“Thank ye,” O’Reardon said. He stared at his plate.
“And Louise.”
Aunt Louise folded her arms. “Yes, Cornelius?”
“I promise”—he took a deep breath—“I promise to make a better effort not to argue with you this coming year. At least not as much.”
“Amen,” O’Reardon said.
Everyone laughed, and even Aunt Louise mustered a chuckle. Elijah looked at Milly and grinned.
Her father sipped his eggnog and sat down. “Mr. Montgomery, would you do us the honor of praying over our meal?”
Milly sensed Elijah tensing. He looked up at her father. “Mr. Kent, are you sure?”
“Yes, son.” His gaze was serious. “I’m sure.” He held out his hands, and everyone joined together.
Milly slipped her hand into Elijah’s. His fingers were cold, and she felt the dampness of his palms. She gently squeezed his hand and smiled before bowing her head.
Elijah started to pray, his voice shaky at first. But as he gave thanks for the Lord’s provision and blessings, the timbre grew in strength and confidence. By the time he finished the prayer, Milly could feel God’s presence with them at the table. She also realized that any doubts Elijah had about his calling or his effectiveness with words weren’t from the Lord.
“Nice prayer, Preacher.” Billy grinned at Elijah.
“I told you I’m not—”
“A preacher. I know.” He put his arm around Ethel’s shoulder. Anne was sound asleep in her mother’s arms. “But you’ve just about got me convinced to try out that church down the road in Unionville.”
“That’s God’s prodding, not mine,” Elijah said.
“God works through his people,” O’Reardon said, taking a long swig of his eggnog. “’Tis what me sainted mother used to say.”
Aunt Louise reached for the platter of turkey. “I didn’t realize you were a man of faith, Mr. O’Reardon.”
He looked directly at her. “You never asked, Mrs. Crosby.”
Milly looked around the table as everyone started talking and laughing as they filled their plates. Tears suddenly came to her eyes. Not just because of what her father had said or because her aunt and Mr. O’Reardon kept looking at each other when they didn’t think the other one was paying attention. Instead, she thought about Elijah. The real love he had for God. How his heart was revealed in a simple act of prayer. How his words had an effect on Billy Tomlinson, a man he barely knew.
“Excuse me,” she said, scooting back from the table before the tears spilled over her cheeks.
“Milly?” Her father held his fork in midair.
“We need more butter. I’ll be right back.” She flew out of the room, wiping her cheeks as she left.
Chapter 9
Concerned, Elijah looked at Cornelius. Everyone else seemed to accept Milly’s excuse to leave, but Elijah knew differently, and not because there were three full butter dishes already on the table.
Cornelius nodded, and Elijah excused himself. He went into the kitchen. “Milly?”
She stood by the sink, her back was to him, but he could see her wiping her cheeks. She turned and faced him, her lips forming a watery smile. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to check on you.”
“I don’t know why. Nothing’s wrong.” Her voice sounded higher pitched than normal. She glanced wildly around the kitchen. “Now where did I put that butter?”
“Milly.” He softened his tone as he approached her. “We don’t need any more butter.”
“Oh. My mistake then.” Her smiled widened, as if it would threaten to permanently wrinkle her smooth skin. “No reason we should be standing in the kitchen then.” She started to move past him.
He put his hand on her arm. “Please. Tell me what’s wrong. You were crying.”
She looked up at him, her eyes glazing again. “I always miss my mother the most this time of year.”
He took a deep breath. “Of course. I wasn’t thinking…. I should have allowed you a moment of privacy.”
Her gaze didn’t flinch from his. “That’s all right, Elijah. It…it means a lot to me that you care.”
He did care, more at this moment than he ever had before. How could he leave her? How could he be apart from her forever? He leaned forward, taking in the beauty of her blue eyes, drowning in the depths of them. Without thinking, he touched her cheek, where a stream of tears had started to fall. He wiped them away with his fingertip.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured.
She didn’t move from his touch. “For what?”
Leaving you. “That Christmas is so difficult for you. I wish things were different.”
Milly took his hand in hers. “I wish they were, too.” She squeezed his fingers before letting go. “We should get back before we’re missed.”
He nodded, but he didn’t want to go back. He wanted to capture this moment in his memory forever. Because soon, memories would be all he had.
After everyone had finished eating, Milly started removing the empty dishes. Clearing the table was easier than clearing her head, which replayed Elijah’s tender words and expression over and over. He had offered her comfort in her grief, but she suspected there were more to his words. She wanted to believe it to be true.
She took the last of the silverware to the kitchen and put it in the sink.
“I see why my matchmaking has utterly failed with you, Millicent.”
Milly whirled around to face her aunt Louise. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I believe you do.” Her aunt’s normally stern expression softened. “Elijah is a good man, Milly. I can see why you’re taken with him.”
“That’s nice of you to say, but you’re mistaken.” She poured water from the large pail on the floor into the sink basin.
“That you have feelings for him? I don’t believe I’m mistaken at all.”
Milly paused. To deny her aunt’s words would be a lie. “It doesn’t matter how I feel, Aunt Louise. Elijah and I can never be.”
“Well, why on earth not? Surely he realizes what a prize you are.”
She put the pail back on the floor and looked at her aunt again. “I’m not so sure. And even if he did, it wouldn’t matter. He’s leaving tomorrow.” She explained to her about Elijah’s calling west, in as little detail as possible. “He has no choice but to do God’s will.”
“Humph.” Her aunt uncrossed her arms. Then she sighed. “You’re right. No wonder that young man has been so quiet today. Pensive even. I don’t believe for a minute he wants to leave you any more than you want him to go.”
“His hesitation has little to do with me,” Milly said.
“You’re far too modest, young lady. You are a big part of why he’s in no hurry to leave.”
If only that were true. But she had to be realistic. He had only shown her kindness. And friendship. “I would never stand in his way, Aunt Louise.” Her voice caught.
Her aunt drew her into her soft embrace. “Of course you wouldn’t. Yet it doesn’t make things any easier, does it?”
Milly leaned her cheek against her aunt’s shoulder. “No. It doesn’t.” She pulled away and wiped her eyes. “I’d better finish cleaning up. I’m sure Father is getting out his Bible as we speak.”
“I’ll help,” Aunt Louise said. She reached for one of Milly’s aprons hanging on a peg on the back of the door. She tied it around her wide waist, the strings barely knotting together. Then she turned and started washing the dishes in the sink.
Despite Milly’s sorrow over Elijah’s approaching departure, she couldn’t help but smile as her aunt started washing dishes with enthusiasm. She’d never offered to help in the kitchen before. This truly was a time for miracles.
After she and Aunt Louise made quick work of the kitchen, they went into the dining room. A fire blazed in the hearth. The Tomlinsons sat next to each other in the high-backed chairs, Ethel cradling a sleeping Anne. O’Reardon was seated a little
farther away in one of the wooden chairs. Father and Mr. Menough were seated on the other side of the hearth, a little closer to the fire. As Milly had thought, her father had his Bible in his lap.
But where was Elijah?
“Where are we supposed to sit?” Aunt Louise peered down her nose. “Milly and I worked tirelessly in the kitchen—”
“An’ I saved a seat for ya.” O’Reardon patted the empty chair next to him. “If yer done talkin’ and are ready to sit down.”
Aunt Louise froze. She looked at the seat. Milly gave her a nudge, and she cleared her throat. “Thank you, Mr. O’Reardon. That was very…thoughtful.”
“That’s me. Thoughtful.”
Milly thought she detected a small smile as Aunt Louise sat next to O’Reardon. Although she did move the chair a few inches away from him.
“Milly, come sit down by the fire,” her father said. “It’s time to read the Christmas story.”
“We should wait for Mr. Montgomery.”
Once again her father gave her a strange look, similar to the one he’d given in the kitchen earlier that day. “We’ll wait for him. He just ran upstairs for a moment.”
“Oh.” Milly felt as if they were all looking at her as she took her place on the floor at her father’s feet. He had already put one of her mother’s old quilts in front of the fireplace for her to sit on. Every year he read from the book of Luke. But this evening was the first time in years when they’d had more than Aunt Louise for company. Milly had just settled in when Elijah came downstairs.
“Sorry to keep you all waiting.” He stood near the fire, and Milly noticed he had something tucked underneath his arm.
“Mr. Montgomery, there’s a place right here for you.” Father pointed to the empty place beside Milly.
She held in her breath as Elijah looked at the quilt. What was her father doing, asking a guest to sit on the floor? But Elijah didn’t hesitate and sat next to Milly.
“There.” Father sat back and opened his Bible. He started reading from the second chapter of Luke.
Milly gazed at the fire while her father read, soaking in every word. She’d heard this story every year ever since she could remember, yet it never failed to amaze her. She thought about how blessed she was, surrounded by family and friends, listening to her Savior’s inauspicious beginnings. She glanced up and saw Billy staring at his daughter, his eyes filled with love.
When her father finished, he closed his Bible.
“Never get tired o’ that story.” O’Reardon leaned back in his chair. “ ’Tis a beautiful tale.”
“Yes it is,” Mr. Menough agreed.
Milly looked at Elijah. He hadn’t moved since he sat down. Suddenly, he turned to her father. “If you don’t mind, Mr. Kent, I’d like to share something.”
“Of course.”
Elijah rose and turned his back to the fire. He opened the weathered black book he’d held in hands during the Bible reading. “We’ve always had a tradition in our family, too. One that goes back to before I was born, when my family first came to America from England.” He pulled out a delicate, worn letter. “My parents gave this to me right before I left Buffalo.” He glanced down at Milly and smiled. “They thought it would provide encouragement during my…travels.” He gazed at everyone else. “I think it’s appropriate for tonight.”
Chapter 10
Then by all means, Mr. Montgomery,” Cornelius said. “Share with the rest of us.”
He looked at Billy Tomlinson, who nodded. At O’Reardon, who gave him a nod before sneaking a look at Louise, who was sharing a glance with Milly. Elijah held the letter in his hand. Usually his father read these words on Christmas Eve, in a strong, clear voice honed by years in the pulpit guiding his flock. Elijah hoped he could do them justice.
“This is a letter from my great-great-grandfather.” Elijah cleared his throat. “He was too weak from consumption to make the voyage across the ocean with the rest of his family. He gave this letter to his oldest son, Elijah, my greatgrandfather and namesake.
My dearest family,
It is with utmost regret that I must say good-bye to you, that I will not be able to join you in freely worshipping our Savior. Know that I will miss all of you terribly but that you are following the highest calling possible—God’s will.
Never forget the purpose of your journey—not to escape persecution for our faith here in England, but to be steadfast in your devotion to the Lord. Remember that Jesus, our King, was born in a foreign land, rejected even before His birth. Remember the sacrifice His earthly parents made, traveling across the desert, the threat of death looming over them, forced to spend the night in the humblest of places—a manger.
In the New World, you will endure hardship. You will have moments of doubt. Of worry. Of fear. Do not allow these to take root in your soul. Rather, look to the Lord, our most sovereign God, for strength and guidance. Keep your eyes and heart on Him, and you will not fail.
Do not mourn for me, my loved ones. Know that I am in the safety of God’s steady hand, and that I will pray for you hourly for the rest of my days.
Your loving husband and father,
Elijah E. Montgomery
Elijah folded the letter. For years he’d heard these words but had never truly listened to them. As a youth, he had pretended to listen, more interested in thinking about the presents he would receive the next morning. When he was called to go west, each year he felt the sting of those words and indictment of his own cowardice.
But tonight…tonight the words pierced his heart. He put the paper back in his grandfather’s Bible and sat down. He avoided looking at everyone, keeping his gaze on the fire. But he could feel Milly looking at him.
Finally, Cornelius spoke. “Thank you for reading that,” he said. His voice sounded a little heavy.
“Yes,” Louise chimed in. “What a wonderful man your great-greatgrandfather must have been.”
“He was,” Elijah said, not looking at her. “I never appreciated it until now.”
Cornelius yawned. “Well, I don’t know about you all, but it’s been a long day. Billy, you and Ethel and the baby are welcome to stay in Milly’s room. And I’ll brook no argument about that.”
“Thank you, sir,” Billy said.
The flames crackled and burned as they all took their leave and went to their respective rooms for the night. Everyone but Milly.
She remained by Elijah’s side, not saying anything. The silence between them, instead of being awkward, felt comfortable. He wished it could last forever.
“He was a brave man,” Milly finally said.
“Yes he was. He not only was facing his own death, but he had to tell his family good-bye.” He clasped his hands over his bent knees. “This was the first time I really understood what he was saying.” He looked at Milly. “I’m not afraid anymore.” It was the truth. He finally had let go of the fear. It happened sometime when he was reading the letter. He could feel the paralyzing doubt melt away.
“I’m happy for you, Elijah.” She smiled.
“Thank you.”
Her smile quickly faded. “I should be getting to bed. The snow started to lighten up earlier.”
“I overheard Menough and O’Reardon talking about it. O’Reardon said he would help with the repairs. Did you know he used to make stages back in Ireland?”
“Apparently there are a lot of things we don’t know about Mr. O’Reardon.” She stood. Smoothed the skirt of her dress. “I’m glad you’re at peace, Elijah. Good night.”
“Good night.” He watched her go upstairs to one of the guest rooms. But he didn’t follow. Not yet.
He was at peace about his calling. But he wasn’t at peace with leaving Milly. He wondered if he ever would be.
The next morning when Milly woke up, there wasn’t a flake in the sky. It was Christmas Day, but a heaviness still settled over her. She was truthful when she told Elijah she was glad he was at peace with his mission. But she didn’t want to say good-bye. An
d there wouldn’t be another storm or broken axle to bring him back to her.
She got up and quickly dressed then went downstairs. She checked the kitchen, then the barn, but didn’t see anyone. She heard the sound of a baby’s cry coming from her bedroom. The baby quickly quieted.
Milly went into the kitchen and started breakfast, trying to ignore the pain in her heart. Having Elijah here for the extra time had only reinforced how much she cared about him. But she had to let him go. And it was even harder this time than it had been the last.
She had finished cooking breakfast and was keeping it warm on the stove while she waited for the men to return. The Tomlinsons came out of the room, dressed and ready to go.
“Thank you, Milly,” Billy said as Ethel stood beside him. “We appreciate the hospitality. We’ll recommend this place to our friends for sure.”
“Don’t be strangers.” Milly smiled. “Perhaps we’ll see you at church this Sunday.”
Ethel looked at her husband. After a pause, he nodded. “Perhaps.”
“You sure you don’t want breakfast before you go?”
Ethel shook her head. “We’re eager to get back home.” The family headed for the door.
“Merry Christmas,” she called out to them.
“Merry Christmas,” Billy and Ethel said and waved at her before disappearing out the door.
Milly walked over to the window. The sun shone brightly, making the thick drifts of snow sparkle in the sunlight. It was hard to believe only yesterday the sky had been cloaked in gray, the air filled with a curtain of snow.
She heard the familiar creak of her aunt bustling down the stairs. She turned. Aunt Louise was already dressed, her woolen shawl draped around her shoulders.
A Pioneer Christmas Collection Page 12
