,” Filly said, excitement making her face appear much younger than her twenty-seven years as she described her plans with much enthusiasm. Although she sat primly in her chair, her hands resting demurely in her lap, she was nearly bouncing in her seat in her elation at the prospect of having a real Christmas once again.

  “I would hang wreaths and garlands on the doors outside and all along the porch, at least on the first floor, and then I’d put up a big tree on Christmas Eve. We could decorate it with popcorn strands and red ribbon. I’d also invite Chauncy, Abby and baby Erin for Christmas dinner. And I would bake treats.”

  The word treats got Luke’s attention. With a voracious sweet tooth, the idea of having extra goodies lured him into Filly’s plans like nothing else could have.

  “What kind of treats?” Luke asked trying to sound uninterested.

  Filly smiled, knowing her husband’s love of sweets. “All kinds of treats like peanut brittle, pralines, popcorn balls, gingerbread men, maple candy, berry tarts, and fruit bread.”

  Luke thought he might drool right there at the table. “Go on,” he urged, wanting to hear what else she had planned.

  “I’d cook a big standing beef roast for Christmas Eve dinner, since you have all that nice beef, with cinnamon apples and potatoes and hot bread and strawberry jam. Christmas Day we would have turkey and stuffing and all the trimmings.”

  Luke sat quietly a few moments, envisioning the sweets he’d be able to sample in the coming weeks and the feast he could share with his friends. His mouth watered and he sighed.

  “Fine. Forge ahead with your plans, but add a few more guests to your list for Christmas dinner. I’d like to invite the Bruner family and also Harlan. He’ll be alone this year since his mother passed away last summer and his brother is in Portland.”