by Lisa Prysock
Logan, chuckling at Aunt Meredith’s remarks, sat down beside her and put his arm around Jill. “All right, I’m next to my woman. Just one or two more pictures, kids, and then we can eat a delicious Christmas ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet corn, cornbread stuffing, pumpkin pie, and whipped cream.” Logan made a funny face as though he was in heaven just thinking about it and all the kids laughed.
Meredith Johnston chuckled, but she continued. “Jackie, Zach, and Gracie Anne, that’s right, lean in from behind the sofa. Savannah, if you’d sit beside your mother and kind of look at the baby but tilt your head towards me. That’s right. Micah, would you please sit beside your father, I mean, Uncle Logan. Good. Now everyone lean in close together a bit, and smile. Perfect. Jill, sit up just a little bit straighter. That’s right. One, two, three.” Meredith and Betty Anne snapped about five photos each and then everyone relaxed.
“Did the ones from beside the stone fireplace downstairs turn out?” Betty Anne asked.
“Just as nice as the photos we took by the Christmas tree after the kids opened presents,” Jill answered.
“All right kiddos, you can all relax and in about ten minutes, we’ll have a relaxing dinner in our very own dining room. We can eat until we’ve no room for more food in our bellies,” Logan announced.
“I can’t believe we finally get to have a dinner in our own dining room.” Zach eyed the upstairs formal dining room table. “That hasn’t happened very often.”
“Yeah, it feels good,” Jackie agreed as they followed their grandmother, Betty Anne, and Aunt Meredith into the upstairs kitchen.
“Are Grandma Sadie and Grandpa Jack coming back for dinner?” Gracie Anne asked as she reached for a Christmas cookie from the cookie trays beside the hors d'oeuvres on the coffee table.
“Yep,” Uncle Logan nodded. “I hope they have their boots on though. There’s a whole lotta snow outside. I’m sure they’ll be here any moment. My dad said they were going to freshen up and pick up a tray of my mom’s dressed eggs and a relish tray.”
Looking at the baby, content to watch Christy sleep, Jill asked, “Do you think our guests would have rather had a Christmas dinner in the main hall today, or do you think they liked having it the day before Christmas Eve?”
Logan shook his head. “No, when we surveyed our guests, they all opted to do their own thing in the cabins or spend time with family for the holiday. They like having it the day before.”
“I see, that’s good then. I’ll stop worrying about it.” Jill smiled. She paused thoughtfully. “Logan, you know what?”
“First of all, you look great in your pretty green dress, before I forget to tell you, but what?” he asked, loosening his tie a little.
“Forest green dress,” she corrected, laughing softly.
“Okay, you look pretty in your forest green dress,” he said, planting a kiss on the bridge of her nose and sweeping a stray curl away from her eyes.
Then her look turned more serious. “I really just wanted to say, I think we have the nicest family. My heart is so full. The Lord has been really good to us.”
He nodded, looking at the baby in her arms. “I completely agree. It couldn’t be a better Christmas. What a season this has been. I’m bursting with pride being a new father.”
“I’m sure you are. It has been a great Christmas,” she agreed. “Do you think the kids understand why we contributed to installing a water well to a remote village in India in need of clean water instead of spending too much on gifts for our own family?”
“I think they were happy to sacrifice a few more gifts to do it,” Logan said.
“Even though they each received only four things from us?” Jill bit her lower lip, wondering.
“Oh, absolutely, without any doubts whatsoever.” He leaned forward on the sofa. “They have so much already. They’re learning it’s not all about themselves. Christmas is a time for giving and receiving. I think the kids were very happy with their gifts. Each child has been given something meaningful, one toy, one book, and one useful clothing item. Of course, the grandparents gave them each something, and there’s all of the candy and oranges in their stockings, with school supplies like pencils and little things. I think it was just about right, don’t you?”
“Good, I’m glad you feel the same way I do.” She smiled at the beautiful baby girl in her arms. “The most important thing is remembering Jesus and why He came to the earth. I think they learned about that by participating in last Sunday’s Christmas program. I thought the kids did a great job with their parts.”
“Yeah, I thought so, too.” Logan chuckled. “Micah was so excited about being a wise man with Zachary. Jackie played the role of Mary well. Gracie Anne made quite a shepherd girl. I have a ton of angel pictures.”
“Did you hear the latest? Savannah wants to wear her wings to bed.” Jill told him, and they laughed softly so they wouldn’t wake the baby.
“It was great to see some of our ranch guests getting involved, too. But seeing the old cattle baron, Chuck Evans, come to our service with Frances to see their son, Jared, play the role of Joseph...that was amazing. I don’t think I can recall the last time I saw or heard of Chuck going to church.”
“Me either.” Jill stared at the baby in her arms as they conversed, delighting in the moment. “I thought he really enjoyed the service. I have the feeling he’ll be at more services in the future. Frances is getting better, too. She’s not having so many health issues. Did you know Nicole Beaumont gave us a check for two-thousand dollars to give along with the quilt to the family we adopted?”
“The ones who lost everything in that terrible fire last year? Wow, that’s awesome.” He stared thoughtfully at the baby. “I had no idea. That was very generous of her. You ladies worked hard on that quilt.”
“Thanks. I thought it turned out nicely,” Jill smiled, looking down with her husband at sweet little Christy. “I’m only sorry I wasn’t able to go with my mom, Sadie, and Aunt Meredith to deliver everything to the family. I heard the ladies who worked on the quilt donated a food basket with a certificate for a Christmas ham, also.”
“I’m sure the family really appreciated it. Hey, I think she has your mouth,” he remarked, a twinkle appearing in his eyes.
“Not much hair yet,” Jill coo’d at the baby in the way mothers do.
Logan stood up and helped his wife rise to her feet. “Let’s go eat our Christmas dinner, my love.”
THE LOOK ON AMY’S FACE had been priceless as Jack and Nicole sat on the living room floor of the cabin around the tree to see her open her gifts. She squealed when she saw the bike Jack had put together. They snapped numerous photos of her sitting in the seat, holding the handle bars. After, they took a few pictures together by the tree amidst the wrapping paper mess. Then Jack slid a large present as tall as she was toward Amy. Her eyes grew wide and she tore into removing the paper.
“Wow!” Amy was stunned by the dollhouse.
“Jack, however did you find the time to make this? We’ve kept you so busy. This is amazing!” Nicole moved in closer to check out the rooms, the dollhouse furniture, and the little people. “I never expected you to build one. I thought...” Her voice trailed away in amazement and he simply smiled, all of them cherishing the moment a little girl would remember forever.
“I guess I worked on it a little here and there. It wasn’t too hard to keep it a secret, but most of the wranglers have seen it at one time or another.” He handed Amy the pieces of carpet and wallpaper samples in another package. “I bought the furniture and the toy people, but I had some help from the local carpeting store with flooring and wallpaper samples. You can decide which rooms you want to be which colors, and there’s a few extra samples in there if you get tired of one of the patterns or something.”
“Wow, I get to pick out my own carpet and wallpaper for each room?” Amy looked awestruck as Jack grinned. “This is way awesome! Thanks, Dad. I can call you that sometimes now, right?”
“Su
re, if you wanna.” He looked so proud. Nicole was sure nothing could diminish the smile in his eyes.
“What’s your favorite present so far?” Nicole asked Amy, since there were still a few more items to unwrap under the tree. She had given Jack a lighthouse from The Sweetwater gift shop, a cowboy hat, a collector’s copy of a Charles Dickens book, a sweater, and three western shirts, but he hadn’t opened the glove and scarf set yet. He’d given her a pair of leather gloves, a writing journal, a bottle of expensive perfume, a pair of emerald earrings, some Christian music CD’s, and a western romance book by a Christian author named Rachel Skatvold. She could hardly wait to start reading it. There was something else under the tree from him, but for now, they were happy to see Amy enjoying looking at her art set, books, her new doll, and the paper doll set Brooke and Madison had sent from California.
“That’s easy! Having Cowboy Jack become my dad. That’s the best Christmas present ever, next to baby Jesus coming to the earth, of course.” Amy gave her a hug and stood up to do another moonwalk to celebrate, causing them all to laugh.
Then she stopped dancing and sat down by the tree to look more closely at the dollhouse furniture...for about ten seconds, until something caught her eye. “Are you both ready for my present to you?” She began pushing strewn wrapping paper aside as she stared through the living room toward the front window by the foyer.
“You have a present for us?” Nicole, curious, raised her eyebrows.
“Yep, I do.” Her daughter smiled and giggled with glee as the doorbell rang.
Nicole looked at Jack and shrugged, clutching her morning coffee. They weren’t really awake yet, but she found herself amused as they considered the idea of getting up from the floor. “I guess we better see who’s at the door.”
“Follow me and you’ll see, but you’ll need to put your coats on,” Amy instructed, scampering from the floor to the foyer. She had her coat on before they could move two inches.
“Why do I have the idea she’s planned this moment?” Jack asked with a chuckle, pulling Nicole to her feet after he stood up. It was still pretty early for Christmas Day, though they’d slept in a while, waiting to open gifts until he’d arrived from his RV on another snowmobile. He’d mentioned he was hoping to take the girls on another ride—a short one in the pasture behind the barns where he knew the lay of the land well—before they’d have dinner with his family.
“Christmas secrets are the best and so much fun,” Nicole remarked as Amy swung the door open wide to reveal Buck and Ella standing there. A snowy wind gust blew cold air and bits of snow into the foyer and Nicole wished she wasn’t still wearing her plaid pajama pants, a t-shirt, and silly Christmas socks with Christmas cats on them.
Jack reached the foyer first and handed Nicole her puffy winter vest and pink scarf that had been hanging on a hook by the door. Then he put his own jean jacket on with the sheepskin lining while she stepped into her pink fur-trimmed boots. They stepped out onto the snowy front porch with Amy and the Maxheimers, wondering what her daughter was up to.
“Merry Christmas!” They exchanged greetings and couldn’t help but notice Harley as they shivered in the Christmas morning snow. He was sitting patiently on his leash beside Buck. Jack patted his head and Harley nuzzled his hand for more attention.
“Hey boy,” Jack leaned down and Harley’s tail wagged like crazy with happiness. “Merry Christmas, Harley.”
“Ready to show your mom and Jack your Christmas gift?” Buck asked Amy, a mischievous grin appearing on his face.
“I hope Amy hasn’t been a bother to you,” Nicole bit her lower lip, wondering if this was a welcome disruption to their routine or not. The couple seemed happy about it.
Amy nodded that she was ready with a wide grin of her own, her big blue eyes sparkling with a secret behind them.
Turning to Nicole, Buck explained, “We just live up yonder, so it’s no trouble. My Ella has the turkey in the oven.”
Ella showed them she still had her apron on beneath her winter coat. “We thought this would be the best time to drop by while the turkey is finishing up. Some of our kids and grandkids will be coming for Christmas dinner in a while, but Amy has been planning this for some weeks now.”
Jack and Nicole nodded curiously, speechless, wondering what they could possibly be talking about.
Amy turned to face everyone on the front porch and commenced with an impromptu speech. “All right, Mom, Cowboy Jack, this is just a little something to make you smile. I think sometimes giving a smile away is one of the best kinds of gifts. So, if you don’t mind, Harley and I have been practicing this, and I hope it will make you smile like it does me. And thanks, Mister Buck and Mrs. Ella, for bringing your dog to visit this morning. Ready, Harley?”
Buck let the beautiful golden retriever off of the leash and patted him on the head. “Go ahead, Harley. Show ‘em your stuff.”
Amy jumped off the front porch and picked up her pink skateboard where it had been leaning against the log cabin, the friendly dog following on her heels, wagging his tail. Turning back to her parents, she added, “After my accident, I knew learning to ride this might not be a very good idea just yet, so I taught Harley a new trick.”
She placed the skateboard on the salted driveway and patted it three times. “Jump on, Harley.”
Then she stood back. To everyone’s amazement, Harley jumped on the skateboard and used a paw to propel the skateboard forward. He even kept using the paw to gain speed. When he was going fast enough, he stood up on all four paws, balancing to keep from tipping as the skateboard rolled forward with him riding it.
“Go Harley!” she hollered after him excitedly. Then the dog did something pretty amazing. The skateboard was headed straight down the slightly descending driveway and into the paved street. As it reached the bit of a bump at the slight curb at the end of the drive, Harley jumped up and landed on the skateboard in the street.
Then he used his paw to slow it down, awkwardly turning it around, and his body weight to lean the back of the skateboard up over the tiny curb. He then stepped forward on the skateboard a bit until it tipped back onto the drive. Then he used his paw to speed up until he’d returned to Amy at the top of the driveway. They witnessed this astounding scene from the salted sidewalk running alongside the drive, leading to the front porch.
“Good boy, Harley! Good boy!” Amy patted his head when he arrived at her hand, and like Buck had suggested, she reached in her pocket and produced a dog treat. Harley ate it right up.
“Way to go guys!” Jack grinned. “That was amazing!” Nicole echoed his sentiments while Buck and Ella clapped their gloved hands.
Jack bent down to give Harley a hug, but the retriever became super excited and tackled him to the ground, licking his face with slobbery kisses like he’d done to Casey on several occasions. Nicole and Amy joined them in the snow, laughing and giggling as they tried to reward the dog with lots of affection. Buck and Ella stepped closer, grinning with joy and amusement.
“Wow, absolutely amazing!” Nicole had tears in her eyes as she laughed, leaning on Jack’s strong chest. She was so happy to have found a husband she could trust and love with her whole being, and even happier to have the joy of Christ living in her heart with a renewed faith she hadn’t had since her early teens. She felt overcome with pure joy. The Lord was placing a man by her side who believed in her dreams and encouraged pursuing them.
Nicole’s heart soared. Her daughter was finally going to have a father in her life, too. She pulled Amy into her arms and hugged her tight, the three of them piled in the snow as Harley jumped from one to the other, giving away kisses with his wet nose. Amy and Harley had made them all smile and laugh, exactly as hoped. Although her daughter’s gift wasn’t a traditional material item, it was the very best kind of gift, a gift Nicole Beaumont knew she’d never forget.
The End
About the Author
LISA M. PRYSOCK is an award-winning, bestselling, Christian and inspira
tional author of 15 novels. She and her husband of more than 20 years reside in Kentucky. They have five children, grown.
She writes in the genres of both Historical Christian Romance and Contemporary Christian Romance novels, including a multi-author Western Christian Romance series, “Whispers in Wyoming.” She is also the author of a devotional. Lisa enjoys sharing her faith in Jesus through her writing.
She has many interests, but a few of these include gardening, cooking, drawing, sewing, crochet, cross stitch, reading, swimming, biking, and walking. She loves dollhouses, cats, horses, butterflies, hats, boots, flip-flops, espadrilles, chocolate, coffee, tea, chocolate, the colors peach and purple, and everything old-fashioned.
She adopted the slogan of “The Old-Fashioned Everything Girl” because of her love for classic, traditional, and old-fashioned everything. When she isn’t writing, she can sometimes be found teaching herself piano and violin, but finds the process “a bit slow and painful.” Lisa enjoys working with the children and youth in her local church creating human videos and plays or programs incorporating her love for inspirational dance. A few of her favorite authors include Jane Austen, Lucy Maude Montgomery, Louisa May Alcott, and Laura Ingalls Wilder. You’ll find “food, fashion, fun, and faith” in her novels. Sometimes she includes her own illustrations.
She continues the joy and adventure of her writing journey as a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) and LCW (Louisville Christian Writers). Lisa’s books are clean and wholesome, inspirational, romantic, and family oriented. She gives a generous portion of the proceeds to missions.
Discover more about this author at www.LisaPrysock.com where you’ll find free recipes, devotionals, author video interviews, book trailers, giveaways, blog posts, and much more, including an invitation to sign up for her free newsletter.
