Page 15 of On a Midnight Clear

It seemed to take hours to get the windows exposed, but when they were finally ready, Angel took a piece of kindling and used it to light the candles and lamps.

The light seemed insignificant at first, but as more and more was added, the glow became quite impressive.

Hopefully Vincent would be able to see it and find his way home.

The candles and lamps added warmth to the house. Those, along with the fireplace and stove, made the house quite com fortable. It would be a welcome to the boys when they made it back.

Angel continued to pray as she paced from window to window, looking out into the snow. There was no sign of it letting up, but the wind had seemed to lessen. She sighed. What a way to spend Christmas Eve. Her shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks by night, but were they safe themselves?

She fed Ava and tried to eat something herself, but found it stuck in her throat. She’d worked all week on a variety of treats and let Ava have whatever she wanted. But the poor child wanted only for her father and brother to return safely.

When the clock struck nine, Ava had already nodded off to sleep on the sofa. Angel didn’t have the heart to wake her and send her upstairs. Instead, she took out a warm blanket and wrapped it around Ava and prayed for her and the others.

At ten, Angel took new candles and went from window to window to replace those that had burned down too low to be of much use. She knew it would be a cost to replace their supply, but she couldn’t help but feel it was the right thing to do.

The wind continued to blow and howl. It was a maddening sound that wearied Angel to the bone.

She kept watching and waiting but couldn’t help growing sleepy.

She sat down on the end of the sofa, adjusted the blanket over Ava, and gazed at the flames in the fireplace.

That was her undoing, and she nodded off to sleep without meaning to.

A noise awakened her, but Angel couldn’t quite tell where it was coming from.

She listened and heard it again. It sounded like someone knocking.

She jumped up from the sofa and hurried to the front door.

Opening it, she found Vincent, caked in snow and ice.

Benjamin was in his arms. She stepped back to let him inside, then closed the door securely.

“Oh, we were so afraid for you both!”

“Benjamin got lost. I think he hit his head; he’s unconscious.” Vincent could barely speak.

Angel took the boy from his father and carried him to the dining room table. She began pulling off the snow-encrusted coat, then his hat and scarf. There was a goose egg on his forehead. His skin was pale and icy cold.

“We need to get him warmed up.” She looked at Vincent. “You need to get warm too. Go sit by the fire.”

“No, I’ll help you.”

“You’ll be no help unless you take care of yourself. Get out of your wet clothes. Go. I’m fine. I’ll see to Benjamin.”

Vincent looked at his son. He seemed unable to move.

Angel gave him a gentle push toward the fire, then went back to working on Benjamin.

She rid him of the snowy wet clothes, then wrapped him in one of the blankets she’d been warming by the fireplace.

Next, she picked him up and carried him to the fire, settling on the floor with him still in her arms. As gently as possible, she placed him by the hearth and grabbed another blanket.

She pulled it around him and began rubbing each of his legs and feet.

They were like ice. Next, she did the same for his arms and hands, gently massaging each finger.

Once this was done, she started over again.

Benjamin gave a bit of a moan, but still didn’t awaken.

Angel began to pray as never before. She loved this boy, and like Vincent, she couldn’t bear the idea of losing him.

Vincent had managed to rid himself of his wet clothes. Angel wasn’t sure how he’d done it so quickly, but he’d already dressed in dry trousers and a flannel shirt. “What can I do?”

“Get me some water and a couple of dish towels. Oh, and get a bowl of snow for his head.”

Vincent didn’t say a word but went to work quickly retrieving the items. Angel kept rubbing Benjamin’s feet and hands. She could feel that the warmth was returning to his body. She prayed that he wouldn’t suffer frostbite and that he’d soon awaken from the blow to his head.

When Vincent returned, Angel dipped one of the dish towels in the water and began wiping Benjamin’s face.

“Benjamin, it’s time to wake up. It’s almost Christmas,” she said as she gently cared for him.

She put the towel aside and reached for the snow Vincent had packed into another bowl.

She formed it into several small balls the size of grapes and put it in one of the dry towels before placing it on his forehead.

“I hate to make him cold again, but we need to get the swelling down. How did this happen?”

“I honestly don’t know. We had trouble moving the sheep.

They were spooked by the storm. Even Daisy was upset, and it takes a lot to unnerve that little donkey.

Finally got them in the shelter fold. I told Benjamin to go secure the gate.

The wind was blowing it back and forth. After that, I’m not sure what happened.

I think the gate must have hit him in the head and knocked him out.

I couldn’t find him at first. He’d fallen in a drift, and like I said, I couldn’t see much.

I felt around and finally found him, and he was like this. ”

“I’m so glad you found him.”

“I wasn’t about to come back without him.” Vincent’s worried gaze met hers. “I can’t lose him, Angel.”

“You won’t. He’s going to be fine.” She didn’t know what else to say, even though in her heart she was more than a little concerned that she was giving him false hope.

Please , God , please bring Benjamin back to us. Wake him up and let him be just fine .

The boy moaned again and moved his arms. Vincent knelt down beside him. “Benjamin. Benjamin, it’s Papa. Wake up, son. It’s time to wake up.” He gently brushed back the boy’s hair.

Angel held her breath as Benjamin’s eyes fluttered open. He seemed to be unable to focus at first, but then he looked at his father.

“Pa ... did I ... did I get the gate closed?”

Vincent laughed and grabbed his son and cradled him close. “You did, but I think the gate got the best of you. You hit your head, or something hit you.”

“It hurts.”

“I’ll bet it does.” He held Benjamin close and smiled over him at Angel.

“I’ll make him some willow bark tea. That will help with the pain.” She got up and hurried to the kitchen. She whispered thanks to God as she made the tea. She also offered petitions for Benjamin’s continued healing. They weren’t out of the woods yet.

By the time she returned to the fire with the tea, Benjamin was telling his story.

“It was so dark. I couldn’t see to grab hold of the gate, and the wind knocked me back. That’s all I remember,” he was telling his father.

“I think the gate must have hit you in the head. You’ve got quite the bump.”

“Here, drink this. I put some honey in it, so it shouldn’t taste too bad.” Angel squatted down and handed Benjamin the cup.

“Thanks. Why are all the candles burning?” Benjamin gazed around the room.

Angel smiled and sat down beside them. “Ava prayed for God to give you light in the darkness, and it got me thinking that maybe we could help.”

“We needed it,” Vincent said, shaking his head.

“The two lanterns I had both went out. One I dropped, and the one I hung near the gate probably ran out of oil. There was no light. Things were as black as pitch. When I found Benjamin, I followed the fence for a ways, but I couldn’t see much of anything.

Then I must have come around the south side of the barn because all of a sudden there was the house, and the windows were lit up.

I thought it must be a mirage. You know, like how thirsty folks see water when they’re lost in the desert. ”

“The light saved us,” Benjamin murmured. “Just like Jesus is the Light and He saves us.”

“Yes,” Angel said, taking his hand. “It’s just like that.”

“So maybe God really does forgive me for being so mad at Him.” It was more statement than question. “Maybe He understands how ... I felt losing Mama. Just like you said He would, Angel.” Benjamin’s words touched her heart.

“Yes, He knows and understands.” Angel touched his cheek, and he didn’t flinch away. “He’ll always be there for us ... for each one of us.”

Once Benjamin was comfortably resting on a pallet by the fire, Vincent checked on Ava and found her sleeping soundly.

She seemed completely free of worry and care.

It was actually the best of Christmas gifts.

All he had wanted was for his children to be able to go on without their mother .

.. to be happy. Angel had made that happen.

He could see that even Benjamin was finally coming around.

He went in search of Angel and found her in the bedroom. She had changed into a nightgown and was brushing out her hair. For a long moment, he stood and watched without her being aware. How he loved her. He stepped forward and touched her long blond strands. They were silky and soft.

She turned and stood, smiling at him. “I finally got the candles put away and the lamps too. Since the wind died down and the snow seems to have stopped, I didn’t risk opening the windows to close the shutters again.”

“Thank you. Thank you for shining the light. Not just tonight, but ever since you came here. You’ve been such a blessing.” He pulled her into his arms and held her close. “I love you, Angel. For so many reasons.”

“I love you, Vincent.” She lifted her eyes to his. “I’ve loved you for a long time, even though I set it aside for all those years.”

“Never do that again.” He took hold of her face. “Love me now and always, and I will love you the same.”

She gave a slight nod, just before he captured her mouth with his.