“But—”
“Reverend, I know Grace. She doesn’t have a sneaky thought in her head. From what you said, she truly was just looking for paper to write you a note. Aren’t you the slightest bit curious to know what she wanted to write? I mean, didn’t you ask to court her? Maybe she changed her mind and planned to say yes.”
His words hit Micah hard in the chest, creating a physical ache. He hadn’t even thought about that. He’d only thought to scold Grace—again, which would surely destroy any chance he had to win her heart. Where was the grace he so often preached about?
“Now, I must say,” Nate went on, “I am surprised about that book, but impressed, too. I enjoyed reading it quite a bit. Got more than one laugh out of it. “Most of all, I’m pleased to learn that you love Grace. She’s as dear to me as my sister. All the Eberly girls are. I want her to be happy and won’t take it kindly if any man hurts her.” He scowled briefly, not a warning, exactly, just a stern suggestion. “Do you think she saw your proper wife list?” Sarcasm laced his last three words.
Micah shook his head. “I don’t know. It was under the tablet after she left.” But he certainly did understand Nate’s warning. He hadn’t taken it kindly when Dub and his friends had hurt Grace’s feelings.
“So, in answer to your question about what you should do, I’ll say this—if you love her and still want to marry her, go out and see her. Do whatever it takes to make amends, even if that means giving up writing your books, at least the one about her.” Nate leaned forward and rested his crossed arms on the desk. “Susanna and I have had our rough times, but we never let the sun go down on our wrath, as the scriptures say. We talk things out until they’re settled.” He gave a brief nod. “You think about that.”
Used to being the one who gave advice to his friends and church members, Micah now had a dose of his own medicine, and it came from a source tried, true and trusted.
“I will, Nate. Thank you.” Micah stood and grabbed his hat from the hat rack. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a young lady to court...if she’ll have me.”
“You want me to put in a good word for you with her?”
Micah chuckled. “Thanks, but no. I need to face my punishment alone.”
Nate stood and touched Micah’s arm before he could leave. “One more thing.”
Micah raised one eyebrow.
“Burn that list. Now, before Grace or anybody else sees it.”
* * *
As Grace rode toward town, she had no idea what she would say to Micah. Probably best just to start by saying she was sorry for searching his desk. Then tell him he could go ahead and write his silly book. No, best not to say silly.
Another rider came into view up the road, and her deputy senses went on alert. She hadn’t worn her sidearm, but if that person meant no good, she did have her rifle. As the rider drew nearer, her heart began to pound. Micah! She spurred Mack to a gallop and quickly closed the distance between them. Without thinking, she pulled on the reins and jumped from the saddle before Mack even stopped. Micah also quickly dismounted. They stood there in the middle of the road just staring at each other.
“I’m so sorry—” she began.
“Please forgive me.” Micah’s handsome face had never worn such a sorrowful, pleading expression.
Before she could answer, they were in each other’s arms, each clinging tightly to the other as if neither would ever let go. After a few minutes, Micah took a small step back and brushed a hand over Grace’s tearstained cheek. The gentle look in his wonderful gray eyes sent a funny feeling through her middle. And then he kissed her full on the lips, her very first kiss ever. Her knees turned to jelly, and her heart felt ready to burst. My, oh my—
“Grace, dear Grace, I love you more than words can say. If you feel the same way toward me, will you marry me?” The hope beaming from those amazing, probing eyes dispelled the last of her doubts. He truly did love her, just as Ma, Maisie and Georgia had said.
“I do, and I will.”
He laughed like she’d never heard him laugh before, a hearty, carefree, joyful belly laugh. “Oh, my darling Grace,” he shouted. “You’ve made me the happiest man in the world.”
“Me, too.” Heat rushed to her cheeks. “I mean, I’m the happiest woman in the world.”
He clasped her hands and pulled them up to kiss them. “It isn’t easy to be a minister’s wife.” Worry clouded his handsome face, as if his comment should somehow discourage her.
Instead, she shrugged. “It isn’t easy to be a female deputy. A lady just has to get used to being criticized without letting it get her down.”
He caressed her cheek. “You’re wonderful. And brave. And strong. And I love you.”
Feeling a bit sassy, she gave him a peck on the lips. “I sort of like you, too.”
Micah pulled her into a deeper kiss with more enthusiasm than she’d ever expected, putting to rest at last her concerns that he wouldn’t proclaim their love from the rooftops, given the chance. After several blissful minutes, he moved back and tilted his head toward Esperanza. “Let’s go back to town for coffee.”
“All right.” They walked quietly for several minutes, their horses clopping along placidly behind them. Grace didn’t want to break this sweet silence, but she knew they had to clear the air. Remembering Ma’s comment about reviving her sense of humor, one thought came to mind.
“Willa Ketchum? Really, Micah, is that the best you can do?” She struggled to maintain a straight face.
Alarm spread over his face, and he eyed her nervously. “Um, well, I—”
Grace burst out laughing, trying real hard to make it sound more ladylike than her usual guffaw. He blinked. Then he laughed, too, another one of those carefree belly laughs. They took a moment to share another embrace, another kiss. Grace decided she could get used to this.
“I love to hear you say my name,” Micah said as they resumed walking.
“You mean instead of Rev?” Suddenly that name sounded too tough coming from a female. Grace felt another bit of warmth fill her cheeks. She never wanted Micah to think of her as unladylike. She didn’t want to be unladylike. Maisie had softened considerably when she fell in love with Doc. It wasn’t that Doc had asked her to, Maisie always said. It was just that he made her feel fully female, in spite of all the men’s work she’d done on the ranch. Now Grace understood her sister’s sentiments. While she knew this wasn’t the primary meaning of Micah’s favorite verse, in this case all things truly were working together for good.
“Yes.” Micah squeezed her hand. “I never minded Rev. But you and the Suttons are the only ones who use my Christian name. Even my good friend Nate calls me Reverend. It seems to put a distance between us. I don’t want anything like that between you and me.” He stopped and kissed her cheek. “Grace, I’m not going to finish writing the book.” He gazed away toward the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the east, then back at her, his eyes filled with tenderness. “I never meant to hurt you.”
“I know. Ma helped me to see that.”
He chuckled. “I like your mother. And not just because of that.”
Grace tugged on his hand, and they walked again. “I want you to write the book.”
He stopped. “You do?”
“Yep. Only thing is you have to let me read it before you send it off to be printed so I can tell you what you got wrong.”
Happiness shone on his dear face. “I can do that.”
They took up their walk again. “Well, one more thing.”
He gave her a sidelong look. “All right.”
“You gotta change that female deputy’s name.”
Chapter Sixteen
Micah lost count of the blessings the Lord had showered on the people of Esperanza, especially for this Christmas season.
The weather rema
ined cold but clear so everyone could gather at the church on Christmas Eve. The children’s pageant turned out to be the best one yet, with the usual delightful mistakes made by the tiny shepherds, wise men, innkeeper and Joseph. Mary, portrayed by Molly Starling, didn’t miss a single line and looked properly adoring when she smiled at “Baby Jesus,” a porcelain baby doll provided by Miss Sutton. City founder Colonel Northam, who’d been stuck in Denver during the recent drama, arrived in time to see his eldest grandchild, Lizzie, portray the angel who watched over the Nativity scene. The precious sounds of “Silent Night” sung in their sweet young voices—especially the first-verse solo sung by Molly in clear soprano tones—brought tears to many an eye.
After the performance, joy filled the sanctuary. Micah found he didn’t need to deliver a sermon after all. He said only a few words to remind people to focus their thoughts on the Lord and how He had humbled Himself to become a man to save the whole world. The congregation sang “Joy to the World” and then adjourned to the reception hall for a party and distribution of gifts.
Adam Starling stationed himself beside the Christmas tree to make sure the candles didn’t catch the tree on fire. Everett Winsted stood close by, emulating the older boy in his helpfulness.
Hanging from the candlelit chandelier in the center of the room was a fresh bouquet of mistletoe. On the long refreshment table, an array of cookies and a large cut-glass punch bowl filled with strawberry punch whetted everyone’s appetite. Beside them, a large pile of small, wrapped presents awaited distribution.
Even though Andy Ransom’s beautifully carved toy soldiers and dolls had been destroyed by the outlaws, folks had pitched in to provide him with carving and whittling tools and wood from their own supplies. Working day and night and helped by Rand Northam and Frank Stone, Andy had managed to make more toys, enough for every child to receive one.
After the ladies passed out refreshments to all, Micah stood and called out, “May I have your attention, please?”
An expectant hush fell over the room, and knowing gazes shot from one person to the next. Micah felt warmth rising up his neck. He was used to addressing his congregation about spiritual subjects, but speaking of personal matters was harder than he’d thought.
“I am truly blessed to be your pastor. One duty that particularly blesses me is joining couples in marriage. Since coming to Esperanza almost eight years ago, I have conducted countless weddings, and soon I’ll have another. As you know, our good banker, Nolan Means, has somehow managed to persuade the charming Miss Electra Sutton to be his bride.” Micah lifted his punch cup in a salute to the banker and his fiancée.
As polite applause filled the room, Miss Sutton returned a smile. Nolan’s chest puffed up with pride.
“And now I have another wedding to tell you about, one I will not be conducting but, rather, participating in.” He reached out to Grace, who shyly moved to his side. Dressed in her blue gingham, she was gloriously beautiful, and Micah felt his own chest puff up proudly.
“Miss Grace Eberly, previously known as Deputy Grace...or Deputy Eberly, depending upon whether you kept the law or not...”
Laughter erupted, and Micah waited until it died down.
“Grace has consented to be my wife.” There. He’d managed to get through it. Gathering even more courage, he set aside his punch and tugged on Grace’s hand to lead her to the center of the room beneath the mistletoe. With a glance around to be sure no one would be scandalized—Mrs. Foster gave him a firm nod and a maternal smile—he pulled Grace into his arms and kissed her sweet lips like he meant it.
Applause and congratulations seemed to lift the rafters. Micah noticed over Grace’s shoulder that several mothers of unattached daughters of marriageable age, who obviously hadn’t heard the news, huffed with annoyance or perhaps disappointment, if he wasn’t being too prideful to think such a thing. Maybe Micah needed to become a matchmaker, because there were plenty of good men in town for all of their daughters.
“We all have so much to be thankful for.” Micah managed to regain his pastoral dignity once he’d recovered from the kiss. “Welcome back, Colonel Northam.” The former Union officer acknowledged him with a nod. “Sheriff Lawson and Seamus O’Brien are well on their way to recovery. Although Bob Starling couldn’t be here tonight to watch Miss Molly perform so well, he has rallied and can now move around his house with help. He sends his gratitude to everyone who has helped his family.” Micah whispered to Grace, “Am I forgetting anything?”
A woman of few words, a trait Nate Northam had told Micah he would one day appreciate, Grace whispered back. “Save the news about Hardison until later.”
“Good idea.” Micah didn’t want anything to spoil this joyful celebration, this joyous season. Tomorrow he would be spending Christmas Day with Grace and her family, all of whom had already welcomed him as a beloved son or brother. On New Year’s Eve, those honorary relationships would become official. Micah could hardly wait.
* * *
“Grace Eberly, just the person I wanted to see.” Electra Sutton accosted Grace at the punch table and grabbed her in a hug like they were old friends.
“Me?” Grace managed not to jerk away from Electra. Since accepting Micah’s proposal, she’d decided that being his wife was a more important and happier job than being a deputy. From the moment she’d handed her badge over to Justice Gareau, she’d been trying to act more ladylike. But Electra’s bear hug surprised her.
“Yes, you.” Electra got a wily look in her eyes. “What would you think of a double wedding?”
“What? You mean yours and mine?”
“Of course, silly.” Electra giggled. “Yours and Micah’s, mine and Nolan’s.”
Grace eased away from her several inches. “I expected you to plan some big society doings back East.” Then she remembered Micah said he would conduct Electra and Nolan’s wedding.
A hint of sorrow crossed Electra’s pretty face. “No. Joel and I don’t have anyone in Virginia, and Nolan has no one left in New York.” She brightened real quick. “What do you say? I don’t want to wait until spring or take the time to prepare something extra fancy. If the minister from Alamosa is coming over to conduct your wedding, he may as well do double duty.” A sudden frown took over her features. My, this gal was mercurial, a word Grace had learned from Micah. “Do you mind? I mean, I know we didn’t exactly start off well, but—”
“Sounds fine with me.” Grace couldn’t do cozy female stuff with this one like she could with her sisters. But then, maybe she should give it a try. She’d longed for a friend, and now Electra was offering her a very special kind of friendship. And maybe, just maybe, Grace could learn some of Electra’s feminine ways. The honest ones, that was. Not that phony female simpering and flirting and all. “I suppose we ought to ask our fellas—”
“Nolan is over there asking Micah right this very minute.” Pointing across the room, Electra chirped like a spring robin, one girlie behavior Grace would never try to emulate.
And so it was that Grace and Micah joined a growing tradition at the Esperanza Community Church. Why have a single wedding when a double one would be much more efficient—and fun? Dressed in Maisie’s ivory satin gown, which had needed only an eight-inch flounce added around the bottom to make it long enough, Grace walked down the aisle on Pa’s arm. Behind her, dressed in a white satin gown she’d brought from Virginia, Electra held on to Joel’s arm. The lady had come west intending to find a husband, and she’d done just that. Their handsome grooms awaited them at the podium with Reverend Casey. Nate Northam and Justice Gareau served as best men, while Georgia and Anna did the bridesmaid honors.
Grace had never noticed how fast a wedding ceremony happened. Before she knew it, she had become Mrs. Micah Thomas and was standing next to her husband and the brand-new Mr. and Mrs. Nolan Means in the reception line in the church hall. Everybody had been invite
d. Everybody came. Which attested to the popularity of the newlyweds—all of them. Ma had been right. Everybody loved Grace, and more than a few told her they regretted that she would no longer be their deputy.
She would have preferred to economize by only making use of the Christmas decorations that remained in the reception hall, but Electra insisted upon bringing white roses from Nolan’s hothouse. The room was filled with their heady fragrance, overpowering the smell of the pine boughs, whose woodsy scent had already worn out. Grace had a feeling Electra would be insisting upon a lot of things in her marriage, if the way she’d been ordering the banker around lately was any indication.
As for Grace, she had a few orders for Micah, too. Some were about the book he was writing. Then that bowler hat had to go. Or maybe she’d just hide it. The thought made her giggle, and her handsome husband questioned her with a look.
“Nothing. Just looking forward to eating some of that cake.”
The hotel chef, Henrique, had prepared a lavish, five-tiered pastry with white icing and pretty little pink flowers made of sugar all over it. It sat on the long, white damask-covered table with the punch and cookies.
His teasing smirk showed he didn’t believe her. “Yes, I am, too. Looks almost as sweet as you.”
Grace rolled her eyes, only to find Micah scowling at her. “None of that rejecting compliments, wife. When I tell you you’re sweet, I mean it.”
Her eyes stung with happy tears. “Yessir.” Seemed she’d be taking a few orders, too.
Across the room, Adam Starling gazed at her for a moment before turning away, his eyes filled with sadness as he began to chat comfortably with Anna and Georgia. At last Grace understood why he’d been avoiding her. Georgia said the boy was sweet on her. She’d resisted the idea until the other day when she’d tried to talk to Adam. He’d grinned and stared down at his boots, stammering a few incoherent words. Everybody felt at least one hopeless affection in life. Only sixteen, Adam would get over it.
Cowgirl Under the Mistletoe Page 22