by Sarah Banks
“I think we can manage that. I haven’t told you but the reason I’m traveling to Denver this time around is to cement a partnership with my former foreman. Then I will rarely have to travel and when I do, I want you, Claire and Ben to come with me.”
“Oh Ethan, that’s wonderful news!” She hugged him happily. “And I would love to travel with you.”
“I’ll take you anywhere you want to go Charlotte,” he murmured against her hair.
“I only want to be where you are Ethan, only where you are.”
Epilogue
A Few Weeks Later – Christmas Eve
Charlotte stepped out onto the front porch, closing the door behind her with a smile and began the short walk to her husband’s store. It had been a wonderful day. Mostly because Ethan had returned the night before from his business trip after solidifying his partnership with his former foreman. She had missed him while he was away in Denver but had kept busy entertaining their houseguests.
The house was now festively decorated for Christmas. Her father had cut down a tree they spent the evening before decorating. Evergreen boughs and sprigs of holly now decorated the mantle. They even used the leftover bits to fashion a wreath for the front door. She and Margaret just finished sewing eight stockings now hanging from the mantle. Claire and her grandmother spent nearly every minute in the kitchen preparing a holiday feast fit for a king. It was shaping up to be the best Christmas of Charlotte’s life.
She had been worried whether Ethan would make it back in time to celebrate with them and nearly started crying when he came through the door last night after supper. He looked exhausted but happy and despite a full house she launched herself into his arms in greeting and he hugged her tightly.
“I couldn’t ask for a better welcome,” he whispered into her ear. Claire followed and he swept her up into his arms, spinning her in a circle as she giggled before returning her to her feet. Ben stumbled in his direction and Ethan caught him up in his arms, spinning him as well. Ben squealed with delight. Her father came forward to shake Ethan’s hand and everyone was laughing and smiling. Charlotte had never been happier.
They hadn’t had much time to talk before bed. Ethan fell asleep nearly the moment his head hit the pillow. It took her a bit longer to fall asleep but she was content to lay in his arms, stroking the arm wrapped around her waist and listening to his light, even breathing.
He woke early, kissing and caressing her awake. She pulled him into her arms and he made slow, gentle love to her and afterwards they talked quietly while the rest of the house still slept. They agreed today would be the day they would tell Claire she and Ben would be staying in Sweet Creek with them instead of returning east with their grandparents after Christmas.
Thankfully Claire was amendable to the idea. Although she seemed worried at first about hurting her grandparents’ feelings. When they told her they’d be traveling east to visit them this summer and her grandparents’ planned to return to Sweet Creek for Christmas next year as well, the crease between the girl’s brows melted away and she hugged both Charlotte and Ethan tightly before returning to the kitchen where she and her grandmother were cooking.
Ethan had given all of his employees the second half of the day off to spend with their families but he had yet to return home himself. Charlotte let herself into Ethan’s store, first checking his office where she usually found him but it was empty. She retraced her steps and entered the large workshop, following a source of noise to the rear of the building and found him loading a wagon.
He turned at the sound of her footsteps and smiled when he saw her. “What are you doing here? Not that I’m complaining,” he added with a quirk of his lips. He moved toward her and took her into his arms.
She sighed and burrowed into the warmth she found underneath his open jacket. It had been a short walk from the house and even though it hadn’t snowed in three days, the weather was the coldest it had been since she moved here, dipping into the teens.
She rested her chin on his chest and looked up at him. “I missed you. How much longer do you think you’ll be? Margaret made her famous eggnog and my father and Mr. Reed have already had a half glass each and are laughing like teenage boys,” she informed him with a wry smile.
Ethan laughed and dropped a kiss on the tip of her nose. “I just have one delivery and I’ll be home.”
“What is it?” She asked, eyeing the tarp.
He released her and flipped back the edge of the tarp. A beautiful cradle sat underneath, gently rocking at the removal of the covering.
“Oh Ethan, it’s perfectly stunning,” she breathed, reaching forward to run her fingers across the rich, dark wood. She had never seen anything so beautiful and delicate, not even back east. “You made this?”
He nodded. “It’s for Alex and Becca. They don’t need it quite yet but I did promise him delivery by Christmas. Alex wanted to surprise Becca.”
“She’ll absolutely love it. Can I come with you to deliver it? I’d love to say hello and wish them a Merry Christmas.” She would stop by their house first to wrap up a pecan pie. Claire and her grandmother had spent the past three days in the kitchen making more food than even the eight of them could possibly eat over the next few days.
He rubbed her arms up and down over her jacket. “They live a fair distance outside of town. You’ll freeze.”
She slipped her hands back into the warmth of his jacket and leaned up, kissing his bristly chin. “I trust you’ll keep me warm.”
He followed her lips back down, kissing her, indeed making her feel quite warm, nearly overheated before he finally tore his lips from hers. “You know I can never say no to you.”
She watched as he pulled the tarp back over the cradle and tied it into place with a rope. Then he took her hand and walked her around to the front of the wagon, lifting her effortlessly to the bench seat.
“Think you can make another one of those?” She asked him softly.
His hands stilled on her hips, he looked up at her. He was wide-eyed and speechless. She gave him a gentle smile, cupping his cheek.
His eyes quickly dropped to her stomach and back up again. “Are you…?”
“Maybe. It’s probably too soon to tell but my courses are late and I’m never late.” She blushed telling him such intimate details.
Instead of going around to the other side of the wagon, he jumped up on her side. He sat beside her on the bench seat and pulled her into his lap, burying his face in her neck.
“Charlotte, I love you so much,” he murmured, emotion filling his voice. “You’ve made me happier than I ever dreamed possible.”
She wrapped her arms tightly around him. Her eyes stinging with tears at the love she felt from him and for him, the wealth of happiness that was her life now.
“Merry Christmas my love,” Charlotte whispered.
The End
Also by Sarah Banks
Brides of Sweet Creek
Mail Order Anna
Mail Order Becca
Mail Order Charlotte
Mail Order Matrimony
His Surprise Bride