The Christmas Vow (9 page)

“As a matter of fact, we have, but I’m more than happy to make you something, Adam.” Tia moved toward the kitchen but looked back over her shoulder with a saucy smile. “Come in here while I fix you something to eat and we can discuss the terms of your surrender.”

Chapter Nine

People strolling through town watched Ginny Stratton sprint down the street with her skirts flapping around her knees. Curious if some tragedy had befallen the Granger family, they stared as she made haste toward Luke and Filly’s home.

By the bright smile on her face, though, it was evident whatever sent her racing pell-mell from one end of Hardman to the other was a happy occurrence.

Ginny slid on the ice and almost took a tumble before she regained her balance and ran toward the kitchen door of Granger House.

Luke’s dog, Bart, lounged across the back porch steps. Ginny nimbly jumped over him and opened the door, slamming it shut behind her.

Wide-eyed, Filly glanced up at the sound from where she cut a pan of toffee into squares.

Swiftly removing her outerwear, Ginny walked across the kitchen and snitched a piece of the candy.

“Mmm. That is so good, Filly. What would we do without you to ply us with delicious treats?” Ginny leaned against the counter.

Filly grinned. “Not have nearly as many sweets to enjoy. I don’t know how your brother has a tooth left in his head for all the candy and desserts he eats.” Filly returned to cutting the candy. “Admittedly, I’m quite partial to his white-toothed smile.”

“And the dimple in his chin and the sparkle in his eyes,” Ginny teased. The adoration Luke and Filly shared for each other wasn’t a secret to anyone in town.

“What brings you noisily into my house in the middle of the afternoon?” Filly set aside the knife and began placing pieces of the toffee into small tins.

Ginny helped herself to another piece of the candy. “I heard the most exciting news a few minutes ago. I’m waiting for Alex to let classes out for the day so we can start making plans.”

Filly’s hand stilled and she looked to Ginny. “Plans? Plans for what? You’ve already planned the skating party for next week and the week after that is Christmas. Alex has all the committees lined up for the Christmas Carnival on Christmas Eve. We’re all helping with the program at church. What other plans are there? I’m not sure I can handle too many more unexpected activities and still bake all the treats you gluttons have come to expect.”

Giggling, Ginny motioned for Filly to finish filling the tins as she hurriedly stuffed candy inside the one closest to her. “Blake and I were making furniture deliveries when Adam stopped us. He asked Blake if he could use some of his tools for a special project for Toby Devereux. Casually, Adam mentioned that he and Tia plan to wed. He wants to make something he thought the little boy will love.”

“What? Adam’s getting married? When did this happen?” Filly wiped her hands on a dishtowel and pushed Ginny toward the kitchen table. Hastily, she poured two cups of tea then sat down beside her. “Start from the beginning.”

“That’s all I know. Adam said he and Tia had, and this is his phrasing, ‘come to an understanding,’ and they planned to wed this Thursday.”

“This Thursday?” Filly rocked back in her chair, shocked by the sudden nuptials. “Well, good gracious! That doesn’t give us much time to pull everything together.”

She hurried across the room to a drawer, extracted a paper tablet and pencil then returned to the table. “Let’s make a list.”

“You can do the cake,” Ginny suggested. “Put that at the top of the list.”

Filly rolled her holly green eyes. “Cake, baked by me. What else? Do you suppose Abby has a gown in her shop that would fit Tia? Then again, Tia has so many lovely clothes, she probably already has something suitable.” Filly laid down the pencil and let out a breath of air. “Oh.”

“Oh? Oh, what?” Ginny nudged Filly’s arm with her elbow. “Keep going.”

“Well, don’t you think before we get too carried away, we might want to speak with the bride-to-be? See what plans she’s making?”

“You’re right.” Ginny’s smile melted and her lips formed into the pout she’d perfected as a child. “It sucks all the fun out of it, but you’re right.”

“Why don’t we round up Alex the minute school is out and visit Tia? The three of us can offer to help and listen to what she already has planned. After all, it is her wedding so we should let her decide what she wants.”

“I agree.” Ginny glanced at the clock on the wall and jumped to her feet. “I’ll go fetch Alex since school will be out soon. Is Maura sleeping?”

Filly nodded her head. “She is, but she should awaken any moment. I’ll bundle her up and leave her with her daddy at the bank. Luke won’t mind. I’d ask Mrs. Kellogg to watch her, but she’s gone to visit family for the holidays.”

“I’m sure she’s having a wonderful time, although that means more work for you around here. Are you finally going to cave to Mother’s insistence you hire ‘full-time domestic help,’ as she puts it.”

“I am not. I like taking care of my own home and doing my own cooking, although having help with the laundry and some of the other tasks a few days a week is nice. Mrs. Kellogg will be back after Christmas. I can muddle through that long.” Filly carried their cups to the sink and cleaned up the last of the toffee mess. “You hurry to the school to let Alex know, and I’ll see if Abby can join us after I stop by the bank. I’ll meet you at Tia’s.”

“See you there.” Ginny yanked on her coat and left in a flurry of swirling skirts.

Filly washed her hands, removed her apron, and hurried up the back stairs to the expansive room she shared with Luke. With fast movements borne from always being in a rush, Filly changed into a fresh dress and tidied her hair before entering Maura’s nursery and finding the baby sleepily rubbing her eyes.

“Are you awake, Maura, love?”

The baby smiled at her mother and waved her hands, wanting picked up.

Filly changed Maura’s diaper and gown before carrying her downstairs where she dressed them both in warm coats. She tugged a knit hat over Maura’s curls and kissed the baby’s perfect little nose, making her giggle.

“Shall we go see Daddy?” Filly asked, wrapping a knit blanket around her daughter before picking up a tin of the toffee from the counter and tucking it into a basket along with the tablet and her reticule.

“Dadda! See Dadda!” Maura bounced in Filly’s arms.

“Off we go, sweet girl.” Filly sailed out the door. As she stepped over Bart, she cautioned him to stay home and keep an eye on the house while she was gone.

When she opened the door to the bank, Luke stood and hurried around his desk, taking Maura in his arms while kissing Filly’s cheek.

“What are my two best girls doing out and about today?” Luke removed Maura’s cap and nuzzled her curls, inhaling the marvelous scent of his baby girl’s head.

Maura patted a hand against his face, smiling and chattering in her own language.

“Your sister and I heard about Adam’s upcoming nuptials and wanted to pay a visit to Tia, to offer our assistance with any wedding plans.” Filly smiled at Arlan as he escorted a customer to the door then turned back to join the conversation.

“Adam stopped by earlier to share the news.” Luke grinned at his wife. “I had a meeting with one of the silver mine supervisors for lunch today, or I’d have told you earlier. It doesn’t surprise me at all that you and Ginny have somehow managed to become privy to the news and deemed yourself in charge of the plans.”

Filly huffed. She would have swatted Luke on the arm if he hadn’t been holding Maura. “Adam told Blake and Ginny. Of course, she came to tell me so we could offer to help. In fact, I need to hurry along so I can meet her at Tia’s.”

Arlan smirked. “Tell my wife she doesn’t need to worry about dinner tonight. Adam insisted on taking us out to the restaurant to celebrate.”

“How did you know Alex would be there?” Filly asked, setting the basket on Luke’s desk. She removed her things and left the basket that contained diapers, extra pins, a tin of soft crackers, and a few toys for Maura. She kissed the baby’s cheek then backed toward the door.

Arlan grinned. “Because you three come up with more schemes and nonsense together than you’d ever dream up on your own.”

Filly scowled at Arlan, and then Luke when he barked with laughter. She shook a finger at him. “I’ll not be gone long, so don’t stuff our daughter so full of candy she won’t want a bite of her dinner.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Luke winked at her then helped Maura wave goodbye as Filly rushed out the door.

Unable to believe Adam Guthry had shown up on her doorstep that morning and practically insisted she marry him, Tia didn’t know whether to be elated or heartbroken.

On one hand, she couldn’t be happier at the prospect of marrying Adam. It’s what she’d always wanted. The moment she’d set eyes on him at Carl’s funeral, all the love she’d held for him resurfaced, bubbling up to fill the empty caverns of her heart.

The sound of his voice, the warmth of his touch, the sight of that dimpled smile destined to weaken women’s minds and resolve made her realize how much she’d missed him.

Other than keeping Toby safe by her side, there wasn’t a single thing that would please her more than marrying Adam.

However, it devastated her tender heart to hear him admit the only reason for the proposal was to protect Toby. She’d hoped some little part of Adam still cared for her, still loved her.

Evidently, she’d done such a thorough job of destroying his love, not a smidgen of it remained, if he’d ever loved her.

Tia couldn’t quite reconcile how she would marry Adam, knowing he’d never love her, never truly want her as his wife. Because he’d made a vow to keep her son safe, it seemed as if she’d be stealing his freedom, shackling him to her and Toby.

Adam was one of the few men who would keep a promise no matter the personal cost. He’d been that way when they were children. Apparently, his sense of loyalty and honor had grown nearly as big as the man himself.

For as long as Tia could remember, Adam had been dependable and trustworthy despite his drive to experience adventure. He’d never once let her down. She was the one who’d faltered, who’d failed them both so miserably.

In light of the second chance she’d been blessed with that morning, Tia intended to utilize everything in her power to do right by Adam.

He might be sacrificing his freedom for her son, but she’d sacrifice everything she was, every possession she owned, to bring him a measure of peace and happiness.

Determined to make the marriage work, despite Adam’s refusal to love her, Tia sat down at the kitchen table.

Adam thought it would be nice to have a simple ceremony at the church with their closest friends and family followed by a small reception. He suggested they wed that Thursday, just three days away. After the wedding, he would send a telegram to Judge Devereux, letting him know he no longer had any chance of taking Toby.

Dazed by the sudden and unexpected proposal, Tia agreed to Adam’s plans. Now, though, she wished she had more time to prepare for a wedding.

Even though she’d wed once before, it had been a quiet ceremony without a hint of celebration. For reasons that befuddled her at the time but later made complete sense, Patrick had insisted no one but Roland attend their wedding.

They’d stood before a judge at the courthouse and exchanged vows with Roland as their witness. Tia didn’t have a fancy gown or a wedding cake, although Patrick had produced a small bouquet of yellow tulips for her to carry.

Overwhelmed by memories, Tia closed her eyes and took a deep breath. In need of a few quiet hours to gather her thoughts and composure, she was grateful Adam took Toby with him for the afternoon.

She’d just filled the kettle to make a cup of tea when a knock sounded on the front door.

As she rushed to answer it, she pushed in a few loose hairpins and whipped off the apron covering her gown. She peeked around the edge of the drapes in the parlor to make sure the detestable Mr. Nivens hadn’t returned.

The three women standing on the front step made her smile. She almost tripped over her skirts in her haste to open the door.

“What a treat to see all of you.” Tia stepped back and motioned them inside. “Please come in.”

“Hi, Tia!” Ginny breezed inside and hugged her enthusiastically. “We heard the news and came right over.”

“The news?” Tia asked, confused.