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A Christmas Journey Home
Text Copyright © 2016 by Caroline Johnson
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events or locales is entirely coincidental.
First printing, 2016
Publisher
Love Light Faith, LLC
400 NW 7th Avenue, Unit 825
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33302
www.LoveLightFaith.com
A Christmas Journey Home
By: Caroline Johnson
A Christmas Journey Home
CHAPTER 1
Boston, Massachusetts, 1852
Laura closed the door behind her. Although the house was filled with all of her childhood memories, it was now void of any life. After the death of her father, she was left an orphan. Her mother died in childbirth, so she had lived her short twenty years with her father as her only family. Now he was gone. His cough had turned into a fever from which he never recovered. Grief overcame her as she nearly lost her balance, but there wasn't anybody around to catch her. She was alone. She refused to let the tears fall, but her throat was raw from holding back the water that filled her eyes. Her faith in God was the only thing that gave her the courage to get out of bed since her father died.
She took hold of her suitcases and walked down the stairs to the waiting carriage. On her way to the train station, she tried to take in all the sights and sounds of Boston as a final farewell. A fresh coat of snow covered the rooftops and glistened on the trees. It was unusual to have snow so early in November. She felt a chill run through her body. She might have been cold, but she suspected the chill stemmed from the realization that this was going to be her first Christmas without her father. She couldn't hold back the tears this time.
The train ride was long, and she passed the time by sleeping and reading books, mostly Shakespeare. Laura's father had made sure she received an education at the best school, which is where she developed her passion for reading. His income from being a lawyer allowed Laura to live a comfortable lifestyle in a city bustling with activity. Life on a ranch would be a completely different, and it wasn't a change she was happy about.
Every time she thought about her destination, butterflies filled her stomach. Moving to Colorado to live with an aunt, uncle and cousins that she had never met was not the ideal situation. However, she was twenty years old and single; she couldn't stay in Boston to fend for herself. She wouldn't receive her inheritance until she reached the age of 25, so she was left with no choice.
Over the years, she had written to her mother's sister, Aunt June. Mostly it was Aunt June who kept the communication going, but Laura always responded to her letters because it seemed like a distant connection to her mother. When Laura wrote to her aunt about her father's death, Aunt June responded with an invite to move to Colorado immediately and even paid for her train fare. Aunt June's family was her only family left. Her father was an only child, and her mother only had one sibling, which was Aunt June. Although Laura didn't want to move, she had nowhere else to go. Her aunt's invitation was an unexpected answer to her prayers.
CHAPTER 2
The train stopped, and Laura woke up, still drowsy. A quick look in the mirror revealed disheveled hair and a pallid complexion. She looked exactly like she felt. Using her hands to comb her chestnut-colored hair into place, she tried to create an illusion of her former self, the person who existed before her father's death. She pinched her cheeks for some extra color and picked up her suitcases.
As she stepped off the platform, she recognized her aunt immediately. They both had the same blue eyes framed by dark lashes. She managed a smile as her family approached.
Although she already knew her family members' names, Aunt June insisted on formal introductions. "This is your Uncle Robert and your cousins, Thomas and Annie. Thomas is 23, so just a few years older than you, and Annie just turned 13 last week." Each of her relatives greeted her with a tight hug, which was unexpected, but welcome. Her family's welcoming embraces resulted in a small bout of happiness, which was the first time Laura had felt any joy in weeks.
Laura's forced smirk transformed into a genuine smile, as she managed to muster, "I can't thank you enough for taking me in—especially since you have never met me. I don't know how to express my gratitude for your kindness."
Aunt June embraced Laura one more time and said, "Laura, you're our family. It doesn't matter that we've never met. We love you all the same." Aunt June pulled away and looked Laura up and down, "And you're just a spitting image of your mama, which makes my heart happy. Welcome home, darlin'. Welcome to Colorado."
The horse and buggy ride to the ranch was bumpy and cold. Her cousins, Annie and Thomas, took the liberty of riding in the back while she was nestled between her aunt and uncle. Aunt June pointed out all the landmarks along the way and told her the names of the neighbors. She even filled Laura in on some of the town gossip, which made Laura giggle. The biggest scandal seemed to be that a particular rancher had skipped church four Sundays in a row. Laura couldn't fathom how people even noticed something so seemingly trivial, but that also made her realize just how small this town was. She decided it was best to keep to herself for a while.
After eating a hot bowl of soup paired with freshly-made bread for dinner, Laura made her way up to her bedroom. The room was cozy, and the painting of a mountain scene above the fireplace was captivating. It was almost an exact replica of the view outside of her window. The handmade quilt hugged every part of her body as she climbed into bed and drifted off into a deep sleep.
***
Her peaceful slumber was brought to an abrupt end when a loud noise made her sit straight up in confusion. The sun must have just risen, and she couldn't imagine what all the commotion was about. She finally realized she was hearing the ringing of a bell. Slowly rising from bed, she splashed some water on her face and dressed before making her way downstairs.
The smell of grease and sounds of a crackling stove alerted her senses that food was being prepared. Aunt June greeted Laura with a warm smile as her cousin Annie embraced her with a hug. Laura wasn't used to this level of affection, but she hadn't had much human contact since her father died. It felt nice that someone was actually paying attention to her.
"Well, good morning, sleepy head," sang Aunt June. "We've been waiting hours for you to wake up. We wanted to let you get some extra rest this morning, so don't worry about helping out with chores until tomorrow. Just get yourself settled in."
"You've been waiting hours? What could you have possibly been doing for hours? Annie likely doesn't have to be to school for quite some time," said Laura as she wiped the sleep from her eyes.
"Oh honey, ranch life is much different that city life. It'll take some getting used to, but you'll learn the ropes. We all need to chip in to make this house a home," answered Aunt June as she finished making breakfast.
The amount of food Laura consumed was enough to feed three people. She hadn't had an appetite in weeks, and every time her plate was nearly empty, Uncle Robert piled on another serving until she had to cover her plate with her hands in protest. Her new family laughed, joked around, and asked Laura a lot of questions. She appreciated that they kept the questions to inquiring about her interests and avoided the topic of her father. She wasn't ready to open up, and the family seemed to sense this.
Thomas invited Laura on a trip to the general store to pick up feed, which Aunt June encouraged. Laura needed a few items from the store anyway and saw this as a chance to get to know her cousin. On the way to the store, they
passed by a few ranches as Laura enjoyed the breathtaking scenery. Unlike Boston, this small Colorado town was surrounded by mountains capped with stark-white snow.
The general store was busy, and Thomas left Laura by herself why he loaded up the feed. Laura collected toiletries and other items she needed. As she placed her hand on a bar of soap, she felt someone standing next to her, and the tight space made her uncomfortable. She abruptly grabbed the soap, stepped away, and gave her best perturbed look to the man standing next to her.
"Sorry ma'am, it's a tight space in here. I didn't mean to offend you. I just needed some soap," said a dreadfully handsome man with doe-shaped brown eyes and tanned skin that hadn't yet faded even though summer was over. "You aren't from around these parts, are you?"
Before Laura had time to answer, Thomas joined the conversation and gave the mystery man a friendly punch on the shoulder. "James, I see you've met my cousin, Laura Brooks. She just moved here from Boston. She's living with us now."
"Well, we haven't exactly been introduced," said Laura.
Her attitude changed for the better. She wanted to make a good impression on her family's friends. This particular acquaintance was definitely worth some extra attention.
Thomas noticed the connection between his cousin and his best friend.
"James, Mama is making something good for lunch to make Laura feel at home. You should come over if your mama will let you sneak away."
Laura felt the blood rush to her cheeks in embarrassment as she noticed Thomas wink at James.
"Well, that's an offer I can't refuse. I'll follow behind you. I just need to pay for my feed and this soap," answered James as his never-ending dimples appeared along with a charming smile.
On the way home, Thomas told Laura that he and James had been friends ever since he could remember. James's mother had grown up with Aunt June and Laura's mother, so the two family's friendship had spanned generations.
When they arrived at the ranch, James and Thomas unloaded the buggy. Laura went inside to see if Aunt June needed any help with lunch. After a few moments, James and Thomas appeared, along with Uncle Robert, ready to indulge in a good home cooked meal. Laura couldn't help but take in the scene as something that seemed too good to be true: a happy family with a friendly neighbor enjoying heartfelt conversation around the table. The smell of fresh bread permeated throughout the house. This was a life she could get used to.
Annie returned home from school in the late afternoon and didn't even make an attempt to hide her excitement that James had taken an interest in Laura. James was one of the most handsome men in town. He came from a good family, he was polite and had a wild side that Annie whispered to Laura about while Aunt June's back was turned.
Over the next few weeks, Laura got to know James as he joined them for many meals. He found ways to sit next to her at church. He taught her how to ride a horse, and he even taught her how to fetch water from a well. James took a keen interest in her knowledge of ranch living, and she was taking it all in. Her aunt and uncle were thrilled to see Laura and James together.
Although her days were filled with chores, and she always seemed to be busy, Laura missed having the companionship of other girls her age. Annie was only 13 years old, so they got along well, but Laura surely wouldn't be sharing her deepest secrets with her young cousin. Laura was shy, so she had a hard time meeting potential friends. Some of the women at church seemed friendly, but nobody invited her into their circle of friends. Aunt June assured her it would just take some time. Everyone was busy this time of year, so she encouraged Laura to be patient.
Annie confided in Laura one day that some of the young women in town were gossiping about how much time she was spending with James. Apparently, James was a favorite among the town's women, and there was one girl that once had James's interest until Laura came along. Laura was heartbroken. More than anything, she wanted to find her place in this town and unbeknownst to her, she had already ruined her chances of making friends.
***
James joined the family for dinner for the third time in one week. As always, James sat next to Thomas, but he managed to steal glances at Laura when he thought nobody else noticed. Everybody noticed.
Aunt June asked James if he was planning on attending the Harvest dance on Friday evening. It was the town's annual get-together that took place before Christmas celebrations began. Laura smiled in delight at the thought of a dance. James saw this as his chance to make his claim on this beautiful girl who had landed at the Williams's ranch.
Addressing Laura's Uncle Robert, James asked, "Mr. Williams, would it be okay if I invited Miss Brooks to go to the dance with me?"
Laura's palms felt cold. She brimmed with excitement that James wanted to take her to the dance. Yet, a sadness overcame her that James had asked her uncle for permission to court her, rather than asking her father. It was an unexpected reminder that her grief was unabated.
Uncle Robert, noticeably uncomfortable, responded, "Well, that would be mighty nice for Laura. I think she could use some friends."
James formally asked Laura to attend the dance with him. She accepted. James took his leave, and Laura walked him to the door. James took her hand in his and placed a gentle kiss on the tops of her fingers. Her fingers tingled with the warmth from his lips.
CHAPTER 3
Laura took a long time getting ready the night of the dance. She styled her hair with a loose braid that created a crown-like circle around her head. Annie burst into her room and took a long look at Laura.
"Is that what you're wearing?" asked Annie. "I mean, you look beautiful, but that dress is so fancy. What if it gets dirty?"
Suddenly self-conscious, Laura said, "This is the nicest dress I own. I don't know what else I would wear."
Annie said, "Well, never mind. James won't be able to take his eyes off of you. Your hair looks fancy, too. Will you teach me how to do that to my hair?"
Laura laughed. She had always wanted a little sister, and Annie was quickly becoming one of her favorite people to be around. Annie was so full of life and always found the positive in every situation.
Laura helped Annie with her hair when Aunt June walked in with a pretty, yet simple, blue dress.
"I wasn't sure you'd have something to wear, so I made this for you as a surprise," said Aunt June with eyes gleaming from the nearby fire.
"Oh, Aunt June. The dress is just lovely. Thank you so much."
Aunt June helped Laura out of her dress that was too formal for this event and helped her into the much more appropriate blue dress. Laura wondered if this was something mothers typically did for their daughters. Aunt June was really going above and beyond to make her feel welcome.
Annie linked arms with Laura as they walked down the stairs. Aunt June followed close behind. Uncle Robert, Thomas and James were at the bottom of the stairs waiting for the ladies to descend.
Laura noticed the smile spread across James's face. He took her hand to help her down the last couple stairs and whispered, "You look beautiful."
The flattering words made Laura blush. She had experienced crushes before, but James knew exactly what to say and do to make her melt. She wondered if she had found her future husband. Of course, this was a thought she kept to herself.
The dance took place in a barn, which surprised Laura. The dances she had attended in Boston were much more formal. Laura was nervous, but the casual atmosphere took a lot of pressure off of formalities, which put her at ease.
James asked Laura to dance almost immediately. Laura noticed sneering glances she received from one woman in particular. She ignored her. Laura wasn't familiar with the dancing style that everybody knew, but James was patient with her. They laughed a lot as Laura turned the wrong way or stepped on James's feet.
Laura needed a break, so she sat down next to her cousin, Annie, while James went to get a drink. A couple songs played while Annie introduced Laura to some of the women. Surprisingly, many of them were friendly and were
eager to get to know Laura.
Laura danced with Thomas, Uncle Robert, and James. As the night progressed, Laura smelled alcohol on James's breath, and his dancing seemed to be a bit clumsier. She asked him to take a break from dancing.
"I'll tell you when I need a break," said James, more loudly than he meant to speak.
Laura was taken aback at his brash statement. James quickly apologized, and Laura brushed off his behavior. She insisted upon a break, to which he conceded.
James excused himself, leaving Laura alone once again. She accidentally bumped into another woman who quickly turned around and stared at Laura with a scowl. This was the same woman who had been staring at Laura all night.
"Oh, it's you. Are you having a nice time with James?" demanded the young woman, whom Laura assumed was about her age.
"I didn't mean to bump into you. I apologize," answered Laura, ignoring the question about James.
"You can't just come into town and steal another woman's man," said the angry woman.
"I didn't. I didn't know he was spoken for. If I did anything to offend you, I apologize. I would never do anything as dishonorable as you describe," pleaded Laura.
"Seriously, Rebecca?" interrupted James. "Laura, pay no attention to her. We was over before you even came to town. Rebecca likes to think I was in love with her, but I'm not," said James, once again speaking too loudly.
Laura walked away from the escalating situation. She didn't want any part of the drama that ensued. She hid in a corner near the door.
"James is having another rough night," said a voice from the shadows.
"Excuse me?" questioned Laura while she looked around for the voice's source.