Page 12 of A Redemption Mountain Christmas (Redemption Mountain #27)

Eliza sat at the long dining table, pushing the remnants of supper around her plate.

The sound of conversations and laughter drifted around the dining room, but she barely noticed.

Her gaze kept straying to the empty place across from her, where Spencer had been expected to sit.

His absence tonight left an odd ache in her chest.

She nodded or answered when a question came her way, not wanting to appear disinterested.

With a sigh, she stood and carried her plate into the kitchen.

Rachel gave her a sympathetic smile as she set another plate of roast chicken on the table but didn’t comment on Spencer’s absence.

She knew Rachel suspected there were deeper feelings between them, though neither Eliza nor Spencer had spoken of it aloud.

When everyone finished eating and moved into the living room, she helped the women clear the table and clean the dishes. Returning to the dining room, she looked around, disappointed when Spencer still hadn’t arrived.

Stepping out onto the front porch, Eliza drew her shawl tighter against the chill. The sun had dipped below the distant mountains long ago, casting the ranch in almost total darkness. She watched as several of the men left the house to fetch boxes from the barn, their breath frosting the air.

Returning to the entry hall, she shrugged out of her shawl, draping it over a bench.

Ginny and a few other women emerged from the kitchen, arms laden with strings of popcorn and cranberries.

Despite herself, Eliza felt a spark of anticipation.

Christmastime was upon them, and the entire ranch was busy with preparations.

Footsteps sounded behind her, and she turned, pulse quickening. But it was several of the Pelletier children, their faces flushed from the cold. They darted past her, their excited laughter lightening her mood.

Eliza’s breath caught at the sight of the open boxes.

Gold, green, and crimson bows, carved wooden ornaments, garlands, pinecones, and strings of popcorn and cranberries.

Near the base, Spencer knelt with a box of glass baubles, glancing up as she entered.

Their eyes met, and Eliza’s heart stuttered.

How had he entered the house without her noticing?

Then Billy called for Spencer’s help, and the moment passed. Spencer set down the ornament he was holding and walked over to help Billy move a heavy trunk closer to the tree. Eliza watched him as she wandered farther into the room, taking in the festive scene.

Little Charlotte Pelletier and Chloe Mason ran to a box of homemade ornaments, excited over the whittled wooden shapes, painted pinecones, and scraps of fabric tied with ribbon. The two three-year-olds found joy in all the Christmas activities.

“Look, Miss Eliza, I made this star!” Chloe held up a lopsided wooden star painted in bright colors.

Eliza smiled. “It’s wonderful, Chloe. Your star will look lovely on the tree.”

All around her, people were laughing and chatting as they continued decorating. Ginny stood on a stool hanging strands of cranberries while Rachel unwrapped a hand-carved horse with a wreath around its neck.

Dax and Luke climbed ladders to adorn the upper branches, trading good-natured teases as they worked. The air was filled with the spicy scent of pine and cinnamon from the hot, spiced cider.

Despite her conflicting thoughts over Spencer, Eliza felt herself getting caught up in the excitement. There was such joy and community here, which she’d rarely experienced while growing up. She joined Charlotte and Chloe in searching through the ornaments, oohing and aahing over their creations.

“You hang this one, Miss Eliza.” Charlotte handed her a little yarn snowman. Eliza found an empty spot halfway up the tree and carefully hung the ornament.

“It looks perfect.” Eliza smiled down at Charlotte’s beaming face. For a moment, she let go of her worries and enjoyed being part of this group of people brought together by shared experiences and love.

As the tree decorating continued, Rachel moved to the piano and began playing “Deck the Halls.” Her energetic music filled the room, making toes tap and heads bob in time. Rachel continued playing another carol and joined those singing. Eliza couldn’t resist chiming in on the third song.

Rachel turned in surprise. “Why, Eliza, what a beautiful voice you have.”

She blushed at the compliment. “Oh, I’m not talented,” she demurred.

“Nonsense, you have a gorgeous soprano.”

Soon, she was singing every Christmas carol Rachel played, her crystalline voice soaring over the room. Everyone paused their decorating to listen in delight as Eliza sang verse after verse, backed by Rachel’s skillful playing.

Her voice rang with purity and passion. Though she hadn’t sung much growing up or since leaving home, singing with the others made her spirit soar. For the first time since arriving, Eliza believed there might be a place for her in this remote community.

Lost in the music, she didn’t notice Spencer watching her, an odd expression on his handsome face.

When Rachel began playing “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” he moved to stand beside Eliza.

His rich baritone joined in, a little uncertain at first, then stronger as he gained confidence.

Their voices blended as they sang, creating a magical moment of connection between them.

Two disparate souls had found common ground in a simple song. The rest of the room faded away until it seemed they were the only two people present.

When the last note died away, Eliza came back to herself with a little start. She realized her hand had found Spencer’s where it rested on the piano bench. His larger hand gently squeezed hers before letting go.

Eliza watched as Spencer said his goodnights and exited the ranch house, heading back to the bunkhouse. She’d hoped their shared moment singing together might lead to more conversation, more time in each other’s company. Instead, he hadn’t even acknowledged her as he left.

With a sigh, Eliza bid her own goodnights before retiring upstairs. She readied for bed, though sleep didn’t come easy, her thoughts lingering on Spencer and the powerful connection she’d felt earlier. Drifting off, her last image was of a tall man with a beautiful baritone voice.

She was startled awake by a commotion outside. Shouts and running footsteps disturbed the predawn quiet. Throwing on a robe, Eliza hurried to the window and peered out.

Ranch hands gathered by the barn, saddling horses despite the early hour. She spotted Spencer tightening the cinch on his bay gelding, his hat pulled low and his expression grim. Bull and Billy were also preparing to ride out, as were Dax and Luke.

Her pulse quickened. Something was wrong for the men to display such urgency. Perhaps those cattle rustlers were back.

As the men mounted up and rode off, she hurried downstairs, tying her robe as she stepped outside onto the front porch. The icy morning air raised goosebumps on her skin. Rachel and Ginny were already there, wrapped in shawls and watching the men ride off.

“What’s happened?” Eliza asked.

Rachel turned, her expression grim. “More cattle were taken in the night. At least a dozen head.”

“Do they know who’s responsible?”

“Not yet,” Rachel said. “They hope to find out.”

The three women stood in silence for a moment, gazing out at the empty yard. Ginny broke the quiet. “Well, no use fretting. We’ve got gifts to finish for those orphans.”

Eliza followed Rachel and Ginny back inside, where materials were spread across the dining table.

Glad to find a purpose, Eliza set to work on the dress for a little girl’s doll.

She focused on her sewing, carefully stitching the floral print dress.

As she worked, Rachel and Ginny chatted about preparations for the upcoming Christmas activities.

“I hope we don’t have the kind of blizzards as came through the last two Christmases,” Ginny wondered aloud.

Rachel nodded. “We can always hope. If one comes through, Dax has already said we’re staying home. He doesn’t want to get stuck in town.”

“What about your plans, Eliza? I hope you plan to be here for Christmas Eve and Day,” Ginny said.

She looked up from her sewing. “Oh, I don’t want to intrude.”

“You wouldn’t be intruding, and we’d love to have you,” Rachel said.

“Well, if you’re sure, I’d love to spend Christmas here.”

“Wonderful!” Rachel and Ginny said in unison.

Warmth spread through Eliza as she continued her work on the doll’s dress. The three fell into silence as each concentrated on what they were doing until Ginny looked at Eliza, a question in her eyes.

“You must have gotten offers from hospitals all over after graduating from medical school,” Ginny said. “Why’d you decide to come out here?”

Eliza paused, considering how much of herself to reveal. “I needed a change. A chance to help people who really need me, not just those with money.”

Rachel nodded in understanding. “Well, folks around here sure are grateful you decided to stay, if only for the winter. The town has grown so much since I moved here. A third doctor would be a blessing for everyone.”

“Whatever you decide to do next, you’ll always have a place with us,” Ginny added.

Eliza looked away, forcing away the tears burning at the back of her eyes. She hadn’t expected such heartfelt acceptance.

“Thank you,” she said, a catch in her throat.

The women continued their work through lunch and into the afternoon. By four o’clock, Rachel became concerned, expecting the men to return by now.

Noise from outside drew their attention. The women hurried to the window, peering out to see the men reining up near the barn. Relief flooded through Eliza at the sight of them whole and unharmed.

Spencer slid down from his saddle, his boots hitting the packed snow.

He patted Cicero’s neck before looping the reins around the hitching post. As he removed the saddlebags, Spencer felt someone watching him.

He glanced up to see Eliza in the window with Rachel and Ginny, her gaze fixed on him for a brief moment before she turned away.

His heart gave an odd flutter. They hadn’t spoken since he’d rushed out of the ranch house the night before in an attempt to hide his growing feelings for her.

He’d missed her quiet presence after he’d left her at the St. James a week earlier.

No matter how prickly she could be, his days felt emptier without her.

Spencer shoved those feelings aside now, as he’d done last night. Whatever this was between them, it was foolish to pursue. Eliza deserved better than some rough ranch hand. She’d be moving on to California soon, and he doubted she’d ever return.

With a resigned sigh, Spencer headed for the bunkhouse. Inside, he sank down on his bunk, dropping his head in his hands. He should be focused on the rustlers. Instead, all he could think about was Eliza. Her midnight hair, her eyes flashing like sapphires when she was riled up, which was often.

Spencer groaned. He was acting like a lovestruck cowboy. Still, he couldn’t deny the emptiness settling inside him when he pictured Eliza leaving, the ranch returning to its monotonous routine.

For the first time in years, he’d allowed himself to consider there could be more to his life than working cattle. He’d begun to imagine a life with someone at his side. He had to be realistic. There was no use longing for things he could never have.

Spencer brooded, staring at the flickering lantern, its dim light piercing the darkness enveloping him. Much the same as the faltering hope in his heart. Hope that refused to be extinguished, despite all his efforts to smother it.

Spencer rose with a weary sigh, splashing some water on his face from the wash basin. He had to pull himself together. There were more pressing matters than his personal woes. They’d recovered the missing cattle, but the rustlers were still out there, waiting for another chance.

After eating a large helping of the stew and biscuits the women had delivered, he stepped outside, surveying the yard. All was quiet now, but the threat still lurked in the shadows. The rustlers were growing bolder, and he feared what they might try next.

As Spencer walked toward the barn to check on the horses, light from the living room of the ranch house caught his attention. Glancing toward it, he saw a silhouette pass by the large front windows. Eliza.

He started to turn away, to force himself to stop staring after her like a lovelorn fool. Something made him pause.

An uneasy prickle at the back of his neck, a sense of foreboding clawing at him.

Spencer narrowed his eyes, peering into the darkness surrounding the house. His hand dropped to rest on the butt of his revolver as his senses strained for any sign of movement, any hint of danger.

He began to stride toward the house, then stilled. A wisp of air passed by his head.

Spencer whirled, gun leaping into his hand at the sight of at least a dozen Crow warriors.