Stepping out of his arms, Mattie Jo began fixing breakfast, while he stoked the fire.
The thoughts of being anybody’s pretty lady made her smile, as she buttered the toast.
After Katie woke, they successfully got some scrambled eggs and a few bites of toast down her before she slipped back to sleep.
Grant whispered, “It’s going to take her a day or two before she regains her strength and appetite. She’s been through a tough ordeal for someone so young.”
Arm-in-arm, Mattie Jo and Grant walked back to the main room. She watched as he added logs to the fire. She stared at the small, bare cedar tree standing stately in the corner. Now that Katie was no longer in crisis, it was time to think about other things, and since it was Christmas Day, decorating the tree seemed the right thing to do.
“I’m going to make some bows for the tree, so if you’d like to smoke why don’t you go out in the mudroom? I know you haven’t had time to smoke your pipe for days.”
An odd look came over his face. “I didn’t bring a pipe with me.”
“You’re welcome to my father’s.”
“I guess it’s time to fess up. I don’t smoke.” He smiled with an air of boyish affection. “Not a pipe, cigars or anything.”
“And, you don’t have to wear spectacles, since you haven’t had them on since you arrived. I’m no doctor, but …” She offered him what she hoped he’d take as a teasing smile. “I believe you can see just fine without them. And, I noticed you don’t carry a gun.”
“You’re right.” His eyebrows arched mischievously. “Only about part of it, though. Don’t tell anybody, but I thought the pipe and spectacles would make me look more mature and the community would have more confidence in me, thereby accepting me more readily. My dad always wore them, so I thought I should, too.”
“So far I’m right, so what am I wrong about?” It was her turn to raise an eyebrow and offered him a mischievous smile of her own.
“The carrying of a weapon. I have a Derringer in my black bag. That’s why I kept my bag away from Katie.”
Mattie Jo turned toward him and kissed him like she’d never kissed a man before. Shock waves ran through her body, not only from the kiss but from her boldness. After she reclaimed somewhat of a calmness inside, she said, “Grant Spencer, you’re perfect to me with or without your spectacles. Whether you smoke a pipe or not. And I love a man with a Derringer.”
They shared a joyful laugh.
“And, I love a girl who can make date nut loaf like my mama.” He kissed her lightly on the forehead.
“Want to help me on the decorations for the tree?”
The sun was high overhead when they put the last spoon with a red piece of knitting yarn tied around the handle on the tree. Mattie Jo had found a small quilt and wrapped it around the base of the Christmas tree.
She stood back and took stock of their creation. Few Christmas trees had been a part of her life and this one was special ... very special. Probably the prettiest one she’d ever had.
Grant excused himself and went to the kitchen. He returned with a cupid faced stuffed doll. He placed it beneath the small tree.
“Now, for a star.” He said looking around the room. Seeing nothing suitable, he pulled his pocket watch from his vest and added it to the top of the tree, secured by the fob.
“That’s perfect,” Mattie Jo said, as she walked up next to Grant and took hold of his hand. “Absolutely perfect.”
Side-by-side they admired their creation. He tucked her close to him and whispered, “I know Katie will be so happy when she wakes up. It won’t be long. I just know it.”
Mattie Jo rested her head on his shoulder. “I’m so happy.”
“I am too, but I’d be even happier if I could have some of your date nut loaf.” He smiled down at her.
She elbowed him lightly before capturing his hand and leading him to the tin can in the kitchen where the candy was hidden.
Grant grabbed two pieces before she could get the lid back on the tin. Together, they walked back to the Christmas tree and stood enjoying their labor of love.
“Priddy,” a child’s voice came from behind.
Surprised, they both turned to see Katie standing in the doorway. “Priddy,” she said once again before she ran and grabbed Grant around his legs in a hug.
Mattie Jo dropped to her knees and kissed her little sister. “It’s really pretty, isn’t it?”
Katie nodded her head and reach up to Grant. “Me, me.” He gathered her into his arms. “Priddy tree.” She put her arms around his neck and hugged him.
The back door opened, and barefooted, Brady walked in. “I left my muddy shoes in the mudroom,” he offered. When he saw his little sister, he ran to her and grabbed her out of Grant’s arms. Holding onto her hands, he whirled her around. “This is the best Christmas present, I could ever have.” He hugged Katie and sat her in the rocking chair before handing Mattie Jo an envelope.
“What is this?” she asked.
“Wages from the Garners’. I know it isn’t enough to pay for Doc Spencer’s house call, but it’ll take care of some of it.”
Grant spoke up. “You don’t owe me anything. Nobody knows the happiness you’ve given me over the last few days, so my bill is paid in full.” He smiled at Mattie Jo with a twinkle in his eyes.
Brady saw the candy and it didn’t take him long to find the tin it came from.
In a distance, the sound of hoofs and a buggy could be heard. Apparently, Violet had finally braved the elements to bring Grant’s rig back.
Grant gathered Katie into his arms and went to the door. Mattie Jo and Brady joined them.
A sight to behold unfolded right before their eyes, as buggies and cowboys on horses flooded the front of the house.
In only minutes, women who had shunned the Ashley family, along with Lucas Jones and many of the cowboys who frequented the Longhorn came inside carrying baskets of food and gifts for little Katie and even some for Brady.
Violet came in with a smile on her face as big as the wild open plains of the Texas Panhandle.
The little house quickly filled to capacity, overflowing into the mudroom.
Emmett Matthews was the first to speak, as everyone gathered in the small living area. “Miss Ashley, on behalf of everyone in Carroll Creek, I’m here to apologize for the way you and your family have been treated.”
He was interrupted by his wife, Polly. “It was hypocritical of me to treat you like I did. I’m sorry.” She stepped in front of her husband and hugged Mattie Jo, who was taken by surprise.
“Can you ever forgive us?” A man Mattie Jo didn’t know came out of the crowd. “I’m Abe White, the banker.” His face clouded with uneasiness, as he continued. “I was wrong about your father. Last night a seed bag was left on my doorstep. It had the exact amount of money in it that your father took from the bank. I know this doesn’t make things right or change things, but due to a bookkeeping error, your father had paid back the bank every cent he owed on the land.” He handed Mattie Jo an envelope. “Here is the deed to all the land that belongs to you. Every single acre. As well as the money we collected by mistake.”
Mattie Jo didn’t know what to say. Bottomless peace and satisfaction flooded her thoughts and her heart. “I can never thank you enough, Mr. White.”
Polly Matthews came forth and handed her a small box. “This is my personal gift of friendship. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I pray you can find it in your heart to forgive me for the wrong I’ve done you.”
“Thank you,” Mattie Jo could barely say the words, as she opened the box. A small silver cross on a chain lay inside.
Brady took Katie from Grant.
“May I help you?” Grant asked, as he lifted the cross and placed it around Mattie Jo’s neck. Only loud enough for her to hear, he whispered in her ear, “Merry Christmas, my pretty lady.”
It took all the restraint she had in her not to kiss him, but self-control won out.
“We have more gifts,” Emmett said, handing a pipe to Doctor Spencer.
Grant shot Mattie Jo a grin that warmed her across the room.
She returned a slow, secret smile only he would understand.
Preacher McMinn spoke above the crowd. “What a miracle our little community has experienced. Doc Spencer, you’ve taught us all about the true meaning of forgiveness and helping one another. Thank you for coming to our town.”
Brady sat Katie on the floor. She ran straight to Grant and her sister. Picking up the child, Doctor Grant Spencer pulled Miss Mattie Jo Ashley to his side. “I’d like to introduce you to our little Christmas miracle, Miss Katie Ashley.”
Applause, mixed with “Amens” and “Hallelujahs”, shook the room.
“Now, let’s eat.” Grant said, as he turned to Mattie Jo. He lowered his voice. “Did you hide the date nut loaf?”
And the little temperance community of Carroll Creek, Texas, celebrated the miracle of Christmas.
Mattie Jo's Christmas Date Loaf
From “A Christmas Miracle” by Phyliss Miranda
Ingredients
3 cups sugar
1 cup canned milk
¼ cup Karo Syrup
½ lb. dates
1 cup nuts (pecans or your choice)
Directions
Cook milk, sugar, corn syrup, and dates until soft boil stage**.
Stir to keep from sticking.
Remove from heat and cool to 104 degrees.
Beat until it begins to harden.
Add nuts.
Turn out on a damp cloth and roll like a jelly roll.
When firm, cut.
**Soft-ball stage refers to a specific temperature range when cooking sugar syrups. Soft-Ball Stage occurs at 235-245 degrees with a candy thermometer. If you don’t have one, you can drop a spoonful of hot syrup into a bowl of very cold water. In the water, use your fingers to gather the cooled syrup into a ball. If it has reached soft-ball stage, the syrup easily forms a ball while in the cold water, but flattens once removed from the water
About the Author
I’m a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author and native Texan, who lives in the Texas Panhandle with my husband of forty-five years, Bob. With plans to write a cookbook, I took my first creative writing class in 2001. One of my favorite parts of being an author is teaching the craft and mentoring beginner writers. I enjoy sharing my love for the new frontier, the Civil War, quilting, and antiques; and still believes in the Code of the Old West.
I blog the first Tuesday of every month, and sometimes in between, at Petticoats and Pistols, Romancing the West of Yesterday and Today. The blog site is dedicated to the love of western historical romances. Come visit me at https://petticoatsandpistols.com
You can also find me at: PhylissMiranda.com.
Tweet me at PhylMiranda.
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A Christmas Miracle Page 4