The Dove_The Second Day

by Shanna Hatfield

  “Can you say moo, Jem? What does the cow say?” Culver asked, grinning at the dark-haired little imp. Amused by the notion she fussed at the women but eagerly came to him, he decided that was a definite sign he should marry her mother and make them a family.

  Culver chuckled at Jemimah’s attempt to replicate a mooing sound. “You keep working on it, sweetheart. You’ll catch on soon enough.”

  She looked up at him and grabbed for his mouth. Gently, he nibbled on her fingers, drawing out her giggles again.

  “Come on, Jem. Let’s go inside. I’m sure your mother will be along shortly.” Culver continued playfully biting her fingers as he carried her inside his rooms. Cat followed and curled up near the hearth, keeping an eye on the baby as he settled down by the warmth of the fire.

  Culver spread the baby’s blanket on the rug, placed her in the middle of it, then sat down beside her. Uncertain what to do to keep her entertained, he retrieved three tin cups and set them in front of her. She grabbed one cup and gnawed on the edge of it then picked up a second one and banged it against the third.

  Delighted with the sound, she continued banging them around and babbling excitedly.

  Tired from his sleepless night, Culver stretched out in front of her and propped his head on his upraised hand, watching the baby play.

  “Do you think you’d mind having me for your daddy, Jemimah? I’d try to be a good daddy to you.”

  “Da, da, da!” she exclaimed, waving a cup his direction with a slobbery grin.

  “That’s right, sweetheart. I’ll be your daddy.” Culver released a sigh. “At least I will if I can convince your mama to marry me.”

  “And just what would you do to convince her?” asked a feminine voice from behind him.

  Chapter Ten

  Kezia stepped away from the doorway and grinned at Culver as he reclined on the floor next to her daughter.

  The two of them playing together looked so right, she wanted to engrave the sight of them in her memories to enjoy the rest of her lifetime.

  Culver continued to gape at her, as though he couldn’t quite believe she was there. Jemimah banged the tin cups together and chortled gleefully, happy to have something new to play with.

  When Kezia returned from her walk to find Culver had come to claim Jemimah, Kezia’s heart soared with hope.

  She’d rushed to the blacksmith shop and made her way to the door of Culver’s private rooms that he’d left ajar. Although she hadn’t intended to eavesdrop, she stood there and listened to him talk while the remaining walls around her heart crumbled to dust.

  Kezia loved this man and was elated to discover he cared for her, too.

  Assured her daughter was safe and entertained, Kezia turned her entire focus on Culver.

  She fisted a hand on one hip and took a few swaying steps toward him. “You didn’t answer my question, Mr. Daniels. What would you do to convince Jem’s mother to marry you?”

  Culver rose to his feet and closed the distance between the two of them in a blink. A grin rode his mouth while flames flickered in his emerald eyes.

  “I think, Mrs. Mirga, the way to convince this particular woman she should marry me is very simple.” He raised one hand and caressed her cheek.

  Kezia loved the feel of his rough palm against her skin. “Mmm. How simple?”

  “Well, from what I’ve observed, you’ve never known what it’s like to be loved.” Culver brushed her hair over her shoulder and bent down to press a moist kiss to her neck, just below her ear. “What you need, my beautiful wife-to-be, is a man who will give you his heart. You need a man who will make you and Jem his whole world, who’ll make sure you know each day that he treasures both of you.” He trailed kisses along her jaw, heating the skin that had been cold just mere seconds ago. “And I’m going to be that man.”

  Languid from Culver’s tender affections, sensations she’d never experienced poured through her. “You are?” she asked on a whisper, wondering how long her wobbling legs would hold her upright.

  “I am, Kezia. If you give me a chance, I’ll love you like you’ve never dreamed of being loved.” He buried one big hand in her hair while the other encircled her waist, pulling her against him. He kissed each cheek, the tip of her nose, and then skimmed his lips over her mouth. “Will you marry me? Will you and Jem be my family?”

  “Oh, yes, Culver. Absolutely, yes!” Kezia wrapped her arms around his neck and closed her eyes in a state of wondrous bliss. Culver lifted her in his arms and kissed her with such a masterful promise of passion and love, she could have gone on kissing him for eternity.

  Jemimah’s squeals and the banging of the tin cups eventually brought them back to reality.

  Culver rested his forehead against hers for a moment before he set her on her feet and raised his head. “One hour. Meet me at the saloon in one hour. I don’t want to wait any longer than that to make you my own.”

  “I’ll be there,” Kezia said, smiling as she pulled his head down for another kiss. She meant it to be brief, but Culver’s lips captivated hers, weaving a spell over her that obliterated every thought from her head except how incredibly blessed she was to fall in love with the stranger she’d agreed to wed.

  When the fog of yearning cleared from Culver’s eyes, he took a step back from her and glanced down at the baby. “Do you want to leave her here?”

  “No, I’ll take her with me.” Kezia quickly wrapped Jemimah in her blanket and backed toward the door. “Don’t be late.”

  “I won’t be, Zee.” Culver reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder, preventing her from leaving. “I love you, Kezia. I want you to know that. Even though I agreed to this crazy scheme to help the town, that’s not the reason I want to marry you. I truly love you.”

  “I love you, too.” She pressed a quick kiss to the cleft in his chin that had taunted her from the moment they met then rushed out the door.

  Fifty minutes later, Culver watched her enter the saloon with a handful of the other brides. Her eyes met his and she smiled, a warm, private smile that sent heat sizzling through his veins.

  “Ready to marry your bride?” Reverend Hammond asked as he stepped beside him.

  “I certainly am,” Culver said, reaching out a hand to Kezia. She took it in hers, giving his fingers a reassuring squeeze.

  Culver removed her cloak and tossed it over a chair along with his coat and hat. He turned and tickled Jemimah beneath her chin, eliciting a giggle. The baby had a red satin ribbon tied in her hair and wore a beautiful little dress trimmed in lace Birdie Bell had sewn for her.

  “You look like a princess, Jem,” Culver said, lifting the baby into his arms when she reached out to him. He gave Kezia an observant perusal, taking in the sight of her dress. He had no idea of the style or even the fabric. All he knew was the lace and red roses on a cream background set off Kezia’s dark coloring and accented every one of her curves. He bent down to whisper in her ear. “And you are a stunning gypsy queen.”

  Pink dusted her cheeks, but she held his gaze. Love mingled with sparks of desire in their chocolate depths.

  “Shall we get on with this?” the reverend asked in a loud voice and those gathered in the saloon quieted.

  The service didn’t take long and at the end, after Culver kissed his bride so thoroughly and completely no one would mistake his affections for her, the baby squealed and pounded her hand against her new father’s shoulder.

  “What is it, little dove? Are you going to beat your daddy to death?” Culver teased, nipping at her fingers.

  “Da, da, da!” the baby chanted, wiggling happily in his arms.

  “I think it’s grand you’re the first official family in our town, Culver. Congratulations,” Reverend Hammond said, smiling at Kezia and then Culver as Felicity Hammond looped her arm around her husband’s.

  “We’re two weddings closer to saving the town,” Culver said, tipping his head to the boisterous crowd. “Do you think the rest of them will marry in time?”

/>   Felicity laughed and glanced up at her husband. “Anything can happen in the next ten days.”

  “Ten and half,” Kezia said, giving Culver a heated look. “Let’s not forget today is only half over.”

  “That it is,” the reverend agreed.

  “Before I forget…” Culver pulled a small object from his pocket and held it out to Kezia. “I made an ornament for you to hang on the tree.”

  “Oh, Culver, it’s beautiful,” she said, holding up the silver ornament. Three entwined hearts were perfect to represent their family. Kezia moved over to the Christmas tree and hung the hearts on a branch, then sucked in a breath. There, hanging close to the ornament of a partridge that appeared on the tree right after the pastor and Felicity wed, was an ornament with a pair of turtledoves.

  “I wonder who hung that?” Culver asked, studying the ornament then looking over the crowd. He hadn’t seen anyone close to the tree and he knew the ornament hadn’t been there earlier.

  “Well, whoever placed it on the tree chose the perfect ornament for us,” Kezia said, smiling up at him with her heart in her eyes.

  “That they did, my love,” Culver wrapped his arm around her and pulled her against his side. “What do you say we leave the party and go home?”

  “I like the sound of that,” Kezia said, reaching for her cloak.

  While Culver helped her slip it on, Josefina made her way over to them with the baby’s blanket. “My wedding gift to you two is an afternoon of babysitting.”

  “Oh, Fina, I couldn’t ask that of you,” Kezia said, smiling at her friend.

  “You didn’t ask, I offered.” Josefina grinned at her then at Culver. “If you carry her over to La Maison, it will be easy to sneak off with this handsome man of yours before I change my mind.”

  Moments later, the three of them entered the cathouse. Josefina took a seat in the parlor while Kezia hugged and kissed her little girl one more time before she settled the baby on her friend’s lap.

  “Are you sure you don’t mind watching her a while?” Kezia asked, reluctant to leave Jemimah as Culver edged her toward the hall.

  “I’m sure, Zee. Now go!” Fina pointed toward the door.

  “Thank you, Miss Josefina. We’ll pick her up before supper,” Culver said, sweeping Kezia into his arms.

  Kezia glanced back Josefina. “Thank you, Fina. Culver and I really appreciate the time alone. We’ll be back later this afternoon for her.” She glanced up at her husband and, without a speck of conviction, playfully tapped his shoulder as he made his way outside. “Culver, let me go.”

  “That I can’t do, Mrs. Daniels.” He stole a quick kiss as he strode toward his shop. “I’ll never, ever let you go. Not when I love you so much.”

  “And I love you, my brawny blacksmith.” Kezia kissed him with such ardor and longing, Culver stopped in the middle of the street to better savor their amorous exchange. Percival Penworthy gawked at them from the land office door while miners hooted with approval.

  Kezia lifted her head and gave her husband a coaxing smile. “Take me home, Culver. Take me home and show me what it’s like to be well and truly loved.”

  “With pleasure, my wild gypsy girl.” Culver grinned as he hastened toward his shop. “I promise to always love you like that, with my heart wide-open to only you.”

  Meat Pies

  Here’s a recipe for easy to make meat pies. Although Kezia wouldn’t have had these ingredients, I think both she and Culver would approve.

  Meat Pies

  1 pound ground beef

  1 pound ground pork

  1 tsp. onion flakes

  1 tsp. all-purpose seasoning

  1/2 tsp. salt

  2 tubes of crescent rolls (8 regular size)

  1 small can cream of mushroom soup

  2/3 cup shredded cheddar or colby-jack cheese

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

  Brown meat with onions, seasoning and spices. Drain well. Mix with cheese and soup.

  Roll out crescent dough. Pinch triangles together to form rectangles for pockets or use individual triangles if you want smaller serving sizes.

  Spoon filling onto dough. Fold dough around filling and pinch edges to seal.

  Place on greased baking tray (or if you are a lazy slug like me, I line mine with foil and then spray with non-stick cooking spray) and bake about 12 minutes or until dough is golden brown.

  Serve immediately. You may need to hide one or two for yourself if you have a meat-eater in your house like I do!

  The Hens

  Twelve Days of Christmas Mail-Order Brides

  The Third Day

  by

  MERRY FARMER

  Dear Miss Liu Meizhen,

  I’ve never heard of a name like yours, but it sounds pretty. I’m sure you’ll be just as pretty as your name. I’ve never met a Chinawoman before, but I will be happy to have you as my bride, if you’ll take me.

  I’m just a humble man. I don’t have a lot of money. My job is to take care of the mules that work in the mine, and some of the other animals too. I have a soft place in my heart for all God’s creatures, and they like me pretty good too. Especially these three hens that have taken it in their minds to follow me around all day. I call them Fifi, Gigi, and Mimi. Silly old chickens.

  Folks around here think it’s funny that a man like me would be picked to get one of the first wives. They don’t see how a simpleton who talks to animals could be a good husband. But I want to prove them wrong. If you’ll have me, I’ll be the best, most loving husband I can be. As long as you don’t mind me being a little slow. Or the hens. As long as you don’t mind the hens either. But I swear, I’ve got a good heart. So do the hens. Have good hearts, I mean, not swear that I do. Chickens don’t swear. Or maybe they do and that’s what all the clucking is about.

  Anyhow, I hope to meet you soon.

  Your soon-to-be husband,

  Woody

  Click here to download The Hens

  Twelve men. Twelve brides. Twelve days to save a town.

  Christmas, 1876: Noelle, Colorado is in danger of becoming a ghost town if the railroad decides to bypass the mountaintop mining community. Determined to prove their town is thriving, twelve men commit to ordering brides before the railroad’s deadline six days into the New Year.

  Each of the twelve women has her own reason for signing up to become a mail-order bride. But after they arrive in the uncivilized settlement, they aren’t so sure they’ve made the right decision. Neither are the grooms.

  Will the marriages happen in time to save Noelle? The countdown starts on Christmas Day.

  The Twelve Days of Christmas Mail-Order Brides, written by twelve bestselling authors, put a new twist on an old song in this heartwarming historical romance series with stories ranging from sweet to sensual.

  The Partridge by Kit Morgan - A clever man’s plan becomes a matchmaking disaster…and the countdown begins to save the town of Noelle.

  The Dove by Shanna Hatfield - A bewitching gypsy and a beguiled blacksmith tangle over a hidden treasure…with only eleven days left to save the town.

  The Hens by Merry Farmer - A wandering woman finds exactly who she was looking for, but not who she was expecting... with only ten days left to save the town.

  The Calling Birds by Jacqui Nelson - A wanted woman's flight, a man in pursuit of honesty not stolen gold... and only nine days left to save the town.

  The Gold Ring by Caroline Lee - A dangerous masquerade and a twist of fate put Noelle’s future at risk…with only eight days left to save the town.

  The Goose by Peggy L. Henderson - A woman on the run, a man who doesn't want to be caught—it's one wild goose chase…with only seven days left to save the town

  The Swan by Piper Huguley - A beautiful woman with secrets comes to Noelle to confront a powerful person with the truth...and only six days left to save the town.

  The Maid by Rachel Wesson - A convicted murderer, a young maid on the run...and five days left to
save the town.

  The Dancing Lady by Mimi Milan

  - A desirous diner owner and a disguised dancer waltz their way to love... with only four days left to save the town.

  The Lord by Danica Favorite - An assayer and a ladies maid, each living a lie. Will the truth ruin everything...with only three days left to save the town.

  The Piper by Amanda McIntyre - A determined matchmaker, a stubborn mountain man...and only two days left to save the town!

  The Drum by E.E. Burke - A bad luck bride, an exploding disaster…can Noelle be saved in just one day?

  For more details about the project, visit the Facebook Page at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1625057007540555/

  Thank you for coming along with Culver and Zee (and baby Jem) in The Dove as they found their way to a happily ever after. If you enjoyed the story, I truly hope you’ll share a review. Even a line or two is appreciated more than you can know.

  Also, if you haven’t yet signed up for my newsletter, won’t you consider subscribing? I send it out a few times a month, when I have new releases, sales, or news of freebies to share. Each month, you can enter a contest, get a new recipe to try, and find news about events. When you sign up, you’ll receive a free short and sweet historical romance. Don’t wait. Sign up today!

  Shanna’s Newsletter

  Author’s Note

  Thank you for joining us for the 12-Days of Christmas Mail-Order Brides series. It was such an honor to be invited to participate and so exciting to meet all these wonderful characters who make up the town of Noelle.

  I enjoyed doing a little research about a blacksmith shop, particularly one owned and managed by an orderly, meticulous man like Culver.

  It was also fun to picture Kezia, the beautiful gypsy. Goodness, but it was interesting to browse through photos of circus performers who use silk ropes.