“Not on your life.” Rebekah knelt in the snow and began forming snowballs as fast as she could. Ivy frowned and turned away.
Rebekah’s sister, Margaret, ran over to help. Her childish laughter rang in the cold air. “Come on, Cora. We’ll get him good.”
Aaron’s gaze locked with Cora’s while an obscure message flickered between them. Then Cora grinned and turned toward the girls, scooping up a handful of snow. “All right, Margaret. Let’s make lots of snowballs.”
“Hey, Nicholas. You ain’t gonna let those girls whup me, are ya?” Aaron worked frantically, trying to match the girls’ growing arsenal. “Us men gotta stay together.”
Nicholas ran to Aaron giggling. “Nickus halp.” He squatted, grabbed a handful of snow, and flung it toward the girls.”
Aaron laughed. “That’s the spirit.”
“How dare you turn my nephew against me!” Cora grabbed a snowball in each hand. The first whizzed past Aaron’s head, but the second grazed his shoulder. Rebekah and Margaret followed her lead, and the fight began.
Lenny and Gilbert ran to join Aaron’s side. They each grabbed a snowball from his small supply and threw it. Gilbert’s snowball went over the girls’ heads. Rebekah scrambled to retrieve it. Lenny’s volley fell short.
Aaron held a quick confab with his teammates.
When they broke from their huddle, Lenny set to work making snowballs for the older boys to throw. Nicholas, unhampered by restriction, continued his own form of snowball fighting. Aaron chuckled at Nicholas’s vain attempts. He sure was a cute little guy. He’d grab snow in his small mitten-covered hand and before packing it, fling it in a spraying arch shorter than Aaron’s arm.
Just then a blur of white sailed past Aaron’s head. He didn’t bother to dodge. The way the girls threw, they weren’t likely to hit anything smaller than a barn. He worked fast, scooping, packing, and throwing in one smooth motion. He left Lenny’s snowballs for Gilbert. His opponents had long since run out of their supply, and they hadn’t figured out they could make them as they threw them. He grinned as another landed in front of him. He reached for it, and snow suddenly splattered on his forehead. His face stung with a wet cold that dripped into his eyes so he couldn’t see who had fired the wild shot that finally made contact.
He cleared his eyes of snow to find all three girls laughing hysterically. A grin touched his lips as he saw Cora lift her hand to throw another frozen missile. He couldn’t let her do that. He grabbed a handful of snow and knocked her ammunition from her hand.
~*~
Cora’s eyes widened. That had to be a lucky shot. No one could hit a moving target like that on purpose. She zeroed in on Aaron’s smug grin. “You can’t do it again.”
“Try me.” He sounded so sure of himself. One eyebrow lifted in an arrogant but appealing way.
“All right, I will.” She’d hit him this time for sure. Cora formed another snowball and lifted it to throw at him. The sting of his ball hit before hers left her hand. “Oh! How’d you do that?”
“Like this.” Aaron proceeded to knock a snowball from Rebekah’s hand.
“I give up. Let’s quit.” Cora held her arms out in front of the other girls. “As far as I’m concerned, the boys win. Next time, I’m on Aaron’s side.”
Cora brushed snow from her coat and hair. She crossed the distance to Aaron just as the first sled riders came trudging up the hill. “I didn’t know anyone could throw like that.” She couldn’t keep the admiration from her voice.
He looked to one side, a pleased expression covering his face. “Aw, that wasn’t nothin’ on-common. It takes lots of practicin’, and I’ve had my share of that.”
He touched his forehead. “You ain’t so bad, yourself.”
Cora smiled. “That was more accident than skill.”
“So it was you that finally got me.”
Still smiling, Cora nodded then turned as Ralph’s voice reached her.
“Now that’s what I’d call a hill. Sled works fine too.” Ralph moved toward them with a wide grin. “Goin’ down sure beats hoofin’ it back up through all this snow, though.” He looked at Cora. “You ready to give ‘er a try?”
“Yes, Aaron promised to take Nicholas and me. I’d better go get him.” Cora flashed a smile at Aaron before turning away.
“I don’t think she likes me.” Ralph’s lowered voice carried to Cora.
“Then leave her be.” Aaron didn’t speak soft.
“Aw, I was jist bein’ friendly.”
Cora continued away from the brothers. She didn’t dislike Ralph. How could anyone not like him? But as much as she liked his fun-loving nature, she couldn’t imagine becoming serious about a man who wanted to play all the time.
Vickie picked Nicholas up as Cora climbed on the sled. She held him close, giving him a motherly kiss before settling him on Cora’s lap. “Watch out for him and don’t let him fall.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to my favorite nephew.” Cora wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close.
Nicholas laughed, his arms waving as he strained forward against her hold. Aaron climbed on behind Cora, spreading his legs on either side. He reached around her, taking the rope handle in his hands.
Nicholas fell back against Cora. The unexpected weight pushed her against Aaron. Her temple brushed his jaw, and she jerked upright, her face flaming. “Nicholas, sit still. You’ll push us off backward.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t let you fall.” Aaron’s deep voice vibrated near her ear.
Someone pushed them, and they were off. The wind rushed past, lifting Cora’s hair and cooling her burning face. Nicholas squealed in delight. Cora became lost in a dream world, racing across the snow. She’d never felt safer than with Aaron’s arms surrounding her. If only they could go on forever like this. While the gentle sloping hill covered several hundred feet, the ride ended far too soon.
Cora laughed as she scrambled from the sled. “That was wonderful. I wish there were twice as many sleds so we wouldn’t have to take turns.”
“Yeah, me too.” Aaron set Nicholas on the sled for the return trip. He picked up the rope and Cora fell into step beside him as another sled stopped a few feet from them. Ben helped Ivy from the sled.
Cora looked around in confusion. Where was Esther? A third sled holding Margaret, Rebekah, Lenny, and Gilbert, all packed on tight, threw snow as they pulled to a stop. They fell over as one into the snow laughing.
“Don’t you just love sled riding, Cora?” Ivy called out.
Cora swung toward the friendly voice. “I—yes, I do.”
Ivy had parted her long, straight, dark hair on one side and let it hang free. Now the full side hung alluringly near her right eye as she gazed up at Ben, her head cocked to the best advantage. She was really quite beautiful. “Your wonderful brother offered to give me a ride since I’ve never been on a sled before.”
“How nice of him.” Never been on a sled before? Hadn’t someone said she’d ridden Aaron’s on their way over this morning? Ben seemed to ignore them while he turned the sled around for the long climb back to the top.
“I couldn’t never have guided it down this long hill without Ben’s help.” Ivy flashed a smile toward Ben. “Your brother is awfully strong and such a gentleman.”
Ben smiled at Ivy. “Ready to head back?”
He looked pleased with her praise. How could he fall for such a low trick? How could he be disloyal to Esther? Her heart must be broken.
Cora fell into step with Aaron. Their feet crunched in the snow, filling the companionable silence between them until he leaned close. “Don’t mind Ivy. She really don’t mean no harm.”
“But there’s something special between Ben and Esther. I saw it the first day they met. Why can’t Ivy?”
“Wouldn’t matter if’n she did. She’d still go after your brother.” Aaron looked at his sister, his eyes intense with feeling. “Sometimes that empty ache deep down inside a body’s just gotta b
e filled. Don’t matter much to Ivy who gets shoved aside while she’s doin’ it.”
His dark look frightened Cora. “I don’t understand.”
“No, I don’t reckon so.”
They reached the halfway point when Aaron spoke again. “How about me givin’ you and Nicholas another ride?”
Cora’s heart picked up a beat. Aaron’s grin said his dark mood had lifted. “Yes, we’d like that, wouldn’t we, Nicholas?” Nicholas clapped his hands and nodded. She could’ve skipped.
“Wanna ride fast, Nick?” Aaron grinned at the little boy on the sled behind them.
Nicholas didn’t hesitate. “Yeah!”
“Hang on tight then.” Aaron grabbed Cora’s hand. “Come on, let’s run to the top.”
Cora’s breath came in puffs by the time they reached the others. Vickie took Nicholas from the sled. “Looks like you’re having fun.”
Aaron stood to the side talking with John. Cora turned back to Vickie. “I am. I didn’t realize sledding could be so much fun.”
“Are you sure it’s just the sledding?” Vickie’s little smile said she knew something more.
Only there was no more. Cora shook her head at her sister’s teasing. “What else could it be? You know George and I plan to marry.”
“I know.” Vickie’s smile disappeared. “Mother doesn’t want John and me to move even a few miles away. Just think what she’ll do when you announce you’re moving back to St. Louis.”
Cora sighed. That was why she hadn’t said anything to mother about George’s plans.
Vickie nodded toward Aaron. “You’d better find someone right here unless you think you can talk George into settling down in this wilderness. Mother will throw a fit if you even hint at leaving.”
A sick churning gripped Cora’s stomach. She hadn’t told Mother and Father about this, but why should they object? Mother always said the Merrills were good, respectable people. She’d been happy enough to welcome John into their family. Why wouldn’t John’s younger brother be just as welcome?
Vickie laughed. “Don’t look so scared, Cora. It isn’t as if you’re planning to get married next week. Give her time. Maybe by the time you and George marry, Mother will have changed. If anything will change her, this place should do it.”
Vickie walked away with Nicholas to join John at the sled, leaving Cora in turmoil. She did plan to marry George right away. Christmas wasn’t that far off.
“Cora?” Aaron’s voice penetrated her whirling mind.
She focused on his face. His dark hair was a wind-curled invitation to her fingers. The dimple in his chin drew her attention, and an overwhelming desire to touch it shocked her. She looked into his eyes.
“I made you something.” Aaron pulled from his coat pocket a small white, cloth-wrapped package tied with a red ribbon. “It ain’t much, but it’s almost Christmas, and I reckoned this might be my only chance to see you afore then. Anyhow, this is for you.”
Cora took it, her eyes again meeting his. “Can I open it now?”
He nodded.
She untied the ribbon and stuck it in her coat pocket. The cloth fell away, revealing a small cedar box with leather hinges. The wood shone. She removed her gloves so she could rub the smooth polished surface. An intricate design of carved scrollwork with two doves facing each other in the middle decorated the top. One held a small heart in his beak. She had never seen anything so beautiful.”
“You made this?” How could that be?
He nodded again. “I cut it from some cedar and carved it out. It’s nothin’ on-common.”
“Oh, but it is to me. I’ve never seen such beautiful carving.” Cora opened the box, sanded smooth inside and breathed in the wonderful scent of cedar wood. Two flat partitions of cedar had been driven into carefully chiseled slots, dividing the box into three small sections.
Cora closed the lid and ran her hand across the carving, again marveling at the workmanship. Tears sprang to her eyes. No one else had ever given her as valuable a gift or one she would treasure as much.
“Oh, Aaron.” She whispered his name. “I love it. I’ll keep it always. Thank you so much.”
Aaron’s wide grin and pleased expression tugged at her heart. “I’m real proud you like it. I thought you might have somethin’ special to keep in it.”
“Oh, I do. I have some necklaces that will fit perfectly. I wish I had something to give you.”
“No need.”
But there was a need. She began thinking about what she could make. One idea after another was discarded, because she knew she could never match his gift. Why had Aaron gone to so much trouble to make such a wonderful gift for her? George wouldn’t let her keep it if he knew, so she’d never tell him where her box came from. Whatever she made for Aaron would have to be personal and made by her own hand. She could scarcely wait to start.
Chapter 11
Cora’s needle flew through the linen squares that would be Aaron’s gift. She sat on her bed putting the finishing touches on the third handkerchief when Eliza’s head appeared above the opening to the loft.
“What are you doing?” Eliza climbed the rest of the way up the ladder and crossed the room to sit beside her sister.
Cora carefully folded the handkerchief into fourths and placed it on top of the others. She pressed them down with her hand. “I’m not doing anything now. I just finished a gift for Aaron.”
“Why?” Eliza picked up the handkerchiefs to rub her finger over the two light-blue initials. “I wish I could embroider like this.”
“You probably could if you’d try.”
“I have tried.” Eliza sighed. “You know needlework is difficult for me. Why did you make something for Aaron?”
“Because he gave me something.”
Eliza’s eyes lit up. “He did?”
“Yes, he did.” Cora grabbed the handkerchiefs from her younger sister. “Did you come up here for a reason?”
“No, but I have one now. I want to see what Aaron gave you.”
Cora flopped across the bed, reached into the gap between mattress and wall, and pulled the small cedar box out. Her voice softened. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
Eliza opened the box and sniffed inside. “I love the smell of cedar.”
Cora grabbed it from her. “At least your nose works. Aaron did a wonderful job making this. Can’t you appreciate the time he put into it?”
Eliza grinned. “I bet you appreciate that heart in the bird’s mouth.”
Cora frowned. “What do you mean by that?”
“The heart is Aaron’s, and he’s the bird offering it to you.” Eliza rolled her eyes. “Anyone can see that plain as day.”
Cora’s eyes widened, and her heart jumped. She covered it with her hand. Could Eliza be right? Is that what he meant? No, that couldn’t be. She wouldn’t believe it. “You’re as dense as—well, I don’t know what as, but you’re wrong. Aaron wouldn’t do such a thing. He doesn’t know me well enough. Besides, I’m already spoken for.”
“Pshaw, George isn’t here and Aaron is, and he doesn’t know you’re taken. Maybe we’ll marry brothers yet.” A satisfied look settled on Eliza’s face.
“Oh, Eliza.” Cora stretched back across the bed to return her box. Her sister could get some of the oddest ideas.
When she sat up, Eliza picked at her dress. “I really like Ralph, Cora. I want him to like me, but I don’t think he does.” She looked at the handkerchiefs again. “Maybe if I could give him something like this, he’d like me better. But I can’t sew like you can.”
The sadness in her sister’s eyes pulled at Cora’s heart. She should tell her to do her own sewing, but she couldn’t. “All right. What do you want me to do?”
“Just make the same thing except put R W S in the corner.”
“What’s the W for?”
“Walter. He was named for his father.” Eliza grinned. “You don’t know Aaron’s middle name, do you?”
“No, and I don’t care. How
do you always know everything, anyway?”
“It’s James. Aaron James Stark. He’ll be twenty-two on April 28.” Eliza’s smug expression grated on Cora’s nerves.
She jumped off the mattress, grabbing the handkerchiefs. “I told you I don’t care. I’m going to go wrap these. I think Mother saved the paper she had around her best dishes.”
Eliza called after Cora as she started down the ladder. “About Ralph, you don’t mind if I tell him I made his handkerchiefs, do you?”
Cora stopped with her head above the upper floor. “That would be a lie.”
Eliza shrugged. “Not if I hem them, and all you do are the initials.”
“What do you mean ‘all’? That’s the hardest part.” Cora shook her head. Eliza would take advantage of her if she didn’t watch her. But what difference did it make? She loved to sew and Eliza looked so sad. “Oh, all right. I’ll do it, and I won’t tell your secret.”
“Thanks. You’re my best sister.” Eliza’s smile chased the sadness away.
Cora worked until two days before Christmas when all her gifts were finished. She woke in the wee hours of Christmas Eve to a dark, quiet house and lay staring into the thick blackness. Would George come today or tomorrow? Since her talk with Vickie the day of the sledding party, she’d come to a decision. If Mother wouldn’t let her leave with George, she and George could elope. She’d already packed an empty flour sack with clothing and special things she couldn’t bear to leave behind.
She turned to her side and felt in the space between mattress and wall. Her fingers brushed Aaron’s cedar box. She’d saved it until last before burying it in the sack. With the box clutched in her hands, she rolled off the mattress and landed on the cold wood floor. Under cover of the dark night, she felt her way to the opposite corner where Father had driven pegs into the wall for their clothing. There, hiding behind her best dress, hung the flour sack. She slid her hand to the drawstring at the top and stuffed her box inside then went back to bed.
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