Christmas Bound
by
Janice Sagraves

ONE

He shifted in the saddle as his dark hazel eyes rose to the clear cerulean sky. The sun painted what snow remained with a buttery tint, and in the past two weeks temperatures had risen to be unseasonably warm. November had felt like winter, and now December felt like spring. He knew it could change at any time, but for now the weather only fomented the plans that had been percolating in his fertile brain for the past few days. It would be taking a risk that things could close in behind them and make their return here difficult if not downright impossible. The opportunity, however, had been dropped into his lap, and he wasn’t about to waste it. He wanted to see his father, mother and brothers, and he was willing to chance it. After all, he hadn’t spent Christmas on the Ponderosa in way too long, and he knew his Angel would agree with him. The corners of his finely sculpted mouth turned in a cunning smile. What a Christmas this would to be.

*******

Adam Cartwright blustered into the immense parlor of the big log house just as his wife came down the stairs with their daughter. “I’ve got all the luggage into the back of the wagon, and the team is just raring to go.”

Angelica Cartwright snuggled five-month-old Elizabeth in her arms, and the baby cooed. Her deep violet eyes glittered in the light that entered through the front door as they rose to her husband. “I think maybe that they are not the only ones.”

“Well, how often do we get to see our family?”

“If we will just wait, they will come to us like they do every Christmas.”

“Who wants to wait?” He came forward and gathered all three of his nineteen-month-old sons into his arms and turned to go.

“Oh, Adam, they have grown so that you can’t carry all of them at once.”

“We’re doing just fine, aren’t we boys?” Three small black-capped heads bobbed. “Now let’s go. We don’t want to miss the stage.” Then he went out with his sons.

Angelica laughed as she covered the baby’s head against the spring-like chill. “I don’t know when I have seen him this excited.”

Maggie O’Shea came to stand beside her mistress. “And it is a pure joy to see,” she said, in her hearty Irish brogue, “but I think he isn’t the only one lookin’ so forward to this.”

Angelica giggled. “I dare say not. It will be so good to be in that wonderful house where my life really began.” She shivered. “Ooooh, I can hardly wait.”

Maggie’s nutmeg eyes narrowed, and her mouth pulled into a pucker. “And for you and Mr. Adam I will try to get along with that little heathen.”

“Oh, Maggie, Hop Sing isn’t that bad.”

“That is a matter of opinion that I don’t happen to share.”

Then the rich baritone entered through the front door. “Let’s go!”

Maggie picked up her valise from the floor. “We’d better do as he says before he busts a gusset.”

“Wiser words were never spoken.”

Maggie followed her mistress out but paused to make sure everything was in tiptop order then she closed the heavy pine front door behind her. They were at last on their way.

*******

The large conveyance rocked and lurched and young hazel eyes watched the passing scenery with rapt wonder as only a child could. The Cartwright sons hadn’t been in a stage coach since they were very small, and this was an event that came along once in a lifetime. No matter how many times one experienced a thing and no matter how enjoyable, the first would always be the most magical.

Adam’s arms closed around Addy and Benjy, and he leaned down so that he could look out the window with them. It did a father’s heart good to see his children having such a wonderful time. His gaze flicked to where Hiram sat in Maggie’s lap, just as enthralled as his brothers. “There’s nothing like that very first stagecoach ride that you’re old enough to fully appreciate.”

Angelica’s attention went to her sons. “That is one of the best parts of being a child. There are so many new things to experience, and even the most mundane can be an adventure. I remember the first time I rode the omnibus with my father. I was only a little older than the boys.” She laughed. “He always used to say that my eyes were the size of saucers.”

“When Pa and I were on our way out here he let me drive the team without any help for the first time when I was five. I felt so grownup. I knew I had his trust and it made me feel like such a man. How about you, Maggie? What do you remember most?”

“Mr. Adam, I don’t think…,”

Angelica’s eyes twinkled. “Please, Maggie. This is like a parlor game, and everyone must take their turn.”

“Very well, mum.” Maggie’s hold tightened on the boy, and she hesitated. “For me it was when I came to this country. I was thirteen, and I had never been such a big boat. We landed in Maine and soon found our way to Bangor. Such a grand city, the likes of which I never expected to find here, and not long after that me mum and da were working for the Cadence family. Such a fine memory that I shall always treasure.”

The inside of the coach had gone quiet except for the clatter of the wheels and the pound of the horses’ hooves. Then Addy’s voice broke the spell.

“Hossies! Hossies!”

Adam’s eyes followed his son’s pointing finger. A small herd of mustangs stood on a rise near a stream that meandered through these parts. The mares and half grown foals cropped grass that had been uncovered by the melt of the snow, while a fine chestnut stallion stood watch close by. Such a magnificent animal that reminded Adam of Sport and for the first time sadness encroached on his enjoyment. Then the animal’s head jerked up, its ears pricked forward, and he whistled. With that his herd bolted to disappear into the trees as the chestnut guarded their retreat and soon he too vanished among the Ponderosas.

Adam’s arms closed even more around his sons. No trip could get off to such a splendid start as this one had. “Yes, son, hossies.”

*******

Too small to be called a town, yet too large to just be a stage stop, Reno was still a welcome sight at the end of a long day of rugged travel. It had just settled dark when the stagecoach pulled to a halt at the way station. The day had progressed into seasonable chill and the night promised to only deepen it.

While the driver and shotgun rider saw to the horses, Adam took the women and children inside.

“Evenin’, folks,” Pete Blassingame said, as he came out of the kitchen with a large coffee pot. “Boy, it sure got awful cold in a hurry.”

Adam put Hiram and Benjy down. “That it sure did, Pete. For two weeks it’s been near perfect weather for this time of year, until we decide to go home for Christmas.”

“Ain’t that always the way.” Pete sat the pot on the table with a thump. “Now you folks go ahead and set yourselves down and have some of this nice hot coffee. I’ve got food on the stove, and I’ll rustle you up some. I’ve got mesquite beans and salt pork.”

Adam’s upper lip curled. “That’ll be fine.”

Maggie removed her bonnet. “I’ll set the table.”

“That’s right good of you, ma’am. You’ll find everything in that old breakfront.”

She thanked him then Pete hustled back into the kitchen

Dack Turner and Chet Witherspoon came in on a gush of icy air. They peeled off their gloves, and stuffed them into the pockets of their coats.

Dack blew warm breath on his hands and rubbed them together. “Whew, boy, did it ever turn off out there. By mornin’ it’ll probably freeze fire.” He puffed on his hands again then cocked his head back and sniffed. “Coffee.”

Chet shivered and tried to slap some life back into his arms. “I could drink enough to make me slosh when I walk, and the hotter, the better.”

Adam returned from the rough breakfront on the other side of the room, and cups hung from his fingers. He sat them on the table and lifted the pot. “We could all use a good brace of it after today.”

As Dack started to unbutton his coat his taupe eyes lit on the bundle in Mrs. Cartwright’s lap. “That sure is the prettiest little baby,” his brow arched, “and that is the reddest hair.” He gave his companion a jab with his elbow. “It’s almost redder ‘n yours, Chet.”

Chet took his hat off and riffled his fiery thatch. “Almost.”

Angelica knew she had better head off what was sure to be forming in the two men’s heads. Her gaze flicked to Adam. They both knew they wouldn’t be the only ones. “She is adopted. Her family was killed in a terrible accident, but by one of the Good Lord’s miracles, she wasn’t even scratched.”

Adam filled Dack’s cup. “Her name is Elizabeth Verina Cassandra Cartwright.”

“That’s a mouthful for such a little bit, but it’s right pretty just like she is.”

Angelica’s face had taken on the aura of a sunbeam. “Thank you, Mr. Turner. We think so.”

Pete bustled out in with two steaming pots just as Maggie finished with the table then Dack and Chet went back into the kitchen with him to eat away from the passengers. After grace was said the housekeeper dished up and they settled into their meal. Adam grinned as Angelica fed Elizabeth some canned milk from a cup and spoon brought along just for that.

The aroma of the beans – cow fodder, as Joe had coined it – caused Adam to waver just a mite. He would eat it and pine for Maggie’s mulligan the whole time, but he would eat it.

*******

The children snuggled down between their parents in the big brass bed. As always when they came through, Adam and his family slept in the station manager’s own room. Pete said he didn’t mind giving up his quarters for such fine people. And Adam – for his wife and children, and to please Pete – never objected.

Outside, the night had turned cold enough to, as Dack had put it, freeze fire. The air had become so heavy with it that not even a breath stirred. Animals, except for the serious nocturnal predators, had gone to ground. A moon that even seemed to have turned blue shone down and only made things look colder.

TWO

By the time dawn broke, a heavy frost had settled over everything and had to be scraped from the traces before the horses could even by harnessed to the coach. Adam and Dack weren’t about to let that stop them, although Chet had let it be know that he wouldn’t mind. So right after breakfast, they were on their way again.

Adam, with Maggie’s assistance, had pulled down the window shades to keep out the frosty wind that had begun to blow. Pete had given them some blankets to keep from ‘freezing into a solid block’, unquote.

Angelica talked in soft tones to someone Adam couldn’t even see, but he knew Elizabeth was there for he heard her gentle coos. He turned his attention to the seat across from him, and didn’t even try not to grin. The tops of three small black heads were all he could see from where his sons huddled close to Maggie beneath one of the blankets.

*******

Adam wasn’t alarmed when the coach came to a halt. He figured Dack had only stopped to water, and rest the horses before they continued on.

“Mr. Cartwright, I need for you to come out here.”

“All right, Dack.”

But when Adam tried to get out, snow blew in like a dense, white fog, and the force of the wind pushed against the door like a heavy hand. He looked at Angelica and Maggie – who cuddled the boys against it – and saw at once that he wasn’t the only one disturbed by this development.

Adam had to fight to get the door open enough for him to get out, and once he did the wind slammed it shut for him. He pulled his collar up around his neck and held onto his hat as he looked up into the swirling maelstrom.

The men had to almost scream just to hear each other, even though they were less than a foot apart.

“When did this happen?”

Dack hunched in an effort to keep from being blown over. “I’d guess ten or so minutes. It started out as a few little flakes then it was like somebody just dumped a big ol’ bucket. I hadta stop ‘cause I couldn’t see where I was goin’, and I didn’t figure the horses could either.”

“Well we can’t stay here only to get buried.”

Chet turned his head sideways in an effort to avoid the wind. “I think we oughtta try to go back to Reno.”

“That may not be such a good idea.” Adam ducked his head as a twirl of snow filled his face. “I think we’ve gone far enough to put us past the point of no return.”

“And besides that,” Dack leaned against the side of the stage, “I don’t relish the idea of trying to turn this thing around in this white monster?”

Chet braced his feet to stay upright. “Then what? Like you said, we can’t stay here.”

Adam looked into the teeth of the storm and had to fight to hold his eyes open. “I figure we’ve come around fifteen miles so that’ll put us not far from the Lundberg mansion. We can hole up there until this blows itself out.”

Chet’s eye narrowed. “You think they’ll take us in?”

“I know they will.”

Dack bunched his shoulders and held himself in his own grip. “If we get there. I can’t drive in this.”

Adam thought for a second. “We’ll take hold of the leaders’ bits and guide them. It’ll slow us down, but at least we’ll be moving again.”

“All right, and I think we oughtta leave the luggage right where it is. The extra weight’ll ground the coach better and make it harder to tip over.”

“Sounds good. Now I want to tell my wife what’s going on so she won’t worry so much then I’ll be right back.”

Dack and Chet only nodded.

Adam fought to get the door open again while the men went forward toward the team.

Angelica pulled away from the arctic blast and snow that accompanied her husband’s entrance. “How bad is it?”

Adam sat next to her. “I won’t lie. It’s as bad as I’ve ever been in. I could hardly see Turner and Witherspoon and we were standing nearly toe-to-toe. But if we keep our heads, I believe we can make it.” He took his scarf from around his neck and used it to tie his hat onto his head like Dack and Chet had done.

“But if you can’t see.”

Adam took Angelica’s arm in a reassuring grip. “Try not to worry. I figure if we stay to the road, and keep moving, we’ll make it.”

“I don’t mean to be impertinent, Mr. Adam, but make it to where?”

“There’s a house hopefully not to far from where we are now. I know the people who live there, and I know they’ll give us shelter.”

Angelica’s expression lightened. “The Lundberg’s.”

“That’s right, and if we keep moving, Dack and I think we can make it sometime tonight. It’ll take a while, but we’ll do it. This part of the country doesn’t breed quitters,” he snickered, “and neither does my father.” He pulled the blanket away and looked into the sleeping cherub face of his daughter. After a kiss on her petite forehead, he recovered her then turned his attention back to Angelica. “We’ll be all right. I’m not about to let anything happen to the joys of my life.” He gave her a peck then turned to his sons who had poked their heads out to see their father. He kissed each one then his gaze rose to connect with Maggie’s.

Maggie read uncertainty in the depths of the dark hazel eyes she looked into. She also saw a question, to which she gave him a single nod. Her unspoken answer seemed to ease some of his trepidation then he mouthed a silent thank you and was gone. “If anybody can get us through this, it’s Mr. Adam, and Mr. Turner and Mr. Witherspoon strike me as very capable.”

“I know, Maggie. I know it all.”

*******

The big, faded red Overland stage moved at a snail’s pace in the midst of Mother Nature’s wrath. Nothing had let up in the past hour, in fact, if anything, it had gotten fiercer. The men had taken out their bandanas and tucked into the sides of their scarves to cover their mouths and noses so they could breathe. They cupped their gloved hands over the lead horses’ nostrils so that the animals could keep their heads up, something they endeavored to do themselves. Wind driven snow, however, stung exposed skin like minuscule particles of glass fired from a mammoth cannon.

Adam looked into the teeth of the beast in an effort to get their bearings, but nothing had ever been more futile. Icy specks assaulted his eyeballs and the biting wind made them water. He shouted to Dack, but he doubted if he was even heard above the howl of the wind. His arm went out, and he groped around until he latched onto something that felt like an arm. Again he shouted, but he still didn’t think he had been heard. He stopped his horse and let it lower its head against the stifling onslaught.

“Dack! Dack, do you have any idea where we are or how far we’ve come?”

Dack leaned forward with his lips close to Adam’s ear. “How do we know we aren’t’ gonna pass that house? In all this you can’t even see a mountain.”

Adam was right. His question hadn’t been heard, but because of what Dack had just said he didn’t reiterate. “We’ve been going pretty straight so we’re probably still to the road.”

“Yeah, I know, but time’s got no meaning out here, so we can’t be sure how long we’ve been at this. We could be on top o’ that house or we coulda already passed it. And if we’ve passed it, the next stop’s Virginia City, and that we’ll never make.”

The thought paralyzed Adam, but it wasn’t for him that his fear was tantamount. He cursed himself inside for having put his family into the grasp of such peril. “If we have to we’ll sit this out in the coach. It’ll be cold but we’ll at least be out of the wind and snow, and we can use each other to stay warm.”

Chet had joined them. “Why don’t we just do that now, instead of draggin’ this thing all over the state o’ Nevada?”

“We’ll try a little while longer, and if we don’t have any luck we’ll quit for the night.” Adam looked around. In all this swirling grayness it was difficult to tell just how dark it had gotten.

Dack looked up. “If it ain’t night already.”

End of conversation. Hands went back over the horses’ muzzles, and the animals resumed their tedious plod. The men were headed toward a definite point, and the idea that they could have already passed it still wasn’t enough to stop them. This way, at least, they felt like they were doing something toward their survival, fruitless though it could turn out to be.

*******

Angelica tried to placate the furious child, but Elizabeth was having none of it. Her tiny arms and legs flailed within the confines of her blankets, and she vented her ire with piercing screams guaranteed to make her anger well understood. Angelica continued to jostle and rock, but it only seemed to agitate Elizabeth’s insatiable fury.

The boys’ wide eyes watched as their little sister continued her throes of pure rage. They didn’t move from where they huddled beneath the covers on either side of Maggie.

“I thought after you changed her that she’d settle. Maybe she’s hungry.”

Angelica put the baby to her shoulder and began to pat the petite back, but even that didn’t help. “Get out some of the canned milk.”

“Yes, mum.” Maggie took the carpet bag from the floor and put it in her lap.

“Beffy sick?”

Angelica looked at Addy, the oldest and more extroverted of her sons. “No, sweetheart, she just wants to eat.”

“Addly, Hihum, Benty eat too.”

“All right, dear, you can have some milk.” Then she noticed the queer look on Maggie’s face, as the woman sat there with a can in each hand. “What’s wrong?”

“How do we open it?”

Angelica’s face dropped. “I forgot all about that.”

“I’m goin’ ta go get Mr. Adam.”

“Maggie O’Shea, don’t you dare go out in this.”

“These babies need ta eat, and it’s for sure that we can’t open these cans. And it isn’t like I haven’t been out in this sorta thing before. Now this won’t take but two shakes.” Maggie tugged her coat around her and tightened her bonnet ties under her chin.

It took all the strength Maggie could muster to open that door. Snow shot in like a swarm of angry, stinging bees and frightened the boys, who began to cry. Elizabeth took this as her cue to increase the intensity of her shrieks.

THREE

Maggie brought her collar over the lower part of her face lest her breath be sucked away. The bitter wind cut into the backs of her hands, and forced the realization that she had forgotten her gloves. No matter. She wasn’t going back for them if her fingers turned blue and dropped off. Her eyelids batted as she looked toward the front of the coach. All she had to do now was make it to Mr. Adam, and not get lost in the doing.

As she moved – one slow step at a time – her free hand stayed in contact with the side of the vehicle. Her fingertips traced over its contours until they came to what she knew to be a wheel. She gripped the rim and used it to steady herself as a gust slammed into her and almost knocked her over. However, as the coach was in motion, she found herself jerked forward, and fell flat with a grunt.

“Get up, Maggie, me girl, or they won’t find ya ‘til the spring thaw.”

The snow came well past her wrists as she pushed against the ground. The coach was passing her by, and she knew that if she didn’t hurry she would be left behind. With a violent shove, she scrambled to her feet and thumped into the side of the stage.

“Let’s try this again.”

Now wet, the wind chilled her hands to the bone. Almost in an instant, her fingers began to stiffen and turn numb. Hard pain throbbed in her knuckles, but still she wouldn’t stop.

By the time she touched horseflesh, she could hardly feel the animal’s soft coat. It was wet, but she could tell little else. She held onto the harness, and used it as a guide. The collar she knew from mere touch. Her father had been a stableman, and she had grown up around the beasts so she sure ought to know. Her arm telescoped out before her, and she made contact with the next horse in line. She repeated the procedure.

Another stiff gust caught her, but she hung with tenacity to the third horse’s harness and kept her feet under her. She had already ground her face into the frigid snow once, and she wasn’t looking to repeat the experience.

By now the hems if her skirt and petticoats were caked and frozen. This only made them heavier and the going rougher, but still she refused to go back. There were hungry babies that needed to be fed, and it was her duty to see that they were. From the very beginning, the Cartwrights had put their trust in her, and she wouldn’t let them down.

The toe of her shoe caught, and she began to pitch forward. Her deadened fingers lost their hold on the slick leather, and she fell against what felt like a body. Out of the gray wall a steel grip wrapped around her arm and jerked back. “Angelica?”

“No, sir.” As many times as she had been privileged to hear that rich baritone, it had never sounded as good as it did now. Her hands pressed flat against his board chest, and she could feel his exertion.

“What’re you doing out here?”

“The babies need ta eat, but we can’t get the cans of milk open.”

“All right, we’ll go back with you. I think we could use a few minutes to catch our breaths anyway.”

After a couple of tries, he got the message across to Dack and Chet. Maggie could just see him, and she felt herself turned around, though she couldn’t make out any of his handsome features. The other men she couldn’t see at all.

It didn’t take as long to get back to the coach, and this Maggie attributed to Mr. Adam’s tenacious will. She had always felt safe and never ill at ease around him, and now was no exception.

When the door opened the inviting radiance of the inside lamps met them, and they traded one kind of wail for another. Elizabeth’s screams hadn’t abated in the slightest, though the boys were settled. Then the door on the other side opened to create a cross draft, and that all changed.

“Excuse us, ma’am,” Dack said to Angelica, as he climbed in, and Chet came in behind him.

Once he got Maggie onto the seat, Adam took the carpet bag with the milk and sat down. “Hopefully this won’t take too long.”

Adam didn’t think he had worked so hard at anything in a long time as trying to get those infernal cans open. The crying of children had always bothered him, though not so much the sound as he hated to see the little things in such upset, and that only pushed him toward success. “Daddy’s hurrying.” He raised his fist and struck the knife a good blow. This time, however, it slipped, and only his cat-like reflexes kept him from getting slashed.

“Adam Cartwright, be careful. That is just all we need.”

Adam promised and continued with his task.

After his near brush with catastrophe, Adam made himself settle down and things went smoother. “Here we go.”

Once they had their own cups and began to fill their tummies, the boys quieted right down. Their sister, on-the-other-hand, had gotten herself so worked up that she wouldn’t even take her milk. Angelica’s every attempt went for naught, and the fact that her eyes kept flitting to Maggie didn’t help.

“Here,” Angelica held the baby out, “feed your daughter while I see to Maggie.”

Adam took the baby and began to jounce, but she only seemed to scream louder. “Come now, sweetheart.” He dipped the spoon into the can that Chet held for him. “I know you’re hungry, but this isn’t helping anything.”

Almost from the second she sat down, Maggie had started to shiver, and her teeth to chatter. Out of the cold and wind, the snow on her clothes had begun to melt. She felt clammy swathed in all that wet fabric and her body quaked within its constraints.

As Angelica came to her feet, the inside of the coach went quiet enough to hear a bubble burst. Her mouth formed a perfect smile as she watched Adam feed Elizabeth a spoonful. He had a way with children that any woman would envy, and now it made her heart glow.

Angelica sat next to Maggie, and her voice came low and discreet. “You’re freezing, and we need to get you out of these wet things. I’ll put the boys under the blanket with you. They’re hot natured just like their father, and they will warm you right up.”

“It’s not so bad, mum. I’ll soon warm up on me own.”

“You’ll soon catch your death if you don’t take off those sodden clothes.”

Maggie went aghast as her gaze went to the men. “Oh, mum, not here, not with…,”

“Yes, right here and right now. Gentlemen, please avert your eyes.”

Adam and Dack turned around, but Chet just sat there as if the request hadn’t registered until he got a sharp gouge in the ribs, and Dack’s equally sharp glare.

It dawned on Chet what was about to happen, and he went beet red. “Oh, yes, ma’am.” Then he, too, turned.

“Mum, ya needn’t put yerself out on my account.”

Angelica’s stern scowl said plain that she would brook no argument. “Hush, Maggie. It won’t do anyone any good for you to get sick.”

With his back still turned, Adam’s single eyebrow raised, and he crooked a wry grin. That’s my girl, he thought.

*******

Again the stage had begun to move at its lethargic pace through the snowstorm that – if anything – had only grown more furious. The pale grayness of day had given way to the deeper charcoal of night, and the cold had become even more mind and body numbing.

The brief respite had helped to restore the men’s strength, but had done little to remove their chill. Inside the coach had become like an ice house, and they weren’t clad in all the layers of clothing as the women were. In a case like this, they envied the ladies their many garments.

The horses kept up their relentless plod, but only at the incessant urging of the men. Each one of them knew, though it hadn’t been voiced, that to stop now could only mean death. To be absolute about it, even if they didn’t stop it could mean the same outcome, and with the men gone, the women and children didn’t stand a chance.

Angelica could feel the baby girl full, content and asleep beneath the blanket wrapped about them. She wanted to look in at the child, but she feared what could come if she were awakened. So she raised her eyes to her sons. They sat on the opposite seat huddled around Maggie, two blankets tucked in around them and all four had fallen asleep.

She tried to smile, but her mouth just plain refused to cooperate. Too much had occurred, was occurring, and would occur before she could let herself do that. If she lived long enough to ever get the chance. Stop that, she thought. What right have you to give up? Adam hasn’t and you mustn’t either.

Adam readjusted his bandana over his mouth and nose. A fierce squall caught him, and he held onto the horse to keep himself from being sucked into the night. The bleak image of someone stumbling over his frozen body rose in his mind like a grim specter. You’re cheerful, he thought and shook his head to jar it loose.

He had long since lost the feeling in his feet and hands, but that was the least of his concerns, and he couldn’t let that deter him. What he cared for most was the welfare of his family, and he had placed them in dire peril. The idea of spending Christmas on the Ponderosa had been so strong that he had thrown caution aside, and it could get them all killed. He jerked his head up and bore into the wind. Not if he could help it.

*******

Verina Cartwright took off her robe and draped it over one of the posts of the big walnut bed. She wasn’t the slightest bit sleepy, but with Christmas only a week away, there was still plenty that had to be done, and she needed her rest. For some reason, though, the thought of turning in didn’t appeal.

She turned around and wasn’t surprised to see that her husband still looked out the window. Many times she had seen him stand this way, but maybe never so unmoving. Even when she said his name, he never budged as if she had said nothing.

The light touch on his arm finally made Ben Cartwright look away from the malevolent entity that lurked beyond the window pane. “It doesn’t look like we will be going to the Angel this year.”

“I have never known you to be as quiet as you have been today.”

He looked back outside. “I’ve had a lot on my mind.”

“Maybe it would help to tell me about it.”

“It’s nothing that I can put my finger on, but something just feels wrong.”

“You, too?”

His head jerked around, and his coffee brown eyes went pure black.

“Since early this morning I have felt uneasy. It has nagged at the corners of my mind all day, and even now it keeps sleep away.”

“Joe and Hoss are safe in their rooms, or I’d be worried about them.”

“But we don’t know about Adam and Angelica.” Her grasp tightened on his arm. “Ben, could we both be wrong? Please tell me that we are.”

He didn’t know how to answer her to calm the growing fear in them both. “I wish I could.” He pulled her to him then his eyes returned to beyond the glass. “How I wish I could.”

FOUR

Sven Lundberg had just started up the grand staircase with a lone candle when someone or some thing began to pound on the door with great violence. His eyes ran to the tall case clock that his wife had insisted they bring back from England. The time read a shade past quarter after nine. He didn’t like to open up so late to strangers under normal circumstances, but these circumstances were far from normal.

The instant he opened the door the candle blew out. However, the brief glimpse he had gotten had been enough to cause unease. Figures bent against the wind with faces obscured so that their own mothers couldn’t recognize them.

“I hope you’re not gonna keep us out here all night, Swede.”

It took only a couple seconds for the muffled voice to register. “Adam. Adam Cartwright, come in here right now before you’re blown away never to be found again.”

The ragtag group of one man and two women entered, and the door closed out the storm that seemed ill inclined to let them go. Swede lit a ruby glass lamp on a small ornate table, and the foyer bloomed into light. Now he got a better look at his late night refugees.

Adam pulled the snow crusted bandana away from his face. “I’m sorry to burst in on you like this, Swede, but as you can see, we got caught in a bad situation. I’ve always questioned your putting your house so close to the main road? Not any more.”

Swede lit a lamp on one of the tables. “Is this all of you?”

“No, the driver and shotgun rider are taking care of the stage and the horses. They’ll be in later.”

“Well there’s plenty of room for everybody.” Swede looked to the women. “Are these ladies passengers vith you?”

“These ladies are my wife and housekeeper.”

With that the woman in the purple cloak pulled down the hood, and Swede recognized her. He hadn’t seen her since the wedding, but she was as lovely as ever. Then she brought out a small blanket wrapped bundle. Before he could say anything, though, three black-haired boys emerged from the long tail of the other woman’s coat.

“And these are my sons and daughter.”

But before the conversation could so any further a woman’s Irish voice descended on them. “Swede Lundberg, what is goin’ on down there?”

Adam looked up. “I’m sorry for the intrusion, Annie. I hope you don’t mind.”

With a cross between a squeal and a giggle, Annie Lundberg bolted down the stairs. The pale yellow of her robe accentuated the long auburn braid draped over one shoulder, and her aqua eyes purely glowed. She threw herself at Adam, heedless of his wet condition.

“Adam Cartwright, don’t ya dare ask such a thing. Ya know I don’t mind.” She backhanded her husband across the arm. “And neither does this big lummox.”

“Annie’s right. We never turn those in trouble away, and most of all not our friends.”

Annie’s attention turned to Angelica, and her coarse bluster that had been directed to Adam softened to a more lady-like demeanor. “Ya are very welcome in our house, Mrs. Cartwright.”

“Thank you.” Angelica shifted the baby, who had grown restless. “A house was never more inviting than this one.”

With a pert tilt, Annie’s head cocked to one side. “And no one has ever been more welcome. Now what am I about? Keeping all of ya standing here cold and tired and shivering in yer shoes.”

Adam stepped to Angelica. “You go ahead and get settled in, and I’ll bring in some of our luggage.”

Swede’s mouth spread into a broad grin. “I’ll help you. Just let me get my coat and hat.” Then she started toward the back of the house.

*******

The boys lay in the middle of the big bed, their sister between them. Out of shear exhaustion, they had fallen asleep before they had even been put down. They were warm and dry in their night clothes that their father had brought in for them, and hunger would have to wait.

Angelica had just brought the covers over them when Annie slipped in quiet as a snow flake.

“I warmed yer nightgown over the stove in the kitchen.”

“You didn’t have to do that.” Angelica took it from her. “But it will feel good.” She went behind the dressing screen and removed her robe. “It’s good of you and your husband to take us in like this.”

“Now what sort would we be if we had turned ya away?”

“I know, but we just dropped out of this storm in the dead of night,” Angelica came out as she finished with the buttons, “and turned your home upside down.”

Annie fanned the notion away with her hand. “Oh, posh. I think everybody needs some adventure in their lives every now and again.”

“That may be so, but I don’t recommend nearly being buried in snow or frozen to death.” Angelica went to the bed to check on the children. “Sound asleep.” She stroked Elizabeth’s curly head, but the child never moved. “This has been very hard on them, but they will recover quickly like children always seem to be able to.”

Annie came to stand behind her. “Such little angels. They are fine boys, and she’s a darlin’.”

“We are very proud of them.” She twined a finger in a silky red ringlet. “We call Elizabeth our miracle baby. She survived an accident that took her family, and came into our lives at a time when I needed her as much as she needed us.” She continued to play with the baby’s hair. “Through my own carelessness I lost the baby I was carrying, and I have come to grips with the fact that I can never have another one.” She looked to Annie as the woman came up behind her again. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to burden you with my troubles.”

“Burden away. That is, after all what friends are for.” Annie touched her arm.

Angelica smiled then turned back to the bed. “I think what troubles me most about it all, though, is how anyone could give up their own flesh-and-blood so easily and with such alacrity.” Her breath shuddered. “Just toss her away as one would so much refuse.”

“Now who could do such a coldhearted thing?”

“Elizabeth’s grandmother. She took one look at that red hair, and I could see the derision in her eyes.”

“Well I never. It sounds as if they are ashamed of the dear child.”

“It isn’t her so much, but she looks like her mother who was ‘poor Irish’, and her father defied his family to marry her. And that is really all I can say about it. One of the prerequisites in our getting the child was that we never divulge the identity of Elizabeth’s real family.”

“And if ya did would they be comin’ back and takin’ her?”

“I don’t know, but I really don’t want to take the risk.”

“Ya just let ‘em try. They’ll havta come through me, and they’ll think they’ve tangled with a wildcat. Poor Irish indeed. Bunch o’ snibberblots.”

The sound of that word made Angelica laugh, in spite of herself.

Annie put an arm around her shoulders and squeezed. “Now that’s better.”

Annie Lundberg was like a tonic that Angelica needed. She regretted that she hadn’t gotten to know this fiery Irish woman better since the wedding. Adam had enlightened her often enough, but it wasn’t the same as getting to know someone. And now the weather had given her the opportunity to do just that, and she wasn’t going to squander it.

*******

The light from the brass lamps filled the library with a soft orange light, and illuminated the fact that it was a man’s room. Floor to ceiling bookcases covered the two side walls and black, burgundy and dark blue were the hues of choice. Heavy brocaded draperies that incorporated all the colors hung at the diamond-paned windows and blocked out the cold.

Adam sat in a bonnet chair – the only concession to femininity in the room – and took a sip from a cut crystal glass. “There’s nothing like fine Irish whiskey after almost freezing to death. It takes the chill out of a man’s bones, and makes him feel alive again.”

Swede sat his glass on the desk and stroked his blond mustache that had begun to show a few strands of silver. “Annie insists on only the best of everything. It isn’t so important to me, but that is how she vants it, and you know vhat it is like to try to reason vith her.”

Adam’s mind reeled back to their first meeting, and it drew a wince. “Do I ever. It’s more of a lost cause than the Confederacy’s new nation.” He crossed his long legs and settled deeper into the chair, and took another sip. “But when you finally find yourself able to afford the finer things it’s hard not to.”

“That it is, and I have too much fun vatching her to stop her.” Swede sniggered and topped off his glass with the matching decanter.

Adam downed the rest of the contents of his glass in a single gulp and pulled himself from the chair. “Well, I’m gonna head on upstairs. I’ve had some long days in my time, but never anything to top this one. I’m dead beat and a warm bed and warm wife beckons. I’ll see you in the morning.” He shook his friend’s hand. “Thanks, Swede. I hate to think of my family trying to survive in that cold stage overnight.”

“If I had known you vere out there, I vould’ve come after you.”

“I know that, my friend.” Then he wished Swede a good-night and left.

Swede, from where he still sat in an overstuffed black leather chair, chugged down about half the glass. Such friends as Adam Cartwright came along once in a lifetime if at all. He took down the rest of the whisky. Now he had better head upstairs or Annie would have his head. He started to put out the desk lamp but his eyes went to the decanter then to his empty glass. “Vell, maybe one more von’t hurt.”

FIVE

Little noses were pressed against the glass as hazel eyes watched the white swirl beyond the panes. Angelica, with Elizabeth in her lap, and Annie sat on either side of the boys on the plum velvet settee. A fire in the Italian marble fireplace snapped and fought to warm the visiting parlor at the front of the house.

Angelica bounced her daughter while the child played with one of her mother’s pearl ear fobs. “I don’t know when I have ever seen them so captivated by anything. It isn’t like they haven’t seen snow before.”

“I dare say they’ve never seen a banshee like this one, and to be out in it gets everybody’s attention.”

“I suppose so.”

Small hands braced against the glass as the boys tried to get a better look.

“I’m afraid they are making quite a mess of your clean window.”

“Don’t worry about it. It’ll clean easily enough. This is one of the few times children have been in this house, and the breakin’ in isn’t complete yet.” Annie patted Hiram on the back, but it wasn’t enough to pull his attention from the storm. It made her laugh. “This is the kind of weather little ones dream of, and I think it just doesn’t seem like Christmas if ya don’t have a good snow on the ground.”

“I remember the ones in Maine as I and my brothers and sisters were growing up. One I recall, we couldn’t get out of the house for days, and the only complaint was that it would melt before we could even make a snowman.”

“Ah, ‘tis grand to be a child in the winter, but as we get older our bones don’t like it so much.”

Just then an icy blast entered from the foyer to fight with the fire, but even this couldn’t draw the boys’ attention. Boots were clomped on the floor, and the door got a hard slam. After several seconds Adam and Swede came in all bundled and looking like two Abominable Snowmen.

“Swede Lundberg, how many times have I told ya to use the back door when ya come trackin’ in?”

Swede went a touch sheepish. “Ve kinda got turned around and vere lucky to find this one.”

Annie glanced at Angelica with mock indignation. “All right, this time.”

Adam took his gloves off and blew on his hands. “It’s like being in a white cyclone out there.”

The sound of their father’s voice made the boys look around, though Elizabeth never lost her interest in the earring.

Adam grinned. “But it’s nice to see that at least somebody is enjoying it.”

Angelica looked at her sons. “They have had their faces pressed to the window for almost an hour. I was beginning to think that nothing could pull them away from it.”

“I’ve been neglecting their education. One of these days I’m gonna havta to show them how to make a proper snowball. A boy misses out on something special if he grows up without making the ammunition of childhood.”

“Ouch!” The bouncing stopped, and Angelica’s hand went to her ear.

Startled, Elizabeth’s eyes went round, and her chin began to quiver. Her bottom lip stuck out, and she started to whimper.

It was obvious that Adam was trying hard not to laugh. “I think you offended her.”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” Angelica leaned the child against her breast rubbed the petite back, “but you can’t pull on mother’s fobs.”

Elizabeth decided that she didn’t want to cry after all. As her head rose and fell with her mother’s breathing, her fingers closed around the fabric of the taffeta dress Angelica had on.

After the crisis was averted, Addy climbed down and toddled over to his father. Adam scooped the boy up and sat the little guy in the crook of his elbow. A clump of snow on the collar of his father’s coat became an object of much interest. He poked it with his finger and shivered. “Dahdee play.”

“That’s right, Dahdee play with the big stagecoach.” Adam’s eyes drifted to Angelica. “One of the traces broke because of the cold, and, even if the snow were to let up right now, we’re not going anywhere until we get it fixed.”

Angelica cuddled Elizabeth. “I wouldn’t mind if you don’t get it fixed until after Christmas.” She looked to Annie and smiled.

The corners of Adam’s mouth deepened into a grin. “There are worse places to spend Christmas, and if I can’t make it to the Ponderosa I can think of no where I’d rather be.” He turned his focus to his son. “Isn’t’ that right, Addy?” The child’s head bobbed and he gave his father a big hug. “Now it’s official.”

*******

Ben Cartwright stood on the threshold – the front door wide open – while snow piled about his feet. He squinted as he tried to see across the yard, but it came to nothing. If the barn hadn’t been blown away he couldn’t tell it. A gust filled his face and eyes, and he staggered against it, but he refused to be driven inside.

“Ben,” firm hands took hold of his arm, “come back into the house.”

“I can’t tell that it has slacked off any since last night. If anything, it appears to have picked up since breakfast.”

“Maybe it has, but standing in it and making yourself sick won’t help anything.” Verina tried to pull him back. “Now please come in.”

He looked around at her, and his expression said that he would give in to her wishes but with reluctance.

Once the door had closed out the blizzard, she took the handkerchief from her sleeve and began to wipe the melting drops from his silver hair. “I know you’re worried about Adam and Angelica, but it won’t help them for you to catch pneumonia.”

A stern scowl lowered his thick eyebrows, and his gaze set on her face. “Last night I could almost see them caught in this, and they had the children, yet I slept well. I don’t think I even dreamt anything.”

Her hand stopped on his cheek. “You had a sense of relief, as if they were safe. I felt it almost from the moment I lay down, and I drifted right off.”

A gentle smile rose to dark eyes that shined as she continued to wipe his face. “The only way I can explain it is the special relationship a parent has with his,” his smile broadened, “or her children.”

“That is as good an explanation as I have ever heard.” She wiped his lips then placed a kiss there.

A snicker from the stairs drew their attention from each other. Joe had caught them.

*******

Angelica sat by the bedroom window, her daughter cradled in her arms and her gaze set on the storm that seemed to take great delight in its attack on the house. Elizabeth, full and clean, fought to hold open her eyes. Her first soft coo drew her mother’s attention from the tempest outside, and garnered her a kiss on her petite forehead.

Her precious little girl. Angelica couldn’t love this child any more if she had carried her in her body for nine months and given her life. Her mind went to Elizabeth’s real mother – as it did so much in moments like these – and tears burned at the fringes of her lashes. She tried not to think of the last minutes of this young mother’s life that ended in such tragedy. And what about the young father? In her mind’s eye she could imagine him as he fought to save his family. Then she always heard the crash of trees and the screams and then the silence of death.

A lone tear trickled down her cheek as she drank in this dear little face. “Your child is safe, and I love her as much as I know you did.”

A touch on her arm made her look up. She hadn’t heard him come in, but she was glad he had. The corners of her mouth curved, and love dwelled in the depths of her deep violet eyes.

“We will.” Adam stooped beside the chair, and his daughter’s eyes turned to him. He brushed a mannish finger over a fuzzy cheek, and the baby’s coos grew louder. Then he looked to the bed where his sons slept, entwined in one another’s arms. If he had known how good things could be he would have married sooner, but he would have married the wrong one, because there could be no right woman for him but Angelica. He looked back at her, and warmth spread through every inch of him, but then his eyes closed, and his head lowered.

Angelica put a hand under his chin and raised it so that she could look into his face. “What is it?”

“If I had waited our family would have come to us as they do every year, but I wanted to be on the Ponderosa. I haven’t been there since our parents were married last year and I…”

She pressed a fingertip against his mouth. “Hush. You had no way of knowing that the weather would close in on us, and I refuse to listen to any self-recrimination. We are here together and safe, and nothing else matters. So if you don’t stop right now, you silly man, I will have Mr. Lundberg pitch out in the snow.”

Adam couldn’t miss that puckish twinkle. He liked it when Angelica teased with him. “Not another word.”

He took the baby and held her close to his chest so that she could feel his heartbeat. Not once, but twice, he kissed her, and spoke in soft, soothing words to her. The tiny lids closed, and her contented coos gradually tapered off.

Angelica never tired of seeing a baby in his arms. For all that was rugged and independent about him, beneath the surface lay a loving gentleness that she and the children were well acquainted with. His large hands had the touch of a feather, and his voice could take on the quiet lilt of a lullaby. Her eyelids batted away the tears. She had indeed been blessed.

SIX

While everyone slept the snow had taken it upon itself to stop. So, after two days and as many nights of its quarrelsome ways, it just decided that people had been punished enough. Now came the time to dig out, and travel was not a viable option at this time.

The men stood and just looked at the stagecoach, and no one knew what to do at this point. The broken trace still hadn’t been repaired, and it wouldn’t make any difference if it had. With five to six feet of white stuff on the ground and drifts over eight, the big conveyance wasn’t going anywhere in the foreseeable future.

Chet’s gloved fists rested on his hips. “So now whadda we do?”

Dack scratched the back of his neck. “I’m open to suggestions.”

“We dig out.”

Every human eye in the stable turned on Adam.

Swede’s expression skewed. “And how, pray tell, do ve do that? It took the four of us over an hour just to get out o’ the house.”

“What we need is a sailing ship. We’d just glide right over this, and let the wind do the drivin’.”

A light went on inside Adam’s head, and he gave the purveyor of that sage comment a cuff on the arm. “Dack, you’re brilliant.”

Both of Dack’s eyebrows shot up his forehead. “It’s news to me.”

Adam began to look about them and it didn’t take long for him to spy the work sleigh in the corner. Without a word, he walked over to it and ran his hand over one of the high sides of the bed. It really wasn’t anything more than a wagon on skies, which made it the perfect choice. “This’ll do.”

Now the others were more perplexed than ever. They exchanged glances of pure bafflement then joined Adam.

Swede set a wary eye on his friend, then on the sleigh and back on Adam. “Vhat on earth are you talking about?”

Adam frowned then chortled. “This.” He slapped his hand against the weathered wood. “If we were to rig up a mast and a way to steer, I figure a bed sheet would make a suitable sail. We wouldn’t even need the horses.”

Chet leaned close to Dack and lowered his voice. “He musta tore something loose yesterday when we was pullin’ the stage through all that blizzard.”

“I’m not crazy, well, maybe a little bit to try something like this, but I think it’ll work.”

Swede crossed his arms over his wide chest. “And vhere do you suggest ve go?”

“The Ponderosa.”

*******

Angelica felt her husband’s face. No sign of fever.

Adam grasped her hand and pulled it down. “I’m not sick, and contrary to popular belief among my peers, I’m not completely out of my mind either. I know about ships, and when I was going to college, I even signed on to a few during semester breaks. Books are good, but there’s nothing like firsthand experience.”

“I know, and I trust you implicitly, but this isn’t the ocean.”

“And we won’t be using a ship. Swede has this big old sleigh that’s used when work crops up in weather like this. I looked it over, and it’ll do just fine.” He touched her cheek, and his thumb ran over her lips. “I’m pretty sure this’ll work, but if you don’t want to try it, we won’t. We’re snug and secure here with plenty to eat and surrounded by good people, and I can think of worse places to be stranded.” A smile rose to his eyes. “I’ll leave it up to you.”

Angelica wished he wouldn’t do that. She could read in his face, and hear in his voice how much he wanted to try this. It put his dream of being on the Ponderosa for Christmas within his grasp again, and she didn’t want to be the one to dash that. It couldn’t be said that the idea didn’t scare her some, but for her to say no to this and see the exuberance go out of him was worse. She pushed back the black wisp that had fallen over his forehead. “All right, we’ll give it a try.”

She didn’t think she had never seen a broader, toothier grin, and then he almost crushed her in his arms. His turbulent heart beat beneath her cheek, and the scent of Bay Rum overran her senses. He held her away from him, clasped her face in his hands, and kissed her so hard that she wondered if it would bruise her mouth. She didn’t think she had ever seen him look so bright and enthusiastic about anything, and it made her glad that she had acquiesced, in spite of her misgivings.

“It’s still early in the day, and if we get started now, I think we can accomplish quite a bit.” He gave her a peck then dashed out of the parlor and vanished down the corridor. “Swede!”

Angelica just stood there breathless, and more than a little unsteady. Her hand went out and grasped the back of a chair, and it helped.

Annie came in, and her pupils had almost swamped the aqua of her eyes. “Swede just told me about their harebrained scheme. I tried ta tell ‘im that goin’ out in this is sheer lunacy, but ya know how men are when they get somethin’ in their heads.”

“I just couldn’t say no to Adam. He was so excited, and I just couldn’t be the one to destroy that.”

Annie stepped next to her and put an arm around her shoulders. “If we love ‘em we sometimes havta go against our better judgment. No man, I don’t care who he is, never completely grows up, and it’s up to us as women to watch after ‘em, and see to it that they don’t do themselves a harm.”

“This is so true. When Adam ran out of here he made me think so much of our sons.”

Annie chuckled. “Little boys all and I can’t say that isn’t the most appealin’ thing about ‘em.” Her arm squeezed around Angelica. “Now let’s go see ‘em off on their mission, and we won’t mention how daft we may think it is.”

*******

Angelica stepped out the back door, a metal pail with a lid dangled from one hand. An area just big enough for her to turn around in had been cleaned out and some ingenious soul had shoveled steps into the snow and packed them down. She looked up to the top of the white wall that towered over her by about a foot and took a deep breath.

“Don’t just stand here and wait for it to get cold.”

She gathered her skirt and petticoats into one hand and started up the frozen steps, careful that she didn’t slip. With prudent caution she eased up, and it didn’t take long for the stable – her destination – to come into view. She sat the pail down then finished her ascent unencumbered by it. When she picked it up she saw that it had melted a circle in the snow, and she hoped its contents hadn’t cooled too much.

Her feet followed in the men’s footprints which made the going a little easier, but still it winded her. Once a brisk breeze caught her fair and thought to blow her down, but she braced against it and managed to stay upright. She shivered at the thought of Adam finding her in a brown, frozen pool and trudged on.

As she drew closer to the stable, she could hear the men’s voices inside, and it comforted her. At first she couldn’t make out words, but it didn’t take long to hear entire sentences. She had just raised her hand to knock when a metallic clatter inside followed by a guttural curse then some ribald humor stopped her. Maybe she would wait a few seconds so they wouldn’t realize that she had heard them in an unguarded moment.

Adam had just picked up the pry bar when a light knock came at the big double doors. He exchanged a puzzled look with the others then went to see who had braved the cold.

“Angelica, what’re you doing out here?”

“I brought all of you some more coffee, and to let you know that dinner will soon be ready.”

“Hot coffee,” Chet said, and picked up his tin cup from a rough wood bench. “That’ll thaw me out nice, and I’m hungry as a bitch wolf.”

Adam shot him a glare that could have withered a fencepost.

The cup hit the floor and every ounce of color drained from Chet’s face. “Pardon me, ma’am.”

“That’s quite all right, Mr. Witherspoon.”

Adam ushered her inside and closed the door. “You should’ve let somebody else bring that.” He took the pail from her and sat on a small, crude table.

She pulled the cloak’s hood off her head. “I managed all right, and I just wanted to get out of the house for a little bit. I’ll let you gentlemen pour your own.”

“I’ll do the honors,” Swede said, as he put his hammer down and stepped forward.

“You’ve made remarkable progress just since this morning.” A frown creased her delicate brow as her eyes drank in what she had never seen on a sleigh before. “I think.”

“It’s not exactly a square-rigger, but I think it’ll do what it’s supposed to.” Adam took a drink and sat his cup down so hard that it sloshed and dashed to her side. “Let me show you what we’ve done so far.”

The men stood back and sipped, smiles pasted over their faces, as Adam filled her in on the finer points of the crude mast they had added, and what it would take to get them going.

Angelica had no idea what he was telling her. Mainsail, headsail, rigging, and a lighterman’s hitch were all lost on her, but she didn’t concern herself with that. Every note of his rich voice carried her with it, and his excitement was contagious. To each inquisitive question she asked he would go into full detail, and, though it might as well have been told to her in Greek, she just enjoyed listening to him. In fact, her inquisitiveness was little more than a device to keep him talking.

In a lull she pointed to an odd looking piece of wood attached to the back of the sleigh. It had a long, what appeared to be a handle at the top. “I’m no mariner, but that looks like a rudder.”

“That’s exactly what it is. Here, let me show you how it works.”

He climbed into the back of the sleigh and took hold of what he called a tiller. As he moved it back and forth, the rudder moved with it. “It should work; in fact, I see no reason why it wouldn’t.”

“You’re a genius.”

“Of course I am.” He jumped down in front of her. “I married you, didn’t I?”

She touched his cheek, and the urge to kiss him was agony, but they weren’t alone. “I had better go and let you all get back to work. And you needn’t see me out. I do know the way.”

Angelica went outside and closed the door behind her. She glanced around as she pulled the hood up and a grinned. She would have to enlist someone to help her bring some food out here. Then, with a snicker, she started back to the house.

*******

Angelica stood at the window in the darkness of the bedroom, Elizabeth in her arms. Traces of lamplight found avenues of escape through cracks and one small window of the stable to make pale yellow marks on the snow. She hated it when Adam wasn’t there with her at night, even when he wasn’t so far away. A grunt made her look around, and she could just make out the form of the boys in the middle of the feather mattress as one of them tossed. It softened the edges of yearning, and she focused her attention back outside.

Angelica let herself see beyond the walls and imagined Adam – hammer in hand – as he worked. She could make out every nuance of him in the glow of the oil lamp. The broad back and deep chest, the muscular arms that had held her so many times, and every sculptural aspect of that perfect face, and it took her breath. Oh, how she wished he would forget about what he was doing and come to her.

Elizabeth squirmed. Angelica began to jounce her, and the child started to make her soft coos. She placed an angel’s kiss on the tiny head. The baby’s gentle voice got louder, and a petite hand touched her mother’s face. Angelica’s lips pressed against the dainty little fingers, and the well of love held in her breast overran itself. It seemed that with each passing day, Angelica grew happier and happier. Even the dark times – when they came – made things so much brighter when the sun cleared the clouds. Happiness had taken on a new meaning for her that July day that seemed only yesterday at times, that day when two words sealed her happy fate. I do.

SEVEN

Preparation for breakfast had already begun when the men blustered in through the back door. They were hungry as timber wolves and full of themselves.

“We finished it, by durn,” Chet said, as he stomped the snow from his boots. “O’ course, whether it works or not remains to be seen.”

“It better work.” Dack took his hat off and cupped one hand over an icy ear. “I froze my backside and near everything else I own off when I coulda been snuggled down in a warm bed.”

“It’ll vork,” Swede said, and slapped a large hand on Adam’s back.

Adam crooked a wry grin. “I hope so, though I wouldn’t be foolish enough to wager on it. When it gets light enough I think we oughtta give it a try before we put the women and children in it.”

Chet stopped trying to warm himself at the cook stove and went pasty. “Who’s gonna try it?”

“I will, of course. It was, after all, my idea, and my design. So if anybody’s gonna get maimed or killed if it doesn’t do what it’s supposed to, it’ll be me.”

“Adam Stoddard Cartwright, don’t you dare say such a thing, even in jest.”

Only Adam wasn’t cowed as Angelica and Annie came toward them.

“So ya got it finished, did ya?” Annie stepped next to her husband.

Adam nodded. “And after its trial run today, if everything goes as hoped, I think we should start off early in the morning, what with Christmas being only four days away as of then. It’ll probably take us one or two to reach our destination, if we’re lucky, so we don’t wantta drag our feet.”

Annie just stood in silence, and a somber light filled her aqua eyes. “Of course, ya wantta get home, but I had hoped that…” She fanned away the thought with her hand, and a smile, false though it was, spread her lips. “Ah, pay no attention to me ramblin’s.”

Adam turned to her. “Swede and I have been talking a lot about this. Since the two of you haven’t been to the Ponderosa in a while, and this time of year is just right for a visit, we’ve decided that you should come with us.”

Angelica’s hands clutched together. “Oh, Adam, I think that is a wonderful idea. Annie, please say yes.”

All trace of melancholy left Annie, and she looked at Swede. A grin danced beneath the big man’s mustache, and he nodded. She took his arm and squeezed it then turned back to Angelica. “We’d love to celebrate Christmas on the Ponderosa with the best friends anybody could have in the world.”

Angelica reached out and grasped the woman’s free hand, unable to contain her exhilaration. “Then I suggest that after breakfast we start packing.”

Adam’s single eyebrow rose. “Speaking of breakfast, when will it be ready? I think we could all eat a house, and it’ll fortify us for our task.”

“It’s about there now,” a dowdy, middle-aged woman in a white apron spoke up.

“Great.” Adam rubbed his hands together then took Angelica’s in his. “The sooner we can get started, the better.”

*******

Angelica had thought about staying inside where she couldn’t see this, but she had let Adam cajole her into not missing it. He had been like a child, eager to show off his accomplishment, and she had been unable to say no to him. She had watched them use up over an hour in just getting the sleigh outside, and still more time in dragging it away from the trees. Annie took her arm, and it helped to know that her newfound friend was close, just in case the unthinkable should come to pass.

Annie gave the back of her hand a pat. “He’ll be all right. Adam has more gumption about ‘im than most, even me own dear Swede, and I know this’ll work just fine.” She put her right hand into her coat pocket, and her fingers clutched the strand of rosaries. It never hurt to be cautious.

Adam stuck his finger in his mouth then held it up. He pointed off ahead of him. “It’s going that way.” The other men helped him turn the sleigh in that direction. “I could wish for a better wind, but this’ll just havta do.”

Adam and Dack – no stranger to handling a vehicle – clambered inside. Adam took the break off then raised and began to adjust the sails as Dack took his place at the crude rudder at the back of the sleigh. Swede and Chet stood back with the women. They watched without the movement of a muscle and breaths were held.

With a puff, the white sheets filled and swelled. The snow crunched beneath the runners as the vehicle started to move. A whoop rose from Swede and Chet, who threw his hat into the air.

A tingle ran along Angelica’s spine as she watched the sleigh pick up speed. Adam tugged at the ropes while Dack steered, and the sleigh turned and headed toward the road. She felt a wave of pride rise in her, and she batted back the tears that clouded her vision.

“Keep ‘er goin’, Adam,” Swede shouted. “Keep ‘er goin’.”

The large weather-beaten sleigh slipped onto what they figured to be the road. Buried beneath so much snow it amounted to only a guess, and its accuracy remained to be seen.

The wind lashed Adam’s face and stung his cheeks as the sleigh gathered momentum. He had once heard Hoss say something about being busier than a one legged man in a sack race, and he now understood what his brother had meant. It seemed like each action he made led to at least three or four different ones to accomplish one task. This was working, though, and only one more thing could he ask – that he didn’t break his fool neck in front of his wife.

Angelica gasped, and her hands flew to mouth when the sleigh tipped as it went into a sharp turn. Her heart thought to beat her to death, and her knees wanted to buckle. Annie’s hold tightened on her arm, and she heard a quick breath rush through the woman’s teeth.

“He sees that it works. Why doesn’t he just come back?”

“He will, darlin’, but all little boys gotta play with their new toys.”

Angelica tried to stave off the grip of fear that something disastrous just waited to happen. Her pulse thumped in her temples and wrists, and eased only a small bit as the sleigh turned and headed back toward the house.

Adam threw the brake and snow showered Swede as the burly man came closer. Angelica broke free from Annie and rushed forward as fast as the snow would allow.

“Mr. Cartwright, what do you mean by scaring me to death?”

Adam and Dack bounded down, both breathless with elation.

“That certainly wasn’t my intention.” Adam’s arm went around her, and he pulled her next to him. He gave Swede a cuff. “It worked.”

“But we’re gonna havta do something about that tipping,” Chet said, as he retrieved his hat brushed snow from it.

“Maybe when it’s all loaded down with the luggage and trunks, that’ll weight it down enough so it won’t,” Dack said, as a frown marred his jubilation.

“We’ll load it up with something heavy and give it another test before we put anybody else in it.”

Angelica went stark white, and her eyes glittered like wet amethysts in the wan light. “On, Adam, please don’t.”

“Don’t you vorry, ma’am,” Swede said, with a broad grin meant to comfort. “I’ll be right vith him this time.”

Annie’s eyes – darkened almost to turquoise – snapped to him. She didn’t like it, but she wouldn’t chastise and embarrass him in front of the other men. That could come later, if he didn’t kill himself, which she fully intended not to watch. “You be careful, Mr. Lundberg.”

“I vill, love.”

“Come, Angelica. I think we’ve had enough of these children’s playing. We have better things to do with our time.”

The men watched in silence as the women made their way back to the house. Then, as soon as the door closed behind them, whoops and laughter and backslaps became the order of the moment.

“It worked. By durn, it worked.”

*******

Angelica had just finished feeding Elizabeth when Adam bustled into the bedroom. She had to fight so her eyes didn’t stray to him. In fact, she turned so that her back was more to him.

“I don’t see the boys.”

She put the baby to her shoulder and began to pat the small back. “Maggie took them down to the kitchen to eat where it is warm.”

“That explains why I missed them. We came in through the front.”

“Tracking up Annie’s nice clean entry, no doubt.”

It didn’t take a mastermind to see that Angelica was unhappy about something, and he had a good idea what. He took off his coat and draped it over the footboard, and hung his hat on one of the posts.

She glanced around, and her eyes narrowed. “Adam, those are wet and they’ll spoil the wood.”

He sucked in a breath and proceeded to move the wet garments to the rug. Curt words flirted with his lips, but he bit them back. As long as they had been together, he had never spoken sharp to her, and he wouldn’t start now.

A burp erupted from Elizabeth, and Angelica transferred the child to her bouncing knees. She rubbed the baby’s chest and clear blue eyes set on her mother.

In an effort to keep his steps from being too loud, Adam went to the chair and crouched beside it. He stroked the soft red curls, but Angelica still refused to look at him.

“I didn’t mean to displease you.”

Her legs stopped in mid-bounce, and she looked at him. “Is getting to the Ponderosa for Christmas worth killing yourself? When the sleigh tipped and almost…” Her mouth knotted, and she turned her attention back to the baby.

He had been right. “I had everything under control.”

“It certainly didn’t look that way to me.”

He reached out and touched her arm. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

She looked at him again, but this time the edges of her temper had softened, and her eyes were more liquid. Her mouth drew into a bow, and she placed a hand against his cheek. “It isn’t so bad here.”

“It isn’t bad at all, but I just want to see my family. I can see their reactions at our unexpected arrival, and it gives me such a thrill.”

“It does me, too, but Adam, that sleigh…”

“Runs like a dream when it’s heavily loaded. If I didn’t think it was safe enough I would never put my family and friends in it.” Adam took the baby from her and snuggled the child close. “But if you feel so strongly about not going, then we won’t.”

Angelica couldn’t miss some of his lightness drift away from him. She knew he would stay here if she wanted it that way, but she also knew that it would taint him for her, and that she didn’t want. Her fingers stroked back the heavy black hair. “Is it fun?”

He snickered. “Very much so.”

Her gaze probed into him for a few seconds then, “When will we leave?”

“First thing after breakfast.”

EIGHT

A brisk wind whipped the sails, and Adam worked at a furious pace. The big sleigh shushed over the snow in pretty much a straight line. They didn’t try to stay to the imagined course of the road, and this cut down on travel time anyway. Swede and Chet jumped at Adam’s barked orders. Dack, hunched over as a brace against the force of the wind, manned the rudder at the back

The luggage, along with the strongbox and mailbag from the stage, had been lashed on either side for ballast. Angelica, Annie, Maggie and the children were secure against the added strength to the sides, but that didn’t stop little boys from poking up their heads.

“Weeeeeee!”

The wind filled Addy’s and Benjy’s faces, and their eyes were round and wide. Maggie and Annie hung onto the two boys while their brother huddled between the women. Hiram wasn’t as adventurous as his older brothers, and he was better satisfied right where he was.

“Weeeeeee!”

Maggie freed one hand long enough to cross herself, then clamped it onto her young charge again.

Angelica hunkered down against one of the trunks. She wanted to look up and feel the wind against her face, but she had her daughter to protect. She pulled back her cloak and met with a straight, blue gaze. Not a bit afraid.

One of the runners ran over something buried in the snow and it caused a hard bump. Adam gave the rope a yank and looked around into the bed. “We’re all right!”

The rugged vehicle rushed on, fleet as a deer. It squeaked and complained, but it complied with everything asked of it. Snow shrouded pines rushed past in a greenish blur, and white spray filled the crisp air.

Chet turned, and his jaw dropped. “Look out for the trees!”

Adam’s head shot around. He saw in an instant that they were getting a bit too close for any sense of comfort to what his father called ‘forest monarchs’. He yelled at Dack, who wangled the rudder with frantic movements, and they steered away from the impending hazard.

“Weeeeee!”

Maggie’s eyes clamped shut so hard that it hurt. Oh, how she wished they would stop that. It ran over her like fingernails over a chalkboard. Her arm clenched around Addy. She could feel Hiram shudder close to her, and understood how the child felt. If only your brothers were more like you, she thought.

The sleigh took another jolt, and this time Chet lost his handhold and pitched backward over the seat. He landed with a grunt and a hollow thud.

Adam glanced around. “Chet, you all right?”

Chet managed to sit up and leaned back against a piece of the luggage. “I ain’t hurt.” He rubbed the back of his neck and smiled at the ladies.

“Then get back up here! I need another set of hands!”

A beefy hand grabbed the back of his coat and hoisted him onto the seat. Chet found himself deposited between Adam and the Swede.

“Did you know it vould go this fast?” Swede shouted, above the roar of the wind.

Adam freed one hand long enough to tug his hat down in front lest he lose it. “No, but I should have! And if I try to slow it too fast we’ll probably wind up going end-over-end!”

Annie ventured to rise up so that she could see what the boys found so amusing. The force of the wind caught her bonnet, and she thought it would strangle her as the ties jerked against her throat. But she couldn’t look away. Her arms tightened on Benjy as exhilaration ran through her like a turbulent stream. Never in her life had she experienced such a feeling, and she wished to be a child again so she could squeal like the boys.

A stand of trees loomed ahead. They had missed the outer curve of the road and where heading straight for Brooks’ Woods. Adam worked like a frantic madman, and Swede and Chet did whatever he told them to. The big sleigh veered to the right, as Dack leaned against the tiller for all he was worth and the pines brushed by so close that Swede was almost swiped from the seat. If not for Chet’s quick hands, he probably would have been.

“Weeeeeee!”

Maggie cringed.

*******

Joe Cartwright stood before the large stone fireplace with his back to it. He had been outside most of the day seeing to the horses and Gertrude, their cow, and whatever else needed attending. Of all the winter chores any man faced, shoveling snow had to be, by far, the worst, with any kind of work that would keep him out of the house running it a close second. He rubbed his butt, the part of him that didn’t seem to want to warm up, and thought of a lovely spring day.

“Where’s your brother?”

Joe looked around as his father came down the stairs. “He’s out in the barn seeing to Sadie’s foal. You’d think one had never been born in the winter before.”

Ben smiled and left the last step. “It’s just his way. It doesn’t matter when it was born, a baby is a baby.” A fond light filled Ben’s coffee eyes. “And I think that is part of your brother’s appeal.”

Joe grinned and nodded and rubbed a little harder.

A blast of arctic-like air rushed in as the front door banged open. Hoss Cartwright, wearing that wooly brown coat of his, more resembled a bear than a man.

Joe groaned thought about turning to the fire, but he didn’t want to expose his backside.

Ben frowned. “Hoss, son, I know you weren’t raised in a barn.”

“Pa, you and Joe need to come outside.” He hooked a thumb over his shoulder. “You gotta see this contraption.” Then he dashed back out.

Joe and Ben shared a quick look of puzzlement then ran after him. Joe’s warming would have to wait.

Two well bundled men were helping women and children out of the back of a queer-looking sleigh as Ben and Joe rushed out of the house.

“Afternoon, Pa, Joe,” Adam said, as he helped Angelica out of the bed. “We would’ve been here sooner, but we had to stop in town to drop off the stage driver and shotgun rider.” He looked up at the sky that had begun to darken toward evening. “I was afraid that at any time we might find ourselves becalmed, but we had a good strong wind the whole way. We made better time than even I dreamed of.”

Angelica’s keen eyes flicked to his face. “And almost killed ourselves a few times along the way.”

Ben just stared at the sails that hung limp on the crude mast. “What in the world?” Then his focus shifted to his eldest son – all three boys gathered in his arms – as he came forward with Angelica.

“We thought you and the rest of the family might like to have some company for Christmas. And as a little bonus, I brought Annie and Swede along.”

Ben’s eyes shot past his son, and he took clear notice of the Lundberg’s for the first time. Surprise vaporized and a broad grin replaced his gape. “Joe, go get your mother.”

With a giggle, Joe ran back into the house, and either didn’t notice or care when he slipped on the threshold. It, however, didn’t slow him down.

Ben reached out. “Here, let me take one of my grandsons.”

Hiram was handed over and his arms went around his grandfather’s neck. “Gappah.”

This went straight into Ben’s heart to fill it with such joy, and he hugged the boy right back. “I can think of no better surprise than this.” He turned to Angelica. “With all this snow we were so disappointed.” His gaze returned to Adam. “I guess we underestimated you.”

Adam grinned. “It wasn’t me, but my desire to be home for Christmas.”

Verina came out across the porch with arms wide, and Joe right behind her. “My children.”

To watch her, one would think that she hadn’t seen them in at least a year. She hugged and kissed, and then the handkerchief came out to daub tears.

“Why don’t we go inside? I know that you all have to be perfectly chilled, and I want to hear more about that thing.” Ben nodded toward the sleigh.

“Oh, you shall, Pa. Now I want to get to that fire, and maybe have some of Hop Sing’s hot spice tea.”

At the mention of the little cook’s name, Maggie’s face crunched, but she said nothing.

Ben knew that this would be one of his grandest Christmases ever. He looked to the child in his arms. No one had to tell him so.

*******

Like always when away from home, the boys were piled on the large four posted bed around their sister. It had been an exhausting day for the children, and after they had gotten their bellies full, their small bodies warmed, and calmed from their excitement, sleep would not and could not be denied.

Angelica had just pulled the covers over them when Adam eased into the room. He allowed himself a brief glance at his sleeping babies, but his eyes were quick to dart away.

Since supper, Angelica had noticed that he had become quiet, almost sullen. She went to him and slipped her arms around his waist. “That was quite a wild ride today, but it was worth it just to see mother’s and father’s reactions. And Hoss’ expression and when Joe almost fell on his way into the house were priceless.”

Those dark hazel eyes spoke loud volumes when they were alone together. And now they shouted. She caressed his cheek, and her fingers ran back into his hair. “I’m glad we came, I would do it all again.”

“But my single-mindedness put my family in jeopardy just so I could…”

She capped her hand over his mouth. “If I hadn’t trusted in you, I would never have allowed our children to get into that sleigh. But I love you, and I believe in you, and I know that you would never harm me or them.”

He pulled her hand down and kissed the inside of her wrist. “Like any human being, I do make mistakes.” His brow drew into a stern frown. “This could so easily have turned into one simply because I misjudged how fast it would go. Controlling it even became more complicated.”

Her arms went around his neck, and she looked into those mesmerizing eyes. “That doesn’t matter now. We’re here, we’re safe, we’re with our family and friends, and we’re with each other.” She pulled his head down, and her lips brushed his.

“I should have known that it would move like that in that high wind. I’ve been on enough ships to…”

“Hush, and kiss me.”

His arms squeezed her closer, and she sank into him as his lips covered hers. She ruffled the hair at the back of his head, and her pulse began to pound. Her toes only just touched the floor, and then left it altogether.

He and her children were all she would ever aspire to in this life. Riches, mansions, fine horses and carriages, elegant gowns, glittering jewelry, and all the trappings of wealth meant nothing by comparison. And if they should find themselves living in a dank, dark cave, she wouldn’t care. Just so long as they were together.

NINE

The immense tree stood like a magnificent gem caught in the glow from the large stone hearth. Its decorations seemed almost to come to life in the flicker of the flames. All sizes of boxes – wrapped in magical papers and adorned with bows and satin ribbons – had a magnetic pull that tugged at fascinated little boys who sat on the striped settee with their father. He held them close, but his hold had begun to wear thin. Addy tugged at his father’s fingers.

“No, Addy, we havta wait for everybody.”

Addy’s face crumpled, and his mouth stuck out.

Ben, who sat in his favorite red leather chair close to the fire, grinned. “I don’t think it would hurt anything if they opened one present.”

Verina had just come from the kitchen with a silver tea service, and a plate of cookies. She sat them on the dining table. “I have done so many times when my own were small.”

Adam looked to Angelica who sat on the other end of the settee, Elizabeth perched in her lap. “I don’t think it’ll be spoiling them too badly.”

Ben hid his grin behind his hand. His eldest son had never been in the habit of asking anyone’s permission to do anything, but he certainly was now.

Angelica frowned, but then it softened. “I see no harm in just one.”

Ben came out of his chair as if shot from a gun. “Let me get them.”

“All right, Pa.”

The boys watched as their grandfather pulled three small packages from under the tree.

Ben stooped and held the gifts out to his grandsons. “These are from grandpa and grandma.”

The children looked to their father who, with a warm smile, nodded his consent.

Ben helped with the removal of the ribbons and handmade bows, but his assistance wasn’t needed when it came to the paper. Torn with abandon, the boys’ hands worked to get at the prizes it concealed. Their fingers pried at the lids, with more help from grandpa and some from daddy, and three sets of mufflers and mittens were soon revealed. Benjy’s was green, Hiram’s blue, and Addy’s a deep red.

“Oh, those will keep little ones so good and warm,” Annie said, as she finished her descent down the stairs.

It wouldn’t do but that the boys’ had to try on their new mittens right then. Verina had come to stand beside Ben and took his arm. They watched as Adam helped his sons put on their gifts, and Verina could feel a sting in her eyes. She said thanks daily for this dark man that had come into her daughter’s life, and hers. A loving and doting husband and father that made her soul sing. She looked to Ben, and her joy grew as her hold tightened on his arm.

The front door opened and a trio of bundled figures entered on a gust of frigid air. Every eye went to Hoss, Joe and Swede as they stomped in, and each held something draped in burlap.

“Merry Christmas,” Joe said, in a loud clear voice as he closed the door with his foot.

“Hoss, are those what you’ve been working on ever since October.”

“They sure are, Pa.” He thumped his load down on the floor. “They’re all finished and just waitin’ to make some little boys happy.”

Adam turned his attention to his sons. “Let’s go see what Uncle Hoss has made for you.”

The boys scrambled down from the settee, and Adam followed them over to the presents.

“Go ahead,” Hoss said, as he hung up his coat and hat, “they’re yours.”

The boys needed no more encouragement, and they tugged away the burlap with some assistance from their father and uncles. Young hazel eyes grew wide as three wooden hobby horses were uncovered. Each one had a red painted saddle, rope mane and tail, and the name of a boy burned into its rump.

Angelica stood next to her mother with Elizabeth. “Oh, Hoss, they’re wonderful. And it’s good that you put their names on them. They don’t mind sharing, but they like to have their own things.”

Hoss’ mischievous eyes shot to his older brother. “That sounds familiar.”

Now the new mounts had to be tried out. They were taken closer to the fire, and the boys needed no assistance to climb aboard. Addy was the first one to get his going – with a little instruction from Uncle Hoss, of course – while his brothers watched. The horse’s rocking motion was smooth and made a small boy giggle with glee. Not to be outdone, it didn’t take long for Benjy and Hiram to get their steeds moving right along with him.

Hoss crossed his arms over his broad chest as he stood back. “Adam, it looks like you just got some more hands to help out come spring roundup.”

Adam slapped an arm over his brother’s shoulders. “It sure does, and with such fine horses, we’ll have trouble keeping up with them.” He looked at his brother, and the warmth of love twinkled in his eyes. “Thanks, Hoss.”

“Don’t mention it, brother. I wanted to an’ I think I had as much fun makin’ ‘em as they’re havin’ right now.” Hoss chortled. “All they need now is some spurs in case their horses get balky.”

“Now it’s my turn,” Joe said, and moved toward the tree.

Another present caught the boys’ attention, but they had to be coaxed from their riding. Joe put the box in the floor and let his nephews tear into it. He sat back on his heels, and his delight like a bright candle.

Inside the box were hand tooled leather holsters and belts with silver buckles, each with its own wooden pistol.

Ben grinned. “It seems that Hoss isn’t the only one who has been busy.”

“Well, if they’re gonna ride the range they need to be able to protect themselves from imaginary cougars and rustlers intent on stealing their cattle.”

“So they do, son, so they do.”

*******

In the quiet hours after supper, Ben stood on the stair landing and surveyed that which God’s Grace had given him. His eyes drank in his sons, his grandchildren, his friends, and a loving wife, all that brought him such happiness and made living so wondrous.

As he stood there, dark hazel eyes connected with his, though the others weren’t aware of his presence. Adam pulled himself up from the red leather chair and went straight to the tree. From a place among the branches, he took a small package and came to his father.

“This is for you, Pa. I wanted to give it to you when we had some private time.”

Ben took what was really only a brown paper envelope from his son, but he just stood there.

“Go ahead and open it.”

Ben’s hand trembled as he pulled back the flap. Inside he found something cool to the touch. What met his eyes as he removed it made tears well in them, and a knot form in his throat. He held the object up so that the light from the candles on the tree glinted on it. “This is the most beautiful money clip I’ve ever seen.” He traced his fingertips over the pine tree brand set deep into it.

“I had it made by a silversmith in San Francisco.”

“It’s a fine thing, son, but it wasn’t necessary. You have given me so many gifts already that fulfill me to bursting.” Ben let his eyes drift to the boys at play, then to Angelica and Elizabeth. “You and your family brighten and enrich my life everyday. And with Verina and your brothers and friends like Annie and Swede, a man couldn’t want or need more.” His fist closed over the clip. “But I will cherish this all the more because it came from you.”

Adam stood there for a second then reached out, and took a firm hold of his father’s arm. “Merry Christmas, Pa.”

“Merry Christmas, son.”

Adam’s smile spread then he rejoined the family. Ben watched as he sat down and took his daughter into his lap. What son’s he had. What a family. He looked down at the money clip as it lay flat in the palm of his hand, then his fingers closed over it again.

As he bounced his daughter on his knees, Adam’s eyes rose to where his father still stood on the landing, and he thought he caught the glint of tears in the candle light. His finely sculpted mouth turned on the corners, and his hands tightened on his little girl. Then a gentle touch on his hand made him look around, and he was met with deep violet eyes. Pa wasn’t the only one who had been so blessed.

Adam smiled and clasped her fingers in his. They had gone through a lot to get here, and, in retrospect, if he had it to do all over again he wouldn’t put his family at such risk. But they had made it, and they were all surrounded by those that they loved so much. And while this most wondrous of days would soon be over, the love and warmth that it kindled would remain.

THE END

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