Page 52 of Repentance and Absolution

Riding home in the starlight, with the lantern in my hand and the puff of our exhales hanging in the night air, I felt warmed by the memories of the Trelawneys’ cozy home. Oscar kept Onyx close by so he could share the light from the single lantern.

We’d just come out of the trees near our place when he pulled Onyx to a stop.

“Jimmy. Jimmy, stop. Look,” he whispered.

I pulled Dixie up and glanced beside me. Oscar sat still in his saddle, staring at the night sky, his head tilted right back, hands loose on the reins as Onyx shuffled from one hoof to the other.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many stars,” he said, his voice hushed and reverent.

I lowered my lantern and gazed upward at the broad expanse above us, rife with sparkles and twinkles of starlight.

“Makes me think of the Christmas story from the Bible,” I said.

“Glory to God in the highest Heaven, and on Earth, peace and goodwill toward men,” Oscar recited, his gaze moving from the heavens to meet mine. “I remember that pretty well, though I’ve lost most of my other Bible teachings.” He shrugged.

I blinked back sudden emotion. “I reckon that’s the important bit.”

“Yeah,” he said.

We stared at each other as we sat our horses under the stars and thought about the meaning of this special day. Then Dixie snorted and jingled her bit like she was saying,Come on now. I’m cold. Let’s get home.

“All right, all right,” I crooned. “Let’s go, then.”

By the time we’d got the horses sorted out, watered and cozy in the stable, and had stomped the snow off our boots and hung up our coats and hats, we were plumb exhausted, what with all the good food and the liquor. We added wood to the stove then pulled off our trousers and shirts and got into bed in our union suits, snuffing the lantern and snugging up in the darkness.

“You reckon it’s Christmas Day yet, Jimmy?”

“My pocketwatch is in my vest still, but I’m sure ’tis.”

“Merry Christmas, then,” Oscar said in a sleepy, slurred voice.

“Merry Christmas, my love, my heart,” I whispered, kissing him on the cheek as he gave me a drowsy glance then drifted to sleep. I followed shortly, blessed to be warm, cozy and well fed in the middle of the deep, dark winter.

Chapter Twelve

Merry Christmas

T’was almost eleven when we woke the next morning to a bright Christmas Day. I went to feed the animals and turn them out, while Oscar loaded wood into the stove and got out what I’d need to make him breakfast.

“You making me flapjacks like you promised, Jimmy?”

“Did I promise you flapjacks?”

Oscar frowned. “You said you’d make me flapjacks for breakfast on Christmas Day. Youdidpromise.”

“Oh, that’s right. I remember,” I said. “But I want to give you something first.”

Oscar’s lips curled in a saucy grin. “Oh, I see. Well, I ain’t got no objections to a quick tumble.”

I rolled my eyes. “That ain’t what I meant. I got you a present.”

I opened the drawer and took out the small parcel I’d had the clerk in the store wrap up for me.

Oscar’s grin had vanished, and he peered at me with astonishment. “A present? For me?”

“Yes,” I said, my breaths quickening, hoping he would like it.

His eyelids fluttered as he gazed at the brown paper tied closed with a bit of string. “I ain’t got nothing for you, Jimmy. I didn’t know we were gonna get each other presents.”