12 Naughty Days of Christmas_Volume Four

by Piper Stone

  Her eyes grew large, and he leaned to kiss the top of her head. “I’ll be all right, sweetheart.”

  It was only a few moments until he had sent the housekeeper home with enough food to take to William, her husband. Matthew helped her to get home, and then came back to the house, where Cass was waiting.

  “What is it, Matthew?”

  He took her hands and led her to the sofa, to sit down next to him. “It’s the mine, Cassandra. It looks as though we’re coming to the end of the vein.”

  She put her hand to her lips. “What will you do if it runs out?”

  “Pray we find another one.” He gently drew his knuckles down the side of her cheek. “It’s not the first time this has happened, Cassandra, and it likely won’t be the last. It’s just an inconvenient time for a lot of people here. I can’t bear to let them go in the middle of winter, especially before Christmas, and I won’t have anything to pay them with if it quits producing.”

  “Oh, Matthew! And I spent all this money today! Can we take it back?”

  “No, sweetheart. It’s too late for that. And I don’t wish you to feel bad. You didn’t do it for yourself. You were attempting to better people’s lives, that’s all.” He hugged her to him. “This has happened before. The mountain is riddled with veins. It’s just a matter of finding one to tap into in time for Christmas.” He ran his hand through his mass of wavy hair.

  She put her arms around his neck. “Tell me what I need to do,” she whispered.

  He lifted her chin, and kissed her. “You already are, Cassandra. And you can’t imagine how much I love you for it.”

  Two Days Before Christmas

  She was counting the days off on her calendar, and she knew Matthew was too. He came home early the afternoon of the twenty-third. She could tell by his face, things at the mine appeared no better.

  Every day, as Matthew came home, the news had been the same. The vein would run out by the new year, he was sure of it. They’d eaten quietly, and Cass had tried to get him to talk.

  “Have you sent the men home yet?”

  “Not yet. I wanted to give them as much time before Christmas as I could. I realized this morning I still haven’t taken you up to the house to show you the site of the fire, so I reassigned a couple of them to clear it as much as they could, while I still had the money to pay them. Are you finished making the gifts for the children?”

  “Almost. There is a little left to do. I hate to work on it tonight but—”

  “Don’t be. I’ll help.”

  He pulled up a chair in the dining room, helping, while she sewed the remainder of the mittens together. They were lined with lamb’s wool to be as warm as possible. She was glad she’d decided to do some baking with the apples, and could take a pie to each family. Mrs. Billings had stayed late the last two nights to help with the baking. In the morning, Cass and Matthew would be ready to distribute the gifts.

  She stood, quietly, looking over the table.

  Matthew put his hands on her waist, and leaned down to kiss her neck. “Well, Mrs. Downing? Are you ready to act the part of Mrs. St. Nicholas tomorrow morning?”

  She turned, in his arms, putting her arms around his neck. “Yes, Mr. Downing. I believe we’re ready.”

  Christmas Eve deliveries

  Cass opened one eye, and then the other. “Matthew?”

  The bed was empty. She sat up, staring around the room. She’d slept naked in his arms, once again. Jumping out of bed, she ran to the door of the bedroom. “Matthew?”

  “Down here, Cassandra. Get dressed and come down. I’m making breakfast.”

  “Oh!” She pulled her shift and then her day gown over her head, and hurried down. “Where’s Mrs. Billings?”

  “I told her to take the morning off.” He looked down at her bare feet and laughed. “You might want to go get your slippers before we leave. Those little pink feet will get cold.”

  She peeked down. “I forgot.”

  Returning a moment later with her slippers, she sat down and pulled them on. “What are we having? You sound quite chipper today.”

  “I am. This is no day to be a grouse. After all, Christmas isn’t about gifts, or about things. Or,” he added with a wink, “about decorations. I thought as soon as we finish delivering the things to the families, we’d go up to the house on the mountain. That is, if you wish.”

  She was bouncing. “I do.”

  “Then, we’ll take a look around the mountain and see where a good place to dig next, might be.”

  “I would love that.”

  He turned, setting a plate of sliced pork belly on the table. A plate of eggs and cheese followed. Last, several slices of sourdough bread, with butter and jam, and a glass of milk.

  “Eat, Mrs. Downing. I demand it.”

  She put out her tongue, and he laughed. “Defiance, Mrs. Downing? You could end up being sorry for that.”

  She grinned, her eyes twinkling. “You wouldn’t spank me on Christmas Eve. Where should we go first this morning?”

  He took her hands, and prayed, then looked thoughtfully down at her. “I thought we’d start with the Drummonds, and go to the O’Donnells, and then the Pennys, and the rest of the houses on that row, and then go down the other side. Then we could finish up with Lucas last.”

  “Sounds perfect.”

  He reached under her chin. “I’m so proud of you, sweetheart.”

  “I’m proud of you, too, Matthew.”

  “Even though I didn’t let you celebrate for Christmas?”

  She smiled. “But you did let me fill up the dining room, and you didn’t complain at all.”

  “Those were gifts, not decorations. And they were made with your sweet spirit.”

  She scooted her chair closer, and leaned up to kiss his cheek.

  They sat there in a comfortable silence, eating, until the clock struck nine. Matthew stood to his feet and grinned, lifting her and throwing her over his shoulder. “Come, Mrs. Downing. Children will be waiting.”

  She changed quickly into a red gown, planning to wear her green cloak over the top of it. Matthew helped her get into her corset, and then fastened her gown up the back. A sharp smack to her bottom, and he turned her to face him.

  “Now then. You carry the pies, and I’ll carry the blankets and cloaks, and the mittens. Do you have your list?”

  She held it up, her eyes twinkling.

  “Let’s go then.”

  The Drummonds were first. Samantha came to the door, squealing with delight, her brothers and sisters close behind her. Her mother was delighted to take the pie, and her father came to the door to receive the blankets and other things for the children, graciously.

  The welcome was just as gracious at the next house. Each place they stopped, they were invited inside. The invitations were extended for the next day, to Christmas dinner, but Matthew assured them they would likely be visiting family.

  As they made their last delivery and walked toward Lucas’s house with their arms full, Cass sighed. “Matthew? This was just wonderful. I loved delivering the gifts to them. And you made it all possible.”

  “No, sweetheart. It was you. All you. They love you here, do you realize that?”

  “I’ll bet they loved Elizabeth too.”

  Matthew didn’t speak, and she wished she hadn’t either.

  Matthew began to run, and she gasped. “Matthew? I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—”

  “Go home, Cass.” His voice was a growl. “Wait for me.”

  Cassandra’s face fell. But as she watched him, she realized that Grandma Kelley had the door thrown open. She froze where she was.

  “It’s Lucas! I don’t know when he left, but he’s gone!”

  Matthew ran to her, handing her the things in his hands, and took off toward the side of the mountain. Turning back, he shouted at Cassandra, over his shoulder. “You are not to come, young lady!”

  His order irritated her. It was Lucas who was missing, after all. The precious little
boy could be anywhere. Cass ran forward with the pie, and shoved it into Grandma Kelley’s hands. “Did you check under the beds?”

  At the desperate nod, she took off after her husband.

  She couldn’t even see him. He had disappeared as quickly as Lucas had the first day she’d arrived. Cass tripped and stumbled over a large branch that had rolled out from under her feet. She was glad she’d changed out of her slippers and into her boots before they left.

  “Lucas!”

  She heard Matthew’s voice, and peered upward, toward the place where the fire had been seen the first day. He was running at break-neck speed.

  Stopping, she managed to step over the long log that had nearly fallen on them the day she arrived. She heard him call out again but didn’t see him now.

  She slowed, to gasp, and held her side, panting. She was in front of the house now, or what was left of it.

  Arms grabbed her from behind, and she shrieked, as a growl sounded in her ear. “Cassandra Downing. You are in so much trouble. You are to remain glued to this spot, and if you move one inch closer to the house, I’ll take my belt to you. Understand?”

  Despite the threat, she heaved a sigh of relief at Matthew’s voice. “Matthew? Wait!” She put a small hand on his arm, as she heard the sound.

  They both turned. Matthew’s eyes searched desperately for the sound.

  At once they both heard a scream, a small, hoarse sound that neither of them could place.

  “Matthew! Cassie!”

  Lucas!

  She took off after her husband, but he lifted her off her feet and set her behind him.

  “Lucas, where are you?”

  A cough, and a small voice called out with a sob. “Down… here!”

  Matthew moved forward, and looked over the foundation of the house. The basement was not even there now, just a massive hole where it once had been.

  “Don’t move, Lucas. I’m coming down to get you. Are you hurt?”

  “S-scared,” the voice answered back.

  Cass spied a rope near the tree, and ran for it. “Matthew! Here!”

  “Cassandra, I said—” But he saw what she held, and saw her tying it around the base of the tree; he nodded. “Good girl. Throw the end of it.”

  She tested it, and then threw it to him. He wrapped it around his waist, and shook a threatening finger at her. “If you so much as move one inch,” he said.

  Cass was extremely tempted to roll her eyes, but refrained. Instead, she nodded, and watched him as he climbed down into the hole.

  She could hear Lucas’s small voice, and Matthew’s answers. Finally, she couldn’t stand the waiting, and moved cautiously to peek over the edge.

  He’d disappeared down into darkness. Matthew’s gentle, comforting voice called to the boy. “Almost there, Lucas. It’s all right, buddy.” There was silence, and she heard the child’s cries. “I want you to climb up on my back and hold on around my neck, carefully. Can you do that?”

  “I will, Matthew.”

  Cass waited, her eyes huge, as she listened. She heard something that sounded like rocks falling, and a hand flew to her mouth as her eyes closed. Suddenly she heard it again, the sound of rocks, and Lucas’s cry.

  “It’s all right, buddy,” Matthew was saying. “The rope is tied tight to a tree. Miss Cassandra saw to that.”

  Cass looked back toward the tree, and grabbed the rope, pulling it backward toward the tree. “Please, dear God, pull for me? I need your hands on the rope right now,” she was murmuring as she pulled. “I don’t care about the decorations, I don’t care about the mine, except for the people’s sakes. Please pull up Matthew and Lucas.”

  Her feet slid out from under her suddenly, and she landed on the ground, on her bottom. Her vision was blurred, and suddenly she felt little arms around her neck. When she opened them again, Lucas was holding on tight, and Matthew was looking down at her, shaking his head. Rising, she held on to Lucas tightly, as she flew into her husband’s arms, sobbing with joy.

  His arms held on to both of them as tightly as possible, and she and the little boy both buried their faces into his chest.

  “Matthew,” she whispered. “I love you. I’ll always love you.”

  Lucas let out a laugh, as he looked up into his rescuer’s face. “See?” he said softly, glancing from one to the other. “I told you!”

  Matthew, an arm around each of them, began to make his way carefully down the slope. “You’ll have to give your grandma a big ‘I’m sorry,’ when you get home, Lucas. She was crying when I – when we – left her to come up here. Why did you do that?”

  Lucas’s face grew rueful. His voice was husky and hoarse, from long years of disuse, but he was understandable. “I’m sorry. The pictures Mr. Daniel drew of the valley,” he said simply. “I just wanted to see it.”

  “I see.” Matthew grimly glanced down at Cass. “Well, next time you want to see it, ask me to bring you up. All right, little buddy?”

  Lucas nodded eagerly. “I will.”

  He made a face of pain, suddenly, and Matthew stopped. “Lucas, are you hurt?”

  The little boy shook his head, reaching back. “It’s this.” He reached back into his pocket for a minute, and brought out his hand. “I found it in the hole.”

  Cass’s eyes grew huge as she looked up into Matthew’s face.

  Lucas stared down at the monumental green rock that rested in his hand. “There’s more.”

  Matthew drew a deep breath. “Tell you what, why don’t you give that to your Grandma Kelley, when you get home? Tell her it’s your Christmas present to her. Then maybe she won’t be so upset with you for running away this morning.”

  A nod answered, followed by a big smile.

  They were almost to the bottom now, and he set Lucas on his feet, just as they heard a cry.

  The Miracles

  Lucas’s grandmother was on the front steps with her head resting on her arms, when they approached.

  Cassie knelt down, when Matthew set Lucas’s feet on the ground, and whispered in his ear. “Go tell Grandma Kelley that you love her, Lucas. It’ll be the best Christmas present ever.”

  He looked up and nodded, then slowly approached the weeping woman. When he reached her, he put a small hand on her head. “Don’t cry, Gramma. I love you.”

  The elderly woman raised her head, ever so slowly, in complete disbelief, as her eyes rested on her small grandson. “Lucas?”

  “I didn’t mean to make you cry. And look! I brought you a Christmas present.”

  Whether it was due to hearing Lucas’s voice for the first time in three years, or the size of the emerald he put in her hand, no one knew, but her eyes rolled back in her head and she fainted.

  Lucas began to whimper, and Cass tried to reassure him that it was only because she was so happy, as Matthew ran for the doctor.

  Pandemonium ensued, as the doctor came running and they moved her into the house to lay her down on the sofa. Matthew went into the kitchen to make Lucas something to eat, and the doctor turned toward Cass.

  “What a miracle,” he said, just above a whisper. “It was three years ago today that Lucas witnessed the terrible accident and lost his mother. We never thought he’d speak again.”

  The doctor stayed until Grandma Kelly was awake, alert and demanding to get up. When Matthew took his wife’s hand to lead her home, Lucas was chattering like a magpie in his grandmother’s ear and telling her all about the big green rock he’d found.

  “Now that, Cassandra Anne Downing,” Matthew reached the door of the house, and opened it. “That was a miracle. I am so surprised. But I want you to know, young lady—”

  He froze. He had just taken a step inside the front door of the house, and let the door fall to behind him, when he stopped, staring. Cass, held in front of him, had a sharp intake of breath.

  “Cassandra?” His voice was deep.

  “I didn’t do it Matthew, I swear it!” Neither of them spoke, as they stared at what had be
come of their house.

  It was decorated from one end to the other with holly, ivy, and ribbon. The entryway and drawing room had a wreath hanging over the hearth, along with greenery from one end to the other. In the corner was a Christmas tree, with a multitude of small ornaments hanging from it. There were ones made from crochet, and a few that had been tatted. Some were drawn on paper by the hands of children. One by one, they both looked over them all. A lamb, a cow, a stable, a star, and a baby from the nativity, were drawn. One looked like it was done in little Lucas’s skillful hand. Popcorn had been strung to make a garland for the tree, crisscrossing it, all the way to the top, where a gold star, cut out of paper, ordained the top.

  Matthew leaned down, and removed an ornament made of white tatted thread, that was shaped like baby booties. He held it out to Cass, a look of shock on his handsome face. “Cassandra? Are these what I think they are?” He lifted her chin, but Cassie couldn’t take her eyes from the little trinket.

  “Cassandra?”

  “Matthew?”

  They heard young voices outside the front door. Children filled the front porch, singing carols. Matthew finally took his eyes from hers, and opened the door, still holding the trinket in his free hand.

  The entire town was there. The adults stood in the background, as the children sang several more songs, and moved away. Lucas came forward, tugging on his grandmother’s hand, and grinned. “Merry Christmas,” he said in a sweet, but hoarse little voice.

  Cass knelt to hug him, as Grandma Kelly leaned forward, motioning toward the trinket.

  “I see you found it.” She chuckled. “Merry Christmas to you. All of you.” She watched Matthew’s face grow pale, and laughed. “Trust me. I always know these things.”

  Matthew watched her leave and looked down at his wife. “She’s serious?”

  Cass’s eyes were wide, and he picked her up and swung her around with a whoop, before setting her down. “She’s serious,” he said, for the second time, unable to quite believe it.

  Cass reached down and put a hand to her belly, and met his eyes, her own shining. “She’s serious,” she repeated, triumphantly.