A Texas Christmas

by Thomas, Jodi Jodi Thomas

  “I left you a note, didn’t you read it?”

  A lump came to Rand’s throat, thinking that he probably should explain that it’d been accidentally tossed in the forge, but he wasn’t the one needing to explain anything to his half brother. Finally, he said, “Didn’t read it.” Just the fact that he didn’t bother to open the envelope should make his position clear on how he felt at the moment about his half brother.

  “Hmm.” Jim shot him a questioning look, and ran his hand along his jawline. “I saw Teg Tegeler on the trail and he told me about the Christmas money for the orphanage comin’ up missing. He heard they thought it was me. I didn’t want to cause you any more trouble, so I thought it was about time I moved on out and went back East. That’s why I took Jughead. I didn’t want to take any of your good horses.”

  Rand wasn’t any more sure of Jim’s story than as he was of his own excuse for not reading the letter.

  Sarah appeared at the door.

  Raising an eyebrow, Jim said, “I see Miss Callahan got here safely.”

  “Without any help from you,” Rand said in a harsh tone.

  Before Jim could say anything else, Sarah began, “Rand, the most important thing is that we are safe. Mr. Crockett had business to take care of, so it’s fine.” She smiled up at Rand. “I think I’ll go fix something warm to drink.”

  “Sarah, please stay just a minute.” Rand put his arm around her waist and tucked her to his side. “She knows everything. No secrets between us. James, I want to know the truth, and now!”

  “If that’s the way you want it,” James countered.

  “You gentlemen need some time to think things through. I’ll be back in no time.” She scurried off and in only a matter of minutes returned with mugs of coffee.

  James seemed to have gathered his thoughts during the silence that hovered between the two brothers before Sarah returned. Then he took a deep breath and began, “I just left, not wanting to bring any more shame than I already have on the only family I’ve ever known. I should’ve been a big brother to you, but I wasn’t. Seems more like you looked out for me than me taking care of you. You always blamed our father for Jenny’s death, but it wasn’t him.” He hesitated, taking a long time before he could continue. “It was me. Pa asked me to fix the carriage and take Jenny out to her parents’ house. I didn’t repair the axle like I was told to do. Once Pa found out about her death, he just took the blame so nobody would ever know the truth. After your mama died and his health got worse, he decided it’d be better if he didn’t stick around, so he ventured off. Don’t know where he is.”

  Rand swallowed hard, trying not to reveal his anger in front of Sarah. “So I should have blamed you instead of our father all of these years?”

  James nodded. “I spent too many years at the Andersonville prison during the war to face living the rest of my life confined. Couldn’t stand the idea, so being a coward, I ran.”

  “You should have kept running.” Fury mixed with relief hobbled the rest of the things Rand wanted to say.

  For some reason, knowing the truth seemed to have suddenly set Rand free. He no longer had questions. They were all answered, so with Sarah’s help, he could heal—forever this time.

  “That was my plan, but when I ran across the train snowed in up by the Sullivan ranch and met those fine folks who invited me in to share their grub and heat, I knew that if they could do such an unselfish deed without even knowing me, I had to come back to Kasota Springs and make things right with you.

  “And I didn’t steal the money from Doc Mitchell’s wife. I suspect it might’ve been Sheriff Raines, but I don’t know for sure. Boss Adler and his drunken low-life hooligans were hanging around, but I heard Louis and Barney were in the hoosegow and Adler was on the run.” He stopped and for a minute Rand thought James might have tears in his eyes. “Can you forgive me, Randall?”

  Rand took Sarah’s arm and pulled her closer to him, then looked down at her, as if she’d provide the answer. The glow in her eyes told him all he needed to know.

  “Seems to be the season for new beginnings. I think we’re both in need of a brother, and since you’re ready and able I’d just as soon have you as my big brother than anyone around.” They hugged in a very manly sort of way. “Think there’s some breakfast left over, so if you’re a mind, would you stick around to be our witness? Because I’m gettin’ hitched in about an hour.”

  “Gotta clean up first.” James didn’t seem surprised at their unexpected announcement. He just reached down and lifted the lost bag to Sarah. “This yours?”

  Sarah could hardly contain her excitement and rushed to James and gave him a big hug. “Thank you. This has the presents for the children from Santa Claus.” She turned toward the tree. “But I see he came early.”

  Spying the quilt wrapped in a red bow, Rand smiled. “And I see Mrs. Claus plans on taking good care of Santa.”

  From out of nowhere, Addie Claire and Damon appeared and rushed to the tree, ignoring everyone else in the room.

  “We have a Christmas tree,” Addie Claire said. “Even an angel on top.” She turned, took a hold of Rand’s leg, and hugged him. “Thank you, Mr. Daddy.”

  “Cain’t be no real tree without bears.” Damon stared up at his mama and Rand.

  “Go look in the box on the table,” Rand said. “There’s ribbon bows, cookies, and bears that your mama made to decorate the tree, and a bell or two.”

  After finding Rand’s crudely made bear ornaments, the little boy shouted with glee, “You didn’t forget them bears.”

  Rand picked up a twin in each of his arms. With Sarah by his side, as if on cue, the new family began to sing,

  “Away in a manger,

  No crib for His bed,

  The Little Lord Jesus

  Laid down His sweet head. . . .”

  Without warning, Rand’s helper Timmy appeared at the doorway leading to the shop and joined them in song. When they were finished, he announced that the search party had just sent word that ol’ No. 208 of the Fort Worth and Denver City Railroad carrying the Christmas bell was on its way to Kasota Springs.

  “How’s your mama?” Rand asked.

  “She’s doing lots better. Doc Mitchell thinks that a miracle happened ’cause her color is better and most of her hacking has stopped.” Timmy smiled. “Saw you got back, Mr. Crockett, and I’m sure happy to see ol’ Jughead. I saw they were fed, so I gotta amble on over to the church to be ready to unload the bell when it gets here.” He tipped his hat and hurried toward the door, then stopped. “Merry Christmas, you all.” Timmy dashed out, headed toward the train depot.

  Rand turned to his almost wife and said, “I gotta go help unload the bell, but I’ll be back in time to get hitched.”

  Putting the little ones down, he kissed Sarah on the forehead.

  James grabbed his coat and joined Rand. “Not without me, little brother.”

  Damon jumped up and headed their way. “Not without me, too . . . Daddy.”

  Rand looked at Addie Claire, who had followed in her brother’s footsteps. “Nope, little lady, you and Mommy need to stay here to do some of the girlie things a mother and a daughter do together.”

  Addie Claire grabbed Sarah’s hand and said, “Let’s go get hitched, Mommy.”

  An outburst of joy decked the hall of the Kasota Springs Livery and Blacksmith’s shop.

  Two hours later, accompanied by their witness, Jim Crockett; the bridesmaid, Addie Claire; and groomsman, Damon, Sarah Callahan and Randall Humphrey were pronounced man and wife.

  Bundling up immediately after the vows, the new family hurried to the little white church with a steeple reaching up to the heavens, and squeezed into seats next to Tess Whitgrove and Sloan Sullivan. The townfolks filled every pew to celebrate the miracles of Christmas with a candlelight service.

  After Reverend Victor Johnson concluded the service, he turned the pulpit over to Emma Mitchell, who reported that the money stolen from the bazaar had been retur
ned tenfold.

  The doc’s wife ended with, “Kasota Springs is blessed to be filled with angels.” She held up a shiny double eagle to the congregation, but kept her gaze on Rand. “Particularly the one who put a pouch of double eagles near Baby Jesus in the manger.”

  Suddenly, the toll of the new Christmas bell sounded from the bell tower.

  Shivers ran up Rand’s spine. He moved his arm from the back of the pew and touched Sarah on the shoulder. Looking down, he smiled at his two little angels, who were tucked safely between him and his new wife.

  Damon rested his hand on Rand’s thigh, while Addie Claire held tightly to her mother.

  His attention was drawn back to Emma Mitchell when her whiny voice joined the toll of the new Christmas bell....

  “I heard the bells on Christmas Day

  Their old familiar carols play.

  And wild and sweet the words repeat

  Of peace on earth, goodwill to men.”

  And Rand whispered to Sarah, “My home will always be your home. Merry Christmas, wife.”

  Epilogue

  Two years later

  Christmas Eve 1889

  Rand wasn’t sure how many times he’d climbed the stairs and sat in the rocker he’d toted out of Sarah’s and his bedroom, but it had to be a zillion.

  The twins, now five, played quietly in the great room with the toys they had opened earlier in the day. Their uncle Jim looked like a big bear sitting cross-legged on the floor playing with what appeared to be a doll. Surely not!

  Rand knew his wife’s time was nearing, but had no idea Sarah was this close to having their baby. She’d been healthy, but as her time neared, ol’ Doc Mitchell worried that she’d put on a lot more weight than he thought was good for her. But then Rand came from a family of big men, and if it was a boy, he might well just be a big baby.

  Cry after cry, moan after moan came from inside the room. In between labor pains, he could hear Sarah’s heavy breathing through the door. Then the pain would return and her cries were more screams of agony instead of a labor of love.

  He knew the logistics of labor—after all, he’d delivered his share of foals—but he had no experience with a woman’s birthing process.

  As time went on without any word coming from inside the bedroom, Rand became increasingly worried. He was about to wear the area between the bedroom and the stairs thin by walking the floor waiting on news about Sarah and their baby.

  A shrill wail, more painful than Rand had ever heard in his life, echoed off the walls, followed by the sweetest sound he knew he’d never forget—his baby’s cry.

  Suddenly a second cry joined with the other one to create a concerto of bawling. Perplexed as to how one baby could make so much noise, Rand jumped to his feet and cupped his ear against the door. All he could hear were instructions from Doc Mitchell to his wife, Emma, who was helping him. Directions more perplexing than the baby’s cry. Relief settled all around Rand. The new baby had to have healthy lungs to let out so many bellowing wails so close together.

  Suddenly the door opened, almost making Rand fall inside, and Doc Mitchell stood in the threshold.

  “Randall Humphrey, congratulations on being the proud father of a healthy baby . . .”

  He stepped aside to allow Rand to enter the room. Coming to an abrupt halt as though he’d suddenly got bogged down in knee-deep mud, Rand stared at Sarah—and not one but two babies!

  “I, uh.” He had no words for how he felt. “Two babies.”

  “Come meet your daughter and her brother,” Doc Mitchell said.

  “Brother!” Rand almost shouted. “Twins!” He rushed to Sarah’s side as the doc and his wife exited the room.

  He gripped Sarah’s hand and took a wet cloth from the bowl beside the bed and dabbed at her forehead. “You’re exhausted.” He couldn’t keep his eyes off the little ones.

  “But it was worth it.” Tired but radiant, she looked up at him. “Oh so worth it. I love you, Rand Humphrey.”

  “And I love you, Sarah Humphrey, more than you can imagine.”

  “You know I always get the last word. I love you more, but we need to give them names before Addie Claire and Damon come in.”

  “We only talked about names for a boy.” Rand finally scrounged up the courage to touch the forehead of one of the babies lying in the crook of Sarah’s arms. “But with two—”

  “What do you think we should call her?” Sarah smiled up at him. “Edwinna is out of the running.”

  “Well, if I can’t use your aunt’s name, then I’ll have to think about it a minute.” Rand pulled the quilt Sarah had made for him two Christmases ago from the quilt stand, and spread it over his precious wife. “How about the little tadpole there being Christian Alexander and our little lady Abigail Rebecca?”

  “Exactly what I was thinking.” Sarah pulled both babies tight to her and whispered, “Your mother’s name. I like that.”

  “What could be more perfect than celebrating our second wedding anniversary with the addition of two little ones?” Rand said.

  The Humphrey family was complete with a total of six. And they had received the perfect Christmas present: two bundles of joy to add to their inquisitive and rambunctious siblings.

  In the distance, the toll of Christmas bells sounded through the falling snow.

  ZEBRA BOOKS are published by

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  119 West 40th Street

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  Copyright © 2011 by Kensington Publishing Corporation

  “One Wish: A Christmas Story” copyright © 2011 by Jodi Thomas

  “Naughty or Nice” copyright © 2011 by DeWanna Pace

  “The Christmas Bell” copyright © 2011 by Linda Broday

  “Away in the Manger” copyright © 2011 by Phyliss Miranda

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  ISBN: 978-1-4201-2561-0

  ISBN-10: 1-4201-1966-4