The Christmas Journey (27 page)

R
y watched as Cora Beth settled everyone around the tree. They’d just returned from the church service and the children were eyeing the stack of presents with more than mild anticipation. He smiled at the glow in Viola’s face. She was thriving here, in the middle of this warm, loving family. Thriving in a way she never would have in his grandfather’s home or at the ranch.

This was how Christmas had been celebrated when his mother was still alive—everyone gathered in the parlor, laughing, exchanging gifts, bursting with anticipation and excitement. He didn’t realize how much he’d missed this kind of interaction, how big a hole it had left in his life, until now.

At least he and Griff had started the healing process. He and Viola had stopped off and spent a day at Hawk’s Creek on their way back to Knotty Pine.

He’d ridden out alone with Griff and they’d talked about a lot of things—about cattle and horses and the weather.

Then Ry had talked about that first year with his grandfather, how he’d come to make the decisions he had, how that had affected everything he touched from then on. He hadn’t tried
to gloss over any of it, hadn’t made excuses or tried to place blame. And he’d apologized to Griff.

Afterward, when they were all together again, Ry had started talking about the good memories he had of their mother. Before long, Griff and Sadie had joined in with memories of their own. And they’d found themselves laughing in a way they hadn’t in years.

The breach hadn’t been completely healed when he and Viola left—it had been there too long for that. But they’d made a start and Ry was confident that he and his brother would become friends again.

Pippa handed him a package, bringing Ry’s attention back to the here and now.

According to Wylie family tradition, each person in turn, starting with the youngest, handed out the presents they were giving the others. Once Pippa sat, everyone tore into their gifts.

The youngest of the clan had drawn pictures for everyone—his was of a stick man chopping down a large, oddly shaped tree.

Lottie handed hers out next—cutouts of paper butterflies for the female family members and paper snails for the males.

Audrey gave each person penny candy. She’d selected licorice whips for him.

Viola, whom he’d helped shop for everyone else in the room, gave him a wooden carving of a horse. Had Josie helped her select this?

Danny gave him a belt he’d made himself from strips of leather at the bridle shop.

As he added Danny’s gift to the pile at his side, Ry heard the distant wail of the train whistle. He glanced at the little red engine hanging on the tree.

How was Josie faring with her first big-city Christmas? Was she enjoying the parties? The elegant decorations and sumptu
ous foods? Was she exploring Philadelphia, planning excursions to nearby cities?

Had she found the happiness she’d sought?

“She’ll come around.”

Ry looked up to find Cora Beth standing in front of him, holding out a package.

“What do you mean?”

“Just what I said, she’ll come around. Josie can be mighty stubborn sometimes, but she’s a smart girl.”

He smiled, touched by her attempt to reassure him. “I’m sure things will turn out just as they ought.” What he wasn’t certain of was if he’d be happy with that outcome.

She handed him the package. “Here, this is for you.”

Ry opened the gift to find an intricately stitched sampler, the center of which read Home Sweet Home.

She smiled. “I thought you could hang it in your new home, once you move in.”

How many hours had she spent stitching this? Did she blame him at all for taking her sister away? “Thank you. This was mighty thoughtful.” He stood. “Now, it’s my turn.”

He reached under the tree and pulled out a stack of packages. He’d purchased some of the gifts in Philadelphia—a steel-handled magnifying glass for Uncle Grover, a new pocketknife for Danny, and multicolored hair ribbons for Audrey. But the others he’d made himself. For Cora Beth he’d made a bookstand suitable for holding her husband’s family Bible, and for each of the twins he’d made building blocks in various sizes and shapes.

It had felt good to do it. When he was growing up they’d always made gifts for each other at Christmas. Somehow, though, as he’d gotten older, it had just become easier to purchase something.

For Viola he’d done both. He’d bought her a brass flute from a music shop in Philadelphia and he’d made a carved wooden box to put it in. Cora Beth had helped him, taking care of the satin lining inside. And because he knew it would mean something to Viola, he even made a new collar for Daffy, complete with a small silver bell at the throat.

He looked down at the last parcel, the one that contained Josie’s gift. He should’ve shipped it to Philadelphia, but somehow he’d hoped—

“Looks like I missed most of the fun.” Ry’s head snapped up at that sound of that oh-so-familiar voice.

“Josie!”

He wasn’t certain which of the girls squealed her name the loudest.

Suddenly there was bedlam as everyone scrambled to their feet.

Everyone but him. He couldn’t move, couldn’t take his eyes off her. She looked beautiful. Cheeks red from the cold, a slight breathlessness emphasizing the rise and fall of her chest, the green and gold of her traveling suit enhancing the sparkle of her eyes. And it was those eyes that held him captive, those eyes that seemed to be saying something only to him.

Then she dropped her parcels as she was mobbed, everyone eager to welcome her home, everyone full of questions about what had changed her mind.

He’d like to know the answer to that one himself.

Josie attempted to answer them over the din, but her gaze remained fixed on his.

Ry slowly stood but didn’t approach her, afraid to move in case he’d just conjured her image from his wayward thoughts.

Finally, Cora Beth got everyone’s attention. “I know we’re all excited to see Jo, but let’s give her a chance to catch her breath.”

Josie gave a nervous laugh, still not looking away from him.
“Sorry I didn’t give y’all more warning. It was a sudden decision and I was so anxious to get the earliest train out of Philadelphia, there was barely time to think everything through.”

Why had she come? How long did she plan to stay? The questions tumbled through his mind but still he held his peace.

“We’re just glad you’re here to spend Christmas with us.” Cora Beth gave her sister a hug. Then she stepped aside and looked from Josie to Ry and back again. “Children, let’s go check on that goose I have in the oven. Uncle Grover, I could use your help as well.”

Her maneuvering was a bit heavy-handed, but at this point Ry didn’t care. He tried to keep his expectations in check, to simply enjoy the moment. She’d probably just come home for the holidays.

Stop just staring at her and say something. “So, you decided to spend Christmas with your family after all.”

She nodded, then wet her lips. “I hear you bought the old Rodgers place and are building a house.”

His turn to nod. “I hope to have everything ready by the first of the year. Though Viola is going to miss living here.”

“Sounds like you’re serious about sticking around here.”

“The town has a lot to recommend it.” But not nearly as much as when she’d been a part of it. When were they going to get past these inanities? “I even bought the Boggins Building to use as my law office.”

“Any clients yet?”

He shook his head. “No, but I only put out my sign two days ago.”
Enough of this. Ask her
. “So, how long do you plan to stay around?”

“That depends.”

He fisted his hands at his sides in an effort to keep them from reaching for her. “On what?”

Josie’s insides fluttered. This was it. Time to make herself vulnerable. She’d never been so scared in her life. “On how long you want me to stay.”

Ry stared at her for a long minute, not saying a word. Her senses were suddenly so acute it hurt. She heard the dishes rattling in the kitchen, heard the wind whooshing in rhythmic puffs that rattled the window panes, heard the sound of her own heartbeat. The smell of pine and roast goose and silver polish assailed her nostrils, making her want to sneeze. But mostly it was her vision that threatened to overwhelm her as she stared straight into his eyes, his pewter-gray, honest, beautiful eyes.

Why wasn’t he saying anything?

Then suddenly he was across the room, taking her in his arms. “If that’s the case,” he whispered huskily in her ear, “then you’re never leaving.”

She threw her arms round his neck, wanting to laugh and cry at the same time. “Oh, Ry, I’m so sorry, I should have listened to you, should never have—”

“Shh. No more of that. You figured things out a lot quicker than I ever did.” Then he disengaged her arms from his neck and led her to the sofa. He seated her but remained standing himself. “Are you absolutely certain this is what you want? No regrets?”

“Absolutely.” She took his hand and pulled him down beside her. “Oh, Ry, you were so right—the finest place in the world is empty and lonely without the people you love to share it with. When it snowed, I wanted Danny and the girls to play in it with me. When I tasted something new and exotic, I wanted Cora Beth to have a bite as well. When I visited the Academy of Natural Sciences, I wanted Uncle Grover to show me around and explain what I was looking at.”

She touched his cheek, savoring again the rough, masculine
feel of it. “And there wasn’t a place I visited that I didn’t wish you and Viola were there beside me to share it.”

He pulled her to him again. “Your wish is my command.”

Several minutes later, he popped up and marched to the tree, returning with a large package.

“What’s this?” she asked.

“Your Christmas present. Open it.”

She gave him a curious look, then unwrapped the package. When she lifted the lid her lips formed an
O
of surprise.

With his help, she lifted out the desk globe. “Oh, Ry it’s beautiful.”

“There’s something else.”

She peered inside the box and pulled out another, smaller box that rattled when she shook it. What in the world…

Opening it, she found several dozen colorful tacks. Her gaze flew to his.

“I don’t want you to give up your dreams completely, Josie,” he said solemnly. “This is my real gift to you. Every year, you get to stick one tack in the globe—wherever you want—and we’ll plan a trip there.”

Tears welled up in her eyes. “Oh, Ry, I don’t deserve this.”

“Probably not.”

His words caught her off guard, until she saw his grin. A relieved chuckle bubbled out of her.

“But it’s the only thing I have,” he continued, “so you’ll just have to take it.”

She threw her arms around him again, and this time refused to let go.

“Merry Christmas, Josie,” he whispered. “And welcome home.”

Dear Reader,

Thank you so much for taking the time to read Ry and Josie’s story. I always enjoy the challenge of starting with two people who seem very different and taking them on a journey that shows ultimately how perfect they are for each other.

As always, this story started with a few “what if” questions. What if a man crossed the county to come to the aid a childhood friend and was somehow delayed until it was too late? And then what if he found he had been named guardian to the child of this now deceased friend, a child he never knew existed? Once I had the hero identified, I needed to find a heroine who would challenge him on all levels.

Where Ry was well-to-do and polished, Josie was not only working class, but worked at a job normally held by men. Where Ry was disconnected from his family, Josie’s world revolved around her family. And where Ry had reached a point in his life where he was ready to set down roots, Josie was looking forward to the day when she could fly free.

Bringing these two to their happily-ever-after offered a number of challenges, but I hope you enjoyed following their often bumpy journey as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Wishing you love and blessings,

Winnie Griggs

1. In the opening scene Ry mistakes Josie for a man. Did this seem believable to you? Did you feel his subsequent discomfort over this, given Josie didn’t realize he’d made the mistake, overdone or in character for the kind of man he was?
   
2. Did you feel Josie’s decision to follow Ry and the two bushwhackers was wholly motivated by concern for his well-being or was there a touch of adventure-seeking to it as well?
   
3. During the ambush, both Ry and Josie took great personal risks in order to save the other. Did you find this brave and believable? Or foolhardy and over-the-top? Did you think either was more heroic than the other? Why or why not?
   
4. After the ambush, Ry was torn between his duty to Belle and his duty to Josie, and frustration that he was not in a position to help either of them. Have you ever been caught between two equally urgent needs and forced to make a choice? How did you finally decide?
   
5. Josie’s desire to travel and see the world stemmed from a childhood admiration for a favorite aunt and a wish to follow in her footsteps. Have there been people in your life who helped shape your dreams? In what way?
   
6. Josie was certain that the heavenly Father was arranging matters to help her achieve her long-held dream of traveling the world. Do you think she was wrong to believe
   this? Do you think God uses situations such as these to help us see matters more clearly?
   
7. Did the fact that Ry struggled so much trying to figure out where he wanted to settle down make him seem indecisive, torn or thoughtful?
   
8. Both Ry and Josie thought Viola’s sudden insertion into Ry’s life made it imperative for him to find a wife, but they each had a different take on who that wife should be. Do you think they were both being true to themselves in their thought process, at least at first? How about later?
   
9. Josie felt very strongly that holidays were a time for gathering with family and friends, and couldn’t understand Ry’s seemingly more impersonal take. How big a part of your holiday experience is having your family and friends around to help you celebrate?
   
10. There was a disconnect between Ry and his siblings. While he didn’t like it, he didn’t know how to correct it. Have you ever been in a similar situation? How did you get through it?
    
11. Did you feel that Cora Beth was doing a bit of matchmaking of her own? If so, how effective do you feel her efforts were?
    
12. Viola and Audrey formed an immediate and very strong bond. How realistic do you think this was? Do you think children form these sorts of attachments easier than adults?
    
13. Did you feel Josie’s emotional about-face the morning after the kiss was in character for her? Were her reasons
    and thought process logical given her personality and long-term dreams?
    
14. Was it unreasonable of Ry to ask Josie to make do with the one taste of travel she had and then settle back down in Knotty Pine? Or was he being perceptive in understanding what would truly make her happy and fulfilled?
    
15. Was Josie’s ultimate recognition of what was most meaningful in her life a believable transformation?