A Family for Christmas

by Winnie Griggs

  There were seven other tables in the place, and the occupants seemed to be enjoying their meals, lending weight to Mr. Dawson’s earlier claims. She noticed the patrons were also trying to study her and Leo without being too obvious. But their curiosity seemed friendly enough and she found herself on the receiving end of more than one neighborly smile.

  What really snagged and held Eve’s attention, however, was the far wall, where three tall, sturdy bookcases stood behind a small table that obviously served as someone’s desk. Both bookcases were crammed full of volumes of various sizes and colors. Such a wealth of reading material—it was all Eve could do not to cross over to read the titles.

  Forcing herself to look away from the books, Eve turned back to read the menu, but not before she caught Mr. Dawson staring at her. He actually had the audacity to smile and lean back in his chair, continuing to study her.

  She decided to ignore him and instead focus on the chalkboard. Unfortunately she remained uncomfortably aware of his gaze. As she read the menu, she studied the prices more than the food choices. She had to be careful with her funds—the pittance she had wouldn’t last long.

  “If you’re having trouble deciding,” Mr. Dawson said a moment later, “I’d recommend the rabbit stew. It’s Daisy’s Tuesday special and always delicious.” His tone held no hint that he’d recognized her earlier discomfort.

  Leo nodded enthusiastically. “That sounds good.”

  Mr. Dawson turned to her. “Shall I make that three orders?”

  Eve studied the price and hesitated. Then she nodded. “Very well.” A nice filling stew would hold her for the remainder of the day. And she did need to keep her strength up for the uncertainty ahead.

  Mr. Dawson raised a hand to let Daisy know they were ready, and placed their order. Then he returned his attention to Eve. “I saw you studying Abigail’s library a moment ago. I take it you enjoy reading.”

  Eve nodded, allowing a small smile to escape. “Very much.” It was one of her guilty pleasures—one she hadn’t had much opportunity to indulge in since she’d graduated from school.

  “Perhaps you can get a closer look at the books once we’ve completed our meal and pick out something to read while you’re in town.”

  “You mean they just let folks take them?” Did they value books so little here?

  He shrugged. “It’s a circulating library, which means the books are available to all subscribers. But Abigail always lets you have the first one free.”

  It was tempting, but she wouldn’t really be here in town very long. And she didn’t need to be beholden to yet another stranger. Rather than going into that with him, though, she settled for making a noncommittal sound.

  Apparently taking that as agreement, he changed the subject. “I believe you said you were headed to Tyler to find employment as a milliner’s apprentice?”

  “That’s correct.” Had Mrs. O’Connell received her telegram yet? What was she thinking about her truant would-be apprentice?

  “Is becoming a milliner something you have a burning desire to do, if you don’t mind my asking?”

  What would he do if she said she did mind his asking? “A friend of my grandmother’s runs a millinery shop in Tyler. Apparently she gets an increase in orders in the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas so she agreed to hire me on a trial basis for now. Once the New Year gets here, we are to both evaluate whether to continue the arrangement.”

  It wasn’t really an answer to his specific question, and the look he gave her said he knew it. But he didn’t press further. Instead, he turned to Leo. “And what about you?”

  Leo shrugged. “The same.” He traced a circle on the table. “I mean, I was looking for a big city, somewhere where I could find work and not stand out.”

  Mr. Dawson stroked his chin thoughtfully. “You know, if it’s work you’re looking for, Leo, you don’t have to go all the way to Tyler. There’s work to be had right here in Turnabout.”

  That caught Eve’s interest. If she could find some temporary work here, it would give her an opportunity to replenish some of the funds she’d have to spend on meals and such before moving on. “What sort of work?”

  He spread his hands. “I wasn’t thinking of anything in particular, just that folks are always needing work done.”

  She swallowed her disappointment. Before she could make any sort of response, however, he turned to Leo. “In fact, things get pretty messy in my shop when I’ve got work piled up. I’ve been looking for someone to clean up around the place and help me keep things in order—you know sweep up, fetch things for me, run errands. That sort of thing.”

  Leo sat up straighter. “I could do that.”

  Mr. Dawson wrinkled his brow, as if the idea was something he hadn’t yet considered, but Eve could tell it was what he’d been leading up to all along.

  “Do you really think so?” the man asked. “I mean, it’s hard work and I couldn’t afford to pay much.”

  But Leo was leaning forward eagerly. “That’s okay. I don’t mind the work, and I’ll need some money to get by on once the sheriff finds out I’m not lying.”

  Eve lightly touched his arm but kept her gaze on Chance. “Of course, since you are so generously opening your home to us, Leo and I will be happy to pitch in and help with the chores as much as we are able. And we wouldn’t dream of taking payment.” She withdrew her hand but gave Leo a pointed look. “Isn’t that right?”

  Leo’s expression lost its eager edge, but he nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

  She was pleased to have her faith in him proved true. But his comment about needing money to get by concerned her. Did the boy truly believe he would be allowed to go off on his own once matters were settled? He would need a guardian of some sort, whether he wanted one or not. But perhaps now was not the time to open that avenue of conversation.

  However, it did bring up the question of just what would happen to him. And right now she didn’t have an answer.

  Their food arrived then, delivered by a younger girl with reddish-gold hair and a saucy smile.

  “Hello, Abigail,” Mr. Dawson greeted her. “Don’t tell me Daisy let you into her kitchen.”

  “And just why would that come as a surprise to you?” The girl gave him an indignant look. “You don’t think Daisy is the only member of this family who can cook, do you?”

  Mr. Dawson leaned back and raised his hands as if she’d attacked him. “Far be it from me to question your talents, in any arena.”

  The girl responded to his obvious teasing with a smile. “Actually, I’m in training. I’ll be taking over for a few weeks after the baby comes.”

  Then she turned to Eve as she set a dish in front of her. “And since Chance here seems to have forgotten his manners, allow me to introduce myself. I’m Abigail Fulton. Daisy’s husband is my brother.”

  They exchanged greetings as Abigail set out the food, then the girl disappeared back into the kitchen.

  Eve noted the way Leo dug his spoon into his bowl, as if he hadn’t eaten for days, which he well may not have. But there were other ways to nourish him, as well.

  She briefly touched his arm. “Shall we say grace first?”

  Leo set his spoon down, his cheeks turning red. “Sorry,” he mumbled.

  She smiled. “No need to apologize. We all forget sometimes.” She turned to Mr. Dawson. “Would you care to lead us?”

  As soon as the words were out of her mouth she wished them back. She’d put him on the spot! What if he wasn’t comfortable with praying aloud?

  Had her deplorable tendency to act first and think later caused her yet another misstep?

  Chapter Five

  Chance could tell from her expression that she wasn’t certain he’d comply. Actually, while he didn’t always remember to do so, he had no trouble at all offerin
g up a prayer. His mother had taught him well before she passed. And while he’d had more than a few bouts of rebellion growing up, and still questioned why he’d been saddled with such a shameful affliction, he’d never really lost faith in the Almighty.

  He nodded and folded his hands, elbows on the table. “Heavenly Father, bless this meal we are about to partake of, and watch over these visitors who have unexpectedly arrived in our community. Let them feel welcome here, for whatever time they may be with us. In Your Son’s name we pray. Amen.”

  His companions echoed his amen, then they all picked up their spoons.

  Chance had seen Eve’s keen interest in the newspaper office when they’d passed by earlier. He’d also noticed the longing looks she’d sent toward Abigail’s library when they first entered the restaurant. She obviously enjoyed reading—a pastime he envied but could never share.

  He decided to circle back to the question she’d tried to sidestep earlier. “So, Eve, do you have a burning desire to become a hat maker?”

  He saw the walls go up in her expression and thought for a moment she’d ignore his question again. But he maintained an expression of innocent curiosity, and she finally responded politely, even if not altogether warmly.

  “My taking a position as a milliner was actually my grandmother’s idea,” she said carefully. “The opportunities for employment in Iron Bluff are very limited so she contacted her friend Mrs. O’Connell, who graciously offered to take me in and train me.”

  Now, why was a sheltered young woman such as this worrying about employment in the first place—shouldn’t she instead be finding a husband? Or was there a dearth of marriageable bachelors in Iron Bluff?

  “I’m quite grateful for the opportunity,” she added as she reached for her glass.

  His questions had definitely brought back that stiff, schoolmarm demeanor in her. How much further would she let him press?

  She set her glass down and faced him evenly. “As for your earlier question, I’m not so set on millinery work that I wouldn’t be willing to do work of other kinds while I am here in Turnabout—housekeeper, cook, laundress— whatever might be available.”

  Did she truly want to find a job while she was here? Perhaps she didn’t understand the arrangement he had offered her. “That’s not necessary. I don’t plan to charge you and Leo for the rooms. After all, they’re just sitting empty right now and it won’t cost me anything for you to stay there.”

  Her lips pursed primly. “That’s very kind of you, but I’m not one to sit idle. Besides which, having a bit of pocket money would not go amiss.”

  Was she low on funds? He’d noticed the way she’d studied the menu with that furrow between her brows. He’d thought she was just trying to decide on a selection, but perhaps she’d been worrying about the prices. Finances could be a touchy subject, though, so he’d have to tread carefully. “I’ll ask around and keep my ears open.” He saw the quickly masked disappointment in her face. So she’d been serious about wanting to find work. He was curious to learn more. “Tell me, if you could have any job at all, what would you really like to do?”

  He watched her swirl her spoon through the bowl of stew. “I’ve never really thought about that before.”

  That struck Chance as a very sad statement. Didn’t she know how to dream? “Well, think about it now.”

  She was quiet for another moment. Then a slow, smile blossomed on her face. “I’d open a confectionery.”

  “What’s a confectionery?” Leo asked.

  She gave him an impish smile. “It’s like a candy store.”

  The boy’s eyes widened. “Oh, my goodness, wouldn’t that be a grand place to work?”

  Eve laughed and it totally transformed her face. She really was quite pretty when she allowed herself to relax. “That it would,” she said.

  “Why a confectionery?” Her answer had surprised him, but he was delighted by the unexpectedness of it.

  She took on a faraway look. “When I was a schoolgirl, my Sunday school teacher would invite some of her students into her home at Christmastime. We would make all sorts of wondrous treats. She taught us to make fudge and caramels and pralines and all manner of sweet things—just bowls and platters full of them.”

  “What did you do with all that candy?” Leo asked. “Did you get to eat it?”

  She gave him a conspiratorial smile. “Some. Because, of course, we’d have to taste it along the way, just to make certain it had turned out okay, you understand.”

  “Sounds perfectly reasonable to me,” Chance said. He found himself entranced by the softness in her now.

  She cut a quick look his way, as if to make certain he wasn’t making fun of her, then nodded and turned back to Leo.

  “But we packed up the majority of those treats very carefully and sent the packages off to several orphanages as Christmas treats.”

  Chance was enjoying this sweet, playful side of her. But before he could comment, she seemed to realize that she’d revealed more of herself than she’d intended.

  She straightened and dipped her spoon purposefully into her bowl. “Anyway, it turned out that I was very good at candy making. Miss Trosclair said I had a real knack for it.”

  Chance shook his head apologetically. “I’m afraid Turnabout doesn’t have a confectionary shop so we can’t offer you a job like that.”

  She nodded politely but that earlier softness was gone. “Having such a job would be nice, but as I said, I’ll take whatever I can find.” Then she gave him a pointed look. “I think it’s my turn to ask a few questions.”

  Turning the tables on him was she? Good for her. “Ask away.”

  “Something Daisy said when we walked in makes me think you’re not from here originally. So where are you from and how long have you lived in Turnabout?”

  Easy enough questions to answer. “I was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. And I’ve been here about a year and a half.”

  Her brows went up. “You traveled a far piece to get here—much farther than either me or Leo.”

  If only she knew. “True. But I consider Turnabout home now.”

  “And you came all this way on your own?”

  “Not exactly.” How much should he share with her? Better stick with just the bare minimum. “There were four of us who traveled together,” he continued. There was no point in mentioning that the catalyst had been an unorthodox marriage lottery they’d all participated in.

  Her eyes widened in surprise. “Four city folk from Philadelphia decided to come to Turnabout, Texas?”

  He grinned. “That we did.”

  “Why?”

  Now her questions were getting a little more personal. “Business reasons.” Technically true. “Not to say we planned to go into business together—just travel together. Daisy’s husband, Everett, was one of my travel companions. Adam Barr, the town’s banker and lawyer, and Mitch Parker, the schoolteacher, were the other two. We’ve all found our own reasons to stay.” Though the four men had become friends after their arrival here, he’d never pried into what reasons they’d had for agreeing to the constraints that had been laid on them at the outset of their trip. Just as he’d never shared his own.

  “So you’ve all stayed and become part of the town. That says a lot for the place. It must be special.”

  He nodded. “I’ve seen evidence that Turnabout lives up to its name. It’s a good place for starting over and turning your life around.” At least it had been for him and the others who’d traveled here with him.

  But Chance had had enough of talking about himself. Figuring Eve probably needed time to think over the events of the day, he turned to Leo and kept up a steady stream of light, easy chatter with the boy through the rest of the meal. Leo seemed like a good kid. He also appeared to be more mature and guarded than most boys his ag
e, but that was no doubt due to what he’d been through these past couple of years. If his story were true, this Belcher fellow deserved a flogging or worse.

  Leo was the first to finish his bowl and Chance immediately ordered seconds for him with just a quick hand signal, barely missing a beat in the conversation.

  When Eve finished her bowl he started to do the same, but she quickly let him know she’d had enough.

  At one point, Abigail came around to check on them. “How was everything?”

  “Delicious,” Eve answered.

  “I’ll let Daisy know you enjoyed it.”

  “And just where is Daisy?” Chance asked. “I haven’t seen her in a while.”

  Abigail began collecting their dishes. “Everett came by to check on her and insisted she get off her feet for a few minutes. Of course, Daisy rolled her eyes at him, but since the lunch rush is about over she agreed to let me see to things for a while.” She grinned. “Everett convinced her I needed the practice.”

  Remembering Eve’s earlier interest in the library, and guessing she wouldn’t broach the subject on her own, Chance decided to make it easier for her.

  “How’s the library business these days?” he asked casually.

  Abigail immediately became more animated. “Very good. I signed another subscriber yesterday and I’m planning to purchase several new titles right after Christmas.” She sighed dramatically. “I miss having Constance partnering with me, but she absolutely loves her new job assisting Mr. Flaherty at the apothecary shop.”

  Chance nodded. “Mr. Flaherty seems pleased with the job she’s doing.” He glanced Eve’s way, waiting for her to speak up. But when she didn’t jump into the conversational opening, he decided to be more direct. “Speaking of your library, Miss Pickering here is interested in taking a look at your selection of books.”