Christmas in Montana Read online

  by

  Ramona Flightner

  This is a special bonus story only for newsletter subscribers. I wanted to find a special way to thank you for signing up for my newsletter, and I decided to write a special short story, just for you! If you like it, let me know. I’m considering trying to write little stories like this every once in a while, while you wait for the next installment in the saga. Also, if you have ideas of stories or gaps in the novels you’d like to read more about, let me know! I might just write it…

  You can read this short story at any time, but I would suggest having read Reclaimed Love before reading this. Also, reading the free prequel, Love’s First Flames, before reading this will give some insight into this short story.

  I hope you enjoy and Happy Holidays!

  Ramona

  Missoula, December 23, 1901

  I hung sprigs of blue spruce and pine over the windows and hummed a Christmas carol as I backed up to examine my handiwork. I sniffed my palms, enjoying the hint of the forest. A single candle sat on each windowsill with pine cones placed on either side of the candle. Red ribbons tied in decorative bows hung under the windowsills and strung along the privacy screen added the final touch to the festive air.

  Our living area consisted of a kitchen space along one wall, with the dining room table abutting it. Comfortable sitting chairs, and a desk in front of the second window made up our living area. A privacy screen blocked off the bedroom part of the long open room, granting a small amount of privacy to that area.

  I heard hammering downstairs and smiled. This would be the first Christmas I shared with Gabriel and I wanted it to be special. I turned toward the doorway as footsteps clattered up the stairs.

  “Amelia.” I rushed forward to hug her and Anne, nearly eight months old, in her arms. I heard Nicholas’s excited voice downstairs as he visited with Gabriel and Ronan.

  “I was running last minute errands, and wanted to ensure you had everything you need. Most stores will be closed after this afternoon.”

  I smiled, absently paying attention as I plucked baby Anne from Amelia’s arms, running a hand over her red-gold curls. “Seeing as you are preparing dinner, there isn’t much for me to do. I have our presents.” I cooed as Annie babbled at me.

  “She’ll be talking soon,” Amelia said, running a hand over her back and giving her bottom a little pat.

  “I can’t wait.” I kissed Anne on her head as she began to play with a button on my dress. I looked at Amelia. Her honey blond hair was tied back in a loose knot and her hazel eyes seemed duller than usual. A frown flirted with her mouth rather than the smile I was accustomed to seeing.

  “Are you sure there’s nothing I can do to help?” I asked.

  “We’ll have plenty to do that day together, don’t worry,” she said, a hint of the teasing Amelia I knew resurfacing.

  “Is there something wrong?” I kissed Anne on the head as I swayed side-to-side with her.

  “No, of course not. It’s simply a busy time of year.” She reached forward to reclaim Anne. “If I don’t see you tomorrow, I’ll see you at Colin’s on Christmas.”

  “Good luck with your last minute errands,” I said as they left. I heard Nicholas’s shouts of goodbye to Gabriel and Ronan and then the steady sounds of the two men working resumed.

  I settled into the rocking chair, big enough for Gabriel, waiting for him to cease work for the day. My Christmas presents were wrapped, letters East to family long written, and all concerns about the Christmas dinner alleviated now that Amelia was going to prepare it.

  I had learned to cook a few basic meals during the past few months, and a pot roast with vegetables currently simmered in the oven. Its homey scent permeated the air, while the pot belly stove also warmed the room.

  I dozed in the chair, thinking about the past five months since I’d married Gabriel. His constancy and humor never failed to soothe and enrich my life. His boundless love was his greatest gift to me.

  I smiled as I felt his gentle caress along my cheek, brushing my hair back. He smelled of musk and wood. My Gabriel. “I must have fallen asleep,” I murmured as I arched up to nuzzle into his embrace a moment.

  He kissed my head before moving into the kitchen. “Thank God you remembered to put on dinner. I’m starving.”

  I smiled, opening my eyes to see him wander the kitchen area, filling a glass full of water. His long, lean muscles rippled under his flannel shirt, and his black hair was in need of a hair cut. He winked at me, his blue eyes shining with joy and contentment as he glanced around our home.

  “Thank you, for decorating for Christmas.” He set down his glass with a soft clunk as he moved toward me. “For venturing to Montana.” He placed his hands on either arm of the rocking chair, trapping me in place. “For marrying me.” He leaned forward kissing me softly. “For loving me.” He whispered, leaning forward to kiss me again.

  I giggled as his stomach rumbled, interrupting the moment. I rubbed my forehead against his. “Let’s postpone this until I’ve fed you,” I teased, kissing his nose and pushing him backwards.

  He eased away, his callused palms caressing my arms as I stood up. He sat at the table as I extracted the roast from the oven and served it.

  “I know we eat this meal frequently,” I murmured, realizing this was the third time this week I’d made a similar meal.

  “You know I don’t care what I eat. I like being with you. And this is one of your best meals.”

  I flushed. “You mean I rarely burn it now.”

  He nodded, amusement glinting in his eyes. “How was Amelia?”

  I thought about her short visit. “She seemed all right, but I can’t imagine she’s looking forward to her first Christmas without Liam.”

  “It will be quite different,” Gabriel agreed. His gaze unfocused a moment. “I can only imagine how hard it will be for her. I still look to the door, expecting to hear Matthew’s irreverent joke and Liam’s cajoling in his soft burr as they walk through it.”

  I reached out a hand and we laced our fingers together a moment.

  “I wish they could have met you,” Gabriel said. I nodded and he raised my hand and kissed the palm.

  “What have you made the children?” I asked after a few moments.

  “It’s a surprise.” He winked, earning a laugh.

  After I cleaned up, Gabriel settled into his easy chair and I sat in the large rocking chair. He read to me from A Christmas Carol, his deep baritone lulling me to sleep.

  ***

  Two mornings later, Christmas morning dawned and I shivered in bed. I scooted over to cuddle next to Gabriel, but his side of the bed was empty and cold. I propped myself up on one elbow, but the privacy screen prevented me from seeing into the rest of our living space.

  Shivering from the cold, I curled under the blankets. Sleep eluded me as I attempted to calm my racing thoughts at Gabriel’s absence.

  As I had begun to doze, I heard his footsteps on the stairs, the soft clang as he opened the stove and shoved in wood, the pair of thumps as he kicked off his boots, and then quiet steps approaching our bedroom area.I rolled over to watch his attempt at a stealthy entrance, biting my lip as he swallowed a curse as he stubbed his toe on the bed post. He raised startled eyes at my stifled giggle and grinned at me, his dimple flashing.

  “So much for not waking you,” he whispered. He slipped out of his pants and clambered under the covers. I shivered again as his cold arms encircled me.

  “Where have you been?” I turned to burrow into his embrace.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered into my ear. “I never wanted you to know I’d been gone. I hoped to sneak out and be back before you woke.” He kissed my collarbone. “I wanted to bring the gif
ts to Colin’s early, so Nickie’d think St. Nick came during the night.”

  I giggled. “Did you eat the cookies?”

  He tickled me as he gave a playful nip to my earlobe. “No. Colin’d already eaten them last night. Argued that they shouldn’t go to waste.”

  I laughed harder at Gabriel’s disgruntled tone. “Thank you for ensuring their day is as special as possible.” I kissed his neck.

  He leaned away, brushing my cheeks with his hands. “Thank you for welcoming Amelia’s friendship. For understanding my need to remain friends with her.” He leaned forward to kiss me. “But now, this time is for us,” he murmured, tracing his hands over my arms, my back, and then easing me away to run feather light caresses over my breasts.

  “Gabe,” I whispered, arching into his touch.

  “You have no idea how much I dreamed of this first Christmas with you. During all those days we were separated.” He bent forward, kissing me with a languorous patience as he eased my nightgown away.

  I moaned as his callused fingers traced patterns over my belly and breasts, raising goosebumps everywhere he touched. His mouth followed his hands and I clasped his head, arching into him. I gripped his shirt, tugging it off of him, interrupting his caresses for a moment as he raised to shuck it and his underclothes.

  He framed my face with his palms, kissing my eyebrows, nose and cheeks. “You’ll never know how much I love you, my darling,” he whispered.

  My smile bloomed as I leaned up to kiss him, my arms running from his shoulder down his back, in perpetual motion. “It’s mutual, my love.” I sighed in rapture as he eased into me. Our breathes mingled and hands entwined as we became lost in each other.

  Many minutes later, I lay snuggled against Gabriel as he played with my hair. He yawned and stretched, and I knew he was battling sleep. “I wish we could stay here all day,” he whispered, curling an arm around my belly and tickling the underside of one breast.

  My breath hitched for a moment. “I do, too. But it’s Christmas. We have to go to Colin’s.”

  He moved us so he leaned over me, tracing the lines of my face. “I know, darling. I want to spend the day with family. Promise me.” I frowned as I waited to see what he wanted. “Promise me, tonight is ours.”

  I beamed at him and kissed him quickly on the lips. “I promise.”

  He laughed as he eased away. We needed to wash and change if we were to make Colin’s on time. After one more quick kiss to my shoulder, he was out of bed, pulling on a pair of pants, and heading to the kitchen to make coffee. I laid in bed a moment longer, relishing the quiet sounds of domesticity, listening to Gabriel’s contented humming before he began to whistle. I rose, certain this would be the best Christmas ever.

  ***

  A few hours later, we walked arm-in-arm to Colin’s. A cold wind blew out of Hellgate Canyon and I shivered, curling further into Gabriel’s side. When we arrived, Nicholas was wrapped in Ronan’s strong arms, attempting to wriggle free. “I promise, I promise, I promise!” Nicholas squealed.

  “That’s what you said the last three times,” Ronan said, raising amused sherry eyes to Gabriel and me. He sat in the wheelchair Gabriel had given him, his arms strong again. The emaciated, defeated man from the summer was a distant memory. “It’s why I’ve told Colin to get a rope.”

  “No! No! No!” Nicholas yelled, making everyone giggle. He grabbed at Ronan’s thick, trimmed beard and Ronan yelped in pain.

  Ronan released Nicholas to Gabriel, who promptly held him upside down and tickled his belly. “If I had to guess, you were trying to guess presents.” Nicholas giggled uncontrollably until Gabriel set him down. He gave him a warning glance and shake of his head, causing Nicholas to frown.

  Aidan arrived with a box full of presents and two loaves of sweet breads, which he placed on the dining room table. I moved to slice it, while Amelia set out steaming mugs of coffee.

  “Where’s Colin?” I asked Amelia as I worked next to her in the kitchen.

  “He said he had to run an errand and would be right back,” Amelia said.

  “On Christmas?”

  Amelia shrugged and brought a cup of coffee and bread to Ronan. We nibbled on the bread and sipped coffee as we awaited Colin. Gabriel and Ronan attempted to entertain Nicholas, but as the minutes passed, he became increasingly focused on the pile of unopened presents.

  “Oh, Amelia, I’ve invited someone for dinner,” Gabriel called out in a breathless voice as Nicholas climbed on top of him and jumped on his belly.

  “Gabriel, this is a day for family,” Amelia scolded.

  “I know, and seeing as we’ve cobbled together this family of ours, I thought I’d invite Seb rather than consign him to a day alone.”

  My eyes lit with joy. “Sebastian’s joining us?”

  “Yes, in a few hours, hopefully after we’ve opened our presents,” he muttered, grunting as Nicholas grabbed at his hair. He tickled Nicholas, earning a squeal.

  I heard loud footsteps on the stairs and flung the door open to greet my brother, Colin, on our first Christmas away from Boston and the rest of our family. I stopped short when I saw Mr. A.J. Pickens heaving himself up the stairs. “Mr. A.J.! Merry Christmas!”

  “Happy Christmas to ye, Missy,” he wheezed as he thunked past me into Colin’s small rented rooms, collapsing on a chair near Ronan. He beamed his near toothless grin as Gabriel and Aidan pounded him on the shoulder and Amelia and I hugged him. “This’ll be the best darned Christmas I’ve had since my Bessie died.”

  I turned to Colin with luminous eyes and threw myself into his arms for a hug. “Thanks, Col.”

  He gave me a gentle squeeze before releasing me. “I didn’t know what to get you for Christmas. But then I realized you’d want time with those you care about more than anything else.” I brushed a hand over his wavy, auburn hair, smiling my agreement as my eyes met his light blue eyes, lit with joy and devoid of mischief. We moved toward the tiny living area and mound of presents.

  Ronan received tools for his nascent cobbling business, while Amelia opened paraphernalia for the kitchen, a packet of fine tea, and cloth for a new dress.“My gift for Rissa was too large to bring here, so she’ll have to open it tonight,” Gabriel said with a warm smile to me, and a kick in the shin to Colin as he snickered.

  Nicholas squealed over a new train with three cars Gabriel had made him and baby Anne received a new doll. Colin received a new sweater, scarf and hat, along with a salve for cuts and burns. Mr. A.J also unwrapped a new vest and flannel shirt, while Aidan was gifted a leather embossed ledger and new pen.

  Aidan’s gift to Gabriel was the last present under the tree, and I tensed as he handed the box to Gabriel, his gaze hesitant. Before releasing it into Gabriel’s hands, he said, “I have a similar box, made for each brother for this morning. My only wish was that all of us could have been together as you opened your boxes.” He released it to Gabriel and sat back in his chair with a forced calm.

  Gabriel untied the red string around the box and eased the lid off. He stilled, breath catching as he beheld the items inside. With trembling hands, he extracted a book, raising wondrous, yet haunted eyes to his uncle. “How?” he rasped.

  “Richard told me. When I first arrived in Boston. He told me what caused you to leave your aunt’s house.”

  I saw the title – Treasure Island—as he set it aside. When he looked inside the box again, he froze, a reverent expression on his face.

  “This is how I remember them,” he rasped.

  “They had that done right before the fire. It took some time, but I found the man who took their photograph. He never destroyed anything, and still had the plates from your parent’s photo. He was able to make copies and I had one made for all of us,” Aidan said.

  Gabriel held up a photo of a couple in fine dress, the man a spitting image of Gabriel. “These were my parents,” he said with reverence.

  “Oh, how wonderful,” Amelia murmured. I nodded, too overcome with joy for him to spea
k.

  The last item he extracted from the box was an envelope. He raised confused eyes to his uncle.

  “I’d recommend you read that at home. I kept a few of your mother’s letters to me, written while I was at sea. I went through the ones I had and found the one I thought you’d like the most.”

  Gabriel held the envelope to his chest a moment, his eyes closed. He rose abruptly to embrace Aidan and they slapped each other on the backs a few times. Gabriel backed up, swiping at his eyes. “Thank you. I don’t…”

  “Hush, Gabriel. You’re welcome,” Aidan said with an understanding smile.

  Gabriel sat dazed, staring at the picture of his parents. I moved my seat closer beside his and ran a hand down his arm, belatedly realizing he was shivering. “We should frame it.”

  “I’ll make one,” he said. He turned, nuzzling my neck a moment. I stroked a hand through his hair, whispering how much I loved him.

  A knock at the door interrupted our interlude and I looked around the room to see Colin teasing Amelia in the kitchen, Mr. A.J. and Ronan telling tall tales at the dining room table, and Aidan on the floor playing with Nicholas. Baby Anne slept on Ronan’s lap. As Colin walked to open the door, his laughter echoing through the room, I whispered to Gabriel, “We are very blessed.”

  ***

  The men sat in the cramped living and dining area as Amelia and I stood in front of the sink, washing and drying the dishes. I’d shooed Gabriel and Sebastian out of the kitchen as I wanted a few minutes alone with Amelia.

  “How are you?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

  She stiffened next to me and I waited for her to proclaim she was fine. Instead she sighed and the cheery bravado she’d clung to all day disappeared. She looked at me with tormented eyes. “Today has been a wonderful day because of you and Gabe and everyone. You’ve done all you could to make it special.” She bit her trembling lip.