“Sit down, Jo.” Tom guided her to the chair and she obliged.
He opened the box, bent down on one knee and took her left hand in his. “Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Her eyes filled with tears. “Yes,” she whispered.
He removed the ring, centered with a round sapphire as blue as the straits of Mackinac, encircled by small diamonds. Jo gasped as he slid it onto her ring finger.
Pearl, Irma, Mrs. Peyton, Ox and Moose, Mr. Brevort, Ruth and Sven, all surrounded them. The click of nails on the wood floor announced Blue Dog as he nudged his way closer and rubbed his nose against Tom’s knee.
Jo patted Blue Dog’s head. “You weren’t going to miss out on this, were you?”
Laughing, Tom closed the jewelry box and tucked it into his pocket.
His mother patted his shoulder. “You’ve got what looks a cloud of witnesses.”
He wouldn’t have it any other way. He’d come to love these people, who meant the world to Jo. He’d ensure they saw them often.
Jo stared down at the beautiful ring on her finger. Engaged. Owning a shop. Having his mother help her like a ministering angel. This was a Christmas she’d never forget. And to think, only a few days earlier, she’d had no hope.
But God had other plans. Plans that included Tom. Plans giving her a hope and a future.
The End
Author’s Notes
Michigan’s white pines were massive; virgin forest, which was cut and sold off for so much profit that it was referred to as “White Gold.” These trees built much of the housing boom around the Great Lakes, such as in Chicago, during the mid to late 1800’s. When an area was logged off, a new camp had to be set up. Consequently, many of the lumberjack bosses were heading further North, eventually to the Upper Peninsula. My grandfather ran “Skidmore Camp” in Newberry, in the central U.P. By the 1890’s, lumberjacks were beginning to find the lower peninsula logged out of white pine. The U.P. also boasts fine hardwoods—another draw.
Camp life was difficult. Others authors have written about more of the tragedies and hard life people suffered in the lumber industry. This is a Christmas novella about hope, so you won’t find too much dwelling on hardships. However, I do include one villain, inspired by research and by real events (the latter being modern day, however.) Most camps were composed completely of men but there were some “family camps” and my grandfather ran one later, in the 1940’s and 1950’s. Although from Kentucky, my grandpa Christy Skidmore was born in Traverse City. I’m surmising that my great-grandmother, Rebecca “Bessie” Christy Skidmore Sexton, was with my great-grandfather while he was up North lumbering. They resided in Kentucky.
As can be imagined, women in turn-of-the-century Michigan and elsewhere were fighting a battle for more independence. And women were finally able to pursue higher education, albeit in limited locations. Jo wants her right to choose where she’s going to live and what she’s going to do. She despises feeling “stuck” as many women did.
Schoolteachers during this time frame were primarily taught in what were called “Normal Schools” and my hero, Tom attended one of these in Ohio, a state known for its public education movement. Teachers during the late 1800’s lived under a ridiculous set of rules and expectations. They were paid very little for their hard work.
If you get a chance to visit, Newberry’s Tahquamenon Logging Museum has an amazing assortment of lumbering artifacts. Don’t miss out on a trip to Hartwick Pines in the lower peninsula of Michigan. The beauty of the forest will take you back to a time long ago—like I hope this story did!
Thank you for reading The Fruitcake Challenge.
About Carrie Fancett Pagels
Carrie Fancett Pagels, Ph.D., tagline “Hearts Overcoming Through Time”, writes for the Christian market. Carrie's novella, Return to Shirley Plantation: A Civil War Romance, was an Amazon Civil War best seller for over six months and remained on the top-rated list for a year. Her short story "Snowed In" was published in Guidepost Books A Cup of Christmas Cheer (2013). She contributed a nonfiction chapter contribution to Selah Finalist God's Provision in Tough Times by Cynthia Howerter and LaTan Murphy (Lighthouse of the Carolinas, 2013). Represented by Joyce Hart of Hartline Literary Agency. Founder of Colonial American Christian Writers group. Owner/administrator of the group blogs "Colonial Quills" and "Overcoming With God." Member of Romance Writers of America (RWA), Faith-Hope-Love Chapter of RWA, American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and FaithWriters. Dr. Pagels was a licensed psychologist for over twenty-five years. Married for twenty-seven years and has an adult daughter (an electrical engineer) and a middle school aged son. Carrie is a finalist for the Maggie Awards for Excellence, 2014. In July, 2014, Carrie won in Historical Genre for Family Fiction's "The Story 2014” contest, with her short story The Quilting Contest.
Links to purchase
A Cup of Christmas Cheer, Guidepost Books (2013)
Return to Shirley Plantation: A Civil War Romance, Helping Hands Press (2013) RtSP on Amazon
RtSP on Barnes and Noble
God’s Provision in Tough Times, Lighthouse of the Carolinas (2013) GPiTT on Amazon for Kindle
Contact info
Carrie Fancett Pagels website
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Books in the Christmas Traditions collection:
Handcarved Christmas
By Cynthia Hickey
Sadie’s Gift
By Niki Turner
The Fruitcake Challenge
By Carrie Fancett Pagels
Eleven Pipers Piping
By Angela Breidenbach
Apples for Christmas
By Darlene Franklin
Nutcracker Christmas
By Jennifer Allee
Table of Contents
This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are ...
Dedication
Acknowledgements
PrologueNear Mackinaw City, Michigan 1890
Chapter 1Late August, 1890
Chapter 2Late September
Chapter 3
Chapter 4Mid-November
Chapter 5
Chapter 6Late November
Chapter 7December, 1890
Chapter 8
Chapter 9Fifteen
Chapter Ten
Chapter ElevenCordelia
Author’s Notes
About Carrie Fancett Pagels
B
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