by Stephy Smith
“The way I’ve been told, if you show up in your long johns, Amanda would never notice.” His boisterous laughter filled the store.
“I can assure you sir, that nightmare haunts me every night since Mr. Sanders invited us to have the wedding in his home. He told me yesterday, Amanda wants to have the wedding in Mrs. Sanders’s room instead of the great room. Since it’s a family thing, I think there will be enough room.” He chuckled as he remembered the size of the family. He wondered how many would have to stand in the hall.
“Amanda wants her Grandmother to know you are following through with your plans.” Nick eyed a suit and then turned his gaze to Sam’s husky form.
“What do you think of this one Sam? It won’t take much altering and is the latest style. I think Victoria would love it, judging from the material she chooses when she comes in.” He held the suit up to Sam.
“I was leaning toward that one myself.”
“I caught Amanda admiring this locket the other day, and I set it back.” He carried the suit to the counter and reached underneath. Pulling out a tiny blue box, he opened it to show the locket nestled on the velvet background. Inlaid with seed pearls in wheat and cross motif, he took the box from Nick and held it to the light. “Is it too much? I mean since we aren’t married yet.”
Sam shook his head. “I think she will be pleased, Nick. Oh, get the brown suit. She’ll say something like it brings out the color of your eyes or something mushy. All women notice things like that.”
A chuckle rose in his throat. “If you say so, Sam.” He rolled his eyes.
The bell on the door rang as Sam exited the store. Nick held the small box in his hand. He thought about putting it back on the shelf when another customer came in. His breath caught and his pulse raced.
“Amanda. What a surprise,” he tucked the box under the counter. “How can I help you today?”
“I just wanted to see you. Are you a bundle of nerves? I am.” She paused at the table where the locket had been. Disappointment crossed her face for an instant, but she never said anything about it being gone.
“Yes ma’am, a bundle of nerves well-worth bundling.” He walked toward her and kissed her on the cheek. A spark of hope twinkled in her eyes. It was the first time he had seen that look since her grandmother had faded in and out of consciousness.
“Good. I hope you don’t feel pressured by my family. They tend to be a slight bit pushy at times.” Her face turned pink. “I heard Father tell you not to be late or he would hunt you down.”
“No, I’m honored they like me.” He scooted the toe of his shoe in a circle on the wooden floor. “I’m the luckiest man in the world, and it makes me feel better knowing you will be by my side. I love you Amanda. I have for a long time. Lately with all the chaos around you, I haven’t had the chance to tell you just how much you mean to me. I miss those days.”
“Oh yes, indeed. I love you too. I want you to know, you were always with me in my heart, Nick. I think I survived because I know you’re here.” Her skirt rustled as she twirled and ran for the door. “See you tonight!”
He let out a long breath. His mind wandered. Did she feel the same connection, attraction he did? Was it all in his mind when her eyes lit up at his answer? He didn’t know and wasn’t going to question the answer he read in her actions.
For the last week, he floated around the store in a cheerful mood. He stayed open late for last minute shoppers. Today he was closing early. He packed the food in the floorboard of a surrey and headed the horse in the direction of Sanders Cross. Large flakes of snow began to fall. He tugged his heavy coat tighter around his neck. The crisp air met his lungs to produce clouds rolling from his lips.
He wasn’t much of a cook, so he hired the proprietor of the boarding house to whip up a couple of pies and some Figgie pudding. He glanced down at his wares to ensure they were upright. Snowdrifts formed across the road tossing the carriage first one way and then the other. His body swayed with the movement.
With a pull on the right side rein, the horse turned into the drive leading to the mansion. His heart fluttered and he drew in a deep breath. The crunches of the horses’ hooves against the brick were muffled beneath the collecting snow.
Nick tugged his coat tighter around his neck. His heart pounded. A weakness in his knees threatened to toss him and the food to the ground. He climbed the steps to the door and knocked.
Maggie wisped it open and pulled the food from his hands. “Come in, come in! This is a lovely day for a wedding, don’t you think?” She gave him a genuine smile of encouragement.
“Yes, indeed it is, Mrs. Gentry.” He bowed to her. Robert came to stand beside Maggie.
“Well son, let’s get you into your suit. The pastor should be arriving anytime now, and you sure don’t want to be late getting down that aisle.” He took Nick by the arm and pointed him up the stairs.
Nick entered the room, drawing in a deep breath to still his rapid beating heart. The gaze from his fixing to be father-in-law pierced his soul. He grabbed for the suit and stepped behind the privacy curtain.
****
Amanda stood in front of her mother. “Don’t you look beautiful!” Her mother fussed with the mistletoe and ribbons.
“Mother! Would you stop? I am nervous enough without you fretting over every tiny detail. If it looks good, don’t touch it.” She watched the hurt develop in her mother’s eyes. “Oh Mother, I’m sorry. I don’t feel right having a wedding without Grandmother.”
Maggie placed her hand on Amanda’s arm. “I know. Grandmother will be there. You’ll see. It’s hard to be the mother of a bride. I see you all grown up in your wedding dress and I see my precious little girl who brought joy and laughter into my home. And now, I’m going to lose you to a wonderful man we all adore.”
The knock on the door interrupted what Amanda thought could turn into an emotional moment. Growing up she always felt close to her mother. She supposed it was because of the war when they relied heavily on each other. She was all her mother had to hang on to that remained of her father at the time. She inhaled a big breath and hugged her mother once more.
“Shall we?” She swept her hand toward the door.
They met her father in the hallway. “Look at my beautiful little angel.” He took a step back and assessed her.
He offered his arm and nodded his head. “It’s time to get you hitched to a nervous Nick.”
“I’m ready.” She straightened her back and waited for him to lead her to Grandmother’s room where she knew Nick would be waiting impatiently for her.
The gasp when they entered the room reminded her of buzzing insects. She hurried to Nick’s side. His hand shook as he took hers.
Nick seemed to relax when she scooted closer to him. In school, he had been her protector. She drew strength from him, and he had confided that she gave him courage in return. Without each other to draw on, they both seemed a little off kilter.
The preacher stepped up and started talking. His words ran together. The affair flashed by. Nick nudged her when it came time for her to say I do. The next thing she remembered was the preacher asking if anyone objected to the union.
“They better not open their mouth if they do. I have a loaded gun and I know how to use it!” a frail voice from the bed echoed in the silence.
Amanda’s head snapped to her grandmother sitting up in the bed with a gun in her hand. She didn’t doubt for one moment Izella would pull the trigger. The one thing she didn’t know was where that bullet would end up if she did.
Nick led Amanda to her grandmother’s side. He let go of her arm and gazed at the woman. “Thank you Grandmother, you have made my wife a happy woman.”
“Did any one of you doubt I would miss this important day?” She winked at Nick. He bent and placed a kissed on her forehead.
“Welcome back, Grandmother.” Amanda grasped her skinny arm and removed the gun from her hand.
Chapter Eleven
Amanda rose early and went
to the turkey pen. She left Nick asleep so she could get the meal started without any distractions. She snatched up a large bird to prepare for the Christmas dinner. A large pot sat on the stove, and she tossed the bird in, sticking it in the oven along with some firewood to keep the heat up. The coffee boiled on top, and she poured herself a cup of the strong brew.
After resting a few minutes, she sipped her coffee and then walked out to gather the vegetables from the garden. After she washed and diced them, she tossed the cut up pieces in with the turkey. Grandfather came down earlier than usual.
“I see you started without me this morning.” He bent and kissed her on the forehead.
“I wanted to have everything ready before Grandmother tries to do it herself. I hope the turkey I got is big enough to feed us all. However, there is plenty of other food to hold us over. I baked a ham also.” She poured him a cup of coffee and served him the breakfast she had cooked earlier for the family. Another refill of her own cup and she joined him at the table.
“Your Grandmother taught you well.” His eyes dulled a little. “I was wishing she would be able to take part in your first Christmas feast. We’ll have to save her some in case she would like to eat a bite when she wakes for her feeding.”
“Do you think she will ever get better?” Amanda choked back the quiver in her voice.
“I would like to think so.” His words held no persuasion. “Today we must put on our best performance and be happy. There is one stipulation to this request… it’s imperative you believe it. You did a fine job setting all this up. You should be proud of yourself. Thank you.”
Amanda patted him on the arm. It wasn’t hard to set up. Grandmother had it all on paper to follow. “I’d best be getting the gifts out. Soon everyone will begin to arrive and wonder where the presents are. Grandmother and I hid them as soon as we finished making them.”
Walking from the room, a nagging sensation came over her. She hoped the sweater she made for Nick fit. Staying up late at night sitting with her grandmother, she knitted the sweater and measured the sleeves carefully so one wouldn’t be longer than the other. She would look up occasionally to see if her gray eyes were staring at her.
She carried the presents she collected and placed them around the tree. Stepping back a few feet, she gazed at the perfection. A commotion on the staircase drew her attention. Tom, William, Sam and Nick’s clomping footsteps muffed under the laughter and fun natured banter echoing down to the large room.
Amanda hurried to the bottom and peered up. Grandmother’s shaky, wrinkled hands moved from one man’s ear to the next giving them a slight tug. Her gray eyes twinkled and the smile on her face grasped Amanda’s heart.
“Mush my little elves, mush! I don’t want to miss another moment with my family.”
In her lap lay a rectangular cloth-covered present. The younger children bounded down the stairs but were held up by the men and Izella. Amanda held her breath, and her hands covered her mouth until they reached the landing below. Grandfather wheeled a chair in for Grandmother.
Her uncles and husband carefully set Grandmother on her feet, and she lowered herself to the chair. Lewis pushed the chair to the table with the tree. The kids gathered around, their eyes sparkled as they stood waiting for the gifts.
“Amanda, would you do the honors of passing those packages to their rightful owners? I don’t think these kids can stand another moment before they turn this place into pandemonium,” Grandmother said.
The children cheered as each name was called and they stepped forward and took their gift. The men were next and then the women. Amanda stood back and scanned the faces as the recipients tore into the packages.
She made her way to stand beside her grandmother. Bending down, she placed a kiss on the withered cheek. “You have made this the best Christmas ever, Grandmother.”
“No, my dear, you did this all by yourself. I must admit you did a fine job. Something from the kitchen smells delicious.” Grandmother’s wrinkled hand patted Amanda’s arm.
“I’m happy you’re feeling better. I thought I would have to move the dining table to your room so we could all eat together.”
“Family, may I have your attention?” Grandmother coughed and then paused. “As you all know this year we owe our thanks to Mrs. Nicolas Harper, otherwise known as Amanda. She kept me up under the pretense I couldn’t hear her. She fretted about small things in our lives. Each of you was mentioned along with the problems you are having. I suppose she had nothing better to tell me, regardless I was happy to listen to her and I’m proud she has a heart of gold.”
Tucked in the confines between her leg and the arm of the chair, Grandmother pulled out the gift she brought down the stairs with her and handed it to Amanda. When the final layer of cloth fell away, Amanda gasped as the tears blurred her vision. Carved in the lid was a bell in the center, with two angels pulling on ropes in the upper corners.
“When the bells ring, the angels sing. Oh Grandmother, this is the most beautiful box in the world. I will place all of my gold in it and keep it close to my heart. I love you.” She ran her fingers over the outline of the angels and bell on the lid.
Nick stood beside her and brought out the tiny box from his pocket. “I think you will be needing this.” He handed the present to her. She swiped the moisture from her eyes and opened the blue box.
Her breath caught as she gazed at the locket inside. With trembling fingers, she opened it. The tears slid down her cheeks as she blinked them away to see the photograph of her grandparents and parents nestled within its bounds. “Oh Nick. It is the most beautiful locket I have ever laid eyes on. Thank you!” She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek.
“What’s cooking, Amanda?” The small voice of her two-year-old sister, Celeste, interrupted the gathering.
She reached down and picked her up. “Shall we go see if it’s ready to eat?”
Celeste’s eyes sparkled. “We’ll be back with some food. Do I need to tell them to go to the table, Amanda?”
“Please do, my little helper.”
“If you’re gonna eat with Amanda and me you best be at the table when we get there ‘cause we’re hungry.” Her little eyes widened.
Nick followed the two to the kitchen. “What do you need me to do?”
“You can start carrying the food into the dining room. I already set the table.”
Nick disappeared through the doors with two platters. Celeste took a bowl of homemade bread and followed him. Amanda reached for the locket Nick fastened around her neck and clenched it in her fist for a short prayer. When she opened her eyes, Nick stood before her.
“You did a marvelous job, Amanda. Just think, one day we will be doing this at our home, with our kids and grandkids.” He nuzzled her neck. “We best get the rest of this food to the family. I believe Celeste will have all the bread eaten before we get in there.”
“Nick…Thank you for understanding.” Standing on her tiptoes, she placed a kiss on his cheek.
****
Amanda stood at the door waiting for the rest of the family to filter into other areas of the house. She carried the dishes to the kitchen and washed, dried, and put them away. A happy relief washed over her. Grandmother seemed to enjoy herself more this year than she had in years past. Amanda wondered if it was because she didn’t have to worry the job would get done the way Izella wanted it to be done, or if it was because she didn’t have to worry at all.
It really didn’t matter. Everything fell into place and the whole affair went off without a hitch. What a sweet, productive day it had been, and she couldn’t wait until she could rest without worrying about anyone or anything.
Nick came to stand beside her. He slipped his arm around her waist. “Would you like to go for a walk with me?”
“I would love to.” He led her out the door and down the walkway. As they stood before the cross, he pulled her to him.
“You look exhausted.”
“I am,
but in a good way. I can’t wait to go home.” She lowered her head. “I never realized what all was entailed in planning a celebration until now. I know why Grandmother was always tired.”
“Are you ready to leave now? I can have the coach ready in a few minutes. Everyone is leaving, and I think Izella could use the rest. The woman has been busy all day. We don’t want her to get down again.” Nick ran his hand over her hair.
“Yes. I believe your right.” They headed back to the house.
After the goodbyes, Amanda joined Nick out front. They boarded the carriage and Nick pushed the horses into a forward motion. She leaned her head on his shoulder.
The slight nudge of Nick’s hand woke Amanda from a sound sleep. “We’re here.”
Blinking her eyes, she held her breath. The plantation house stood before her. “It’s beautiful, Nick.”
He snickered and helped her out of the coach. “Merry Christmas and welcome to Harper’s Hope, Mrs. Harper.”
About the Author
Stephy Smith grew up in the Northwest Texas Panhandle and still lives within a few miles of her childhood home. She owns her own ranch and takes care of her mother. She shares her home with three dogs and a chinchilla. Other than writing, she loves to read, garden, ride horses, paint and do just about any kind of arts and crafts. Her love for history, museums, historical markers and sites along roadsides, old houses and walking through cemeteries tempts her creative imagination. Where there’s history there’s mystery and ghosts! She writes young adult, sweet historical romance and contemporary western romance. You can find her novellas, Lizzie and the Rebel, Rescued from the River, and Shawnee’s Creek at Astraea Press, Barnes and Nobel, Amazon.
Also by Stephy Smith
Pool balls clanked together, Alan Jackson bellowed to be propped against the jukebox, while whoops and hollers filtered through the wooden door.