The Christmas Vow

by Shanna Hatfield

  The sunlight shining in the window revealed the fact it was a beautiful day. Thoughts of all he could be doing made Adam antsy to rise. He started to swing out of the bed, but stopped when Tia glared at him from the door.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” she asked, marching into the room as he pulled his legs back beneath the covers.

  “Plotting an escape,” Adam admitted.

  Tia laughed and placed the back of her hand against his forehead. It felt pleasantly cool against Adam’s warm skin.

  Although he didn’t have a fever from his injury, Tia’s presence left him overheated.

  “No fever.” She smiled at him. “If you’re a good boy, you may get out of bed tomorrow.”

  “I’ll be dead before the morning if you don’t let me get up and do something,” Adam growled, shooting her a narrowed glare.

  Laughter danced in her eyes as she shook her head. “No. I spoke with Doc myself and he assured me bed rest was the best and fastest way for you to heal.” She glanced around and noticed the book she’d given Adam to read tossed onto the chair across the room.

  After retrieving it, she set it on the bedside table. “I thought you enjoyed Mark Twain’s stories.”

  “I do, I’m just not in the mood to read.” Adam pointed toward the window. “It’s a beautiful day out there. The sun’s sparkling on the snow, yet you’ve got me hiding in here like some scared little school girl.” He sighed and ran his right hand through his mussed hair. “You and Toby should have gone to church.”

  “Toby went with the Dodd family and stayed to have lunch with them. In fact, I should go fetch him soon.” Tia glanced at the clock on the small table by the rocking chair beneath the window.

  “I’ll go with you,” Adam offered and started to rise again.

  Tia rolled her eyes and released and exasperated sigh. She pushed on his chest, forcing him to stay in the bed. “You will not get out of that bed, Adam Guthry. I mean it. It’s my fault you were injured in the first place. The least you can do is to accept my ministrations with less fuss and bother than a cranky child.” With her hands fisted on her hips, she appeared both serious and determined.

  Amused by her anxious state, Adam flipped back the covers and wrapped a hand around her waist, pulling her onto the bed. “If you’re so all-fired convinced I need to stay in this bed, keep me company. I can think of a few things that would take my mind off being stuck in here all day.”

  Air whooshed out of Tia as Adam held her against his chest. Warmth unlike anything she’d ever known seeped into her from the contact with his bare skin.

  Forcefully turning her attention to the bandage wrapped around his middle, she wanted to make certain he hadn’t injured himself with his tomfoolery.

  Assured blood didn’t ooze through the white cloth, she made the mistake of lifting her face to Adam’s.

  His blue eyes glittered like sapphires in the moonlight as he held her gaze, drawing her into a place where nothing but the two of them existed.

  Mesmerized by the yearning in his eyes, the dimples teasing her in his cheeks, Tia leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his left dimple. The raspy feel of his whiskers against her soft skin thrilled her as his masculine scent invaded her senses.

  Oh, how she longed to kiss him like she’d always dreamed of doing. To own his kisses and be owned by him.

  For a moment, she considered what might happen if she mustered the courage to press her lips to his and pour out the love she kept hidden in her heart.

  Tempted to find out, her mouth was only a breath of space above his when the front door banged open and Toby called to her.

  Adam muttered under his breath as she scrambled to her feet and rushed out of the room.

  Toby stood in the front entry removing his coat and hat while Chauncy Dodd held Erin’s hand.

  “You didn’t need to bring Toby home. I was just getting ready to fetch him.” Tia settled a hand on Toby’s shoulder as he leaned against her legs.

  “Erin and I thought we should check in on Adam and see how he’s fairing.” Chauncy smiled. “It must be a terrible burden to have to wait hand and foot on that big lug.”

  Tia grinned as the pastor winked at her. “It is. I’m practically worn to a frazzle.” She motioned for them to follow her down the hall. “He’ll be glad you came, Chauncy. And you, too, Erin.”

  When they entered the room, Toby started to run for Adam’s bed then remembered at the last minute he wasn’t supposed to bounce on it. Carefully, he climbed up then held out his hand for Erin.

  “Come on, Erin. My daddy will show you his stitches.” Toby grinned at Adam. “Won’t you?”

  “There’s not much to see,” Adam said. He folded back the covers just enough the two youngsters could gawk at the bandage.

  “But I got to see it, Erin. Doc let me help. I’m gonna be a doctor when I grow up and marry you.”

  Erin giggled. “And we’ll live on a boat with Aunt Filly and she’ll make Turkish delight every day!”

  Tia laughed and brushed a dark curl away from Erin’s forehead. “My goodness. You two have everything all planned out, don’t you?”

  “Yep!” Toby hopped off the bed and tugged on Erin’s hand. “Come on. Let’s check on Crabby. He misses me when I’m gone.”

  The sound of their footsteps racing down the hall echoed into the room. Tia grinned at the sound of their chatter coming from the kitchen. “I better check on them and rescue the cat.”

  Chauncy watched her leave then turned his attention to Adam. The two of them visited for a short while then the pastor offered Adam a broad grin. “You sure don’t seem like a man near death. From the way Tia talked, I thought you’d be writhing in pain, ready to meet your maker.”

  “That woman,” Adam raised his right hand and pointed at the wall, indicating Tia in the kitchen, “has got it in her head she can order me around and expect me to obey.” Indignant, Adam huffed. “I’ll be danged if she isn’t right.”

  Chauncy chuckled. “It must be quite a tribulation to have a lovely woman catering to your every whim while you laze the day away.”

  “You have no idea,” Adam said, his mood darkening. If Toby hadn’t arrived home at such an inopportune moment, he might be savoring the sweet flavor of his wife’s kisses.

  Instead, she’d jumped up from the bed and ran from the room like a scared rabbit.

  “Oh, I’ve got a good idea. The same incurable malady once rendered me useless and hopeless,” Chauncy said, backing toward the door.

  “Really? I didn’t know you’d been gunshot.”

  Chauncy chuckled. “I haven’t been. But I know lovesickness when I see it.”

  Adam tossed a pillow at Chauncy. The pastor ducked and stepped into the hallway. “Get well, Adam. I’m sure we’ll see you around town in a day or two.”

  “Thanks, Chauncy. And thanks for keeping an eye on Toby.”

  “He’s a great little boy. We’re happy to watch him anytime.”

  Chauncy disappeared and Adam listened to the sound of him leaving with Erin before Toby reappeared in the room.

  “Want to share my candy?” He held out half a peppermint stick to Adam. “Mama said I could share it with you.”

  Adam smiled at Toby and ruffled his hair then accepted the broken stick. “Thank you, Toby. That’s very generous of you. When I was a boy, I wasn’t very good about sharing my candy with Arlan.”

  “Mama says I have to share because it teaches good lessons.” Toby stuck his portion of the candy stick in his mouth and sucked on it. “I wish I could go to school and learn lessons with the other kids.”

  “You’ll go next year. In the meantime, maybe I can help you learn a few things.” Adam watched Toby’s eyes light up in anticipation.

  “You will?”

  He grinned at the boy. “I will. In fact, if you can find a big string or a piece of rope, I’ll teach you something right now.”

  “Oh, yes!” Toby jumped off the bed and started out the door. Abrup
tly stopping, he spun back around and handed Adam his sticky candy. “Hold this, please.”

  Adam took the peppermint and watched as Toby raced out of the room. He returned a short while later with a yard-long length of frayed rope. He handed the child back his candy and licked the sticky residue from his fingers then picked up the rope.

  “Climb on up here, little man, and I’ll teach you everything you need to know about tying knots like a real sailor.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Judge Cedric Devereux sipped from his cup of coffee, liberally laced with brandy. Content, he leaned back in his chair by the parlor fire, enjoying a tranquil evening.

  Catherine, his wife, sat across from him, tediously working on another needlepoint chair cover. The woman had stitched so many of them, nearly every chair in the house bore the results of her efforts.

  Cedric glanced over at her, proud she still appeared as lovely as the day they wed forty-four years ago. He’d not asked for more in a wife than for her to be well dressed, gracious, and provide a welcoming atmosphere for their guests.

  She’d served him well and he held some affection for the woman, particularly since she bore him two sons.

  Pain stabbed his heart as he thought about losing both his boys so senselessly. Patrick, his oldest and favorite son, died when a horse bolted, dragging a buggy behind it through the streets. Before it was brought under control it had injured a dozen people and killed one innocent bystander — his son.

  Then there was Roland’s death, still fresh and painful. Roland had never grown up, never wanted to. Catherine had coddled the boy and Cedric blamed her for his raffish, rascally ways. It would have turned into quite a scandal for Roland to end up dead in a saloon from a brawl over a soiled dove. That’s why Cedric arranged for it to appear as if Roland had been defending himself during a robbery outside the sordid establishment.

  Over the years, Cedric had availed the services of men of questionable character to carry out his wishes.

  Even now, one of the men on his payroll was in Hardman, preparing to bring his grandson home in time for Christmas.

  He hadn’t mentioned his plans to Catherine. There’d be time enough to inform her once Tobias arrived with Mr. Nivens.

  Smug with his successful schemes, Cedric took another sip from his coffee and picked up the book he’d been reading the previous evening.

  He heard the bell ring at the front of the house and wondered who would call at that time of the evening. No one in their circle of friends would have been so unforgivably rude.

  The clearing of a throat at the doorway alerted him to the presence of his butler.

  “Yes, Charles?” Cedric motioned for him to step into the parlor.

  The butler’s face remained expressionless as he strode across the room with a silver tray carried in his gloved hands.

  “Two telegrams arrived for you, sir.” Charles held out the tray and Cedric snatched the messages from it.

  “That will be all, Charles. Thank you.”

  Dismissed, the butler hurried from the room.

  Cedric scanned the first telegram. When he finished, his face flushed an ugly shade of purple. He wadded up the paper and tossed it into the fireplace, muttering under his breath.

  Startled, Catherine stared at him. “Whatever is the matter, Cedric?”

  “That woman!” Cedric yelled, stabbing his index finger into the air above his head. “That woman has gone and married again!”

  “What woman, dear?” Catherine leaned forward in her chair. “Of whom are you speaking?”

  “Tiadora! That blasted, stubborn…” Cedric broke into a string of curses that caused Catherine’s eyebrows to meet her hairline.

  As he read the second telegram, he yanked at the collar of his shirt until two buttons flew off. He wadded the second telegram into a ball and threw it into the fire to join the first message.

  “Cedric?” Catherine asked, frightened by his behavior and the murderous gleam in his eye.

  “I need to attend to a matter, my sweet. Don’t wait up for me.” Cedric got to his feet and hurried from the room, bellowing for Charles as he rushed toward the door and shrugged into his coat.

  “Have Ed bring the carriage around, Charles. I must leave at once.”

  “Yes, sir.” Charles didn’t wait for more instruction. He opened the front door and ran out to the carriage house.

  Within minutes, the carriage rolled around by the front door. Cedric hurried down the steps and climbed inside as Charles stood in attendance.

  “While I’m gone, I need you to get in touch with this man and ask him to meet me at my office first thing tomorrow morning.” The judge handed Charles a slip of paper.

  “Yes, sir. Right away, sir.” Charles tipped his head to Cedric.

  “And for heaven’s sake, don’t mention anything to my wife.” Cedric barked as the carriage lurched forward and headed down the drive.

  Three hours later, Cedric returned home. He’d made sure Nivens wouldn’t be able to talk, tying any of his nefarious deeds back to the judge. No, that idiot would mysteriously disappear before he ever reached trial for shooting the milksop stupid enough to marry his former daughter-in-law.

  Enraged Nivens hadn’t followed his orders to the letter, obviously more had transpired than the man simply serving Tia with the papers he’d sent and encouraging her to return with Tobias to their home in Portland before he was forced to take legal action against her.

  With her married, it would be nearly impossible for him to pursue custody of his grandson.

  The only way to ensure the child became his was if Tia and her new husband were suddenly to perish.

  Cedric was more than happy to arrange for that to happen.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Where are you going?” Toby asked as Adam tugged on his boots then slipped on his coat.

  “I’ve got business to attend to, but I’ll be back in time for supper tonight,” Adam said, wrapping a scarf around his neck.

  Toby’s lip puckered and his little brows knit together in a frown. “Don’t you want me to go, too?”

  Adam hunkered down and opened his arms to the boy. Toby lunged against his chest as Adam wrapped him in a hug. “I’ll be out in the cold most of the day, Toby. Your mama would flay the skin right off me if I took you out and let you get a chill. Besides, Christmas is coming and I might have a few surprises that require some attention.”

  “Surprises?” Toby asked, leaning back as the sparkle returned to his blue eyes.

  “Yes, surprises, little man.” Adam set him down and tweaked his nose. “Promise to be good today and keep an eye on your mama and Crabby.”

  “I will,” Toby said, his good humor restored. He handed Adam his hat and watched as the big man pulled on his gloves.

  Tia strode into the room, carrying a stack of clean dishtowels. She set them down on the counter and raised an eyebrow at Adam. “Going somewhere, sailor?”

  Adam grinned at her. “Yes, ma’am, I am. I promised Blake I’d help him set up for their skating party Saturday. I’ll be out at his place most of the day.”

  “But, Adam, don’t you think you should…” Tia gasped as Adam silenced her with a quick kiss. If Toby hadn’t been watching, she wondered if it would have lasted longer than the time it took her to blink in surprise.

  “Mrs. Guthry, you’ve held me prisoner in this house for days. I’m ready for some hard work and fresh air.” Adam winked at Toby and opened the back door.

  “I’ve done no such thing. Why, just yesterday you spent the day at the livery with Douglas doing who knows what and we had dinner with Arlan and Alex. How, exactly, is that holding you prisoner?”

  Adam took a step closer to her and bent his head down until his warm breath caressed her ear. “I’ll forevermore be a prisoner of your charms, Queenie.”

  A shiver of delight raced through Tia as Adam kissed her cheek then stepped outside.

  The look he tossed back at her made heat churn in her bell
y. “Go on with you, and tell Ginny I said hello.”

  “I will. You two have a good day and don’t forget to keep the doors locked. Even though Mr. Nivens is no longer a threat, I’m certain we’ll hear from the judge again.”

  Tia nodded in understanding then watched as Adam strolled down the back steps and cut through the lawn to the front of the house. Crabby sat on a wooden stump and licked his paws, soaking up the sunshine that turned the snow into a glistening wonderland.

  Unaware she studied the slight swagger to Adam’s gait, the way his shoulders smoothly rolled with each step, she wondered what it would be like to be loved by a man such as Adam Guthry.

  Saddened by the thought she’d never know, she forced aside her maudlin musings and pasted a bright smile on her face as she turned to face her son.

  “Toby, I think it’s about time for us to bring some Christmas cheer to the house. What do you say to that?”

  “Hooray!” The little boy ran around in an excited circle before grabbing his mother’s hand. “Can we hang garlands and string popcorn and bake cookies and…”

  Tia laughed and scooped him into her arms. “Let’s do one thing at a time, sweetheart. How about we start by making paper snowflakes for the windows?”

  “May I make one for Erin?” Toby asked as he squirmed to get down.

  Amused by his constant interest in Erin, Tia smiled. “Yes, you may.”

  “I’m surprised your wife let you out of her sight to help me today,” Blake said. Adam helped him carry benches from the back of the wagon to set around the pond for the skating party taking place that weekend.

  Blake had purchased the adjoining property in the spring so he could expand his horse breeding operation. Part of the new addition included a pond. As soon as Ginny saw it, she’d enthusiastically clapped her hands and informed Blake they simply had to host a skating party during the holidays.

  Since the weather had been unreasonably cold, the pond had frozen several feet down, making it possible to carry out her plans for the event. To Adam’s knowledge, Ginny had invited everyone in a ten-mile radius to attend.