Lori Wick Short Stories, Vol. 4: The Rancher's Lady

by Lori Wick

  But another part of her, that protective maternal part, was hesitant and careful and slightly afraid. After all, her children were dependent on her. Common sense must prevail. And so as she watched the flames flickering and crackling, she once again asked God to direct her, to help her to lead her children on the path that was best for all of them. And if somehow this dream was truly best for them, if it was the direction God wanted them to take, he would have to show her the way and lead her. Otherwise, she would simply stay put.

  Chapter Two

  “Ruthie, hold still,” Elizabeth told her daughter as she plaited her hair, trying to contain the wispy golden strands into one smooth braid down her back.

  “I’m too excited to hold still.” Ruth’s feet continued to dance. “I want to get to Grandma and Grandpa’s. I can’t wait, Mama.”

  “If you don’t stop squirming, I’ll have to start all over again, and it will take us even longer to get on our way.”

  “But Grandma said to be there by two,” Ruth pointed out.

  “And we will get there by two, if you’ll just stop wiggling.”

  “The carriage is hitched and ready to go.” Jamie came into the house, stomping the snow off his feet by the kitchen door.

  “Did Brady check it for you?” Elizabeth asked.

  “He said I did just fine.” Jamie pointed to the kitchen table, loaded with boxes and packages. “Do you want me to take these out now?”

  She nodded as she reached for the red satin ribbon. “Thank you, son. And be careful with that small white box. It’s breakable.”

  “I know,” he said importantly. “It’s the vase for Grandma.”

  “The one with the pink rosebuds,” Ruth added. “To go with her dishes. I picked it out of the catalog. Remember?”

  “We all picked it out,” Jamie said as he hefted up the biggest crate, the one containing the pies that Elizabeth had baked the day before.

  “Be careful with that one too,” she warned. “Place it where it won’t get jostled about. And keep those tea towels tucked snugly over the top.”

  Jamie sniffed and then smacked his lips. “Don’t worry, Ma. I’ll put this one in a real safe spot.”

  “And did you already take that pecan pie out to Brady?”

  “I did, Mama, and he said to thank you for thinking of him.”

  “And you took him his Christmas present as well?” Elizabeth had ordered the old man a new heavy woolen coat from the catalog. His other one had been looking threadbare.

  “I gave it to him. He said he wouldn’t open it until Christmas morning though.”

  “Thank you, son.” She turned back to Ruth, securing the shiny ribbon midway down the long braid.

  “I wonder what I’ll get for Christmas,” Ruth said dreamily.

  “Remember, honey, Christmas is about giving gifts,” Elizabeth told her. “Not just receiving them.”

  Ruth’s forehead creased in concern. “But we always get gifts for Christmas, Mama.”

  “Yes, I know.” She fashioned the ribbon into a nice big bow. “But I just don’t think you should always expect them.”

  Ruth looked unconvinced.

  “There.” Elizabeth patted the backside of Ruth’s red and white gingham party dress. “All done. You look very pretty, Ruth Anne.”

  Ruth smiled at her, but then her smile faded as she pointed to Elizabeth’s dress. “Why don’t you wear a pretty dress, Mama?”

  Elizabeth shrugged as she smoothed the black taffeta skirt. This had been her “good” dress for the past three years, and it still had plenty of wear left in it.

  “Cora May’s mama quit wearing widow’s weeds a long time ago.”

  “Widow’s weeds?” Elizabeth looked curiously at her daughter.

  “That’s what Cora May calls them. And she said her mama never wears black anymore.”

  “Well, that’s fine for her.” Elizabeth reached for her coat.

  “And Cora May told me her mama sewed herself a new dress to wear for Christmas, and she made Cora May one to match. Cora May said the fabric is exactly the color of a blue jay.”

  “That sounds very pretty.” Elizabeth patted Ruth’s head. “I’m very happy for Cora May and her mama.”

  “But Cora May’s papa died the same time as my papa.”

  It seemed clear that Ruth had been giving this subject some thought of late. “Yes, Ruth, I know.”

  “But you still wear black, Mama.”

  Elizabeth sighed. “Yes, I do.”

  “But why, Mama?”

  “I don’t know…I suppose it’s because I’m so used to it.”

  “But don’t you think colors are pretty?”

  Elizabeth smiled and then nodded as she put on her winter hat, which was also black. “Yes, I do think colors are pretty. But are you forgetting that this is Christmas Eve and we need to get to Grandma and Grandpa’s? So run and get your coat. And don’t forget your scarf and mittens. It’s cold out there.”

  Before long they had everything, including the dog, securely loaded into the back of the carriage, and as usual of recent times, Jamie insisted on driving. Elizabeth didn’t argue, but also as usual, she sat next to him just in case. For a boy of nearly twelve, he was as responsible as they came. And yet she knew he was still a child. And even though he sometimes strutted around the farm like a little rooster, trying to be the man of the house, she didn’t want to put too much upon him too soon. Childhood was fleeting enough without being rushed through it.

  “Can we sing Christmas songs?” Ruth asked as the carriage rumbled down the drive, cutting new tracks through the thin layer of fresh snow.

  “Certainly.” Elizabeth nodded as she adjusted the muffler more snugly around Ruth’s neck, making sure to keep the cold draft out. “You get us started.”

  Soon they were singing “Jingle Bells,” including all the verses Jamie and Ruth had learned in school. And before they knew it, they were there, unloading the carriage in front of Elizabeth’s parents’ home.

  “Merry Christmas!” Elizabeth’s father said cheerfully as he burst out of the house, bounding down the front steps with energy that belied his age. Not that he was so old, although Elizabeth knew that he’d be fifty-five in a few weeks. But Asa Dawson was a big man and full of life and kindness. Due to his size, he could easily intimidate anyone, but when he grinned he reminded Elizabeth of an overgrown puppy dog. He bent down to hug each of them, wishing them all a happy Christmas. Then, spying the largest crate, he lifted the towel and peeked inside. “Well, well. I reckon I better help you with this one.”

  “It’s the pies,” Jamie told him as he helped Flax jump down onto the ground.

  “Mmm-mmm…I might just have to sneak that apple pie out back.” He winked at Jamie. “Your grandma banished me from the kitchen and I’m about to starve to death.”

  “Oh, Father.” Elizabeth laughed as she picked up the present for her mother. “Are Matthew and Violet here yet?”

  Asa shook his head as he opened the door for them. “Matthew went to pick her up some time ago. I thought for certain they’d be here by now.”

  “There you are!” Elizabeth’s mother came over to greet them. “About time you children got here. Now come over here and get warm by the fire.”

  “Look at the Christmas tree!” Ruth exclaimed. “It’s almost as tall as Grandpa!”

  “It’s beautiful.” Elizabeth smiled as she unbuttoned her coat. Being in her parents’ home on Christmas Eve always took her back to childhood days as if nothing had changed over the years. But of course, she and Matthew had grown up. And she had children of her own. And Matthew was engaged to be married in the spring.

  She stood by the fire, watching as Jamie and Ruth arranged the presents beneath the tree, carefully placing them and sneaking surreptitious peeks at the other gifts. The two whispered secrets to each other, clearly intrigued with the magic and mystique of Christmas that only children understood. After warning the children not to get too curious and reminding Jamie to
let Flax in the house, Elizabeth left them to their fun and headed to the kitchen to help.

  “This bird is done,” her mother announced. With her face reddened from the heat radiating from the big black cookstove, she stood straight, rubbing the small of her back with one hand. Clara Dawson was a strong woman both in spirit and in body. Reaching for some kitchen linens to protect her hands, she reached into the hot oven, carefully extracting the large roasting pan.

  “I thought Violet and Matthew would be here by now,” Elizabeth said as she tied on one of her mother’s old aprons.

  “They were supposed to be here.” Clara set the pan on top of the stove and wiggled a drumstick on the golden-brown turkey. “Everything is ready.”

  “I didn’t see Matthew’s carriage on the road.” Elizabeth picked up a wooden spoon to give the gravy a stir. But it already looked creamy and smooth.

  “That’s odd. He’s been gone for several hours, and he promised not to be late.”

  Elizabeth shrugged, acting unconcerned. After all, Matthew was a grown man. He’d turned twenty-two last summer, and besides helping Elizabeth with her farm, he’d begun building a house for himself and Violet on the back forty beyond the creek. She knew her “little” brother was perfectly capable of getting himself to town and back. “Perhaps he stayed to visit with Violet’s family?”

  “Perhaps. But he knew we planned to eat around two. It seems you’d have spotted him on the road into town. Did you see any carriages at all?”

  “I saw the Perkins’ wagon headed for town. But nothing besides that, at least that I recall.” Elizabeth set the wooden spoon down. “But I was probably paying more heed to Jamie’s driving skills than to other holiday travelers.”

  “I sure hope Matthew didn’t have a problem. I suggested he use the sled this morning, but your father said there wasn’t enough snow for the skids yet.”

  “There were still some bare spots on the road.”

  “But was it slippery? Perhaps his horse stumbled and the carriage slid off the road.” Her brow creased with worry. “Was it icy?”

  “No, Mother. It’s so cold that the snow is dry and crunchy. Not bad at all. Otherwise I wouldn’t have allowed Jamie to drive. I must say, he did a fine job of it too.”

  “That boy is growing up so fast.” Clara pushed a graying strand of hair from her damp forehead. “Seems like only yesterday that Matthew was his age.” She shook her head and sighed. “Time sure passes…one day your children are tugging on your apron, and the next thing you know they have children of their own.” She laughed. “Oh, my!”

  Elizabeth studied her mother as she spread some butter over the turkey breast and then covered it with linen to keep it moist. Sometimes she forgot that this worn and gray-haired woman had once been young and vibrant. Or that, just like Elizabeth, she’d mothered small children, watched them grow up, and now complained that it all had happened too quickly. Elizabeth couldn’t imagine her children being fully grown or leaving her, but suddenly she wondered if one day she would be just like her mother. It didn’t seem possible.

  “Uncle Matthew!” Ruth’s happy cries echoed through the house.

  “Sounds like they’re here now,” Elizabeth told her mother.

  “Thank the Lord! Let’s start putting dinner on the table before it gets cold, Lizzie. Your poor father’s been complaining that he’s as hungry as a springtime bear.”

  Elizabeth was just filling a warmed bowl with potatoes when her father came into the kitchen with a confused expression. “Clara?” he said in a tone that told Elizabeth something was amiss.

  Her mother stopped scooping dressing from the turkey. “What is it, Asa?”

  “Matthew.” He shook his head and then glanced over his shoulder with a frown.

  “What’s wrong, Father?” Elizabeth set the half-filled bowl of potatoes down and went to her father. “Is Matthew all right?”

  “I’m not entirely sure,” he said quietly.

  “What happened?” Clara asked with concern.

  “I honestly don’t know.” Asa scratched his head. “Matthew stormed into the house with a sour expression. Didn’t say a word to me or to the kids. He just marched up the stairs, went into his old room, and slammed the door.”

  “Oh, my!” Elizabeth exchanged glances with her mother.

  “And Violet?” Clara asked. “Is she out there now?”

  “Violet wasn’t with him.”

  “Oh?” Clara put a hand to her cheek.

  “I’ll go talk to Matthew.” Elizabeth untied her apron.

  “Yes, that’s a good idea.” Asa nodded eagerly. “I’m sure Matthew will talk to you, Lizzie.”

  “What about dinner?” Clara held her hands up. “It’s going to get cold.”

  “Give us a few minutes,” Elizabeth called as she hurried away.

  Discover more about Elizabeth, Matthew, and the rest of their family in the Homeward on the Oregon Trail series!

  Westward Hearts

  Bestselling author Melody Carlson begins an inspiring new series of adventure and romance on the Oregon Trail. It’s 1854, and as Elizabeth Martin—a young widow and mother of two—faces unexpected challenges, she forges true character, close relationships, and a vital faith in God.

  A Dream for Tomorrow

  In this second story of the Homeward on the Oregon Trail series, Elizabeth Martin and her family heads south along the Oregon coast. Will Eli Kincade change his own plans and accompany Elizabeth to her new and permanent home? Or will his mysterious past continue to keep them from love?

  A Home at Trail’s End

  This final adventure in the Homeward on the Oregon Trail series finds Elizabeth Martin and her two children in the Oregon Country. Eli Kincade, the wagon train scout who captured her heart, unexpectedly confesses his love and proposes, and the family joins other pioneers in building a new community.

  More eBooks in the Lori Wick Short Stories Collection

  Vol. 1:

  Be Careful with My Heart

  The Haircut

  Volume 1 opens the collection with a story of finding love after heartbreak in “Be Careful with My Heart.” Casey and Hunter are thrown together in a traveling singing group during the summer; can they overcome their own personal losses and together find God’s comfort for their hearts? The charming vignette, “The Haircut,” follows next as the future of young Bobby’s hair is altered during a summer camping trip.

  BONUS! Chapter One from Lori Wick’s popular full-length novel The Princess is included.

  Vol. 2:

  Beyond the Picket Fence

  Volume 2 reveals the blossoming love story of “Beyond the Picket Fence.” Dominique “Nikki” Brinks thought moving back to her small hometown would give her more time to write children’s books. She didn’t expect to find two very special children and their father right next door. As Nikki’s sweet spirit brings healing to two little hearts, she discovers the abundant love God has waiting for her beyond the picket fence.

  BONUS! Chapter One from the first book in Lori Wick’s endearing Rocky Mountain Memories series, Where the Wild Rose Blooms, is included.

  Vol. 3:

  An Intense Man

  The Camping Trip

  Volume 3 shares two charming tales of unexpected love. In “An Intense Man,” when Nick Hamilton walks back into Kelly Donovan’s life, she gladly helps him understand his new-found faith in Christ. But will his singular focus on learning overwhelm her need for love, or will Nick realize that Kelly’s heart is in his hands? The endearing story “The Camping Trip” tells of how coach Adam Maxwell, while guiding a fatherless boy on his softball team, finds that he cannot overlook the boy’s shy, hardworking mother.

  BONUS! Chapter One from Lori Wick’s moving full-length novel, Every Storm, is included.

  Christmas Special:

  Christmas for Two

  The Christmas Gift

  Lori Wick’s Christmas Special features two uplifting holiday stories. In “Christmas for Two,”
Stan and Ellen face their first Christmas as emptynesters. They must decide whether to spend it with their daughter or to fulfill Ellen’s lifelong wish to celebrate in Disneyland. In “The Christmas Gift,” Brenda has been in foster care with the Hartmans just long enough for the entire family to adore her. Will Brenda’s first Christmas in a real home show her God’s love, and will the family’s surprise gift to Brenda fulfill all her hopes?

  BONUS! Several chapters from The Hawk and the Jewel, the first book in Lori Wick’s famous Kensington Chronicles, are included.

  Other Books by Lori Wick

  A PLACE CALLED HOME SERIES

  A Place Called Home

  A Song for Silas

  The Long Road Home

  A Gathering of Memories

  BIG SKY DREAMS

  Cassidy

  Sabrina

  Jessie

  KENSINGTON CHRONICLES

  The Hawk and the Jewel

  Wings of the Morning

  Who Brings Forth the Wind

  The Knight and the Dove

  ROCKY MOUNTAIN MEMORIES

  Where the Wild Rose Blooms

  Whispers of Moonlight

  To Know Her by Name

  Promise Me Tomorrow

  THE CALIFORNIANS

  Whatever Tomorrow Brings

  As Time Goes By

  Sean Donovan

  Donovan’s Daughter

  THE ENGLISH GARDEN

  The Proposal

  The Rescue

  The Visitor

  The Pursuit

  TUCKER MILLS TRILOGY

  Moonlight on the Millpond

  Just Above a Whisper

  Leave a Candle Burning

  YELLOW ROSE TRILOGY

  Every Little Thing About You

  A Texas Sky

  City Girl

  STAND-ALONES