Ross and Pete gathered Susannah and Juliet together around the fire. Ross looked at each of the girls and held a hand out to each of them. The both took it and then Pete Joined the circle.
“Our Father, we come to you tonight with worry and concern for our brothers and our friends. Please give them a cleft in the rock to stay safe in this weather. Show them where to go for warmth and survival. And Lord, be with us as we wait for word from them. Give us strength and hope. Thank you for all the many blessings You provide. Amen.”
Ross prayed earnestly and sincerely. Susannah appreciated the reverence and the hope she felt after they’d prayed together.
“Should we hold the Christmas Eve dinner?” Susannah was of the opinion that they should wait. It didn’t seem right to have a holiday meal without them.
“I think we should go ahead with it,” said Pete. “I know them and they’d be awful mad if they came home and we’d been moping. They did say that they may not make it back for the holiday. Seems a shame, but they did say it was a possibility.”
So, Susannah and Juliet cooked the meal. The four of them ate in near silence. There was no mirth or holiday joy.
“Ma would have loved how the place is decorated. And the supper you fixed was really good.” Ross looked around with a crooked smile.
The candles flickered creating a soft glow and long shadows. The room smelled of pine and the forest. The only thing missing was Drew and Jack. If those two had been there, the scene would be complete.
“We’ll ride out at first light,” Ross said as they sat by the fire after dinner.
Pete nodded and got up. “I’m turning in early. In the morning, then. Ladies.” He nodded to Susannah and Juliet and he went up the stairs.
Tomorrow was Christmas Day. She’d wanted everything to be festive and fun for them all. Now it would be anything but that. The future was unknown for so many reasons and she was worried sick about Drew.
The tree seemed to mock her as it stood tall and majestic in the corner of the room. It was a constant reminder of how wonderful things could be if Drew wasn’t lost in a snow storm. Not knowing if she’d ever see Drew again, Susannah was on the edge of tears.
Juliet was preoccupied watching the snow fall. The steps and fields were deep in snow. Finally, they had to go to sleep. Juliet slept in the main house that night in their mother’s room, and Susannah fell asleep by the fire. The normal sweet anticipatory dreams for the fun of Christmas Day did not come this year.
Chapter 26
Susannah’s eyes opened slowly and she blinked. Realizing the soft hues reflected in the winter sky indicated the sun would be up soon, and she began thinking about preparing breakfast. Ross and Pete would be leaving soon to search for Drew and Jack. They’d need a hearty breakfast before they left.
She was about to get up when she heard the front door creak open. At first she thought that Ross or Pete had already been out to the barn and were coming back in. Then, she felt this sliver of hope and she hurried to see who was there.
Her heart filled with joy and her smile lit up Drew’s face when she saw him in the doorway. Covered in snow and his hair matted, she ran to him, tears running like rivers down her cheeks.
They embraced, crashing into each other’s arms. Drew immediately kissed her and she wrapped her arms around his neck tighter.
“I’ve been such a silly goose,” she confessed, kissing him again and again. “Please forgive me. I’ve been so scared to let myself feel something for you.”
He pulled her closer to him and she sighed. He looked into her eyes, full of sorrow and happiness.
“All I wanted was to get back to you.”
“I only told Juliet I was leaving because I’m afraid of how I feel about you. I’ve never been in love before, and I’ve tried so hard to be what I thought you wanted, I haven’t been myself.”
“I want to marry you, Susannah. I always have. From the moment I saw you, I knew.”
“We haven’t discussed marriage even once. When I first got here, I thought I was just here to whip you boys into shape and make sure you were all properly fed and taken care of.”
“It’s my fault, Susannah. When I sent that ad, I didn’t know what I wanted. I want you to be my wife, not a caretaker. Even then, I wanted you as my wife I just didn’t know how to let you know. All of you, and only you.”
He kissed her sweetly and she felt the love she’d been so afraid of. He’d held back, trying to give her time and respect and she was thankful for that. But now, Susannah wanted everything. Now that she knew his true feelings, she never wanted him to let go.
It was then that Juliet came rushing down the stairs. She smiled at Drew and Susannah, embracing and kissing in the doorway. She wrapped a blanket around her body and went looking for Jack.
“Where’s she going?” Susannah wondered out loud.
“I have a hunch,” Drew smiled, brushing his lips against hers. They kissed and embraced in the doorway, the snow falling down behind them. The scene was romantic as the icy December air approved their match.
Jack was in the barn, tired, and taking off saddles. When he saw Juliet, he ran to her, pulling her up to him, her feet dangling in the air.
“Thank God I get to see your beautiful face again.”
“Oh, Jack,” she breathed in, hugging and kissing him. “We were so worried. Ross and Pete were just about to head out to look for you two.”
“I had to get back to you,” he said, looking at her lovingly, kissing her cheeks and her lips happily. “We got caught in the storm and had to stay over. Please tell me you haven’t changed your mind about….this. Us..”
“You didn’t tell Drew anything when you two were out there.”
Jack winced, relating he had.
“You are terrible at keeping a secret,” Juliet teased, hitting him in the chest.
“I don’t want to keep this secret,” Jack whispered.
“Your brothers are relentless. We’ll never hear the end of this if they know.”
“I can handle my brothers. It’s you who gives me a run for my money.”
They entered the main house together, hand in hand, as everyone’s eyes widened in surprise, especially Susannah’s.
“Now I know why you told Jack,” she laughed, flabbergasted her younger sister had actually formed an attachment with the middle, roughish Pierce brother.
Drew and Jack warmed up by the fire, and Susannah prepared a grand breakfast, using the ham and potatoes from last night’s dinner. They were all together on Christmas, and everything felt right.
“Susannah and I have an announcement,” Drew began, holding his glass high in the air as they ate breakfast. “We’re getting married, the day after tomorrow.”
Juliet hugged Susannah, genuine happiness flowing between them.
“It’s as it should be,” Juliet said. “Is this what you want?”
“Yes,” she confessed. “Where else am I going to find a tall handsome cowboy to sweep me off my feet with his manly ways?”
Juliet nodded with a smile.
“Now what about you two?” Pete said, talking with his mouth full, referring to Jack and Juliet.
Drew threw a piece of biscuit and hit Pete in the forehead. “Don’t you remember it’s rude to talk with your mouth full? Cut it out.”
Pete groused, but obeyed.
“It’s also rude to throw food,” Susannah said.
Drew laughed, kissing her again.
“You can’t take the cowboy completely out of us Peirce boys.”
“I guess I can learn to live with that,” Susannah said softly, as he rubbed her back and kissed her hand.
“What about us?” Jack said to Juliet seriously, holding her hand.
“I think you know well enough you’re going to have to chase me a little bit longer before I succumb completely to your charms.”
“We’ll then I better enjoy the hunt,” Jack teased, kissing the tip of her nose.
“I don’t know, sinc
e I’ve met you, my standards and expectations have had to change. Maybe one day we’ll be getting married, too.”
“Well, then there is a good Lord,” Jack replied.
“There is, indeed. Because thanks to Him, love changes you.”
Jack kissed her again, long and hard, until everyone at the breakfast table began throwing food at them, even Susannah.
“Whoever would have guessed two fancy girls from Boston would fall for the likes of you two,” Ross said, staring at the happy couples. “You know, Pete, maybe we should send for some mail order brides, too.”
“Good luck,” Drew said. “I think Jack and I got the cream of the crop.”
“And don’t you forget it,” Susannah pointed her finger at Drew for emphasis. “Now, let’s celebrate this Christmas miracle!”
And they did marvel at the miracles of Christmas as snow fell beautifully outside the Pierce ranch.
Book 5 - A Christmas Family Revival
Chapter 1
“You don’t have to do this.”
Mariette’s heart went out to her mother. Her soft features, creased with years of hard labor from the farm were endearing. She felt the woman squeeze her hand tight as the train whistle blew. Her throat constricted and for a moment, all she wanted to do was jump into her mother’s arms and stay.
But she wouldn’t. No, Mariette reminded herself, she wanted this and she needed this—as did they. It went unsaid in their large family that the eldest daughter should have been married off years ago. She’d been worried for a long time now that she was more trouble than help.
So she was leaving. She had prayed long and hard about this—even discussed it at length with their pastor—and now the time had come to take that leap of faith. Mariette took a deep breath and hugged her parents for the last time.
“I want this. I need this,” she whispered in their ears. “Thank you for everything. I’ll write often, I promise.” And she forced herself to let go, or she would never leave their warm embrace.
“We’ll pray for you!” Her mother’s voice caught. In the wind or in her heart, Mariette didn’t know.
Mariette climbed the steps and hung onto the railing as the train started pulling away. She watched her parents for as long as she could. Her father, tall and lean and tired, wrapped his arms around his wife. Her mother, smaller and stouter, kept waving even as tears fell down her cheeks.
The moment they disappeared from view, her own tears began trickling down. Mariette stumbled, turning away from Chicago for the last time as she found herself a seat. It had affected her more than she had thought, leaving the grey landscape she had abhorred all her life. It was cold, windy, and terribly unfriendly.
When the tears dried, Mariette tucked back her long golden curls and sat up straighter in her seat. She reached into her bag to pull out a small bundle of letters she had wrapped delicately with one of her ribbons. Her heart began to calm down as she slid out one of the letters and began to skim it, moving her lips silently along with the words.
Clinton Mason was only a few years older than her own age of twenty-three, and living in Laurel, Montana. He said their little town was quiet and not much happened there most of the time. He said they received lots of snow in the winter and only a little bit of sunshine except in summer. But he said it was beautiful and he called it home. And more importantly, he had decided that a wife might be what he needed.
She had seen all of her friends marry. Most of them had at least one child, if not two or three. They seemed to pop up every spring like the flowers. She herself had been unable to find a suitable man around Chicago, where there were only busybodies and no-goods. At least that’s the sort she was able to meet. She had all but given up when she passed through the market one day and noticed a few magazines.
There, she found Clinton’s advertisement. It had stated that he was a humble young man who worked hard in a forge shop his parents had left him. He was a blacksmith in need of a wife.
In fact, Mariette couldn’t recall any other ad or if she had even bothered looking for other possible suitors. She had written straight to Clinton and that had been the beginning of what she hoped might be everything she’d ever wanted.
One letter stuck out to her, the second one he had sent her. Carefully she opened it, glancing through the few small paragraphs. Frowning, she tucked it away again. That one had almost convinced her that she’d made the wrong choice with Clinton, had nearly convinced her she’d been silly for even trying.
The letter had been short. He’d politely and succinctly answered her questions and that was it. She’d shoved the letter in a drawer and tried to forget all about it, convinced she’d made a mistake. But she didn’t throw it away. And after a month or two, she’d pulled it back out. She’d decided she might have been overreacting. He might just be shy or nervous, as uncertain about this entire process as she was. So she’d written him again..
They corresponded for several more months, and at the end of the summer, he asked her to marry him. Because of the harvest, she had put off replying for a few weeks, but then her parents sat her down.
“You don’t want to lose this opportunity Mariette,” her father had said, his voice gruff but kind.
“He won’t wait forever dear,” her mother had said, reaching out to hold her hand.
So she’d gathered her courage and written him back, accepting his proposal. Now, a month before Christmas, she was taking a train south to Montana with little else besides a prayer in her heart.
Chapter 2
The suit didn’t fit. It wasn’t very old, but it was too tight and too short and he literally could not fit into it. Clinton stared at his jacket, as though waiting for it to suddenly grow into the right size. But then he shook his head, and sighed. Rubbing his cheeks, he stared at his pile of clothes and wondered what to do.
A knock sounded at the door and he barely glanced over. It was clear who was there. “What is it, Noelle?” he mumbled, just loud enough to be heard.
“This isn’t enough money to go to town,” she complained. “I wanted a new ribbon.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose, just picturing his younger sister’s pout. Trying to think of an excuse or something to tell her that would be satisfactory, Clinton went to the door and peeked out. His hair fell into his eyes, once again reminding him he needed to go see the barber. It was long enough to pull back now, and he had to tie it away when he was in the forge.
“You can get a ribbon next time, all right?”
He made a quick glance to her face and then away. As she’d grown, his little sister had begun to look more and more like their mother. Now, the resemblance was so uncanny that he found it hard to look at her lately. Gripping the door tightly, he turned to close it but she shoved a boot in the way.
“You said that last time,” she complained, scowling.
He remembered the day she was born, when he was barely seven years old, and he was so excited to have a playmate. He couldn’t wait for her to get big enough to play outside.
While he loved her to death, they had always struggled to get along. She had never wanted to play in the mud or go hunting. And these days she wouldn’t let him alone, wanting one thing after another. He had to remind himself constantly that she was still young, that she would soon grow up.
Groaning, he pushed back his hair and glanced at the window. They had to be going. He had to be there—the train was due any minute. “Well, I—we just don’t…” Mumbling to himself, he turned back to the room and put on his cleanest shirt, buttoned it, and glanced around before pulling out the silver dollar he had saved next to the family Bible.
He’d been saving it for a special treat, for when she arrived. His fist curled around it tightly for a minute, but he could feel Noelle’s gaze on him. He tried to fight it but soon he had lost his resolve, as he often did when it came to his little sister.
“Thank you,” she said tartly, slipping it from his grasp before he had moved. Clinton sighed, shaking hi
s head. It only added another weight to his shoulders. Grabbing a piece of leather wrapped around his wrists, he tied back his hair and followed his sister out. Someone had to make sure she behaved in town.
He stepped into the parlor and discovered that his youngest sister, Serena, was also dressed for an outing. Sighing, he put on his coat. He hadn’t wanted company this afternoon, much less the company of his two silly sisters. Serena was a year younger than Noelle, just as immature and just as likely to get on his nerves.
“Let’s go,” he barked when he saw them standing around. He didn’t want them to make him late.
Clinton was out the door and had their horse out before the girls had even stepped onto the porch. He paused, waiting impatiently as they fixed their bonnets. The girls wore their nicer dresses, which he thought was pointless, but he wasn’t about to tell them to turn around. They didn’t even have on their coats, which surely they needed on such a cold day. It was bound to start snowing any minute now.
Serena paused, cocking her head and glancing at their horse. “Why are you bringing Midnight?”
“Let’s go.” He decided that no answer was best, and led the way. The girls struggled to keep up with him, pulling at their dresses and talking under their breath. Clinton ignored their requests to slow down. He’d heard the whistle of the train and knew he would be leaving Mariette Holsey waiting.
It was too late to make a good impression, especially since his only suit coat no longer fit, but he didn’t want to make it any worse.
Once they reached the town square, the girls squealed just loudly enough to startle Midnight. Clinton’s gaze, focused on the train station, turned sharply to the young ladies who made a face at him. “Mr. Silders has new cloth.” Serena clasped her hands together. “We must touch every one of them!”
“We’re only here for a minute,” he started.
Noelle shook her head, grabbing her younger sister. “Don’t you worry—we’ll be back there for supper!” she hollered as they ran off, cutting off a carriage and startling a group of women. They all paused and stared at him for a minute before turning back to their gossip.
Christmas Miracles: Mega Mail Order Bride 20-Book Box Set: Multi-Author Box Set Page 56
