Christmas at Barncastle Inn: Four-in-One Collection

by Susan Page Davis, Darlene Franklin, Janelle Mowery, Lynette Sowell

  “What’s on the table?” She squinted.

  “Fruit. Nuts. Trying to keep to the first-century theme.” They pulled their heads back into the dressing room and shut the door.

  “Hmm. That explains the sorbet Jayne served last week. They say Emperor Nero enjoyed a dish of something like ice cream in his day. Elizabeth and Zechariah might have been rich enough to indulge in it.”

  The houselights blinked twice, and after a few minutes,they dimmed and the waiting crowd hushed. The curtain rose, and from their spot in the wings, Alec and Waverly could see Joseph at work in his shop.

  The actor captured Joseph’s dilemma with all its nuances. Alec saw his compassion, felt his perplexity and betrayal. His fiancée, pregnant and unmarried—a sin punishable by death.

  His dilemma echoed with Alec, except all Joseph’s uncertainty vanished with the angel’s message. Take Mary as your wife. The baby is God’s Son.

  How could Joseph accept such an impossible task? Raise God’s Son? The Messiah? No wonder the angel said, “Don’t be afraid.”

  Waverly watched, the shadows from the stage lighting playing with her features. “Immanuel. God with us.” She repeated the prophet’s promise to herself.

  Could Alec be as brave, as selfless, as Joseph? Raise a child not of his body as his own?

  Don’t be afraid. God’s still, small voice repeated the angel’s words.

  Chapter 4

  An entire flock of sheep? Won’t two or three do?” Waverly switched her glare from Jayne to Alec. “And we have to make sure nothing happens to them?”

  Jayne only arched her eyebrows. “You must know Luke’s words. They were keeping watch over their flocks by night.”

  “I didn’t know the interpretation was going to be so literal. Besides, a flock is anything more than two animals. Where are you going to put them all on the set?” Alec turned to Jayne and shrugged. “You explain.” “We’re doing this part of the play al fresco. Outside.” “What? In Vermont? In December?” “But the weather has been mild these past few days, and the forecast says it shouldn’t turn cold until Sunday at the earliest. And the moon will be almost full. Perfect conditions.”

  But how would they do the angel choir? Not my problem. “Even worse. How can we keep the sheep from wandering?”

  “Waverly.” When Alec said her name like that, like warm maple syrup, she melted like butter. “I, um, volunteered us to be the lead shepherds.”

  Waverly sank onto her chair. “And who is assisting us?” She didn’t think she wanted to hear the answer.

  “Our guests. Who else?” Jayne grinned.

  “I guess Mrs. P. can keep Cinnamon for the night. Unless she thinks Misty would make a good sheepdog.”

  “No way. My folks raise sheep, so our collie will be coming with the flock. And I might even convince my parents to serve as shepherds. They’ve done it in enough church plays. How bad can it be? We get to sit around a fire and listen to angels sing.” Alec grinned, and Waverly decided it might be fun after all.

  How bad can it be. Alec’s words taunted Waverly when they arrived at the Rosses’ farm the next day. This was worse than a cowboy trying to move his doggies along. At least then the horse provided the herder some protection from the crush of the animals.

  “Just let them know you mean business.” Alec aimed another animal through the chute onto the waiting truck bed.

  Waverly didn’t have a problem cornering an individual animal, but she’d never tried to manage an entire group at once. That lamb looked harmless enough. She went after him with bangers, urging him toward the chute. The baby complied until he heard his mother’s bleating. He ran straight toward her, knocking Waverly to the ground.

  When Waverly tried to stand, the ewe bumped into her, paying her back for disturbing her baby. “Ow!” Waverly rubbed her elbow.

  “Come on, Lucy.” Alec steered the ewe away and she trotted behind him like one of Hamelin’s rats, her lamb in her wake. He returned and extended a hand to help Waverly to her feet. “You gotta get the mothers first; then the lambs will follow.” He took a step back and looked at her, dirt andother unmentionable substances spattered from her boots to her hips and dripping from her hair. “It gets easier, with practice.”

  “Fat lot of help I’m going to be, if one of these guys decides to make a break for it tomorrow.”

  “Laddie will keep them in line. Won’t you, boy?”

  At the sound of his name, a handsome collie ran to Alec and barked.

  “Laddie?”

  “As close as we could get to Lassie for a boy dog.”

  “Weren’t most of the Lassie actors male?”

  “We can’t all be Waverly and Cinnamon.” He winked.

  Mr. Ross, Alec’s father, chased the last of the sheep onto the truck and shut the tailgate behind them. “That’s that.” He caught sight of Waverly. “Come on back to the house for a spot of cleaning up.”

  “I didn’t bring anything …”

  “Not to worry. Doreen will fix you up.”

  So Waverly was going to visit in the home of Alec’s parents looking her spectacular worst. She stared down at her boots and lifted her foot as high as she could until it finally made a plopping sound and released from the—well, “mud” would be a euphemism for the muck of sheep droppings mixed with snow and mud. She shivered, and the prospect of drying out by a warm fire appealed to her.

  Alec’s mother, Doreen, met them by the back door. “So good to see you again, dear.” She acted as if people arrived at her door covered in mud all the time, but then again, perhaps they did. She hung Waverly’s coat on a peg and took her boots before leading her upstairs to the shower.

  Doreen had turned on the space heater in the bathroom earlier so the room was steamy warm when Waverly climbed into the shower. The warm water cascaded over her body, releasing some of the kinks she’d developed when she’d fallen down. Someone knocked at the door. “It’s just me, dear. I’ve laid out a robe you can use while we wash your clothes.”

  “Thanks,” Waverly called over the splash of water. She stayed in the shower until the hot water turned cool. The robe Doreen had laid out for her was made for Christmas, a plush green velour with red poinsettias up and down both sides of the center zipper. She combed her hair into a ponytail and joined the others in the living room.

  The Rosses’ home hadn’t changed much since the last time she had been there, the summer before she left for college. A picture of Alec at his graduation from vet school took pride of place among the family pictures, next to a portrait of him with Laddie. He looked impossibly handsome and serious. All the things that had drawn her to him back when she was a gawky kid in junior high, and he came into her father’s office the first time to work his summers between semesters at college.

  Oh, Dad. Waverly still missed him and his wisdom. But he and her mom had sold the business to Alec, with a clause allowing her to join the practice in the future if she so chose. Her mother’s worsening arthritis had mandated an early retirement to a warmer climate. Waverly had thought about heading to Florida when she discovered she was pregnant, but when Alec offered her a job for the summer, and then extended it into the fall, she found she wanted tocome back home to Castlebury.

  Waverly took the chair closest to the fireplace and slipped her feet out of the fluffy slippers and wiggled her toes on the warm hearth. Alec appeared through the doorway to the kitchen, two steaming mugs in his hands. “I fixed us some hot cocoa.”

  She peered into the cup, and spotted a handful of miniature marshmallows floating on the surface, with cinnamon sprinkled on top. “My favorite.” She lifted it to her mouth and took a sip. “I thought you’d be gone with the sheep. Sorry about the delay.”

  “The sheep aren’t going anywhere without me.” Alec grinned but then his expression sobered. “I’m the one who should be apologizing. I should have asked you before I agreed to us taking part in the play this weekend. You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

&nbs
p; “You’re the boss.”

  “I mean it.” Alec sat down across the fireplace from her.

  Waverly sipped her hot chocolate, her tongue finding one of the miniature marshmallows. “I’ll do it. It can’t be any worse than today.”

  “That’s the spirit.”

  First I’m roped into playing Mary. Now the shepherds. What next?

  What Waverly didn’t realize, Alec thought, was that he could almost thank the sheep for giving him an excuse to spend extra time with her. Fresh from the shower, her hair shimmering a pale strawberry gold, the green of the robe bringing out the color of her eyes. She should have a robe likethat. But although his mother would be happy to give it away, it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to give nightwear to a female employee.

  “Here you are, dear.” His mother appeared through the door with Waverly’s clothes, warm from the dryer. “All ready for you. Are you all dried out?”

  “She’d like a second cup of cocoa.” Alec stood to his feet. He liked seeing her there, in his parents’ house, and wanted to delay their departure.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll get it.” His mother left and returned a few minutes later with a tray holding three cups of cocoa and a plate of frosted sugar cookies.

  “Sorry it’s not snickerdoodles,” Alec said.

  Waverly bit into one of the cookies. “Frosted sugar cookies run a close second. I always had fun decorating cookies at Christmastime when I was a kid. I thought about doing it this year, but Cinnamon’s a bit too young to take part.” She giggled.

  “How is that darling baby doing? She’s what, two months old?” Alec’s mother settled on the couch. “Is she turning over yet?”

  “Oh, yes. Just yesterday. And she’s got her first tooth. I felt it last night.”

  “Oh my. Alec didn’t get his first tooth until he was almost five months old. A late bloomer.”

  Alec grinned, baring his teeth. “Not to worry. I have a full set now.”

  The two women swapped baby stories. Alec learned a bit more about his infancy than he cared to, but he enjoyed watching them interact. Mom would like to have anotherwoman in the family, he realized

  “Do you have any plans for Christmas, Waverly?” His mother held her cocoa mug by the handle, her right pinkie extended.

  “Mrs. P. and I are going to keep each other company.” She shrugged.

  Alec knew what his mother would say before she opened her mouth. She needed no encouragement.

  “Join us here, then. It must be hard on Mrs. P., this first Christmas without her husband.”

  “I couldn’t impose.” Waverly shrank back into the seat.

  “Nonsense. You’d be doing us the honor, allowing us to celebrate Cinnamon’s first Christmas with you.”

  Waverly looked at Alec as if seeking his permission, and he nodded.

  “I’ll ask Mrs. P., but if you’re sure—”

  “I’m sure.”

  Take Mary as your wife. The angel’s words to Joseph ran through Alec’s mind.

  If only Waverly was willing.

  “Waverly, let me introduce you to our guests, Greg and Karla Andrews, and their children, Lexie and Marcus. They’ll be your undershepherds for the evening.”

  Waverly studied the family. The Andrews had to come from money to afford a weekend at the Barncastle, but they looked pleasantly down-to-earth.

  “When we heard what y’all were doing for Christmas this year, why, I told Greg we just had to come.” Karla beamed.

  “We wanted to see y’all Yankees handle sheep. I do a little ranchin’ myself, down Texas way.”

  Waverly could guess how “little” their ranch might be—not—but she couldn’t help liking the couple. “Then you should feel right at home tonight.” And with experienced animal handlers, she would have less reason to worry about stray animals.

  “Yup. Just a humble shepherd out mindin’ the sheep under the starlit skies. ‘Cept I figure Bethlehem was a might warmer than Vermont.” Greg winked at her, and she grinned in return.

  “I’ll see you when it’s time to start the show, then. I’d better go out and help Dr. Ross with the sheep.”

  “That doctor, he’s a fine young man. If I was younger and not married to the love of my life, I might go after him myself.” Karla flashed her diamond-studded wedding finger in front of Waverly. “Get out there and keep him company, before he gets too lonesome.”

  Waverly laughed. “I will.” She pulled a lightweight sweater over her shirt and jeans, then added the shepherd’s robe and headdress over it all. The long robe hid her wool stocking–covered feet and lambskin boots, which those first-century shepherds didn’t wear. The weather might be mild for December in Vermont, but it still turned downright cold after the sun went down.

  Alec was already among the animals, Laddie at his heels, his father walking beside him with a shepherd’s crook on his arm. Hmm, when did people start developing different breeds of dogs, collies in particular? Waverly decided it didn’t matter. The shepherds on the ancient Judean hillsideprobably had a dog to help with the sheep.

  The sheep ignored her as she picked her way over the rocks in the field. As she drew near, she heard Alec saying, “testing, testing” into a miniscule earpiece.

  “I hear you loud and clear.” She waved to him from the edge of the field. At least this week she had no speaking part. She passed the rows of seats and bun warmers prepared for the audience at tonight’s show. Jayne also arranged for families to spread blankets and watch that way, if anyone wanted to chance the cold earth. Children did better where they could move around a little. Before the show, Doreen would run a petting stall, where curious children could stop by and touch a lamb firsthand.

  She reached the spot where Alec and his father waited. “All ready for your big debut?”

  Alec had been chosen to say the “Let’s go into Bethlehem” line. Jayne had asked Greg first, but he had demurred, saying no one would mistake his Texas drawl for a temple shepherd. Not that they sounded like a New Englander either, but …

  Alec’s look spoke volumes. He dreaded that single moment more than the rest of the season, all three weeks put together. And to think he had insisted Waverly take a major role in last weekend’s production.

  Chattering voices announced the arrival of Karla and Greg, nondescript in their matching shepherd’s costumes.

  Showtime.

  “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ, the Lord.”

  Waverly heard the angel say the words, and all her worriesabout possible mechanical difficulties and misbehaving sheep disappeared. She felt like one of the shepherds hearing the words for the first time, or as close as anyone could over two millennia later.

  “Glory to God in the highest! Peace on earth.”

  Waverly wanted to jump up and down and sing the “Hallelujah Chorus.” This was what Christmas was all about, the birth of the Savior. She wanted to make sure she taught Cinnamon the truth, starting this year.

  Chapter 5

  Sheep date number two, Alec thought on Saturday night, as once again he and the other shepherds donned their costumes. He only had eyes for one special shepherd, whose baby had been chosen to play the infant Jesus in the manger.

  Back on Thursday night, the Barncastle had presented the scenes of Mary and Joseph’s arrival in Bethlehem, their fruitless search for room at the inn, and the arrival of the baby. Aside from showing the actress how to ride on a donkey—no more comfortable for her than it must have been for Mary, after all, just as bumpy and uneven—and supplying animals for the barn, he’d had a quiet night. Last night he’d survived his first words on stage. Tonight they’d all be cooing at the baby, but no mics for the shepherds. He could relax.

  Instead of Friday’s flock, the shepherds brought one apiece with them, gifts for the baby Jesus. A lock of Waverly’s hair escaped from her headdress, and he adjusted it for her. “Not sure if any of the shepherds had long strawberry blond hair.”

  “I
’m glad this is the last time I have to wear this costume.” She shrugged uncomfortably. “It will be hot inside the stable. I’m glad it’s heated, for Cinnamon’s sake, but I’ll be sweating up a storm.” She stopped. “What a silly thing to worry about,when you think about how hard it must have been for Mary and Joseph.”

  “It’s okay.” He longed to reach out again, this time to caress her face, but didn’t dare. “It’s almost time for our grand entrance.”

  “‘Come, they told me. Parum pum pum pum.’” She sang the familiar tune. “I heard that drummer boy song on the radio this afternoon and can’t get it out of my head.”

  “Want me to fetch a drum for you? That can be arranged.”

  She fake-jabbed him in the ribs. “Like that’s in the Bible. But I love the sentiment.”

  “We all do. That’s why the song gets played every Christmas. But us, we’ll just have to settle for a gift of sheep.”

  Karla and Greg joined them in the dressing room. “If y’all don’t mind, I’m not going to try to kneel at the manger. I don’t get up and down so good anymore.” Karla waved a fan in front of her face. “Is it hot in here, or am I having a hot flash?”

  They all laughed, and the auditorium lights dimmed. After a bit of a scuffle, they led a handful of bleating animals through the side door. The actress now playing Mary held Cinnamon in her arms, while Joseph hovered protectively behind her. Waverly’s baby had never looked so serene or sweet, and Alec wanted to take Joseph’s place as their protector. One of the sheep trotted toward the side rail, her lamb trailing behind, and Alec guided them back to the manger. Everyone held the baby and exclaimed with plenty of praise-Gods, amens, and hallelujahs. The birth of a baby always heralded joy, but this baby, this night—thecelebration would last for eternity.

  When the time came for the shepherds to leave, Alec felt like it was the most natural thing in the world to run down the aisles shouting, “An angel told us! The Messiah is born! Come to Bethlehem and see!”