by Kit Morgan
“He certainly is,” agreed Anson as he watched Zadie bring food out to the table. “Need help with the ham?”
“Please.” She went back for more things.
“I can help,” Merry said.
“No, just stay there and hold Hezekiah,” Viola replied. “We’ll manage.”
Merry nodded, smiled, then noticed Colson staring at her and wondered what he was thinking. She hoped he didn’t pick up on what she’d been thinking: a house, a family, babies, with him. When she felt herself blushing, she looked away.
Soon the food was all on the table and it was time for the family and their guests to gather around. “We’re glad you could join us, Mr. Hunter, Widow Bright,” Anson said from his spot at the head of the table. “We hope to see more of you.”
Merry’s heart leaped in her chest, even though she knew they meant her, not Colson. He was leaving, he’d made that clear when they’d walked to the ranch, him leading his horse. He’d arranged to sleep in the Jones’ barn that night, then go at sunup. She asked him to stay one more night and leave from her place in the morning, but he insisted the sooner he was out from under her roof, the better it was for her. Besides, he wanted to make it to Sweetwater Springs as soon as possible.
“Thank you,” she told Anson. “I’ll try.”
Colson, seated next to her, leaned in her direction. “You will,” he whispered in a voice that brooked no argument.
She bit her lower lip and looked away.
Anson reached his hands to either side, as did everyone else. Once they’d all joined hands, the blessing commenced. Colson’s hand was warm and she liked the way it engulfed hers. She almost wished the blessing would last awhile, but alas, Anson concluded and the serving began.
Colson took the platter of sliced ham, stabbed a large piece and put it on her plate. “I certainly hope this isn’t Esmeralda,” he whispered.
Merry almost choked on a sip of milk. “Colson Hunter!” she sputtered.
He patted her on the back a few times, took some ham for himself and passed the plate to Jonas, who eyed them with suspicion.
Merry saw Colson’s lips pressed together and his cheeks flaming. “Don’t you dare laugh,” she whispered.
He shook his head, trying to keep his amusement contained.
“Something the matter?” Lillie asked.
“No,” Merry said, louder than she intended. She took another sip of milk to hide her embarrassment – she knew Lillie was practically deaf, but she could read lips well.
The rest of the family merely smiled at her, probably used to people making the same mistake. And it allowed Colson the time he needed to collect himself. “Potatoes?” he asked as the bowl was passed to him.
“Please.” She let him spoon some onto her plate. And so it went – the food came to him, he served her, served himself and passed it on. It wasn’t until the roasted peppers came around that she noticed the Joneses were all watching them. She smiled, fighting the urge to nudge him under the table with her foot. Yes, it was a polite thing to do, but not so much for two people only acquainted with each other. Still, he had spent three weeks in her home. Who wouldn’t begin to think something had happened …
Merry closed her eyes at the thought. It was bad enough he was leaving. She didn’t think she could deal with anything beyond that. Please, please don’t let them think anything went on between us, Lord. Don’t let any gossip start.
Twelve
It was the most pleasant Christmas Merry could remember.
They’d arrived at noon, watched the children open a few presents (the rest would be opened after dinner), then the men went outside to admire Colson’s horse and show off their own. She had to admit the animal was stunning, even pulling a wagon while Colson gathered wood. She realized she’d never asked what its name was.
Now that she thought about it, there were a lot of things she’d never asked Colson. Where was he from originally? Who was his family? She knew he had a sister, but were there other siblings? What about his education – did he have one? He spoke as if he did. He knew about horses – she’d seen him handle his own and listened to his conversation with the other men during dinner. What had brought him to Montana, and where had he originally been heading? Was that where he would be going tomorrow?
Now dinner was almost over. Katie and Wylie had already left the table to play with their new toys. She looked over at him, feeling disappointed. The end of dinner meant the day was waning, and once it was over … “I have something for you.”
“You do?” Colson said. “A present?”
“Yes. I made it for you. You’ll need it.”
“Merry,” he said tenderly, “you really didn’t have to. I was only teasing that day we talked about them.”
“I wanted to. Just like you wanted to carve something for Wylie and Katie, but never got the chance. Consider this from all of us – Wylie, Katie and me.”
He stood, went behind her chair and waited to pull it out for her. He was a gentleman with a gentleman’s manners – he’d done the same for her when she sat. What on Earth was he doing in Morgan’s Crossing when he could clearly make his way in any city or town? Was he running from something? Did he have a betrothed? A wife? She’d never asked. So many questions she’d never asked …
“Merry?”
His voice broke through her thoughts. She stood, went around her chair and stared at him. Is that why he was being such a perfect gentleman? Her eyes went to his left hand. No, no ring, and no mark where one had been. Not married, then, but it didn’t mean he wasn’t betrothed to someone. A thought that brought her around to the big question: what was he doing out here in the hinterlands? She clasped her hands in front of her, trying to still her racing heart to no avail.
Colson led her to the tree. “Is it under here somewhere?”
She looked at the gaily-wrapped bundles of colored paper and ribbon. The Joneses were a large and prosperous family, so there was no shortage of gifts. “It is,” she said weakly.
Colson smiled at her, then got down on his hands and knees to look for his present.
Wylie caught the action and bounded over. “He’ll never find it!” he said excitedly.
“I will so find it,” Colson shot back, his head beneath the branches.
“No, you won’t!” Katie giggled with excitement.
“I’ll wager it’s … this one!” He inched backwards, a package in his hand. “Am I right?”
“How’d you guess?” Katie said in disappointment.
“Hmm, let me see …” Colson cocked an eyebrow and looked at her. “Maybe because it has my name on it?”
Katie glared at Wylie. “I told you not to put his name on it!”
Wylie just laughed.
“I made him do it,” Caleb said as he and Viola joined them. He looked at Merry.
She smiled. “I sent it home with them yesterday so they could wrap it and put it under the tree.”
“Open it! Open it!” Katie started jumping up and down.
Colson looked worried. “It’s not one of your spiders, is it?” Several of the Joneses groaned and cringed.
“No,” Katie giggled and shook her head.
“Is it one of Wylie’s toys you took from him?”
“No, it’s not,” Wylie said. He eyed his sister. “Is it?”
Merry laughed. “No.”
Colson looked at her again, his eyes gentle and full of … of …
“Open it!” Katie urged with another jump.
He pulled his gaze away, opened his present and unrolled the green scarf Merry had knitted. “Will you look at that,” he said. “I need this.” He looked at Katie. “How did you know?”
“I didn’t!” she laughed.
He pointed at Wylie. “You?”
The boy smiled and shrugged.
Colson looked up at Merry. “Then it had to be you.”
She swallowed the lump in her throat. “I guess so,” she whispered.
Colson stood and wra
pped the scarf around his neck. “It’s perfect.” He took her hand and squeezed it, his eyes locked on hers. “Thank you.”
It was all she could do to keep her lower lip from trembling. This was goodbye – she could feel it. “You’re welcome.”
He took a deep breath. “I don’t have anything for you.”
“Not like this, I know, but … you’ve done so much for me.”
He gave her a tender smile. “I’m glad to have been of service. Thank you for saving my life.”
Tears filled her eyes, despite her willing them not to. “You’re welcome.” She turned away. She had to.
Colson, ignoring the fact they were very much not alone, tucked a finger under her chin and turned her head to look at him. “I’ll never forget you, Merry,” he said softly.
She took a breath and, unable to help herself, fled into the kitchen.
“Good, you’re just in time,” Luella said as Merry burst in. A scrumptious display of desserts was spread on the worktable, but it did nothing to make her feel better.
Zadie, taking the coffeepot off the stove, took one look at Merry and cringed. “Did Wylie and Katie knock over the tree again?”
Merry shook her head, unable to speak.
“Oh thank heaven,” Luella said in relief as she sliced up a pumpkin pie. “Last year Caleb knocked it over trying to help catch Mr. Crawly. For the second time.”
Merry didn’t need to ask who “Mr. Crawly” was. Not that she could if she’d wanted to. Her heart was breaking.
Zadie finally realized Merry’s distress. “Dear, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She couldn’t even fool herself. “Something.”
Zadie and Luella exchanged a look as Lillie came in with a stack of dirty plates. She set them by the sink, then glanced at Merry. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
Merry felt the tears come again and this time let them fall. She couldn’t do it anymore. She was going to have to say goodbye to Colson, so she had to get this out of the way. She quickly wiped her eyes. “Nothing to worry about.”
Now all three women stared at her with concern. “Merry?” Zadie said. “Is there something you’re not telling us?”
Luella stepped away from the worktable. “Did Mr. Hunter do something to you?”
“No!” she said in alarm. The last thing she needed was for these women to tell their husbands Colson had done something untoward and have them take him out to the barn for a “discussion.”
“Then what is it?” Lillie asked.
Merry looked at them, fell to her knees and sobbed, “I’ve fallen in lo-o-o-ove!”
“That’s wonderful!” Lillie said as Zadie and Luella helped Merry up and into a chair.
She took the handkerchief Zadie offered. “No, it’s not! He … he’s leaving. If he cared anything for me, then why go?”
Zadie folded her arms in front of her and sighed. “She has a point. If he loved her, wouldn’t he stay?”
Luella sat in a chair next to her. “We’re sorry, Merry. If we’d known something like this would happen, we never would’ve let him stay there.”
Merry waved it off. “But there was no choice. The doctor said he shouldn’t be moved, that he had to stay put for at least a week, two was better …” She blew her nose. “I don’t know how it happened …”
Lillie straightened. “I do.”
Merry looked at her, tears spilling freely down her cheeks. “You do?”
“Oh, she does,” Zadie said with confidence.
Lillie took a chair and sat in it facing Merry. “I met Jess because I was shot, like your Mr. Hunter met you.”
Merry’s eyes went wide. She’d heard from George that Jess Jones had met his wife under unusual circumstances, but had never thought to ask what they were. “What happened?”
“A long story, for another time,” Lillie answered. “But Jess found me, nursed me back to health, and in the process we fell in love.”
“At first he wanted to marry her just to protect her,” Zadie added.
Merry glanced between Lillie and Zadie. The latter was standing behind Lillie’s chair, which meant she hadn’t heard what Zadie said. “Jess married you to protect you?”
“At first,” Lillie said with a nod. “But we fell in love along the way, before we wed. I didn’t want him to marry me out of pity.”
“My brother’s a hopeless romantic to begin with,” Luella contributed.
Merry took a shuddering breath. “I’m happy it all worked out for you,” she told Lillie. “But I don’t think Mr. Colson has romantic notions toward me.” She looked at their concerned faces. “I’ll get over it. I just don’t want to say goodbye.”
Lillie left her chair and wrapped her arms around Merry. “I’m sorry.”
Zadie hugged her next. “Silly man. But what do you know about him?”
Merry wiped her eyes as Zadie let go and straightened. “Not much. He’s a good man, and kind … and leaving.” That was enough to bring fresh tears.
Just then, Wylie and Katie came into the kitchen with identical long faces. “What’s the matter with you?” Luella asked.
Katie’s lower lip trembled. “It’s Mr. Hunter.”
Wylie wiped one eye. “He’s gone.”
Thirteen
Merry’s hand flew to her mouth to stifle a sob. That was enough to trigger Katie into wailing. Wylie was trying to keep a stiff upper lip, and his mouth stayed shut, even with tears running down his cheeks.
“You mean he just left?” Luella asked in shock. “Just like that?”
Katie nodded. “He took us out on the porch and … and he hugged us … then Uncle Jess and Papa w-w-walked him to the barn …” She fell back into inarticulate crying.
Merry bowed her head and clenched her fists. “How could he?!”
Lillie glanced from one face to the other. “He left without saying goodbye to Merry?”
Wylie nodded. “He’s gone.”
“But he said goodbye to you?” Merry asked as her throat tightened.
Katie nodded. “And wished us a Merry Christmas,” she managed between sniffles.
Luella’s hands went to her hips as her eyes narrowed. “Why, the nerve!”
Merry shook her head. “No, he did tell me goodbye, after he opened his present. I didn’t realize it until now.” She closed her eyes and bit her lower lip.
Zadie glanced at the door leading to the dining room. “Where’s your mother, Wylie?”
“Watching the babies with Uncle Anson and Jonas.”
“So only Jess and Caleb went with him?” Zadie mused, then shook her head. “Something about this doesn’t smell right. Why would he not have told the rest of us goodbye?”
“Or have some pie?” Lillie added with a frown. “And why would he want to travel by night when it’s snowing? Or it will be at some point. You’re right – this doesn’t add up.”
Merry wiped her eyes, blew her nose and sighed. “Well, no use crying any more over it, is there? I’d like a slice of the pumpkin, please.”
Luella smiled understandingly. “Coming right up.”
“Coffee?” Zadie offered.
“Please.” Merry pulled Katie and Wylie into her arms.
Luella sliced up the rest of the pumpkin pie, put a piece on a plate for Merry and handed it to her. “Children, what kind would you like?”
“I want … hic … apple,” Katie said as she wiped her tears away.
“Wylie?” Luella asked next.
“Pumpkin. And some cookies.”
Luella nodded and got the children’s desserts ready. “Let’s take these desserts into the dining room so everyone can have some.”
Lillie had stood and was starting to pace. “No, we’re missing something here,” she said to herself. “He wouldn’t have just left like that. Something’s going on we don’t know about …”
Merry stood, her plate in her hand, and picked up a whole pie with the other. “Katie, Wylie, get your plates.” The children trudged into the dini
ng room ahead of her and she followed, hoping she’d hear one of them cry, “Mr. Hunter!”
But silence was the only thing to greet them. “Where is everybody?” Zadie asked, trailing behind.
“Probably upstairs changing diapers,” Luella said with a smile. “Lucky Anson – I bet he wishes he went …” She caught herself and glanced at Merry.
She shook her head. Better they not know how heartbroken she felt. She was still trying to get over telling them anything at all. And here she was worried about folks gossiping. But she knew the Joneses didn’t. She took a bite of pie, barely tasting it, and wondered if Colson had left the ranch yet. There were maybe two hours of daylight left – how far would he get? Where was he going? And why, oh why, did she have to care so much?
Lillie, bringing up the rear, was still mumbling to herself. “Maybe … hmmm … or …?”
“Are you going to miss Mr. Hunter?” Katie asked softly.
Merry’s eyes drifted to the child’s. It was obvious Katie would, and a flicker of anger burned in her heart. At least he’d hugged them and wished them Merry Christmas. But why hadn’t he said goodbye to her, really said goodbye? Her heart clenched and she forced another piece of pie into her mouth.
Anson and Viola came downstairs, arms full of babies. Anson handed his son to Zadie and kissed her before handing Lillie her daughter Bella. “Mmm, look at all these pies and cookies. I’m going to gain twenty pounds today. My poor horse …”
Viola laughed as she patted Hezekiah’s back. “You along with the rest of us.”
“Mr. Hunter won’t,” Wylie pouted.
Merry had to remind herself not to cry – again. How long was this going to last?
“What do you mean, son?” Viola asked. “Mr. Hunter’s just gone out to the barn with your father, that’s all.”
Merry’s head snapped up. “What?”
Anson took a cookie. “Jess and Caleb wanted to take another look at his horse.”
Merry gulped, started to rise and thought better of it. Why make things harder on herself? Besides, if he hadn’t left, he could darn well come tell her goodbye!
Zadie’s eyebrows shot up as Lillie turned to her. “I knew it,” Lillie yelped. “I knew it!”
