Suddenly there was the loud banging of two pots together and all of the men fell silent and quickly backed away from the pig. Luke followed their example and looked to where the noise had come from.
“Every year!” Abuela yelled at them. “Every year I have to pull you vultures off that pig so there’s enough left for the posada. Now go! Be gone with you! There’s plenty more work to be done!”
The men scattered, leaving Luke standing alone, until, thankfully, Raphael glanced back, grabbed him by the arm, and pulled him away from the evidence of their assault on the pig.
Gabby immersed herself in everything they had to do for the posada in order to forget about the ache in her side and the equally painful ache in her heart. She had searched Luke’s face to see if he longed for her the way she longed for him. And all she could see was a man who enjoyed her presence, but had no desire to pursue anything further.
Even though she was hurt, she was still determined to make this a wonderful first Christmas for him. He had been in hiding with Raphael for some time since the pig had come out of the ground, but he had finally returned, grinning like a schoolboy. Knowing Raphael, she could only imagine what the two of them had been up to.
Luke’s cheeks were bright red from the cold wind and his hair was tossed about, leaving a piece falling down over his forehead, and she thought he had never looked more handsome than he did in that moment. She had to shake herself out of studying him and came over to him, as he wiped his hands with a wet towel.
At first he looked down at her with surprise, and she attempted to smile up at him. “It’s time you learn how to make the next most important food for Christmas, other than the pig.”
He arched an eyebrow. “And that is?”
“Tamales, of course!” She laughed lightly, enjoying how little he knew and the joy it brought her to teach him. She grasped his hand and led him into the living room, where she felt him hesitate slightly.
The dining room had been turned into a massive production facility, with their cousins and friends filling the room, each doing different steps in the process of making the tamales, from spreading the masa, to filling them, to wrapping them tightly and sending them off to be cooked.
“Ladies!” Gabby said loudly over the chatter of the women and they all hesitated and looked in her direction. “This is Doctor Luke Davenport. He is our new town doctor here in San Antonio. He has never experienced a Christmas, so it is time we introduce him to a true Texas Christmas!”
A cheer went up from the women, and before she could say anything else, all of her eligible cousins had surrounded him and were pulling him forward to help with making the tamales. Gabby felt a slight twinge of pain. Perhaps one of her cousins was sophisticated enough to go to the gala with him. Perhaps he would fall in love with her. And then she would enjoy his sweet kisses in the morning.
But it was as she was having these sobering thoughts that he turned to look back at her, a pained smile on his face, and winked. Joy burst through her, and she had to hold in the laugh that threatened to bubble forth. The wink was meant for her, and she would treasure it, especially as he went through the process of picking a date for the gala.
At first she had hoped he would ask her, but as soon as she realized he needed the perfect woman—sophisticated, elegant, beautiful—she had known she wouldn’t receive the invitation. She could be sophisticated and elegant if she put her mind to it. After all, her mother had trained her how to be those things, especially as they were invited to so many events in Corpus Christi. But beautiful?
Throughout her schooling she was made fun of for having such odd eyes. And when she was older, boys avoided her as much as possible. Her mother told her it was because she was a healer and they were scared of what that meant, but Gabby knew they simply weren’t attracted to her. She had come to terms a long time ago with the fact that she would never find true love. The very fact that her own arranged marriage was falling through because the man hadn’t come forward to claim her was statement enough about how attractive she was. Now she knew beyond a doubt she would never find true love. Because there was no man who would ever make her feel the way Luke did. She knew it in her heart.
“You are very deep in thought. Is this process that difficult?”
Luke’s voice behind her made her heart leap and she turned to smile up at him. “I thought my cousins had taken you prisoner,” she said softly.
He leaned down close to her and whispered against her ear, “I escaped. Would you like to break free, too?”
She fought the shiver that ran down her spine at the warmth of his breath across her ear and the temptation to be taken away from it all. But she still had to show him so much. She scooted over on the bench, making room for him.
Slowly, almost reluctantly, he sat down next to her. “I thought we were about to make our great get-away. What happened?”
“You need to learn how to make tamales.”
“I already know how to. Your cousins explained it in thorough detail.”
“Ah, but there is a difference between being able to talk about it, and being able to really do it.”
She placed a corn husk in his hand and then pointed to the bowl of masa in front of both of them. “Take the masa and spread it on the corn husk. This is what holds everything together.”
Hesitantly, he reached for the masa and began attempting to spread it. His progress was slow, though, and Gabby had three finished by the time he held out the one that he was willing to present.
Gabby took one look at it and started laughing so hard tears formed at the corners of her eyes. “I said to spread it. Not lump it.”
Luke cast her a slightly irritated and amused expression. “If it is so easy for you, why don’t you just show me?” Her laughter had eased and she saw a smile on his lips. “You truly should laugh more often. It is a beautiful sound.”
She could feel the heat of blood rushing to her cheeks and prayed that it passed as an after-effect of all her laughing. “I will show you how to spread the masa,” she said softly, and caught hold of his hands. Using gentle motions she began to guide his hand up and down the corn husk, carefully spreading the masa on the delicate husk.
“See, it’s that simple,” she said when they had finished, turning a bright smile his direction. But her smile faded as she saw the look in his eyes as he watched her. His stormy blue eyes were full of questions, and held the same look they had held when he had kissed her what seemed weeks ago but was only a short time past. Was it desire she was seeing? Surely not.
“Are you ready to get out of here, yet?”
Her heart spoke before her mind could stop her. “Yes.”
Chapter Thirteen
She had stolen Serena’s coat before sneaking out the front door with Luke, her small hand interlaced with his big one. He smiled down at her as they moved further away from the cocina and her heart danced hard against her chest. She didn’t pause to analyze it, didn’t hesitate to wonder what the feeling was, she just simply enjoyed it.
“Where are we going?” she asked in a hushed tone as they moved further and further away. “The posada starts as soon as the sun sets, you know.”
“That should give us just enough time,” he said lightheartedly. He continued leading her further into town until she suddenly realized they were headed to his clinic. Curious, she hurried her pace to match his.
This time the door didn’t squeak as they walked inside, and he immediately turned towards the stairs. Gabby balked. “I—I don’t know if I can go up there.”
He stopped, his expression worried. “Have you remembered what happened now?”
“No. That’s why I’m so afraid to go up there.”
He stepped forward and took a wayward strand of hair and hooked it behind her ear. “That’s why I’m here to protect you.”
Gabby’s heart skipped a beat then plunged forward rapidly. Nodding, they turned back towards the stairs and made it to the top. Luke steered a wide path around the tr
ee and the gap in the ceiling, then cautiously opened the door leading out to the balcony. After checking to make sure it was safe, he escorted Gabby out onto the balcony and she smiled broadly.
“You can see nearly the whole town.” Gabby laughed.
“You said that last time,” Luke said softly, his lips twitching in a grin as he watched her face.
Gabby felt the heat of a blush rising once more to her cheeks. This man had an uncanny way of making her blush for no reason at all. “I suppose I told you before that this is one of the best views of the town I think I’ve ever seen?”
“Something like that. Though I must disagree.”
She looked back at him, startled to find him still staring at her. “You’ve found another place with a better view? Where?”
“Every place and time I look at you.”
Gabby swallowed hard. “Luke, please...”
“Why do you doubt your beauty, Gabby? Why? You are absolutely exquisite.”
“Have you been dipping into some of your medicine, Doc?” She forced a laugh. “Because what you are saying right now is absolutely loony.”
“It isn’t, Gabby. You’re beautiful. Hasn’t anyone ever told you that? You’re beautiful.”
Gabby’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m plain, Luke. As plain as one of those old buckboard wagons. Please don’t say otherwise. I know because of the things I was told growing up. And I know now, because you are the first man to even pay remote attention to me in a very long time, and that is only because you long for female companionship.”
“Female companionship? What in the bloody hell are you talking about? I spent nearly my entire life alone on the streets of London. I don’t seek companionship, female or otherwise!” His face was tense, and he abruptly turned his back on her.
Gabby was shocked, then confused. “How could you have possibly lived on the streets? Where were your parents? You must have had a home of some sort...”
He turned back to her with such speed she stepped back in surprise. “Do you really want to know all the terrible stories of my youth? Do you want me to drag up what it was like for me day in and day out while people as naïve as you walked right past me?”
“Luke, please, I didn’t mean...”
“No, you deserve to know the truth of who I am. My father died fighting the war over here in 1814. I believe you all simply call it the War of 1812. Very creative. I was only a small lad then, and barely knew him. But it devastated my mum. She was a nurse, and a fine good one at that. She was more qualified than some of the doctors. But she caught sick not long after my father died and no one knew what to do for her. I was six when she died.”
“Oh, Luke, I’m so sorry. Please, I didn’t mean to offend you.”
Luke continued talking as if Gabby wasn’t there. “It is because of my mum that I wanted to become a doctor. But I lived on the streets of London. No one wanted me. I had to literally scrap and fight for everything I needed to survive. After several years of living like that, I ended up getting really good at fighting. A man noticed me and decided to have me begin fighting for pay. I saved every little bit I made.”
He looked over at Gabby, his face expressionless. “What do you think of me now? I’m a fighter from London who grew up as a disgusting orphan. The only way I became a doctor was through a scholarship I earned from boxing matches. I beat up other people to become who I am today. And I came here to Texas for a fresh start. Where I wouldn’t be recognized as a boxing champion. Where I wouldn’t be pestered for being well-known. Where I could be a nobody once more and enjoy a new life, one where I could focus on being a doctor, and maybe one day...one day have a family. A real family. A family like yours.”
Gabby felt tears burning her eyes and her throat nearly closed up. “Oh, Luke—”
“I don’t want your pity, Vixen. That’s the last thing I want from you.”
“I don’t pity you! I admire you!” she said more harshly than she had intended, and his expression changed from anger to confusion.
“You made it to where you are all by your own hard work. No one gave you anything; you didn’t get any special privileges. It was by your own hard work that you earned that scholarship and were able to put yourself through schooling to become a doctor. A doctor! I can only imagine how hard that was. I admire your determination and tenacity. And more than anything I admire your dreams of the life you will have here in Texas. And you will have that life, Luke. I know you will. There is a woman who will give you the family you desire and more.”
Luke shook his head and looked off into the distance. “I never wanted to tell anyone that story. I shouldn’t have told you.”
“Why? I’m honored that you shared it with me. Now I understand you so much better. I wish you had told me sooner.”
“The sun is starting to set. We better hurry back to the house,” he said softly.
Gabby felt her heart sink. She turned to leave the balcony, but was suddenly pulled back by Luke’s hand on her arm. He pulled her into a tight embrace and pressed his lips to hers. She melted into him, having longed for his touch all day long.
His lips moved over hers gently, then more urgently as his hands moved up into her hair. Gabby met his intensity, sliding her arms around his broad shoulders, clinging to his strength and warmth.
It wasn’t a mistake. There was no possible way something that felt so right could be a mistake. As his hands slid down her shoulders and to her back, she felt heat flush through her entire body, making her forget the chill in the air. And then his hands settled around her waist and lifted her against him, causing her to gasp in excitement and surprise.
“Gabby,” he whispered against her lips. “You make me want to be a better man. You make me want to be the perfect man. And I’m afraid I can’t be what you need. You deserve so much more than me.”
Gabby pulled back, shaking her head. “How can you say that, Luke? How can you... Oh, no! The sun is setting! We have to get back now or we’re going to miss it!”
She turned to head back into the quarters, but his arm tightened around her, pulling her up short. She looked back at him with startled eyes. “What if I don’t care? What if I don’t want to meet all of these women that you and your cousins want me to meet? What if I only want to spend time with you?”
Gabby’s heart lodged in her throat and she could barely breathe. “Luke,” she said softly. “You don’t know what you’re saying. You don’t know what you are talking about. If only you knew. If only it was different...”
“If only I knew what? Tell me, Gabby. Tell me why it is so hard to get close to you. Tell me why you are pushing me away.”
“I—I can’t. Please, Luke. We can’t miss the posada.”
Shaking his head and frowning, he followed her back inside and they quickly made their way back to the cocina. The crowd was just beginning to form as they snuck in through the back door, but Olivia caught them.
“Where have you two been? I’ve been going crazy fretting over whether you would make it in time.” She was frowning darkly at both of them.
“Do we still have time for me to show him?”
“Yes, but only a few minutes. The first call is going to happen any moment.”
Gabby nodded, then glanced back at Luke, smiling slightly. “I had to prepare a surprise for you. I hope it does justice to what you saw back in London.”
They walked into the dining room, and in the corner stood a cedar tree they had chopped down. It was covered in strands of popcorn that had a string running through it, wild berries that had also been strung together, and various decorations that had obviously been painstakingly made.
Gabby looked back at Luke and his expression was one of surprise and immense gratitude. “I never expected... Not in my wildest dreams did I think I would see a Christmas tree here in Texas.”
“After you told me about it, I couldn’t resist. We had to make Christmas special for you.”
“You already have,” he said softly, squeezin
g her hand. “In more ways than one.”
Gabby swallowed hard, but was saved from responding by the first call outside their door. In Spanish, a man called to the “innkeepers” inside, asking for shelter for his wife who was about to give birth to a babe. From inside the house, Cade answered in a bellowing tone, “No, we have no room for you here!”
Then the people outside began to sing a song about the Blessed Mother, a beautiful, haunting song that always brought tears to Gabby’s eyes. They joined the rest of the family hovered around the door.
Again the cry went out for sanctuary for the pregnant wife. And again, they denied from the inside of the house. A new song, the melody sweet and poignant, touched all of them. Finally, after following the standard ritual, the family welcomed in all who stood outside in the cold, and soon the room that had been cleared of all the tables was full of friends and family and neighbors from around town.
They migrated to the dining area where the dining room table was loaded down with food, and soon people had heaping plates full of tamales and pork and a wide variety of other delectable items that were making Gabby’s mouth water.
Her eyes searched for Luke, as they had been separated when the people had filed into the home. It wasn’t hard to find him, as he was nearly six inches taller than everyone else in the room. It took her forever to make her way towards him, though, as she was greeted by so many who hadn’t seen her in a long time.
Finally, she reached his side and smiled up at him. “So, what do you think?” she asked loudly above the noise of everyone talking.
He leaned down so he could speak into her ear. “This is amazing!”
“It’s time for you to enjoy some of the food we’ve been cooking for a week,” she called back to him, and caught his hand, pulling him towards the table of food. She loaded a plate for him and handed it off to him with a bright smile on her face. “Enjoy.”
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