A Western Christmas Homecoming: Christmas Day Wedding Bells ; Snowbound in Big Springs ; Christmas with the Outlaw

by Lynna Banning

  He’d do all that, and love it. Tossing another shovel full of snow aside, he let out a sigh. About as much as he was enjoying moving a mountain of snow. It wouldn’t all be bad. Gramps was easy enough to get along with as long as a person knew what to expect, and he was actually looking forward to working with the horses again, being a part of the community. Having the money from winning in Denver, along with what he already had, would assure they would have all they’d need. And he’d pay Sophie for all she’d done while he’d been gone. She could use it to start her new life.

  He wouldn’t enjoy her getting married, but would get used to it.

  It would have to be the right man. That was for sure. He’d make sure of that.

  “Hey, Welles,” J.T. shouted. “Isn’t that one of Chester’s rigs?”

  They’d ridden out to the train in the livery’s sleigh, but the direction J.T. pointed said he was referring to a different one. Welles walked across the tracks to see around the train. Sure enough, two of the horses out of the livery were pulling a sleigh. It was much smaller than the wagon one they’d used, and was carrying only two people.

  Recognizing the driver, he set aside his shovel and walked forward. As the rig slid up next to the train, he asked, “What are you doing out here?”

  Sophie didn’t answer, but Suzanne did.

  “We figured you men could use a hot meal,” Suzanne said.

  “We certainly can,” Jud said, arriving at her side and helping her down.

  “We packed it in straw and wrapped it in blankets to keep everything warm,” Suzanne said after kissing Jud’s cheek. “We’ll carry it inside the passenger car and yell when it’s time to eat.”

  Welles reached up to help Sophie down, and though she let him, he got the feeling she’d have much preferred to climb down herself.

  “We’ll pry open the door for you,” he said, gesturing toward the passenger car. “But it’s cold in there.”

  Sophie turned about and started unfolding blankets draped over their cargo. “We expected it would be. As Suzanne said, we’ll let you know when it’s time to eat.”

  Welles walked over to the train and, with Jud’s help, got the frozen metal door to open.

  “Lord, but I love that woman,” Jud said, looking at Suzanne. “Ain’t she something?”

  “She is,” Welles agreed before he slapped Jud’s back. “Come on, let’s get back to work before we get yelled at for standing around.”

  Jud laughed. “Sophie isn’t much for idleness.”

  “No, she’s not,” Welles answered. Jud had seen the glare Sophie was casting his way as much as he had. “And we best not be late when she calls that the food is ready, either.”

  “I guarantee we won’t be,” J.T. said, stepping up beside them. “I’ve been trying to get a chance to share a meal with Sophie for over two years.”

  Welles elbowed J.T. out of the way and walked toward his shovel. Although J.T. was a good friend, he would never be the kind of husband Sophie deserved. Matter of fact, none of those out here shoveling snow would be. They were good men in their own right, just not suitable for Sophie. She needed a dependable, reliable man, with enough money to pamper her with all the finer things in life.

  It didn’t take Sophie and Suzanne long to have everything ready, and even less time for every one of the six men with him to barrel inside the train. Welles walked into the car last, and went through the food line last. There was still plenty and it was steaming.

  “Straw and blankets?” he asked.

  Sophie shrugged. “And a tub of hot coals.”

  She was trying hard not to smile, but he let his roam free, and nodded at her ingenuity as he sat down to eat. Even the coffee was hot, and the bread warm, which everyone enjoyed as much as the stew. They also enjoyed the fact Sophie had brought it to them, and weren’t shy about letting her know that.

  Her cheeks were pink, but that could have been from traveling out to the train, because she wasn’t acting as if their attention affected her in any way.

  It affected him. Stronger than it should have. Or maybe not. After all she’d done for Gramps, he owed her plenty, including protection from unwanted advances.

  None of the men were acting that persistently, but he still kept his eyes on them. Every single one.

  “Why are you staring at them that way?”

  Pretending he had no idea what she was talking about, he asked, “Who, and what way?”

  “Everyone,” Sophie answered. “And like they are about to start dealing off the bottom of the deck.”

  “How would—”

  “You know where I grew up,” she interrupted.

  “Lola never let you near the gambling tables.”

  “One doesn’t need to be near them to know things.” She lifted the lid off the kettle. “Want more?”

  “No, thank you, though.” He gestured around the room with a nod. “You decide to do this all on your own?”

  She frowned slightly while asking, “Why? You think I’m not capable of kindness?”

  “No, I know you’re capable.” He nodded toward the others once again. “This was just unexpected. It surprised me. You surprised me.”

  “Well,” she said, putting the lid back on the kettle. “When I started making lunch, I asked Chester what time you’d be back, since you left without saying a word. Chester said he doubted you’d be back before supper, so I walked over to Suzanne’s house to see if Jud had taken a lunch, knowing you hadn’t.”

  Welles didn’t want to put much into her being worried whether he’d taken a lunch or not, but couldn’t help it. Trying not to let it show, he took a sip of his coffee. “And?”

  “When Suzanne said Jud hadn’t, I said that I was going to make a pot of stew and bring it out here.”

  “So you did,” he supplied when she paused.

  “I did.” She nodded in the direction of the other woman walking toward them. “And Suzanne brought along cookies that she’d spent the morning baking and decorating.”

  “That I did,” Suzanne said, lifting a plate out of a crate and removing the cloth covering it. “Would you like one?”

  The plate was full of gingerbread cookies in the shape of little people and decorated with white frosting.

  “They’re good, Welles,” Jud said. “She makes them every year and hangs them on our Christmas tree.”

  Suzanne grinned as she gently bumped against Jud’s shoulder. “The tree my darling husband cuts down for me every year.”

  “That’s right.” Jud took a cookie. “I do, and will again as soon as this train’s broken free.”

  “You best,” Suzanne said before she carried the tray toward the other men.

  Welles had known Jud for years, and had never seen a shine in his eyes like he saw right now. Truth was, he’d never seen the man so happy. Like he genuinely loved his life.

  “Go ahead and eat it,” Jud said, gesturing toward the cookie Welles held. “They melt in your mouth.”

  Welles took a bite and chewed. The cookie was tasty, but it wasn’t melting in his mouth. In fact, it was the hardest cookie he’d ever eaten. Luckily, Jud had turned about and followed Suzanne. Welles picked up his cup of coffee, needing the liquid to soften the cookie enough to swallow.

  Sophie was watching him and grinning. Not her lips, but her eyes, which reminded him of years ago. How cute she’d been. She still was cute, but also pretty. Very pretty. Her hair was hanging loose and the light blue scarf she’d had wrapped around her head was now coiled around her neck. Instead of his old coat, she was wearing a long, fitted one that buttoned down the front and highlighted the fact as to how much she’d grown up since he’d left.

  Grown up into a beautiful woman. One he could fall head over heels in love with, if things were different. He’d left all those years ago because he knew the risks of letting what he’d f
elt for her grow, and had become a gambler, knowing that she’d never be able to return his love, for her sake. She deserved the life Lola had wanted for her. Married to a respectable, successful man, who would take her places. Travel the world. Lola had told him all that herself. That those were the things Sophie wanted. The things she dreamed of. The things she deserved.

  His throat went dry. He took a drink of coffee while setting the half-eaten cookie atop his empty plate. “I’m not much of a cookie eater.”

  She stacked another plate atop his, covering up the half-eaten cookie. “Will you have the train broken free today?”

  “Yes. It’ll roll into Big Springs before nightfall.”

  “And then onto Denver.”

  He took a final swig of coffee, emptying the cup. “Yes.”

  “And you’ll be on it.”

  “Have to, but I’ll be back.”

  She nodded but didn’t look up from the crate she was repacking. “Chester said as much.”

  “Won’t take more than a few days. Then I’ll be back for good.”

  “I won’t wager on that.”

  She hadn’t looked up, but more than her cold shoulder bothered him. “You don’t believe me?”

  “Why should I? Five years ago you said you’d be back in a couple of months.”

  He had said that. Then. “This is different.”

  With a slight shake of her head, she spun around, walked toward where the others were now eating their cookies and began gathering empty plates.

  Welles considered following, but only for a second. The faster he got this train broken loose, the faster she could get on to living the life she’d dreamed of. “Let’s get back at it,” he said, heading toward the doorway, knowing the others would follow.

  The rest of the men did follow, except for Jud; he helped Sophie and Suzanne load up the sleigh and saw them off before he picked up his shovel again.

  It may have been the food, or the visit, or the sun shining bright and warm, but the morale amongst the men was even higher as they dug. Within a couple of hours, the engineer and the fire tender had steam hissing out of the smokestack while Welles led the big horses to the end of the train and hitched them to the caboose.

  The horses easily pulled the train backward, and there was still plenty of sunlight when, a short time later, the train started chugging toward town, leaving only him and Jud behind.

  “Think we got time to check out that strand of trees along the creek?” Jud asked while they hitched the team back to the sleigh.

  “Sure,” Welles agreed. “Need some wood?”

  “Need a Christmas tree,” Jud answered. “That’s how I got Suzanne to fall in love with me.”

  Skeptical, because he’d become that way, or maybe always had been and just realized it more lately, Welles asked, “A Christmas tree?”

  “Yep.” Jud checked the harness as he walked toward the sleigh. “Up until I cut down that first tree, she didn’t have the time of day for me. Some might say she despised me.”

  “Half the town despised you at one time,” Welles said as he climbed into the driver’s seat. “You were wilder than half the outlaws in Kansas.”

  Jud laughed as he sat down. “I can’t deny that, but I’d always had my eye on Suzanne, and that day, when I saw her leaving town with an ax, was the luckiest day of my life.”

  “Because she didn’t use it on you?”

  They both laughed.

  “She was going out to cut down a tree, a Christmas tree. Walked all the way out to that land that Lola used to own, and when the time came, I appeared out of nowhere and offered to chop down the tree she’d picked out.”

  “You followed her.”

  “Of course I did. Hard saying what might have happened to her out there all alone.” Jud’s grin covered his entire face. “And then I carried that tree home for her. By the time we arrived at her house, I was invited to stay for dinner, which I accepted, and helped her family decorate the tree.” Letting out a satisfied sigh, he added, “And the rest is history.”

  Welles steered the team down along the creek bed, wondering when the last time there had been a Christmas tree in his house. Had to have been years, and years. In fact, he couldn’t remember the last time. Unless that had changed since Sophie came to live with Gramps.

  Chapter Eight

  Sophie forced herself not to walk to the window again. She wouldn’t be able to see anything anyway. It was dark out. It hadn’t been when the train whistle had blown hours ago, or when Welles had arrived. He hadn’t bothered to stop and say he was home. She should be thankful he’d taken care of Bob and Ben before he left again. He’d taken care of the sleigh, too, parked it next to the barn and covered it with a tarp.

  “Would you like me to set the table?”

  Lifting the plates down out of the cupboard, Sophie shook her head. “You’ve been working all day.”

  “Mending a few clothes?” Annie chuckled. “That was nothing.”

  Much like cooking had been when she’d first come to live with Chester, sewing was completely foreign to her. Things like cooking and sewing hadn’t been a part of her life up until then. She’d mastered cooking, but not sewing. Which didn’t seem to bother Chester, so she’d never forced herself to do any more than absolutely necessary. “It was more than a few. Nearly everything Chester owns had a hole or two in them.” Sophie insisted. “I’ve tried, but sewing, even so much as a button back on, is beyond me.”

  “Well, I didn’t mind in the least.” Annie reached up and took down four cups. “And I don’t mind setting the table, either.”

  Annie chatted on and though Sophie nodded, or verbally agreed, she truly had no idea what the other woman said. Her mind was on Welles. Where he was. What he was doing. The very things she’d been thinking about since he’d arrived two days ago. She didn’t want to be thinking about him so much. And had tried not to, but it was impossible. As impossible as it had been five years ago.

  There were so many reasons why she couldn’t love him, and none as to why she could, or should.

  He was a gambler. He’d left Chester—an old man—on his own. He’d stolen Chester’s money. He’d run away with a saloon girl. He was leaving again. To attend a poker game. She couldn’t trust him. Would never be able to trust him, or believe him, so why? Why did she care so much about him?

  “Are you all right?”

  Sophie shook her head and then nodded. “Yes, I’m fine. Why?”

  “The potatoes were boiling over.” Annie put the lid on the pot that was now at the back of the stove. “You’ve been out of sorts since you got back from taking lunch to the train. Did you catch a chill? Feel a fever coming on?”

  “No. I was just lost in thought, I guess.”

  Annie’s cheeks pinkened as she said, “That happens to me. Especially when I’m thinking of being reunited with Daniel.”

  “That will happen soon,” Sophie said.

  “By Christmas, thanks to all of you,” Annie said. “I feel as if I’m in a house full of angels. Welles for walking through that terrible blizzard, coming back for us and digging out the train today. You for bringing us here. Chester for letting us stay. I truly don’t know what I’d have done without all of you.”

  Annie’s teary eyes and heartfelt declaration was so touching, Sophie gave the other woman a hug. “We’ve enjoyed having you here. You and Isaac, but you would have been fine without us.”

  “No, we wouldn’t have,” Annie said, wiping at her eyes. “During the time we waited on that train, I knew if Welles didn’t make it to town, none of us would make it. What he did was the most unselfish act of kindness I’ve ever seen, and I’ll never forget it. Forever be grateful to him.”

  Even if Sophie had a response, the opening of the back door would have interrupted it.

  “Good evening, ladies,” Welles said as he
took off his hat with one hand and shut the door with the other.

  Sophie drew a deep breath to keep his smile from overly affecting her. It didn’t help much; neither did busying herself at the stove. Annie was full of questions about the train, and Welles had the answers she wanted to hear. The train would depart for Denver by tomorrow.

  Chester entered the room, and soon they were all seated at the table, with Isaac in his basket on the chair between her and Annie. Sophie would miss the baby when they left. He was full of giggles and cooing sounds that filled her with the most wonderful sense of happiness. He also had her thinking about her future. What she wanted, and what she’d never have if she didn’t do something about it. That meant realizing there was no place for Welles in her future. She’d already known that, but actually accepting it was harder than she’d imagined.

  It shouldn’t be. And might not be, if he hadn’t kept looking her way with a grin that said he was hiding something. That look was nothing new. His eyes had always had a glimmer that said they were hiding a secret.

  By the time the meal was over, she was telling herself she was glad he was leaving in the morning, and hoped he never came back.

  Making herself believe that wasn’t as easy.

  She and Annie were just finishing the dishes when Welles returned to the kitchen. “Good, you’re done. Come into the front room.”

  Sophie wanted to ask why, but was also trying to make herself believe she’d be better off not talking to him.

  The furniture had been rearranged in the parlor, leaving a large empty space in front of the window. Frowning, Sophie glanced at Chester, who merely shrugged.

  “Will you hold the door open for me?” Welles asked, looking at her.

  Cautious, because she had never liked surprises, for they rarely were the good kind, she walked to the door and held on to it as Welles walked onto the porch. A moment later, when the top end of a pine tree entered the opening, the air stuck in her throat. A wave of memories, all wonderful, washed over as Welles carried the tree into the house.