The Christmas Bargain (35 page)

“I don’t know about the visiting, but we could certainly sing carols,” Filly said, looking at the piano with longing. “I can’t play a note to save my life, but Luke’s a good singer.”

“Well, you’re in luck, Filly, dear, because I can play and I won’t even need the sheet music,” Dora said, taking a seat at the piano, running through a few chords before she pounded out
Deck the Halls.

They were soon singing and laughing, enjoying the evening. When they finally checked the time, they were surprised how late the hour the clock chimed.

“I think it is off to bed for us all, so we can get up and enjoy a blessed Christmas,” Dora said, reveling in her role as mother, now that she had decided to welcome Filly with open arms and an open heart. “Turn on the lights so we can see what we’re doing, son. Let’s put out the candles and bank the fires, then go dream of sugar plums.”

“Yes, mother,” Luke said, rolling his eyes as he turned up the gas lights and started extinguishing candles.  While the men and Dora did that, Filly took the tray of dishes back to the kitchen, washed up and checked on the puppy that was wide awake.

Filly took him out of the box and let him out the back door to do his business. Standing there watching him, she wished he would hurry before she either froze or Luke found his present. Finally, he came bounding up to her and whimpered, ready to be back inside where it was warm.

Picking up the puppy, she carried him to his box, gave him some meat scraps, instructing him to go back to sleep and be quiet through the night.

Setting bread and milk on the table, to follow her ancestors’ tradition, she turned off the lights and went back to the parlor where Greg and Luke were making sure every candle had been doused and the tree was safe to leave unattended.

Dora and Greg bid them good night and Luke waited until they left the room to turn off lights. Filly stood, staring into the flames of the fire as Luke slid his hands around her waist and pulled her against his chest. He breathed deeply of the rose scent in her hair and rested his chin on top of her curls.

“Merry Christmas, Filly,” he whispered in her ear, thinking again of how close he came to losing her, how very much he loved her. “You look so beautiful tonight. Is that a new dress?”

Filly smoothed a hand down her deep green velvet gown and nodded. “Abby said I had to save this one for Christmas when she was putting together my wardrobe. I’m glad I did.”

“I’m glad you did, too,” Luke rumbled, transfixed by the sight of Filly in the firelight. “You look like a sprig of Christmas holly with your green dress and eyes and lovely hair the color of polished mahogany.”

She turned in his arms and offered a smile that made his knees weaken. Her hair blazed like a fiery crown while her eyes glowed like twin emeralds. Her lips, so sweet and beguiling, were more temptation than he could resist.

 Lowering his head, Luke captured her rosy mouth with his. He felt her hands slide up his arms and around his neck. Pulling Filly against him, he deepened the kiss exploring, taking, giving. Finally, she pulled back with a ragged breath.

“Merry Christmas, Luke,” she said, placing a soft hand to his cheek. “How can I ever thank you for what you did today?”

“I didn’t do anything,” Luke said, brushing off any heroic efforts on his part. “The deputy took Alford by surprise and the shot went wild. Chauncy is the one who tackled your father and helped take him to the jail.”

“I know all that, but you’re the one who threw yourself between me and my father. You would have taken the bullet meant for me,” Filly said, tears filling her eyes, not wanting to think of what could have happened. “You’ve rescued me from him twice now. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to repay you. I’ll always be indebted to you, no matter what you say about this bargain.”

“I don’t want you indebted to me,” Luke said, stepping back and raking his hands through his hair. Turning, he leaned one arm against the mantle. Filly could see him working to keep his composure.

After a long moment, he turned and stared at her. “Blast it all, anyway,” he said, reaching out and pulling her to him. He kissed her hard and long, pouring out more passion than Filly had imagined was possible to share with another human being and not burst into flame.

“Filly, you’ve got to know by now that I lo…” Luke was cut off when a loud thumping noise erupted from the kitchen.

Grabbing the fire poker, Luke ran to the kitchen with Filly right behind him, trying to get him to stop. Luke was unknowingly going to beat his Christmas present to death.

As he turned the corner into the kitchen, Luke flipped on the light, expecting to see some vagrant sitting at the table enjoying the bread and milk Filly left out. Instead, the kitchen was empty. The sound had stopped.

Luke looked around, bewildered.

“Did you hear the noise?” he asked Filly.

“What noise?” she asked, trying to act nonchalant as she gingerly tugged on Luke’s arm, trying to draw him out of the kitchen.

“The loud thumping noise that was coming from in here,” Luke said, opening the pantry to make sure no one lurked inside.

“Maybe a shutter was banging outside,” Filly said, taking Luke’s arm and walking him to the kitchen door.

“The wind isn’t blowing tonight,” Luke said, taking another look around the room. Filly was reaching to turn off the light when the thumping started again, followed by a loud howling.

“Ha!” Luke said, running to open the door of the room above the boiler. Flinging it open, a look of surprise soon turned into a smile as he stared at the whimpering puppy. “How’d you get in here, little fella?”

Picking up the dog, Luke held him to his chest and stroked the puppy’s chin. “You’re not very big, are you?” Luke sat down in a kitchen chair and continued petting the pup.

Hearing the commotion, Greg and Dora hurried from their room to see what all the noise was about. They came to a stop when they spied Luke with the puppy.

“My gracious, where did that come from?” Dora asked, pointing at the dog like it was the carrier of some terrible disease.

“Santa left him for Luke,” Filly said, unable to contain a broad grin.

“For me?” Luke asked with a look of boyish delight that melted Filly’s already soft heart. “You got me a dog?”

“Yes,” Filly sighed, exasperated. She had so hoped to be able to keep the puppy a secret until morning. “He was supposed to cooperate and be quiet tonight so you would have a surprise in the morning.”

“I don’t mind a surprise or two tonight,” Luke said, gazing directly at Filly. She got the feeling there was more than one message his words conveyed.

Greg walked over to Luke’s chair and hunkered down. Petting the puppy, he rubbed along his back, looked into his eyes and mouth, and felt his paws. “I think he’s going to be a great dog. Looks like a smart one.”

“Oh, for Pete’s sake, how could you possibly tell?” Dora said, standing across the room.

Luke got up and walked over to his mother. “Don’t you want to pet him, Mother? He’s really soft.”

“No,” Dora said, shaking her head.

“Just a tiny pet?” Luke encouraged. Ignoring her protests, Luke grabbed her hand and put it on the puppy’s back.

Dora stroked her hand back and forth a few times and her frown turned to a smile. “He is soft, isn’t he?” The puppy won her over when he stretched out his little pink tongue and licked her hand.

Luke chuckled. “We’ll have to think of a really special name for this little guy.”

“Well, think all you like, but I’m going back to bed,” Dora said, grabbing Greg’s hand. “Come on, Mr. Granger, it is past your bedtime. If you don’t behave, St. Nick won’t come at all.”

“Goodnight, children. Merry Christmas,” Greg called as he and Dora walked down the hall to their bedroom.

“Merry Christmas,” Filly called after them. Turning to watch Luke with the puppy, she was thrilled he liked the dog. “I’m really sorry your surprise made his presence known a little early.”

“He’s one of the best presents I’ve ever received, Filly. I’ve been meaning to get a dog and never got around to it. How did you know I wanted one?”

“I just thought it would be a good gift. His mother was one of the best cow dogs that ever lived and his father was a good bird dog. He should make a fine dog for you for hunting or working the cattle.”

“Thank you, darlin’. He’s great,” Luke said, holding a piece of kitchen string for the puppy to chew on. “Where did he come from?”

“That’s a story for another day,” Filly said, not wanting to hear a lecture from Luke about how reckless she’d been to go out to the farm. “But Abby and Chauncy kept him at their house for a few days. Chauncy wasn’t sure he wanted to part with him.”

“Is that so? Trying to steal my Christmas present away from me,” Luke grinned. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”

Filly laughed. “He was in the basket Abby handed me this evening. I was so afraid he would bark and give himself away then. I suppose it really wouldn’t have mattered much.”

Luke looked up at her with love filling his eyes and heart. “He’s just perfect, Filly. Thank you.”

“Shall we move his box out here? Maybe he’ll go to sleep if he can hear the wood pop in the stove. Abby made his bed behind their stove and he seemed to like it there.”

Luke helped her get the puppy situated, then took the fire poker back to the parlor and turned off the hall lights. Filly was washing her hands and singing an Irish lullaby to the puppy when he came back to the kitchen. The puppy’s eyes blinked slowly then closed as he fell asleep. Backing out the door, Luke quietly turned off the kitchen lights and took Filly’s hand, ready to go upstairs.

“I’ll be up in a moment,” Filly whispered, giving his hand a squeeze. “Go on up. I promise I’ll be right there.”

Kissing her cheek, Luke went up the stairs, wondering what other Christmas surprises his wife had planned. She had him feeling like a giddy child, waiting on St. Nick’s arrival.

Filly quickly pulled her gifts for Luke and his parents out of their hiding spot in the closet in her former room and placed them under the tree. Arranging the packages so they looked just right, she let out a happy sigh and hurried to the stairs.

This was the first time she had celebrated Christmas, other than in her heart, since her mother died. It was so fun and exciting, especially in this warm, beautiful home with Luke and his parents. After spending so many years alone for Christmas, feeling beaten and of no value, she gave thanks again for her new life.

As she hastened up the steps, she thought about the man waiting for her. Any doubts she had about Luke loving her vanished today when he would have given his life to save hers, had her father’s bullet not gone astray. Knowing the depths of his love, she finally felt free to be his wife. His true wife.

Quietly opening their bedroom door, she shut it behind her and took a deep breath. Luke was leaning against the mantle of their fireplace, stirring the embers. With his jacket, vest and tie removed, his unbuttoned shirt drew her attention to his broad chest. She could see his muscles bunch and move while his skin glowed bronze in the firelight.

The sight of him stole her breath away.

Hearing her come in, Luke turned his icy blue eyes on her, now warmed to molten pools. The smile he gave her was not one of mirth or friendship, but one of invitation. Setting down the poker, he held out his hand to her and Filly felt her wobbly knees carry her across the floor to her husband.

“You started to say something downstairs,” Filly said, as Luke pulled her into his arms and buried his face in the curls on top of her head. “You don’t have to say it, Luke. I know.”

“What do you know?” he asked, raising his head and rubbing his hands over the velvet of her sleeves, along her back, around her waist.