Once Upon a Christmas Wedding

by Scarlett Scott

  But in all that time, they had kept things very chaste between them. It had nearly killed her to be so near to him and not be able to kiss and caress him the way she longed to do. He hadn’t even kissed her properly until they’d become officially engaged.

  He was sort of old-fashioned.

  When her fingers brushed the coarse hair beneath his buckle, Clinton pulled back, removing her hands from his pants and clasping them in his own. “Josephine Mae Lawson,” he scolded—his stern voice didn’t help matters at all, causing womanly awareness to bloom in her. “You keep your hands to yourself, young lady.”

  “B-but, Clinton,” she whined, tingles forming between her thighs. “I just...it’s just that...well, you’re going to be away, and I’m going to miss you and… and…” Her chest heaved with her breathing, and no doubt she was flushed from the scooped opening of her bodice all the way to the brim of her hat.

  Clinton turned her around and gave her bottom three hard swats before spinning her back to face him. “I know, Josie. I have needs, too,” Her heart sped up at his words. “But we are not a couple of rutting animals out in the hayloft, and we will wait until we are married, and that is final. Do I make myself clear?”

  She glanced at his belt buckle for a fraction of a second longer than she ought, just to make a point, before meeting his gaze. “Yes, Clinton.”

  Chapter 2

  “Josie, are you up?” Millie, Josie’s cousin whispered from her bed in their shared bedroom over the general store.

  “Yes, I haven’t been able to sleep all night.”

  “Me neither. We might as well get up and head out. Maybe we’ll have a little more time to say good-bye to Travis and Clinton.” Millie’s voice sounded as forlorn as Josie felt.

  Josie lit the lamp between their beds, and the two of them set about preparing for the day before the sun began to rise. At first light, the cattle drive would be on its way, and it wouldn’t wait for them to say their goodbyes.

  Before long, the two girls were rushing down the streets of Juniper Junction in the direction of the Windy River Ranch. Usually, the streets would have been empty at this time, but they were not the only members of the community heading out to see the cowboys off.

  Millie sniffled, and Josie gave her an elbow in the ribs. “Don’t you start, or I’ll start, too.”

  “Sorry,” Millie said. “I just can’t help but worry.”

  “I know,” Josie replied. “Me, too. But Travis and Clinton are good at their job, and they’ll watch out for each other. I’m sure they’ll come home safely.”

  “That’s not what I’m worried about,” Millie said, her voice rising higher with her anxiety. “It’s been six months since Travis and I started courting, and he ain’t proposed yet. What if he finds another girl down in Monroe City, or he just likes the city better. What if he thinks there’s nothing here for him to come back to?”

  Josie stopped and turned to her cousin and best friend. “Millie, you stop that right now. First, you’re starting to sound hysterical, and that’s not going to do anyone any good. Second, you know darn good and well that Travis is as smitten with you as any a man’s ever been. He’s just cautious. Taking his time to make sure. That’s all.”

  “I suppose you’re right.” Millie grabbed Josie’s arm. “Come on, we’d better hurry. I can see the first light of the sun over the horizon.”

  The two girls took off at an unladylike run that would give Aunt Joyce, Millie’s mother, fits. Not only were the two girls running, but they were running after men, something Aunt Joyce would never condone. Fortunately, Aunt Joyce and Uncle Carl were busy preparing to open the general store. They knew the girls, who were their only employees, would be out early but back in time to greet the day’s first customers. A lot of folks had stayed over in town after the fair, and Aunt Joyce and Uncle Carl didn’t want to miss any potential sales.

  More people waited to see the drive off than Josie had expected. It was a madhouse in the predawn light—cows, horses, people, wagons, and cowboys. Mr. Connor, who owned the ranch and was Clinton and Travis’ boss, was a decent man, but if the cattle didn’t make it to market, the whole town of Juniper Junction would suffer. The cowboys would return with money to spend, but if Mr. Connor didn’t sell his cattle, he might not be able to keep so many on his payroll, and that meant less money for people to spend at the general store or the saloon or any of the other businesses. And, a man without a job wasn’t likely to propose.

  Yes, this cattle drive meant a lot to the people Josie loved.

  But that didn’t make her hate the whole thing any less. Clinton would be gone for weeks and weeks, traveling over rough terrain with a thousand head of potentially dangerous animals who could stampede at the slightest provocation. Yes, Mr. Connor paid his employees well, including a bonus at the end of the drive, but they earned it with hard work, long days in the saddle, and dangerous conditions.

  “Josie, what are you doing here?” Josie found herself pulled behind one of Mr. Connor’s many barns, gazing up into the loving eyes of Clinton.

  “Clinton, you knew I couldn’t let you leave without saying good-bye.” Josie gave him a brave smile. She refused to let him see her cry. That wouldn’t help matters at all.

  “I know. I’m glad you’re here.” He held her close to his chest for a long moment, his face buried in her neck while he took several deep breaths.

  “Clinton, what on earth are you doing?”

  “I’m trying to get the smell of you in my brain and in my lungs, so I’ll have it with me. You are the sweetest-smelling girl I know, and I’m going to miss you while I’m gone.” He cupped her face and gazed deep into her eyes. “You know how much I love you?”

  “As much as I love you,” Josie replied, her voice cracking.

  “More,” he said then drew her close for a soul-searching kiss. When their lips parted, he held her to him again. “I didn’t realize how hard this would be.”

  “Me neither,” she replied, fighting back tears. “But”—she pulled away from him. Much as she hated to, she didn’t want him to leave feeling as sad as she did—“I have something for you.” She reached into her bag, pulled out a square of cloth, and handed it to him. “I made this for you. It’s a bandana.”

  He held the item in his hand like it was precious metal. “Thank you,” he said. “You sure do good work. No wonder you’re the best seamstress in the county.” He ran it through his fingers and paused. “What’s this?” He squinted at some stitching in the corner.

  “It’s our initials,” she replied, shyly. “I hope you don’t think it’s too girly for you to use on the trail. I wanted to make it special.”

  “You make everything special.” He folded it up then tucked it into his pocket. “I’m going to keep this next to my heart.”

  Josie turned away, not wanting Clinton to see the tears in her eyes. He touched her chin and brought her face back around. “Don’t be sad, darlin’. The time’ll go fast. I expect you’re going to be busy making your wedding dress and maybe sewing up some curtains and other pretties for our little house, don’tcha think?”

  “Yes, I’ll keep busy.” She forced herself to smile despite her sadness.

  “Good, now turn around. I’ve got something for you.”

  Assuming he wanted to surprise her, Josie quickly did as he told her and even put her hands over her eyes.

  She got a surprise, all right. Clinton’s broad palm landed rapidly on her backside, applying several swats on each cheek before she squealed and jumped away.

  “Clinton Ramsey! What was that about?”

  “Well, I figured you’re bound to get in some trouble while I’m gone, so that’s a spanking to remind you to behave yourself. Lord knows what sort of shenanigans you and Millie’ll get into without Travis and me here to keep an eye on you.”

  Leave it to Clinton to make her laugh and forget, if just for a moment, her sadness. She loved him more every day.

  “I got you something else.�
� He reached into his pocket. “Turn around and close your eyes.”

  She raised an eyebrow at him. “I’m not falling for that again.”

  “No, trust me,” he said. “You won’t get your present if you don’t.”

  “All right, but you’d better not be teasing me again, Clinton.” She put her back to him once more, half expecting additional swats on her behind.

  “Lift up your hair, darlin’,” he whispered in her ear and, when she reached up to comply, he placed a kiss at the base of her ear then she felt something cold around her neck. When he finished, he moved to stand in front of her. She reached up to her throat.

  “A necklace! Thank you, Clinton.” She dipped her head down to see what it was. “A star,” she said then caught his gaze.

  “Yes, a star. Just like the one we’re going to have on our Christmas tree. Our first Christmas as Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey. And don’t you forget it.”

  Josie stared into his dark eyes, too choked up with love to speak.

  “Hey, Clinton.” Travis poked his head around the corner. “It’s time to go.” He tipped his hat. “Morning, Josie.” Then he walked away to give them one last moment of privacy.

  Clinton gazed into her eyes, patted the bandana in his pocket. “Always in my heart, Josie.”

  And then he was gone.

  The general store was the busiest Josie had ever seen and, though she was exhausted at the end of the day, she was glad for the distraction. She and Millie had walked back from seeing Travis and Clinton and so many others they knew off on the cattle drive. Pastor Ellis had lead a prayer and blessed all the travelers, and Josie had sent up her own prayer for the safe return of her beloved Clinton. Then she and Millie had walked back to town, a little slower than they had left.

  Aunt Joyce already had breakfast on the table, a kindness on her part since Millie and Josie took turns rising early and getting the family breakfast on the table so they’d all be ready to start their day in the general store. People in Juniper Junction woke with the sun and took care of business in town before the heat of the day was upon them and usually, by noon, Aunt Joyce, Uncle Carl, Josie, and Millie were worn out and ready for their dinner break.

  On this day, they didn’t even get that, though they each managed to find bits of time to rush back to the kitchen to have a quick bite of biscuits and stewed apples left over from breakfast.

  At suppertime, after Uncle Carl finally closed and locked the door, the four of them collapsed around the kitchen table. Between the excitement of the fair and the sadness of saying good-bye to Clinton then a long day of work in the store, Josie was worn out, physically and emotionally.

  From the pantry, Millie brought out a loaf of bread. Josie gathered up cheese and fruit, and they had a cold supper before they all headed off for an early night.

  Despite all that, sleep eluded Josie.

  “Josie,” Millie whispered, “are you awake?”

  Josie chuckled. Apparently Millie couldn’t sleep either.

  “Yes,” she replied and sat up in bed. The summer sun hadn’t set yet, so they could see each other easily.

  Millie propped herself up on her pillow, too. “Josie, I don’t know if this is a secret or not, but I heard something today, and I feel like I need to tell you.”

  Alarmed, Josie sat up on the edge of her bed and faced Millie. “What did you hear?” A million pieces of bad news flew threw her head in the time it took Millie to answer.

  “A couple of the ladies who came into the store today said they’d heard Clinton signed a contract with Mr. Kent to buy a house. Do you know anything about it?”

  Josie let out a relieved sigh. “Yes. Clinton told me last night. He took me there and showed me the house. It’s perfect.” Despite fatigue and an aching body, her spirits were lifted thinking about the house. The home she’d share with Clinton.

  “Oh.”

  Josie scowled at her cousin. “I thought you’d be happy for me, for us.”

  Millie turned to sit on the edge of her bed, too. “I am happy for you, Josie. Truly I am. It’s just that...well, everyone says that Mr. Kent is a hard businessman. I heard he evicted poor Mrs. Simpson, and Lydia says he called the note on some folks on the other side of the county, and they lost their farm and everything, even the crops in the field. I’d hate for him to do the same to you and Clinton.”

  Josie’s annoyance dissipated. “I’ve heard those things, too, and, between you and me, I was a bit worried when I found out who he was doing business with, but he assured me Charlie Howland read over the contract and didn’t see any problems. Besides, he didn’t actually buy it yet. He bought an option. I’d never heard of it, but he said he paid Mr. Kent money to hold onto the property and not sell it to anyone else until December 25th. He says with his winnings from yesterday and the money he’ll make on the drive, he’ll be able to buy the house free and clear. I’ve got some dress orders coming in too.”

  “That’s good. It would be awful if something happened and Clinton lost the option money and the house, too.”

  “I know,” Josie said. “But, Clinton doesn’t just go rushing into things, so I have to trust that he’ll make it all work out. Besides, you know how hard houses are going to be to find when the railroad comes through next year. This way, we’ll have a place before the prices go up.”

  “I’m sure you’re right,” Millie said, though Josie suspected she still had some worries about Mr. Kent. Josie did, too.

  She changed the subject. “Did Travis have anything interesting to say this morning?”

  Millie blushed and grinned. “Josie, he kissed me! I know it’s scandalous since we aren’t even engaged, and, if Mama finds out, she’ll have my hide, but oh, it was heavenly.”

  Josie thought about all of the kisses she and Clinton had shared, though none was as special as their very first kiss, and she remembered that sweet moment fondly. Plus, she was happy for her cousin.

  “Oh, Millie. How exciting. But you’re right, your mama will have a fit if she finds out. Did anyone see?”

  “I don’t think so. We were standing next to his horse, so that should have blocked people’s view. I don’t think Travis would have taken the chance of anyone seeing. He’s rather proper, you know.”

  “I guess you’ve made him feel a little improper,” Josie teased, and the two girls giggled, releasing some of the stress of the day.

  “I notice you’re wearing a new necklace.”

  Josie touched the silver star around her neck. “Yes. Clinton said it’s to remind me of the star we’ll put on our Christmas tree after we get married.”

  “Ohhh,” Millie sighed. “That is the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard.”

  Chapter 3

  “Josie, how do you make such beautiful stitches?” Mrs. Campbell spoke from the other side of the quilt around which the ladies of Juniper Junction were seated, working diligently and solving the problems of the world. Or at least their little corner of it.

  “Thank you, Mrs. Campbell. I have always enjoyed sewing.” Josie smiled at the lady who had complimented her.

  “That reminds me, Josie,” Lydia Carter said. “Will you have time to make a dress for me? I heard Mr. Connor is going to throw a big party when the men get back from the cattle drive, and I mean to put my best foot forward when Rafe returns.”

  “I’ve seen the way that boy looks at you.” Aunt Joyce joined the conversation. “You could wear a flour sack, and he wouldn’t care.”

  The others laughed and then Aunt Joyce added, “Though if anyone can make even a flour sack fashionable, it’s Josie.”

  Josie blushed at all the compliments. She was proud of her skills as a seamstress and enjoyed the extra money she made working on dresses and other projects when she wasn’t too busy helping at the general store.

  “I’d be happy to make you up a dress, Lydia. We just got some new fabric in at the general store in a pretty shade of green I think will bring out the color of your eyes.”

  “That s
ounds perfect,” Lydia responded. “I can stop in later in the week to talk about it.”

  “Oh, and we just got in some new magazines from New York with the latest fashions,” Millie added.

  “By the time the magazines get here, they are hardly the ‘latest,’” Mrs. Campbell lamented, and there was general laughter around the quilt.

  “That’s true,” Aunt Joyce said. “But it’s all news to us, so what do we care?” There were murmurs and nods of agreement. Though life was difficult in Wyoming, these ladies all took pride in their ability to make a good home for themselves and their families, or, in the case of the younger ladies, the families they hoped to have.

  “Once the train starts running, we’ll be able to get things from the East much faster,” Lydia said.

  “Ah, modern conveniences. It’ll just bring problems, mark my words,” Miss Ryan spoke for the first time. Stone-faced and sour-pussed, she was Juniper Junction’s resident spinster. She had arrived and set to work, barely acknowledging any of the women around her. Josie admired her work ethic, but she also knew the ladies of Juniper Junction were hungry for conversation and comradery as well.

  “Well,” Aunt Joyce tried to smooth over Miss Ryan’s brusque manner, “modern conveniences or no, I think there’s nothing nicer than a good old-fashioned quilt. And this one is going to look beautiful on your bed once you’re married, Josie.”

  “What?” Startled, Josie dropped her needle and gaped. “What are you talking about?”

  “Well, you’re the next to get married, though I have a feeling once the young men return from the cattle drive there will be a heap of proposals. Man out on the range alone with nothing but cows and cowboys starts to appreciate the girl he’s got back home a bit more,” Mrs. Campbell pointed out.

  “Amen to that,” Millie responded and a couple of the other young ladies nodded. One or two blushed, but the meaning was clear.

  “They’ve been gone three weeks already,” Lydia lamented. As though she was the only one who had paid attention to the calendar.