Holly for Christmas

by Lisa Prysock

  Soon, they lost the football to wrangler Jed on the opposite team when he jumped up and intercepted the ball when Logan attempted to throw it to Jack Colten. Nonetheless, they got the football back a few plays later and Bronson made the first touchdown for Logan’s team. Zach and Micah began celebrating, as did the cheerleaders. Then Bronson did a victory dance that made everyone laugh. The new guy, Clint, tied things up a few plays later by making a touchdown.

  “All right dudes,” Logan said when they huddled together to decide on their strategy. Then he whispered a play they believed would take Buck’s team by surprise. A few high fives later, Calvin snapped the ball to Logan. Then Cal effectively blocked the opposing team from blitzing and sacking the quarterback. Logan held onto the ball, did some fancy footwork to spin out of another possible tackle, and ran straight down the sidelines for another touchdown.

  On the very next play, Buck threw the football to McGuire, who threw it to Jed, behind him. Jed ran a few feet and found Calvin blocking him. Jed managed to find Clint behind him, and passed the ball again. Clint’s cowboy hat fell off as he was running, but he managed to bring the ball into the end zone for another touchdown. This tied the score, even though Calvin and Bronson did a good job of eventually tackling Jed and McGuire.

  In the next huddle, Logan came up with another plan to take the opposing team by surprise. They lined up, nose to nose, each player trying hard to keep their focus. Calvin tipped his cowboy hat back a little further on his head. When Calvin snapped the ball to Logan, Logan pitched it back to him. This took everyone by surprise since Calvin was a big blocker dude and not at all the average running back type of player. Jack Colten, Bronson, and Logan managed to block McGuire, Jed, and Clint. This gave Calvin a direct and clear path for the end zone. All he had to do was stay ahead of Buck. With Buck being a little on the elderly side, he wasn’t able to catch up with Calvin, who scored a spectacular game-winning touchdown after gaining a fifteen-yard lead.

  Zachary and Micah did a tandem moonwalk victory dance and then ran onto the field to celebrate with the rest of the team. The cheerleaders went crazy in the background doing splits and fancy jumps. A small crowd on the ranch comprised of various guests had gathered around, cheering on the game. The winning team high-fived each other and then shook hands with the losing team, who took the loss in stride.

  When the game was over and the players, observers, and kids returned to various places and posts on the ranch. Jill, with baby Christy in a pram, and Mrs. Wright’s help, brought out a cart of hot cocoa and ice cold bottles of spring water to serve guests and players.

  Logan and Calvin sat down on the church steps with their water bottles and cups of steaming hot cocoa. For a little while, they sat there at the front of the little white chapel in silence, enjoying the crisp morning air. It was nice to recover from the intensity of the game while enjoying the beverages Jill had brought them before herding the kids back toward the main house. She’d reminded the Haven kids they had their petting zoo chores to handle.

  Cal broke the silence first. “I like that you do things like that with the wranglers from time to time. It’s good for morale.”

  Logan nodded, adjusting his cowboy hat, appearing to focus on some point beyond the covered bridge from his perch. “Definitely. We’re like a family around here, and it’s important we have fun together while we work. Plus, our guests obviously loved it.”

  “They sure did,” Cal agreed.

  “That was some touchdown you made for the winning score,” the ranch owner commented.

  “I think it’s my only football career touchdown. Unmistakably, the Lord seems to be speaking to my heart about something I’ve been reluctant to do for years,” Calvin admitted. His heart was starting to settle instead of pound through his chest.

  “Oh?” Logan’s brow lifted up and his voice took on a curious tone.

  “With the divorce of my parents, followed by the disastrous second marriage of my father, followed by a third marriage, I’ve been avoiding the idea of marriage like it was the plague. But today, I think God is sending me a clear message to go through with a relationship I’ve been thinking about with a certain special someone.”

  The ranch owner turned and grinned at him. “You’re finally going to ask the newspaper reporter lady out?”

  “Is it that obvious?” Calvin chuckled and smiled. Then he sipped some of the hot cocoa beginning to cool down in his paper cup.

  “You’ve had your eyes and heart set on her for a while now. I think everyone knows but the two of you most days.” Logan took off his hat and slapped it a few times as if to remove a few speckles of dust. Then he shaped it again and slid it back on, a glint in his eye. “The Lord has His way of getting through to us, and sometimes it’s through some of our small, everyday circumstances.”

  Calvin nodded and patted his heart over his plaid flannel shirt. “I’m definitely feeling a kind of confirmation right here.”

  “Marriage is wonderful, but I think you can find some lessons to save you heartache from what you saw growing up. Now you know in advance it takes both partners working at it. If you’re both committed and strong Christians, it’s a beautiful thing. I think my love for Jill grows deeper every single day. I had no idea how deep it could grow, and yet it continues. I wake up each day wondering what I can do for her, how I can show her more love, how I can be a good husband to her. It’s an exciting journey I’ll never regret. The only thing I’d live to regret is if I hadn’t taken a chance on love.”

  “There’s definitely something different about her. I’ve seen her bow her head in prayer over every meal over the past few weeks. You and I both know most unbelievers don’t bother to waste time thanking God for anything. It’s obvious she has a strong faith in our Redeemer, so I feel incredibly blessed to even know her now that I really think about it. I can’t tell you how many women I’ve encountered who are interested in my bank account, but they won’t set foot in a church, let alone pray for a meal. How will I know if she’s the one God has chosen for me if I don’t follow His prompting and take a chance?”

  “You are right about following the prompting of the Lord, Calvin. I am glad you received all this revelation out of a friendly football game. I knew there was a reason I was supposed to ask you to join our team this morning.” Logan smiled in approval. “I’ll be praying for you both. Miss Williams seems like a nice Christian lady. I think you two would make a fine couple.”

  HOLLY FINALLY FINISHED her first story about The Sweetwater in time to turn it in to her boss on the day before Thanksgiving. She happily presented it to Al Redford via an electronic word document along with a printed copy. He read it while she sat in the chair across from his desk. He chuckled a few times, a smile spreading across his face at other times.

  When the chief editor finished reading it, he looked up and nodded. “This is great, Holly. I’m going to print it exactly as is. It’s engaging, heartfelt, has some humor, edited perfectly, and an enjoyable read. I’m sure our subscribers will love it.” Then he held open the box of cherry shoestring licorice for her.

  “Sure, I’ll have some. Thanks, Al.” She smiled, basking in his praise for a moment as she sat back and ate some of the licorice. “I hope you have a great Thanksgiving with your family tomorrow. Are you having a turkey with stuffing and all the trimmings?” She raised an eyebrow.

  “We are. I hope you have a nice holiday, too. Look for your article to appear in the Thanksgiving edition tomorrow. See you this coming Monday, Holly.”

  “Thanks, Al. See you then.”

  Then she’d rushed to the grocery store to purchase fresh flowers, beverages, one apple and one pumpkin pie, whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, a few glazed pumpkin cookies and muffins from the bakery, a small veggie tray, and a mini-fruit and cheese tray for hors d’oeuvres. She’d already made arrangements with Jill to reserve the library, who was excited about her having a holiday meal with one of their best investors.

  Mrs. Wright had accep
ted her order for two gourmet turkey dinners with all the trimmings. She’d have them in boxes with their names on them, in the refrigerator in the main kitchen, and ready to be warmed. She’d also given her several candles, a vase for flowers, a round linen tablecloth and napkins, and enough silver and china for two place settings each. In addition, she showed Holly where she could find a round table for two.

  “Oh, Holly, this is going to be so nice,” Mrs. Wright remarked when she had most of it set up. “You’ve done a nice job of making this look very festive and elegant. I’m sorry I won’t be around to see you celebrate tomorrow since we’re going to visit our grandchildren for the day, but we’ll see you at the turkey potpie dinner in the main dining room tonight, perhaps.”

  “Thank you so much. You’ve been so helpful. I hope you enjoy some time with your family. You and Corky really deserve it. Can you tell me where I might find a few board games to play?”

  “As a matter of fact, follow me to the main living room.” Holly did as commanded and followed Mrs. Wright out into the spacious sunken living room. They stopped at a large armoire where the ranch cook threw open the doors. Staring back at Holly were all sorts of movies and games inside. “We’ve got just about everything. Many of our patrons borrow them. All you need to do is choose which ones you’d like before someone else does. This becomes a very popular cabinet on Thanksgiving and Christmas.”

  Mrs. Wright had to hurry away to answer her husband, Corky. He stood in the kitchen entry hollering about some turkey pies coming out of the oven.

  Holly selected backgammon, Chinese Checkers, and Racko. Then she chose a stack of DVD’s of movies, including some Charlie Brown movies, White Christmas, A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion, Pride & Prejudice, and The Bishop’s Wife, and her mom’s favorite movie, You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out. Surely they’d be able to find one in her stack they both liked.

  She carried the stack to the table in the library and then made place cards for both of them. She made sure there was popcorn for the movies, linen napkins, and pretty glass goblets for water on the table. There were already a couple of throw blankets on the sofa for keeping warm during the movies, and inside the mini-fridge, she’d stocked plenty of water, sweet tea, and a few root beers. Everything looked ready for a great day of food and fun.

  Ten

  ***

  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.

  Psalm 100:4

  Thanksgiving Day

  After spending some time at her desk in her nightgown and robe reading her Bible and praying that morning, Holly chose a pair of khaki slacks and an olive green sweater for the day. She slipped into a pair of brown ankle boots and completed her look with a gold bracelet and a pair of small hoop earrings with tiny gold hearts dangling from each.

  She tucked her phone, checkbook, lip gloss, hand lotion, brush, and some perfume into a small canteen-style brown leather purse. She checked her hair and make-up one more time. Reminding herself it wasn’t a date, she decided she was ready except for calling her family to wish them a Happy Thanksgiving. Once she finished with her phone calls, she headed to the kitchen to warm up their meals and transfer them to the library. She’d decided to serve them on the beautiful china plates Mrs. Wright had said she could use. She covered the steaming food with covers to keep them piping hot. After setting up the hors d’oeuvres and desserts on a side table, she also turned on some Christmas music on the stereo in the library.

  With fifteen minutes to spare, she went upstairs to wait until precisely five minutes before two o’clock, not wishing to be distracted by other guests who wandered in and out of the main house. At the right time, she went downstairs to the foyer, her heart beating a little faster than usual, anxious to spend the day with the hero who’d saved her life.

  He was early, and to her surprise, he’d brought a vase of beautiful peach, pink, and cream roses. “Hello, Holly. Happy Thanksgiving!” He smiled and handed her the vase, a wide grin on his face, indicating he was happy to be there.

  “Hi Calvin. It’s good to see you. Happy Thanksgiving to you as well. You brought me flowers? Thank you, these are beautiful.” She blushed, taking in their lovely scent. “I hope you’re hungry,” she added, turning to lead the way to the library. “Everything is ready.”

  She opened the door to reveal her hard work and waited for his reaction as she found a place on the table for his beautiful gift beside the other flowers she’d purchased the day before.

  He looked around, taking it all in, instantly appearing to enjoy the Christmas music. She noticed he’d worn a Steelers jersey and jeans, evidence that they both liked the same team. “This is awesome! You did all of this?” he asked. Then he saw the two yellow towels on the sofa for swirling them around to cheer on the team. Turning to her he chuckled. “You’re a Steelers fan, too?”

  She nodded, laughing. “I’m from Canton, Ohio, the Football Hall of Fame city, and I come from a family of Steelers fans.”

  “That’s so cool,” he said, nodding. “I like it.”

  They both moved toward the table then and she remembered to use the matches from Mrs. Wright to light the candles. He came around the table to hold her chair out for her until she sat down. Then he seated himself at the other setting beside her.

  “Would you like to say our Thanksgiving prayer?” she asked, hoping he wasn’t offended by her question. She realized just then that she’d assumed he was also a Christian.

  “I’d love to,” he said, melting her concerns away. ”We have a lot to be thankful to the Lord for this year.”

  “We certainly do,” she nodded. “He sent you to preserve me from Cole. I’m eternally thankful for that.”

  He nodded and they bowed their heads while he prayed over their meal and lifted up words of thanks for their many blessings to the Lord above. From that point on, the rest of the meal went smoothly. After his prayer, during which he’d held her hand, sending tingles up her arm, she asked him to tell her about his family.

  “That’s quite a story, but I’ll give you the short version. My mom, Callie Singer, was something of a Montana debutante. Well, now she’s Callie Davis. They had a dream wedding, one of those high society ones, back in the day when she married my dad, Carter Lloyd Davis. Or so she tells me now and then. Her daddy was a prominent doctor in Billings. My dad inherited Honey Ridge Farmstead from my grandfather, Lloyd Davis.”

  “I see.” Holly nodded as she tasted some of her mashed potatoes and then a bite of the turkey. The gravy was so good it made her mouth water just smelling it.

  “My grandfather and dad built up Honey Ridge to an amazing thoroughbred farm. We’ve had five Derby winners and two Triple Crown winners sired or trained from our farm,” he explained, pausing to taste the stuffing and then the corn casserole. “Wow, this is delicious.”

  She smiled, happy he was enjoying the meal. Mrs. Wright had outdone herself. “It sure is.”

  “The farm became the bread and butter if you will, of Davis Ventures, Incorporated. We also own a software anti-virus company and an incredibly diverse real estate portfolio. Lots of commercial and some residential properties around the world.”

  “I see.” She nodded, reveling in the taste of the sweet potatoes and the green bean casserole.

  He added salt and pepper to his turkey as he continued. “So, as I said, the short version. My parents suffered a high profile divorce when I was about the age of ten. It was all over the papers, to my mother’s dismay.”

  “Like the gossip column?” Holly’s heart sank and she held her fork suspended over her plate. He must dislike reporters after such a debacle.

  Cal nodded as he swallowed a bite of sweet potato casserole. “Yeah, something like that.”

  “If it makes you feel any better, I can’t stand those kinds of columns, either. Writing to destroy other people’s lives is the lowest of low.” She wanted him to know she wasn’t one of those kinds of writers.

&n
bsp; His eyebrow shot up and she detected a flicker of relief flash across his face. “I’m glad to hear it.”

  “So then what happened, after your parents divorced?” She shifted in her chair and leaned forward a little, anxious to hear the rest of his story.

  “Then my father married June Hobart, now June Hobart Davis, which was simply put, a disaster. The marriage lasted about five years. I think he finally had a taste of his own medicine. She was as unfaithful to him as he’d been to my mom. He divorced her after realizing she was only after his bank account. Then, a few years later, I guess when I was about sixteen, he married Sylvia Brunner, now Sylvia Brunner Davis. She’s my current stepmom. They’re visiting Hawaii presently.”

  “Oh, wow. That’s a lot for you to go through.” Listening to Cal’s history made her own pale in comparison in some ways.

  “I don’t think I’d have survived it without knowing Jesus. Thankfully, my mom insisted I attend a private Christian school. I was surrounded by friends and teachers who were a good influence in my life, and people who prayed for me. My friend, Blake, was another God-send.”

  “I sometimes wish I’d been able to attend a private Christian school, but then I wouldn’t have met my best friend, Lexie. So do you still have a close relationship with both of your parents?” She sipped some of her sweet tea, absorbing Cal’s story.

  He nodded, taking a large bite of mashed potatoes. “I do, but it took a lot of time for me to figure out how to establish and maintain that. It wasn’t always easy. There were adjustments to be made by each of us. It took a long time. Some of it was downright miserable. It became better with time, a lot of time.” He paused and sipped some of the sweet tea. “Wow, this gravy...”

  She chuckled. “I know. It’s so good.”

  “I still can’t believe you did all of this. This is amazing,” he said, looking around the room. “Movies, games, great food...this is really nice.”