Maggie's Christmas Miracle

by Elaine Manders

  “Not when it’s something that should remain confidential, anyway,” Rachel said.

  “I…I may have committed myself to something in a weak moment, and I’m not sure if I should get myself out of it.” The words strained from Maggie’s throat, and she wished them back as soon as they left her mouth. These ladies had proven their friendship over and over, why couldn’t she trust them?

  “It’s not unusual for a woman to make commitments in a weak moment, especially when a handsome man is involved.” Rachel elbowed her playfully. “There probably wouldn’t be nearly as many marriages if that wasn’t true.”

  Myra pretended to be aghast. “Rachel, Maggie is serious.”

  Maggie huffed. She might as well come out with it. “Mr. Raleigh invited me to a Christmas ball given by a big farmer by the name of Belter in South Dakota. I thought he probably needed me to watch after Izzy, but…well, he expects me to attend the dinner and dance.” Heat crawled up her neck, making her want to run a finger under her collar. “Anyway, we’d have to stay overnight.”

  Rachel nodded, one brow cocked. “I’ve heard of the Belters. They’re a prominent family, and I’ll bet they put on a fine shindig. You’d be foolish to turn down the invitation.”

  “I agree with Rachel. You’re not a debutant, Maggie. They won’t expect you to bring a chaperon. You’re an independent lady, and Mr. Raleigh is a respectable gentleman.” She leaned in to add, “We won’t tell Dorcas or the schoolboard. Why not enjoy yourself for once?”

  Rachel moved in on the other side. “Don’t you worry none about Dorcas. We’ll keep her so busy she won’t have time to meddle. I’ve been knowing you since you were smaller than Izzy, Maggie. You’ve always run away from having a good time.” She laughed. “I know if it was me and a good-looking man invited me to a ball, I wouldn’t have to think twice—assuming I was a spinster.”

  “No, she wouldn’t,” Myra said. “Good-looking men are hard to come by, and one who’s a gentleman too…well, he’s rare as hen’s teeth.”

  “And one who’s a good-looking gentleman who’s got money is as rare as a laying rooster.”

  They both laughed as Maggie stewed. That part about her running away from having a good time stung. She forced herself to smile. Myra and Rachel were forward-looking women, and if they saw nothing untoward with her accompanying Mr. Raleigh and his little daughter to a ball, why should she question it. She’d always wanted to attend a real ball, all the way back since reading Cinderella. This might be her last chance in life.

  Just the thought had her wanting a fan. But maybe they were right. It wasn’t likely the husband Mrs. Crenshaw found for her would be wealthy enough to be invited to balls.

  “I’ll think about that. For now, I’ll take the apples and the gift sacks. Give me a length of green ribbon along with the red. Since I’ll have different gifts for the girls and boys, I’ll need some way of telling them apart.”

  “Tell me how many of the gifts you want and I’ll have them ready,” Myra said, a pencil poised over her pad.

  Maggie counted on her fingers. “I’ll take four of the pocket knives, six of the mirrors, seven bags of marbles, and four of the paper-doll packages. I’ll pick it all up when I return with Izzy. I promised she could do her Christmas shopping. Put those items in another apple crate and cover it with a newspaper. I don’t want her to see the presents.”

  “I’ll have it ready. Will we be seeing you and Mr. Raleigh in church tomorrow?”

  “Yes, I expect so.”

  And she didn’t care who saw them together.

  Chapter 8

  Daniel got home as the first fingers of dawn splayed over the eastern horizon and the rooster crowed. A tiring journey, but satisfying, and though he’d only snatched three hours of sleep on the train ride back, he had time to bathe and dress before taking Maggie and Izzy to church.

  It helped that he’d successfully handled a couple of cases for Thomas Belter in the past. In fact, Estelle Belter was a long-time friend of Helen’s. The Belters still belonged to Helen’s parents’ social circle. However, that presented a problem.

  Helen’s family had been opposed to her marriage to Daniel and accused him of stealing their only child. They’d had nothing to do with either him or Helen until Isabelle came along. Helen had reconciled for Izzy’s sake because she thought, mistakenly as it turned out, that the baby might soften their hearts.

  It was only at Helen’s death that he learned the true extent of their vitriol. The day of the funeral he’d caught his mother-in-law telling Izzy he was responsible for her mother’s death. He’d refused to allow them access to Izzy after that.

  That only fueled their hatred. Within months, they took him to court, alleging he was neglecting his daughter and sued for custody. It had taken a great deal of anguish and money, but he’d prevailed, though the judge recommended the child be allowed to visit her grandparents. And that Daniel remarry.

  He knew he had to leave Boston, even if it meant selling his business. Since then he’d been exploring his options out west. He’d never have considered working for Mr. Belter. After all, Daniel had never worked on a farm. Then something Rhyan Cason said led him to explain his predicament to the cattle baron.

  Mr. Cason had recommended the Belter Farm management position since Daniel already knew Thomas Belter. He’d convinced Daniel that knowledge of farming wasn’t as important as the ability to manage men who knew farming, and in that half-sarcastic, half-serious way Mr. Cason had, he added that if Daniel could manage both men and women, he’d be incomparable.

  Daniel employed both men and women in his agency.

  Yesterday, after speaking to Mr. Belter, he was satisfied the job was his. Then when he’d asked to bring Maggie Comings to the ball, Mr. Belter said something that jolted Daniel to the core and left him with another problem.

  He had broached the subject right before his departure. Thomas Belter had slapped his forehead, then grabbed Daniel’s hand in a hearty shake. “It completely slipped my mind. Congratulations. Milly Crenshaw told me you were engaged to be married to Miss Comings. Of course you must bring your fiancée. Mrs. Belter and I want to meet your future bride.”

  Too stunned to think of a good explanation, Daniel had accepted Thomas’s congratulations and left.

  He shouldn’t have been too surprised. Milly was known to throw a stick of dynamite into a situation to hurry the outcome. But how was he to explain to Maggie she’d changed from a friend of the family to his fiancée?

  God would work it out for good, he had no doubt. All Daniel had to do was convince Maggie to go along with the pretense at the ball and make their engagement real by Christmas.

  The door flung open at the little house, and the two most important ones in his world stood before him. He noticed a change in both of them. Joy shone from their eyes, and a lilting tone flowed from their voices. Woman and child had bonded in trust and love.

  That swelled his heart, but also gave him pause.

  If his plan to win Maggie’s heart didn’t succeed, the parting would hurt his little daughter, something he hadn’t considered. That possibility made him resolve to double his efforts to court Maggie.

  He swung Izzy onto his side, and she gave him a pointed look. “Papa, you’re bleeding.”

  In the process of getting into her coat, Maggie leaned in. “You’ve nicked yourself shaving. I’ll get a wet rag.”

  He could have moistened the corner of his handkerchief, but she darted to the bedroom before he could suggest that. She returned within seconds, and anchored his chin with her fingers as she dabbed at the spot with a soft washcloth, sending darts of awareness to the pit of his stomach in the process.

  Stepping back, she smiled, not realizing the affect her touch had on him. “There, good as new.”

  “I’ll kiss it and make it well,” Izzy said.

  He cleared his throat. “I don’t know what I’d do without you ladies taking care of me. I thank you both.” He stepped out onto the por
ch, holding the door open for Maggie. “Shall we go.”

  Even after he got them tucked under blankets in the buggy, Izzy couldn’t settle down. She had to tell him all about what she and Miss Maggie had done. But by the time the good-natured horse turned onto Main Street, she’d talked out.

  As Izzy fell silent, Daniel felt Maggie’s gaze on him. His eyes found hers and she colored. “How was your visit at the Belters? Was it successful?”

  “Very. I think Thomas Belter was impressed with my credentials. He won’t make a final decision until the ball, but I’m hopeful.”

  “That’s good. Did they have any…any objections to me tagging along?”

  He chuckled. “Tagging along? No, I told them you were mine and Izzy’s friend, and Mrs. Belter said she’d have another bedroom prepared. I hardly think it put them out any since the house must have a dozen suites, and not all will be occupied.”

  “How many will be attending the ball?”

  “I don’t really know, but several couples. Some of the locals will come in for the dinner and dance. Do crowds bother you?”

  Her color deepened. “No, I prefer to get lost in the crowd.” She drew in a breath. “How did you explain me…I mean…that is—”

  She looked adorable when she was flustered. “How did I explain your relationship to me and Izzy?”

  A nervous giggle broke from her lips. “I guess that’s what I mean.”

  Now seemed as good a time as any to break the news to her. “I told them you were my fiancée, but I was vague about the details.”

  The flush rose all the way to her forehead. “I can understand why you had to be vague, but they didn’t think it strange that I would be accompanying you…before marriage?”

  “No, I believe they look upon it as normal for a courting couple to attend events together.”

  “I’m not sure that’s exactly honest.” She would have said more, but he pulled in the reins at the church building where the last of the congregation was entering the white clapboard building. Doubtless, the church setting had her worried about telling a lie, and maybe it should bother him too. But it didn’t, because in his mind, introducing her as his wife-to-be wasn’t a lie.

  Nevertheless, he knew it was a question that would continue to worry her.

  Fortunately, the sermon was on sacrifice and didn’t touch on truthfulness. It was well presented by the silver-haired pastor, but Daniel found it hard to concentrate. Already half of his time with Maggie had passed. He’d soon run out of time to convince her to marry him.

  The slanted looks and smiles and whispers of the congregants convinced him they saw him and Maggie as a courting couple. In fact, as they drove away, he suspected the only person in this town who didn’t know he was, in fact, courting Maggie was Maggie herself.

  He had no plans for the afternoon except taking a long nap along with Izzy. “If the boardinghouse restaurant were open, I’d take you ladies to lunch.” The horse wanted to keep going to his stall at the Amerson’s, but Daniel forced him into Maggie’s drive.

  “I made a big pot of soup before church,” she said. “All I have to do is make a pan of cornbread.” The invitation came easily, with no concern that she’d be inviting a man to dine with her. By now she accepted him as nothing more than another friend. Which is what he’d asked of her. But the relationship would have to deepen soon.

  Daniel got his chance after they’d eaten and Izzy went out back to play with Mrs. Amerson’s cats.

  Maggie stacked the dishes on the counter by the pump and sink and removed her apron. “Before you leave, I want to show you the books I got from the library. You might find one you’d like to take.” She passed him on the way to her bedroom.

  He sat on one end of the sofa. Maggie returned shortly, bringing an armload of books. She scattered them on the sofa and sat at the other end.

  Daniel plucked the first that caught his eye, not surprised to find it in the mix. “Do you like Dickens or just Christmas stories?”

  “Both. I find Dickens stories too dark for my taste, but this one is an exception. I suppose because it tells of redemption in its simplest terms.”

  Daniel nodded. “Yes, a man repents and his life is changed overnight.”

  “I thought you might read from it Christmas week after supper…while Izzy and I decorate and bake.” Uncertainty made her speech halting like his answer meant the world to her, and she feared he wouldn’t accept her suggestion.

  He lifted his gaze from the book to her. “I’d love to. I’ve read nearly all of Dickens works. Did you and Izzy make eggnog?”

  “No, we didn’t have time, and she was so tired, she fell asleep as soon as she ate last night. But we will, I promise.”

  “I’ll hold you to that promise. All the while I was away, I kept thinking about that eggnog.” He extracted another book from the pile. “I haven’t read Daisy Miller by Henry James. Do you recommend it?”

  “I didn’t find it as thought-probing as the reviews, but if you enjoy James’s other books, you’ll like it.”

  “Let me guess, you preferred George Eliot.” He held up Middlemarch.

  Her laughter fell pleasantly on the ear. “You have me pegged right. Do you think that’s because she’s a female author?”

  “Or it might be that her stories are more entertaining. Unfortunately for her, her male penname didn’t protect her from her scandalous behavior. I think her works would be even more acclaimed if she were not an unabashed adulteress and anti-Christian.”

  “I knew about the adulteress part, but didn’t know she wasn’t a Christian…but I guess it stands to reason.” She ducked her head, but not before he’d seen the color rise in her cheeks. “If one were an adulteress, she wouldn’t likely be a Christian.”

  “On the contrary, I think she’d be more likely to turn to Christ.” He laughed to relieve her discomfiture. “Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to have happened with Eliot yet, but it does prove God showers His talents on the unjust and the just as He does the rain.”

  That set the stage for a discussion of their favorite authors, then moved to the scandals of prominent people. Maggie was a pleasure to talk to, showing an interest he wasn’t expecting. He already knew she was keenly intelligent. Now it occurred to him she simply didn’t have much opportunity to discuss intellectual matters. But what country schoolteacher did?

  “Why is it men get away with scandal, but women never do?” Her question wasn’t merely rhetorical. Her tone indicated it bothered her.

  “Have no fear, Maggie, no one ever gets away with anything.”

  He watched her recoil, and her eyes took on the look of one personally threatened. A reaction that made him regret his comment. He should have known better. A glance of the clock gave him an excuse to wiggle out of the uncomfortable situation. “Izzy has been out there an hour. I’d better check on her.”

  Bounding from the sofa, he made his way to the window. Maggie followed, peeping over his shoulder. Izzy was within plain view and had been joined by two other little girls.

  “That’s Susie and Darla Stratford with her. Their grandfather owns the feed store. The girls live on a farm a little ways out of town, but they visit the grandparents every Sunday.”

  Daniel smiled. “I’m glad Izzy has found some friends. It’s what I was hoping for. She was so isolated back home. Fortunately, the community around the Belter farm is filled with young families with children, and I intend to put her in the local school.”

  “You’re a good father, Daniel. Not many would give up a lucrative business for his daughter’s sake.”

  “Many think I’m making a mistake. They say the opportunities wealth can afford her are more important than spending time with her.”

  “They are wrong.” Her voice took on a hard edge.

  “What was your father like?” He instantly regretted the question because that sparkle that had lit her eyes dimmed.

  “He didn’t provide either material things or love.”

  T
his was a part of her past his investigation hadn’t touched. “How so?”

  “My father might have been all right if he’d been born into the entitled rich. Unfortunately, he was from a poor farming family and spent his life blaming others for his failures, mostly his four girls. Especially me.” She tried to smile and failed. “But I’m sure you don’t want to hear the woes of my past.”

  “But I do. What made you feel this way? As a father myself I don’t want to make a mistake that would ever cause Izzy to feel like that.”

  Maggie’s laugh sounded derisive. “Believe me, there’s no way you compare to my father. He blamed me from the day I was born for his failure because I wasn’t a son. At least that was what my mother said. He never gave me an excuse except to remind us constantly farmers who didn’t have sons couldn’t run a farm profitably. And he did all he could to make it unprofitable by drinking heavily at night and sleeping all day. If it weren’t for my mother, we would have starved. She plowed and planted and took every odd job available.

  “As soon as we could walk, I and my sisters had to help her. Every waking hour we trudged through one chore to another. I wasn’t allowed to attend school until I was nine and had to leave when I was fifteen to take a job. My sisters weren’t treated much better.”

  “Your mother allowed that?” He suspected there was more to the story than her father’s wanting to have sons to help him farm.

  “My mother was of the mind that a wife didn’t question her husband—ever. She accepted her lot in life, including his blaming her for failing to produce sons.” Her brown eyes swam with tears. “Then when I was sixteen, he ran me off with nothing but the clothes on my back.”

  By now her voice shook, and the urge to take her in his arms—comfort her—was great. “Maggie, I’m so sorry.”

  She’d avoided looking at him until now. The tears spilled over, doing him in. He drew her to him and wrapped his arms around her, rubbing circles on her back.

  After a few moments, she pulled out of his embrace and wiped her nose with the dainty handkerchief she pulled from her sleeve. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what got into me. I haven’t done this since that day. After I gave my heart to Jesus, I forgave him completely, and when he was dying, I went and told him I forgave him and that I loved him. And I meant it, but he said nothing—didn’t even open his eyes to look at me…but that’s okay.” Her tone said it wasn’t okay.