Christmas on the Prairie

by Frances Devine

  A surge of gratitude moved through Seth. He covered her hand with his. His stomach jumped and she slipped her hand out from under his, as though she felt the same...whatever it was that had just happened between them.

  Not knowing what else to say, he raised his cup to his lips and drank the now lukewarm coffee. They sat that way, silent except for the light snoring of the dog in front of the fireplace and the occasional crackling of wood. His mind drifted to Frank and Rose. Did they have mornings like this in their cozy little cabin? What would it be like to have this every day?

  Chapter 12

  The next week brought nothing but mud as the snow melted into the ground and turned the earth into sludge. Grateful for the supplies left by Teddy and Seth, Ansley spent the lonely days getting the cabin in order. By the time she thought she might go mad if forced to spend one more day inside the cabin, the ground was hard enough to saddle her horse and ride into town.

  By midweek, there had been no one to claim the stray dog, so she’d named him Harry. Now he trotted along beside her as she made the five-mile trip into town for church.

  The sun shone in abundance despite the chill in the air, which called for a coat instead of her usual shawl. Riding Bella, Ansley overtook the wagon carrying Seth, Teddy and the children within a mile of town. The girls were dressed in lovely pink dresses peeking out beneath their coats and had ribbons tied at the ends of their braids. Each beamed when Ansley commented on how pretty they looked. She turned to Jonah. “And you, fine sir, will be the envy of every man present.”

  His ears grew red under her praise. “Preacher says envy’s a sin.”

  Ansley laughed. “Well, that’s true.”

  “Will you sit on the bench with us, Aunt Ansley?” Hannah asked. “We have one with Grandpa’s name on it.”

  Ansley’s eyebrows rose at this news. In the fine churches of Boston numerous items within the sacred sanctuaries held plaques with the names of generous families, but she’d never expected it of a small-town church.

  Teddy grinned up at her, apparently noting her surprise. “It’s really not that much of a privilege. Mr. Carson also has his own pew, and I’ve never actually seen him step foot inside the church.”

  “Luke sits all by hisself,” Lily piped up.

  “Yes, because he stinks and no one wants to sit next to him.”

  “Hannah!” Teddy admonished. But after Ansley’s hideous ride from Martin’s Creek next to the man, she could imagine the child was right.

  They arrived at church well before the bell rang to announce the beginning of the service. Seth parked the wagon in the yard. Ansley headed toward the post in front of the church, where several horses were tethered. As she pulled on the reins, she noticed Mr. Lane striding toward her. “May I assist you down from there, Miss Potter?”

  “Certainly, thank you.”

  She slid into his arms. He held on just a little longer than was necessary and heat flooded Ansley’s cheeks. She was pretty sure this wasn’t gentlemanly behavior, even on the prairie. Her gaze immediately fell on Seth’s and she stepped from Mr. Lane’s arms. Seth stood, holding Lily. His scowl told her he didn’t like what he saw. Ansley’s heart sped up and again she wondered why he wanted her to stay away from Mr. Lane.

  “May I escort you inside, Miss Potter?” Mr. Lane asked, holding out his arm.

  As she took his arm, Seth looked away and walked into the church.

  “How has your first week in the cabin been?” Mr. Lane asked. “I worried about you during our little snowstorm last week.”

  “And yet you did not come and check to see how I was?” Ansley couldn’t help but compare Mr. Lane with Seth, who had come over several times to help her. He’d applauded when she finally built a sustainable fire in the fireplace.

  “I didn’t want to intrude. But now that I know you are agreeable to my visits, I will make it a point to check on your welfare several times each week.” He ducked his head and spoke for her ears only. “Some folks might call that courting.”

  “Why, Mr. Lane, I certainly said nothing about courting.”

  “Well, don’t make up your mind just yet. Perhaps you might consider giving me a thought from time to time?”

  He seemed so sincere, and he truly was a handsome gentleman. Still, she would be returning to Boston in a few weeks. So there was no point in allowing any man to call, unless it was Seth. She shoved that notion away and focused on the handsome man she was speaking with. “Mr. Lane...”

  “Please, call me Mitch.”

  “Mr. Lane,” she said again, this time more firmly. “The fact is I am returning home right after the New Year. So there is little point in pursuing anything more than friendship.”

  “Well, Miss Potter,” he said with a wry grin. “Let’s be friends.” He winked and left her standing next to the Dobsons’ pew.

  How outrageous for him to wink at her and walk away. She felt a tug on her sleeve and glanced down to find Teddy looking amused as she scooted over to allow Ansley to sit. “It appears you’ve caught the eye of a very fine-looking man.”

  “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,” she replied, slipping into the seat beside Teddy.

  “You certainly do know what I mean,” Teddy whispered. “And unless I miss my guess, Seth is stewing in his own juices because that man escorted you in. You may just have not one, but two admirers.”

  “For goodness’ sake.”

  Thankfully, service began just then, preventing further conversation on the subject.

  Until dinner, that is. Teddy had outdone herself, piling the table with roasted chicken, potatoes, cabbage cooked with pork fat and biscuits so fluffy they’d put the best chef in Boston to shame.

  “Now,” Teddy said as soon as Seth finished the blessing. “Whatever was Mr. Lane saying to you that caused you to blush?”

  Ansley glanced around the table and everyone except Seth stared at her, waiting for an answer. Seth had begun filling his plate in surly silence.

  “It was nothing, really. He—wanted to come calling, that’s all.”

  This brought Seth’s head up. “It’s not proper for a man to call on a woman who lives alone.”

  Ansley was just about to remind him he had spent several hours alone with her in the cabin a number of times. Teddy waved away his comment and spoke before Ansley could. “Oh, there are ways around that. For instance, on the nights he comes to call, I can be at the cabin to chaperone.” She angled a sideways glance at Ansley. “But don’t worry, I can make myself scarce.”

  “Aunt Ansley wants to court that man in the black suit?” Jonah asked. His face was a mirror of Seth’s, scowl and all.

  Hannah handed her plate to Seth, who began filling it carefully. “Sarah Wayne says a woman your age ain’t very likely to catch a man,” she said.

  “Hannah! Hold your tongue,” Teddy admonished. “I declare, you children need to learn better manners. But then, I suppose it’s my fault for bringing it up in the first place.” She sent Ansley a look of apology.

  But suddenly, Ansley saw the humor of it all. Was this what it would be like having curious, insightful children at every meal?

  “It’s all right, Teddy.” She turned her attention to Hannah. “What else does Sarah Wayne have to say about my prospects of catching a husband?”

  “She said you’d best set your cap for Uncle Seth, because you both love us and you probably never would catch another fella. And from the looks of things, Uncle Seth ain’t likely to go looking for a wife anyway. So you might as well take him.”

  Seth cleared his throat. “Hannah, fill your mouth with food and stop talking.”

  “But Auntie Ansley asked me what Sarah Wayne said.”

  “Well, you’ve told her, so get to your dinner and hush.”

  Teddy sent a sly look toward Seth,
and then toward Ansley. Ansley shook her head at the young woman she had begun to see as a younger sister. With a laugh, Teddy filled her mouth with food as Seth had instructed Hannah to do.

  “Hannah,” Ansley said. “You may tell your friend Sarah Wayne that I am not setting my cap for any man in Kansas. I am returning to Boston after Christmas and there are a dozen men waiting to court me.” Which wasn’t far from the truth. Of course, they were just after her money rather than her heart. But they wanted to court her nonetheless.

  Her words, though intended to be facetious, caused an instant uproar from the children. Jonah’s brown eyes looked at her from beneath long dark lashes. “You mean you’re not going to live here? I thought that’s why you moved into the cabin.”

  “No, Jonah,” she said. “I moved in to feel close to your mama while I’m in Prairie Chicken.”

  Lily’s wail took her attention away from the boy. “But if you go, we’ll never see you again. Please don’t go back to Boston, Auntie Ansley. We love you. We need you.” Instantly, the child worked herself into tears.

  Caught up in a conversation she wasn’t ready for, Ansley sought out Teddy’s support. The young woman slipped her arm around Lily’s shoulders. “Honey, of course we’ll see Aunt Ansley. Now that she knows about you, she’ll come back for visits and maybe we can go to Boston to visit her from time to time.”

  Ansley couldn’t help but wonder if Teddy truly meant that. She hadn’t given up hope of having the children with her in Boston, if nothing more than for long visits. After all, when they were older and ready to further their education, they might want to come live with her and attend college. But those were thoughts she knew instinctively she’d best keep to herself.

  Seth cleared his throat, and when Ansley looked his way, she noted his eyes piercing into her, as though he knew the direction of her thoughts. Her heart sank. It appeared one unguarded moment had destroyed all the progress they had made toward an amicable existence.

  * * *

  Bone-weary but incredibly satisfied with the results of the hunting trip he and Jonah had taken, Seth set the brake on the wagon, grateful to be home. Teddy met them at the door and caught Jonah up in a tight hug. Then she scrunched her nose. “You two need baths.”

  Jonah grinned. “Yep. We got ourselves good and dirty, like real men.”

  Rolling her eyes, she took his coat and glanced at Seth. “Wonder where he heard that.”

  Chuckling, Seth slipped out of his own coat and hung it on the peg. “What did you expect us to do? Bathe in the freezing cold river?”

  “That’s what a real man would have done.” Teddy scruffed Jonah’s hair. “Go fill up the heavy pot with water and hang it on the hook over the fireplace. We’ll have you cleaned up in no time.” She turned to Seth. “I’ll have some coffee on in a jiffy, but supper is still a couple of hours away.”

  “Where are the girls?” Normally, after a trip, the girls met him with squeals and hugs and kisses. He missed that.

  “Ansley borrowed the wagon after school and took them to Mrs. Boatwright’s to play with the Anderson children. They’re staying in town for dinner.”

  Alarm and annoyance seized him simultaneously. “Ansley is driving the wagon home with the girls—in the dark?”

  Teddy’s lips twitched as she placed the coffeepot on the stove. “Are you worried about Ansley or the girls?”

  He frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  Her shrug was maddening, as though she knew a secret. “You know what it means. I think you are beginning to care about our Ansley.”

  “Of course I care about her. She’s the children’s aunt.”

  “And what is she to you, Seth Dobson?”

  “Other than a source of constant irritation? Not much.” But even as he said the words, he knew they weren’t exactly true. And from the look on her face, so did Teddy. To her credit, she clamped her lips together and didn’t argue.

  “Did you bring back the patterns I asked for?”

  Seth had taken advantage of the hunting trip to stop by Martin’s Creek to check on their grandfather. While there he’d stopped at the mercantile, which carried more items than the general store in Prairie Chicken.

  “Yes, the dress patterns, and the dolls for the girls’ Christmas. I had to sneak out to pick up the new rifle for Jonah.”

  He’d also picked up a book of poetry for Teddy and the book, Jane Eyre, she’d been wanting.

  “Good. The dress patterns are for Ansley. She is going to make over some of the dresses she bought for Rose and give them to Hannah and Lily for Christmas. Speaking of Ansley, did you get what I asked you to pick up for her?”

  Seth nodded. “Wuthering Heights. Personally, I don’t see why you don’t just let her borrow yours.”

  “Because there’s nothing like opening up a new book that belongs to you. Besides, we can’t very well have her over for Christmas and not have a gift for her, can we?”

  Thankfully, the coffee started to boil before she could expect an answer. The fact was Seth had made a few purchases of his own for his family’s Christmas. And he’d included something for Ansley. But he hadn’t decided whether to give her his gift. He’d just have to wait and see.

  “What time is Ansley due back here with the girls?” he asked. “Does she even know how to handle a team of horses? George over at the livery said she was going to rent a wagon that first day she came and she couldn’t keep the horses pulling together.”

  “I’ve been teaching her, and she’s a quick learner, so I’m confident she’ll do fine.”

  She poured him a cup of coffee. “Honestly, Seth, if it worries you, ride into town and escort her home. But I’d take a bath first. You smell suspiciously like Luke Carson.”

  Chapter 13

  Ansley dropped her nieces off to play with the Anderson children and then headed to the general store, hoping to purchase Christmas gifts for Jonah. She had decided to give Teddy two of Rose’s new gowns for Christmas. She couldn’t decide whether to buy a gift for Seth. Surely that would seem too forward.

  She had been alone with her thoughts so much at the cabin that she’d had time to consider some things. The children loved her, but they needed Seth and they needed to be close to their parents’ memories. After she finished at the general store, she would venture to the telegraph office and call off the custody case. She would miss the children when she returned to Boston, but she had the means to come and visit often and she would have even more means after the sale of Aunt Maude’s mansion.

  Seeing movement on the floor near the back of the store, she peeked around the table filled with baking powder and bags of flour and cornmeal and spied a little girl on the floor with a book in her hands. This could only be the infamous Sarah Wayne. The girl had red braids and even from the side, Ansley could see her face was covered in freckles. She couldn’t be more than ten years old.

  “Sarah, let’s go,” the woman at the counter called.

  Ansley could barely contain her laughter as the little girl tossed the book toward the table. It slid to the floor, but she didn’t seem to notice. The child stopped dead as she spotted Ansley. Her mouth dropped open and her eyes filled with dread. Her red eyebrows lifted in a silent plea as she placed a finger over her mouth, begging Ansley not to reveal her secret.

  “Sarah! Now, young lady.”

  “Coming, Ma.”

  The little girl brushed past and scurried out the door. Curious, Ansley walked to the table and picked up the book from the floor. She turned it over in her hand, glanced up to make sure no one was watching and slowly opened the cover. Ten minutes later, she was still standing there, reading a fascinating tale of a white mountain man with an Indian wife. She couldn’t put it down.

  “Reading something interesting, Miss Potter?”

  Ansley jum
ped and dropped the novel. “Mr. Lane! Gracious, you gave me a fright.”

  “Ah, that was not my intention. Here, allow me.” He bent and picked up the book from the floor. Glancing at the cover, he pursed his lips with obvious amusement.

  “Give me that.” Ansley jerked the book from his hands. “Honestly. A little girl dropped it and I picked it up. I certainly wasn’t...” She was going to say, “reading it.” But one look at the handsome face and twinkling eyes of the man towering over her and she gave up even trying to fib. Laughter burst from her lips. “You caught me, Mr. Lane. I’d decided to peek inside the cover and suddenly I couldn’t put the book down.”

  He joined in her laughter and took the book from her hands. “Allow me to purchase this for you so you can finish the enthralling tale.”

  “Gracious, no!” She could only imagine what Aunt Maude would have said about her reading such drivel.

  But Mr. Lane was not to be deterred. “Nonsense. There’s no shame in it.”

  “Well, go ahead then. I’m as bad as Sarah Wayne.”

  “Who?”

  Shaking her head, Ansley waved away his question. “She’s a little girl in my nieces’ and nephew’s school who reads these things and regales her fellow students with all kinds of stories and sage advice on courting. It’s silly, but it makes me laugh.”

  “Then I have Miss Wayne to thank for the pleasure of hearing that laughter, don’t I?”

  Ansley’s cheeks warmed as they seemed to do every time this man approached her.

  He paid for the book and handed it to her. “Now you have shared your secret love of dime novels with me, I have a confession to make, as well.”

  Secret love of dime novels! Of all the...

  “Well, you know quite well I confessed no such thing, and perhaps I am not interested in your confession.”

  “Please, Miss Potter. Indulge me.”

  The man was impossible. And somehow she always felt as though he was mocking her, which was disconcerting to say the least. “Well, fine. Do go on.”