Winter Promise

by Martha Rogers

“Thank you, Mrs. Muldoon. I hope it’s welcomed by everyone else as it has been by your family.”

  She waved her hands. “Oh, pshaw, it will be. Don’t worry about that none. And please call me Ma. You’re Kate’s sister now, and that makes you like one of my own, or if that doesn’t feel right, call me Ada, but none of that Mrs. Muldoon business, you hear?”

  Abigail laughed. “Ada it will be, and thank you for having us to dinner tonight.”

  “Well, I figured the sooner you got to know everyone, the more comfortable you’d be around us all. We can get a might noisy sometimes.”

  That Abigail could tell from the din surrounding them now. The squeals from the children mingled with the deeper voices of the adults to create music that only loving families produced, and she thanked the Lord that she could now be a part of it.

  Ada left with two of the other women and Aunt Mae to go in and get supper on the table. The rest mingled on the front porch and in the yard. Erin, Kate’s younger sister and Seth’s wife, sauntered over. Abigail’s eyes opened wide at the sight of the obvious bump on her belly. Erin must be the other one Rachel mentioned earlier. Two more babies to add to the Muldoon family.

  Erin now smiled at Abigail. “Welcome! Seth, Rachel, and Daniel have told us so much about you. It’s wonderful to think that the four of you grew up together and now you’re here in Texas, so far from your home.”

  “Rachel didn’t say a word about you expecting a wee one. When is it due?”

  “Right around Christmas time, and Ma’s really excited about this little one. We asked Rachel not to say anything because we wanted to surprise you. We have another one that will be announced at supper tonight. No one else knows but Rachel and me. She was waiting for a special occasion to say anything, and this is it.”

  So, Erin wasn’t the one Rachel meant. Abigail gazed at the other women. Which of them would it be? Maybe Kate? But she didn’t have “that look” as Aunt Mabel called it. Before she could speculate further, Ada called out for everyone to gather around the table inside.

  Where in the world would they put all these people? The number of adults now added up to at least nineteen if her math was correct. That’s as many as some of her mother’s dinner parties, and this was all family. When she stepped through the door to the house, she spotted a long table set with nine chairs and two high chairs. Another table sat a few feet away ready for the younger ones.

  When they all gathered around, Cory joined his nieces and nephews. At Abigail’s raised eyebrow, he shrugged. “I volunteer to corral them. They think it’s fun to eat with a deputy, and it helps me keep them in line.” He winked and sat down. Immediately the younger ones quit jostling and grinned at their uncle.

  Abigail’s spirits sank a bit. She had secretly hoped to sit by Cory during dinner. She glanced at the children and noted their adoring looks at their uncle. She actually envied them and wished she could join their table.

  Callum Muldoon welcomed Abigail to the family table and stood to offer the prayer, but Sarah raised her hand and stood. “Before we say grace, I have an announcement.” She beamed with delight as she reached for her husband’s hand. “Donnie and I will be parents again come early next spring.”

  Of course, Abigail should have seen it, but she’d been so busy at the boardinghouse she hadn’t noticed. Aunt Mabel jumped up and ran to hug her daughter, and the others all offered congratulations. Abigail glanced at Rachel, who winked. Sarah had even fooled her mother. What a wonderful family, and Abigail was delighted to now be a part of it.

  Callum’s grin grew as big as his range land, and he sent up a prayer of thanksgiving for not only the food but also the new lives coming into the Muldoon clan. When the blessing ended, conversation flowed, and food passed from one family member to the next. Never had Abigail seen so much food on a table at one time. At Mother’s dinner parties, servants brought in and served each course one at a time, with only the individual plates of food set in front of each person.

  She filled her plate with beef, potatoes, and vegetables along with freshly baked bread. The first bite rested on her tongue, and the savory flavor of the tender beef gave proof that all of the food would taste as good as it looked and smelled.

  She sat back to enjoy both the delicious meal and the animated company that filled the room with laughter, love, and fellowship.

  Cory bantered with his young charges, but his gaze wandered to the main table and Abigail. Now there was one pretty little lady. But when he became a lawman, he’d vowed never to put a woman through the worries and dangers of his profession. Miss Monroe would make someone a good wife someday, but she just couldn’t be his.

  Then she happened to glance his way, and their gazes locked for a moment that sucked the breath clean out of Cory. He swallowed hard and finally looked away. Something had happened in that moment, and if he wasn’t careful, all he’d vowed would disappear in a blink of the eye.

  He turned his attention back to the children at the table. His oldest nephew regarded him with one eye squinted closed and an eyebrow raised.

  “What’s the matter, Patrick. Something in your eye?”

  An impish grin filled his face. “I saw you looking at Miss Abigail. You sweet on her or somethin’?”

  Heat filled Cory’s face. Trust the twelve-year-old to notice. “No, I’m not. We just happened to look at each other at the same time.”

  His ten-year-old niece giggled and held her fingers over her mouth. Cory put on his sternest sheriff look and stared at each of them. Neither said another word, but nothing could suppress the grins on their faces.

  Cory’s insides churned with the knowledge that Patrick had come close to the truth that had begun to dawn on Cory. The problem was what he was going to do with it.

  The aroma of Aunt Maggie’s fried chicken drifted in from the kitchen. Elliot stretched his arms above his head and breathed deeply. He imagined what she’d prepared to go with the meat and could already taste fresh green beans, mashed potatoes, creamy gravy, and melt-in-his-mouth biscuits.

  One of the perks about being a doctor in a farm and ranch community was the good food patients liked to give them. Most of the time it was in payment for services, but sometimes it was just a thank-you even though the bill had been paid. And Aunt Maggie made good use of the produce and meat they were given. Not only a good cook but also an excellent baker, Aunt Maggie kept the cookie jar and bread box full, and the treats beckoned when hunger pangs attacked.

  He closed the book he studied. It contained some of the latest innovations in medicine, and he planned to do everything he could to keep up with them. His uncle did the same. Doc even had the latest in sterilization equipment and kept the clinic as clean as possible with disinfectants and constant hand washing. One thing Doc insisted on, they all had to wash their hands with disinfectant between patients. He was a firm believer in the recommendations from Joseph Lister. They even had to remove aprons or shirts if a patient was highly contagious. Kate kept several aprons available for just that reason.

  Elliot gazed around his room. The striped wallpaper had begun to peel a bit at the corners, and the carpet had grown thin, but in another month or so they’d all move into the new house down the street, and renovations to turn this building into a six-room hospital would begin. He’d been living with his aunt and uncle above the infirmary for the time he’d been in Porterfield and had grown to love the place, but moving would be good for Aunt Maggie.

  She called to him now. “Elliot, supper’s ready.”

  He pushed back from his chair and went to the washstand to clean up. A few minutes later he joined his aunt and uncle for the meal. Aunt Maggie set the food on the table, and he sniffed with a deep breath. “Hmm, I’ve smelled that apple pie baking all afternoon. It’s enough to make a man forget what he’s doing.”

  Doc laughed and patted his stomach. “Yes, sir, the old stomach’s been rumbling since after lunch.”

  Aunt Maggie waved her hand at both of them. “There’s plenty,
and you can have as much as you want . . . both of you, but I’d go easy on the fried food, Nehemiah.” She pointed a finger at him.

  “We’ll see about that. Now c’mon and sit. Food’s getting cold.”

  She sat and Doc said grace. No one spoke for a few minutes as plates were filled and bowls passed around. This was Elliot’s favorite time of day with his aunt and uncle. With their children all grown and moved away from Porterfield, they had taken him in like a son, for which he had been most thankful.

  Although Elliot had the skill to be an excellent doctor, he’d nearly quit after the tragedy in Cleveland. If not for his uncle, he’d be holed up somewhere lost and alone. God had abandoned him at the time Elliot needed Him most, but Uncle Nehemiah had saved his life.

  “I talked with Mae Sullivan today, and she certainly had great words of praise for Daniel Monroe’s sister. She arrived this afternoon.”

  Aunt Maggie’s voice snapped him back to attention. He didn’t comment for fear of allowing his emotions to color his voice.

  His uncle sipped his coffee and peered over the rim at Elliot. “Yes, Elliot and I met them over at the vacant land office. Seems Daniel and Nathan have made arrangements to purchase the space for a library. She’s quite pretty and about as petite as Daniel is big.”

  Elliot cringed at the apt description of the young woman he’d met. He recalled her eyes as dark brown as the plain coffee his uncle now drank, and her golden brown hair enhanced her creamy complexion. He almost choked on a biscuit. He hadn’t thought of a girl in those terms since Cleveland. Best to keep his mind on the food before him.

  “It’s nice to have another single young woman in town, don’t you think, Elliot, since there hasn’t been one since Kate married Daniel.”

  Elliot kept his head bowed over his food as he answered his aunt. “I imagine there will be a lot more of the boys from over at the sawmill visiting once they learn she’s here.” He glanced up and managed a grin. “I would also imagine her library will be quite busy on Saturdays.” If he thought of her only in terms of being a librarian, maybe his mind wouldn’t dwell on the fact that she was also very pretty.

  Aunt Maggie shook her head. “Seems to me that you’d take notice yourself. It’s time for you to find a wife. You’re too fine a young man to be spending your life living with an old aunt and uncle.”

  Doc snorted. “Speak for yourself, Maggie dear. I’m certainly not old.”

  She swatted at his arm. “Oh, you know exactly what I mean, you old coot.”

  His uncle’s eyes sparkled as he caught her hand. “Yes, I do, but for the record, you’re a long way from being old.” He wiggled his eyebrows and grinned.

  Elliot swallowed hard. So much love flowed between these two. It reminded him of what he could have had if things had been different. He gulped down a swig of tea. Right now he was satisfied with the way things were. Miss Monroe may be attractive, but he preferred to keep his heart under lock and key—where it would be safe.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  MONDAY MORNING ABIGAIL walked out of Daniel’s office with the keys to the new library. She had so much to do in order to be ready to open on time. She’d spent Friday getting settled into her room at the boardinghouse, and Saturday she looked at lettering options for the new sign on the door. She couldn’t wait until her books arrived. She skipped down the sidewalk with anticipation filling her heart.

  Daniel trailed behind chuckling. “If I’d known you were going to be this excited, I’d have made sure you came out here earlier.”

  “Oh, no, this is perfect. With school opening soon, I’ll have things up and running for the children to check out books in no time. Miss Perth, Miss Miller, and I will be meeting in the next day or two to go over a list for them. What I don’t have I’ll order.” She pirouetted again with her arms spread out to her sides. A few grins and smiles greeted her as she twirled.

  He caught up with her and hugged her. “You know, just being around you makes my heart glad. You were always fun to be around, and now I realize how much I missed you.”

  Abigail cast a glance at him with one eyebrow raised. “Hah. How could I have been much fun when you were always making my life miserable?”

  He reached up and tweaked a strand of hair. “Because you were always a good sport. You and Rachel laughed a lot and always saw the good in life, especially people.”

  “You’re right about Rachel. Look at how she believed in Nathan, even when he was gone for so long.” Her best friend had seen something in Nathan that prevailed in spite of his challenging past. “Now look at them. Married and looking forward to their first little one.”

  Daniel chuckled as she unlocked the door to her library. “You must hand it to the Muldoon family. They’re doing their part to populate Porterfield.”

  Abigail grinned and nodded, wanting to ask when he and Kate would be added to that list, but that was a private matter, and she wouldn’t be nosy even though he was her brother. Then she stepped over the threshold and forgot everything but what she wanted to do with the space. Consisting of three rooms, two small rooms in the back, and one large one in front, she had space for an office, storage, and the library.

  A railing divided the front space into two parts. She ran her hand across the wood. “If we move the railing over here, it will make a perfect checkout area for the library. But I want to be sure to save what we remove. I have an idea about how I might want to use it later.” She strode across to the windows.

  “Mr. Hinkle said at church yesterday he’d come over and start on the lettering for the windows soon as I give him the word. If he can start after dinner today, that would be wonderful. My crates and some furniture should be arriving on the afternoon train. Can I get you and Nathan to help with that?”

  “I think so. I won’t be very busy today, but I’ll have to check with Nathan.” He glanced around the space. “You know, Erin helped me with my office, and I’m sure she’d be glad to offer some suggestions to you.”

  “Hmm, I’d like that. I’ll run over to the parsonage later and talk with her. She’s really a sweet girl and seems to be perfect for a minister’s wife.” She laid her finger against her cheek. “Even though they’re both young, they do have a maturity about them that is rare. Seth’s sermon yesterday touched my heart. He’s so like his father, and I loved his message.” The senior Reverend Winston, Seth’s father, had been her pastor for almost her whole life in Briar Ridge.

  She hooked her arm through Daniel’s. “I really worried about missing Briar Ridge, but everyone was so nice and friendly yesterday. They all made me feel welcome and were really interested in the library. I’m not going to miss Briar Ridge near as much as I feared I might.”

  “I hope you’ll be happy here because I am delighted you decided to come. It’s a wonderful thing you’re doing with your inheritance from Grandfather.” He pulled a pocket watch from his vest. “Enough chatting, Aunt Mae will be serving the noon meal soon, and we’d best get you back there so you won’t be late.”

  “Then let’s lock up and head that way. Oh, but first I need to see Mr. Hinkle.” Abigail strode out the door and onto the boardwalk. Such a beautiful day, even if it was warmer than she’d anticipated. Perspiration dotted her brow, and her dimity blouse clung to her shoulders. Even her small hat weighed a ton atop her upswept hair.

  They crossed the street, if she could call it that. Even though constant traffic had smoothed the ruts, her shoes and dress hem still kicked up dust as she walked. She gave the infirmary only a cursory glance and headed for Mr. Hinkle’s little shop a few doors away.

  When she entered, the bell tinkled overhead to announce her arrival. Mr. Hinkle looked up from the drawing board where he sat hunched over his latest endeavor. He grinned widely and hopped up to greet her. He wore a visor to protect his eyes from the bright glow of a lamp on his desk. “Hello, Miss Monroe. I take it you’re ready for your window signs.”

  “Yes, I am. I still want the green and gold lettering I admired Satu
rday. Will that be a problem?”

  “No, ma’am, it sure won’t.” He reached beneath the counter. “Got the perfect color right here, and some lettering samples for you to see.” He set a bottle of green ink before her and pulled out a piece of heavy paper with sample letters on it.

  He was right. It was exactly the shade she’d had in mind. An emerald green for the main part of the letters and then an outline of gold were just as she imagined. “Oh, it’s wonderful, Mr. Hinkle. You do beautiful work. When can you start on it?”

  “First thing in the morning. I’ll be finished with this other project this evening, so you’re next in line.”

  Not this afternoon, but it would do. “Thank you. I’ll be over there working on the inside.” She extended her hand. “Until tomorrow.”

  He shook her hand and grinned. “It’ll be my pleasure, Miss Monroe.”

  With that errand accomplished, she joined Daniel on the boardwalk for their walk to the boardinghouse.

  Elliot couldn’t help but notice the activity across the street. He had dried his hands and stared out at Daniel and Abigail as they crossed the street. When her glance had cut in the direction of the infirmary, he had jumped back from the window and hoped the glare from the sun would shield him.

  They had gone down a ways and into Mr. Hinkle’s shop. She looked almost like a young girl beside her brother, who stood well over six feet in height. Daniel and Cory Muldoon were both tall and broad across the shoulders. They made Elliot, two inches under six feet and slender, look much smaller, but then Frank Cahoon outdid both of those boys.

  He arranged instruments on a tray and tried to erase the image of Abigail Monroe from his mind, but she persisted in waltzing in without the least bit of warning. The white dress with green flowers she wore today had flounced about her feet as she walked beside her brother. Elliot imagined he could circle her waist with both hands and have his fingers touching each other. To stay that tiny, she must skip a few meals, and that wasn’t healthy. But her rosy cheeks and bright eyes didn’t have the appearance of someone starving herself in vanity.