by Joyce Alec
She was used to neighbors living very close together, so the sheer distance between each home was staggering. Laura was thankful she grabbed Michael's blanket as most of the day was spent outdoors while traveling from house to house. She would have to remember to return Michael's blanket to him one day, but for the time being, she felt compelled to keep it.
Their final stop was James's house. Laura was nervous and silently wished that James would be attending to his work on the ranch. When they reached the front door, James answered and welcomed each lady with a kiss on the hand. Aunt June and James's mother had been lifelong friends, so the women wanted to spend some time alone to catch up. Aunt June suggested that James and Laura sit in the parlor room while the two older women sat at the kitchen table.
James sat across from Laura, staring her down. Finally, he spoke.
"Looks like you owe me an apology this time."
Laura audibly gasped, but managed to speak, "I owe you an apology? Mr. Cummings was helping me up after I fell into a mud puddle. He was being a complete gentleman. Your jealous behavior was irrational and rude."
"Irrational? Why was he holding your hand? Why were you smiling at him? You don't deserve me anyway. You're an orphan with no money who don't even know how to cook. You're no good anyway."
"James, you had no reason to get angry. Mr. Cummings was helping me. That's it. You attempted to punch him in the face and then told my Aunt June that you came to my rescue. I don't need you to rescue me. I need to be rescued from you. Your temper is unbearable and your words are harsh. I don't need to explain anything further because I did nothing wrong." She wanted to have the final word, "At the general store, you told me that you could have any other woman. If you have so many offers, I suggest you accept one of them."
She figured the conversation would end there, but he kept it going.
"Well, maybe I already have," said James with a wry smile.
"What is that supposed to mean?" asked Laura, slightly hurt.
"Rebecca has always had eyes for me. When you left the barn dance, she was happy to keep me company."
Laura didn't need to come up with a comeback, Aunt June and James's mother swooped in to take Laura's side. Eavesdropping apparently was a favorite pastime of Aunt June.
Laura wasn't sure which woman was speaking because when one stopped yelling, the other one started.
"How dare you take advantage of Laura when she's new to town? You were raised better, boy."
"You threw a punch at Michael?"
"How could you possibly take back up with Rebecca?"
"Where are your manners? You're a disgrace."
Laura covered her mouth to hide her smile. James's mom apologized for her son as she walked her to the door. Aunt June apologized profusely for not taking her side as they loaded themselves up into the buggy.
On the way back home, they passed by a large house built on a particularly large ranch.
"Why aren't we stopping there with cookies?" asked Laura.
"Oh, that's the Cummings ranch. Mary Cummings and I stopped talking more than ten years ago."
"Why, what happened?"
"Well, to be honest, I really don't know," said Aunt June as she seemed to be deep in thought. "After Mr. Cummings died, Mary stopped speaking to me."
Laura and Aunt June sat in silence the rest of the way to the ranch. The annual cookie delivery was complete.
CHAPTER 5
The following morning, Laura had some free time after breakfast. It was an unseasonably warm day for December, so Laura decided to take a walk down to the church. Christmas time had always been her favorite, and her father did everything in his power to make it special for her each year. She wanted to spend some time with God for comfort.
The scenery was breathtaking. It looked as if diamonds were covering the ground as the sun reflected off of the melting snow. She passed houses and shops that were decorating for the upcoming celebrations. The snowcapped mountains created the perfect backdrop to this perfect Christmas scene.
The church was empty, so she chose a pew close to the front. She lowered her head in prayer and cried for a few minutes over the loss of her father. The grief came in waves. Some days she didn't cry at all, while other days seemed like she would never heal from the pain.
She heard a cough and turned around to see Michael Cummings sitting a few rows behind her.
"Pardon me, Miss Brooks, I didn't mean to startle you. May I join you?"
Laura nodded. She couldn't imagine James would be visiting the church today, so she didn't expect any angry interruptions to their conversation.
"Why are you here?" questioned Laura. "It's not Sunday."
"I come here often to be alone. This time of year is especially hard for our family. We lost Pa ten years ago around this time."
"I am sorry for your loss," said Laura, understanding the significance of a father's death.
"Why are you here?" asked Michael.
"I also lost my father. Actually, that's why I moved to Colorado. Aunt June and Uncle Robert are my only living kin."
"I'm sorry for your loss, too. It's not easy, and I can't offer up any words to take away the heartache. Only time makes it easier to accept, although I have found that the pain is never completely gone."
"To be honest, I just feel lost," confided Laura. She didn't know why she was sharing her feelings, but Laura didn't stop herself. "I've tried to listen to what God is telling me, but I keep misinterpreting His messages. I thought Aunt June's invitation to come and live in Colorado was an answer to my prayers, but I don't really fit in here. After the barn dance, I thought God was telling me to forgive James because of the pastor's sermon on forgiveness. Obviously, that was a bad choice. I don't know what I am supposed to do next. I guess I came here for some guidance."
"Well, God does things in His own timing. I just wish He would give us a better clue of what He's up to," laughed Michael. He continued, "God wanted you to come to Colorado, or you wouldn't be here. I know I have enjoyed seeing you around town. Although I think my mama and your Aunt June might be upset that we keep running into each other."
Michael smiled again. Laura felt comfortable with Michael.
"As far as forgiving James, I believe that God does want you to forgive him. The Bible gives us many messages about forgiveness. However, forgiving James is not the same as accepting his shameful behavior. You can forgive James without rekindling a friendship. Staying angry won't do you no good. You'll be the only one who suffers if you can't forgive and let go."
Laura and Michael continued to talk for hours. She learned that Michael had to manage the ranch when he was just 18 years old after his father's death. Michael had to take on the responsibility of providing for his mother and his young sister. Even though he had hired help, he didn't have much time for friends or finding the right woman to marry. He never finished school, but read every book he could get his hands on. He loved waking up before the sun each day to watch the sun rise over the mountains.
Michael learned that Laura was just as kind as her eyes foretold. She didn't know how to cook, although she was learning. She had never ridden a horse prior to her Colorado arrival. She was an avid reader of Shakespeare, and milk made her stomach hurt.
Michael and Laura lost track of time as they shared their interests, hopes and dreams. When Laura realized how much time had passed, she panicked. Aunt June would need her help with the afternoon chores, but the walk home was at least an hour. Michael offered to take her home on his buggy to save time. Laura walked the last quarter-mile home so Aunt June wouldn't see that she had been with Michael. The last thing she needed was to start another scandal.
***
Over the next few weeks, Laura snuck out every morning to meet Michael at his special spot to watch the sunrise. They would talk about everything from their childhoods to their favorite foods. They would even spend time praying together. They each found comfort in sharing their grief over their losses.
De
cember 23rd, the day before Christmas Eve, Laura woke up early as usual to meet Michael. Laura wrapped the gift she had made for Michael with a red bow. She had finally made some friends with the women in town and attended their Wednesday afternoon quilting gatherings. She had spent the past few weeks making a blanket for Michael.
When she reached their special spot, she pulled out the blanket. As she gave him the gift, she said, "You have given me immeasurable amounts of comfort over these past few weeks through your kind words. I made this blanket for you to keep you warm and hopefully bring you some comfort. The stitching isn't perfect, as I never was good at sewing. But I thought the imperfection made it more personal."
Michael's smiled brighter than the morning sun. Laura's heartfelt gift meant more to him than she would ever know. He didn't have any close friends, and besides his mother and his sister, nobody had ever given him a handmade gift. Laura saw the genuine gratitude in Michael's green eyes and wished more than anything that they could spend Christmas together.
Michael was thinking the same thing, but he verbalized his desires, "I wish that your aunt and my ma would put their differences behind them. They're just two old croakers who are stuck in their ways. I'd love to spend Christmas with you."
Michael gently grabbed Laura's hand and placed it on his heart. She moved closer to him as he wrapped his strong arms around her. She felt safe as he stroked her back. Her worries disappeared and in that moment, she was extremely grateful she had come to Colorado. She raised her head as he looked down at her and their eyes met. The moment seemed right and he lifted her up effortlessly and she wrapped her arms around his neck. He held her tight as he tenderly kissed her. It seemed like they were the only two people who existed.
As the kiss ended, Michael carefully lowered Laura to the ground. Michael reached into his pocket and handed Laura a small box that was wrapped in colorful paper. Laura didn't expect a gift, so she was nervous as she unwrapped the present. The box contained a copy of A Midsummer's Night Dream. In one of their conversations, Laura told Michael that this was her favorite work by Shakespeare, and she had left it in Boston. Laura's heart warmed to the fact that Michael remembered such a simple detail.
"There's more," said Michael. "Open the book."
Inside the book was a beautiful necklace with a ruby heart pendant. It was breathtaking.
"It was my grandmother's," explained Michael.
Laura was suddenly embarrassed by the gift she gave Michael. She had spent hours toiling over the patchwork, but he had presented her with a family heirloom that was too beautiful for her to accept.
"Oh Michael, I couldn't…" her voice trailed off.
"Please. I want you to have it. My grandfather gave it to my grandmother on their wedding anniversary. Before my grandmother died, she said I was supposed to give this to the woman that stole my heart. She said it would bring us as many happy years as she had with my grandpa."
Laura was speechless. The gift was more than she could have ever hoped for, but she knew that they could never be together. It wasn't like Michael could run away with her. He had to manage the ranch and care for his mother and sister. Her aunt and his ma would never allow the relationship. Laura also knew that she had to accept the gift. Michael had said she had stolen his heart, and the truth was, he had stolen hers too.
"I will wear it always."
She kissed Michael again, this time with more intensity. They both wanted the moment to last forever, but she knew if she stayed any longer she wouldn't be able to sneak back into the house.
"May I ride home with you today?" asked Michael. "We won't see each other until after Christmas and I want to spend as much time with you as I can."
"I would love that."
Michael helped Laura onto her horse as they rode back to the Williams's ranch. When they reached the winding road that led to her family's house, Aunt June came running toward them.
"Oh, thank the Lord," cried Aunt June. "We didn't know where you had run off to."
Aunt June stopped abruptly when she saw Laura's companion. A fiery gaze revealed her anger.
"Ma'am, I just wanted to make sure she got home alright."
"And just where did you take her. Did he hurt you, Laura?
Shocked, Laura answered, "Hurt me? Of course not. How could you even think that? We just watched the sun come up over the mountains. It was so lovely, Aunt June."
Uncle Robert and Thomas came down the winding road on their horses.
"Ma, you found her. Where were you off to, girl? You've created quite the fuss around here," offered Uncle Robert.
"Honestly, I didn't mean any disrespect, sir. I just wanted to make sure she got home safe. If it's alright with you, I'll be off now," Michael said as he tipped his hat.
Uncle Robert nodded his head in a farewell to Michael. Strangely, Uncle Robert and Thomas did not seem upset that Michael had brought her home. However, the questions from Aunt June were unrelenting.
"How long have you been sneaking off with him? Do you know what the neighbors will say? First James and now Michael. You know you can't just go flirting with every boy who smiles at you."
Laura answered every question honestly. She didn't believe she had done anything wrong, other than sneaking out of the house every morning. In Aunt June's mind, Laura had been fraternizing with the enemy.
When Aunt June was ready to shoot off another round of questions, she noticed the red heart around Laura's neck.
"Did he give that to you? How could you accept such an expensive gift? Didn't your father teach you any manners?"
Laura sighed and wished the inquisition would stop.
Uncle Robert walked in and laughed, "Ma, leave that poor girl alone."
"Pa, that boy gave her a necklace. Her reputation is ruined. You need to go over to the Cummings' ranch right now and put an end to this."
"Ma, I ain't doing no such thing. Michael Cummings has always been a nice boy and its time you stop fighting with his mama. They're respectable folk, and there was a time you got along real good with Mrs. Cummings."
Refusing to be told what to do, Aunt June snorted, "Well if you won't do it, I will. Laura, put on your coat."
Although Laura didn't want to be involved in the great Cummings-Williams disagreement, Laura was eager to see Michael again.
Aunt June banged on the front door of Michael's home. Mrs. Cummings answered the door in disbelief.
"What are you doing here? I bet it ain't because you are bringing some gingerbread cookies," said Mrs. Cummings. She softened, "Well, as long as you're here, you might as well come in from the cold."
"Did you know that your boy has been flirting with my niece? He's been following her around like a lost puppy ever since she got to town," accused Aunt June.
"Aunt June, that isn't true. Michael has only been respectful and kind," explained Laura.
"You ought to listen to that girl, June Williams," said Mrs. Cummings in a loud, defensive voice. "My boy was raised right. He wouldn't disrespect anybody, not even your family."
Michael heard the commotion and descended down the stairs. Laura couldn't help but admire how handsome he looked in his dark pants and collared shirt. The warm glow from the fireplace lit up his face and highlighted his chiseled jaw and soft skin.
Aunt June and Mrs. Cummings watched as Laura and Michael looked at each other lovingly. Mrs. Cummings caught a glance of the familiar red heart around Laura's neck.
"Michael Cummings," she yelled. "You gave this girl your grandma's necklace?"
"I did, Ma. I love her," answered Michael, not taking his eyes off of Laura.
Laura's heart melted. This was the first time Michael had said these words out loud. The same words had been on the tip of her tongue for weeks, but she never uttered them for fear her love would be unrequited.
"I love you too, Michael."
"I feel faint," said Aunt June, who started to fan herself out of pure disbelief to what she was witnessing.
Michael rushed
to Aunt June's side and led her to a chair in the parlor room. Laura sat next to her aunt while Mrs. Cummings took a seat on a nearby sofa. Michael headed to the kitchen to fetch some water for Aunt June.
Michael returned, handed Aunt June a glass of water, and took a seat next to his mother. Laura saw this opportunity to settle the dispute once and for all.
"Mrs. Cummings, why are you fighting with Aunt June anyway? Uncle Robert says that the two of you used to be friends."
Mrs. Cummings said, "Your aunt knows why we ain't speaking."
"I certainly don't," bellowed Aunt June. "After your husband died, you quit speaking to me."
"Well, of course I quite speaking to you. You didn't even bring me your gingerbread cookies that year. It was so soon after his death, and you completely forgot me."
"Forgot you? What do you mean? I baked you an extra batch that year. You were my first stop. I also brought you dinner every night for a month. Every evening, Michael said you were sleeping."
"Is that why you quit speaking to Mr. and Mrs. Cummings, Ma?" questioned Michael. "Did you really think it was Helen cooking all those meals? She was only three when Pa died. And as for the cookies, Helen and I ate all of them. All you did was sleep for a month, and I didn't know how to cook. If it weren't for Mrs. Williams, we all would've starved."
"Oh June, I had no idea," said Mrs. Cummings with tears rolling down her face. "I thought you forgot about me, and I held onto that anger for all of these years."
Mrs. Cummings rushed to Aunt June and grabbed her hand lovingly, and the two sobbed together.
"If I would have known you were angry about the cookies, I would have baked you a batch every week," said Aunt June. "Just think of all the time we've lost over such a misunderstanding."
It was obvious the two women had a lot of catching up to do, so Laura took the liberty of inviting them all to Christmas dinner.
"But we've never spent Christmas at another table," said Mrs. Cummings.
Michael responded, "Well, it's probably time we start some new traditions."