Maggie's Christmas Miracle

by Elaine Manders

  When she broke the hold, Izzy’s fawn colored gaze seemed to bore into her soul. “Miss Maggie, why does my papa have to leave every morning?”

  “Because he has to work so he can buy what you need—food, shelter, these pretty clothes.” She fluffed Izzy’s skirt.

  “But I’d rather have him stay.”

  “I know you do, but all grown folks have to work, just like I have to teach school for a living. We all have a job to do, and do you know what your job is?”

  Izzy shook her head, and Maggie smiled. “Your job right now is to go to school and learn things you’ll need to know in the future. And, young lady, we’d better be on our way. I have to stop off at the post office on our way to school.”

  Mr. Raleigh’s buggy was a pleasure to ride, the seats so well-sprung she hardly noticed the ruts left by the last rain storm. And the large, gray mare so agreeable.

  At the post office, Maggie set the brake and dropped to the ground. She helped Izzy to her feet. “This won’t take long. I just have to post a letter to…to my family in Kentucky.” She’d started to say to her mother, but that might remind Izzy she no longer had a mother, and the child was too morose as it was. Understandably so, but Maggie hoped to brighten the little girl’s mood while she was here.

  Dorcas Wagner, the postmistress, had installed a bell over the door because she was frequently occupied in the back room working the telegraph machine. The bell jingled as Maggie, holding fast to Izzy’s hand, entered.

  Dorcas looked up from the stack of mail she was sorting. “Good morning, Maggie, who do you have there?”

  “This is Daniel Raleigh’s daughter. He enrolled her in school and asked me to take care of her while he conducts business in the area.”

  “Yes, I heard that. She’s a pretty little thing. I expect she’s a lot of company for you. You must get lonely with all your friends out of town.”

  Maggie was used to Dorcas fishing for information in a roundabout way. “I’m enjoying Isabelle’s company, and she’s a wonderful addition to our school play.” She held out the letter to her mother for Dorcas to post.

  The play would be a safe topic, but Dorcas didn’t go there. “I understand Mr. Raleigh is renting the house next door to yours. That’s makes it convenient.” Dorcas stamped the letter without missing a beat. “I also understand he’s a widower and quite handsome.”

  Maggie cast a worried glance to Izzy. She didn’t want the child to hear such things. But Izzy was absorbed by the strange sights and sounds of this place, seemingly not paying attention to the conversation.

  “Dorcas, Mr. Raleigh is still in deep mourning. He’s hardly the type to be looking for a new wife, however handsome.”

  Dorcas sucked in a breath. “Too bad really, since that mail-order bride agency hasn’t been able to find you a husband.”

  Maggie didn’t even ask how Dorcas knew that. “Mrs. Crenshaw asked for a delay due to the holidays, that’s all.”

  “Still, it would be a shame to overlook a perfectly good prospect right under your nose rather than wait for someone you know nothing about.” Dorcas held out her hand for Maggie’s coin. “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, they say.”

  Pressing the money for the stamp onto Dorcas’s palm, Maggie smiled. “Have a good day, Dorcas. Isabelle and I must be on our way to school. By the time I have the pot-bellied stove heated, it will be time to start our day.”

  Maggie fumed as she got Izzy back on the buggy’s seat, then took her place. She never knew whether Dorcas was expressing concern in a friendly way or looking for new gossip to spread. She’d always tried to give her the benefit of the doubt, but in this, there was little doubt.

  She wondered what Dorcas would say when she learned that Maggie would be dining with Mr. Raleigh and Izzy at the boardinghouse restaurant tonight. Probably, she’d congratulate herself that she’d arranged the whole thing by urging Maggie to look upon Mr. Raleigh as a prospective suitor.

  Chapter 6

  The chestnut stallion knew where to go, and picked up his trot to a canter as Daniel steered him toward the big house. That’s the way Daniel distinguished his rented abode. In contrast to the little house where his daughter and Maggie were.

  His day had been fruitful, and he enjoyed the freedom riding horseback afforded him. But it, like all things, had its drawbacks. He stunk. A bath and change of clothing were necessary before taking the ladies out to supper. Fortunately, it wasn’t yet five o’clock, so there was enough time.

  Then he remembered no groom waited to take care of the horse. The livery boy came by twice a day to care for the Amerson livestock, but it was past time for his second run.

  Daniel would have to hurry, after all. He was used to having servants to call on. This was the drawback to renting Mr. Amerson’s house instead of accepting Mr. Cason’s invitation to stay at his ranch, Sollano, where there were plenty of servants, including stable hands. But the huge ranch house with all its comforts wasn’t close enough to Maggie.

  He’d have given up a great many other comforts to get close to Maggie and win her love as he had Helen’s.

  He stripped the stallion, worked him over with a curry brush, and backed him into his stall.

  In the house, he fired up the furnace to have a warm place to bring Izzy after supper. Then, by the time he’d taken a hasty bath—cold since the Amersons didn’t have heated water—shaved and dressed, dusk had darkened the windows. And he still had to harness Belle to the buggy.

  Lights were already shining from the windows of the little house, and they beckoned him like a lighthouse.

  Izzy must have been listening for him because she flung open the door before he’d pulled in the horse’s reins. “Papa.” She skipped down the steps and across the yard toward him.

  He caught her up and tossed her into the air, bringing on the riot of giggles he loved to hear.

  Maggie waved from the porch. She pulled the front door closed and joined them, her smile brighter than a noonday sun. He’d been half afraid she’d back out of his invitation. Clearly, she was concerned with propriety, and since she was a schoolteacher, he could understand.

  She’d taken care with her appearance, too. Her dress of navy blue silk was a recent design with a small, ruffled bustle and a neckline that cut across her collarbone. The skirt shimmered, reflecting the buggy’s lantern light. Her dark brown hair had been woven into curls and held in place with tortoise shell combs.

  “I’m honored to have such lovely ladies accompany me,” he said.

  “No need for flattery, Mr. Raleigh. We have both been looking forward to join you for supper.”

  “You smell good, Papa.”

  Both he and Maggie laughed at the same time. “She’s right. It’s that subtle woodsy scent all females prefer to the heavy cologne some men wear.”

  “It’s only soap,” he said, assisting her onto the seat beside Izzy, and catching a whiff of gardenia, more subtle than the strong smell emulating from some ladies of his acquaintance. Apparently, she thought light scents applied to females also.

  Daniel had made arrangements with the boardinghouse restaurant to provide them with an out of the way table, but he realized when they entered the establishment that was unnecessary, as few patrons were dining tonight.

  Nevertheless, in the dim setting, the candlelight stood out dreamily. More romantic than he expected.

  He seated Maggie and Izzy and glimpsed the smiling waitress waiting behind him. “I’ve heard your steak is the best in the country,” he said to her.

  “Indeed it is. Fresh daily from Sollano.”

  “It is delicious,” Maggie added.

  “Then we’ll have the steak, smothered in onion gravy. A small portion for the little lady.” He sent a questioning glance Maggie’s direction.

  “Yes, that’s very good, but instead of the usual potatoes, I’d suggest the creamed corn and lima beans. No one cooks it better than Harriet, who’s been running the kitchen here for as long as I can remembe
r.”

  “Then that’s what we’ll have, along with the dinner rolls and bread pudding for dessert, but bring that later or my Isabelle won’t eat anything else. And a pot of coffee for Miss Comings and me and hot chocolate for Izzy.”

  “Do you eat here often?” He asked when the waitress had left with their order.

  “About once a month. A schoolmarm’s salary doesn’t allow for restaurant dining much.”

  That was telling. Obviously, she’d not been courted any since her fiancé had died, and he had to wonder why she avoided local men in favor of seeking a husband through the mail.

  “Papa, we don’t have school tomorrow. Will you be home?” Izzy’s question pulled his thoughts from Maggie.

  “No, but I will be home the next day, which is Sunday. We’ll go to church in the morning. Do you have a church family, Miss Maggie?”

  “I go to the non-denominal church near the schoolhouse. There is a Lutheran Church on the outskirts to the east. And, of course, there’s the Cowboy Chapel out on the ranch.”

  “Then we’ll go to your church. In fact, we can all ride together if that’s agreeable.”

  Her face took on an uncomfortable look. “I…of course…I’d love for you and Izzy to go to my church, but…” The thought hung in the air.

  “But you’re afraid people might get the wrong idea about us.”

  She shrugged with a forced laugh. “You know how people are. I’m afraid the postmistress already has the wrong idea.”

  “Go with us, Miss Maggie,” Izzy piped in. “You can make my hair pretty.”

  “Without pulling it.” Daniel chuckled. “Does what people think bother you?”

  “I suppose it does, Mr. Raleigh. After all, a schoolmarm must be above reproach in appearance. Mrs. Wagner, the postmistress, has already noticed that you’ve moved in next door to me.”

  “But even schoolmarms need friendship, and didn’t you say you’d handed in your resignation.”

  “I have, but there’s still two weeks of school left, including the Christmas play. The children have worked so hard on it, I’d hate to be the cause of spoiling that. Three of the older students wrote the play and some of the boys built the props, while the girls helped sew the costumes. It’s the highlight of our Christmas season.”

  “It sounds like it.”

  “Ooh.” Izzy sat up straight. “I’m going to be an angel, Papa. I have wings and a circle over my head.”

  “A halo,” Maggie interjected. “I had hoped to hem the dress for Izzy today, but there wasn’t time. Maybe Monday afternoon. She’s going to be simply adorable. Do you remember what you’ll say in the play, Izzy?”

  His little girl bit her lips, her forehead puckered in thought, then poked the tip of her tongue out the corner of her mouth as she always did when concentrating.

  Maggie prompted her. “You remember the shepherd says to you, ‘What will you give the baby Jesus?’”

  Izzy’s eyes widened, the candlelight dancing in them. “I know. I’ll say, ‘We’ll give Him our love.’”

  “I can’t wait to see the play. I’ve cancelled all my appointments for that day.” Daniel noticed the waitress coming with their food. “I don’t think the school board will object to our going to church together. It hardly makes sense to rig two buggies when we live next door to each other.”

  Maggie wasn’t given the chance to reply since the waitress interrupted, and he hoped she’d forget to argue the matter any further.

  By the time they’d finished the excellent meal, Izzy was drooping. He hated that he had so little time to spend with her before her bedtime. If all worked out as planned, he’d be able to change jobs as well as find her a new mother.

  The streetlights cast a gloomy haze over the town as they left the boardinghouse, and a ring circled the full moon. It might rain or snow tomorrow.

  Nothing sounded except the clip-clop of the horse’s hooves as Daniel directed the old Percheron home. He glanced at Maggie, ready with a comment about the weather, but the sight of her stopped him. She’d cradled Izzy in her lap and tenderly tucked the carriage blanket around his daughter, stroking her cheek as she adjusted it around her shoulders. The hint of a smile played over Maggie’s lips and the moonlight glowed on her face, giving her the look of a Madonna.

  The same way Helen used to look when she cuddled Izzy. A lump caught in his throat, robbing him of the ability to speak. But he had much to say and had to say it tonight.

  He stopped in the Amersons’ yard. “Please stay seated while I put Izzy to bed.” He scooped the sleeping child from Maggie’s arms.

  “I can easily walk from here to my house,” she said.

  “I know you can, but I’d like to talk to you if you’ll wait.”

  A sigh lifted her shoulders. “All right.”

  He went straight to Izzy’s bedroom and, after laying her down, turned up the lamp and fetched a little nightgown from the chest of drawers. Acutely aware of the time ticking away and Maggie out in the cold, he wrestled with Izzy’s dress, trying to avoid waking her.

  Not an easy task. Confound female garments. Why did they have to be made so difficult to manage that even a little one required a ladies’ maid?

  After he’d gotten her nightgown on and tucked the covers around her neck, she murmured, “Read to me, Papa.”

  “I will later, sweetheart.” He bent over to kiss her forehead. She was still fast asleep.

  He’d half expected Maggie to have given up and left, but there she was, offering him a smile as he returned. “You want me to take care of Izzy tomorrow because you have another appointment?”

  He climbed onto the seat beside her. “I do. I’m going to see a bonanza farmer in Omaha.”

  “Oh, my. You’ll have to leave early.”

  “That’s right. At first light, and it will be well after dark when I return. So could Izzy stay with you tomorrow night?”

  “Of course. Izzy is a delight. I’d enjoy her company, but she’s going to be disappointed you’ll be away.”

  He propped his elbows on his knees and clasped his hands together. He would be disappointed too, but this appointment was more important than any of his clients’. He turned his head to peer at her moonlight-bathed face. “I’m seeing Thomas Belter about the position of manager of his South Dakota farms.”

  “A position…for you? I thought you owned a business back east.”

  “That’s right, but for reasons I won’t go into now, I wish to sell the business and move out here. I don’t know if you’ve heard of Mr. Belter, but his farm covers thousands of acres. Rhyan Cason gave me a recommendation, and his word carries weight all over this country.”

  “Yes, it does.”

  “The job doesn’t often require travel, so I’d have the pleasure of watching my little daughter grow up. That means a great deal to me.” Of course, he could get a good management job in Boston that wouldn’t require travel. Should he tell her the real reason he’d have to get another job and leave Boston?

  No, he had to remind himself that while he knew Maggie well, he was still a stranger to her.

  “You are a very good father, Daniel.”

  He could tell from the tone of her voice and innocence of her look she didn’t even realize she’d let his first name slip. He might be a stranger, but she’d begun to think of him as a friend. That gave him courage to continue. “Mr. and Mrs. Belter have invited me to their Christmas ball, and I’ll have to give them an answer tomorrow.”

  “Certainly you must attend. You can leave Izzy with me.”

  He coughed into his fist. “They want me to bring Izzy. They visited my home last summer—actually they came for Helen’s funeral—and brought their little girl with them. She and Izzy became friends.”

  A frown marred Maggie’s pretty face as her countenance fell. “Well, then, you must take her with you. Friends are important to Izzy at this age.” She smiled, but he could tell it was forced. “You’ll both have a good time.”

  He wished
there was more time for her to become comfortable with him, but Mr. Belter would expect an answer tomorrow. “I’d like for you to go with us.”

  Her eyes widened, and she put some space between them. “I…I…don’t know about that. I have the play and much to do before…” She faltered.

  “The ball will be the week after the play, the following Saturday actually. We would leave Thursday and spend a couple of days with the Belters before returning. You don’t have to worry about being called before the schoolboard because you’ll no longer work for them.”

  She lifted her brows even higher and slowly shook her head. “That would still seem…inappropriate. There’s something you don’t know, Mr. Raleigh. I’ve sent in a request to a matrimonial agency to become a mail-order bride. Mrs. Crenshaw who runs the agency is very careful of her clients meeting high moral standards. Taking a trip such as you suggest—unchaperoned—might jeopardize my…future.”

  “I know Mrs. Crenshaw personally. In fact, she’s the one who recommended you as a good caretaker for Izzy.” He wouldn’t let her know Milly had approved his plans to contact Maggie in this roundabout way, or that he’d been the one who investigated Milly’s brides. Not yet anyway.

  Maggie’s mouth hung open. “She did? You knew I was her client.”

  “I did, and I knew you were a schoolteacher who lived in the right location. Milly also knows I’d never do anything to take advantage of you.”

  “No, I know you wouldn’t, but the appearance—” She twisted her hands in her lap. “How would we explain my position to the Belters?”

  “If you think it will make you more comfortable, we could tell them we’re courting. The Belters don’t know my situation well enough to question our relationship.” He could see this idea alarmed her even more. “Will you sleep on it and let me know in the morning? It would be a great favor to me. You see, I was married for eight years, and the idea of attending social functions alone is abhorrent to me. And Izzy has grown so fond of you, she’ll enjoy the visit more if you come along.” Yes, he was desperate enough to use his little girl to give him an advantage.