Mountain Christmas Brides

by Mildred Colvin

  She went to the window to check the weather. Nothing had changed since yesterday. How long would this blizzard last? Her thoughts leapt over the peaks to the valley high in the Rocky Mountains. Did Father stay in Breckenridge, or had he gone out to the ranch? If he was at the ranch, she hoped he wasn’t alone in the big log house. Maybe some of the hands had gone up there for the evening. They’d be snowed in, too. Of course, they used a system of ropes and pulleys they attached to the structures at the first sign of snowfall. With them, they would be able to get around to the other buildings near the ranch house. Too bad something like that wouldn’t work in town.

  Behind her, the door to the cellar opened, startling her. She pressed her hand to her heart and suppressed a scream as she turned around. “Thomas, what are you … and Josiah doing?”

  Thomas’s long strides ate up the floor as he approached her. “We wanted to see how the coal is holding out.”

  He towered over her, the gaze from his steel gray eyes never leaving her face. The room that had felt cavernous a moment ago had shrunk with his presence. The man was just too handsome for his own good … or hers. She’d never known his mother. When Farley came to work for her father, he was a widower. Thomas must look more like his mother, who surely had been a beautiful woman. Farley’s grizzled appearance didn’t resemble his son in any way.

  “And is it holding out? The coal, I mean.” She felt like a stammering child around him. And yet not quite. This man standing before her made her aware that she was a woman.

  Thomas blinked, releasing the hold his gaze had on her. “I’m not sure. The coal bin was not even half full.”

  Rose realized she still had her hand on her heart. She dropped it to her side. “The snow hasn’t let up.”

  Thomas gazed outside for a moment. “I don’t like the looks of the storm. If we run out of fuel before this stops and the coal wagons can’t get through, we could be in trouble. This far from the center of town, no one will be digging us out anytime soon.”

  That was not what Rose wanted to hear. Once again her thoughts flew to her father. She’d worried about him ever since her mother died. Even with his housekeeper and ranch hands, he would be lonely because she hadn’t returned home as planned. He probably was worried about her.

  Thomas noticed the sadness that invaded Rose’s expression. While they were talking, Josiah had slipped from the room. Maybe Rose would open up to him now. “What’s troubling you? It’s more than just the weather, isn’t it?”

  “I’m concerned about my father. I only meant to leave him for a couple of days.” Worry lines crinkled her brows.

  “He’s not alone, is he?” Thomas knew Mr. Fletcher had a number of employees around him, unless things had changed a lot since he left.

  Her spine stiffened, and she lifted her chin. “No, but he has no family near him.” With those words, she turned and left the room.

  Thomas stared after her retreating figure. What was that all about? The pleasant aroma of coffee teased Thomas’s nostrils, leading him toward the pot on the stove. Since the coffee hadn’t been there before he and Josiah went to the cellar, Rose must have made it. Yet she left the room without getting a cup. Every time Thomas tried to talk to her, Rose withdrew from him. Why was she acting that way?

  When Rose and Josiah played the game last night, Thomas had caught a glimpse of the Rose he had known. He wanted to see her flashing hazel eyes and the high color on her smooth cheeks. Where was the Rose Fletcher who loved spending time with him?

  Chapter 5

  Finally the storm was over. It had continued for six whole days, almost driving Thomas crazy. At least the coal supply hadn’t run out. The men shoveled snow during the storm to keep too much from building up around the house and the carriage house. The social interaction at other times gave a pleasant break, but he’d made little headway with Rose.

  Today he had to try to get to the clinic. Even though he’d washed out some of his clothes and hung them on the radiator in his bedroom overnight, he was ready for more than just what he wore to the party. And he wanted to check on Dr. Wetherby. With the storm finally over, people who were sick would find their way to the clinic.

  With Josiah and Maximilian’s help, Thomas dug the snow from the front sidewalk and the street along the whole block in front of the house. Other people worked on the connecting streets. By midafternoon, he hitched his horse to his buggy and set out. The trip should have taken less than half an hour, but he didn’t arrive at the house until past suppertime. Exhaustion and the extreme cold weighted him down, so he could imagine how tired his horse had to be. When he unhitched the animal, he gave her a good rubdown and a bucket of oats. She deserved the extra treat.

  Thomas entered the back door of the house. Silence greeted him. He wandered through each room, but no one was there, not even Dr. Wetherby. Thomas opened the front door and tested the porch to see if ice made it hazardous to cross. He found no evidence of anyone having been there during the storm. A piece of paper tacked to the front door fluttered in the gentle breeze. If you need a doctor, come to my house. The older physician’s signature was scrawled across the bottom.

  Alone, Thomas headed toward the stairs that took him up to his quarters but then turned back. He’d have to start the boiler to take the chill out of the house, and he needed to bring in wood for the fireplace and stove. Since no one had been here for the duration of the storm, his supply of coal wasn’t depleted.

  Two hours later, Thomas sat in his favorite chair with his Bible open on his lap. A bath, clean clothes, and a shave made him feel like a new man on the outside. Now to take care of the inside. Too many days lately, he’d let busyness crowd out his private times with the Lord. In his silent apartment above the empty clinic, this was the perfect time to reconnect.

  Thomas read then reread two chapters in the New Testament, letting the words burrow themselves deep inside him. One of the doctors he’d interned under had introduced him to Jesus, and he still felt like such a baby in Christ. He closed his eyes and prayed for a long time until his spirit finally felt refreshed. Why did he so often neglect his time alone with the Lord?

  He foraged in the pantry for something easy to fix. All he could come up with was a can of Campbell’s Pork and Beans and a can of peaches. He opened the beans and dumped them in a pot on the stove. While they warmed, he opened the peaches and set the can on the table. Why get a bowl dirty since he was alone? He stirred the beans to keep them from sticking and set the pan on a folded towel on the table to prevent a scorch mark.

  He bowed his head and thanked the Lord for the food, such as it was. Eating alone had never been his favorite activity, even though he often had to while he was in Cambridge. This meal looked meager after the abundance at the Bloom house.

  His thoughts turned to Rose. He couldn’t understand why she was unapproachable most of the time they were snowbound at the Blooms’ home. He stuffed a spoonful of hot food into his mouth and chewed away. Could you give me some discernment here, Lord?

  Another bite of beans was followed by a thick slice of peach. They tasted better together.

  “Give her time.” The words resounded inside his head.

  “Okay, Lord, what does that mean?”

  After they repeated again, he heard nothing more, even though he tried to listen while he finished consuming his meal.

  He washed the pot and spoon and pondered the phrase. What could it mean? Give her time for what?

  By the time he finished cleaning up his mess, he’d come up with a plan.

  After Thomas left the Bloom house, Rose missed him. Every room she entered held memories of his presence. His smile, the laughter they shared over games, even his caring ministrations to Maximilian. Everything pointed to what a wonderful person the man was. If only he were a Christian, she could stop fighting her attraction to him.

  Not even wanting to spend time with anyone else, Rose went to her room. She pulled out her well-worn black leather Bible. The book had been such a
comfort to her while she was in boarding school—almost like a real live friend.

  She sat in the wingback chair by a small round table. Letting the book fall open in her lap, she started reading in Proverbs. The verses found in this particular book of the Bible had affected most of her life. Her parents started reading them to her when she was very young. Probably one of the reasons she’d wanted to learn wisdom and discernment. But her powers of discernment seemed to have deserted her. Or the desires of her heart overruled them.

  If she didn’t gain control of her wayward emotions, she might be tempted to forget the admonition not to be yoked to an unbeliever. Father God, please help me. Rose spent a long time communing with her heavenly Father, asking Him to help her close the door on her attraction to Thomas.

  Maybe it was a good thing he left today. She wouldn’t see him again unless he waited to go to Breckenridge to see her father until after she returned home.

  She felt the need to read one of the wonderful stories about a woman who listened to God instead of her own desires. The much-loved story of Queen Esther thrilled her with every word she read. When she finished, Rose knew that like the woman who saved her people, she could control her emotions and follow the path God set before her.

  Before she finished with the Bible, she turned to Ephesians 4. The last verse caught her eye. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

  Kind … tenderhearted. Rose knew she had used the excuse that Thomas had scoffed at her belief in God all those years ago to turn a cold heart toward him. She knew she did it to protect herself, but she hadn’t been showing God’s love to him. How could he come to know the Lord if every Christian treated him the way she had the last few days? With her new resolve to keep a tight rein on her emotions, she wanted to express God’s love to Thomas, to draw him into the fold.

  After lunch the next day, Rose decided to get out of the house for a while. She bundled up in her coat and scarf and pulled on her gloves. When she reached the front edge of the porch, she held on to the column and took in all the surroundings. The men had dug a deep path to the street. As she contemplated strolling down the walkway, someone entered from the street end.

  If she hadn’t glimpsed his face before he trained his eyes on the ground, Rose would have known who he was anyway. His every movement was familiar. “Thomas, what are you doing here?”

  He looked up as he took another step. His foot slid before it found traction, and one arm windmilled to compensate. Finally, both feet were stationary. A smile lit his face. “Rose, I came to see how you’re doing.”

  She clutched the column even tighter. “I just wanted a breath of fresh air. I was trying to decide whether to venture down the walk. Maybe I should just stay here since it’s so slick.”

  “There are icy patches you have to avoid.” He continued toward the house, this time missing all the other slick places. “Why don’t you have a hat on? It’s too cold to be out here without one.”

  Rose laughed. “Is that the doctor talking or just the friend?”

  He stood beside the bottom step and stared deep into her eyes. “Which one do you want me to be, Rose?”

  The way his voice caressed her name sent chills up her spine that didn’t have anything to do with the temperature. She couldn’t stop the shiver they brought.

  Thomas climbed the few steps to the porch. “Are you too cold?”

  If only he knew, his presence caused warmth to invade her whole body. “Not … really.” Why did she stammer so much around him?

  “We can go in.” The concern in his tone tugged at her heartstrings.

  “I’ve been in the house so long.” She pulled one end of the long scarf up around her head and tucked the end into her coat. “I’d rather stay here.”

  Thomas blew out a deep breath that instantly became a white cloud before it dissipated. “Fine. Are you doing okay, Rose? Do you need anything?”

  Rose laughed. “This storm has really changed all my plans.”

  He leaned closer to her, and she could feel the warmth emanating from him. “What plans?”

  “I would already be home by now. I had planned to go shopping here in Denver before returning home, but that wouldn’t have taken long.” Rose wanted to stand this close to him for hours. Lord, I asked you to help me with my emotions.

  “I could take you shopping tomorrow.” His murmured words surprised her.

  “You like to go shopping?”

  He chuckled. “I didn’t say that. I just offered to accompany you. We could go to Daniels & Fischer department store.”

  “I’d like that. I need to get some more clothes. I’ve been washing things out at night.” Rose wondered if she should have mentioned that, sure he’d know the type of clothes she was talking about. A blush brought even more heat to her face. “But I also want to get some candy and other things to take back home.”

  “Let’s make a day of it.” Delight twinkled in his gray eyes, lightening them. “Then when the railroad is cleared, you’ll be ready to head to Breckenridge.”

  As Thomas walked back home, he whistled “Sweethearts.” His heart was light, and the future looked promising. The time he spent with Rose today gave him hope. Not once did he sense her retreating from him. Tomorrow would be a wonderful opportunity to do what he’d been wanting to for a week. Get to know her as the woman she’d become.

  Even though he slept well that night, he awoke far too early. So after he ate a quick breakfast of a bowl of cornflakes, he sat down with his Bible again. Usually he didn’t have any trouble concentrating on the words before him, but a beautiful face crowned with glorious auburn waves kept intruding. Finally he closed the book.

  Lord, forgive me for not finishing the chapter. Once again, he poured out his heart to God then listened in his spirit. He didn’t feel God cautioning him about his interest in Rose.

  Thomas dressed with care, wanting to look dapper for her. He carried a hot brick wrapped in a blanket out to the carriage house. Before he hitched up his horse, he placed the bundle in the floor of the sleigh. He even placed a second heavy blanket on the seat.

  Rose was ready when he arrived to pick her up. Thomas helped her into the sleigh before unwrapping the brick and placing it under her feet. He gave her one blanket to wrap up in and placed the other around her skirt.

  “Thomas, how thoughtful of you, but we won’t be traveling that long.” Rose smiled down at him.

  He hurried around the front of the sleigh, only giving his horse a cursory pat before he climbed up beside Rose. “Can’t have you getting too cold.”

  First they stopped under the clock tower of the Daniels & Fischer department store. Immediately, the clock chimed ten times.

  Thomas helped Rose alight from the sleigh then held out his elbow. She slipped her gloved hand into the opening and rested it on his forearm. He could get used to the feel of her hand on his arm.

  Knowing that she might need to buy some personal items, he turned toward her after they entered the imposing front door. “I have a few things I need to pick up, so why don’t we meet here in half an hour?”

  How thoughtful of Thomas to suggest this. Rose had decided not to buy more unmentionables, since he accompanied her to the store. Now she could make her purchases freely. If she wasn’t careful, she’d find herself caring far too much for him. He was not at all like the boy she had known before he went to medical school. Over the last few days, she’d seen his kindness exhibited in many ways. Thomas had been funny and serious, and he put the good of others in front of seeking his own needs. So many wonderful qualities, but the one missing was the most important. She would continue to pray for him to find the Lord.

  Thomas waited near the front door with several bulging paper bags. “Are you finished shopping here?”

  “I have all I need.” Rose held up her purchases.

  “Let me take them to the sleigh.” He put his bags under one arm and hers under the oth
er. “I’ll put our sacks on separate sides so we won’t be confused and get the wrong purchases.”

  Rose watched him through the glass in the door, knowing she’d be terribly embarrassed if he opened hers. As promised, he kept the bags separate. She heaved a sigh of relief.

  Thomas returned. “Would you like to walk around and see what else they have in the store?”

  She agreed, and they sauntered through several different departments. The store even had a rather large book section. “I want to look at some of the titles. I love to read.”

  “I do, too.”

  They walked along the shelves, commenting on books they’d read. Thomas picked up a book before Rose could read the title. “I’ve heard about this one. I think I’ll buy it.”

  “What is it?” Rose craned her neck, trying to see.

  Thomas turned the spine toward her. “The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad. I read Lord Jim when I was younger and have been wanting to read this one.”

  Rose didn’t think she’d try either of them. She lifted a volume from the shelf. “This one looks more interesting to me.” She turned it over in her hands. “A Room with a View by E. M. Forster.”

  Thomas held out a hand. “Let me see.” After she gave it to him, he studied the first few pages. “How about if we buy both of the books? Then when we are finished with reading one, we exchange them.”

  “That sounds good to me.” Not the only thing that sounded good to Rose. Evidently, Thomas expected them to see each other again later.

  After strolling through the store, they went to the counter to pay for the books. Thomas hadn’t given hers back, and she expected him to when they got there. But he didn’t. He paid for both of the books.

  They arrived back at the sleigh, and Thomas settled her into the seat. After he climbed in beside her, she asked, “Why didn’t you let me pay for my own book?”

  “I wanted to give you a little memento of the day.” He picked up the reins and clicked at his horse. “Where else did you want to go, Rose?”