Caroline gazed at Tam. "We haven't made a decision yet, but I'm hoping it's soon."
"Yes, soon sounds good." Tam took her hand in his. "I know how important a wedding day is, especially for a bride. Whatever makes you happy, is fine with me as long as you become mine."
"All right, I'll wait patiently until you make up your minds. I'd better be out of this splint by that time, so I can walk my little girl down the aisle."
"Absolutely. I wish Mama was here, but I guess in a way she is. I'll have her with me by wearing her wedding band and if you hadn't been stubborn and hired Genevieve to fill in for Mama's teaching, I wouldn't have met Tam."
"I keep telling you fate works in strange ways, daughter. Will you ask Big Dog when he can take the sleigh out for tree hunting? I knew when I smelled your fruitcakes baking that it's time for Christmas preparation."
Tam and Caroline got up. "When we talked to him earlier, he was fixing the coach. We'll go ask right now." They left the office and headed out the front door. "We haven't been in the sleigh for such a long time. I can't remember what happened to ruin the one runner, but glad it's fixed now."
"As soon as we talk to Big Dog, I'd best get back to carpenter work on the new stables. I hate it when my brother insinuates that I'm lazy."
"I do have a question."
He stopped walking and looked her in the eye. "You sound worried about something. What is it?"
"Your family—how are you going to tell them?"
"I don't know. I suppose if I asked Jory to do it when my brothers ask why I didn't return home with him, he'd slug me."
She shook her head. "I suppose, but do you think we should wait that long?"
He sighed. "No, I suppose it means another ride to Wausau to the telegraph office."
Big Dog stepped out of the smithy barn and waved when he saw them. "Are you coming to see Big Dog again?"
"Daddy asked about you taking the sleigh out for our Christmas tree."
"I'm ready right after breakfast. You tell me when your sisters are bundled up in their warm clothes, and I'll meet you in front of the lodge."
By the time they returned inside, all the girls were up and dressed. Lottie called them into eat. Tam went outside and rang the triangle to call Big Dog in for food. He waited while the man walked across the quadrant at a fast pace.
"You must be hungry."
"You betcha, Tam, and I can't wait to pull that sleigh up here and surprise the girls."
They went inside. Big Dog headed to the dining room. Tam joined Caroline on the sofa, now returned to its proper place in front of the fireplace. "Did you tell them yet?"
She shook her head. "Should we tell them before or after tree hunting?"
"Let's tell them while they're eating." They joined her siblings in the dining room. "We have happy news."
"What?" Jacqueline said as she picked up her glass of milk.
"Tam asked me to marry him last night."
Gabby looked up at her. "Did you say yes? Is he going to be my brother now?"
Caroline pinched her cheek. "Yes, he's going to be your brother soon."
Tam glanced around the table. Everyone kept eating. "Are you excited or not?"
Danielle looked between the two of them. "I don't know. Caroline has been very firm in her refusal to ever marry. I, for one, am not sure why she's marrying you."
Tam stared at Caroline. "Honey, would you like to tell your sisters why?"
"Yes," she cleared her throat. "I was wrong. First, I shouldn't have thrown temper tantrums because I wanted Daddy to suffer for what I thought was the meanest thing he could have ordered me to do. Second, I hadn't met Tam yet," she smiled at him, "and, lastly, because Daddy was right. When you fall in love with the right man, being with him is the happiest times of your life." She grabbed his hand. "I have apologized to Daddy and he's quite pleased I've accepted Tam's marriage proposal."
Danielle got up and hugged Tam. "I'm glad you've shown my sister how to love again. I'm also glad we finally have a brother. Welcome to the family."
He kissed her on the cheek. "Thank you. Having sisters is a new experience for me."
"We won't be too rough on you. Once we get you trained just right, your life will become easier."
He saw the spark in her eyes. "Thanks for the warning."
She turned to Caroline. "I'm glad your heart softened."
"Me, too. Thank you."
"Can we all hug Tam now?" Gabby asked.
He opened his arms. "Come here, you're first."
After he received his hugs, he glanced at Big Dog. "Are you ready?"
"Yes, give me about ten minutes." He left the dining room.
Caroline and Tam walked into the main room. "I'll get the saw and rope. I'm sure Luc and Jory won't mind riding along. See you out front as soon as you get your sisters into their coats and hats."
"I can't wait to see their faces." She returned to the dining room.
"Everyone, we have a surprise for you. Get into your coats and warm hats."
They all hurried to the hall. Once Caroline saw Tam ride his horse up to the porch, she took the girls out onto the porch, so they could watch Big Dog drive the sleigh toward them.
He maneuvered the shiny sleigh up to the front porch, stopped, and jumped down from the seat.
Caroline grinned at her sisters' excitement of seeing the almost new-looking transportation of the day.
"Who wants to go pick out the most beautiful Christmas tree in the forest?"
"We do," the girls yelled.
The gentle giant helped each girl into the sleigh and then wrapped blankets and a couple of bear pelts over their laps.
"Wait a minute." Caroline looked at Tam. "Please get Daddy. He needs to be part of the fun."
Tam grinned at her. "Your heart's in the right place, honey."
Big Dog helped Tam situate Hank on the bench seat with his daughters. He climbed into the sleigh next to Francesca and slapped the reins over the back of the horses. The sleigh moved and they rode out of the trading post. Tam, Luc, and Jory rode alongside.
When Tam pointed out a thick grove of fir trees to Big Dog, he pulled the sleigh to a stop, and they all piled out. Tam dismounted and grabbed the saw. The girls searched and finally settled on an eight-foot tall fir. Tam cut it down. Luc and Jory pulled it to the sleigh, and tied it to the back. By the time they returned to the lodge, cheeks and noses were red from the cold, but everyone including Hank bubbled over with excitement, talking about the best time they'd ever had.
Once they removed their warm coats and hats, Lottie called the girls to the table for hot chocolate and cookies.
Tam and Luc put the tree in a stand. Jory brought a large pan into the room and they balanced the base of the tree inside it until the tall fir stood straight. Jory brought in a couple of buckets of water and poured them into the pan.
They stood back and admired their work. "I suppose I should go get a ladder and be ready to help decorate," Tam said.
"There's one in the hall closet," Luc said. "I'll get it for you, Tam. Then, I am leaving the rest to you." He brought the ladder in and set it next to the tree. "You coming with me, Jory, or staying?"
"I'm coming with you. See ya later, Tam."
Tam sat and thought about all the times he and his brothers decorated a tree to please their mother. He could still hear her cautioning him and his brothers to be careful around the candles she put on the branches with little silver clip-on holders.
"You look faraway, Tam." Caroline sat next to him. "My sisters are almost done with their treats. Genevieve has the popcorn strings they've made the last couple of days in class."
Gabby arrived first with her usual enthusiasm. "It's the most beautiful tree in the world." She clapped her hands and danced around the tree. The rest of the sisters were right behind her.
Hank came out of his office balancing something under his arm. "I want you all to gather around."
Once they settled, he lifted a delicate ange
l with dark hair and white dress out of the box.
"She's so pretty, Daddy."
"Yes, she is, Jacqueline. I don't imagine Gabby and Francesca remember this delicate lady gracing the top of our Christmas trees in the past. I thought we should put her on top in Mama's memory."
He glanced at Tam. "Since I can't climb a ladder, would you do the honor?" He handed the angel to Caroline.
Tam climbed the ladder to place the beautiful ceramic on top of the fir. Caroline handed him the hand-painted figurine. He stared at the portrait of Isabella and caught a glimmer of resemblance between her and the ornament he held in his hand. He looked at Hank. The older man nodded as if he knew what Tam recognized.
"I love your daughter, beautiful angel," he whispered, "and promise to a show her how much for the rest of my life." He slipped the angel over the top of the tree and glanced down. "You know, in this light I see the resemblance of her in all ye lasses."
The girls applauded. He did a brief bow.
"Show off. Now, come on down before you break your neck," Caroline said, shaking her head.
ONE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS Luc, Matthias, and Big Dog came into the main room together. "What are you three up to this morning?" Hank said.
"Are you ready to try walking on your leg without the splints?"
Bliss shot through him. "It's time?"
"According to our calculations, you're six weeks and two days beyond the break. We can always put it back on, but if you can put weight on it and use the crutches for a while, you should be walking normal again soon. Just don't overdo."
Matthias unbound the splints and handed them to Luc. With Big Dog giving support on one side and Matthias on the other, Hank put pressure on his leg. He took a couple of steps and stopped. "It feels stiff and not strong, but it doesn't hurt."
Big Dog let go and handed him the crutches. Hank balanced himself and stepped around the room. He couldn't stop smiling. At long last, he was free from his shackles and, as soon as he could rebuild the muscles in his leg, he could get back to his job. He would no longer sit on the lounge and watch everyone else do what was his responsibility.
"I can't thank you enough for putting up with the extra work during the past six weeks and for ignoring my grumblings, too." He bent his knee a few times. "I'm glad the doctor told us about the limbering exercises."
Luc ran his fingers over the area where the bone broke through the skin. "Take it slow. No running. Rest your leg often. Keep it up when you're out on your lounge to keep swelling down."
"I hear you. I won't do anything to prevent me from walking Caroline down the aisle without using those damnable crutches."
"You know any more about their wedding plans?" Matthias asked.
"Not a thing. They either don't have any yet or they're keeping closed mouth about it. Caroline, Amanda, and Genevieve have locked themselves in Genevieve's bedroom. The little girls are all giving me updates on how long they've been in there. As if I'd be interested," Hank said as he grinned.
"I suppose when we need to know it's time to show up at the church, they'll let us know. Do any of you have proper clothes to wear to the wedding? I doubt I can fit into my nicer clothes."
"I'm sure your daughter knows what's in all our closets—nothing but work clothes." Matthias walked over to the bar and started pouring glasses of ale.
Hank returned to the sofa and lifted his leg onto the cushion. He hated to admit it, but it ached a bit. "I bet Tam and Jory don't have anything but work clothes either. Do you think the MacGregors wear those skirt things men wear in Scotland?"
Big Dog chuckled. "I wouldn't be calling them skirts. The Scots have a hair trigger to that insult. The proper name is kilt. They wear kilts with colors and plaids representing their clans. I've seen paintings of some mighty rough and tough clansmen wearing their kilts. I wouldn't want any of them mad at me." He held up his empty glass.
Matthias took it and refilled it to the top. "Do we know any Scots around here who might have a bagpipe and know how it works?"
"I have no idea. If we could find one, but it would be a nice touch at the wedding." Hank sat straight up. "We all know a Scot. Are you forgetting our Lottie is originally from Scotland?"
Matthias snorted. "I wonder... Do you think... Nah, it would be too easy."
"I can hear her in the kitchen. Let me show her I'm walking and lean on her for the information we want." Hank stood carefully and grabbed the crutches. He walked into Lottie's domain. "I'm mended."
She whipped around and smiled at him. "Good for you. I imagine you're a very happy man."
"Yes, thank you. I have a question. Do you have a bagpipe?"
Her mouth dropped open. "What do you know about bagpipes?"
"Nothing. Nothing at all, but I'm going to have a Scottish son-in-law and, well, we were thinking it might be nice to have some of his kind of music at the wedding."
"Henry Hughes, you let those children put together their own wedding. No interfering. Do you hear me?"
"Yes, I hear you, but if he wanted Scottish music would you have a bagpipe one of them could play?"
"You have that boy come and ask me and then I'll tell him if I have one or not." She turned her back and returned to peeling potatoes.
He walked back to the others. "She has one."
"Can she play it?"
"I don't know. She wouldn't admit she has a bagpipe, but she sure as hell didn't deny it. One of the MacGregors has to ask her if they want to use it at the wedding."
"Which one are you going to ask," Big Dog said.
"What do you think? You know Jory better than we do. Do you think he knows how to play one?"
"I suppose you want ole' Big Dog to ask?"
Hank nodded. "That would be nice."
Chapter Thirty
Caroline knocked on Genevieve's bedroom door. Amanda opened it and bid her enter. She found Genevieve sitting on the bed with a pile of clothes surrounding her. "What's going on in here?"
"We're going to make you a wedding dress from my mother's lace gowns. There's enough fabric here to probably make all of us a wedding dress and still have lace left over."
Caroline picked up an especially pretty lace bodice. "I like this one, but do you think it is proper to use a dead person's clothes?"
"Why not? My mother can't wear them anymore. If you like that one, try it on and let's see if it's workable."
"I thought you said you can't sew very well?"
"I did say that, but I'm not the seamstress in the room. Amanda is."
"Is this true, Amanda?"
"Yes, I worked as a seamstress for a while."
Caroline wished she had as many talents as Amanda. "Great." She unbuttoned her bodice and dropped it on the bed. Amanda helped her into the lace top and buttoned it up the back.
"If I tuck it back here, we can attach it to a skirt and make it into a beautiful dress. A white ribbon around the middle and you'd look stunning, Caroline."
Genevieve searched through the clothes and pulled out a cream-colored dress. "Can you put that top on this skirt?" She got up and held the dress up next to the bodice. "See, the color is almost the same as it is in the bodice."
Caroline's heart almost burst with happiness. She never expected to have a wedding gown much less one out of such lovely lace. "Do you think you can do this, Amanda? I'll work in the kitchen with Lottie and do your jobs while you work on it."
Amanda turned the dress inside out and looked at the seams. "It will be my wedding gift to you."
Caroline hugged her and then Genevieve. "This is a dream come true. I'm so happy you're both so clever. Can we keep it secret so Tam will be surprised?"
"Of course, we can. In fact, I think it is a great idea." Genevieve folded all the unused garments and put them back in her mother's trunk. "We'll open this trunk again when another one of us gets married."
"What do we do next?"
"If you'd like to help me get started, take the bodice off and I'll work on the tucks in the back.
You can rip the seam out of the dress at the waist."
While they worked, Caroline enjoyed their company. Genevieve told them about some of the fancy weddings she attended in San Francisco. She couldn't believe all the fuss they went through to get married. Something simple is what she wanted. As long as Tam became her husband, she'd marry him anywhere.
"Do you think Tam and I should talk to Pastor Timmons about getting married in the church or should we do it here and not worry about the weather?"
"When do you plan to have it? We've yet to hear a date," Genevieve said.
She threw up her hands. "Tam says I can choose whatever day I want, the sooner the better."
"I see. Where are you going to live after you get married?"
Caroline giggled. "I don't suppose Tam would appreciate us sleeping in my bedroom with my sister, Danielle."
"My guess is no."
"I haven't given our future a thought, obviously. You know, there is a bedroom up on the third floor. It's the only room up there. I imagine Daddy would let me fix it up. Right now, there's a small bed, a table next to it, and two spindle chairs. When we get done here, I'll take you up there to see what you think."
Amanda did some measurements and laid the skirt and bodice over a chair. "If you don't need me for a while, I'll go to my room and start putting the gown together. Lottie needs to know what we're doing. I'd appreciate clearing the plan of you doing my work for a day or so while I get your gown done."
"I'll go down right now and talk with Lottie. Then, as soon as I clear Tam and me using the top bedroom, I'll come get you, Genevieve." Caroline hurried to the door. "Thank you both so much for helping to make this wedding perfect."
She hurried downstairs and went into the kitchen. Lottie nodded to everything she told her.
"Honey, you do what you need to do. I'll take care of what needs to be done around here. So, scoot."
She kissed the dear lady on the cheek. "Thank you."
Next, she needed to locate her father. Caroline found him out on the porch sitting on the lounge. She approached him and noticed his leg. "You're not wearing a splint anymore?"
He grinned at her. "It's finally off and I've tried walking on my leg already. It aches a bit, but it works."
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