A Plain and Sweet Christmas Romance Collection

by Lauralee Bliss

  “What do you believe?”

  “That our elders are right when they say it is important to love thy neighbor. And we are neighbors now.”

  Hanna blushed. “Well, who am I to argue with the elders?” Martin laughed. “I assume you came for the firewood?”

  “If the offer remains?”

  “Along the note of loving thy neighbors, the offer remains.” She tilted her head and studied him. “But you may need to make it up to Viktor.”

  “What has Viktor to do with love?” He watched her blush again.

  “He chops our firewood.”

  “Oh, we were talking about firewood?”

  “Firewood is all that will keep you warm this night. Well, that and your brother.”

  “I hope you have plenty of wood, then. And I’ll keep Viktor in mind. But there’s still one other thing.”

  “Oh?”

  “You’ll dig us out if we get snowed in?”

  Hanna’s eyes widened. “I didn’t even think about that. For sure, take extra wood. And food just in case.”

  He touched her arm. “I was just teasing.”

  “Even so, when you come back for supper, I’ll have a box of food ready, and some other items you may need.”

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  Hanna stoked the fire while stealing glances out the window where Martin was stacking wood onto a sled. His dark figure, clad in the somber color and conservative cut of the Mennonites, made a sharp contrast to the bleak white winter surroundings. She couldn’t explain why his presence made her heart quicken or even why it preferred him over his equally handsome brother. They looked similar with brown wavy hair worn in the Mennonite cookie cutter hairstyles. Of course Filipp had instantly looked down his nose at her when he noticed her limp. She supposed she’d subconsciously held it against him from the start. While she’d seen no pity in Martin’s clear blue eyes.

  Ever since the frostbite incident, she’d fought hard to be strong and capable and not a weakling who was useless or unmarriageable. The incident had put up an instant barrier between herself and other young men who once sought her attention. And now she wondered if anyone would ever see her as desirable again.

  Mom claimed it was a blessing because it would weed out the unworthy husband candidates. She’d clung to that statement as a positive element in her life, one that would bring her the right man at the right time. So of course, she’d discarded Filipp because it was the first thing he seemed to notice about her. But Martin…

  He gave a playful wave. Caught! She jerked the curtain closed, her heart beating like a train careening off its tracks. Well, she’d show him she wasn’t weak. She’d make something from their homeland for supper, the traditional Varenikje, cottage cheese dumplings with ham gravy. And she wouldn’t succumb to pride. She needed sunlight to work. She opened the curtain again. His black, broad-brimmed hat was now a mere black dot bobbing in an endless white expanse. But she still felt the thrill of his wave and the warmth of his presence so that she hoped it didn’t trickle over into the dough and cause a flop.

  As she dumped ingredients together and worked her fingers through the smooth damp mixture, she reminded the Lord of her Christmas prayer: Please restore health and joy to our home. Martin had brought a bit of joy into her life. It was evidence God was in control and Mom would also recover. She was sleeping now, but with the doctor’s medicine, Hanna had every hope Mom would be better for Christmas.

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  When the snow broke that afternoon, Hanna used the opportunity to get dry bedding to the soddy. She invited her younger brothers, “Want to go with me to take supplies to our guests?” With a joyous shout, Stefan and Yury scrambled to put away their marbles and don their boots and coats. As she pulled the sled, the boys whooped and threw snowballs, letting out long-suppressed energy. Only when she was struck on the back of her black bonnet did she intervene. “Ach now! Not at me! You’ll get the bedding wet. Behave yourselves.”

  “But you are the biggest and easiest target,” Yury argued.

  “Jah, it’s not fair that Yury’s my target. He’s the smallest,” Stefan reasoned.

  Before she could give her opinion on the matter, they’d spotted the brothers, who were working outside the soddy, and darted off ahead. She watched them run and tumble and felt sorry she’d kept them inside so long. When she reached the others, Yury exclaimed, “Martin and Filipp built a fort in front of the soddy. Can we play in it?” She grinned. It had only taken seconds for them to be on a first-name basis.

  Her gaze ran over the makeshift porch created from natural cover and dead wood.

  Martin shrugged. “So you don’t have to dig us out tomorrow.”

  “Brings back childhood memories. Dad did something similar when we lived here.”

  “Can we play?” Yury repeated.

  “Only while I put the supplies inside. Stay close,” she warned.

  As the men unloaded the food supplies, she carefully placed bedding on the pallets, allowing her mother’s quilts to add the finishing touch.

  “Those look new,” Filipp protested.

  “They are. Every Christmas, Mother takes some quilts and blankets to the depot. But when I told her about you, she asked me to use them here instead. She’d like to keep the soddy stocked from now on. She’s trusting the Lord to direct travelers to us who will need a haven.”

  “I’m jealous already of your future guests,” Martin said.

  “And I’m going outside to play in the fort. More fun than being a third wheel.” Filipp smirked.

  Martin’s gaze followed his brother until he was outside. “Such tact.”

  Hanna laughed. “Do you flirt with all the women you’ve met on your trip?”

  “Usually Filipp does. But this trip is doing strange things to us.”

  She tilted her head. “Such as?”

  “He’s usually all fun and games. Joking and nonchalance.”

  “While you’re the conscientious one?”

  “Jah. But he’s showing his resourceful side. The porch was his idea. And regarding you…”

  “Jah?”

  “Like I said, he’s usually the one who pursues the women. But…”

  Her gaze dropped to the freshly swept floor. “But he isn’t interested in me because of my deformity.”

  “That’s not what I meant at all.”

  She met his gaze and quirked her lip. “It’s my limp.”

  “Why would that matter?”

  She appreciated Martin’s sincere though somewhat blunt nature. His eyes held no hint of deceit. “Because it’s repulsive. In case you’re wondering, it’s the result of frostbite.” Which left my deformity even more unsightly. “I had a suitor once. But he spurned me afterward.”

  “Frostbite? No wonder, living in this frigid place!” Martin remarked angrily. “And I imagine Canada will be no better!” His anger quickly subsided. His eyes softened. “I don’t see why someone would treat you that way. It only endears you to me.”

  With surprise, she realized, His anger is protective. “Why?” she urged.

  “Because I admire the strength I see in you.”

  Her heart burgeoned to discover he was one of the good ones her mom had depicted. “The Lord blesses me as He sees fit.”

  “I’ve seen how the Lord’s blessed your family. This community.”

  “Then maybe you should consider Mountain Lake for your future home. Perhaps it’s your destiny.” Her heart beat rapidly as she waited for his response.

  “I fear not.”

  A heavy shroud of disappointment fell over her, and she wished she hadn’t been so bold.

  “You don’t understand. I’m not the head of the family or even the eldest. I have five younger siblings. My dad has his heart set on Winnipeg. He’s depending on us, and we can’t let him down. I must do my duty for the family.”

  “I understand. I don’t like to let my parents down either.” Yet her heart wasn’t ready to give in to his rebuff. “But maybe God will
change his heart.”

  Martin sighed and stepped close. She stilled when he cupped her face with a gentle touch. “I wish it were so. It’s amazing this attraction I’ve felt from the start. I’ve known you less than a day, but I can’t stop thinking about you.”

  A shiver shot through her body, and it wasn’t from the weather. “I feel it, too.”

  “I know. But we can’t act on it. I don’t want you to get hurt. When the train leaves, Filipp and I will be on it.”

  Her hopes deflated. She nodded. “I understand.”

  He withdrew his hand, and she turned away until he stopped her. “Tell your mother thanks for the beautiful quilts. I hope I get a chance to meet her.”

  “I hope so, too.” She hesitated then added, “I can’t explain it, but I believe you’re part of God’s answer to my prayer.”

  “Oh?”

  “To restore health and joy to our home for Christmas.”

  “That’s a sweet thought. I wonder where we will be at Christmas. Wherever it is, I’ll have this warm memory.”

  “Then let’s make it a good one. Come for supper around dark.”

  “We’ll be there.”

  Chapter 4

  At supper Dad seemed even more despondent. When he prayed over the meal, he added, “Lord, we ask You to stop the snow so we don’t lose the animals. And keep our neighbors safe and those at the Immigration House fed.”

  Remembering their earlier conversation about loving thy neighbors, Hanna exchanged a meaningful glance with Martin. Then she said, “The Lord will provide, Dad.”

  After the meal, he went to spend time with her mom, and Yury convinced Martin and Filipp to play marbles. Hanna listened to the whoops and laughter as she cleaned up the kitchen. When she was finished, she went to her mom’s rocker and began to knot a half-finished comforter. It would be faster to finish than a quilt, and she’d determined to have something to offer the Immigration Depot at Christmas. Soaking in every bit of joy and warmth, she was sorry when Dad shooed the younger boys off to bed.

  As Filipp and Martin prepared to go back to the soddy, she went after the extra food she’d prepared. “There’s zwieback and borscht. Just heat up the soup.”

  Martin nodded. “Our Dad says hunger is closely linked to despair. That during the hard times, the family in the homeland always claimed ‘where there’s zwieback, there’s proof of a living God.’”

  Hanna glanced at the double-decked buns and laughed. “That’s a good saying. And I guess it’s another sign that He’s alive and watching out for you now.”

  Martin glanced at his brother. “We should be writing down all these signs to show Father.”

  Filipp tapped his head. “They’re all in here.”

  “As I was saying, we should write them down.”

  From the bedroom, a harsh coughing was heard—as it had been all through the meal and evening.

  Martin touched her arm. “God be with you.”

  Once they were gone, Hanna leaned against the door in wonderment.

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  In the morning Hanna went to her mom’s bedside. “Rough night?”

  “I had to sit up to breathe. Is it still snowing?”

  Hanna pulled back the curtains. “It’s quit. But it snowed throughout the night. The barn door was buried so deep that Dad propped a ladder and used the hayloft opening to access the barn. Says he’s going to try to exercise the animals inside today.”

  “He’s good with them. Should’ve been a rancher instead of a farmer. What’s happening with our guests?”

  “They wanted to help Dad, but he sent them to the village to see if the railroad needed assistance in digging out the tracks. I sent some food with them to take to the Immigration House.”

  “Good. It was nice to hear the laughter in the house last night.”

  “I like them. I wish they could stay. Not with us, of course.”

  “Tell me their story.” By the time Hanna finished, her mom said, “It sounds like one of them has caught your eye.”

  With surprise over her mom’s intuition, she replied, “Jah, but he’s not staying.”

  “Miracles happen. Which reminds me. You will have to make and deliver the peppernut cookies for me. Can you do that?”

  With less than a week until Christmas now, Hanna realized she needed to face the truth. Even if Mom recovered, it wouldn’t be in time to perform her traditions. Hanna needed to take everything on herself. She would need to cook, bake, and make the extra trip to the village.

  “Hanna?”

  “Jah. I can do it. And I’m working on a comforter, too.”

  “Bring me the other one I started. Maybe I’ll get something done on it.”

  “I will as soon as you finish your borscht.”

  Mom stared at the soup as if it had grown horns. “Ach! I’m tired of soup. But I’ll do it for Christmas.”

  “That’s the spirit.”

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  In town, Martin and Filipp delivered the Friesens’ food to the Immigration House. He was encouraged to see that half the occupants were gone. The cook explained, “They’ve found temporary homes among the villagers. But this food is still much needed. Give the Friesens our appreciation.”

  The train depot was an arctic anthill of activity. “It’s hard to believe so many townsmen would turn out to help,” Martin remarked.

  Filipp replied, “It’s our people sticking together. This is what Father described when he told us about Winnipeg’s Mennonite Brethren community. It will be good to be a part of something like this.” Martin let the words sink in, but what he really wanted was to be a part of this particular community.

  They were putting men on push and crank handcars, crowding four to a car, and sending them down the rails to dig out the tracks. Martin and Filipp were paired with a father and son who owned the village blacksmith shop. The muscular pair competitively provoked them to work, pushing beyond their comfort. Once Martin found out Kir was Hanna’s previous suitor, he pushed even harder. But it really wasn’t a contest, for he couldn’t keep up with the blacksmiths. When Martin brought up the topic of the Friesens’ hospitality, he burned with jealousy over Kir’s remark, “Hanna, she’s a lovely one.”

  “Are you interested in her?”

  “I once was. I thought she was the one. But after her injury, she pushed me away. Everything I said and did offended her. Women are hard enough to figure out, but with the barrier she’s put up and how busy Dad keeps me, I don’t have the time to work through it.”

  Martin didn’t relish the idea of anyone pursuing Hanna besides himself, yet he knew he would soon be on a train and never see her again. He remembered her Christmas prayer: “To restore healing and bring joy”. If he could leave her with a gift, joy would be it. Might even be the reason he was stranded in Mountain Lake, given the way God seemed to favor her family. Being around them was strengthening his own faith.

  Martin ventured, “I can tell you it’s only because she thinks everyone feels repulsed by her deformity. She doesn’t even realize she’s the one who pushes others away. She thinks it’s her limp. And she doesn’t know she’s beautiful. Now that she’s had time to adjust, you could probably win her back. If you just talked honestly about the matter.”

  “How do you know all this?” Kir asked with agitation.

  “While we were snowed in, she told me.”

  Kir eyed him warily. Finally he said, “Maybe come spring, I’ll try again.”

  Martin slapped the other man on the back. “Good luck to you.” Grimly, he thought. It would be all he could think about…come spring.

  By the time they returned to the Immigration House, he and Filipp were exhausted and had yet to make the trek back to the soddy. Bone weary, when they finally arrived at the Friesen farm, they were heartened to see smoke coming from the soddy’s chimney. Martin motioned, “Go on and I’ll tell them we’re back.”

  His legs ached as he climbed the steps to the porch, but he was grateful when Han
na was the one who came to the door.

  Her eyes widened. “You look tired.”

  “It’s that obvious? We shared a hand car with Kir and his dad.”

  “The blacksmith?” She burst into laughter. “No wonder.”

  He could be even more gallant and tell her how the blacksmith felt, but he was too weary to make such a grand gesture. “It’s amazing how the town turned out to clear the tracks.”

  “Will you be leaving soon?”

  “Not yet. Not until they can push all the way through.”

  “I’m glad.”

  He liked her candor, but he shouldn’t encourage her. Especially now that he’d met Kir. “I can’t even think about tomorrow. All I can think about right now is sleep.”

  “I took stew to the soddy. You’d better hurry, or Filipp will eat it all.”

  Chapter 5

  The next morning Hanna heard a rap at the door and Martin stood on the porch. “We’re about ready to head to the train depot to help with the tracks. I just wanted to see if you have any chores for us first.”

  “I fear not.” Hanna blushed. Her verbal outbursts that reflected her wishes of detaining them were becoming humiliating. Yet she couldn’t discipline her tongue. Stressing the we, she said, “We missed you and Filipp yesterday, but now that Dad is using the hayloft to enter the barn and since it quit snowing, there’s nothing to keep you from doing your duty. But you’ve made your mark here, and it will be lonely when you leave Mountain Lake. The boys were restless last night.”

  “My duty,” he repeated. “You just described how I feel. This trip, which once seemed like a grand adventure, now feels like a begrudged duty. And digging out the tracks seems duplicitous. I like it here.”

  “Then don’t leave.”

  “We’ve been through all that. You know Filipp and I must fulfill Dad’s instructions.”

  She couldn’t keep a man who didn’t wish to stay. Yet she strove for something to ease the tension and delay him a few moments more. “You seem rested. Will you be teamed with Kir again today?”

  Martin’s expression sobered. “There’s something I should tell you about him.”