The Lawman's Christmas Wish (17 page)

He pulled her hand against his heart. “Feel that? It beats for you. Ben was my best friend. I would have done anything for him. But you're my heart. You and Sammy and Dexter.”

Amy melted. “The boys love you, too. Ben was right. They need you.”

“What about you, Amy? Do you need me? I'm no prize, but if you'll have me, I'll spend the rest of my life loving you.” His fingers tightened on hers. “Marry me. Not because of Ben. But because I love you with everything I have in me.”

Amy's pulse stopped, then started again with an erratic
rattle. Reed, who rarely strung ten words together, had just made the sweetest speech she'd ever heard. In answer, she leaned in close.

Her “yes” was swallowed up in a kiss.

N
erves and excitement quivered through the Treasure Creek Christian Church fellowship hall like an earthquake tremor. Christmas Eve had finally arrived. After weeks of practice and hours of preparing sets and costumes, the Christmas extravaganza was about to commence. Afterward, the whole town would gather for potluck and the opening of Mack Tanner's treasure.

After the close call with her sons and Reed, Amy had a great deal to celebrate.

At the moment, fifty jittery cast members roamed the fellowship hall in costumes of biblical times, making last-minute preparations. Everything was set, except for one missing person—the narrator.

“Anyone heard from Kurt?” she said, raising her voice to be heard above the din.

“Not yet. He'll be here. Don't worry.”

But she was. She could do the narration herself, but Kurt's rich voice was such a nice addition. If he wasn't here soon, she'd give him a call.

“Twenty minutes to showtime.”

Ethan Eckles's announcement was met with increased twittering and a nervous
eek
from Joleen Jones. Harry Peterson,
who never seemed to be far away from the fluffy blonde, patted her shoulder and whispered something in her ear. Joleen giggled and squeezed his arm. The store owner beamed as though he'd struck gold in the Klondike. Maybe he had.

Amy smiled at the unlikely, but clearly besotted pair. Love was in bloom all over Treasure Creek. She went down the hall to peek in at the sanctuary where Reed, Granny and her two sons were already seated, awaiting the program. Dressed in their Christmas best, Sammy and Dexter sat on either side of Reed, each striving for his attention. Reed, still recovering from his gunshot, but getting stronger every day, looked up and caught her watching. She waggled her fingers at him. He gave her a smile, then bent toward his grandmother and said something. Seconds later, he pushed out of the pew and came toward her.

“Is something wrong?” she asked.

“Can't a man in love talk to his best girl without something being wrong?”

Careful of his bandage, Amy threw her arms around his waist and hugged. He smelled good, like all of the Alaskan outdoors, with a touch of manly cologne.

Reed drew her near and kissed the top of her hair. “You look beautiful tonight.”

“Hey, what's going on out here?” This from Dr. Alex Havens. Dressed as one of the magi, the pediatrician grinned through his fake beard. “Any hugging going on, I'll have to find my wife.”

Alex had married his nurse, one of the newcomers to Treasure Creek.

“Where is Maryanne, anyway?” Amy asked.

“Right here.” The petite brunette edged up behind her husband and circled his waist with her arms. “I've always wanted to hug a wise man.” To Amy she said, “Isn't love grand?”

“Oh, yeah.” Amy smiled. Anyone with eyes could see how much she loved her lawman.

“We hear congratulations are in order,” Alex said.

The pediatrician wasn't the first that night to say the words, and Amy knew he wouldn't be the last. Word had spread quickly, as it tended to do in Treasure Creek. Amy and Reed were engaged.

“You heard right.” Reed slid an arm around Amy and gazed down at her with a look that could melt a glacier. “I had to get shot to win her over, but she's worth it.”

The other couple chuckled. Reed didn't know it yet, but the town council had nominated him for a special citation from the governor.

Amy wasn't amused, but she knew Reed. Embarrassed at the attention, he played down his heroics. But he was a hero, not only to her, but to everyone in Treasure Creek. He might as well get used to it.

“When's the wedding?” Maryanne asked.

“As soon as Reed is fully recovered,” Amy said.

“Can't be soon enough for me,” Reed said. And the admission was like warm chocolate to Amy's soul.

“You'll have to invite the whole town, you know,” Maryanne said.

Amy had been thinking about that, and wasn't sure what to do. “In which case, it would have to be held in the middle of Main Street!”

“Hey, that could work. How about tomorrow?” Reed laughed at the look both women gave him.

Talking about weddings and the treasure that had caused so much trouble and excitement, the foursome fell into step and returned to the fellowship hall. As much as she wanted to think about married life with Reed, right now she had a pageant to put on.

“About time, isn't it, Amy?” Karenna Parker asked.

She glanced at her watch. “Ten minutes and counting.” Oh, where was her narrator?

She stepped to the front of the long room and clapped her hands. After a minute and a round of
shhhs,
the room quieted.

“Tonight we honor our Savior's birth. All of you have worked so hard to make this pageant special for Treasure Creek, but especially for our Lord. Thank you. And remember, after the program we're all meeting back in here for a very special Christmas gift.”

“The treasure,” someone muttered. Several others asked after Reed's health and expressed their continued shock about the kidnapping.

“Yes, the treasure. After what it nearly cost us, we have a lot to be thankful for,” Amy said. “So, if everyone is ready—”

Before she could finish her sentence, the side door banged open, rattling the wall. A tall, thin man with brown plastic glasses, a shock of brown hair flopping around his ears and a determined look stormed into the fellowship hall. Reed bristled and stepped in front of Amy, one hand inside his jacket. The thieves were miles away, in county jail awaiting trial, but with the treasure being opened tonight, Reed was taking no chances.

“Where is she?” the man cried, loud enough to stun fifty people into silence. “Where is Delilah? Where is my woman?”

“Ronnie?” A voice shrieked from the anteroom, where the players had been getting dressed. A scurry of movement, and then the crowd parted as Delilah Carrington, dressed as an angel, fluttered toward the thin man. “Is it really you?”

The man stopped as though stunned by her appearance. She was spectacular. Small and elegant, with red ringlets and flawless complexion beneath a halo, and wearing a flowing,
gossamer gown that only Delilah could make work, she was lovely looking.

“My angel,” he said in a voice of awe and love. “My beautiful Delilah.”

“Ronald Pfifer,” Amy whispered. It had to be. Big nose, thick glasses and skinny arms, here was the computer nerd that Delilah had left behind and now pined for.

Delilah extended a hand and touched him. Her glittery, feathered wings fluttered. “You've come. Oh, Ronald. I made a terrible mistake. Please forgive me.”

The man's Adam's apple bobbed as he clasped the extended, perfectly manicured fingers. “There's no Delete for me and you, Delilah. You're on my hard drive forever, password protected. You're my everything. Always have been. I love you, woman.” He dropped to one knee and fumbled in his jacket pocket. “Marry me, my angel.”

Ronald Pfifer, windblown and red-eyed after what must have been a long, arduous journey from California, had thrown caution out the door to declare his love in front of a roomful of strangers.

While those strangers held their collective breath, the fancy woman who'd come man-hunting to Treasure Creek slipped to her knees in front of the man she'd loved all along. Her gown rustled, her wings glittered beneath the light, but it was the look on her face, humbled and loving, that held Amy spellbound.

“I never should have left. You were always the one, Ronnie. I was blind and silly to go searching for the end of the rainbow, when the pot of gold was in my own backyard. I'm lost without you.”

Ronald's smile was tender and filled with joy. “Me, too.” And he slid a stunning diamond onto her trembling, outstretched hand. “Come here, baby. Let Ronnie take care of you.”

Delilah fell into his arms, laughing and crying. The onlookers broke into cheering applause. Though they didn't know him from Adam, the men pounded Ronald's thin back and the women circled Delilah for hugs and to gush over her ring.

When the twitter of excitement subsided, Harry Peterson cleared his throat.

“Congratulations to this young man and Miss Delilah. Nothing like love to make Christmas sweeter than ever. Which brings me to my announcement.” Harry smiled down at another, smaller and fluffier angel, Joleen Jones. They stood with arms around each other's waists, smiling secretively.

“This pretty lady has agreed to be my wife. I figure that's a Christmas miracle right there.” His grin widened. “And I'm offering a ten percent discount on everything at the store all month long to celebrate.”

“Isn't he romantic?” Joleen gushed.

Along with everyone else, Amy laughed. The whole town had known it was just a matter of time before the store owner popped the question. That he'd announced his intentions here, in front of everyone, showed just how hard he'd fallen for the Southern belle.

The door opened again and Pastor Ed stuck his head inside. “The church is packed. Are you ready to begin?”

Someone told him about the newly engaged couples, and he stepped inside for the proper niceties. Amy, meanwhile, searched the hallway for a sign of her missing narrator.

“What's wrong?” Reed's voice rumbled behind her.

“Kurt isn't here yet. And he's the narrator. We can't start without him.” She took out her cell phone and made the call. When the brief conversation ended, Amy's shoulders sagged. “He has laryngitis. His wife said he'd been trying every remedy, convinced he'd recover in time for the pageant, but nothing has worked.”

She rubbed the spot between her eyebrows. Everything had been going so well.

“I'll do it.”

Hope hippity-hopped like a bunny. Reed's warm, smooth baritone would be perfect, and the job wouldn't overtax him, though Amy was not about to say that to Reed. He was a little embarrassed about his weakness as it was. She thought he should have taken a month's vacation and stayed in bed. He was back at work three days after being shot.

“Seriously? You'd do this?”

He shrugged. “I can't promise perfection, but I can read.”

She'd listened often and with love to his rich voice reading bedtime stories to her boys. He would do a beautiful job.

“I know public speaking isn't your thing.”

“No, but you are.” He smiled and Amy's heart responded. How she loved this man. He stepped closer, so that they were a heartbeat apart. “Don't you get it, Amy? I'd do anything for you.”

In front of the waiting cast, Amy tiptoed up to plant a kiss on his cheek and whisper. “I love you.”

Reed's eyes twinkled. “That's all I needed to hear. Give me that script.” He winked. “And look out, Hollywood.”

 

The pageant came off without another hitch.

Beneath dimmed lights, the ancient story of Jesus's birth played out with a beauty and sweetness that stung Amy's eyes.

She wasn't the only one. As the chief of police narrated the events, and the choir rose in collective voice to herald the birth of the King, no one noticed the flat notes or the slightly worn choir robes. The modern world faded away, and the old church in Treasure Creek was transported to a stable in Bethlehem.

As Mary knelt beside her newborn son and Joseph looked on in reverence, Karenna's sweet soprano sang “Mary, Did You Know.”

Though Amy had heard the song dozens of times, chills ran down her arms at the line, “when you kissed your little baby, you kissed the face of God.”

At the end of Karenna's song the cast remained in place, frozen in time and holiness, as the lights went out in the sanctuary. The only light was that of the star, shining brightly over the stable and the holy child.

A hushed reverence fell over the worshippers as each adult lit a candle, then passed the flame to the next person.

In moments, the church glowed with candlelight. Pastor Ed stepped to the microphone and quietly read, “‘For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.'”

He closed the Bible and took up his lighted candle. “As we conclude this beautiful service, may the Prince of Peace be with all of you tonight and in this coming New Year. And though we will extinguish our candles, may the light of His love continue to shine in your hearts and live forevermore.”

He blew out his candle. All around the room the flames flickered and died. The houselights came up, but the people remained quiet and respectful, almost as if they had truly witnessed the birth of the Christ.

Amy stood in the wings and wept for joy.

 

Long after the stage cleared and the town gathered in the fellowship hall for refreshments and the opening of the treasure, the mood remained subdued but joyous.

“Beautiful program, Amy.” Penelope Lear, gorgeous in red, sparkling Christmas attire, repeated a phrase Amy had
heard over and over. Beside her, Tucker Lawson nodded his agreement.

“It was, wasn't it?” And she took no credit for it. God's spirit had been in the program. Plain and simple.

She squeezed Reed's hand. His narration had been perfect and she'd told him so.

“Want something to drink before the big moment?” he asked. He'd left a few minutes ago and returned with Mack Tanner's treasure. Now the chest sat in the center of the room on a table.

“No. Too excited. I just know God is about to gift this town with something truly amazing.”

“I think He already has.”

She smiled. Yes, Reed was right. Regardless of what was in the treasure chest, the little town of Treasure Creek was blessed.

“Let's do it, shall we?” Still holding his hand, she moved to the table. The gathered townspeople made way and began to circle the table in anticipation. The room was packed with people flowing out into the hallways, the balcony and the sanctuary.