A Present for Christmas

by Patricia Pacjac Carroll

  As sheriff, it was his job to keep the peace. And that was what he was doing right now. He just hoped Jennifer was ready to leave. Although he had an idea, he’d have a hard time stopping her.

  The woman was as conniving as they come. And Kirk was sure that this was part of her plan to win Jeff over. Kirk had seen the two of them together at the diner one day. They did seem to look like they belonged together.

  Well, time would tell. Kirk had told no one of his plan other than Mary Louise, and he was going to have to pay for it with her. He just hoped everyone would see that he was right. He had no idea how Jennifer would stop the wedding or if she even could, but if anyone could, it would be her.

  Finally, he rode down the drive to the house and was amazed at how she’d cleaned up the yard. If the house looked half as nice, then Jennifer had surprised him.

  She came out of the house, rifle in hand. “I’m glad it’s you. I had to chase one vagrant away.”

  “Did you have any trouble?”

  “Nope. I wasn’t nearly as scared as he was when I pointed this rifle at his belly. He got back on his horse and ran for the hills.” Jennifer grinned. “I thought you’d come back in a couple more days.”

  Kirk dismounted and pointed to the house. “Let’s go in and sit a minute.”

  “I see you brought me a horse to ride, so you must want me to leave.” She entered the house and sat on the divan.

  The house was neat as a pin. She’d really done a lot of work, and Kirk knew Jeff would be amazed. “House looks nice.” He sat down and held his hat in his hand. “Diane and Jeff are to be married this Saturday.”

  “That’s in two days.”

  “Yes, I thought you should know.”

  “Why would you tell me?” He could see the mistrust on her face.

  “Jennifer, you know we’ve had our differences. I know you rile most of the wives in Lone Oak.” He took in a deep breath and decided now was the time to be honest with her. “I’ll tell you this. I’ve seen you with Jeff, and I believe you two would make a good couple.”

  She stared at him as if she were waiting for the blows to come.

  “I mean it, Jennifer. That’s why I came to get you. If Jeff and Diane are making a mistake, I’d rather them find out now before it’s too late.”

  She sat back and put her hand to her face and cried softly. Then she shook her head and wiped the tears. “I’m sorry. I can’t really believe what I’m hearing.”

  Kirk watched her. “I meant what I said. If you love Jeff, now is the time to tell him.”

  A shutter banged in the wind.

  She looked out the window. “Oh, no. Twister.”

  Kirk followed her gaze. “Quick, turn the horses loose. I’ll get the cow and the horse in the barn. Then get in the cellar.”

  She nodded and ran for his horse and the livery horse. Soon they were running away from the tornado.

  Dark clouds turned a sickly green before the rain started.

  Kirk let the animals go and then ran for the cellar. He had just pulled the door when the howling wind shoved him down.

  Jennifer grabbed him and pulled him in, letting the door shut behind him as she got him down the cellar stairs. She bolted the door and then pulled Kirk around a corner away from the door.

  Jennifer had her hand to her mouth. “That sure came up fast. I was outside most of the day, and it was warm. I had noticed clouds to the north.”

  Kirk rubbed his head. “I can’t believe I didn’t notice the weather, but they can pop up like that when the hot and cold wind meet.” He grabbed his knee. “I must have wrenched it.” The twister roared overhead, blotting out his words.

  Jennifer put her hands over her ears and ducked her head.

  Kirk prayed the house wouldn’t blow away. He prayed they’d be able to find the horses and get back in time for the wedding. Then again, he didn’t know if that was the right thing to pray for or not.

  Chapter 14

  Mary Louise paced anxiously back and forth in front of the sheriff’s office. Kirk hadn’t come back yesterday. She was sick with worry after the change in weather brought damaging storms.

  She stopped and stared up the street. Then there was her other problem. Jennifer. She should have gone with Kirk to retrieve the scheming siren. Now, Kirk was missing with the woman.

  Finally, she stamped her foot and walked to Kate and Peter’s house. She’d enlist their help to go and get Kirk from Jeff’s ranch. She rapped on the door a bit harder than she’d meant to.

  Peter opened the door. “Mary Louise, are you all right?”

  “No, Kirk is missing. The storms, Jennifer—”

  Kate came from behind Peter and went to her. “What is it?”

  “Kirk went to Jeff’s ranch to bring Jennifer back. He didn’t want her out there when Jeff and Diane came home for their honeymoon.” She didn’t tell them the rest. That Kirk actually wanted to stop Diane’s wedding.

  Peter opened the door for her. “Come on in. I’ll get my horse and ride out there.”

  Kate put an arm around Mary Louise. “I’m sure he’s all right. Maybe his horse ran off.” With a frown, she added. “Jennifer? Why is she at Jeff’s ranch?”

  Mary Louise looked down at her hands. “He said she wanted to clean up the place. Apparently, Jeff’s lowdown family had made a wreck of the place. Jennifer said she wanted to help.”

  Kate remained quiet, but Mary Louise knew she was thinking the same thing she’d thought. Likely story. That siren wanted her claws in Jeff and his ranch, and that was all there was to it.

  Peter cleared his throat. “I’ll go to the livery and then ride out there. I’m sure his horse just ran off. Probably got loose because of the storms. I thought our roof was going to come off.”

  Mary Louise nodded. “Thank you.”

  “I better hurry. I sure don’t want to miss that wedding.” Peter left them and ran outside.

  Mary Louise looked at Kate and took her by both hands. “There is more. I didn’t want to say it while Peter was here.” She looked around. “Where’s John?”

  “He went to play with Billy this morning.” Kate looked troubled. “What is it?”

  “Kirk thinks Diane and Jeff are making a mistake. He doesn’t believe they love one another.” Mary Louise shook her head.

  “Oh, I see.”

  Mary Louise stared at her friend. “What are we going to do? He means to bring that little tart back here and stop the wedding.” Anger rushed her head, making her hot despite the chilly weather outside.

  Kate stood. “To tell you the truth, I have been wondering about them myself.” She turned and shook her head. “I haven’t told a soul, but when I see Jeff and Diane together, they don’t look happy like a couple should.”

  “Why Kate Gabriel, I’m shocked. We all promised each other we’d help each of us find a man to marry. And that included Diane.”

  “I know, I know. I’m just sharing some misgivings I’ve had. It started when I saw Diane in the diner with the new schoolteacher. There was a spark between them that is missing in Jeff and Diane.”

  “That little siren. She’s nothing but a home breaker.” Mary Louise folded her arms and stomped to the window. “There’s Angus and Adelaide.”

  Kate put on her wrap. “Let’s go see what she has to say. Maybe Angus will go with Peter.”

  In minutes, they sent Angus off to Jeff’s ranch with Peter and pulled Adelaide toward the café. This was a problem to discuss over coffee. Mary Louise led their little troupe to a back table away from others.

  “What are we going to do?”

  Adelaide looked cheerily at them. “Why, tomorrow we’re going to a wedding and celebrate with Diane. I thought we could do something special for her tonight. Where is she?”

  Mary Louise took in a deep breath and explained what Kirk had done.

  “Oh, dear. We need to stop him. If I see that siren, I’ll punch her in that nose of hers. Cute as it is. She is not going to ruin my best friend’s spe
cial day.”

  Mary Louise felt better. At least Adelaide didn’t think Diane’s marriage was a mistake. Just then, Adrian walked into the café. Mary Louise studied him. She’d paid him little mind. He was a tall man dressed in mostly black, and that made him look even more austere.

  Not that she disliked him, he just wasn’t someone she’d notice. Too academic and serious.

  Kate nodded toward the door. “I believe Diane might be better off with Adrian Farnsworth.”

  Mary Louise nearly blurted out her sip of coffee. “Do you think he knows that? I bet he spends his nights reading books.”

  Adelaide stared at him. “Come to think of it, Diane did mention his name. He came in to get her to make some shirts and a suit. But I hardly see that as a reason for her not to marry Jeff.”

  Tapping her fingers on the table, Mary Louise agreed with Adelaide. “When Peter finds Kirk and Jennifer and brings them to town, we need to make sure we take Jennifer aside and keep her from going to the wedding. She will ruin it.”

  Kate sipped her coffee but remained quiet. That bothered Mary Louise. After all, she was the brains behind their group. But Mary Louise’s mind was made up. She was going to singlehandedly protect Diane’s wedding.

  ***

  Kirk sat in the chair and held his leg. “I can’t walk back to town. Someone will find my horse and come looking for me. Mary Louise knows where I was going.”

  Jennifer huffed. “She hates me.” She stood and brought a stool over to him. “Put your leg up on this. Maybe it will bring the swelling down. Then I’ll go outside and see if I can find the horses.”

  “Jennifer, you need to get to town before the wedding tomorrow morning. Jeff wanted to say the vows against the rising sun. Said it was a new dawn for him and Diane.”

  Shaking her head, she leaned against the door. “It’s no use. He loves her. They have their lives planned out. I can’t go and ruin that for them.”

  Kirk grinned. “Don’t be going all noble on me. Besides, you don’t believe it for a minute. You came out here to fix up the place to win Jeff’s heart.” He eased his foot on the stool. “That does feel better.”

  She started to go outside and came back in to get her coat. “That twister brought in some cold weather all right.” She lowered her head and voice. “As cold as my heart, I guess. Serves me right.”

  “Jennifer, I saw you and Jeff together. The looks between you. I don’t believe they were cold. I signed on as a sheriff because I’m a peacekeeper. That’s why I came out here to get you before the wedding. I think you and Jeff love one another, and I believe neither Jeff nor Diane really do love one another.”

  “Why would you hurt Diane?”

  “That’s not my intention. I want the best for everyone. Now, go on and hurry. If you start walking, you’ll be in town before nightfall.”

  She shook her head. “No, you’re hurt. I can’t leave you alone.”

  He slammed his fist on the table. “Jennifer, you have made most of the lives of the women of Lone Oak miserable. Now, go and do the right thing.”

  “I’ll go and find a horse.” She left him and slammed the door.

  Kirk glared at his leg. Of all the times to twist his knee. He prayed for Jennifer that she’d come to her senses and make her way into town to stop Jeff and Diane from making a terrible mistake.

  Chapter 15

  Diane went to her dress shop and looked at the wedding dress that Adelaide had made for her. It was beautiful. She couldn’t wait to put it on tomorrow morning and walk down the aisle. But there, her dreams stopped.

  Was Jeff the man of her dreams? They actually had little in common except their past. She pushed aside the troubling thoughts, sure that every bride had them. It was a significant event in her life and one that she’d waited for.

  The bell over the door rang, and Claire walked in. “I thought I would find you here. Look at that lovely dress. I can’t wait for tomorrow morning. The town is all abuzz with excitement. And then Christmas Eve we’ll have Kirk and Mary Louise’s wedding.”

  “Yes, it will be wonderful with all the holidays.” Diane forcibly kept the smile on her face. The truth was, she was more excited for Kirk and Mary Louise. They were the happy ones.

  “How is Jeff? Is he feeling up to being a husband?” Claire blushed at her own attempt at humor.

  “He’s feeling fine. He wants to go to the ranch and fix things up for me, but Doc wouldn’t let him. Said it had already been taken care of, and he wasn’t to worry.”

  Claire’s eyebrows lowered. “Who went out there? No one asked me.”

  “I don’t know. But Kirk said he took someone to the ranch, and they were watching the livestock and cleaning the house.” Diane held up the veil to her dress. “Adelaide did such a beautiful job.”

  “Yes, she did. I saw her and Angus drive into town. I’m surprised she isn’t here to visit with you.” Claire looked outside.

  “I’m sure she’ll be by.” Diane folded her arms and held them close to her chest. Something she always did when she was unsure of life and its troubles. She should be happy. “I’m going to go to the clinic and check on Jeff.”

  Diane walked Claire out of the shop and locked the door. She was just worried about Jeff. He did have a hard blow to the head plus the shoulder wound, but he did seem to be healing nicely. Doc said he’d be in good shape for the wedding.

  She bade Claire goodbye and walked to the clinic. Doc was just leaving as she entered.

  “Watch the place for me. That storm last night tore up a few places. Angus said a twister touched down not far from Jeff’s ranch. There are a few cabins I thought I better check on. I thought Kirk would go, but he’s not around.”

  “All right, Doc. I’ll stay until you get back.”

  She walked into Jeff’s room and saw him sitting, staring out the window. “How’s my soon to be husband?”

  He turned to her and smiled. “Fine. Feeling good. I thought we could take a walk today. Sun is out.”

  “It’s chilly. But I guess we could.” She waited for him to get his jacket. Diane tried to quiet the beating drum in her head that said something was wrong. It wouldn’t stop. She tried to think about Jeff. How much she loved him, but then she couldn’t really say how much she did.

  Diane didn’t know about love. Honor, duty, responsibility. That she understood. Even as a girl, she and Jeff liked each other, but she never had the giddy feelings that Betty Sue had talked about.

  Betty Sue, Diane hadn’t thought about her in years. They’d been best friends. Thoughts flooded back to her, and she felt faint and had to sit down.

  Jeff turned and looked at her. “You’re pale. Maybe we better stay here.”

  “Just for a minute.” Diane desperately wanted to turn her mind and all the doubts off, but they lingered. Betty Sue telling her how she felt with her Daniel. The giddy schoolgirl talk of young women.

  Then Betty Sue had looked at her. “You and Jeff aren’t really right for one another. I don’t see your eyes light up when you’re with him.” Ten days later, Jeff was gone.

  Diane looked at him. Did her eyes light up now when she saw him? Her heart told her no.

  “Jeff, do you love me?”

  He looked at her. “Of course, I do. We’re getting married tomorrow. Want to go for that walk now?”

  She nodded. Her questions were not settled, but maybe they just needed to be together.

  ***

  Peter and Angus drove the wagon to Jeff’s ranch. There were trees knocked in half along the way as the tornado marked its wobbling path. “Odd to have a tornado this time of year.”

  Angus nodded. “Aye, it is. But they happen anytime. It’s our wild Texas weather. It’s hard to believe all the ladies will be married once Kirk and Mary Louise take their vows, Christmas Eve.”

  Peter nodded.

  Angus nudged him in the ribs. “You started it all with that Mystery Groom letter. I’m glad you did. I’ve never been so happy.”

 
“I’m glad too. I have to say I am blissfully content with my family. It makes a man’s heart feel good.”

  “Aye.”

  After several hours, they turned into Jeff’s ranch. “Looks like the twister was close, but the house and barn are standing.”

  Angus nodded.

  They stopped the wagon and climbed down, stretching as they did. “Kirk, anyone here?”

  There was someone out in the field, and they came running. Peter pointed at them. “Jennifer.”

  “What would she be doing out here?” Angus looked at him and then frowned. “She’s not trying to get her claws on Jeff and ruin Diane’s day, is she?”

  Peter shrugged.

  Finally, Jennifer reached them. “I’m glad you are here. Kirk hurt his knee. I was trying to catch a horse, but he didn’t want to be caught.” She threw the bucket toward the barn. “Kirk’s in the house.”

  Peter went inside and saw his friend with his leg up. “What happened to you?”

  Twister was coming, and I made a run for the cellar and twisted my knee.

  Angus pointed at Kirk and Jennifer. “Why are you two here? We have a wedding to go to in the morning.”

  Jennifer looked down and picked up her small bag. “I’m ready to go.”

  Kirk let Angus help him up. “Just let me lean on you, and I can hobble to the wagon. Lock the door after you leave.” He threw Peter the key.

  Jennifer didn’t say a word but climbed in the back of the wagon.

  Angus helped Kirk into the back. “Why is the lass here? She’s trouble for a couple getting married.”

  “Long story. Let’s get back to town. I’m sure Mary Louise is worried.”

  Peter looked at him. “You might be a little worried yourself.”

  “I’m in trouble, aren’t I?” Kirk shook his head and pulled his hat down low.

  “I’d say so.” Peter turned the wagon around and headed back to town. By the sight of the sun, it would be late before they returned to Lone Oak. He hoped Mary Louise was an understanding woman, or they might have two weddings in trouble.