“I saw a light in my sister’s eyes that hasn’t been there since her divorce,” Ken told him. “That made me decide you might be worth taking a chance on.” He stared down at the ground, then raised his head. “Now, I realize you moving into town and opening a feed store might have absolutely nothing to do with Carrie. Personally, I hope it does, but I want you to know that whatever happens between you and my sister is your business.”
“That’s the way it would have to be.”
Her two brothers shared a glance and seemed to reach the same conclusion. “You’re right about that.” Chuck spoke for the pair. “This has nothing to do with Carrie.”
“There are a lot of ifs in all this,” Vaughn reminded them. He could see that they were getting excited, but then so was he. Naturally, all of this depended on a dozen different factors. Right now it was little more than the glimmer of an idea. Little more than a possibility. But it gave him a glimpse of what he might do....
“At the moment the future doesn’t look all that promising for Buffalo Valley,” Ken said, surveying the bare land around them. It went without saying that if Value-X came to town, that would be the end of any talk about a feed store.
On the verge of leaving, Vaughn returned to the subject of their sister. “Have either of you seen Carrie?”
“She’s gone for the day,” Ken told him.
“All day?”
Chuck shrugged. “She’s over with our brother Tom and his family. Did you two have plans?”
“No.” How could he expect her to be at his beck and call? “I’ll talk to her later,” he said with reluctance. Their conversation had to take place soon. He’d rather this business with Natalie was over, but it now seemed that would require a protracted...discussion, for lack of a better word.
“She was upset when you dropped her off at the house after the play.” Ken frowned at him in an accusatory way, suggesting Vaughn had some explaining to do. “What happened? What did you do?”
“That’s Carrie’s and my business. Remember?”
Chuck agreed. “She’d have our heads if she knew we were talking to you about her. We’ll stay out of it, but like I said, you hurt her and you’ll have me to answer to.”
Vaughn nodded and resisted the urge to laugh. Melodramatic though they sounded, her brothers were serious.
“I heard you and your parents are spending Christmas Day with Hassie,” Ken said.
News sure traveled fast in a small town. “We’re coming for dinner.”
“Then I think we might be able to arrange something.” The two brothers exchanged another look.
“Arrange what?” Vaughn asked.
“Nothing much, just an opportunity for you to have some time alone with our sister.” Chuck and Ken left then, both of them grinning broadly.
Nine
Hassie spent Christmas morning with Buffalo Bob, Merrily and little Bobby, upstairs at the 3 of a Kind. Sitting around the Christmas tree with the family reminded her of what it’d been like years ago, when Valerie and Vaughn were young. The good feelings started right then, and she suspected this would be her best Christmas in a very long while.
Bobby’s eyes got round as quarters when his father rolled out a shiny new miniature bicycle with training wheels. It amazed her that a three-year-old could actually ride a bicycle. In another three or four months, the park would be crowded with kids on bikes, enjoying the Dakota sunshine. When Hassie closed her eyes, she could almost hear the sound of their laughter. That would happen, she comforted herself, with or without Value-X.
She exchanged gifts with the family—magazine subscriptions for Bob and Merrily, a book of nursery rhymes for Bobby. Their gift to her was a new pair of lined leather gloves. After coffee and croissants—and hugs and kisses—she left.
Home again, Hassie set the dining-room table with her finest china. Not much reason to use it these days. Yet twice this week she’d had cause to bring it out of the old mahogany cabinet. The first time was her visit with Barbara and now Christmas dinner.
Already the kitchen counter was crowded with a variety of food. Carrie and her mother had thoughtfully dropped off a platter of decorated sugar cookies. Those cookies, plus the ones she’d collected the night of the exchange, added up to enough for the entire town.
Sarah Urlacher and Calla had given her a plate of homemade fudge. Maddy, Lindsay and several of the other women had stopped by with offerings, too—preserves and homemade bread and mincemeat tarts. It was far more than Hassie could eat in two or three Christmases.
Then word had leaked out about Vaughn Kyle and his parents coming for dinner. Before Hassie could stop them, her friends and neighbors had dropped off a plethora of side dishes. Joanie Wyatt sent over baked yams. Rachel Quantrill delivered a green-bean-and-cauliflower casserole. Soon all that was required of Hassie was the bird and dressing. The tantalizing aroma of baking turkey, sage and onions drifted through the house.
Living alone, Hassie didn’t bother much with meals. At night, after she closed the pharmacy, her dinner consisted of whatever was quick and easy. When Jerry had been alive and the children still lived at home, she’d been an accomplished cook. Now she considered cooking for one a nuisance. Many a night she dined on soup or a microwave entrée.
The doorbell chimed at exactly one o’clock, and Hassie, who’d been occupying herself with last-minute touches, was ready to receive her company.
“Merry Christmas,” Barbara Kyle sang out, hugging Hassie as soon as she opened the front door.
“Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas.” Hassie hugged them all.
For the next few minutes the men made trips back and forth between the car and the house. They hauled in festively wrapped presents, plus various contributions to the meal, including three beautiful pies.
“How in heaven’s name are the four of us going to eat all these pies?” Hassie asked, giggling like a schoolgirl over such an embarrassment of riches. Pies, cookies, candies. Oh, my, she’d be on a diet till next June if she tasted everything in her kitchen.
“Pecan pie is Rick’s favorite,” Barbara explained.
“Pumpkin is mine,” Vaughn said.
“And fresh apple mixed with cranberry is mine,” Barbara said, setting down the third pie. She had to rearrange other dishes on the crowded counter to find room for it.
“Apple mixed with cranberry,” Hassie mused aloud. “That sounds delicious.”
“I’m willing to share,” Barbara said with a laugh.
The meal was even better than Hassie had dared hope. The turkey was moist and succulent, and the sage dressing was her finest ever, if she did say so herself. The four of them sat around the table and passed the serving dishes to one another. They talked and laughed as if each was part of Hassie’s family. Anyone seeing them would never have guessed there’d been a thirty-three-year lapse in their relationship.
This was the way Christmas was meant to be, Hassie thought, immersing herself in the good feelings. Barbara had always been a talker, and she effortlessly kept the conversation going. The years had changed Rick Kyle considerably, Hassie noted, smiling over at him. She doubted she would’ve recognized him now.
The last time Hassie had seen Rick, he’d had shoulder-length brown hair, a bushy mustache and narrow-rimmed glasses. A wooden peace sign had dangled from his neck. As she recalled, he’d worn the craziest color combinations with tie-dyed bell-bottom jeans and sandals.
His hair was mostly gone now, but Barbara claimed bald men could be exceedingly sexy. Hassie wouldn’t know about that, but it did her good to see that they were happy and obviously still in love.
Perhaps it was selfish of her, but she liked to believe that if her son had lived, Vaughn would’ve found the same happiness with Barbara.
“If I eat another bite, I swear someone might mistake me for a stuffed sausage,” Barbara declared, pushing back her chair.
“Me, too.” Rick wrapped his arms around his belly and groaned.
Hassie looked at Vaughn, who winked and said, “Could someone pass me the mashed potatoes and gravy?”
Laughing, Barbara hurled a roll at him from across the table. Vaughn deftly caught it. “Hey, I’m a growing boy.”
When they’d finished, the men cleared off the table and Hassie brewed a pot of coffee. They gathered in the living room around the small Christmas tree, where Hassie had tucked three small gifts, one for each of her guests. Shopping in Buffalo Valley was limited and there hadn’t been much time, so Hassie had found items with special meaning to share with her friends. Three little gifts she knew each would treasure.
For Barbara, it was a pearl pin Jerry had given her after Vaughn’s birth. For Rick it was a fountain pen—an antique. Choosing a gift for Vaughn had been difficult. In the end she’d parted with one of the medals the army had awarded her son for bravery. Since Vaughn had recently been in the military himself, she felt he’d appreciate what this medal represented.
They seemed truly touched by her gifts. Barbara’s eyes brimmed with tears and she pinned the pearl to her silk blouse. Rick, who didn’t appear to be the demonstrative sort, hugged her. And Vaughn seemed at a loss for words.
“I have something to tell you,” Vaughn said after several minutes of silence.
“This sounds serious.” Hassie saw the look Barbara and Rick exchanged and wondered at its meaning.
Vaughn leaned forward and took Hassie’s hands in both his own. “I told Mom and Dad earlier, and they urged me to be honest with you, as well. First, I want you to know I’d never deliberately do anything to hurt you.”
“I know that. Honest about what?”
“Value-X. When I left Seattle, I’d accepted a job with them.”
Hassie gasped, and her hand flew to her mouth. This was almost more than she could take in. Vaughn an employee of Value-X?
“I knew the company was planning to expand into Buffalo Valley, but I didn’t understand the threat they represented to the community.”
“He isn’t working for them any longer,” Barbara quickly inserted.
“Since I wasn’t going to be officially an employee until after the first of the year, one of the vice presidents suggested I not mention my association with the company,” Vaughn explained. “It was never my intention to deceive you or anyone in Buffalo Valley.” He took a deep breath. “I faxed in my resignation and made it effective immediately.”
Hassie felt a little dizzy. It was hard enough to grasp what he was saying, and she could only imagine what Carrie must think, so she asked, “Does Carrie know?”
Vaughn nodded. “I told her the night of the play. I didn’t want to wait until after the holidays.”
“What did she say?” Hassie asked. She feared that the news might mean the end for this budding relationship, which would be a dreadful shame.
“I haven’t had a chance to speak to her since.”
Barbara moved forward to the edge of the sofa. “There’s more.”
Vaughn cast his mother a look that suggested he’d rather she hadn’t said anything.
“Tell me.” As far as Hassie was concerned, it was too late for secrets now.
Vaughn glanced at his mother again. “I don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up, because it’s much too soon.”
“Yes, yes, we know that,” Barbara interjected, then waited for him to continue.
Vaughn’s reluctance was evident. At last he said, “I’m investigating the possibility of opening a feed store here in town.”
For the second time in as many moments, Hassie gasped. Only this time, the shock was one of excitement and pleasure. “Oh, Vaughn, that’s an excellent idea. The town could use a feed store.”
Rick wrapped his arm around his wife’s shoulders, and both of them smiled broadly.
“Vaughn spoke with two of the Hendrickson brothers about it yesterday morning,” Barbara said. “They actually suggested it.”
Hassie’s heart surged with hope. Vaughn was right of course; there was no reason to get carried away. But she couldn’t help it. The thought of having Vaughn right here in Buffalo Valley—she was almost afraid to believe it could happen.
“I’ve got an appointment with Heath Quantrill first thing Wednesday morning,” Vaughn explained. “I’ll need to put together a business plan and look into financing. The Hendricksons recommended I start there.”
“Yes—Heath will give you good advice.” Some of the excitement left her as reality came rushing back. “Everything hinges on what happens with Value-X, doesn’t it?”
“True.” Vaughn gave her a lopsided smile. “But I have a good feeling about this.” As Hassie fought the emotion that threatened to overwhelm her, he added, “I want to invest in Buffalo Valley.”
Keeping the tears at bay was impossible now. “Why would you do such a thing?” she asked between sniffles. Reaching into her pocket, she withdrew a linen handkerchief and blew her nose. She must be getting old, because normally she wasn’t a woman prone to tears.
“I arrived in North Dakota thinking I knew exactly what I wanted and where I was headed,” Vaughn said, “but everything changed. I probably shouldn’t have said anything about my idea.” He frowned at his mother. “But now that it’s out, I’m glad you know.”
“God bless you,” Hassie whispered, stretching her arms toward Vaughn for a hug. Their embrace was warm. “If God had seen fit to give me a grandson, I would have wanted him to be just like you.”
“That’s a high compliment,” Vaughn said, sitting down again.
“I meant it to be,” Hassie told him. She rubbed her wet cheek with the back of her hand. “Look what you did,” she said. “It isn’t just anyone who can make this old lady weep.”
“Shame on you, son,” Rick teased, and they all smiled.
It took Hassie a few moments to compose herself.
“Look,” Barbara said, pointing outside, “it’s snowing.”
Sure enough, the flakes were falling thick and soft, creating a perfect Christmas scene. “This is the way I always dreamed Christmas would be,” Hassie whispered. “Surrounded by family—” she used the word purposely “—on a beautiful winter day.”
This was the best Christmas she’d had in many years, and all because of the Kyles—people who’d been brought into Hassie’s life by her son. Somehow she could picture Vaughn smiling down, wishing them a Merry Christmas.
* * *
Hassie had invited Carrie to join Vaughn and his parents for dessert on Christmas Day, and Carrie had yet to decide if she’d go. Vaughn’s confession about working for Value-X had shocked her. The fact that he’d come into town, gained her confidence and that of everyone else—so he could collect information for the company—had been a betrayal of trust and goodwill. He’d withheld the truth from her and she should be outraged. She was outraged.
All week Vaughn had listened to everyone’s objections to Value-X and said nothing. As she thought back on their numerous conversations, she realized how often he’d defended the company. At the time she’d assumed he was playing devil’s advocate. Now she knew otherwise. Carrie wasn’t sure what had happened to make him resign. Whatever it was, she was grateful. Still...
Trust was a basic issue with Carrie. Vaughn had betrayed her, Hassie and the entire town, and she couldn’t conveniently look the other way. Forgive and forget might work for others, but not for her.
She didn’t think Vaughn had told anyone else. Carrie hadn’t determined whether that was a good thing or not. She did know she had to hide this from Hassie, who would be heartbroken if she found out. If she didn’t show up at Hassie’s and then claimed she’d forgotten, Hassie would immediately conclude that something was wrong. Then she’d start asking questions. Questions Carrie didn’t want to answer. She could invent plausible exc
uses, but the problem was that Carrie did want to see Vaughn again, despite what he’d told her.
She needed to talk to him, needed to vent her feelings. The shock of his confession had robbed her of that chance. But finding a private time to speak with him today might prove difficult, if not impossible. In any event, she hadn’t given verbal shape to her emotions yet. Talking to him should probably wait, she rationalized.
“Where you going?” Ken asked, following her into the hallway as she gathered her coat, gloves and scarf.
“I bet she’s going off to see that new friend of hers,” Chuck teased.
“I’m going over to Hassie’s,” she informed her two younger brothers smugly.
“I suppose he’s there.”
How Pete knew that, Carrie could only guess. She shoved her arms into the silk-lined sleeves of her coat.
“He’s there, all right,” Tom said, leaning against the door jamb. “His car’s parked outside Hassie’s.”
Carrie ignored him and went to get her purse. She and Hassie had exchanged their gifts on Christmas Eve, but Carrie had borrowed a book on traditional remedies that she needed to return. She retrieved it from the bookcase.
“Will you guys leave me alone?” she cried. All four of her brothers were trailing her from room to room. “Don’t you have anything better to do?”
Her brothers glanced at each other and shrugged, then Pete announced, “Not really.”
“Do you want to hear what we think of your new boyfriend?” Ken asked.
If they could be this obstinate, so could she. “No.”
Carrie headed for the front door. If her four guardian angels wanted to follow her into the cold and snow, that was their choice.
“I like him, Carrie,” Ken called after her.
“Me, too.” Tom crowded beside him in the doorway.
“He’s all right,” Pete concurred.
Chuck simply winked and gave her a thumbs-up. This had to be a record. Never before had she dated a man all four of her brothers approved of. Little did they know. She wondered what they’d say if they knew that, until recently, he’d been a Value-X employee. The answer didn’t bear considering. She couldn’t disillusion them any more than she could Hassie. Against her will, she’d been pulled into his subterfuge, and she hated it.
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