Parson Clay's Christmas Pup: A Wyldhaven Series Christmas Romance Novella

by Lynnette Bonner

  Right. From here on, he would keep his hands to himself. He thrust them deep into the pockets of his duster and pointed the way to the path up the hill.

  “Just there.”

  “Thank you.”

  What did one talk about with a woman, anyhow? Sure, he’d had plenty of conversations with Zoe and Aurora, but they were more like sisters.

  He was still pondering what topic to broach, when from behind them, he heard a shout. “Hey Kin!”

  In all honesty, he’d never before been so happy to hear someone yell his name.

  He turned to see Jackson Nolan jogging up the hill toward them. Jackson cast Maude a quick glance as he panted, “I forgot that Pa wanted me to ask you if I could borrow your…shovel!”

  Kin turned his snort of laughter into a sneeze. And he could tell by Jackson’s red neck that he knew just exactly what that sneeze had been.

  “Your pa wants to borrow my shovel.”

  “That’s what I said, ain’t it?”

  Kin thrust his tongue into his cheek and nodded. “All right.” With his hands still in the pockets of his duster he swept a gesture to Maude. “This here is Maude Carver. Maude meet Jackson Nolan.”

  Jackson was grinning from ear to ear when he stretched his hand in Maude’s direction. “Pleased to meet you Maude Carver.” He swept her with a glance from her head to her toes and back again, hanging onto her hand the whole time.

  Maude was nearly as red as Jackson by the time she had extracted her hand from his.

  Jackson strode along jauntily beside them. “So where are you from originally, Maude?”

  She swept a gesture to the east. “Over Montana way.” The words were so soft-spoken that both Kin and Jackson had to lean in to hear them.

  “I’ve always thought Montana must be a beauty of a place,” Jackson said. “I plan to go visit someday.”

  Maude’s eyes lit up like the sun had just risen. “Oh! It is beautiful! Just across the valley from our house, the Bitterroots stretched across the sky. My, I do miss that view.”

  Kin surreptitiously dropped back and let Jackson and Maude continue their conversation.

  And lo and behold, once they reached the parsonage and Kin and Maude were standing on the porch, Jackson bid them farewell, and started down the trail.

  “Don’t you want me to get you that shovel?” Kin hollered loudly.

  “Oh!” Jackson turned back, face blazing red.

  Beside Kin, Maude gave a little titter.

  Jackson gripped the back of his neck, grinning because he knew he’d been caught. “You know… I just remembered where Pa’s missing shovel got put. I don’t think we’ll be needing yours, after all.”

  Kin lifted his chin on a laugh. “Kind of figured as much.” He turned for the door but paused because Jackson and Maude were exchanging a long lingering look. Finally, he rolled his eyes and cleared his throat. “You coming?”

  “Yes.” She spun to face him, hands clasped before her.

  Kin pushed open the door and held it for her. They both stepped inside.

  Aurora stood at the kitchen stove cooking up something that smelled tantalizing. And dash it all, if she wasn’t pretty as a picture.

  “Hey, sis.” He greeted her as he closed the door and shrugged out of his coat. Maybe teasing her a little would get his mind back into a sibling frame of mind. “Or should I say brother?” He chuckled and gave her a wink.

  She rolled her eyes at him and stuck out her tongue. Then her gaze settled on Maude. “Oh, it’s you! I’m so glad. I’ve been wanting to get to know you a little better ever since you came to town.” Aurora approached, hands outstretched and Maude looked a little wide eyed when Aurora enfolded her into an embrace.

  Kin hung his hat on its peg and roughed his fingers through his hair, as he watched the two. Aurora didn’t know a stranger, and it appeared that Maude didn’t have an outgoing bone in her entire body.

  Aurora was already introducing Tommy. “And the parson… He’s sleeping in the bedroom there. You’ll meet him later, I’m sure.” Aurora motioned for Maude to follow her to the kitchen. “Do come in. I’ve just put a pot roast on, and I need to mix up a batch of biscuits. Then they’ll be all ready to just add milk when it’s time to mix them for dinner. Do you like to cook?”

  Maude’s answer, again, was so soft that Kin couldn’t make it out. But he was glad to let Aurora take charge of making conversation with her.

  He had just decided to head into his bedroom and catch up on some of his reading, when Aurora spun back to face him.

  “Oh! Kin! I almost forgot. The parson keeps mumbling about a puppy. I think he didn’t get one some Christmas when he was a boy.” She shrugged. “I was having a hard time making out exactly what he was saying. But I did catch that he wants a puppy. Do you know of anyone in the area that has any?”

  Kin couldn’t have been more surprised if she had pulled out a gun and shot him.

  PC wanting a puppy? There couldn’t be anything further from the truth. Whatever had given her that idea?

  “Are you certain the parson said he wanted a puppy? He is feverish you know.”

  Aurora fluttered a hand through the air. “That’s just it. People let down their inhibitions in situations like that and tell you what they really want from their heart. I’m telling you, I heard him say he wanted a puppy that he didn’t get for Christmas.”

  Kin gripped the back of his neck. How was he going to get the parson out of this one? He was still trying to decide what tack to take when Maude spoke up. “Aiden Kastain has two pups that he needs homes for. He rescued them in Seattle while they were there for Zoe to take her teaching exam. Right cute little things.”

  Aurora flapped her hands and hopped up and down. “Perfect!” She clasped her fingers under her chin and gave Kin a pleading look. “Do you think you could go and pick one out for me tomorrow since I won’t be able to go? He called it a her.”

  Kin frowned. “Who called what a her?”

  “The parson. When he was mumbling. He called the puppy he didn’t get a her. So if one of the pups is female, bring that one. If they’re both females, bring the cutest one.”

  Kin’s mouth gaped. The parson would be all sorts of bent out of shape if Kin followed through on her request. But Aurora didn’t give him the opportunity to decline. She bounced toward the kitchen, as excited as a calf on a frosty morning.

  Kin sighed. If he did bring her a pup to give to the parson, he’d better plan on moving to Seattle sooner rather than later, otherwise PC would have him doing every menial chore around the place in retaliation.

  Maybe the day after Christmas.

  Yes. That would be a good day to leave. It would give him one last day to enjoy a high point with all the people who had been so good to him in Wyldhaven.

  Chapter 6

  Aurora couldn’t have been happier when Parson Clay emerged from his room two days later as she was cooking breakfast. He was dressed but still looked a little pale.

  He did a double-take upon seeing her at the stove, paused, and propped his hands on his hips. His inscrutable gaze settled on her and remained.

  “Morning.” She pressed her lips together as she turned the sausage patties. Was he surprised to see her here? She’d been taking care of him for the past several days, so she didn’t see why he would be.

  “Morning.” He continued to watch her. And now a set of butterflies were giving wing in her stomach. Was something out of place? She glanced the length of herself. No. Other than the fact that she wore a grease-splattered apron, she hadn’t forgotten to do up a button or anything like that. Maybe it was her hair? She blew at a loose strand. Perhaps. But it wasn’t like she could pause her cooking to run redo the braid she’d looped around her head this morning.

  Maude, who was churning butter in the corner, paused and studied the man for a moment and then, with a smirk, continued her task.

  “Morning, P-parson.” Tommy smiled hugely from his seat at the dining table.

/>   Aurora determined to put this new tension she was feeling on the back burner. She hurried to the cupboard to fetch a mug so she could pour Preston a cup of coffee.

  Behind her, she heard him pull out a chair at the table.

  She took a calming breath as she filled his mug. This was her fault. They’d always shared an easy camaraderie. If she hadn’t let her emotions run away with her, this tension wouldn’t be crackling in the air. She had never spoken a word of her feelings to him, but he must have sensed something amiss. So she would work doubly hard to return her frame of mine to one proper for a young woman to feel for her parson. Appreciation for the Word that he brought to her each week and nothing more.

  Speaking of appreciation… They all had things to be thankful for this morning.

  Doc had come by the day before and proclaimed that the parson was doing so well that he must have had only the German measles, after all. And everyone had breathed a sigh of relief. It would have been terrible to have an outbreak of the more serious variety just before Christmas. The parson figured he’d contracted the sickness out in one of the logging camps, but he didn’t know which one. That had been one of Doc’s main concerns.

  As she approached the table with his cup, she determined to converse as if nothing had changed between them. Because nothing had changed. “Are you sure you should be up? You still don’t look the best.” She only realized how insulting that might sound after he gave her a grumpy squint. “Sorry.” She set the coffee before him and hurried to rescue the eggs before they burnt. A hint of smoke touched her nostrils. Tommy’s oatmeal! She snatched the pot from the heat. Goodness this fluster was so unlike her. Thankfully the oatmeal was only singed a little on the bottom of the pan. She’d add an extra teaspoon of sugar to help cover the taste and Tommy wouldn’t likely even notice.

  Parson Clay lifted the cup in a little salute. “Thank you.” He took a couple of sips and then scrubbed the hand over his face. “What day is it?”

  “Monday.” She held her breath knowing what was coming.

  He winced. “I missed Sunday services?”

  “Yes. But don’t worry, Sheriff Callahan read a few verses of Scripture and gave a short message.” Not that she or Maude or Tommy had been able to attend. But she left that part out. She determined to keep things positive. “I’m so glad you are feeling better before Christmas. Doc says as soon as you are able to care for yourself, that Maude and I can leave. I’ll stay at the Kastain place in the barn with Maude for a few days till he sees if we are going to get sick. Apparently German measles are bad for expectant women and—” Now her nerves had her blathering things that oughtn’t be told. “Well, never mind about that.”

  Preston studied her, brow furrowed slightly. “What?”

  Her face flushed and she quickly scooped food onto a plate. It wasn’t even appropriate to discuss such things with other women, so what had made her blurt it in mixed company?

  As she approached the table with his plate, his gaze roved over her face, that quizzical frown still on his brow.

  Heavens! Was her face as red as it felt?

  “Here. Do you like scrambled eggs? The sausage was in your icebox. I hope it’s okay that I cooked it. You weren’t saving it for anything special, were you?” She set it before him and hoped he didn’t notice how the plate rattled a little against the table before she snatched her hands back and wiped them on her apron.

  Preston was still scrutinizing her with those amazing dark-lashed eyes of his. But thankfully, he must have decided to let the matter drop. He lifted his fork. “This is perfect. Thank you.”

  “I w-want oatmeal,” Tommy proclaimed.

  “Yes!” Aurora blew out a breath of relief as she spun toward to the sideboard. “Coming right up, Tommy.”

  When she set the bowl before Tommy, she noted that Preston hadn’t started eating yet. “Is everything all right?”

  He nodded. “Soon as you and Maude have your plates and are seated, we can say grace.”

  Why did he suddenly make her so nervous? If she wasn’t all a-jitter she would have thought of setting the table properly. But he’d caught her off guard, emerging from his room just as she finished cooking. “Yes. Of course.”

  She spun to fetch plates, but Maude was already there holding a filled one out to her along with utensils. There was a hint of humor about the girl’s eyes.

  Aurora lifted her brows and mouthed her thanks. And then they both sat.

  The parson bowed his head. “Our Father, we thank you for this food and we ask…”

  As he continued the prayer, she wondered that she had never noticed how deep and mellow his voice was before. It washed over her like lavender oil. Calming and relaxing. She felt her jitters easing away.

  She wondered if Kin had picked up the puppy yet. He’d left earlier this morning to do so. He still didn’t seem to agree with her assessment that the parson had been mumbling about wanting a puppy. But she knew what she’d heard. So despite the fact that Kin had been trying to talk her out of the gift for the last couple days, she remained determined that the parson ought to have a happy Christmas. After all, he had hoped to spend the holiday with his family back east, so the least she could do was try to bring him a little joy. She’d insisted that Kin fetch her the pup and let the consequences of the gift be on her head. He would see… The parson was going to love it!

  She wondered though… Was today the right day to give him the puppy? After all he was just coming out of an illness and might not feel up to dealing with the rambunctious antics of a scrappy pup.

  Besides, it wasn’t yet Christmas. She made a quick decision. She would wait to give the dog to him until Christmas day. No. Giving it to him on Christmas might seem too intimate. Christmas Eve, then. That would be perfect. That would give him a couple more days to recuperate.

  A sharp pain slashed through her shin. “Ow!” She jolted. And then her face flamed anew.

  Apparently the prayer had been over for who knew how long and she’d been sitting there with her head still bowed.

  From across the table, Maude was laughing at her in that silent way of hers.

  Aurora didn’t even dare to glance at the parson. She simply lifted her fork and tucked into her food. The sooner the meal was over and the dishes washed, the sooner she and Maude could make their escape.

  And maybe once she was away from Preston’s constant presence, she would be able to put a damper on these runaway emotions of hers.

  Standing in the yard at the Kastain place, Kin did his best to bite back his humor as Aidan fawned over the pup he’d come to pick up. Aurora had said she wanted a female or the cutest one. And as luck would have it, the female fit both criteria.

  “The parson is a good, God-fearing man,” Aidan crooned to the puppy. He had the poor dog clasped under one arm and was petting her so hard that her ears laid down. “You know, on account of he’s a parson and all. So he’s gonna take real good care of you. And Kin lives there too, so if you ever need anything you can just go ask him and he’ll help ya.”

  Kin swept a hand over his mouth and met Zoe’s amused glance above her brother’s head. He squatted down before the boy and reached out to adjust the dog to a more secure position in Aidan’s arms. “Actually, I’m not going to be there for much longer.” Which reminded him, he really needed to have that conversation with PC that he’d been putting off.

  “Wait. What?” Zoe plunked her hands on her hips.

  Too late, he realized he’d let the cat out of the bag. Maybe if he just ignored her she’d let it go. He continued to talk to Aidan. “But Tommy will be there and he’s real gentle with animals. I bet he’ll even let her sleep at the end of his bed.”

  Zoe’s feet shuffled. “Kin Davis. Whatever are you going on about?”

  Kin stood and shrugged one shoulder. “Think I’ll head to Seattle and see if I can find some work. I’ve about tapped out my resources here. Same people keep giving me odd jobs and sometimes I feel like they are giving them just t
o give me something to do. I don’t want to take advantage like that. Besides”—He glanced across the snow-covered field beside the barn—“it’s just…time to move on. PC has cared for me long enough.”

  From the corner of his eye he saw Zoe tilt her head. “You know he’s happy to do that.”

  “Yeah.” He gripped the back of his neck. He said the word, but he wasn’t so certain. Truth was, he and PC had butted heads more often than not in the past few months. Mostly because PC didn’t like some of his choices. The man would never be happy until he’d taken a knee and confessed his need of a Savior. And he just wasn’t certain he’d ever come to that point. Religion was fine for some, but he didn’t need it. Moving on would just be easier. He needed a little space to breathe.

  “Well.” Zoe gave a definitive nod. “We are going to have a going-away shindig for you then.”

  Kin pulled a face. “Please don’t go to the trouble. No one will miss me much. It’s not like I contribute a lot to the town.”

  “Kin Davis, listen to you spouting nonsense! No. You are not making an escape without everyone having the chance to say goodbye. You just leave the details up to me.” She flapped a hand at her brother. “Aidan, I know saying goodbye is hard, but you can run see the pup every Sunday after church, if you want to. I’m sure Kin needs to get on his way.”

  Aidan gave the pup a kiss on the top of her head and finally handed her over. Large tears pooled in his eyes, bringing a lump to Kin’s throat. With the puppy tucked into the crook of one arm, he ruffled a hand over the boy’s head. “It takes a real man to make the best decisions for his animals. You’ve done the right thing.”

  Aidan swiped an arm across his eyes and sniffed.

  Behind Aidan’s back, Zoe made a little shooing motion that told Kin it was time to cut the strings. He tucked the puppy into his largest saddlebag, and then swung onto his mount. His horse swung its head around to eye the puppy for a moment, but then must have decided the creature was harmless.