“I must attend to her,” Jennie moved to go. Colin grabbed her arm and turned her to face him, his face angry. “Let the wet nurse attend to your niece. That is her job isn’t it?” he sneered. Jennie nodded dumbly. “There is very little you can do for the baby unless you are able to feed her yourself, which I highly doubt you are able to do.” Colin’s angry gaze travelled up then down her small body.
“No, Husband.” Jennie said, “You are correct.” He let her go, giving her into the care of the maids before he stalked out, the wailing cry of the baby echoing through the halls.
The maids quickly stripped Jennie of her old dress. It had served her well the last few years, handed down from her mother before she became ill with scarlet fever.
Her father had gone to the goldfields and had been shot and killed in an attack by bandits, leaving their family destitute and a week’s wage from being on the streets. Their mother, in her grief, succumbed to the illness that plagued and killed so many of the poor.
“Master Colin seems a bit happier now that you’ve arrived, Mistress.” One of the maids, Amy, said as she fit a corset against Jennie’s undershirt.
“Happier?” Jennie was surprised. “I would not like to see him grouchy then.”
“It’s his way of covering his heartbreak, Miss. He was worse after his first wife died. She died during childbirth and took his second son to the good Lord with her.”
“Sick with grief he was.” The other maid, Sarah, chimed in. She laced the corset and pulled it tight enough to make Jennie grunt a little as she held tight to the bedpost.
“Maybe he will be a bit happier once Christmas comes in a few weeks.” Jennie suggested. The maids stopped and looked at each other.
“Master Colin’s wife loved Christmas. It was at that time that she discovered she was with child.” Amy said as she fitted the underskirt.
“He’s forbade us to decorate or even celebrate it this year.” Sarah said sadly. “It’s such a pity, because Miss Catherine would have a Christmas ball and invite the entire town, even the poor folk and there’d be quite a feast. But because of her passing and Master Colin’s edict, it won’t be happening this year.”
Jennie turned around as the women pulled a beautiful gown over her head. She slipped her arms into the long sleeves and let them do up the pearl buttons on the back of the dress.
“That’s terrible! How can he not celebrate Christmas? It’s a time of joy and blessings, a time for family and love.”
“Grief does strange things to a man, Miss.” Sarah said as she brought the boots out of the wardrobe for Jennie to wear. Jennie thought on this a moment, a plan beginning to form in her mind. Christmas at this house would be a memorable event this year. She would see to it.
“There now, Miss, you are ready to see the Master.” Amy said as she finished brushing Jennie’s hair. Jennie looked at her reflection in the mirror. Instead of a frightened girl, now she was faced with the aspect of a woman, dressed beautifully, with her hair done up, a light covering of makeup on her face. She felt a bit more confident now for what she knew she had to ask her husband.
Chapter 6 – Second Volcanic Eruption
Colin was working on his ledger, writing down the sales of his stock and checking them against the projected breeding numbers for next year. His profits were up and it allowed him to continue to enjoy the lifestyle he currently lived. He took care of his employees, from the ranch managers to the lowest stock hand.
The new developments with his Mail Order Bride were concerning. He had not expected to take on the added cost and responsibility of a newborn and her wet nurse. His bride was pretty enough and his brother Matthew had been making such obvious eyes at the wet nurse that she would have to be blind not to see it.
Yet his bride was not his beloved Catherine. Christmas was coming, the season that he dreaded far more than the anniversary of her death. Anything to do with the season he had sold.
The decorations, the fine blown-glass baubles that had been ordered from overseas to decorate the tree had been donated to the church. The wreaths that had hung over every doorframe he had personally tossed into the fireplace in his study. He detested Christmas with a passion born of his grief.
Jennie knocked on the door, waiting for his gruff call to enter. She opened the door and stepped timidly into the room. Colin stood up and moved in front of his desk.
“Turn around,” he instructed her, whirling his finger in a circle when she stopped in front of him. “Yes, much better,” he decided. “Now, please take a seat, Jennie.”
He indicated the small leather armchairs that sat before the crackling fireplace. He waited until she was seated before he took his own chair. She sat with her bottom almost to the edge of the seat, her nerves on edge.
“Starting tomorrow, you will begin to teach Thomas. I have a strict regimen for him that you will follow. Morning will be for mathematics, the afternoon for reading and writing. The only breaks will be for his morning tea and lunch.” He handed her a sheaf of papers that he had written his strict instructions on.
Jennie looked over them. They were like a military officer’s orders, direct and extremely strict. She nodded. “And I will inspect his work every day after dinner.”
“And playtime?” she asked.
“Playtime?” Colin asked, his voice gravelly with confusion.
“Yes, all young boys need some playtime outside.”
“No, he has no need for that.” Colin said sternly. “The snows will come soon and he may catch his death.”
“I disagree, Husband. Your son needs to be outside to enjoy the sunshine, even in winter.” Jennie looked from the sheaf of papers in her hand to her husband, who was now bristling with anger.
“I forbid it.” he said simply.
“You forbid it?” Jennie asked. “Just as you forbid Christmas in this house?”
“Yes, I forbid it. You will not question me on this, or my decision about Christmas. Do not anger me or I shall send you back to whatever flea-ridden hole you came from with an annulment chasing you, with your brat and her wet nurse as well.”
“You cannot annul a consummated marriage,” Jennie reminded him. “Nor can you cancel Christmas!”
“Perhaps not, but I can toss you out as easily as an unwanted beggar.” Colin stood up, leaning down from above her over the chair.
“You will teach my son in the manner I propose, Wife, and you will do so without complaint, or another mention of Christmas. It will not be happening in this house, not this year, not any year!” He gripped her by the arm. “Perhaps you need some time to think on your place here, Wife.” He marched her to the door and opened it.
“Unhand me!”
“Gladly! Go from my sight until this evening!” he snarled, pushing her out the door and slamming it shut behind her.
Jennie stumbled into the hallway, the banging of his study door echoing through the house. In the distance, she heard the wail of Gracie’s cry. Jennie huffed, straightened herself up and stomped on booted feet towards the baby’s nursery.
Laura looked up as she bent over to pick up the disturbed baby when Jennie entered.
“Is everything all right?” she asked as she picked up Gracie.
“No. That buffoon does not allow Christmas to be celebrated in this house!” Jennie flopped down in the rocking chair and held her arms out for the baby.
Laura handed Gracie to her aunt. “And what’s more, he wants me to teach his son as if he is a poodle being taught to do tricks. The poor boy has no time to go outside and play!” She held Gracie in her arms, taking in the scent of the baby as she rocked her back to sleep.
“Well, what are you going to do about it?” Laura asked as she busied herself around the room, folding the swaddling cloths that the maids had brought in from the laundry and placing them in a drawer. She sat down on her bed and picked up her sewing that she had abandoned when Gracie was awakened by the slamming of the study door.
“That man is stubborn as a bull
but I’m going to dodge his horns, that’s for sure,” Jennie said with a sly smile.
“Oh?” How exactly are you going to do that?”
“With guile and charm.” Jennie looked down at the now sleeping baby. She looked up and grinned at Laura. “And with your help.”
Chapter 7 – Play At Last Then...
“Then, we add the numbers together and what do we get?” Jennie asked Thomas.
“Three hundred and seventeen…” Thomas said, with a little uncertainty in his voice. Jennie smiled as she looked over the chalkboard.
“Excellent!” Jennie’s voice was filled with praise for her step-son.
Thomas beamed with pride. They had been working hard for the last week and Christmas was fast approaching.
“Let’s break for lunch, shall we?” she said to Thomas. He nodded and stood up.
“Oh look, Mother, it’s snowing!” he cried out excitedly.
Jennie turned and looked out at the open window. Sure enough pretty white flakes of snow had fallen and much of the ground was covered.
“It must have been snowing all morning!” She exclaimed in delight. “Come, let’s go out and see it!” She took Thomas’ hand and led him out, grabbing a coat, scarf and gloves for each of them out of the cloak room before they left the house.
The cold of the snow bit into their cheeks and made them rosy as they dashed through the snow. Thomas gathered up enough for a snowball and threw it at Jennie, who ducked behind a tree just in time. Snow exploded around the thin trunk, scattering over her coat as she laughed, bending over to gather her own handful to playfully throw back at Thomas.
Soon the air was thick with not just snow but snowballs as well. Thomas and Jennie were laughing so hard that tears ran down their faces to warm and then chill their cheeks before they wiped them away.
“Can we build a snowman?” Thomas asked.
“Certainly!” Jennie said. “Do you know how to make one?”
Thomas shook his head. “No, I’ve never made one before.”
“Well, I’ll have to teach you then!” Jennie wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
They made a small ball of snow, then rolled it until it was about as big as a watermelon, then rolled it some more, patting down the snow to make it solid until it was as big as a wagon’s wheel. They had to hunt around for some more snow for the second and third balls, which were progressively smaller. Finally they had the body and head of the snowman set up.
“We need an old hat, a scarf, some coal for his eyes and mouth and a carrot for his nose.”
“I’ll go ask Cook for the carrot and the coal and I have an old hat and scarf in my wardrobe he can have!” Colin dashed off through the snow to gather the items they needed to finish the snowman. Jennie looked over their icy creation.
“He needs arms,” she decided and headed to the edge of the forest. There were a few small pine trees that sat serenely in the woods.
As she bent down to pick up a couple of fallen twigs that looked perfect for their snowman, one of the pretty trees caught her eye. It would be perfect for a Christmas tree, if only Colin had not forbade the mere mention or celebration of Christmas.
Another tree had mistletoe attached to its branches. “Hmm…” she said thoughtfully, her mind going to a plan that she had formulated but dismissed with her husband’s abhorrence to anything Christmas-like.
She gathered a few pinecones in her snow-damp skirt and headed back to the snowman. Thomas ran back out of the house, a bucket in one hand and his old hat and scarf in another.
Together they decorated the snowman, then they flopped down and made snow-angels, Thomas giggling as he worked his arms and legs into the snow.
Jennie lay there watching as the clouds parted and the sun shone down again, the small snowstorm abating as her mind went to her own Christmases as a child. Thomas had gone quiet and she sat up, only to be pelted by an ice cold snowball with the sound of Thomas’ childish laughter ringing happily through the air.
“Oh I am so going to get you!” Jennie yelled joyously as she balled up another snowball, gripping it in her gloved hand and chasing after Thomas. She rounded the corner and threw the snowball…
It flew through the air and smacked right into Colin’s face.
Snow dripped from his nose, his face a bright red from both impact of the icy missile and his untempered anger.
“Wife, why is my son cold and wet and outside in this miserable weather?” he asked, his voice shaking with the effort not to shout in front of his son.
“We were playing.” Jennie looked down at her feet. Thomas went to her side and took her hand.
“Son, you are to go inside and change your clothing, eat your lunch and prepare for your afternoon classes, which I will be conducting, as it appears that your new mother cannot take instructions as to your education.”
“But father…” Thomas pleaded.
“Inside, now boy.” Colin said sternly. Thomas hung his head. Jennie gave his little hand a quick, reassuring squeeze before he let her hand go. When he was gone, Colin looked at Jennie.
“I would like there to be an understanding between us,” He said, taking her hand and leading her towards a barn. “I know our marriage is far from conventional. I have worked very hard. I used to be a poor ranch owner myself, working the land from when I was a young man. I worked until I was able to buy out those ranchers who were less able to pay their debts to the bank and I kept them employed as ranch managers.” He stopped as they entered the barn and sat her down on a wooden bench.
“I met my first wife, Catherine, the daughter of one of the ranchers whom I bought out. I fell in love with her from the moment I saw her. I demanded her hand in marriage as part of the price of the ranch I bought from her father.”
“When she died, much of my spirit and zest for life died as well and I only want my son to be raised properly, the way she might want him to be. I want him to be successful, like me,” Colin said. “I can only raise him the way I was raised.”
“Your son needs love as well as a good education.” Jennie looked up at Colin.
“I do love my son, Jennie, but I am afraid of losing him, as I lost my Catherine. Life out here can be harsh, despite the good living I provide.”
“There are no guarantees, Colin. My sister died in childbirth, just as I understand was the case with your first wife.” Jennie sighed, letting a single tear break free and fall, rolling down her cheek. It was caught in Colin’s finger as he wiped it away, his hands warm on her chilled cheeks.
“We have something in common, at least, Colin. We both lost someone we love.” Jennie took his hand, gently pressing her lips against his knuckles.
“Indeed we do.” Colin murmured.
Chapter 8 – Secret Christmas
The pine cones that Jennie had abandoned and found again in the snow had dried out nicely in front of the nursery’s fireplace. Jennie sat next to Laura with little Gracie, who was growing at an almost alarming pace. She nestled in a baby basket, burbling happily and sucking on her fisted hands.
Three small pots of colored paint lay between the girls as they painted the pinecones late in the evening. Spools of red and green ribbon lay waiting to be tied to the pinecones.
There was a knock on the door, and Jennie looked up, thinking that it couldn’t possibly be Colin. He was away for the night at one of the ranches, which was having trouble with a few calving cattle. She stood up quickly, while Laura tried to hide their forbidden pine-cone painting.
Jennie opened the door to find Thomas, sleepily rubbing his eyes.
“Mother, I can’t sleep, can you read to me?” he asked.
“I can, but how about we do something else instead?” she asked and then looked at Laura, who smiled. “Can you keep a secret?” she asked him, he nodded. “Come on then, you can help us. We’ve got a special surprise planned.”
Thomas looked at the pinecones that Laura revealed. “You’re making Christmas decorations!” he said, looking with
eagerness at the paints and the unpainted pinecones.
“No, we’re making Christmas decorations.” Jennie handed him a paintbrush and a pinecone. “Here you go, get started, and when it is dry, we will tie the ribbons around them.”
They painted late into the night.
Matthew opened the nursery door in the morning, after finding no one about. He found the three conspirators asleep in front of the glowing embers of the fire, pinecones all painted and beribboned. He smiled and closed the door, leaving them asleep.
Jennie awoke and quickly cleaned up, sending Thomas off to change into his day clothes while Laura fed and changed Gracie.
Matthew met her in the kitchen, “Jennie, I’m going to take you and Miss Laura shopping in town today
“Shopping?” she asked, surprised. Colin had not yet offered to take her to town.
“Yes, seeing as it is the day of Christmas Eve, I think it might be a nice outing and you might enjoy doing a little ‘seasonal’ shopping as well.” He said with a wink. “You’re not the only one in this house who thinks a return of Christmas cheer would do wonders for my brother’s disposition. In fact the entire house could do with some cheering up.” He smiled. “The pinecones are a nice touch, but they’ll be prettier with a tree to hang from.”
“There was one in the woods that I saw when I was collecting them. It’s not a large tree but should fit perfectly in the sitting room. And there was some mistletoe in the trees as well.
“Yes, Catherine would pick it and hang it from the arch in the entryway, tied with a crimson bow.” Matthew had a wistful look in his eye. “Well, let’s go get ready, shall we? Colin won’t be back for at least another day. There was another issue with a ranch further out that he had to attend to.” Matthew gave her a smile that made Jennie think that he had sent his brother on a wild goose chase.
“I’ll also have one of the men find that perfect tree and cut it down for us. He’ll put it in the sitting room and we’ll decorate it when we get back.
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