by Cox, Carol
“You’re awfully quiet.” Violet’s innocent comment dashed her hopes of going undetected.
She summoned up a smile. “Just enjoying this delicious bird, I guess.” She rose to clear away the dishes, but Violet jumped to her feet.
“Let me do that, Rachel.” She colored under her older sister’s surprised scrutiny but didn’t back down. “Sit still and relax for a change. It is Christmas, after all.” With a clanking of crockery that made Rachel shudder, she carted off an armload of dishes.
Rachel resumed her seat and tried to think of something to say to break the uneasy silence. She felt her face grow warm. They hadn’t been given to doing much entertaining, but surely she ought to be able to do better than this. Violet returned for another load of dishes, but she didn’t expect much help from that quarter. What would Pa have talked about if he were here today? Her mind fumbled around for likely topics.
“Did you get enough to eat?” The moment the words left her mouth, she knew how inane they probably sounded. Violet’s eye-rolling grimace and the flicker of amusement in Daniel’s eyes confirmed her fears, and she writhed in mortification. Violet left again, shaking her head.
“You ladies did yourselves proud with that meal. I can’t remember when I’ve eaten as well.”
Rachel gave Daniel an appreciative look, letting her gaze linger on his face.
Violet reentered the room. “Time to open our gifts,” she said, clapping her hands like a schoolteacher calling her class to attention.
At the thought of the handkerchiefs she’d embroidered for Daniel, Rachel’s mouth grew dry, and her stomach churned. She should never have bought them in the first place. Would he read into her gesture more than she intended? Worse, would he be able to read into it everything that was there—her hopes, her dreams, her longings?
She pressed her hands to her cheeks and commanded herself to calm down. How ridiculous to carry on like that over something that probably wouldn’t matter to him in the least.
He would see the handkerchiefs as a gracious gesture provided by a thoughtful hostess, she assured herself, not a smitten woman’s attempt to gain attention. They might even have been some of Pa’s that she had pulled out at the last minute. Except that Pa’s initials hadn’t been DWM, she reminded herself, wiping her damp palms against her skirt.
Seating herself in the rocking chair, she lifted her chin and tried to appear unconcerned. What if he did realize she’d bought and monogrammed them just for him? He didn’t have to know that all the longing of her heart had gone into every stitch.
“Who wants to go first?” Violet looked around with a bright smile. Rachel stirred uneasily, aware that at some point her younger sister had usurped her duties as hostess. “All right, Daniel, you start.” She pulled a lumpy package from behind her chair and placed it in his hands.
Daniel turned the odd-shaped piece over in his hands, a bemused smile on his face. “I hope you aren’t expecting me to guess what this is,” he said.
Violet laughed delightedly. Rachel stared at the package, mystified. It bore no resemblance to anything she could imagine, with numerous protuberances angling up from a flat base.
Daniel pulled off the brown paper wrapping to reveal a horn mounted on a board. He held it aloft and squinted at it.
“It’s a hat rack,” Violet informed him proudly. “I made it from a shed deer antler I found.” She grinned and added, “You’re holding it upside down.”
Daniel quickly reversed the contraption. “A hat rack, eh? And a fine one too.” He leaned it up against the wall, where it tottered precariously. “Thank you, Violet. It was thoughtful of you to go to all that trouble.”
Rachel closed her eyes in relief. Thoughtful. That’s how he would see her gift too. A thoughtful remembrance, nothing more.
Violet scanned the small group of gifts under the tree and selected one wrapped in burlap. “I’ll open this one.” She unrolled the coarse fabric and squealed in delight. “Look, Rachel, it’s Molly!” She held up a wooden carving for her inspection. “Oh, thank you, Daniel, it’s adorable!”
“I don’t know when you found the time to work on that and the tree angel,” Rachel told him, examining the figure. “It’s a wonderful likeness. You really do have a gift for this.”
She handed the carved cat back to Violet, trying to hide her agitation. So Daniel had taken time to make presents for them? Then it was probably a good thing she had a gift for him. Embroidering his initials hadn’t taken nearly as much time as carving a wooden figure, though. She just hoped her offering would be adequate.
Her imagination wandered while Violet sorted through the remaining presents. Daniel had obviously taken pains to come up with an idea that had special meaning for Violet. What could he have made for her? A voice penetrated her happy speculation, and she realized Violet was talking to her.
“Here.” Her sister passed her a brown paper package. Her blue gaze held excitement and a bit of nervousness. “This one’s from me.”
Rachel fingered the flat square, trying to guess what it might be. Giving up, she tore off the paper wrapping and stared openmouthed at the intricate sampler within.
“Do you like it?” Violet asked doubtfully.
“Oh, Honey, it’s wonderful.” Rachel examined the delicate needlework. A vine wove its way through a border of dainty spring flowers surrounding the words “In everything give thanks.” The words taken from Paul’s second epistle to the Thessalonians spoke to her heart in a deeper way than ever before. Hadn’t her heavenly Father been teaching her just that lesson through all her trials? Her eyes misted over, and she blinked back the tears. “I’ll treasure it always.”
Violet’s smile was radiant. “We’ve gone around once,” she announced, “so we’ll let Daniel open his other gift. I think this is from Rachel.”
She handed him the small package, and Rachel felt her heart begin a wild pounding. Would he think the gift foolish or overly sentimental? She barely breathed, watching him undo the string and pull open the calico wrapping.
Daniel spread the handkerchiefs open on his knee and traced the embroidered initials on each one with a work-calloused finger. He kept silent a long moment, then turned to Rachel with a solemn expression. “Thank you,” he said simply. “You must have worked hard on these.”
Rachel let her breath out in a whoosh. He hadn’t seemed put off at all! Lightheaded with relief, she suddenly realized she was enjoying the day immensely.
She turned her attention back to Violet. While her sister studied her wood carving from Daniel more closely, Rachel did a mental inventory. Daniel had opened presents from both her and Violet.
Violet set down the little cat and prepared to open her second present, the one from Rachel. Rachel’s stomach fluttered with excitement. Her gift from Daniel would be next. Giddy with anticipation, she could hardly wait to see what it would contain.
“Oh!” Violet had opened the box and withdrew a delicate gold chain supporting a heart-shaped locket.
“Open it,” Rachel told her quietly. She watched her sister pry the locket apart and stare at the tiny photographs within. The tears welling in Violet’s eyes told her she’d gone a long way toward atoning for her grumpy behavior by splurging on this gift.
“Ma’s and Pa’s pictures,” Violet whispered, pressing the necklace to her chest. “I can’t think of anything I’d like more than this.”
Rachel basked in the warm glow of contentment that washed over her. Despite her earlier misgivings, this Christ-mas had turned out to be far more wonderful than she’d ever imagined. She looked at Violet expectantly, ready to open her last gift.
Violet gave her a blank look, then stared around the bottom of her chair and under the tree. “I guess that’s all,” she cried gaily. “Hasn’t this been a lovely day?”
Disappointment wrenched at Rachel’s heart. Just when she was ready to open herself to Daniel and dare to believe he might reciprocate her feelings, her expectations had toppled and fallen with a cras
h. The letdown made her feel as though she’d stepped off a cliff and would never hit bottom.
She stared unseeingly for a moment, then jumped to her feet, determined not to give the others any reason to suspect the bitterness of the blow she’d received. “Let’s have our dessert now,” she said, trying to inject a merry note into her quavering voice.
“Not just yet,” Violet said. “I want to run out to the barn for a bit and take some scraps to Molly.” She yanked her coat from its hook and answered Rachel’s incredulous look with a cheery smile. “She deserves a treat too. It’s Christmas.” She grabbed a turkey wing, looked meaningfully at Daniel, and hurried out.
Rachel stared at the closed door in disbelief. Wishing a happy Christmas to a cat? What had gotten into Violet? Being alone with Daniel just then was the last thing she wanted.
She cast about for some way to busy herself and went to fetch the pies. She would go ahead and dish up dessert while Violet was gone. It would give her something to do, something that didn’t require looking at him and wondering what he could be thinking. Keeping active would help her hide her aching heart.
Moving to the sideboard, she selected three plates. She turned to carry them to the table. . .and bumped right into Daniel. The plates rattled in her unsteady grasp, and Daniel placed his hands on hers. Taking the dishes from her, he set them on the sideboard and recaptured her hands.
Rachel tried to pull them away but couldn’t make herself move. Every muscle in her body seemed to have lost its ability to respond to her mind’s commands. She stared into Daniel’s face, drinking in his nearness and willing her feet to put some distance between them. She couldn’t keep her guard up much longer, then he’d be able to read the truth in her eyes. If she didn’t move now, right now, she was in fearful danger of making a terrible fool of herself.
Turn your head. Look away! her mind screamed, but she could no more tear her fingers from his gentle grasp than reclaim her heart.
Daniel’s hands slid up past her wrists and over her sleeves, following the contours of her arms until they came to rest on her shoulders. The color of his eyes deepened, turning them almost to black. Rachel had to remind herself to breathe.
“We need to talk,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. His thumbs traced slow circles on her upper arms. “I once made you an offer. The right offer, it turns out, but for all the wrong reasons.” He moistened his lips and leaned closer.
“Do you remember? I told you I wanted to marry you. Like a fool, I was so puffed up with grand ideas of chivalry that I only saw it as a means of simplifying things for us both. I didn’t see until later that if I didn’t have you in my life, I’d be missing out on the most wonderful gift God could ever give me.”
She stood motionless, feeling the gentle pressure of his fingers on her shoulder blades and wondering how she should respond. Weren’t these the very words she’d longed to hear? Why couldn’t she give in to the cry of her heart and allow herself to trust him?
Her thoughts turned to the papers in the sideboard. Could she bear to produce them now? With all her being, she wanted nothing more than to proclaim her love for him, but she had to know the truth.
Shaky with emotion, she moved to the sideboard and drew the papers from their hiding place. “Before we go any further, I think you should look at these.” Her voice shook, but she stood firm.
Daniel took the papers, his forehead creased in bewilderment. “What’s this?”
Rachel cleared her throat, hating herself for admitting her doubts, but knowing she had to force herself to go through with it. “I had them drawn up at the bank. They give the house, the farm, everything to Violet. She’ll have sole possession.” She watched him scan the first page and waited for his reaction. If he wanted only the land, this would change his attitude in a hurry.
He tossed the papers aside and regarded her with an expression of infinite regret. She stiffened, preparing for the blow to come. “Oh, Rachel,” he breathed and reached for her again. “You just had to make sure, didn’t you?” A smile twisted the corners of his mouth, and he drew a deep breath.
“In a way, I’m glad you did this so there’ll never be any uncertainty in your mind. I love you, Rachel. You, not this property. I’d have been glad to farm it and build it up, knowing what it means to you, but I’ll be just as happy to start over anywhere you want. . .as long as I have you.”
She repeated his words over and over in her mind before comprehension fully dawned on her. Then a joyful trembling began in her fingertips and spread through her whole body. He loved her. Her, Rachel Canfield, with all her foolishness and flaws! She roused from her daze to realize Daniel had taken hold of her shoulders once more.
“Now that you know what my true feelings are, let me try this again.” He drew a solemn breath. “I love you and everything about you—your strength, your courage, your faith in God—all the things that make you the amazing woman you are. I couldn’t ask for a better helpmate. Rachel, will you marry me?”
She opened her lips to answer but couldn’t form the words. Instead she nodded her head, slowly at first, then more quickly as tears of joy spilled down her cheeks. “Yes,” she breathed, the words bursting forth at last. “Yes, Daniel, I will marry you!”
One sun-bronzed hand slid behind her shoulders to caress her neck while the other moved to cradle her cheek. With infinite tenderness, Daniel pulled her to him, gazing intently into her eyes. “Know this, Rachel Canfield. I’m well aware of my faults, but one thing you can be certain of. No matter what may come our way, you can trust me, now and forever.” Tightening his embrace, he lowered his face and covered her mouth with his.
Rachel closed her eyes and felt her arms creep up past his shoulders to twine themselves around his neck. Her fears crumbled and fell away, lost in the joy of the certainty of Daniel’s love.
Long moments later he pulled away, still holding her close. “I have something for you.” He reached into his pocket with one hand and produced a faded velvet box, opening it to reveal a gold band set with a small diamond.
“This belonged to my father’s mother.” He slipped it on her finger and sealed it in place with a kiss. “Merry Christmas, my love.”
Rachel’s gaze rested on the handkerchiefs. “I didn’t get you much,” she told him with a catch in her voice.
“You’re wrong,” he said, brushing his lips across her forehead. “You’ve just promised me the greatest gift I could imagine. . .yourself, for a lifetime.”
She raised her face and lost herself in another lingering kiss.
Daniel cupped her face in both his hands and smiled at her tenderly. “So, where do you want to live once we’re married?”
Rachel colored in embarrassment and dropped her gaze to the floor. A moment later, she looked up, shamefaced. “How about right here?” she asked sheepishly.
Daniel tilted his head and lifted one eyebrow.
She picked up the sheaf of papers and opened it to the last page. “I only had them drawn up. . .they’ve never been signed.”
A look of incredulity flooded Daniel’s face, then he threw back his head and laughed. “Rachel, Rachel. Life with you will never grow dull.” He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her tight. “I promise I’ll do my best to make this the finest farm in the Territory and provide a good home for you and Violet. . .and our children,” he added softly, stroking her cheek with his knuckles.
Rachel pressed her head against his chest and melted into his warm embrace. A tap on the door roused her, and she turned to see Violet poke her head inside.
“Are you two about finished?” she asked through chattering teeth. “I’ve done everything I can possibly think of to do outside, and it’s freezing out here.”
twenty-one
“Is everything in place?” Rachel pressed her hands to her face. “My mind is in such a whirl I can’t think straight.”
“You’re doing just fine,” Violet assured her, spreading a white cloth across the table and smooth
ing out its snowy folds. “And yes, we’re nearly ready.” She stepped back, eyed the cloth critically, and reached out to straighten one corner. “There.” She smiled in satisfaction. “Doesn’t that look nice?”
Rachel nodded distractedly. “The food—is it ready? I can’t remember if I took the bread out of the oven or not. And what about the decorations?”
With a patient sigh, Violet took her by the shoulder and turned her around to face the room. “Just look at it, Rachel. The house is lovely. Don’t worry, everything is going to be fine.”
“Fine,” Rachel repeated, trying to absorb her sister’s words. She forced herself to concentrate and scanned the room. Richly colored bows, fashioned by Violet from pieces of fabric she’d discovered in an old trunk, festooned the walls. An arrangement of pinecones and evergreen boughs held a place of honor atop the mantel. And over in the corner stood the Christmas tree, lending its air of regal beauty to the scene.
“Fine,” she said again. It did look nice. She relaxed a fraction, then she thought of the kitchen. “The bread!” she cried, whirling to run check the oven.
Violet caught her arm and held her in a firm grasp. “I took the bread out twenty minutes ago. It looks wonderful.” She held up a hand to cut off further protests. “The venison is roasting now, and I’ve put the potatoes and carrots on to boil. The whole meal will be done to perfection, and you don’t need to worry about a thing.” She emphasized the last words with a jab of her finger.
“Trust me, Rachel. Everything will be ready well before the guests arrive. I’ve even made a cake,” she said smugly.
Rachel stared at her sister through eyes that didn’t want to focus. When had they traded places, with Violet taking over the role of the down-to-earth counselor? She shook her head to clear it but only succeeded in making it throb.
“Relax,” Violet told her, wrapping her arms around her in a comforting hug. “You’re just tired. It’s a lot of work putting a wedding together in a week.”