by Cox, Carol
She wondered what he would have done to get into Pa’s good graces if he were still alive. It wouldn’t have been anything like sharpening a knife, she thought, chuckling. More like helping him break a horse or mend a wagon wheel.
And Pa would have been just as impressed as she felt. It showed that Daniel planned ahead and wanted a good relationship with his family-to-be. It also showed that she had read his intentions correctly. He wouldn’t be doing this if he didn’t plan to ask for Violet’s hand.
That night after Daniel had gone home, the sisters sat before the fire, Rachel with her mending and Violet struggling with yarn and a pair of knitting needles.
“It’s no good,” Violet said, tossing the needles aside in disgust. “I’ll never get the hang of knitting. It’s a good thing you learned from Mother. Maybe you can teach me someday when we’re old and gray and have nothing else to do.” She looked at Rachel from under lowered lashes. “We can sit and talk about our grandchildren and what all our husbands have been up to.”
Rachel suppressed a smile with an effort. What a way to lead up to the subject of marriage! Did her sister really think she didn’t know which way the wind blew between her and Daniel? Fine, then. She would let Violet break the news in her own way, and she would show suitable surprise and delight when the moment came. She finished reattaching a dangling apron string and reached for another piece from the mending basket.
Violet worked to untangle her yarn and roll it back into a ball. “What do you think about Daniel?” she asked, her gaze never leaving her busy fingers.
Rachel tried not to snicker. She’d never realized Violet had such a gift for acting. If she didn’t know better, she’d think her sister had no interest in the man at all. She toyed with the idea of sounding unenthusiastic but dismissed it. No point in teasing when something as important as her sister’s future hung in the balance.
“I think he’s a fine man,” she responded, keeping her tone casual. “He’s a hard worker, and he loves the Lord. Pretty good qualities, if you ask me.” She pulled her stitches tight, waiting for Violet’s next remark.
“That’s good. I mean, you’re right,” Violet said. She wound the last wrap of yarn and tossed the ball into the sewing basket. “Those are important qualities for a man to have, don’t you think? Important qualities for a husband, I mean.”
“Absolutely.” Rachel had to bite her lips to keep from laughing out loud. Violet couldn’t be any more transparent if she tried.
“I’m glad.” Violet took a deep breath and licked her lips. “Because he has feelings for you.”
The needle slipped and jabbed Rachel in the thigh. “What?” she yelped.
“Isn’t it wonderful?” Violet seemed oblivious to her sister’s pained cry. “Assuming, of course, that you like him too,” she added cautiously. “You do, don’t you, Rachel?”
“Do—I—like—”
“You said yourself he’s a fine man. Hard worker and God-fearing.” She closed her eyes and heaved a blissful sigh. “It sounds like a match made in heaven to me.”
Rachel rubbed the sore spot on her leg and tried to concentrate. What had happened to the announcement of Violet’s intention to marry Daniel? She would have thought it all a dream, had it not been for the tender spot where the needle poked her. What about all those private conversations? Had he been toying with her sister’s affections?
“Violet, don’t you think I know how you feel about him? I hope you know I would never try to come between you.” She had spent enough time on bended knees to know she meant every word.
Violet raised her eyebrows quizzically.
“Look at all the time you’ve spent with him,” Rachel told her, mildly irked that her sister would force her to explain. “I’ve seen the looks passing back and forth between the two of you, all the smiles and the whispering.” She gave Violet a reproving look. “You haven’t been as unobtrusive as you think. It’s pretty obvious.”
Violet sprang to her feet. “Rachel, you goose! It isn’t me he cares for. It never has been. It’s you.”
Rachel studied her sister’s face, her heart beginning a wild flutter. Could it be true? Did the possibility exist that Daniel cared for her, Rachel Canfield? For herself and not the farm?
She dropped her mending in her lap and leaned back in her chair, staring at the wall but seeing Daniel’s face. He’d put in so much hard effort, taking over the heavy labor of harvest for her, then staying on to work even more without any apparent reason. Then there was the way he’d looked at her earlier that day, and the thrill she’d felt when his hand touched her face not once, but twice.
Her head grew light. What if it were true? What if all the thoughtful gestures were meant for her as the object of his love rather than a potential sister-in-law whose goodwill he wanted to win?
Rachel closed her eyes, the better to picture their time together in the kitchen. She could recall every moment—his words, his smile, the tingle that shot through her arm when he’d handed her the knife and his fingertips touched hers.
Her lips curved in a gentle smile. Maybe dreams did come true. Maybe God had decided to answer the deepest longings of her heart.
Without warning, another scene flashed before her eyes. She saw herself sitting at the table, explaining to Daniel that she was the sole owner of the property, that Violet had no legal interest in it whatsoever. Rachel jolted upright, the bitter taste of gall rising in her throat.
Of course he wanted her. She laughed in derision at her naivete, earning a puzzled look from Violet. He wanted her because she owned the land. She had been right about his intentions from the first. When he thought they both had rights to the property, pretty Violet had been the object of his attentions. Once he learned the truth, he switched his attention to Rachel without a moment’s hesitation.
She pressed her hand to her mouth, fearing she might be sick. What made her think that Daniel, or any man, would want her? She wanted to howl out her anguish at her betrayal and even more at the realization that this new knowledge didn’t change her feelings for Daniel in the least.
An idea took shape in her mind. Very well. If Daniel chose to play that game, she knew one way to find out his true motives, once and for all.
seventeen
He loved her. He loved her not. Rachel dropped the handful of straw to the ground, not having the heart to continue the childish game. Besides, loose straw made a poor substitute for the garden flowers she’d plucked petals from as a little girl in Missouri. But she had been hard-pressed to find any flowers blooming in the middle of December.
She stared across the yard, where the late afternoon had turned the snow into pools of slush. Dark gray clouds reappeared, and more snow drifted down into the puddles. It was a dismal day and a dismal scene. And Christmas was coming.
Her thoughts turned to Christmases past, times when her family didn’t have a lot in the way of material goods but abounded in the richness of the joys of being together. This year the holiday looked as desolate as the landscape before her.
Pa had worked hard to keep the Christmas spirit alive even after their mother was gone, but now he too would be missing from the picture. It would be up to Rachel to carry on, and she didn’t know if she could. Or whether she wanted to.
She shook herself, trying to cast off her downhearted mood. Hadn’t she learned that God could be trusted, regardless of the circumstances? No matter what upheaval went on around them or within her emotions, she could experience joy, if she so chose, just in knowing His presence.
And He was there, she knew that for sure. Hadn’t He given them help when they needed it most? Hadn’t He blessed them with money over and above the amount she’d sought so desperately, even when she would have thought such a sum an utter impossibility? No matter what happened with Daniel, the Lord continued to be in control, she reminded herself, feeling a stirring of excitement. And she and Violet would celebrate His birth.
What could she do to make this Christmas especially nice
for her sister? She felt compelled to make up for her surly attitude at Thanksgiving. A tree, she decided. Pa always sought out the perfect tree. Violet deserved some happiness, and she would provide it. She felt sure she could get Daniel to help cut one. She shrugged off a twinge of self-pity and set about making her plans.
What about gifts? Her pulse raced, realizing that with the money provided by the sale of the kittens, she would have a bit extra to buy something nice for Violet. With a light heart, she ran to hitch up the horses.
❧
Rachel browsed through the selection of goods in the general store, feeling positively giddy. How long had it been since she’d been able to shop for anything but the barest necessities?
Today she had money to spend, and she intended to enjoy the sensation. She didn’t plan to throw it away, but after their extended time of deprivation, the mere thought of being able to pay for a tiny bit of luxury made for a heady experience.
She had already spotted some possibilities at the dry goods counter at the mercantile. Once she finished here, she would go back to buy some fabric and bits of ribbon for Violet to use to trim their tree.
“Made up your mind yet, Rachel?” Jake Samson’s friendly smile let her know there was no impatience behind his words.
“I think so.” She set her purchase on the counter. “I’d like this one. . .and a bag of peppermints, please.” Her gaze lit on a shelf behind the counter, and she paused. “I’ll take three of those handkerchiefs too,” she told him, hoping he wouldn’t ask who they were for.
“Here you go.” He wrapped her items without so much as a flicker of interest and added up the total. Rachel counted out the money, happy to have spent even less than she expected.
She picked up her parcel and strolled toward the mercantile, then paused, changed direction, and went into the bank.
Ben Murphy looked up with a smile that told her he felt as relieved as she did that she no longer owed him money. “What can I do for you, Rachel?”
“Do you have those papers ready?”
The banker pulled a file from his desk drawer and stood, his brows knitted. “They’re right here.” He tapped the thin sheaf of papers slowly against his hand. “I drew them up just like you asked me to, but I don’t underst—”
“It doesn’t matter whether you understand or not,” Rachel said crisply. “Just so they’re legal and in order.” She gave them a quick glance and nodded. “Merry Christmas, Ben,” she told the perplexed banker and proceeded to the mercantile.
Back at home, she secreted Violet’s present in her cupboard and tucked the handkerchiefs in the bottom dresser drawer, wondering if she’d been a fool to buy even that small gift for Daniel.
She found Violet in the kitchen and handed her the fabric and ribbon. “You’d better get started on this,” she said in answer to her sister’s puzzled frown. “We’ll need decorations for the tree soon.”
“A tree? Oh, Rachel!” Violet hugged her ecstatically. “I’d been so afraid. . .well, you know. This will make it a real Christmas, after all!”
Rachel returned the hug. “I’m glad it makes you happy. I’ll arrange for Daniel to take you out in the wagon, and you can make a day of picking out the prettiest tree you can find.”
❧
Daniel showed up the next morning, bundled up in his heaviest coat. His face barely showed above the scarves wrapped around his neck. He strode into the kitchen, clapping his hands together to warm them. “Ready to go find a tree?” He looked at Violet expectantly.
She paused, and Rachel glanced up from polishing the lamp chimney, surprised at her sister’s hesitation. “Actually, I was hoping to spend some time alone. Why don’t you go, Rachel?”
Rachel opened her mouth to protest, but Violet took the rag from her hand and replaced the shiny glass globe on the base of the lamp.
“If you must know,” Violet said, pulling Rachel’s heavy work coat from its hook and prodding her sister toward the door, “I need to work on your Christmas present. . .when you aren’t around.”
She stuffed Rachel’s limp arms into the sleeves as though she were a small child and gave her a maternal pat on the shoulder. “Scat. Go with Daniel, and don’t come back until you’ve found the perfect tree. Go!” She flapped her hands in a shooing gesture as Rachel hovered uncertainly in the doorway.
Rachel shot a quick glance at Daniel, who just stood smiling, a bemused expression on his face. He looked a question at Violet, and Rachel turned quickly enough to intercept her sister’s quick wink. Daniel pushed the door open and swept his arm out in a courtly gesture. “Your coach awaits.”
What had passed between them? Rachel glared at Violet, then shoved a pair of gloves in her coat pocket and wound a scarf around her head.
Daniel tucked a lap robe firmly around Rachel and made sure she was settled before he snapped the reins and sent the horses off at a lively trot. Their hooves crunched in quick rhythm through the light crust of snow.
Rachel sat upright and stared straight ahead, achingly aware of Daniel’s proximity. The last time they’d been together alone, they’d sat on opposite sides of the table. Now, mere inches separated them physically, but a gulf of doubt lay between them. For once in her life, Rachel couldn’t think of a thing to say.
Daniel seemed to suffer from the same malady. He held the reins casually enough, but a quick peek from under her lowered lashes showed her his wary posture and stiff facial features. When he finally broke the silence, the sound of his voice made her jump.
“I thought we’d go out by Spruce Mountain to look at the trees there.” He looked at her as if seeking her approval, and Rachel met his gaze directly for the first time since their encounter in the kitchen.
The clear sky, the forest, the snow-covered hills all seemed to slip away. The only scenery worth looking at was what she found in Daniel’s deep green eyes.
His gaze probed hers intently as if asking a question she didn’t know how to answer. Despite the bitter cold, she felt as though unseen sparks shot back and forth in the narrow gap between them.
Rachel shrank farther into the protection of her coat and clasped her gloved fingers tightly together beneath the shelter of the lap robe. With all her heart, she longed to reach out to caress his face, to trace with trembling fingers the lines of his full lips. In that moment, she could almost believe he felt the same.
“Is that all right with you?” He barely murmured the words, but it was enough to break the tenuous spell that held them. Rachel felt as though she were awakening from a glorious dream.
“Is what all right?” She blinked her eyes, trying to recall what Daniel had asked.
A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, causing Rachel’s heart to race. “Going up to Spruce Mountain.”
She nodded, then straightened her back, trying to pull herself together. Goodness! What had she been thinking? She’d never in her life gotten lost in someone’s gaze like that. She must have looked like a lovesick calf. Blood rushed to her cheeks in a scalding blush. She’d better keep a tighter rein on her emotions and not let Daniel see how he affected her.
“Whoa.” Daniel pulled the team to a halt at the edge of a clearing where stately pines towered over stands of oak and piñon and a scattering of spruce. “Here we are.”
Rachel looked around dazedly. Had they reached the mountain already? If he said so. After five years of getting acquainted with this corner of the world, she had learned to tell her location at a glance. Today, she could have been plucked up by a giant hand and set down again in a foreign land, for all she knew. Her bearings had completely disappeared, swept away by the dizzying fact of Daniel’s nearness.
He removed the lap robe, then jumped down from the seat and came around to assist Rachel. She stood on tottery legs and placed her hands on his shoulders. His broad hands encircled her waist, holding her in a grasp at once firm yet tender. He lifted her as easily as he would a shock of corn and swung her to the ground.
Had her perceptions
been distorted by the wonder of this day, or did he really leave his hands clamped to her sides a moment longer than necessary? Rachel closed her eyes and breathed deeply to steady herself.
Daniel pulled an axe from the wagon bed and shouldered it, then reached for Rachel’s hand. “Come on. Let’s go find your tree.”
The simple statement brought Rachel back to her senses. A gust of cold air nipped her cheeks and boosted her spirits. She had no idea what Daniel might be feeling at this moment or what the future might hold. In years to come, she might have only this one day to look back on with such fullness of delight. She would choose to enjoy it to its fullest. With that resolved in her mind, she clasped his proffered hand, and they set off together.
eighteen
Across the meadow and along the mountainside they wandered, careful not to slip on patches of ice in shady spots or trip over fallen branches buried in the snow. They examined, then rejected, any number of trees for one reason or another.
Rachel thought briefly of the farm and the chores she could have been doing, then dismissed them. Violet could handle things until she got back. She found an excuse to turn down even more trees in order to draw out their time together as long as possible.
“What about this one?” She followed the sound of Daniel’s voice over the top of a low rise and found him standing before a six-foot spruce, admiring the spread of its branches.
“What do you think?” he asked. “It’s not too tall for the house, but it’s nice and full.”
Rachel circled the tree, trying to picture it in place. She could see it standing proudly in the corner, wearing the decorations Violet had been working on all week. Her lips curved in a smile. “Perfect.”
Daniel answered her smile with a broad grin and set to work with his axe. Rachel could see the strength of his shoulders in each powerful blow. A woman would never feel unprotected in those arms. She felt the hot rush of blood to her face even as the thought crossed her mind.
