“I don’t want to leave,” she said softly, and he watched as she blinked the tears back. He reached out and took both her hands. It was the first time he’d held her hands in two weeks. That’s how long it had been since she’d driven a wedge between them, but it felt like two years.
“What do you want, Faith?” The words came out on a sigh, and he wished he could say them again, this time more compassionately. It was obvious she was hurting, but the reason was totally unknown to him. And it stung.
She glanced down into her lap, and he was afraid he’d never find out what the problem was. He couldn’t continue like this. He couldn’t live under the same roof as Faith and not touch her, not hold her. Not comfort her.
His heart ached.
“I can’t have what I want,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Was her heart breaking too, only over something else? Or worse still, someone else?
Still holding her hands, he stood, bringing her up with him. She glanced up at him, her sad brown eyes breaking his heart all over again.
He swallowed hard. “What is it you want, Faith?” His head was spinning, and his heart had shattered.
She took a step back. Her voice broke as she said the words. “You. I want you.” Her tears overflowed and he pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her.
How could he have been so stupid? They’d already wasted far too much time. It had to end now. “I want you too,” he said gently. “I have loved you almost from the moment you arrived.” He lifted her chin gently and kissed her.
“I love you too,” she said, then relaxed into him. He lost count of how long they’d stood there entwined in each other. “Marry me?” She stepped back, and he saw the surprise on her face. “We can get married Saturday if you say yes.”
Her hand lifted and caressed his unshaven face. “Yes,” she said. “I will marry you.”
“Finally,” Martha said as she flung open the door. “Does this mean I can finally go back home?”
~*~
The wedding was a small affair, and was exactly what they both wanted.
The twins were there of course, and carried the wedding rings. How safe that would be was yet to be proven.
Hank and Martha were the witnesses, and Percy and Rory came for the ceremony too. With her permission, Jonah had contacted her father, Harry.
He’d told Jonah he regretted his behavior, and since Faith had left home, both he and Martin had stopped drinking. He knew it was already too late by the time he realized what he had really lost – the love and respect of his only daughter.
He’d worn his best suit today, and cleaned himself up. She almost didn’t recognize him. As they stood at the entrance to the Mountain Ridge church, nestled in the town named after the ranch, he embraced his daughter. “I’m sorry, Faith,” he said quietly. “I was devastated over your mother’s death, but that’s no excuse.”
She swallowed back the emotion that threatened to take over. Under no circumstances would Faith stand next to her soon-to-be husband with red puffy eyes.
She hooked her arm through Harry’s and they slowly walked down the aisle to the organ music.
Martha had taken her into town a few days ago, and they’d chosen a new gown for Faith to wear for her wedding. It was the most beautiful gown she’d ever seen. She glanced down at it as they moved toward her soon-to-be husband, and a smile crossed her face. No matter what she’d worn, Jonah would think her beautiful anyway. He’d told her so many times now.
Harry presented her to Jonah, and she noticed tears in his eyes. She had forgiven him and Martin, and hoped they could have a better, closer relationship now.
Jonah took her hands and encased them in his, then they turned to face the preacher. The same preacher who had helped Jonah through his wife’s death.
“Dearly Beloved,” Preacher Dean said, looking out at those sitting in the pews. “We have come together today to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony.”
The twins stood next to their father while the ceremony took place. Leo tugged at his father’s breeches. “What does that mean?” he asked loudly. Everyone chuckled.
“You may kiss your bride,” Preacher Dean announced once he’d pronounced them man and wife, and that’s exactly what Jonah did. Faith wasn’t sure he would ever let her come up for air.
They turned to leave the church, and Martha came up to them both and hugged them tight. “Welcome to the family, Faith,” she said with tears in her eyes. “You have made my son very happy.” She brushed her tears aside. “I’m very happy too.”
The new couple each clutched the hand of one of the twins and they left the church. Once outside, Harry came up to them and stood in front of Faith and stared. It was as though he was frozen to the spot. Martin joined him and hugged his sister. “I’m really sorry, Sis,” he said. “I promise it won’t happen again.
When he stepped back, Harry finally moved in. Faith thought he would never let her go. It would take a long time for their relationship to fully mend, but this was a good first step.
Cora tugged on Harry’s breeches. “Who are you,” she asked, staring up at him.
He glanced down at her. “I’m your grandpa,” he said with tears in his eyes.
~*~
A week later it was Christmas, and Faith had put together a family gathering for Christmas Day.
Harry and Martin had been invited to stay on after the wedding, and had accepted the invitation. Jonah wanted Faith to be able to spend time with her family and hopefully mend some of those broken ties, and build trust between them again.
The twins had taken to their new grandpa and uncle, both who realized if they went backwards with their drinking, they would be banished from Faith’s life forever. She’d told them in no uncertain terms.
Jonah didn’t blame her one little bit.
He glanced around the table. Everyone he loved and cared about was there, as well as the two he was only beginning to get to know. Hank, Percy, and Rory were ecstatic. They’d never had such an elaborate Christmas dinner.
Faith had prepared most of the food herself, with a little help from Martha who was happy to be able to step back for once. Harry and Martin sat wide-eyed at the array of food, as much as the twins did. They were on their best behavior. Faith had done wonders with them from the moment she’d arrived.
If someone had told Jonah he’d be this happy, he wouldn’t have believed them. Sarah would never be forgotten, but Faith had filled a gaping hole in his heart, and for that he would be forever grateful.
He glanced across at the Christmas tree in the corner near the fireplace. Martin helped him find the tree and cut it down, and everyone had helped decorate it. The twins had even made some paper chains for it, with a lot of help.
Faith pulled the last of the roasted vegetables from the oven and added them to the platter. Jonah couldn’t help himself, he put his arms around her and held her close. “I love you so much,” he said so only Faith could hear.
“I love you too,” she said, then got up onto her tiptoes and kissed him.
This was a Christmas he would never forget.
~*~
Epilogue
Almost One Year Later…
Faith couldn’t believe it had been a little over a year since she and Jonah had married. Things had only got better since then.
Martin had come to work for Jonah on the ranch, and turned out to be a really good worker. With the help of Hank and the other workers, they’d built a small cottage not far from the bunkhouse so Harry could stay nearby. Like the workers, he had his meals in the main house, and spent evenings with them. If he wanted privacy, he only needed to walk a short distance and he was home.
The twins enjoyed having their grandpa living close by. They were still pranksters, but had calmed down considerably.
The fire burned brightly and Faith pulled her shawl up around her shoulders and sat down. Martin and Jonah had taken the twins to cut down a tree for Christmas. The children were beyond e
xcited and spent most of the week making decorations, with a little help.
Three days until Christmas, and she’d been baking furiously in preparation for Christmas Day. Perhaps that’s why she felt so tired all of a sudden? Faith swiveled on the sofa and lay her head against the cushion. She couldn’t keep her eyes open.
“Mama! Mama!” Little voices startled her awake. “It’s snowing! Come and see.”
Martin and Jonah carried the tree into the sitting room. “You found a tree,” Faith said, still half asleep. She stood and lost her balance. Jonah reached out and steadied her.
“Are you alright,” he asked as he held her.
She glanced up at him. “I’m just tired. I’ll be fine.” She turned to the twins. “Show me the snow,” and the three of them went outside together.
She stood on the porch and glanced about. There wasn’t much but it was beautiful to look at. It wouldn’t be long and it would be quite thick and the children would be begging to build a snowman.
Cora shouted as she rubbed her hand against Faith’s protruding belly. “Papa! Papa! Mama has wet herself!”
Faith looked down. No wonder she was feeling so tired – the baby was coming. Jonah rushed outside, concern etched on his face.
She glanced across at him. “Sorry,” she said. “I didn’t realize until it was too late.”
He swooped in and picked her up, carrying Faith into the bedroom. “Martin,” he said as he carried her. “We’ll need the doctor. Have Hank run into town, will you?”
“Is Mama sick?” Cora asked, tears running down her little cheeks.
“No silly,” Leo told her. “Papa just likes carrying her.”
Faith glanced up to see a smile on Jonah’s face despite the distress he was under over the situation. Her laid her gently on the bed, and the twins came in to check on her. “Are you sick, Mama,” Cora asked, her tears still flowing.
“No sweetheart,” Faith told her gently, wiping her tears away. “Our new baby is ready to arrive.”
Two pairs of eyes opened wide, then they hugged each other. “We’re getting a baby,” they sang and jumped up and down as they chanted.
“Right you two,” Jonah said firmly. “You need to go out and let Mama rest. Uncle Martin will take care of you.” Martin came in and took each of their hands.
“Love you, Sis,” he said before he left the room with the over excited twins.
Faith closed her eyes and rested until she could rest no more.
By the time Doc Henderson arrived, Faith was having strong contractions. Jonah had sat by her side the whole time, holding her hands. He felt useless and helpless, but Martha had told him there wasn’t much else he could do.
Once the doc had set himself up, much to his disgust, Jonah had been sent away.
When the screams began, the children were distraught so he put their coats and mittens on them, and they went outside.
“I wonder if there’s enough snow to build a snowman?” He was trying to distract them, and it worked. They ran outside and off the porch, waiting at the bottom of the steps.
Harry was standing outside his cottage, and came over to see them. “What’s going on?” he asked curiously.
“We’re going to build a snowman,” Leo told him seriously.
“The baby is coming,” Jonah told him quietly.
Harry grinned, then looked to the ground. “I doubt that very much,” he told Leo. “Perhaps in a few days there might be enough snow. Why don’t you visit Maisy instead?”
Jonah sighed with relief. “That’s a good idea, Grandpa.”
The twins were good riders now, but were never left alone. They were far too little. Jonah let them ride Maisy in the large barn out of the weather.
After what seemed like hours, he glanced up to see Martha standing on the porch waving him in.
“You go,” Harry said. “I’ll look after the twins and sort out Maisy.”
He didn’t say no to the offer – Harry knew what he was doing. Jonah near ran to the house. “It’s a boy,” Martha said, tears brimming in her eyes. They hugged, then he quickly went to his wife.
She lay dozing on the bed, the baby in her arms. “Congratulations,” Doc Henderson told him. “You have a healthy boy. Faith is fine too,” he said, preempting Jonah’s question.
“Thanks Doc,” Jonah said. He sat on the edge of the bed and glanced down at his wife and new son. He leaned in and kissed Faith on the forehead and she glanced up at him. “I love you,” he told her quietly.
“I love you too,” she said.
The twins came running in, their excitement running over. “You have a baby brother,” Jonah said, and held the baby out for them to see.
They stared at the baby then at each other, and hugged each other tight. “We have a baby,” Leo said matter-of-factly.
“I know,” Cora said, then burst into tears.
Jonah silently prayed his thanks for his beautiful family, and also for bringing Faith to him. He knew this wouldn’t be their last addition, there was so much love in their home, it was inevitable.
The twins interrupted his thoughts as they ran over to the window. “Papa, look!” Cora shouted.
“Lots of snow,” Leo said. “Can we go and make a snowman now?”
Jonah glanced around the room. Love filled his heart like it had never been filled before.
The End
From the Author
Thank you so much for reading my book – I hope you enjoyed it.
I would greatly appreciate you leaving a review on Amazon, even if it is only a one-liner. It helps to have my books more visible on Amazon!
~*~
All my books can be seen on my Amazon Author Page.
To read more books in the Christmas Rescue series, click here
~*~
About the Author
Multi-published, award-winning author, Cheryl Wright, former secretary, debt collector, account manager, writing coach, and shopping tour hostess, loves reading.
She writes both contemporary and historical western romance, as well as romantic suspense.
She lives in Melbourne, Australia, and is married with two adult children and has six grandchildren.
When she’s not writing, she can be found in her craft room making greeting cards.
Check out Cheryl’s Amazon page for a full list of her other books.
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