An Old-Fashioned Christmas Romance Collection

by DiAnn Mills

  “Ryan, this is so thoughtful,” she said, smoothing her skirt as she settled onto the narrow bench. “I really appreciate it.”

  “I know you do.” He smiled across at her as he sat down. “That’s why I wanted to bring you here.”

  She looked out across the lake as it rippled in the slight breeze. An occasional leaf floated there, reminding her of the maple leaf he had given her. Smelling the food, absorbing the lovely autumn day, and feeling the glow of his attention, Caroline thought her heart would burst with joy.

  “Aren’t you going to eat?” he asked, indicating the plate he had prepared for her.

  She hesitated. “Could we say a prayer first?”

  He looked startled for a second, then his eyes twinkled. “My mother would love you, Caroline.”

  Would she? Caroline wondered. Is she like you, or is she more like Dean Miller?

  But she merely smiled and lowered her head and offered a brief prayer of thanks.

  “You’re a Christian?”

  She nodded.

  “So am I. Maybe we could go to church sometime.”

  “I’d like that.”

  “When are you leaving for Thanksgiving holidays?”

  “I won’t be going home,” she said, trying not to feel homesick.

  “Why not?” he asked, surprised.

  She sighed. “I’m waiting until Christmas.”

  He was silent for a moment, munching his chicken. “Why don’t you have Thanksgiving dinner with my family and me?” he asked suddenly.

  The question took her completely by surprise. She touched the napkin to her lips, thinking about an answer. “It’s nice of you to ask, but I already promised to spend Thanksgiving with some of the other girls in the dorm who aren’t going home.”

  “All of Thanksgiving? Can’t you join us for one meal?”

  She shook her head, hoping he wouldn’t press her. She just wasn’t ready to go to his home and meet his family. Her memory darted back to the spilled punch and the nightmare of her one social event, and she lowered her eyes to the food.

  “If you won’t come Thanksgiving, let me put in a reservation with you now for the Christmas holidays.”

  She looked up, wondering what he meant.

  “We have an annual Christmas party the first week in December at my house. I think it’ll be around the fifth this year. That’s about the time everyone is leaving to go home.” He frowned. “You won’t leave before then, will you?”

  “No.” She looked out across the lake, thinking. “When I first came to Davis, Christmas holidays seemed to be years away. The time is going pretty fast though.”

  He was watching her thoughtfully. “Caroline, how would you feel about my driving you home for Christmas? I’d get the carriage and our driver so you wouldn’t be cold.”

  She smiled at him, keeping her thoughts to herself. She could imagine the responses in Pine Ridge if she returned in a fancy carriage. “I appreciate your offer, but I’ve already purchased the ticket. I got a round trip when I came here.” And then her return to Birmingham would have to be scraped together over the holidays.

  “Too bad. But I do want to see Pine Ridge sometime. I’ve been fascinated ever since you read your theme.”

  She studied him for a moment. “You’d probably find it boring compared to Birmingham.”

  “No, I’ve been here all of my life, and frankly I’m tired of Birmingham. I’ll probably practice medicine somewhere else, even though my father and uncle want me to remain here.”

  “If you don’t stay here, where would you go?”

  “I haven’t decided. I have another uncle in Montgomery who wants me there.”

  “You have a lot to decide, don’t you? I’m relieved that I don’t. It’s always been my dream to get a good education and then return home to share what I’ve learned.”

  “That’s a nice dream,” he said quietly.

  She held his gaze for a second and then looked away. Her heart was bumping around in her chest, irritating her, and now fresh doubts were creeping into her mind. She enjoyed being with him; in fact, she liked him too much. She had her dreams and he had his, and they certainly could never mix.

  “Want to take a walk?” he asked lightly, as if sensing her mood.

  She nodded and returned the empty containers to the picnic basket. Then they spent the next hour strolling around the lake, enjoying the view, saying little.

  “It’s nice to be with someone who doesn’t have to talk all the time,” he said after one of their silences.

  She laughed softly. “Granny says I talk too much.”

  “You have your times of being quiet and thinking, and I like that about you.”

  “Thank you,” she said. He looked deeply into her eyes and the nervousness that had disappeared during their walk came lurching back. “It’s time for me to go back to the dorm,” she said.

  “So soon?” he asked, obviously disappointed.

  “Yes.” She didn’t bother to explain why, and he didn’t ask. They returned to the picnic table and he lifted the basket.

  “Thanks for coming,” he said, offering her his arm again as they headed for the buggy.

  “This is the best time I’ve had since I’ve been at Davis,” she admitted.

  It had been a perfect fall day with a beautiful view and delicious food and the company of the nicest man she had ever known. It was a golden memory to keep and treasure.

  Chapter 5

  Thanksgiving holiday dragged for Caroline. She helped Emily pack and listened to Emily’s plans for the holiday. When Emily’s parents came for her, they were a nice, older couple who seemed to dote on their only child.

  “Emily has written us about how kind you’ve been to her,” Mrs. Ellison said, looking at Caroline with the same green eyes of her daughter.

  “Oh, she’s the one who’s been kind,” Caroline said. “I’m going to miss her.”

  The girls had hugged as Emily left with her parents, and after Emily, the others began to leave. Caroline waved good-bye to all the girls, then walked alone to her room, hearing the hollow echo of her shoes in the quiet hallway.

  Sadness engulfed her then, and she missed Pine Ridge so much she could hardly stand it. Since coming to Davis, she had written to Granny twice a week, painting vivid pictures of her life here. While Granny could read, her handwriting was poor, so letters from Pine Ridge were scarce and usually written by Miss Wallace, the visiting schoolmarm.

  Since their picnic, Caroline had spoken with Ryan only twice. They had taken a long walk around the campus and discussed how busy they were, studying for exams. Ryan had neglected his health and come down with a severe cold, which resulted in his missing several days of school. He had told her he was planning to relax over the holidays, enjoy his mother’s pampering, and tease his little sister.

  “Caroline, are you eating with us?” Jenny Winslow broke through her thoughts. Jenny was a pleasant girl from New York who was staying at school over Thanksgiving.

  “Yes, I’ll be right there,” Caroline called.

  She tried to remain cheerful during Thanksgiving while she and six other girls occupied the dorm with a lonely housemother. She took long walks across the campus making plans, dreaming dreams. But Ryan kept sneaking back into those dreams. Even though Ryan seemed to like her, she knew there was no future with him. Because of that, she tried not to get serious about him.

  On Sunday the girls and their housemother attended church near the campus. When they returned to the dorm, Caroline saw the carriages and buggies returning girls to the dorm.

  She hurried around, looking for Emily, but she had not returned. Claire had arrived with stories of Christmas shopping. Caroline and Claire waited on Emily until someone reminded them that lunchtime at the dining hall would soon be over.

  When Caroline returned, she was surprised to see Emily on her bed, crying softly.

  “Emily, when did you get back? And where are your parents?”

  Emily sat up,
sobbing.

  “What’s wrong?” Caroline asked, hugging her.

  “I had a fuss with my father,” Emily said, her voice muffled as she sobbed against Caroline’s sleeve.

  “Tell me about it,” Caroline said gently.

  Emily pulled back and dabbed a handkerchief against her wet eyes. “Father forbade me from seeing Tommy and I refused, so he offered Tommy a menial job. Tommy said no. Finally, Tommy told me Father has tried to bribe him to leave Atlanta. Tommy refused his bribe, and I love him more than ever for it.” She broke into another sob.

  “Oh,” Caroline said, staring into space. She didn’t know how to comfort Emily. She wanted to tell her how often she had longed for her dead parents. Caroline thought about how she would feel if she and Ryan could have a future together, and suddenly she understood Emily’s tears. “I’m so sorry,” she finally said.

  “I don’t care if I flunk out of school,” Emily wailed, sobbing harder.

  “Yes you do,” Caroline said, gripping her shoulders. “Don’t you see, now you have to show your parents you’re mature enough to make responsible decisions. In time, they may give in to you about Tommy.”

  With those words of encouragement, Emily’s tears ceased momentarily, but the bleak look still filled her wet eyes. “I don’t know if they’ll ever do that.”

  “We’ll pray about it, Emily, if this is your dream. I believe if we do the right thing and ask God, believing that He hears, He honors our prayers—and our dreams,” she added, thinking of Ryan suddenly.

  She had not asked God for Ryan, but she prayed for him to get over his bad cold, do well on his exams, and succeed in being a great doctor. She had never mixed their futures, for she felt they could not change directions in their life. She had to be true to herself, and she knew where she wanted to spend her life. Ryan, meanwhile, would be in Montgomery. She had to live with that.

  “Maybe when you have your morning prayers, we can start praying together,” Emily offered, startling Caroline. “I never was very religious, but you’re the kindest, most genuine person I’ve ever known. If being a Christian makes you that way, I want to be like you. I want to start reading your Bible.”

  “You read my Bible anytime you want,” she said, hugging her again.

  The next morning, Emily sleepily listened as Caroline read aloud from her Bible. Then they prayed together, hurriedly dressed, and rushed to class.

  The following week Ryan seemed to have recovered from his cold, and his eyes were glowing again. “You look rested from the holiday,” she said.

  “I am.” He reached out, clasping her hand as they walked to class together. “I was tempted to bring you a plate of food on Thanksgiving Day, but Mother said you were probably with friends.”

  Caroline wondered how his mother felt about her, or what she knew. She looked at Ryan. “What did you tell her about me?”

  “Everything.” He grinned.

  “What exactly is everything? And had she ever heard of Pine Ridge?” she asked casually as they entered the brick building that housed their English class.

  “No, but my father has.”

  “And what does he think?” she asked guardedly.

  “They both think it’s wonderful that you’re going back there to teach.”

  “Oh.” Maybe she could look forward to his Christmas party after all.

  Chapter 6

  Emily insisted on giving Caroline a red velvet dress with a lace sash and flowing skirt. “I want you to wear it to Ryan’s party,” Emily insisted.

  Emily was much happier since a letter from her mother indicated her parents were going to give Tommy a fair chance.

  “Emily, this is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen!” Caroline trailed her fingers over the soft velvet. “I can’t—”

  “It’s Christmas and I can do whatever I want! I’ve had that dress a year and have never worn it. Fortunately, the style is still in fashion.”

  Caroline hugged Emily, unable to say more as she hung the dress in her closet and began to dream about Ryan’s Christmas party.

  The campus held glowing candles in all the windows, and the girls in the dorm had spent a wonderful weekend decorating the parlor Christmas tree. Caroline donated a small angel doll to sit on top, one she had been sewing on for weeks. Although Amelia and her friends sneered, everyone else was impressed.

  The Blankenships’ Christmas party was scheduled for three o’clock Friday afternoon in order to give everyone time to return to their dorms to prepare for a Saturday departure. When Caroline made her train reservation, however, the last one available was the five o’clock train Friday afternoon.

  Ryan assured her he could get her to the station in time, since his home was only fifteen minutes away.

  The last exam was on Thursday, and Caroline was happy as she walked back to the dorm. Her exams had been easy, and she had straight A’s for the semester. Emily’s parents had come for Emily, and they appeared to be in a good mood. Emily hugged Caroline and wished her a merry Christmas, and Caroline stood outside and waved as they departed.

  On Friday she took extra care in dressing, styling her hair in a thick chignon at her nape, securing it with a red velvet ribbon. Then she went to the parlor to wait for Ryan.

  He was more handsome than ever in his black frock coat and pants with a white shirt and red cravat that set off his dark hair and eyes. She could feel the envious stares of the other girls as he draped Claire’s borrowed cape around Caroline and they walked to his carriage.

  A handsome carriage complete with driver awaited them, and he glanced at Caroline, looking sheepish.

  She smiled at him, aware of what he was thinking. “Be proud of what you have, Ryan. It hasn’t turned your head one bit. And besides,” she said, her blue eyes twinkling, “I’m going to enjoy the ride.”

  They laughed together over things that had happened during the week, and soon she was gazing out at sprawling estates with enormous front lawns.

  “My goodness,” she said, turning to Ryan, “what do these people do for a living?”

  “Some own large businesses downtown. Some are doctors,” he added quietly.

  “Doctors?” She smiled at him. “Then I imagine we must be in your neighborhood.”

  “Caroline—”

  The carriage made a wide turn and she gripped the armrest and stared through the window. Gas lanterns topped brick posts at the entrance to the driveway. A huge lawn held marble statues and even a miniature Christmas tree had been decorated for outside.

  Her eyes widened. Ryan was saying something, but she didn’t hear. She had never seen such a grand estate in all of her life; she had never even imagined one like this existed. The drive curved again, ending before a three-story stone house with gabled roof. Candles glowed in every window, dozens of windows, and the front porch was covered with holly and velvet bows and bright tinsel.

  She felt Ryan’s fingers pressing her arm through her cloak. “It’s my home, and I want you to feel welcome.”

  “It’s beautiful,” she said, then swallowed hard, dreading going inside.

  The driver opened the carriage door and unfolded the steps while Ryan got out to assist her. Carefully, she descended and with her fingers gripping his arm, they climbed the crescent steps of the impressive house; then Ryan opened the front door.

  A dozen wonderful smells greeted her—food, spices, perfume. He escorted her into the parlor, which was already filled with beautifully dressed people. She recognized a few faces from school interspersed among adults who talked in rich voices and laughed softly, oozing the kind of sophistication she read about in novels. She felt like a creature from the forest that had been plucked up and set down on a foreign beach. Her eyes moved to a Christmas tree at the far end of the room, and she could only stare. It was a perfectly shaped evergreen that reached all the way to the ceiling and was decorated with garland and ornaments in all sizes, shapes, and colors. Beneath the tree there must have been a hundred gifts.

  �
�Let me take your cloak,” Ryan said.

  She untied the strings and felt it lift from her shoulders although her eyes never left the room that held oil paintings, antique furnishings, and fancy little sculptures on marble-topped tables.

  “Hello.”

  Caroline turned to see a middle-aged woman wearing a lovely green gown; she had dark hair and eyes and resembled Ryan.

  “Hello. I’m Caroline Cushman,” she said, offering her hand.

  “And I’m Ann Blankenship. We’re so glad you could come.”

  “Oh, you two have met,” Ryan said, joining them.

  “Yes, and she’s even prettier than you told us.” Mrs. Blankenship smiled at her son.

  “Now get her some refreshments, dear.”

  Ryan and Caroline walked out of the parlor into the dining room, where a long table was covered with silver trays of food, candles in silver candleholders, and a cut glass crystal punch bowl and matching cups. Caroline stared at the punch; red again.

  One maid served their food; another ladled out punch. Caroline took a firm grip on the plate and cup.

  Voices filled the house as more people arrived. Glancing back, she saw Amelia enter the dining room. Caroline’s back stiffened, but she held her smile, determined to be polite. Behind them, other young people mingled, although she didn’t recognize anyone.

  “Merry Christmas, Ryan!” Amelia linked her arm through his. She looked stunning in a white velvet dress with an ermine collar. Diamonds glittered on her earlobes, and her cheeks and lips were painted a soft, delicate pink. Her hair was swept up in a crown of blond curls.

  “Merry Christmas,” Ryan said, smiling down at her. Caroline watched his face and felt her heart sink. He was staring at her as though entranced by her beauty.

  Caroline heard the clink of glass and realized, with horror, that her fingers were starting to tremble. The sight of Amelia was a challenge to Caroline’s nerves.

  “Amelia, good to see you,” a man’s voice boomed across the room.

  “You, too, Dr. Blankenship.” She released Ryan’s arm and extended a dainty gloved hand.