Page 21 of A Redemption Mountain Christmas (Redemption Mountain #27)

Eliza awoke to the stillness of the ranch on Christmas Eve morning. Though the house was full, an odd hush lay over her. She rose, dressed, and made her way downstairs, where voices drifted from the dining room.

She found the long table nearly filled. Dax, Rachel, and their children, Patrick and James, sat at one end with Lucien, Booker, Tommy, and Sherilyn clustered around them.

Tommy and Sherilyn chattered about the coming holiday while Eliza studied Lucien’s somber face.

His presence still troubled her, though she could not deny the comfort he brought the children.

Nor could she ignore the flutter in her heart whenever Spencer was near.

At the thought of him, she glanced around, realizing he hadn’t joined them.

Rachel noticed her, waving her over. “Good morning, Eliza. Come, join us.”

Eliza settled into a chair beside Lucien.

His eyes crinkled with a subtle smile. “Morning, Doc.”

“Good morning, Lucien,” she said as platters of ham, eggs, and biscuits were passed around.

Lucien nodded. “I’ve learned the children are quite fond of you.”

“I assure you, it’s mutual.”

As the meal wound down, she found herself glancing again at the empty chair beside her. Though he most often ate breakfast with the other ranch hands, she couldn’t deny how much she wished he were there.

Eliza’s musings were interrupted as Rachel stood, indicating breakfast had ended.

She helped Rachel clean up, then slipped into her heavy coat, tugging on boots and gloves.

As she stepped outside, the brisk air reddened her cheeks.

Tugging up the fur-lined hood, she decided to take a quick walk to check on Shining Star.

The pregnant woman smiled in greeting as Eliza entered. Billy closed the door behind her, before moving to stand beside his wife.

“Morning,” Eliza said. “I wanted to see how our patient is faring today.”

Billy looked at Shining Star and smiled. “Tell the doctor how you’re feeling today.”

“I am ready to have this baby.”

Eliza chuckled, seeing the slight strain on the young woman’s face. “I’m sure you are. I’ll be going with Spencer and the others to the church service this afternoon. Do you plan to attend?”

Shining Star looked at Billy.

“We’ve decided it would be best to stay here,” he said. “If you and Rachel are both gone, then it might be best to go. What do you think?”

Eliza thought a moment. “It may be best. Bull is taking the large wagon with two bench seats, so there will be room for you. She’ll need to stay warm, so we should bring extra blankets.”

“What do you think, Shining Star?” he asked.

“Maybe we should go with the doctor. All the women and children will be gone, and Spirit Bear wants to go, too.”

“All right. We’ll go with you.”

“Excellent,” she said. “Spencer said we should leave early.”

“I’ll ask Bull,” Billy said, taking Shining Star’s hand in his.

“Well, then, I’ll see you at the wagon this afternoon.” Eliza headed back out into the cold.

Her breath clouded before her as she glanced around, hoping to spot Spencer. But the yard was empty save for two ranch hands tossing hay into the horse corrals.

“Eliza.” She looked toward the house, seeing Rachel waving to her from the porch. Crossing the distance, she walked up the steps.

“Lucien and Booker had decided to ride into town this morning to speak with Horace Clausen about their need for a house. When Tommy and Sherilyn heard the news, they became upset.”

Eliza’s brows drew together. “Feeling abandoned again?”

“Perhaps. Ginny and I were going to drive to town early to help Martha deliver the presents to the orphanage. Dax suggested we all go early. Once the presents are delivered, we can meet at the church. Would you like to come with us?”

“I would, except Spencer asked me to ride in with him.”

“I do recall hearing him talk to Bull about driving the larger wagon. We’ll be leaving soon and meet you at the church.” Rachel grinned as she hurried to get ready.

Several minutes later, the wagons rumbled down the road toward town. Eliza waved after them before she turned to scan the ranch area once again.

Spencer had been noticeably absent all morning. She wondered if he’d been sent to check on the herd. She also couldn’t blame him if he was ignoring her, maybe having second thoughts. This thing between them was complicated, with no easy answers.

Part of her urged caution, knowing she still might move on come spring. Another part insisted she stay, discover if a life with Spencer was possible.

She sighed, her breath fogging the air. She cared a great deal for him, but was it enough to alter the course she’d charted for herself?

Whatever she decided come spring, for now, this place had become home.

Spencer continued to toss hay onto the ground from the feed house north of the ranch house. He and two others had ridden out early to make sure the cattle had enough until the following morning.

Stopping, he leaned against the pitchfork, allowing himself a minute to rest. He thought of Eliza and how she’d allowed him to see her tender heart the previous evening.

The woman he’d come to know was unexpected.

Nothing about her was the same as how she’d presented herself when first arriving in Splendor.

Her distress witnessing the children reuniting with their uncle had come as a surprise. He wondered how he could’ve ever thought Eliza possessed a cold heart. Hers was as warm as any woman he’d ever known.

He thought of what he planned and how she’d respond. They’d known each other for such a short time. Less than a month. Could he rely on his feelings after a few weeks? Spencer had no answer.

“Hey, Spencer,” Tom called out, using his one good arm to spread out the hay.

He turned to look at his friend. “What?”

“We’ve spread out enough hay. Let’s get back to the ranch.”

They rode into the stable an hour later, removing their saddles and tack. Spencer left to find Bull, expecting him to be in one of the other barns. Glancing toward the house, his pace slowed. Eliza sat on a rocker with a blanket covering her legs while she read something in a large book.

Stopping, he turned around. So engrossed in whatever she was reading, she didn’t look up until his boots sounded on the steps.

“Spencer…”

“Sure is quiet around here.” He took a seat in the rocker next to hers.

“Almost everyone left for town to deliver the presents to the orphanage. We’re going to meet them at the church. Assuming we’re still riding in together.”

“Of course we are.”

“I wanted to make sure. We’ll be riding with Bull, Lydia, Billy, and Shining Star in the large wagon.”

He nodded, considering. “It has two bench seats, which will give us enough room. How is Shining Star doing?”

“As of a few hours ago, she’s fine. Billy knows to come for me if the contractions return.”

“Is it safe for her to go into town?”

“They decided with most everyone else in town, there’d be no one with medical training to help if the baby does come,” she answered.

He nodded. “What are you reading?”

“A medical journal I brought with me. It chronicles new research.”

“Sounds interesting.” He reached out, placing his hand over hers.

Laughing, she closed the book. “It isn’t for anyone who isn’t a doctor.”

They fell silent as they rocked, watching horses graze on the hay in a corral to the side of the large barn. “If it was spring, I’d get you on a horse for a ride to the creek. Maybe if you stay long enough.”

Right this moment, with Spencer sitting a few inches away, his fingers threaded with hers, she wanted to be here in the spring to take the ride.

The big wagon, as those on the ranch called it, was just that.

Wider and longer than the other wagon at the ranch, four people could sit in comfort on each of the two benches.

The back was deep, able to hold enough wood to build a small cabin or stable, or deliver every window in the large ranch house.

Bull and Lydia sat on the front bench, and at Shining Star’s insistence, she, Billy, Spencer, and Eliza were on the second.

Bull had loaded the back with loose hay and lots of extra blankets.

Just in case. The extra weight also helped to stabilize the wagon, which rumbled over bumps in the trail easier than the smaller wagons.

As they traveled toward town, the men entertained the women with stories of their time on the ranch.

Eliza found herself mesmerized by what they’d gone through for the life they’d created on the frontier.

Her life seemed so old-fashioned and narrow in comparison.

She wondered if San Francisco would make her feel alive in the same way as Splendor.

Reaching town, Lydia spotted the others from the ranch and waved. The last two days had been warmer than usual, resulting in melted snow and foot-deep mud. Even though the women wore boots, the men carried the women from the wagon to the steps of the church.

After Spencer set Eliza down and she straightened her dress and coat, he snagged her hand to walk inside.

By the smiles and nods from others, the gesture didn’t go unnoticed as they found seats on one of the two long pews Rachel and Ginny had saved.

Behind them, Spencer’s sister, Dorinda, leaned forward to whisper in his ear, causing her brother to blush. Eliza could barely contain a chuckle.

Spencer didn’t let go of her hand. Not when the choir walked in, not when everyone stood to sing, and not when Reverend Paige entered.

Eliza glanced over at Spencer, his handsome profile bathed in candlelight as he sang along to the opening hymn. She gave his hand a small squeeze, overcome with emotion.

After the opening hymns, they took their seats on the wooden pews. She spotted Lucien, Tommy, Julia, and Booker in the row in front of them, little Sherilyn perched happily on her uncle’s lap.

Eliza was jolted from her observations by the pastor beginning his sermon. She tried to focus on his words about new beginnings and leaving the past behind. But Spencer’s thumb gently caressing her palm kept distracting her in the most wonderful way.

She studied his handsome profile again as he listened attentively to the pastor. The flickering candlelight illuminated his chiseled features. Sensing her watching, he turned and met her gaze.

Eliza listened as the reverend used Bible verses to illustrate all the times significant figures were called upon to start over and build their lives anew.

She found herself thinking of Lucien and the children, Booker and his sister, and of herself.

Eliza wondered if she had the same courage as those who’d come before her.

At the end of the service, as had become a tradition, Beauty DeBell sang Silent Night, Holy Night , bringing many to tears.

The pastor concluded the service, inviting the congregation to share the refreshments in the community building. Spencer turned to Eliza, his golden-brown eyes twinkling.

Eliza smiled up at him, her decision made. This rugged ranch hand had stolen her heart, and she would follow it wherever it led. Starting with the rest of this wonderful Christmas Eve.