Page 73 of Beyond Montana's Sky
Even though Edith knew she shouldn’t, she continued to indulge in a correspondence with the rancher, writing him several letters a week. He did the same, although days or in some cases weeks might pass and then she’d receive several at once. The more they shared in these intimate exchanges, the better Edith felt she knew him and the more she revealed about herself.
Much to her dismay, the letters became one of the highlights of her life, because the illusive suitor of her dreams failed to appear. Even worse, Edith was no longer sure she wanted him to.
Feeling lazy, instead of standing and moving to the secretary for her letter opener, she remained in the comfortable chair, tore open the envelope, and, nibbling on a buttery cookie, began to read.
At first, Maggie asked the usual questions, inquiring how Edith and Ben were getting along, asking about the health of the Graysons, and playfully demanding an account of the latest social activities. Then she began to write her own news.
Goodness, your brother throws his heart into Christmas! The house and hotel are decorated to the hilt!
I heard of last year’s grand opening party for the hotel, of course, from all who attended. And from the way my husband (and you) went overboard in arranging our wedding, you’d think I’d be prepared for how he celebrates the holiday season. But he still manages to surprise me. Never were a woman and her child so indulged!
With a smile, Edith paused in her reading. Nathaniel certainly had spoiled her and Ben at Christmas time—something she enjoyed but also took for granted. Maggie, with a former husband who usually ruined Christmas, probably absorbed and appreciated every moment with her new spouse.Edith read on.
Unlike last year, Caleb isn’t throwing a lavish Christmas Eve party. This time, the community has decided on a dessert social held at the hotel after church, where the ladies (or gentlemen if they are the kind who bake) bring cookies, cakes, and pies to share, while the hotel supplies the tea and punch.
Edith lowered the letter. She couldn’t help wishing to take part in the preparations. A house of mourning wasn’t a jolly place to spend Christmas. For the sake of the grandchildren, the Graysons allowed Edith, Ben, and the servants to decorate. But she could tell their hearts weren’t in the celebrations, and they dreaded the holiday. The children, however, especially her two youngest nieces, were becoming excited as Christmas drew nigh.
Caleb is determined Charlotte’s and my first Christmas in Sweetwater Springs will be everything the holiday wasn’t in my life before. We are so lucky to have our own decorated tree, when a towering one already stands in the hotel!
The ornaments look so beautiful. Some are quiteunique. I enjoyed discovering the half a dozen “tin” soldiers Ben made of dough and painted, as well as the images of the family he crafted, including Jed and Mrs. Graves, which made me laugh. Do you want me to send them for your tree in Boston?
Edith remembered that winter when they’d had back-to-back storms and school was closed. Ben drove her mad with his boredom from being housebound.
Surprisingly enough, Mrs. Graves was the one who had the idea of making the ornaments and took over teaching Ben how to make the dough, form the images, and bake them, giving Edith some much needed relaxation.
Charlotte is fascinated by the bulbs on the tree and used a branch to pull herself up, almost toppling the whole thing. I grabbed her, and Caleb grabbed the tree and, thus, disaster was narrowly averted! Since then we keep a close eye on her when she’s in the parlor with us.
We’ve almost finished our shopping and gift preparations and intend to send off a box to you the day after tomorrow. Just barely in time for Christmas so you aren’t tempted to open it early.
Edith and Ben had finished their Christmas shopping and sent packages to Sweetwater Springs for their family and also the Salters. She’d authorized Caleb to withdraw money from her account at his bank to give to Reverend and Mrs. Norton to use for other poverty-stricken members of the community. Christmas was a time when even the most prideful families accepted food and gifts.
Edith happened across a quaint bookstore selling lovely, leather journals for a reasonable price. She’d snapped up almost the whole supply and sent them off to her friends in Sweetwater Springs, only keeping a few to give to the Grayson family, including Ben and the girls.
One journal, though, in the same lovely blue of the shutters on the Driscoll ranch house, she bought on a whim and set aside for Cai. Not that she intended to send it to him. Ladies didn’t give presents to men unless they were family or betrothed. Still, she couldn’t resist.
Back to the letter, she told herself.
Caleb forbade me to go into Ben’s bedroom, which he’s using to store Christmas presents. Not to be outdone, I commandeered yours for the same purpose. Although buying or making gifts for a man who already has everything is quite a feat. When I complained of this to him, Caleb retorted that he has no need of presents for I’d already given him our daughter and myself. Isn’t he sweet?
However, I might have a special present for him, after all. My monthly courses are late, and you know I’m never late. I almost don’t dare hope. If nothing changes in the next few days, I will pay a visit to Dr. Cameron.
With a gasp, Edith dropped the letter on top of the envelope in her lap.A baby! A Livingston niece or nephew.She didn’t know whether to burst into tears or rise and dance around the room. Rather than doing either or both, she remained seated.
Edith picked up her teacup, sipped the now-lukewarm beverage, and, wearing a smile, stared into the fire. Somehow, her imagination shifted from holding Caleb’s baby son or daughter, with the Livingston brown hair and long-lashed dark eyes, to holding her own daughter, and she became transfixed by the daydream.
* * *
Hoping for a summer visit to Sweetwater Springs, Ben worked hard to learn his grandfather’s business—difficult to do when he also had a lot of studying every night. He figured the faster he learned, the more likely the journey to the West became.
But today after school, Ben headed straight for his grandparents’ row house. He had a Latin test to prepare for tomorrow.
He wasn’t, as his grandfather insinuated the evening of their arrival,behindin school. The extra tutoring in mathematics and Latin his uncle gave him kept Ben about even with his current classmates. In some areas, such as geography, he was ahead, partially due to his competition with the Salter boys.
There were instances in which he did have to catch up. Some of the books used in his new school were different. While a large overlap existed between what he’d studied with Mrs. Gordon and what his current school was teaching, he also faced gaps in knowledge that he needed to fill with extra studying.
Good thing I have no time for my former friends.After a few visits with Tom, Ben found that he no longer fit in with them. They seemed soyoung.
I wonder what Matthew’s doing now at home?Then he recalled the difference in time zones.He’s still in school.
