Her gaze narrowed, and she crossed her arms over her chest. “What about the half of the farm that yer cousin owns?”
His breath whooshed through his mouth. “What are you talking about?”
“Do you have a cousin named Renke?”
A weight landed on his shoulders. She hadn’t just heard his name in passing. Renke somehow found out Anson had a wife and confronted her. What he suspected in the late night hours had been true. “I do.”
“Precisely.”
An uneasy truce ensued for several days. Anson couldn’t convince Fiona to come to the store.
Fiona insisted she was too involved in preparations for the holiday to spare the time.
But when he came home at night, the house was anything but joyous. He had to use his key to gain entrance, and closed curtains blocked every window tight.
On Christmas Eve, Anson locked the store at noon and rode Brownie home through a light snowstorm. A couple of times, he reached back to make sure the saddlebag with her present was still latched. Maybe Fiona was right, and they should buy a buggy. When he went inside, he followed the lamplight to the parlor.
After putting down a finger mid-page, she looked up from her reading. “Did ye lock the door?”
“Yes, just like you wished.” He had a good idea where her fear came from, and he hoped he had the solution for making it disappear. Without removing his jacket, he sat beside her on the settee and laid his right hand on his thigh, palm up. A couple moments passed, and he closed his eyes. He prayed she would accept this gesture so they could build back the trust they must share for the marriage to grow strong.
The book snapped shut.
At the first touch of her warm hand, he closed his fingers and rubbed his thumb along her skin. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about my cousin. Renke is a jealous and small-minded man. He can’t reconcile himself to the fact that his wrong decision has affected his fortunes. I prospered with my portion of our claim, and he hasn’t.”
“He showed me a picture that said Partners Forever.”
Blowing out a breath, he shook his head. “We’d just hit our first big payday and splurged on a tintype from a photographer traipsing through the gold mine fields. A couple of young bucks acting like kings.” He turned and cupped his free hand around her cheek. Her skin was so soft he could keep touching it all night. “Our partnership ended the day I sold him my half of the claim and rode Whitey out of that valley. I promise that on all I hold dear…which is actually you.” The reality of his feelings poleaxed his chest, and he offered a smile. If he had to walk away from the store tomorrow in order to be with Fiona, he wouldn’t hesitate.
Tilting her head, she nestled deeper against his hand. “But why did he make those awful threats?”
“Because he covets what I’ve built. Even though he has no right to any of it.”
“None?”
“Not a single thing.” Releasing their handclasp, he reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a rolled document. “I intended to wait until tomorrow, but I can’t stand the coldness that’s lived between us.” He extended it. “Merry Christmas, Fiona.”
Her brows dipped into a frown. “What’s this?” With a shaky hand, she unrolled it and then her eyes filled with tears. “Ye deeded me the house? Oh, Anson.” She blinked fast then threw her arms around him and planted wet kisses on his face. “I love me gift.”
Finally, he’d trusted his instincts and made the right choice.
Christmas morning, Fiona paced the kitchen, waiting for Anson to finish the early chores.
Because their troubles were over for now, she couldn’t wait to spend the whole day by the fire with the man she loved. The presents she’d kept hidden until today made a nice stack on his end of the settee. She grabbed a dishrag and scrubbed the stove. Her humming turned into singing of her favorite holiday song, The Enniscorthy Carol.
“Good people all this Christmas time
Consider well and bear in mind
What our good God for us has done
In sending His beloved Son
With Mary holy we should pray
To God with love this Christmas day
In Bethlehem upon that morn
There was a blessed Messiah born
Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep
Their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep.”
His footsteps stomped on the back stairs.
Ending the song, she walked to the doorway into the hall and waited.
Shuffling sounded followed by a hiss of breath. “Ouch, you little dickens.”
“Are ye all right, Anson?”
“Stay there, and wait. I’m bringing in your surprise.”
“But ye already gave me a—” She gasped. “Awww, what have ye got?” Bouncing on her toes, she held out her hands for the ball of fluff that wiggled in her husband’s hands.
A thin, red ribbon hung in tatters from a black kitten’s neck.
“Oh, ye sweet wee thing.” Fiona rubbed her cheek against the top of the kitten’s head.
“I figured you needed a real pet.” Anson stepped close and rubbed a finger over the fur.
The kitten batted a white paw at his hand.
Fiona cupped the paw and held it. “Stop that, Midnight. We like the man.” She lifted her face and waited for her husband’s sweet kiss. “Now come into the parlor for your gifts.”
The next hour was a delight between Anson modeling the two sweater vests—one navy with gold stripes, and the other solid green—she knitted, and Midnight chasing the string and batting the wadded paper.
Fiona reached below the settee and lifted out a box that wasn’t wrapped.
“Is that a gift?”
“Not really. I was looking through yer desk for more string, and I found this box tucked away in the back of the bottom drawer.”
He rubbed his fingers over the lid with ragged edges. “I thought I lost this box years ago. Tells you how often I check my desk.”
“Open it.” She knew a glass star was inside, but she didn’t know how Anson came to own it.
Lifting out the five-pointed star, he held it near the lamplight so it shot beams across the room. “My grandfather Rupert back in Hamburg was a glassblower, and he made a star like this for each of his grandchildren.” He rubbed a finger over the center. “That’s my birth year…1851…embossed in the center.”
“What a wonderful connection to yer family. I think it deserves pride of place on the mantel this year.” She grinned. “And mayhap next year, I’ll convince ye to chop down a tree and bring it inside for us to decorate.”
“Maybe. You are a persuasive woman.” He leaned to the side and kissed her long and then eased her head to his shoulder.
Fiona sighed. “Thank ye for sharing about yer grandda.”
“I’ve been away from Germany for so long that I don’t really think of them often. I’m glad you found the star. I remember looking through it every year when Mutter unpacked the decorations.”
He stretched out his leg and dug a hand into his trouser pocket. Opening his hand, he offered a small box.
“Another?” She smiled. “Ye’ve given me so much with the deed and me dear kitty.”
“I bought these before arranging for the deed.”
She opened the box to display a pair of white, rough-textured earrings. “Are they ivory?” She held them up to her ears. If Midnight hadn’t fallen asleep on her lap, she’d jump up and dash to a mirror.
“Ivory would be too heavy. They’re polished coral.”
“They’re lovely. Thank ye.” Stretching to the edge of the cushion, she eased out a thin package. “Here’s yer last one.” With a shaky hand, she held it out. Never had she shared so much of her personal feelings as in this booklet of verses containing everything she loved about him.
After setting aside the wrapping paper, he flipped through the pages, scanning the words, but he remained silent.
“Ye don’t like it?”
“Oh, I do, and I’ll read it c
arefully in a minute. But I don’t see something that I found weeks ago. It had a rhyme with sky and eye.”
“Ah, that was one of me company verses.” Seeing his frown deepen, she scooted closer. “I write verses for Valentine’s cards. If the owner likes what I write, then I get paid for each one that’s bought. At the beginning of this quarter, I had the hardest time thinking them up…until I moved here and met ye.”
“You get paid for writing words that rhyme?”
“More than a rhyme is involved. Each one has a theme, like ye’ll see in your booklet.”
“What does the company pay?”
“Two dollars and fifty cents a verse.”
His eyes widened. “Grab a pen. I can come up with lots of things to say about you.”
Laughing, she fell against his chest. “Oh, Anson Lorentz, a chuisle mo chrá.” She didn’t care if she was the one who said it first. “I love ye.”
“I love you forever, Fiona.”
A memory triggered of hearing his whispered words on a dark night. She tightened her arm around his waist. Peace enveloped her heart. She had a home that was hers and a love that was promised forever.
Thank you for reading A Promise for Christmas, Book 29 in the Spinster Mail-Order Brides series
Other Titles in the Series
Book 1--A Marshal for Christmas by P. Creeden
Book 2--A Bride for Christmas by Cheryl Wright
Book 3--A Husband for Christmas by Margaret Tanner
Book 4--A Farmer for Christmas by Marisa Masterson
Book 5--A Family for Christmas by Cheryl Wright
Book 6--A Shadowed Groom for Christmas by Marisa Masterson
Book 7 A Vow for Christmas by Linda Carroll-Bradd
Book 8--A Sheriff for Christmas by P. Creeden
Book 9--A Groom for Christmas by Cheryl Wright
Book 10--A Niece for Christmas by Margaret Tanner
Book 11--A Cowboy for Christmas by Christine Sterling
Book 12--A Companion for Christmas by Marisa Masterson
Book 13--An Orphan for Christmas by P. Creeden
Book 14--A Fresh Start for Christmas by Kimberly Grist
Book 15--A Miracle for Christmas by Patricia PacJac Carroll
Book 16--A Mother for Christmas by Christine Sterling
Book 17--A Home for Christmas by Julia Ridgmont
Book 18--An Outlaw for Christmas by Susan Horsnell
Book 19--A Mystery Groom for Christmas by Patricia PacJac Carroll
Book 20--An Heir for Christmas by Margaret Tanner
Book 21--A Lumberjack for Christmas by Julia Ridgmont
Book 22--A Runaway for Christmas by Cheryl Wright
Book 23--A Leap of Faith for Christmas by Angela Lain
Book 25--A Beekeeper for Christmas by Kimberly Grist
Book 26--A Present for Christmas by Patricia PacJac Carroll
Book 27--An Unwanted Bride for Christmas by Margaret Tanner
Book 28--A Cook for Christmas by Teresa Ives Lilly
Book 29--A Promise for Christmas by Linda Carroll-Bradd
Book 30--A Horse Wrangler for Christmas - Cheryl Wright
Book 31--A Cat for Christmas by Elissa Strati
Book 32-- An Odyssey for Christmas by Angela Lain
Book 33-- A Shopkeeper for Christmas by Zina Abbott
Book 34-- A Strongman for Christmas by Marissa Masterson
Book 35-- An Agent for Christmas by Elissa Strati
OTHER HISTORICAL TITLES BY LINDA CARROLL-BRADD
Set in Debra Holland’s Montana Sky world
Laced By Love - Book 1, Entertainers of the West
An Unlikely Marriage - Book 2, Entertainers of the West
Dance Toward The Light - Book 3, Entertainers of the West
Baling Wire Promises - Book 4, Entertainers of the West
Hearts in Rhythm - Book 5, Entertainers of the West
In His Corner - Book 6, Entertainers of the West
Love’s Target - Book 7, Entertainers of the West
Chasing Adventure - Book 8, Entertainers of the West
~o0o~
Dorado, Texas series
Wandering Home, Book 1 of Dorado, Texas series
Storybook Hero, Book 2 of Dorado, Texas series
My Heart Knew, Book 3 of Dorado, Texas series
Sparked by Fire, Book 4 of Dorado, Texas series
A Year of Romance, Books 1-4 of Dorado, Texas series
(also in print)
Mail-Order Haven, book 5 in Dorado, Texas series
(also in print)
Ione’s Dilemma, book 6 in Dorado, Texas series (and book 8 in Grandma’s Wedding Quilt series)
Tending Troubles, book 7 in Dorado, Texas series (also book 6 in Lockets and Lace series)
(also in Print)
Taming A Scandal, book 8 in Dorado, Texas series (also book 14 in Lockets and Lace series)
Transforming Emma, book 9 in Dorado, Texas series (also book 20 in Lockets and Lace series)
~o0o~
Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs multi-author series
Perfectly Mismatched
Book 1
Perfectly Unscripted
Book 9
Perfectly Unacceptable
Book 13
Miners’ Mail-Order Brides, the three Perfectly titles in a boxed set
~o0o~
American Mail-Order Brides multi-author series
Libbie, Bride of Arizona
Bachelors and Babies multi-author series
Grayson, book 8
~o0o~
Keepers of the Light multi-author series
The Suffragette’s Vow, book 8
~o0o~
Pinkerton Matchmaker multi-author series
An Agent for Liana, book 63
An Agent for Dixie, book 73
~o0o~
Proxy Brides multi-author series
A Bride for Cody, Book 42
~o0o~
Spinster Mail-Order Brides multi-author series
A Vow for Christmas, book 7
~o0o~
The Widows of Wildcat Ridge multi-author series
Dulcina, Book 5
Hazelanne, Book 15
~o0o~
Released by Prism Book Group/Pelican Book Group
The Ring That Binds
Silent Signals
~o0o~
Released by The Wild Rose Press
Dreams of Gold
Freedom’s Path
Lone Star Angel
~o0o~
Capturing The Marshal’s Heart (sensual)
~o0o~
ANTHOLOGIES
Wishes on a Star in Sweetwater Springs Christmas, edited by Debra Holland (14 stories)
(also in print and audio)
~o0o~
Published by Mirror Press
A Faraway Life in Mercer’s Belles, a Timeless Western Collection (three novellas)
Published by Prairie Rose Publications
Between the Lines in Lariats, Letters and Lace (8 stories)
(also in print)
~o0o~
A Promise Kept in One Winter Knight
(also in print)