Christmas at Grey Sage

by Phyllis Clark Nichols

  Maude walked slowly down the hallway to her bedroom. I had no idea when I woke this morning how this day would turn out, but thank you, Father, for taking care of us all.

  This will definitely be another Christmas at Grey Sage to remember.

  Saturday, December 24

  The weather was kinder on Christmas Eve morning. The fierce winds had calmed, and the blowing snow fell gently now. Silas stood with Beth at the kitchen window drinking coffee. “It’s been a long night, but I think Jedediah will be just fine. Just give him the medicine I gave you for his headaches.”

  Alo and Kent joined them in the kitchen. “Just talked to Lita. Breakfast will be served in a half an hour. Think we can make it?”

  Silas took a big gulp of coffee. “If we made it during a blizzard in the dark, I think we’ll be able to skip home this morning.”

  Alo put on his jacket and pulled his gloves out of his pocket. “Wouldn’t be skipping on the roads though. Just heard the news—snowdrifts and trees down from here to Santa Fe. My guess is that’s it’s worse farther up in the mountains. Unless it warms up, it’ll be days before the roads in the mountains will be passable.”

  Kent turned to Alo. “I could use a little help here getting this jacket zipped up over my bad arm. And by the way, I’ll take the snow over sand any day of the week.”

  Silas checked on Jedediah one more time before grabbing his bag and following Alo out the door. He turned to Beth as they left. “Sounds like you might need to change your Christmas plans. I know your folks live up in the mountains, but it might be futile to try to get there. Grey Sage is open to you, friend. We’d love to have you spend Christmas with us. And I could keep an eye on Jedediah too, if he’s at our house.”

  Alo led the way again, this time without the rope and flashlights. In less than half an hour, they were removing their jackets in the mudroom at Grey Sage and were welcomed in the kitchen by all the cheering guests.

  Maude’s arms wrapped around Silas seconds after he walked through the door. She held his face in her hands. “I kept the lights on and all the candles burning for you,” she said. He kissed her cheek and embraced her, suddenly inordinately glad to feel his wife in his arms.

  Alo hugged Lita as well. And Kent, abandoning previous caution, went straight to Emily and held her.

  “You mean this is all there is?” Silas joked. “No ticker-tape parade or marching bands? After all, we walked half a mile to get here for breakfast!”

  Kent added, “Oh, but Lita, I’d have walked twenty miles for your breakfast this morning.”

  “Young man, I know exactly why you would have walked twenty miles to get here this morning.” She winked at him and reached for the whistle still around Alo’s neck. She blew it hard. “Breakfast is served. And aren’t we mighty glad we’re all here and safe and together this morning?”

  After breakfast, the guests scattered. Silas, Alo, and Kent left for hot showers and a nap. Greg challenged Ted to a game of backgammon, while Lily determined it was time to teach Iris and Reba how to play poker. The colonel and Beatrice joined them, but Beatrice insisted they use the wrapped cinnamon candies stashed in her bag for their wagering.

  Emily sat quietly sketching by the window and waited for Kent to join her. Maude turned on the Christmas music before heading to her office to make her traditional Christmas Eve calls to her nieces and nephews.

  Lita was in the kitchen making lentil soup and baked ham for lunch when Laura found her.

  “Oh, good. You’re all by yourself,” Laura exclaimed.

  Lita, standing at the stove, smiled at the difference in Laura’s expression, almost like she’d had an instant facelift. “Yes, but I’d be glad for some help. You willing?”

  “I’ll be happy to help, but I think I have this really great idea.” Laura stepped closer to Lita, looked around the kitchen to make certain no one else was around to hear. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, but I never had the opportunity. I know there aren’t any children around, but I still think it would be fun, and I think that Maude would love it.”

  Lita was intrigued. “So what is it you’ve never done that Maude would love?”

  Laura handed her a piece of paper. “See, I worked on this last night, and I think I have it all figured out. But obviously I need your help. What do you think?”

  Lita beamed. “I think it’s a fabulous idea, but the hardest part will be keeping this under wraps. We’ll have to do most of the work in the laundry room. Nobody will be bothering you in there.”

  “Do you really think we can do this, Lita? I mean, with everything else you have to do?”

  “I think you can do this. You’ve already done it in your mind. So yes, you can do this! I’ll get you started, and I’ll cover for you with the group. I’ll tell them you’re indispensable in the kitchen and to please excuse you from the fun and games.” Lita chuckled.

  “Oh, this will be more fun than anything else I could possibly do today. I haven’t even told Ted. He can just entertain himself. He does a lot of that anyway.”

  Laura went to the pantry and returned with her apron from yesterday. “I’m ready to help you. Just no more fry bread. I’m still treating grease-spattered speckles.”

  Kent showered and tried to sleep, but knowing that Emily was somewhere inside these adobe walls kept him awake. Sleeping was at the cost of irretrievable time with her. He wouldn’t waste the opportunity, especially on Christmas Eve.

  He wished now he had purchased the necklace she liked in the Railyard District. At least he’d have something to give her for Christmas. He sat on the edge of the bed and thought of what he could come up with that she would like. Then it hit him.

  He dressed for the day and left his room to find Maude. He saw Emily’s silhouette at the window as he passed through on his way to the kitchen, and hoped she didn’t see him.

  “Lita, do you know where I might find Maude? And by the way, I never had baked oatmeal in my life, but that was the absolute best. If you ever teach cooking lessons here, I’ll return to be your first student. Now, about Maude? You think I could speak to her?”

  “She’s in her office down the south hall.”

  Kent followed her pointed finger. “I’ve never been to a place that had halls for every direction on a compass and then all kinds of rooms in between. Thanks, Lita.”

  Kent walked down the south hall until he saw an open doorway and heard Maude’s voice. He stood at the door, seeing that she was on the phone and unwilling to disturb her. But Maude acknowledged his presence and motioned for him to come in. When she finished her conversation, she swiveled her office chair around to face him.

  “So, Kent, your face—especially the wrinkles in your brow—show urgency. How may I help you?”

  “You can tell all that by just looking at my face?”

  “Of course. Remember, I’m an artist. I study detail, especially in faces. Can’t you tell things by looking in faces? Especially Emily’s face?” She smiled as his face softened.

  “About Emily . . . I have this idea, and you’re the only one who can help me. But you must keep it a secret.” He moved closer to Maude’s desk and told her what he was thinking.

  Maude scribbled some notes on her notepad. “I think that is splendid, and of course, I will help you. And how fun to keep it a secret! I haven’t had to keep this kind of secret in a very long time.” She looked at the clock on her desk. “Could you give me maybe half an hour?”

  “Yes, ma’am. Thank you so much for helping. I really want to give Emily something special for Christmas.”

  Before he left Maude’s office, Kent looked at the painting over the fireplace. “Miss Maude, did you paint that?” He pointed to the portrait.

  Maude stood and joined him in front of the painting. “Yes, I did. There was a time when I painted a new work to be unveiled every Christmas. This was our son, Elan, when he was between six and seven years old. He was a beautiful boy, and if he had lived, he would have been a beautif
ul man—like you, Kent.” Her heart twinged as she followed the lines and planes of her son’s face.

  “Why, thank you, ma’am.” She felt him watch her as she stared at the painting. “I hope my asking didn’t bring sadness to you,” he said carefully.

  “Well, honestly, it did a bit, but it also brings some joy too. My memories of him are so sweet now. You would have liked Elan, especially as he grew older. Why, he could draw and swipe paint on a canvas and then go on emergency house calls with his father in the middle of the night. At fifteen, he read Tolstoy and listened to Tchaikovsky, yet he lived so close to the earth—Alo made sure of that by always teaching him the Hopi ways. They both knew every square foot of this mountain, walking the forest floor without making a sound. Elan could trill like a hermit thrush, and I saw him catch fish in the creek with the most primitive contraption you can imagine. Alo taught him how to find his way in the woods and how to survive if he was ever lost.” Maude paused. “But all of that goodness is gone.”

  Kent attempted to console her. “I’m so sorry, ma’am. I can tell he was a most unusual young man.”

  “He truly was. He was like his name said—a friend to all who knew him and to this mystical place that was his home. I wonder sometimes what an incredible man he might have become. Oh, and did he love Christmas! It was our favorite holiday. Our relatives from West Texas would take up residence for a week in all the extra bedrooms. The smell of mulled cider and cedar would float through all these rooms like the smoke from the fireplace drifts through the pine grove. And Christmas mornings, oh my, well, the gathering room would be knee deep in wrapping paper, and we’d have to hopscotch through the room to avoid stepping on Elan’s electric train. It was a tradition every year to add a car or two to his collection, and Silas and Elan would set it up to circle the Christmas tree in the corner.”

  She sighed. “Oh, those Christmases at Grey Sage were magical. Until 1983, when they were no more. It was in the autumn of that year that Elan fell while rock climbing, attempting to rescue another climber . . .”

  Realizing she’d trailed off, Maude cleared her throat and turned to Kent, who looked as though he regretted mentioning the painting. “Enough about that. We were talking about sweet memories.” She looked into his eyes. “And we’re about to make some sweet memories, aren’t we?”

  “Yes, ma’am, with your help.”

  With a grin, Kent left the room and walked back down the south hall, a very satisfied man. This time he went straight for the silhouette in the window next to the Christmas tree. “Good morning, again.” He sat in the chair opposite Emily.

  “I thought you’d still be sleeping.” She didn’t appear too sad that he wasn’t.

  “And why would I want to sleep when I can enjoy watching you draw? Besides, it’s Christmas Eve. Never could sleep on Christmas Eve. Too much excitement.”

  She stopped drawing and looked at him. “I hope you don’t mind, and I don’t want to spoil your exciting Christmas, but between the wreck in the van and last night, I’ve had about all the excitement I need. Oh, that was so unnerving. And then you decided to go with Alo and Silas, and it became downright frightening for me.”

  “Really, you were afraid something might happen to me?” Something warmed under his ribcage.

  “Well, there were wolves involved. And let’s not forget the whole blizzard thing and climbing an unfamiliar mountain in the dark. For a kindergarten teacher, that’s high drama. Weren’t you afraid?”

  “Of snow and wolves and the dark? No way. A kindergarten class? And my knees turn to Jell-O.”

  They laughed together. He asked, “So what would like to do today within the sprawling confines of Grey Sage Inn?”

  “Oh, I’m happy to draw or just sit and get to know more about you, like why you have this need to rescue everyone. I watched you do it when we were stranded on the bus, and then I heard your stories about Iraq last night and taking care of your troops. And when Beth’s call came, you were the first to put your jacket on. What is it about you that makes you want to do that? Step in to rescue someone in need?” She closed her drawing pad and sat in anticipation.

  “That’s a legitimate shrink question. Sounds like you’re more of your mother’s daughter than you think.” Kent paused. “I never gave it much thought. It’s more like a natural reflex, and I suppose if I understood where natural reflexes come from, then I could answer you.”

  “Fair enough. I guess it’s just who you are. So, I know you’re still healing, but have you thought about your future after that?”

  “I have, but my future depends on getting the full use of my arm back. I’m still in the military, technically on medical leave, and honestly, I had planned on making a career of that. It suits my skills, and I’d like to think I could make a difference.” He moved to the edge of his chair, nearer to Emily. “Hey, I just stopped by to see how you want to spend the afternoon. We’re getting into the demilitarized zone in this discussion.”

  Emily’s cheeks flushed. “Oh, I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean to pry into things you’re obviously not ready to talk about. I hope I didn’t offend you.”

  “Neither, ma’am. I’m taking it that you’re interested in my future because it might have something to do with yours. Could I be right?”

  Shyly, she said, “I think I did give you my address.”

  “You did, and I’m looking forward to my first visit and seeing how you live. I want to know how well I’m imagining your life.” He stood up. “Look, it’s Christmas Eve. Now it’s still bitter cold and snowing, but the wind isn’t so terrible. I thought about taking a walk.”

  “A walk? In this?”

  “Well, maybe not a walk, actually, but I had an idea of making snow angels. I know it’s kind of funny since one of my wings has been clipped, but I haven’t done that since I was a kid. I have my camera. Maybe we could take a couple of pictures.”

  Emily was on her feet in an instant. “What do you say we go back to the studio and work until the weather clears, and then take a walk?”

  He grinned at her and took her hand. “Sounds like a plan. All I need is a plan.”

  The afternoon passed slowly with more games and more conversation. Lita was busy with her traditional Christmas Eve dinner. She felt as though she and Laura were railcars, coming and going from the kitchen to the laundry room and back.

  Maude joined her in the kitchen. “You and Laura are like ants, constantly moving. What can I do to help?”

  “It’s all under control. Venison’s in the oven. Did you get the table set?”

  “I did. Fiestaware on the table tonight to honor your traditional Christmas Eve meal, which I’ve not eaten in twenty-three years.” She stepped into the butler’s pantry. “Looking for red napkins,” she called. “Don’t we have red ones?”

  “Yes, bottom shelf in the cupboard on the left in the back. We only use them on the Fourth of July if we have guests. And it wasn’t my choice that you didn’t have my venison for the last twenty-three Christmas Eves, but I can tell you, it will make me happy to see you and Silas eating it this evening.”

  Maude returned with the napkins. “I can almost taste it now. Oh, I hope that deer had a big rump because I set three more plates at the table tonight. Beth called. They’re stuck here for Christmas, and I invited them to come share our meal and spend the night.”

  “What about Jedediah? Is he able? And Daniel? Won’t he be upset not to be at home for Christmas morning?”

  Maude counted out forks, knives, and spoons and began wrapping them in the red napkins. “Beth said Jed could make it, and they’d go back home in the morning. I guess Santa will have come while they’re away.”

  Lita sliced the jicama and red onion. “Maybe Alo should go and see if they need any help. He’s really good at helping Santa, you know.”

  “Good idea. And I saw the green napkins in the cupboard. We’ll use those tomorrow evening with our Christmas china for our Christmas dinner. Your prime rib can only be
served on the finest.” Finished, Maude walked toward the dining room with a basket of silverware wrapped in bright red napkins. “Where’s Laura?”

  Lita stammered, wondering how she was going to cover. “Oh, she’s in and out. I think she must have a bladder infection or something. Can’t seem to stay in here very long at the time. But she always manages to come back just when I need her.”

  Apparently she’d covered well enough. With nothing more than a shrug, Maude exited the kitchen.

  Moments later, Laura entered with a puzzled look on her face. “I just ran into Maude in the dining room. She told me she hoped I would be feeling better soon. Do you know what that was all about?”

  Lita laid the Bibb lettuce on paper towels to dry. “I do. I told you I’d cover for you, and Maude noticed you had been coming and going in the kitchen all day. So I did as promised and told her you had a bladder infection.”

  The only thing that could have thrilled Lita more than seeing Laura bent double in laughter at that moment would be to see Catori and Doli come walking through the door.

  “A bladder infection?” Laura laughed out loud. “You’re a quick thinker, Lita. Quicker than I am at what I’m doing. But you must come and see. I don’t know if I can do this or not, but it’s not from lack of wanting to or trying.”

  The scattered guests barely heard the dinner bell over all the music and laughter. But once again, they gathered around the large dining table, noticing the seats were a bit closer together and there were four extra places at the table. Before they could take their seats, Alo entered the room with the Klingmans.

  Silas moved toward the couple and turned to the other guests. “Friends, I’d like to introduce you to Jedediah and Beth and little Daniel Klingman. They are our neighbors, the ones you prayed for last evening. They’ve walked over to join us for Christmas.”