Newlywed Christmas (Brides of Juniper Junction Book 4)

by Celeste Jones

  “Oh hush, Mildred, you don’t need to be an expert to see your gladiolas are covered with ants.”

  An audible gasp went through the crowd.

  “Hester Jordan, you take that back right now.” There was some pushing and several ladies moved out of the way to make room for the fighting.

  Suddenly, Lizzie wished they’d be silent and scowling again.

  “Quiet!” she shouted, clapping her hands like an angry schoolmarm. To her shock, it worked.

  “Now,” she said, putting on her best socialite demeanor, “flower arranging is an art which ladies have pursued for generations.” She gave them all a stern look. “And that means I expect you all to behave like ladies during this competition. Anyone who is rude to a fellow contestant will be disqualified and won’t be able to enter next year’s competition either.”

  An even louder gasp went through the crowd. “You can’t do that!”

  “Oh hush up, Mildred.” Lizzie recognized Mrs. Campbell’s voice. “We’ve all been acting like fools over this for years. It’s no wonder they’ve kept us out of here.”

  “I don’t remember you saying that during the Big Skirmish,” someone called out.

  Oh lord. Lizzie hadn’t expected to actually have to enforce that rule and certainly not so soon. “I want absolute silence while I inspect your entries,” she said to the crowd in her most forceful voice. Her gaze scanned the room and bore into a number of ladies until they looked away.

  “Now,” she said, “I’ll take a look at the flowers.”

  As she moved toward the flower covered tables, LIzzie realized the enormity of her task. There were so many beautiful, colorful and fragrant arrangements. Lizzie paused and looked to the spectators like she was a schoolteacher who’d just scolded her class. “You’ve all done nice work,” she said and the tension in the air eased a bit.

  Standing right next to the flowers, she took a deep breath before she began to inspect each arrangement. The variety of scents assaulted her and not in a good way. In an instant, her head felt fuzzy and her tummy wanted to revolt against her breakfast.

  A cold sweat broke out over her brow.

  She stepped away and tried to get some fresh air, but in a tent crowded with anxious women and an abundance of flowers, clean air didn’t exist.

  She did her best to hold down her stomach contents and gave the ladies a wan smile. Mrs. Bloom came over and asked if she was feeling unwell.

  “Oh, I’m f-fin—”

  And then she retched all over the table of flowers.

  MATT

  “Hey, Matt, the horses from Windy River are doing great today in the show competition," Mr. Conners said, giving Matt a slap on the back. "Thank you. Can't wait for the draft horse pulling competition. Do you have our team ready?"

  "Absolutely, Mr. Conners. And Jake's going to be handling them for us. He's the only one who's as strong as they are."

  Mr. Conners laughed along with Matt before the two men parted ways. Mr. Conners was probably off to make some deal to sell or breed from their winning stock. Fair day was important for everyone in the area, not just because it was a festive occasion but because it meant money for the town from all the folks coming in for the day who also stocked up on supplies at the general store or spent a few coins down at the saloon. And for Windy River it was a day to show off their cattle and horses. For Matt, who ran the stables, and Jake, the foreman, this day meant hard work and possibly bonuses for a particularly good year.

  Matt made his way to where the pulling competition was getting ready to start. Jake stood next to their two best draft horses, Cain and Abel, rubbing their forelocks. If he didn't know better, Matt would swear the big man was giving them a pep talk.

  From the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of the team from Cassidy Ranch. It took a lot of self-control not to stop and stare at the massive beasts they'd brought in for the day, but he kept his gaze on Jake, Cain and Abel.

  "You ready, Jake?" he asked.

  Jake nodded. "Yep."

  That was about as much as Matt expected from Jake at a time like this. Though he had every confidence in Jake, Matt also knew this was a crucial competition. Besides, no one liked to lose.

  The announcer shouted for the teams to take their places and Matt helped Jake steer the two massive horses to the starting line. Each team had a sled behind it which dragged along the ground and was weighed down with logs. The first team to cross the finish line with the driver and the logs intact won. In addition to the team from Cassidy Ranch, there were a half dozen others lined up. The prize this year was cash as well as bragging rights. And for the folks at Windy River, the additional prestige and money from being able to sell the foals these big horses would father.

  Jake and the horses waited at the starting line and Matt leaned over the fence to get a good view, joining about fifty other men doing the same.

  "Matt, Matt." Someone tugged on his arm and he was tempted to shake them off, but since it was a woman's voice he sighed and turned, but the look on Posey's face made him give her his full focus.

  "I'm sorry to interrupt," Posey said. "I'd like to watch Jake and the team myself, but there's been an incident at the flower competition."

  "Oh lord." Matt remembered the Big Skirmish from a few years ago. He knew he shouldn't have let Lizzie go ahead and judge the flower competition. He took off at a run and left Posey in the dust and he rushed across the fair grounds to the flower tent. As he entered the crowded space, an exceptionally unpleasant odor assaulted him. And for a man who worked around horses, that was saying something. He pulled up short and then noticed a few ladies gathered around a very pale looking Lizzie who was sitting on a wooden barrel. Pushing his way to the front of the crowd, he knelt in front of his wife and took her cold hand in his. "Lizzie, what is it? Sweetheart? What's the matter?"

  "She was sick on top of the flowers. All of them. Now we can't have a competition." He looked at the speaker, a rather disgruntled woman whom he did not recognize. It took vast restraint not to give her a piece of his mind.

  Fortunately, Mrs. Campbell did it for him. "Mildred, for Pete's sake, the girl's sick. Have some compassion. Besides, I think your flowers look better now anyway,"

  "You shut your mouth, Ada Campbell."

  "Ladies, please." Mrs. Bloom stepped forward with her hands up. "Let's all calm down."

  "I-I just do-don't know what came over me," Lizzie said, her voice weak. "The smell of the flowers overwhelmed me and the next thing I knew, I was sick. I'm so very sorry. I've ruined everything." A sad tear trickled down her cheek and Matt brushed it away with a gentle swipe of his thumb.

  "Hush now, you haven't ruined anything at all," Matt said, brushing some of her loose hair behind her ear.

  "When I was expecting my first baby, I couldn't stand the smell of flowers either," came an unknown voice from the crowd.

  "For me it was bacon. I couldn't fry it anymore until after I had my baby. My Clyde was about as grouchy as a brown bear when he had to go that long without bacon with his breakfast."

  "He's still grouchy as a brown bear. How'd you tell the difference?"

  "D-did she say, ex-expecting?" Lizzie said, her face growing even more pale.

  Matt had heard the words but hadn't given it much thought. Lizzie couldn't be—or could she?

  Dr. Granger came rushing in, his black medical bag in hand. "Please give us some privacy, ladies," he commanded the crowd. He knelt down next to Lizzie too. He gave Matt a look that implied he ought to move to allow the doctor more space but he ignored it. His girl was sick and he wasn't leaving her side.

  Dr. Granger took a look around the tent at the festering vomit covered flowers and then back at Lizzie. "I think I understand what happened."

  "Oh, Dr. Granger, it was awful. I'm so embarrassed."

  "Now, don't you worry. I'm sure there are a number of former judges who wished they'd done the same thing. These ladies can get vicious over their flowers." He talked calmly to Lizzie as
he took her wrist in his hand and felt her pulse, then touched his hand to her forehead.

  "Have you had other sensitivities to odors or foods?" the doctor asked.

  "A-a little," Lizzie said. "I haven't been eating as much as usual, but my clothes are all getting tight." She gazed at the doctor forlornly. "And I've just been so tired. I thought it was from all the chores, but I could barely get out of bed this morning."

  A soft smile emerged on the doctor's mouth. "Is that so?" he asked, getting the stethoscope from his bag.

  "It's not her heart, is it, Doc?" Matt stared at the instrument and his own heart thundered in his chest. What would he do if something happened to his sweet Lizzie? He knew he ought not to panic when he was trying to be calm for her, but his breath clutched in his throat. And why did the doc have a smile on his face, like he knew a secret? There was nothing funny about his wife being sick.

  Instead of putting the stethoscope on Lizzie's heart, Dr. Granger moved it around her stomach. Behind him, he heard a couple of the ladies murmur and instead of bickering, the atmosphere inside the tent changed in an instant.

  Matt had no idea what was going on. It must be one of those things only the women folk understood. And the doctor.

  A big smile spread over Dr. Granger's face and he held the stethoscope in place while he removed the earpieces and handed them to Matt. "Here, take a listen."

  Confused, Matt did what the doctor instructed.

  "Oh, mercy!" Lizzie cried out. "What is it? Do I have a tumor? Wait, you can't hear a tumor."

  Dr. Granger took hold of her hand. "You're healthy as can be, Mrs. Foreman."

  Meanwhile, Matt had the stethoscope in his ears and all he could hear was a faint tick-tick-tick sound. He looked up at the doctor and shrugged. "Did she swallow a watch?"

  Dr. Granger and a few of the eavesdropping ladies, let loose with boisterous laughter.

  "Matt!" Lizzie chided him. "I know better than to eat a watch!"

  That just led to more laughter.

  "Would someone please tell me what's going on here?" Matt demanded, his face heating with anger.

  "You're going to be a daddy, Matt. That's no watch you hear. It's your baby."

  Chapter 3

  TASSIE AND CAL

  Tassie closed the door to Dr. Granger’s office behind her and sat down to wait. She was grateful for a few minutes to collect her thoughts. Additionally, she was grateful Cal had gotten called out early that morning for a disturbance at one of the more remote homesteads. Of course she worried about his safety in these instances, but not nearly so much now that he had Roy Gantry as a deputy. And Roy had brought along Minnie. So to speak. But that was another story.

  Tassie hadn’t been feeling quite right for a while now, longer than she cared to admit, and having a law enforcer of a husband whose gaze took in every minute detail made it difficult to pretend that nothing was wrong.

  It was the first Tuesday of the month so if Cal came home and she wasn’t there, he’d assume she was at the Juniper Junction Quilting Society meeting and not be concerned. Which is where she intended to be, mostly. She’d ducked into the doctor’s office on her way without being seen, thank goodness. She wasn’t sure what was wrong with her and the last thing she needed was some busybody, no matter how well-meaning, asking her questions about her health.

  Or spreading rumors.

  Footsteps on the wooden porch drew her attention and Tassie shrunk back into her chair hoping not to be seen. Glancing at the door to Dr. Granger's examination room, she hoped he'd appear soon before she lost her nerve.

  At that moment, it occurred to her that if he was inside with someone, Tassie would see who that person was, just like when she exited her examination. Rats. She couldn't take that chance.

  She stood at the same instant two doors opened, Dr. Granger emerged from his examination room and Posey walked in the front door. The two women gaped at each other and Tassie's spirits sank. She loved Posey with all her heart. She was a dear and loyal friend, but having a girl often referred to as Nosey Posey catching her at the doctor's office when she didn't want anyone to know she had some mysterious illness was about the last thing she needed.

  "Oh, um...hi, Posey," she said, glancing nervously at Dr. Granger.

  Posey looked just as surprised and uncomfortable as Tassie felt. Her sewing basket hung from one arm, no doubt she'd planned to see the doctor before the quilting meeting too.

  In her other hand, however, she had a fresh biscuit.

  "Hi, Tassie," she said before taking another bite.

  Dr. Granger stood in the doorway glancing between the two women. Finally he nodded his head to each of them and said hello. "Tassie," he said, "it looks like you're here first so I'll take you back now and then, Posey, it will be your turn."

  "Oh no, Dr. Granger," Tassie objected. "Why don't you go ahead and see Posey now and I'll wait. I'm sure my problem isn't that important. In fact, I could come back later or maybe not at all. Just sitting here in your office seems to have helped what ailed me."

  Dr. Granger looked down his nose in a stern manner that reminded her of Cal's expression when she'd pushed his patience a bit too far. "Now, no one comes into my office just for the fun of it." He gave them both the same no-nonsense gaze. "So one of you get into my exam room right now."

  Tassie took a deep breath and decided to just get it over with. She'd feel better if she did. Posey had already seen her, so there was no avoiding a slew of questions that would be sent her way as soon as the two of them were alone.

  Moving toward the doctor, she stopped when she heard the door open. Maybe the new arrival was an emergency and she'd have a good excuse to leave. What if there was something horribly wrong with her? Some loathsome disease that would cut her life short just when she'd finally found happiness. Her heart panged with sadness as she thought about leaving Cal alone and widowed. Would he marry again?

  The new arrival was not an emergency, or at least didn't appear to be one. It was Lizzie Foreman, though she did look a bit green around the gills and held a linen hankie to her mouth as she rushed into the room.

  "I think you ought to see her first," Tassie said, stepping out of the way.

  Lizzie gave her a wan smile and hurried past into the Dr. Granger's exam room. Just moments after the door closed behind her, Tassie and Posey heard the sounds of sickness through the door.

  "Oh dear," Posey said, sitting down and finishing off the rest of her sandwich.

  Tassie sat as well, though as she did so, the waistband of her skirt cut into her stomach and made her wince.

  "Are you all right?" Posey asked, concern etched across her face. "I guess if you were feeling fine, you wouldn't be here. You don't need to say if you don't want to."

  Adjusting herself in the seat until she found a less uncomfortable position, Tassie replied, "I just haven't felt quite like myself lately and I keep gaining weight." She reached behind and unbuttoned the top of her skirt. "Whew. That feels better. I guess I'll have to stop and see Josie later today. I thought I could lose the weight myself, but no matter what, I just feel bigger and bigger."

  "That's strange," Posey said. "I've had the same problem with my clothes too, but," she nodded toward the last of the biscuit in her hand, "I think I know the reason. I just can't seem to stop eating and I want the strangest things, too. I had the most embarrassing thing happen at the fair. I was asked to judge the pickle competition and I ate almost all the entries."

  "Well, isn't that what a judge is supposed to do?"

  "No, not just sample each entry, I mean I ate entire jars of pickles. I had to put some from one jar into another just to hide what I'd done and then when I picked a winner, I honestly had no idea which one was best. I couldn't remember." Posey whispered the last part of her confession.

  Despite her predicament, and the unpleasant sounds coming from the doctor's exam room, Tassie had to giggle. "Oh Posey, don't make me laugh too hard. I'll have to go to the outhouse."

 
; "Me too. It seems like I'm spending way too much time there." Posey glanced toward the exam room door and then back at Tassie. "I hope Lizzie is all right. I heard she got sick all over the flower arrangements at the fair."

  "No!" Tassie exclaimed. "How awful. It sounds like she must be really ill." That thought worried Tassie. Lizzie was new in town, but Tassie had grown rather fond of her and hated the idea of her not feeling well. She was also surprised she hadn't heard about the incident at the fair, but then she'd rushed home about as fast as she could go after the fiasco with her dress.

  “Haven’t you heard?” Posey asked, incredulous. “Lizzie is expecting!” Posey looked thrilled, whether by the news of Lizzie’s pregnancy or because she loved to be the first to share information, Tassie couldn’t say for sure, but the whole thing took Tassie by surprise.

  “A baby?” she whispered. “But, she’s been married less time than me.”

  “And me too,” Posey said. “Though I’m not sure I’m ready for children just yet. How about you?”

  “I honestly haven’t given it that much thought.”

  Tassie hummed as she moved around the kitchen making supper for Cal. She glanced out the window over and over, wondering how soon he'd be home. She had news for him. Big news and she couldn't wait to tell him.

  He'd be the best father. She'd seen the way he interacted with the children in Juniper Junction. They’d never talked about it and until just a few hours ago, she hadn't given the idea of children much thought at all, but now she couldn’t think of anything besides babies and being a mother.

  She took a deep breath and one of the buttons on her blouse flew across the room. She sighed. She'd have to see Josie about letting out her clothes and maybe even buy a few new things. There was only so much seams could give and considering how large she felt already, she could only imagine what the next few months would bring.

  Christmas. Dr. Granger said she'd have her baby around Christmas time.