Christmas at Stoney Creek

by Martha Rogers

  After everyone extinguished their candles, voices hummed and buzzed about Joe and his illness. Tom and his father tried to answer their questions, but they had no new information to give.

  Angela made her way to Tom and Faith. “I’ve been looking for the two of you.” She hugged Faith and whispered in her ear. “I see the love Tom has for you in his eyes. You two were made for each other.” Then she stepped back. “I have something to tell you both.”

  Angela’s statement about Tom wiped away the last strands of guilt still in the deep recesses of Faith’s heart. The sparkle in her friend’s eyes spoke of something good for her as well.

  “I spoke with my parents last evening, and I’m going away to attend seminary and become a missionary. I’m hoping to be able to go to China where Miss Lottie Moon is serving and help her.”

  Faith gasped and reached for Angela to wrap her in a hug. “Oh, Angela, you’ll be a wonderful missionary.”

  “Yes, you will. With your love of people, you’ll win over the hearts of those in China or wherever you happen to go.” Tom grabbed Angela’s hand and shook it.

  Angela wiped a tear from her eye. “I’m so happy to finally have made the decision, and I know you’ll both be praying for me. Thank you so much for your support.” With that she spun around and hurried away.

  Faith shook her head and grabbed Tom’s arm. “That wasn’t a complete surprise, but it did come sooner than I expected.”

  “Yes, and she will be great servant for the Lord.” He placed his hand over hers. “Come, it’s time to go.”

  Outside, the sky had completely clouded over and the air was even colder than before. He lifted her up to the buggy seat. “This night isn’t over yet. I have another letter Joe addressed to us. I think I want to read it here at the church, but we’ll wait until everyone has left.”

  After lighting the lanterns on either side of the buggy, he climbed up beside her. The last of the worshippers piled into their various vehicles and made their way home. The bells on both churches rang out to announce Christmas morning had arrived.

  Tom grinned and opened the second envelope. “This is perfect. I think Joe would be pleased.” He smoothed out the page and began to read.

  Dear Tom and Faith,

  If you’re reading this, then it’s either late Christmas Eve or early Christmas morning. I have come to love and admire the two of you as I would a son and daughter of my own. I know you both have been curious about me from the beginning, and I’m sorry I had to keep the truth from you, but it would have spoiled the surprise and the joy I had in doing what I did.

  My name is Joseph Fitzgerald Mayfield. . .

  “I knew it! Gretchen and I were right about that picture and article.”

  Faith squeezed his arm. “Read the rest.”

  . . . and I’m the founder of one of the largest furniture manufacturing companies in Illinois. I recently sold the company, and with investments made over the years, I’ve accumulated quite a bit of wealth. I have no family as my wife and I were only children and our only child died young. When I learned I was dying of an incurable illness, I set out to find someone worthy to be my heir. Thus the disguise. If people accepted me as a homeless, dirty vagrant and welcomed me into their homes and lives, I had found the place. Stoney Creek did just that.

  Tom, I transferred all of my wealth to the bank in Stoney Creek. I have named you as trustee of that account, which is to be used for things like the flood, the library, needy families, the new stove for the Delmonts, and for anything else the town needs. This does not mean you are to freely give money away to solve all problems, but use it as a means to help people get back on their feet and start over. Mr. Swenson has all the details and will answer all the questions I know you must have as you read this. My only request is that you reveal none of this to the people of Stoney Creek.

  “That’s going to be hard, and he’s right about questions. I have a million of them. I’ll have to see Mr. Swenson the first thing Tuesday morning.” He lowered the letter. “Isn’t it just like God to send us this on Christmas Sunday? What better time to reveal the miracle of love through one of God’s children.”

  He grinned and continued reading.

  Now, you should be reading this with Faith, and if you haven’t declared your love for her and asked her to marry you, I ask, what is taking you so long?

  My love and blessings to you both.

  Joe

  Heat filled Faith’s face at those last words. Tom had declared his love, but the proposal hadn’t followed. What now?

  Tom laughed, laid down the letter, and reached into his pocket. “Well, Joe sorta spoiled my surprise, but . . . ” He opened his hand to reveal an opal ring. “This was my Grandmother Dyer’s ring, and I want you to have it. Will you honor me by consenting to spend the rest of your life as my wife?”

  Love soared through every last fiber of her being. “Of course I will marry you.”

  He slid the ring onto her finger and embraced her, his heart pounding next to hers. When his lips met hers, she leaned into him and returned it with love flooding her soul with joy. The dream she’d had for so many years had ended in the reality of Tom’s love, and a new dream began.

  Flakes began falling about them, and Faith squealed. “Tom, it’s snowing! This is perfect. I don’t ever remember having a white Christmas.”

  Tom stuck his hand out into the falling flakes. “It’s almost as if God is sending us an extra miracle with Joe’s revelation. Wait till the children see this tomorrow.”

  Faith shivered in delight at the snow now falling heavier. A perfect ending to a most unusual day. She snuggled closer to Tom and gazed at her new ring. Now her finger wore a family heirloom, and in the near future she’d be his wife.

  Flakes swirled about and settled on the trees and bushes, and love filled her heart to overflowing. Somewhere Joe celebrated Christmas, maybe in heaven, but the miracle of love and generosity he’d left behind in Stoney Creek would live forever in the hearts and souls of the ones whose lives he’d touched.

  “Merry Christmas, Joe, wherever you are.”

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  THIS ENTIRE HOMEWARD Journey series has been loosely based on my great-grandparents’ love story and their family. My great-grandfather came to Texas in 1880 to begin his medical practice in Victoria, Texas. My grandfather, Thomas Dyer Whiteman, was born in Victoria to Manfred and Sallie, somewhat earlier than in the story.

  My grandfather is the hero of Christmas at Stoney Creek. He worked for a newspaper in Victoria as a boy and then moved away to try his hand at various other jobs, but he came back to the newspaper as an adult and worked for one until he finally retired when he was in his seventies. The wedding ring my grandfather Tom gave his bride, Lella, is still in the family, as is Sallie’s. I told the story of her ring in Love Stays True.

  My grandmother’s gold wedding band was given to me as her oldest granddaughter with the instructions that I was to give it to my oldest granddaughter. I gave the ring to Erin Elizabeth on her sixteenth birthday. She is now thirty-one years of age and the mother of three children and will someday pass it on to her granddaughter. So the legacy begun by Tom and Lella carries on today.