The Christmas Journey (25 page)

And unlike Knotty Pine, Philadelphia was close to other, interesting, exciting places. They could take the occasional trek along the coast from here.

Even Aunt Pearl couldn’t find much to fault with that.

She saw the flare of relief—and something deeper—in Ry’s expression, and knew she’d made the right choice.

Then he went down on one knee and her heart threatened to pound its way clear out of her chest.

“Josephine Wylie,” his deep, strong voice sent a thrumming deep inside of her, “would you do me the very great honor of agreeing to be my wife?”

The joy surging through her was almost overwhelming. “Oh, Ry, yes.”

Between one heartbeat and the next he was beside her again, pulling her to him in a fierce hug. Then he took her face between his hands and leaned in to kiss her.

This kiss was different from the first—this one spoke of claiming and being claimed, of a future together, and of the rightness of this moment.

When at last they parted, Josie rested against the crook of his arm with a contented sigh. “I never thought I could be so happy.”

He squeezed her shoulder. “I promise to do everything I can to make certain you stay this happy.”

She glanced up, meeting his gaze. “Everything has come together so well. You can’t help but see God’s hand in all of it.”

“Amen.”

Josie gave a contented sigh. “We’re going to be so happy
here. You can continue to work in your grandfather’s law practice, and I can sell Cora Beth’s fruitcakes so the family won’t miss the income from the livery.”

She felt Ry stiffen, felt his subtle withdrawal. Had she said something wrong?

He pushed away from her just enough to stare into her eyes. “You don’t understand,” he said slowly. “I’m not planning to stay in Philadelphia.”

Josie blinked, feeling her brow furrow. Surely she hadn’t heard right. “What?”

“I don’t want to make our home here.” His tone was firmer, as if he could convince her he was making sense just by sounding more assured.

She shrugged out of his embrace. “You decided on Hawk’s Creek?”

“No.”

Hope mingled with the confusion in her mind. Somewhere else then. A new place. “Where—”

He took her hand. “Josie, I want to settle in Knotty Pine.”

No! She hadn’t heard right. He had to be pulling her leg. But he looked so serious…“Knotty Pine?”

His earnest expression seemed to beg her to understand. “All this time I’ve been trying to decide between Philadelphia and Hawk’s Creek. It was like trying to choose between Grandfather, and Griff and Sadie, between being a lawyer and being a horse breeder.” He spread his hands. “It never occurred to me, until I talked to Viola this morning, that there were other options, that there was a way to live a fuller life.”

“But Knotty Pine?” She pulled her hand away from his and stood. “You have the whole world to choose from.”

He stood, watching her pace. “Viola likes it there. She misses Audrey and the rest of your family. And I think she’s
more comfortable in a small town than in a city like this. As for me,” he paused, as if gathering his thoughts, “well, I like the idea of a fresh start. And I like Knotty Pine and the people there just fine.”

Easy for him to say, he’d already seen something of the world.

“Most importantly, though, is that I want Viola to have family close by while she’s growing up.”

She stilled. “You don’t have family in Knotty Pine.”

He smiled. “Oh, but I do. Someone once said family isn’t restricted to the folks you’re kin to. Viola reminded me of that again today. That wonderful, eccentric, generous household who resides at the Knotty Pine Boardinghouse is very much family. They—you—took me in and made me feel welcome. You all cared for first me and then Viola, accepting us for who we are, and generously welcoming us into your midst. That’s the kind of people I want in my life and in Viola’s life.”

He stepped closer. “But it won’t be complete unless you’re one of those people.”

She raised her hands, palms out. “Stop! I finally have a chance to taste what I’ve been dreaming of my whole life. I was even willing to compromise, to set down roots
here
. It’s not fair of you to ask me to go back to the life I had before.”

“But—”

“No!” She wouldn’t take the chance that he would talk her into this ridiculous scheme. “Starting this business means I won’t be chained to the livery any more.” It was her turn to reach for his hands. “Don’t you understand? I’m willing to give up my desire to travel, to settle down
here
with you and Viola.”

His jaw worked. “But not in Knotty Pine.”

She squeezed his hands, trying to let her determination flow through to him. “Have you really thought this through? Are you ready to give up lawyering? There’s not enough
business in all of Knotty Pine to keep even one lawyer busy full time.”

“I don’t plan to be a full-time lawyer. Sure, I’ll open an office and be available to anyone who needs my services. But I intend to find a suitable piece of land and move my stable from Hawk’s Creek.”

She dropped his hands, feeling suddenly brittle as glass. “So, you have it all figured out so you can have everything you ever wanted.”

“I was hoping it would be what we both wanted.”

She turned away. “You were wrong.”

There was a long moment of silence.

“Yes, I suppose I was,” he finally said.

The heaviness in his voice tore at her and she turned back around. Surely they could get through this, could still find a way to make it work.

But his expression was closed, remote. “Will you at least be returning with us for Christmas?”

He was still leaving? “Does what I want mean so little to you? Can’t we take some time, see if we can make it work
here
?”

His jaw tightened. “If it was just me, I would say yes. But I have Viola to think about now, and while she’d adjust, I don’t think she’d be truly happy here. I won’t compromise her happiness for my own.” His gaze intensified. “Don’t ever doubt, not even for one minute, that your happiness is important to me. That’s why I’m not going to press you any further to come with us.”

Her stomach churned. “When are you leaving?”

“The day after tomorrow. You didn’t answer me—will you come with us?”

Just like that, he and Viola would be out of her life. “Your grandfather thinks I should spend Christmas here.” She traced the scrollwork on the mantle with her finger. “The holidays will
be the best time to get folks interested in buying the fruitcakes.” She jutted out her chin. “Of course, I plan to go back for a visit after the new year.”

A muscle in his jaw jumped. “I see.” He gave her a short bow. “If you’ll excuse me, I have some business to attend to.”

Josie stared at the door after Ry left, wondering for a moment if she’d made the right choice.

He’d proposed, for goodness sake. This wonderful, generous, God-fearing, more-stubborn-than-a-balky-mule man had gotten down on one knee and asked for her hand. He’d looked at her with such love in his eyes that just remembering it was almost her undoing.

She did love him, more than she’d ever believed possible. And Viola too. So much so that the thought of being separated for a long period from them was like being kicked in the gut.

But he’d asked too much of her. Why couldn’t he have met her halfway? She’d spent her whole life putting the needs of other folks first. It was finally time to think of herself.

So why did it feel so awful?

Josie sank down onto the sofa, crossing her arms over her chest, trying to hold the hurt inside.
Dear Father, give me the strength to get through this. You’ve taken me so far on the road to achieving my dream, opened so many doors to me that I never even imagined existed. Help me to see the good in this too and not focus on the things I can’t have.

She buried her face in her arms and let the tears flow.

Ry went straight from the parlor to his grandfather’s study.

“Well, hello, my boy. I didn’t realize you were home.”

“I’ve come to let you know Viola and I are leaving for Knotty Pine in two days.”

His grandfather raised a brow. “Not Miss Wylie?”

“Miss Wylie has decided, based on your advice, I believe, that it would be best for her new business venture to remain here for now in order to establish herself.”

Grandfather nodded. “She has a fine head on her shoulders, that one. I can see why you’re so taken with her.” He leaned back. “But if she’s decided to stay here through the holidays, surely there’s no need for you and Viola to leave.”

“You misunderstood. We’re not returning to Knotty Pine merely to spend Christmas. I plan to establish a permanent residence there.”

His grandfather stiffened. “You can’t be serious.”

“I assure you, sir, I’ve never been more serious in my life.”

“Ry, think about what you’re doing. How can you throw away your career, the connections you’ve established, to bury yourself in some backwater town that won’t appreciate your talents?” He narrowed his eyes. “You’re making the same mistake your mother made, and look what happened to her.”

Ry was done tiptoeing around that particular issue. “What happened to her, sir, is that she lived fully and joyously, at the side of a man she loved and who loved her deeply. She bore three children and did her best to instill in each of them a spirit of self-confidence, integrity and grace.”

Remembering he was talking about his grandfather’s only child, Ry tempered his tone. “The fact that she died young is something that grieves me as much as it does you. But I truly believe she wouldn’t have traded the life she had for even one extra day on this earth.”

His grandfather’s face reddened alarmingly. “Are you saying she preferred that uncivilized, heathen outpost to life with me?”

“I’m saying she wasn’t afraid to leave the comforts of home to embrace the life she wanted. And that I aim to follow her example.”

With that, Ry turned on his heel and left the room.

And then the irony struck him. Josie, in her own way, was attempting to do the very same thing. He rubbed his jaw as some of the anger drained from him. She had a right to pursue the life she believed would bring her the most joy, even if he didn’t agree with her choice.

Still, he couldn’t help but mourn the loss of the life they could have built together.

Josie shifted in her chair as the second course was served. She’d thought about pleading a headache and having dinner in her room, but she’d never taken the coward’s way out, and she didn’t aim to start now.

For Viola’s sake she tried to pretend all was well, as did Ry. But the girl sensed something was wrong and it didn’t take her long to figure out just what was at the heart of the matter.

“Aunt Josie, aren’t you coming back to Knotty Pine with us?”

She gave Viola a regretful smile, doing her best to avoid direct eye contact with Ry. “Not right away, sweetie. I have some business to take care of here in Philadelphia.”

“She’s going to keep me company,” Mr. Wallace added. “I’ll get mighty lonely with you and your Uncle Ry gone.”

“Oh.” Viola chewed on her lip, then nodded.

Ry speared a piece of potato with his fork. “So what are your plans for the livery? Sell it?”

It was the first comment he’d directed her way all evening. “I couldn’t do that,” she responded. “I always planned for Danny to take it over when he got old enough.”

Ry raised a brow. “Are you sure that’s what
he
wants?”

Josie was taken aback by the question. “Of course. I mean, it’s what we planned, even before Pa passed on.” But had Danny ever said it was what he wanted? She couldn’t remember.

Ry let that question go and returned to his original one. “If you’re not planning to sell it, and you’re not coming back to run it, then what
are
you planning? Surely you don’t think Danny’s ready to take it on by himself yet.”

Was he baiting her? “Of course not. He needs to stay in school.”

“Actually,” Mr. Wallace intervened, “I suggested she take on a partner, someone who’s willing to run the place and split the profits with her.”

“I see.” Ry nodded. “So the family continues to receive a stream of income, even if somewhat reduced.”

“Yes.” She felt a need to explain, to make him see that she knew what she was doing. “But there’ll be one less mouth to feed, and there’ll soon be an additional source of income from the new business.”

“Have you got someone in mind?”

“I have some ideas. I—”

“Let me make this easy for you.
I’ll
be your partner.”

She dropped her wrists to the table. “You don’t have to do that.” Was he offering her charity?

“I know I don’t have to. I want to. And this has nothing to do with you.”

Josie hoped her flinch didn’t show.

“Once I have my stable established, I’ll want to make certain the bridle shop is well run.”