The Christmas Vow

by Shanna Hatfield

  He picked up the shovel he’d set aside and marched across the street. Tia stared after him, torn between following after him to give him a piece of her mind or burying her face in her hands and releasing a flood of tears.

  Rather than surrender to either desire, she took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders, and hastened into Abby’s dress shop.

  As she rushed inside, Toby and Erin looked up from where they sat at a tiny table beneath the window. Children’s books, a set of wooden blocks, two rag dolls, and a few other toys comprised the play area.

  Toby had already divested himself of his hat, scarf, mittens and coat as he gave her a wide grin. “Mama! Miss Abby said I can play with Erin.”

  “Is that so?” Tia raised an eyebrow at Toby, hoping he didn’t plead with Abby to stay. The woman had more than she could handle with the flood of holiday dress orders that had come in as well as taking care of Erin and helping her husband, Chauncy, with church matters. Tia was sure the last thing she needed was an active little boy underfoot.

  “I asked him if he’d like to keep Erin company this morning,” Abby said, as she set aside the taffeta skirt she embellished with beads and stood. “I’d love to have Toby stay a while. The two of them keep each other entertained and out of trouble, for the most part.”

  Tia gave the woman a dubious glance, but nodded her head. “Then it’s only fair Erin spend tomorrow morning with us.”

  Abby smiled. “Are you sure? She’s quite a handful.”

  A laugh bubbled out of Tia. “Have you met my son? If your daughter is a handful, then Toby is two handfuls and an extra scoop. I’d love to have Erin visit us.”

  “It’s settled then. Go enjoy your morning and do whatever you need to do. Toby will be fine here with us Dodd women.”

  When Tia returned to Hardman, she never expected to be welcomed back so warmly and kindly by those who knew her. Old acquaintances such as Carl, Luke Granger, Chauncy Dodd, and Blake and Ginny Stratton made her feel right at home in the close-knit town. She’d also come to know and treasure the friendship offered by Filly Granger, Abby Dodd, and Alex Guthry.

  In the years she’d been away, she’d never experienced close relationships like those she’d easily developed with the women in Hardman.

  Perhaps it was because Erin and Toby were nearly the same age or it might have been because she and Abby shared a love of fashion, but she appreciated time spent with the talented seamstress.

  “If I held any talent with a needle, I’d help you, Abby. The least I can do is keep Erin for a morning or two. If you’d like me to watch her more often, just say the word.”

  “Oh, Erin has plenty of offers for places to play. On Mondays, she spends the day with Filly and Maura. Ginny and Blake watch her on Wednesdays, and Alex has offered to keep an eye on her Saturday afternoons until I get caught up with my holiday orders.” Abby watched as Toby leaned forward until his golden head nearly touched Erin’s dark curls. “Our girl isn’t suffering by any means. In fact, I worry she’ll be spoiled with all the extra attention of her honorary doting aunts and uncles.”

  “You can’t spoil a girl as sweet as that one,” Tia said, patting Abby’s hand. She walked over to the table where the two children drew pictures on slates with pieces of chalk.

  As she knelt down, she settled an arm around each child. “What are you drawing?”

  “This is us playing in the snow,” Toby said, motioning to two bigger white blobs among smaller white dots.

  “I see,” Tia said, smiling with approval at her son. She turned to look at Erin. “What about you?”

  “I’m drawing a picture of me and Toby and my daddy making a snowman.” Erin tapped a delicate finger on her slate.

  Tia distinguished two roundish blobs stacked on top of each other and assumed that must be Erin’s snowman. “And you’re doing such a good job, too.”

  She kissed Toby on the head then stood. When he gazed up at her, she touched a finger to his nose. “You behave while I’m gone, young man, and mind Miss Abby.”

  “I will, Mama. Don’t hurry back, I want lots of time to play with Erin. Maybe you can talk to the mad-sad man again.”

  “Mad-sad man?” Abby asked as Tia shook her head and pulled on her gloves.

  “Toby keeps referring to Adam Guthry as the mad-sad man. He noticed him at Carl’s service yesterday and asked me why the man looked sad and mad. I tried to explain he was sad about Carl going to heaven, which he understands. Yet, I can’t explain why Adam is angry at me for something that happened ages ago.”

  Abby hugged her shoulders as they stood at the shop door. “Didn’t I see you talking to Adam when Toby came in?”

  “Yes, you did. We ran into each other quite by accident. I’ll do my best not to make that mistake again.” Tia frowned when Abby giggled. “You can laugh all you want, but that man positively hates me and there’s nothing I can do or say to change his mind.”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure.” Abby commented as Tia opened the door. “You just never know what might happen in Hardman during the holiday season. Magic and romance float in the air.”

  “Oh, hush.” Tia sailed out the door with a smile and hurried down the boardwalk. She stopped at the bakery and arranged to have cookies delivered to the school as a surprise for Alex and the children the following afternoon. After she left there, she went by the mercantile and left a list with Aleta Bruner to fill. She visited with the friendly woman a few moments, catching up on whatever news the storekeeper had heard that morning.

  “You remember Adam Guthry, don’t you?” Aleta asked, measuring a length of ribbon Tia wanted. “In fact, weren’t you friends with both Adam and Carl before you moved to Portland?”

  Tia nodded her head, wondering why Adam seemed to be the only person anyone wanted to talk about that morning.

  “I heard he’s planning to stay through Christmas. Arlan would never say anything, but I think he really missed having his brother around, especially that first year after their mother passed away.” Aleta continued chatting, unaware of Tia’s disconcerted state. “Now that Arlan has Alex, it’s so nice Adam will spend the holiday with them. Families should be together, don’t you think?”

  Tia nearly choked at Aleta’s words. The last thing she thought she and Toby needed was to spend the holiday with the remaining members of her son’s family. With the passing of her grandmother, Tia didn’t have a single relative left in the world, except for Toby.

  However, the little boy had a set of grandparents and an uncle who continued to remind her they were most eager for her to return to Portland. Judge Cedric Devereux had even gone so far as to suggest she return soon or he’d take measures to ensure a prompt appearance of his grandson, regardless of her wishes.

  When Aleta grew silent and stared at her in concern, Tia forced a smile. “Yes, Aleta. Families should definitely spend the holidays together. It’s wonderful for Arlan that Adam plans to stay a while. I’m sure it will be good for both of them.”

  “That’s exactly what I think.” Aleta waved as another customer entered the store.

  Tia took the opportunity to escape the conversation. “I’m in no hurry, Aleta. While you help the others, I’ll run down to the post office and see if I’ve received any mail.”

  “That’s fine, Tia. I’ll have everything ready when you get back. If you like, I can have George or Percy deliver your purchases later today. George is out making a delivery south of town and Percy is in school, but one of them could bring it by this afternoon.”

  “No, I’ll pick it up on my way back to get Toby from Abby’s shop. Thank you so much.” Tia smiled graciously then breezed out the door, letting the winter air refresh her. It wasn’t that the mercantile was overly warm, but with her mind buzzing a dozen different directions, she felt overheated and uncomfortable.

  Or maybe it was thoughts of Adam that made her temperature rise. Why did he have to be so handsome? And how dare he be so gentle with Toby? It would have been simple to dislike him i
f he’d ignored her son. Instead, he’d gotten down on Toby’s level and made her little boy feel special.

  Blast that man!

  Suddenly, Tia wished he’d go right back to Portland before he wreaked any more havoc in her unsteady world.

  With practice honed from years of feigning emotions she didn’t feel, Tia plastered a smile on her face and entered the Hardman Post Office. She spoke briefly with the women gathering their mail and waited her turn. The postmaster handed her a single envelope.

  A glance at the return address made her grimace.

  “Everything okay, Mrs. Devereux?” the postmaster asked.

  “Everything is fine. Thank you for your concern.” Tia hurried to open the door. “Have a lovely day, sir.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he called after her retreating form.

  Tia planned to wait until that evening to open the missive from her former father-in-law, but she couldn’t do it. A need to know what threats he’d issued drove her around the corner of the newspaper office and into the alley. She leaned against the building and slit open the expensive ecru envelope. The aroma of tobacco and camphor floated around her, assaulting her nose.

  Wrinkling it in disgust, she shook out the letter. The single sheet of paper bore Cedric’s embossed initials at the top of the page.

  Quickly scanning through the message, she read it again then slumped against the wall of the building, devastated. She read it through a third time, just to make sure she hadn’t imagined the dreaded words.

  Tiadora,

  In the event you haven’t heard the news, our dear Roland died two weeks past. I won’t go into details, but a senseless brawl in an establishment of questionable reputation resulted in his death.

  Of course, Catherine and I are beside ourselves. It is such a tragedy to lose both of our wonderful sons. How could they be taken from us in their prime?

  In light of this most recent loss, we insist you return to Portland with Tobias. He is our only living heir and as such, we will not tolerate his absence any longer.

  When you traipsed off to the wilds of Eastern Oregon with our grandson in tow, it was with the assumption you would return once you settled your grandmother’s affairs. That was months ago!

  It is long past time for you to come to your senses and bring back the boy.

  If you do not return home immediately, I will deem you unfit to provide his care and pursue the appropriate measures to become his legal guardian. After all, you are a woman alone in this world, and incapable of fully meeting our dear Tobias’ needs.

  It is your choice, Tiadora.

  Don’t force my hand on this issue. You will not win.

  The Honorable Cedric P. Devereux

  Livid and on the verge of breaking into a round of sobs, Tia stamped her foot in the snow and rattled the paper in her hand. “Oh! That horrid, horrid man wouldn’t know the meaning of the word honorable if it jumped up and bit him on his flabby hin…”

  “Tia?”

  The sound of a familiar voice drew her gaze to the end of the alley where Adam leaned on the shovel he’d used to move snow all morning.

  A shuddering sigh worked free from her chest while a tear rolled down her cheek. She turned away, hoping to spare Adam from witnessing her emotional turmoil, but not soon enough.

  Furiously brushing at her tears, she inhaled a sharp breath of bracing air as Adam’s hand settled on her arm.

  “Tia? Is something wrong?” He pushed the shovel into a pile of snow and reached out to steady her as she swayed.

  “I’m supposed to ignore you. Remember?” She shook her head and sniffled. “Besides, everything’s fine.”

  Sarcastically, Adam snorted. “That’s why you’re hiding in the alley, ranting about someone’s flabby hind end? Because everything is fine?”

  She looked up at him and couldn’t help but grin, especially when she noticed the dimples in his cheeks as he smiled at her. With easy movements, he removed his glove, tucked it into his coat pocket then reached up to brush away a lingering teardrop on her cheek. “What’s wrong, Tia. Something upset you.”

  Tired of fighting all her battles alone, Tia held out the letter to Adam. As he read it, she watched the muscle in his jaw clench until she was certain he’d crack a tooth.

  “The judge is your father-in-law?” Adam asked, handing the letter back to her.

  “Former father-in-law, but yes, I was married to his son.” Tia fished a handkerchief out of her reticule and dabbed at her nose.

  “And their only other child got himself killed in a saloon brawl?”

  Tia nodded her head. “So it would seem.”

  Although Roland was a bit of a rake and tended to drink to excess, he’d always been kind to her. Frequently, he made the stuffy gatherings she’d endured with his parents less of a tribulation.

  “I’m sorry, Tia. Were you close to your brother-in-law?”

  “I wouldn’t say close, but he was always kind to me. After Patrick died, he made an effort to see Toby and take him on outings. In July, he took Toby to the zoo. Have you been? They have quite a wonderful exhibit of animals on display. You do live in Portland, don’t you? You really should make it a point to visit the zoo.” Tia rambled, but couldn’t stop herself. “Toby loved the bear exhibit best of all. Roland said he…” Her voice caught and tears burned the back of her eyes.

  “Come here.” Adam opened his arms and she rushed into them, soaking the front of his coat with her tears. For the first time since she’d left Hardman as a girl, she felt at home.

  The security and comfort she experienced in the circle of Adam’s arms was even better than she remembered. She took a deep breath and inhaled his scent, one redolent of fresh air and sunshine mingled with masculine strength.

  The fragrance had haunted her dreams and filled her nose at the most unexpected moments during the last eleven years.

  Why she thought happiness could be found anywhere beyond Adam she’d never know.

  Home, her true home, was right there in his arms. Due to one impetuous decision as a silly eighteen-year-old girl, she’d destroyed every chance of ever knowing that home again.

  Thoughts of all her foolishness had cost her compounded with the grief she felt over losing both Roland and Carl. Tears flooded her eyes and spilled down her cheeks.

  Time stilled as she stood in the alley leaning against Adam, enveloped by his care and concern. Finally, she pulled herself together and stepped away from him.

  “I’m so sorry, Adam. I shouldn’t… I didn’t mean…” The soggy, limp handkerchief she held in her hand did little to help with her tears.

  Adam took a snowy white square from his pocket and pressed it into her hand. “You never did carry a handkerchief that would get the job done.”

  The teasing smile he gave her made her want to cry all over again, but she wiped away the remnants of her tears, swiped her nose and stuffed his handkerchief into her coat pocket.

  “Thank you, Adam.” Tia reached up and straightened her hat, smoothed down her coat then picked up the letter from Cedric Devereux she’d dropped in the snow.

  Adam motioned to the letter. “What are you going to do about that? If you return to Portland, will you have to live with them?”

  “I still own a house not in Portland, although I’ve put it up for sale.” Tia sighed as Adam walked with her to the end of the alley and then down the boardwalk in the direction of the mercantile and Abby’s shop. “I don’t want to go back to Portland, at least not because Cedric is threatening me. There is no doubt in my mind he’d make good on it, too. He’s a powerful man and most always gets what he wants. However, he doesn’t have quite as much pull or power here in Hardman as he does there.”

  “If I can help you, Tia, let me know. What he’s plotting isn’t right. From the little I’ve seen, you’re a wonderful mother and your son should be with you.” Adam stared at her as they stopped in front of Abby’s shop.

  Uncertain what to make of his kindness after his harsh gree
ting when they first met that morning, she studied him as she placed her hand on the knob of the door. “I appreciate that, Adam, but this is my problem. I’ll figure something out.”

  Adam started to offer a comment, but the door opened and Toby launched himself against Tia. “Mama! Come see the pictures Erin and I made. We had the bestest time!” Toby noticed Adam and waved a hand at him. “Hi, Mr. Adam. Wanna see my picture?”

  “I’d like to, little man, but I need to get back to shoveling snow. You take good care of your mama.”

  “I will!” Toby waved again. Tia gave Adam an uncertain smile as she stepped inside and closed the door.

  Everything in Adam wanted to storm into Abby’s shop, take Tia in his arms and worry her peach-colored lips with the kisses he’d saved up for the last eleven years.

  Annoyed that he had so little control over his emotions around the woman, Adam hustled back to where he’d left the shovel. He returned to cleaning off the boardwalk and steps around businesses and residences while his thoughts continued to wander.

  After he helped Arlan and Luke shovel around the bank and school early that morning, he told them he had nothing better to do and didn’t mind the physical exertion. In truth, he needed the cold, bracing air to keep him from going straight to Tia’s house and demanding to know why she’d left him all those years ago.

  A desire to hurt her as much as she’d hurt him surfaced when he unexpectedly ran into her earlier.

  Instantly, he’d lost himself in the green flecks floating in her hazel eyes, accented by the rich color of her luxurious coat.

  She’d styled her tresses in a fashionable updo beneath a wool hat with a jaunty plume. The color of her hair had always put him in mind of the special tea his mother had made at Christmas — glossy brown with hints of red and gold lurking in its depths.

  Although she had a wide, square face, Tia’s prominent high cheekbones and delicately arched brows gave her a decidedly feminine appearance.