by Lisa Prysock
Sixteen
***
“Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.”—Unknown.
One Week Later
“Will you marry me, Holly Renee Williams?” The man of her dreams, Calvin Andrew Davis, was on bended knee on the deck a few steps away from the stone terrace behind his family mansion.
He’d flown her to Honey Ridge Farmstead the following weekend. He’d also asked his dad’s chef to prepare a lasagna dinner for them. The meal was served by two of his father’s kitchen staff inside the solarium facing the pastures of the farm. It was waiting for them inside. Cal explained he’d chosen this spot overlooking the snow-covered meadows with a view of a pond to pop the question. On Friday just after noon, she’d met his mom. They’d enjoyed lunch together at her luxurious home in Billings. Then they’d had dinner with his dad and Sylvia, after enjoying a tour of highlights of his dad’s farm and mansion in a rural area outside the city.
“Yes, of course I’ll marry you...” she breathed, her eyes dancing as she pulled him up onto his feet. She stood on her tip-toes to wrap her arms around his neck. Then he kissed her, slowly. When he was done, he rested his forehead against hers.
“Where shall we live?” she asked.
He led her inside to their table as he answered her question so they wouldn’t continue to be freezing cold standing on the deck without their coats on. Besides, the wonderful dinner waited for them. She had on her favorite gray sweater and jeans, and he wore one of his favorite sport coats with jeans. “I was thinking we’d build a home near Lander, out in the countryside, so you can still keep your dream job. One day I’ll inherit all of this, but it’s a ways off. I can open an office in our home. My secretary can do things via teleconference and stuff.”
“I like your plan, cowboy,” Holly smiled.
“Good, I’m glad,” he responded.
“Guess what?” she asked, reaching for her glass he’d filled with the non-alcoholic sparkling cider.
“I’m so happy you’ve said yes, my head is spinning. I have no idea,” he admitted, the candlelight flickering over the centerpiece of pine boughs, cream roses, red velvet bows, and pinecones as soft Christmas music played in the background.
“Lexie called just before dinner. She said they’ve apprehended Cole and he’s behind bars. She feels safe for the first time in over a year.”
“Wow, is that ever great news.” He breathed a sigh of relief. “I feel like the entire time we had baby Andy, our little Joshua with us, I was looking over my shoulder for either Cole to reappear one minute, or the baby’s mother the next.”
She nodded and sipped more from her glass, her whole body relaxing, and her heart filling with joy. Then she stared at the diamond ring glistening on her finger, still reveling in the goodness of the Lord for giving her a husband who loved and cherished her. Cal was a man who shared her faith. They were perfect for each other, but if she hadn’t taken a chance on coming to Wyoming, she’d never have met him. “Have you heard from the Montana Mission? Any word on how LuAnne and the baby are doing?”
Calvin cut another bite of lasagna. “I did hear from the director. They’re doing great and they seem really happy. She said we can send her a letter of encouragement and it might help LuAnne a lot.”
“We’ll definitely write her a letter of encouragement.” She sighed with relief at hearing the news about LuAnne. Then she turned her attention to the magnificent Italian dinner before them, the flickering candle flames drawing her attention. “It was really nice of your parents to go out to dinner to let us have the place to ourselves this evening.”
The sprawling mansion boasted a pool, a standard-size gymnasium, and a state-of-the-art work-out room equipped with mirrors and a balance bar, the kind you’d expect a ballerina to have access to for dance practice. A music room contained a baby grand piano, guitars, violins, a drum set, an electric keyboard, and many other instruments, leading to its own studio.
“This is incredible, Cal,” she responded as she ran her fingers along the balance bar in the work-out room. He’d said his mom used to play the piano, and he’d taken lessons as a teen, but given up because his fingers were too large to stay on the right keys. His dad sometimes played the piano. Cal could play the bongos. Sylvia liked to sing. Now she asked, “Does someone in your family dance or work-out a lot?”
“Sylvia likes to work out in here, but often it’s dad or me. I like to get in the hot tub on the deck after.” He nodded in the direction of the work-out equipment and the French doors leading to the deck. Every kind of machine one could want seemed to be represented in pairs of two.
“I see.” She smiled, noticing the speakers for blasting music. “I might have to try out this work-out room tomorrow. It’s wonderful.”
“I thought you might like it.” Cal grinned. “Use it as often as you like. You can tap into the speakers for playing your favorite music from your phone.”
“Nice!” She could see herself working out daily in that room. It was a lot like the Sweetwater’s facility, only private.
The tour revealed vaulted or high ceilings in many of the rooms, marble countertops in the bathrooms and kitchens, and an enormous library. The mansion also contained its own theater and cinema room. In addition, the tiered deck ran most of the length of the rear of the mansion, with steps leading to the stone terrace in the center. The second and third floors contained fourteen bedrooms, each with their own bathrooms and walk-in closets. Most contained fireplaces and sitting rooms, including the one Cal had given her for the weekend.
Holly counted one main living room leading to the stone terrace, and three sitting rooms. The kitchen was large enough to make Mrs. Wright’s spacious kitchen appear small.
Blinking back to the meal of lasagna in front of her, the Honey Ridge Farmstead mansion seemed so surreal that she had a hard time maintaining her concentration. She wanted to pinch herself, feeling as though she was in a dream. When Cal gazed into her eyes, she reminded herself, yes, it really was happening. He’d proposed! This wonderful man had proposed to her. Staring at her ring, she asked, “What date do you want to get married?”
“I don’t know, but soon.” He laughed. “I can’t stand being without you. I know I’d like us to have a small wedding at Logan’s chapel, not one of those society weddings with newspaper reporters and so many people we won’t know half of those in attendance. I’m envisioning something small, intimate, with my best friend, Blake, as best man. Our closest family and a few friends...”
“And Lexie can be my maid of honor. I’m sure she’ll fly in for a week to help me organize things if we send the jet after her. We can have our nails done and do all those last minute preparations,” she smiled. “We’ll wear periwinkle violet blue dresses, and our other colors can be forest green and cream. I’d like cream roses like these everywhere.” She reached out, touching one of the petals on a rose from the centerpiece. “Lots of Christmas greenery, too. Pinecones would be nice.”
He grinned. “That sounds perfect. I’ll wear a black tux with a vest and a tie to match the green and periwinkle. Green vest and periwinkle tie.”
“We’ll have a reception at the main barn-shaped house with our family and friends...” her voice trailed a way as she imagined it, “with dancing, a three-tier cake, a private photographer, and a catered dinner. Maybe Mrs. Wright will make a buffet for our guests. I know my brother, Chad, will come. He’ll bring my dad. The last time I spoke to Chad, he said Dad was doing great since he returned to church not long after I left.”
“I’m so happy to hear that. I’m sure he’ll want to walk you down the aisle to give you away, and I like all of this, our plans,” he nodded approvingly, covering her hand with his. “I’m sure Blake will fly in for a few days, too. Maybe even a week.”
Then her eyes grew wide as she thought of the perfect date. “December 26th, my love, the day after Christmas, so our family and friends can still celebrate the birth of
Jesus. We’ll have our wedding after, so we don’t detract from the main reason for the celebrating this time of year.”
“I like it. The day after Christmas it is. Have I told you of the many ways I’m going to love and care for you for the rest of my life?” he asked, drawing her hand to his lips.
“Yes, but you can tell me again,” she giggled as he kissed her hand. Then he pulled her up and out of her seat into a slow dance near the fireplace.
“A bride for Christmas...I’m being given my Holly for Christmas,” he whispered into her ear. “Dance with me, Holly.”
“Forever,” she replied.
The End
About the Author
LISA M. PRYSOCK is an award-winning, bestselling, Christian and inspirational author of 20 novels. She and her husband of more than 20 years reside in Kentucky. They have 5 children, grown.
She writes in the genres of both Historical Christian Romance and Contemporary Christian Romance, including a multi-author Western Christian Romance series, “Whispers in Wyoming.” She is also the author of a devotional. Lisa enjoys sharing her faith in Jesus through her writing.
She has many interests, but a few of these include gardening, cooking, drawing, sewing, crochet, cross stitch, reading, swimming, biking, and walking. She loves dollhouses, cats, horses, butterflies, hats, boots, flip-flops, espadrilles, chocolate, coffee, tea, chocolate, the colors peach and purple, and everything old-fashioned.
She adopted the slogan of “The Old-Fashioned Everything Girl” because of her love for classic, traditional, and old-fashioned everything. When she isn’t writing, she can sometimes be found teaching herself piano and violin, but finds the process “a bit slow and painful.” Lisa enjoys working with the children and youth in her local church creating human videos and plays or programs incorporating her love for inspirational dance. A few of her favorite authors include Jane Austen, Lucy Maude Montgomery, Louisa May Alcott, and Laura Ingalls Wilder. You’ll find “food, fashion, fun, and faith” in her novels. Sometimes she includes her own illustrations.
She continues the joy and adventure of her writing journey as a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) and LCW (Louisville Christian Writers). Lisa’s books are clean and wholesome, inspirational, romantic, and family oriented. She gives a generous portion of the proceeds to missions.
Discover more about this author at www.LisaPrysock.com where you’ll find free recipes, devotionals, author video interviews, book trailers, giveaways, blog posts, and much more, including an invitation to sign up for her free newsletter.
Links to Connect with Lisa:
https://www.facebook.com/LisaMPrysock
https://twitter.com/LPrysock
www.LisaPrysock.com
https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00J6MBC64 (Find all of Lisa’s books on Amazon at this link)
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lisa-m-prysock
https://www.facebook.com/groups/500592113747995/ (Lisa’s Facebook reader & friends group)
Also by This Author
To Find a Duchess, an Inspirational Regency Romance
The Christian Victorian Heritage Series:
Hannah’s Garden: a Turn of the Century Love Story
Abigail’s Melody
The Lydia Collection
The Redemption of Lady Georgiana
Protecting Miss Jenna
Persecution & Providence
Arise Princess Warrior, a 30 Day Devotional Challenge
The Shoemaker, an Old-Fashioned Regency Christmas
Story
Whispers in Wyoming, Contemporary Western Romance
Dreams of Sweetwater River
Marry Me Katie
No Place Like Home
All That Glitters
The Legend of Lollipop
Becoming Princess Olivia
Brides of Grace Hill, Generational Series Historical Saga
Geneva
Annabelle
Victoria
Tracy Jo, Coming Soon...
BRIDES OF PELICAN RAPIDS, Mail Order Bride Series
Lottie’s True Love
The Belles of Wyoming Series
The Prairie Princess
Holliday Island Resort Series, a Rom-Com (Romantic Comedy Christmas Contemporary Series)
Blitzen the CEO, releasing November 2019
