Christmas Surprise

by Paisley Kirkpatrick

  "I'm so happy for you—for all of us, actually." She pulled a chair up next to him. "I have an idea and want to ask you about it."

  "I'm listening."

  "Genevieve asked me where Tam and I were going to live after we got married. I hadn't even given it a thought with everything that's been going on around here. What do you say about us using the top floor bedroom until we can build a cabin? I haven't spoken to Tam yet, but thought it would work for a while."

  "Yes, it's a good idea. After life settles, I'll discuss building a home near the trading post with Tam."

  "Thank you, Daddy." She got up, but he grabbed her hand before she could leave.

  "When's the wedding date?"

  "Please don't tell anyone, but Amanda is making me a bridal dress and as soon as it is done and we fix up the bedroom, we can get married."

  "Good, I'll have a few days to practice walking without those damnable crutches."

  She returned to Genevieve's room. "Daddy said it's fine if we want to use the third-floor bedroom. Can you please come with me to give me ideas on how to make it warm and inviting?"

  They left Genevieve's room and walked up the narrow staircase. When Caroline opened the door, her heart sank. She'd forgotten how stark the room was.

  Genevieve walked around the space.

  "What do you think? Can we make it nice?"

  "Where's the furniture you used to have in here?"

  "After Mama died, Daddy emptied out their bedroom and took this bedroom's furnishings for his room."

  "Are you telling me your parents' furnishings are in storage?"

  "Yes. Oh, I see where your mind's going. I need to ask Daddy if we can have it moved up here."

  She nodded. "It would be a start. Maybe Amanda could fix a curtain for this small window and we can find a circular rug."

  Caroline clapped her hands. "Yes. Will you come with me to ask Daddy? I think he'll say yes, but I need the reinforcement."

  "Sure, let's do it right now. I have ideas and need to see what we're working with. We can get it set up, and then if Tam has other ideas you two can take it from there."

  When they reached the porch, Hank was walking back and forth without crutches. "You look great, Daddy. Don't overdo."

  He rested against the railing. "What brings you back out here, daughter?"

  "Would you consider Tam and me using the bedroom furniture you shared with Mama while we use the third-floor bedroom? It's just that..."

  He held up his hand. "Yes, use whatever you can find in the attic. If you're trying to surprise Tam, have Matthias arrange for a couple of the ranch hands to move it."

  By late afternoon a gold and brown rug graced the floor, a bed with a brass frame held the feather mattress, and a table with a lamp stood next to the bed. The two young women waited for two comfortable chairs and a table to be in the room. Caroline couldn't stop grinning. "Thank you, Genevieve. This is coming together perfectly. How will I ever repay you?"

  Genevieve grasped her hand and squeezed. "Seeing you happy in your marriage is payment enough. Let's go down and see how Amanda's doing on the dress. The ranch hands can put the table and chairs inside and we'll deal with them tomorrow."

  TAM AND JORY STOOD back and admired the new stables. Luc came up behind Tam and slapped him on the back. "If we don't put hay in the stalls, you can hold your wedding out here."

  Tam grinned at Luc. "Luckily for me, Caroline is making the arrangements."

  "Smart man. When's it going to be?"

  Tam shrugged. "Every time I ask, Caroline tells me as soon as all the details are ready. I guess it's going to be my Christmas surprise."

  "If that's the case, then it'll be in the next day or so."

  Tam left and returned to the lodge. Caroline met him at the door. "What are you up to?"

  She took his hand. "Come with me. I have a surprise for you." She led him upstairs to the top floor. "Open one of your gifts."

  He turned the knob and pushed the door open. The room before him stole his breath. "Did you do this?"

  She nodded. "Genevieve helped me arrange it."

  He entered the warm and inviting place and walked around admiring the brass bed covered with a beautiful white coverlet with a yellow rose design. A crochet cloth covered the round table that had two padded chairs. The brown and gold circular rug almost matched the curtains.

  "Sweetheart, you've done an amazing job." He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. "Our first home."

  "I'm so glad you like it."

  "Like it? Honey, I love it." He ran his hand over the brass headboard. "Are you going to tell me when we get to spend our first night in this bed?"

  As she smiled at him, he lost himself in her beautiful honey brown eyes.

  "Everything is ready for tonight."

  His heart lurched. "Tonight?"

  "Yes, it'll be downstairs in front of the Christmas tree with our trading post family and the few guests who show up tonight for entertainment."

  Her answer knocked the wind out of him. He'd been anticipating an answer soon, but their wedding in a few hours?

  She frowned at him. "Have you changed your mind?"

  He grasped her arms and pulled her into his embrace. "Absolutely not. I'm stunned and grateful the wait is over." He lowered his lips and met hers with a passion he'd been holding back until their marriage. "You'll make my life complete tonight when you become my wife, sweet Caroline."

  "I love you, too, Tam."

  "There's a lot for me to do before tonight. I need appropriate clothes."

  She snickered. "Yes, you do. Go find what you need in the store."

  "Good idea." He frowned at her. "What else do I need to do?"

  "Get the ring from Daddy and show up."

  "That's all?"

  "Yes, everything else is ready." She took his hand and they returned to the main room. "Daddy doesn't know yet. While you find the clothes you want, I'll let him know."

  "I'll see you later, then."

  Excitement built as hours passed in a blur for Tam. Jory shocked him when he showed up in a kilt. "Where the hell did you get that?"

  "Lottie's a Scot and this was her husband's. I can swap it for your buckskins, if you'd prefer to wear it."

  "No, it looks a lot better on you." He shook his head. "I'm not sure how Caroline would handle me in a kilt."

  Jory snickered. "Nah, you're afraid she might marry me disguised in your garb."

  "What time is it?"

  "It's time to go get you hitched."

  They walked across the quadrant and entered the main room. Chairs held family and guests. Small candles adorned limbs on their Christmas tree and the many holders arranged around the room. Tam took a deep breath. His wedding was really happening.

  Jory stood next to him in front of Pastor Timmons. The huge tree behind the holy man emphasized the magic in the room. Tam stared at the hall entrance to the room where Danielle stood. The pastor nodded and Caroline's sister walked into the room and stopped on the opposite side of Pastor Timmons. Caroline and Hank entered the next.

  Tam could barely breathe at the sight of her in her gown. Dressed in white lace, his love more than resembled the porcelain angel he'd placed on the tree a few nights ago.

  Jory leaned close to his ear. "Take a breath, Tam."

  He nodded as his gaze locked with hers. Hank's wide smile as he walked next to Caroline without crutches warmed Tam's heart and got him breathing normally again. They stopped in front of Tam, and Hank placed her hand on top his.

  "Her mother and I entrust our daughter to you, Tam. Love her wisely and with a lot of care."

  When Tam took Caroline's hand in his, he could feel her trembling, too.

  Pastor Timmons opened the Bible and smiled at both of them. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here tonight to join Tam MacGregor and Caroline Hughes in holy matrimony..."

  Jory handed him the wedding band. He took Caroline's hand. "I love you for the man I've become with you by my side, my
love." He slid it on Caroline's finger.

  "With the power invested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife." Pastor Timmons nodded at Tam. "You may kiss your wife."

  Tam saw the happiness sparking in his wife's eyes. "I love you, Mrs. MacGregor." He pressed his lips against hers and kissed his beautiful wife for the first time.

  He heard the sound before he missed his brother's presence next to him. Jory walked into the room playing a bagpipe, or was that attempting to get a decent sound instead of the wailing noise that hurt their guests' ears.

  Caroline squeezed his arm. "What's he doing?"

  "It's a Scottish custom, honey. Unfortunately, my brother never did learn the pipes. Excuse me for a moment." He left her side and joined Jory. "Please, let me show them our Scottish pride the way it's supposed to sound."

  Tam blew air into the bag until he had enough to change the wailing into the music of the clans. The bag was old and hadn't been used for years, but he managed a short rendition of the only song he knew, The Bonny Banks of Loch Lomond.

  When he finished, he handed the bag to his brother and returned to his wife.

  Hank sat on a stool in front of the fireplace. Matthias handed him his guitar. He played a beautiful slow ballad. Tam pulled his wife against him and they danced a slow waltz around the room. "You resemble an angel in your beautiful gown, sweetheart. For a moment I thought the figurine on top of the tree had come to life."

  "Thank you."

  She ran kisses along the side of his neck. Cold and hot tingles raced through him. How he loved this woman. His mind went to the bed in their room. It took all he had not to pick her up and carry her away from all the people surrounding them.

  When the music stopped, he leaned his forehead against hers. "I was lost in my thoughts of making love with you in our bed."

  She leaned her head against his chest. "I feel safe in your arms, my husband. I love you with my heart and soul. Our first night will bring us together as one."

  "Aye, it will."

  "You played the bagpipe quite well. Is the Loch Lomond song going to be ours?"

  "You are much too kind. I can't play the pipe any better than I can sing, but it came from my heart."

  "When Daddy told me I'd get married on Christmas Eve one way or another, I certainly never realized his premonition would come true, and that I would be so happy about it."

  Tam held his wife in his arms and stared into her beautiful brown eyes. "I knew from the moment I saw you that one day you'd be mine. It proves we were both due a Christmas miracle."

  "You might be right, but maybe we just needed the right guardian angel to make it happen."

  As they both stared at the Angel topping the tree, he swore it looked like it was staring right at them. Smiling, Tam thought maybe it had been. Then again, he knew for a fact one angel in heaven had been looking after Caroline all along. With his arms tight around her, he thanked God and her mother for sending the perfect woman into his life.

  Epilogue

  MacGregor Brothers Ranch

  Paradise Pines, California

  Braden MacGregor wasn't sure how the family would react to his news. He made it home just in time to find the whole family sitting down to supper. Good thing Charly had invited them all for the meal. He rushed into the dining room waving a telegram.

  "Braden, what's got you so worked up?" Trevin jostled the table as he jumped to his feet. "What's that you're waving around?"

  "A telegram from Jory." He paused to catch his breath. "You're not going to be happy when you read it."

  He tossed the notification to Trevin and continued around to his chair at the dining table. He sat and watched to see what his older brother would have to say about the news he'd brought.

  Trevin read it silently at first and then slammed his fist on the table before reading it out loud.

  "Arrived safe Wisconsin. Hughes family welcoming. Tam lost heart to Hughes daughter. He isn't returning home. I leave at spring thaw.—Jory"

  "What the hell is Tam thinking?" Trevin said, shoving the telegram into his pocket. "He has family responsibilities here."

  Rebecca patted the back of his hand. "Honey, can you honestly say you would have given up marrying me for a piece of land and some animals?"

  Trevin stared into his wife's eyes and shook his head. "I would have given up everything I own to marry you."

  Braden locked his gaze with his wife's. "You already know how I'd answer that question, Charly. I broke into jail to put a wedding band on your finger."

  "I know, honey. It won't be the same without both twins here, but Tam is a sensible young man. He deserves the happiness we have."

  Quintin tossed his napkin into the middle of the table. "Well, aren't you all just sugary sweet. Tam needs to get his ass back here and hold down his part of the ranch. It's not been easy with them both away from their duties all these months." He got up and stormed out of the room. A few moments later they heard the front door slam.

  The housekeeper came into the room with a pie and plates. She set them in the middle of the table. "What's all the commotion about in here? Are you boys arguing again?"

  "No, Braden just brought this back from town." He pulled the telegram from his pocket and handed it to their housekeeper, Grace.

  She read Jory's words and sank onto Quintin's chair. "I worried this might happen. You never should have let those two boys leave here. What are you going to do about it?"

  "Pack our bags. Quintin isn't going to like it, but Braden and I are going to Wisconsin to bring them home."

  "Not without us you're not." Charley and Rebecca yelled in unison.

  Braden laughed. "Well brother, looks like the MacGregors are invading the Northwoods."

  "Don't laugh. Those boys started this and one way or another we're bringing them home."

  Rebecca put a hand on her husband's arm. "Calm down. Tam deserves to make his own choices and live his own life."

  "She's got a point, brother," Braden said.

  "Call this a preemptive strike. We're bringing Jory home before he loses his heart to one of these northern vixens."

  "Trev, he's got a long cold winter ahead of him. No telling who will warm his heart during those long cold months."

  "We've lost one brother to a Hughes daughter. Tam might be committed, but Jory can lose his heart all he wants. He just can't lose his way home." Trev wiped a hand through his hair. "And, he won't if I have anything to say about it."

  The End

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  Did you love Christmas Surprise? Then you should read Love's Embrace by Paisley Kirkpatrick!

  Genevieve Vellechamp believes her social background makes it impossible for her former carriage driver to love the 'real' her. She changes her attitude and appearance into every day trading post life, but he's still not convinced she's worth a second look.

  She adapts to life at the trading post by learning the everyday responsibilities. She changes her hairstyle and clothes to resemble the other women at the trading post, but even that doesn't convince him she is worth a second look.

  Robert 'Big Dog' Adams has loved Genevieve forever, but doesn't think he's good enough to reveal his feeling of love for the former San Francisco socialite. Treachery through family ties invades their lives. He won't let gypsy thieves destroy the family he and Genevieve have grown to love as their own.

  The death of the trading post cook takes Big Dog from the smithy shop into the kitchen. His limited knowledge of cooking proves a challenge, but he's ready for it. Genevieve volunteers to be his assistant. He shows her how to cook and she shows him she has worth.

  Also by Paisley Kirkpatrick

  Northwoods

  Christmas Surp
rise

  Love's Embrace

  Frontier Cowboy

  Smugglers' Roost

  Permanently Yours

  Farewell Doesn't Mean Forever (Coming Soon)

  Paradise Pines

  Marriage Bargain

  Forever After

  Night Angel

  Broken Promise

  One-Eyed Charly

  Stealing Her Heart

  About the Author

  Drawing from her family history and a healthy imagination, Paisley Kirkpatrick kicked off a wild ride down a dusty trail with Marriage Bargain. It would be the first of many adventures during a time when men were men, and women knew how to put them in their place.

  Writing is in her blood, so it came as no surprise when she followed in the family footsteps. Her great, great grandfather kept a journal while traveling on a wagon train from Missouri to the California Goldrush of 1849. This beautifully written diary is considered five star and is kept in the Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkley. Charles Kirkpatrick was married to the first woman to have a story printed in a magazine. With these credentials, is it any wonder that Paisley would use her talent to write historicals with a touch of romance?

  Paisley and her husband moved from the Sierra Mountains of California (near Coloma, where the goldrush originated) to a small community in the Northwoods of Wisconsin four years ago. History in the 1850's abounds and has given her a place to create both of her series. She's written six books in the Paradise Pines Series, and then seven in the Northwoods Series.

  Read more at Paisley Kirkpatrick’s site.