A Western Christmas Homecoming: Christmas Day Wedding Bells ; Snowbound in Big Springs ; Christmas with the Outlaw

by Lynna Banning

  Chapter Twelve

  She watched for Russ daily, keeping her ears tuned for the train whistle. Surely, it would only be a matter of a few days and he would come striding up the main road from the train station. When the number of days stretched into three, and then became four, she started to question what exactly “Back soon” meant to him.

  Of course, he had loose ends to tie up. He would have to make sure the mine was operating, and the worker’s grievances were addressed. He’d probably want to pay his respects to the widow McCabe. That all took time. Perhaps he’d choose to come by horse rather than by train...although that didn’t seem sensible.

  Knowing all this didn’t make the waiting any easier.

  She heard from children and adults alike that wanted to be secret elves and matched them up to the wish list that she and Patty had put together. This lent additional excitement to the holiday season and the town buzzed with an air of mystery and fun.

  By Saturday, after five days had passed, Abby wondered if she should send a telegram. No...she couldn’t do that. It was much too forward. But why didn’t he let her know what was happening? Had she imagined his interest? Maybe it had waned after he realized he was a free man. Or maybe it waned after she had succumbed to his charms. Perhaps the strong emotions had been all on her side. He’d never actually confessed that he loved her—only that he cared. One didn’t necessarily mean the other.

  Maybe, she was a fool. She shouldn’t have let her guard down. She shouldn’t have let herself fall in love.

  Two more days passed. It was Christmas Eve. If he never returned... No. She wouldn’t consider that. She couldn’t. That line of reasoning went nowhere and only served to make her frustrated. She bolstered her resolve. There was work to do. The Oak Grove Community Christmas Party would start in one hour.

  She took a deep breath and added the finishing touch to her wardrobe—a new maroon velvet hat that sported two black egret feathers that matched her dress. She pinched her cheeks and donned her coat. Gathering the posters that Patty had made, she locked the Gazette’s door and headed for the town hall at the far end of the village.

  Light spilled from the large front window as she neared, and once inside, the fiddler was already warming up his bow on the small stage. The women in charge of refreshments had the tables covered with festive tablecloths in dark green and gold. Every doorway had large red bows. Quickly, she hung up her coat and hat in the cloakroom and joined Patty.

  Together they set up the posters and display for voting. Patty wore a new dress of green-and-red plaid with a red sash around the waist. The girl looked radiant, her green eyes sparkling with excitement.

  “You look especially pretty tonight,” Abigail said. “Is it for anyone special?”

  “Perhaps.” Patty grinned. “By the way, Miss Burnett gave me an A on my article.”

  Abby gave her a quick hug, marveling silently how easy it was for her now when a month ago she wouldn’t have considered it. “You worked hard. As a matter of fact, once everyone is here, why don’t you explain about the voting process instead of me.”

  “Really? All right. I can do that.” She handed Abigail a small oblong box. “My thanks...for all you’ve done for me. I wasn’t sure you would take me on at first.”

  “To tell the truth, I wasn’t either.”

  They shared a laugh.

  “But you persisted. And I’m glad you did. It has been a pleasure putting out the Christmas edition with you.” Abby removed the lid. Nestled on a bed of pretty paper was a MacKinnon ink pencil. “This is lovely!”

  “I ordered it the moment you agreed to help me write an article.” Patty grinned. “Now, don’t rest that on your ear.”

  Abby laughed. “That would be a sight, should the ink leak. No... I’ll keep it for very special letters.” For a moment, she thought of Russ.

  “In all the time we’ve spent together, asking others what they wished for Christmas, I never once asked you what your wish was. Do you have one?”

  All she had wanted was for Russ to be exonerated. “My wish has already come true.”

  But wait. There had been another. The one she’d made on the shooting star just after Thanksgiving. “I wished for a true friend. I wanted someone in my life who shared my love of the written word, someone to talk to about writing, a kindred spirit.” She teared up suddenly. “And you came along.”

  “You mean I barreled in.”

  Abby giggled. “You certainly did!”

  Families started arriving and the music started up. To one side of the room, Miss Burnett started games for the younger children. The noise and laughter in the room increased as children and their parents played charades. For a time, Abby watched the game with Patty, and then she took over serving the warm spiced apple cider at the refreshment table.

  When she handed off a glass of cider to Angus O’Leary, he leaned toward her and put his gnarled finger to his mouth. “Don’t tell a soul. Got those primers ordered. Should be here first of the new year.” Then he grinned, winked and walked away with a jaunty spring to his step.

  That’s right! He was an elf!

  A few minutes later, while Abby watched Patty give her speech, Mrs. Gibson approached. Her daughter, Kristine, had wished for help with the milking while her sister recovered from an injury.

  “You started something here, Miss White. Ever since the Christmas edition came out, there has been an older pupil from the school waiting at the barn every morning to help with the milking. I offer them breakfast, but they refuse, saying that elves don’t get paid. I tell you it’s been a blessing.”

  Abigail grinned. The elves were hard at work! “Many hands make light work,” she said, the familiar quote coming easily.

  “Indeed, they do.” Mrs. Gibson hugged her. “Merry Christmas, dear.” She set a bag tied with a red ribbon into Abby’s hand.

  Another gift? Abby opened the bag just enough to peek inside. Caramels wrapped in wax paper! And oh! That fresh scent!

  A blast of cold air suddenly swept through the room. Abby turned toward the door. Gathered in the opening stood a family she had not seen before. They looked tentative and unsure of their welcome. More interesting than that however, were the two women with them... Mrs. Corwin and the widow Eddy. Jamie stepped from behind the group and started gathering their coats.

  She walked forward to welcome them.

  Jamie grinned at her. “Found out who took the clothes and it wasn’t the goat!” He introduced her to the Sturdevant family and explained that their wagon had broken down on the property line between his mother’s land and Mrs. Eddy’s. “Seems one won’t let the other outdo her at being neighborly till they can be on their way.”

  He walked off with the bundle of coats toward the cloakroom.

  Before she could greet the family, the music stopped. Everyone turned to see what the commotion was at the door. There stood Brett Blackwell holding the thick trunk end of a large pine tree! He charged into the room with it. Teddy followed, holding the other end of the tree.

  A whoop sounded from two of the town boys and everyone laughed as the two ran over to help carry the tree into the room. The fresh scent of pine permeated everything. Where in the world had it come from? The closest place had to be the Rockies!

  Abby’s breath caught, and she looked back at the door. It couldn’t be! There, with a light dusting of snow on his coat, stood Russ!

  * * *

  He removed his Stetson and scanned the room until he found her. She looked thunderstruck. He couldn’t have asked for a better welcome. A grin that had to be the size of Colorado tugged on his face.

  “Russ.” Her mouth formed his name.

  He’d like to bottle this moment. Abby. His little Abby. All grown up and staring back at him like he was the most important man on this earth. Were her insides as jittery as his? Had she missed him as much as he’d missed
her?

  He walked to her and she slipped her small hand into his. He brought it to his lips, kissing the tops of her ink-smudged fingers gently. Shivers shot through him. He’d never felt this way about a woman before. She had enchanted him. And she’d cared for him, at tremendous risk. Did these people understand how unusual that was? How special she was?

  Murmurs around him grew louder. People voiced their curiosity about where the tree had come from. Finally, one youngster cried out, “Elves!” Everyone started laughing.

  Abby’s eyes sparkled with mirth.

  “Blackwell! You got a stand for this thing?” Ted called out.

  Ted and the man who had helped Russ with the tree at the train station stood the pine up in the corner, leaning it against the walls.

  Russ looked back at Abby. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were bright as she watched the men wrestle with the pine. “I don’t think they need us,” he whispered into her ear. “Come outside with me. I want to kiss you properly.”

  Her eyes widened, but she nodded quickly and walked with him through the door and out into the crisp night air.

  The kiss he wanted to give her, no one would call proper, but he’d keep it sweet. He wanted more than one kiss with her, more than one moment. He wanted forever.

  He stopped on the boardwalk just beyond the window, drawing her into the shadows. Before she took her next breath, he slipped his hand to the small of her back and pulled her to him, kissing her long and hard. His pulse kicked up, his heart thumping against his rib cage. The need to kiss her, to hold her, had been pent up inside him for so long. This was like coming home.

  He drew back slightly. “I’ve wanted to do that ever since the night the sheriff dragged me off to jail.”

  She hugged him tightly. “Oh, Russ... I’ve missed you!”

  He breathed in the scent of her sweet-smelling hair. Cinnamon. It made him smile. Had she tried baking again?

  “What took you so long?”

  “Johnson left things in a mess.” He didn’t want to think about the Barton mine right now, much less talk about it. “Plus, I had to find the perfect tree.”

  “I can’t believe you remembered that! It was one thing out of so many that we talked about.”

  “I remember everything you said. I couldn’t get you out of my mind.”

  Her eyes clouded over. “Did you try?”

  “Not a bit.”

  “Good.” She sighed. “I’m so glad you are free. And I’m so glad you came back.”

  Always honest, always wide open with her thoughts. “Your Sheriff Baniff played a big part in making that happen when he contacted the attorney I knew in Denver. Together, they made sure I had a judge and jury that Johnson couldn’t sway. You had a big part too. What did you put in that telegram to the foreman’s widow?”

  “Then it helped? She knew something?”

  “She was afraid to come forward because she wanted to protect her son. Turns out he witnessed what happened that day. Your telegram changed her mind.”

  “I’m so relieved it is over. You’ve gone through so much.”

  “I put you in danger, Abby. You and Ted. I didn’t realize Johnson had men looking for me. Men not quite as upstanding as your sheriff here. Things could have gone bad. You could have been hurt.”

  She shrugged one shoulder. “I would do it all again to help the man I love.”

  He said softly, “Thought I was a bad risk for any girl.”

  “Not anymore. You’ve changed.” She smiled. “Or maybe I have.”

  He studied her, smoothing his thumb over her lower lip. “You always lay it out straight. Guess this is one time I want to also. I love you back, Abby. With my whole heart. You’re all I’ve thought about since stumbling into that newspaper office four weeks ago.” He leaned in and kissed her once more, this time gently, with a tenderness that said how precious she was to him.

  * * *

  Was this really happening? Had Russ just said he loved her? She was dizzy with wonder. His strong arms, wrapped tightly around her, were the only things keeping her on the ground. His first kiss had claimed her, speaking of his need and want and desire. But this one...this tender one made her melt in a completely different way. It filled her heart and her soul. With him.

  He finished the kiss and pulled away a little.

  She opened her eyes and almost missed the flash of light that streaked across the sky. She blinked. “A shooting star.”

  “Did you make a wish?”

  She thought for a moment about the past few weeks. She’d wished for a friend for Christmas and she’d discovered many. Patty, who had opened her eyes to the plights of those in Oak Grove. Sheriff Baniff, who had heeded her distress and made sure Russ had a fair trial. And her neighbors, who had rallied to the call of being elves. All she needed to do was open her eyes, open her heart and they were there, waiting and willing to be her friend.

  “I don’t have one. All my wishes have come true.” She gripped his vest, holding him close.

  “Then maybe I could have your wish.”

  “Wasn’t getting your life back enough? What more could you want?”

  The twinkle in his blue eyes captured her. “Just you. With me. Always.”

  She swallowed. She had to be sure. “Always... Do you mean...marriage?”

  A quick grin flashed as he nodded. “I promise to love you, cherish you and adore equally anything you write or cook...” Then he grew serious. “If you’ll have me, Abby.”

  Her heart spilled over with love for him. “Oh, yes,” she said. “To all of it.”

  He smiled and kissed her once more—a promise, a commitment, a forever.

  Epilogue

  Oak Grove Gazette

  Special Edition 1880

  Happy New Year!

  The wedding of Russell Carter, owner of Barton Silver Mining Company, and Abigail White, reporter for the Oak Grove Gazette, took place on New Year’s Day at the Oak Grove Community Church, with Reverend Flaherty officiating.

  Theodore White, the bride’s brother, escorted her down the aisle and also served as best man. Attending the bride were Patty Owens and Hannah White. Abigail White looked stunning in a deep blue dress with black brocade. The wedding band of gold carried an intricate swirl of silver—the silver coming straight from the groom’s mine in Colorado.

  After a large reception at the town hall, the newlyweds boarded the Kansas Pacific to make their home in Barton, Colorado. The entire town turned out to see them off and wish them well—including a few elves.

  Your Hometown Reporter,

  Patricia Owens

  * * *

  If you enjoyed this story you won’t want to miss these other great full-length reads by Kathryn Albright:

  The Prairie Doctor’s Bride

  Wedding at Rocking S Ranch

  And check out the books in her

  Heroes of San Diego miniseries,

  starting with:

  Familiar Stranger in Clear Springs

  Christmas Kiss from the Sheriff

  Keep reading for an excerpt from A Proposition for the Comte by Sophia James.

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  A Proposition for the Comte

  by Sophia James

  Chapter One

  London 1815

  Aurelian de la Tomber felt the bullet rip through his arm, rebounding off bone and travelling on to some further softer place in his side. Standing perfectly still, he waited, for life, or for death, his blood racing as vision lightened.

  After a long moment he wondered if he might lose consciousness altogether and be found here by others in this damning position, caught red-handed and without excuse. Catching his balance, he breathed in hard and fast, his mind calculating all the variables in the situation as he struggled for logic.

  The bullet had patently not pierced an artery for the flow from his wounds was already slowing. The heavy beat of blood in his ears suggested that his heart still worked despite the intrusion and, with careful movement, his impaired balance might also be manageable. That he could even reason any of this out was another plus and if the sweat on his forehead and upper lip was building he knew this to be a normal part of shock. Still, he had no idea of how deep the bullet had gone and the pain numbed in the first moment of impact was rising. A good sign that, he thought, for in the quickening of discomfort lay the first defence in a body’s quest for living.