Page 46 of The Gift of Seeds
Gasping, she straightened and gave him a little push. “When did they become engaged?”
“Must have been last night or this morning.”
“How wonderful. He’s the nicest man!”
Dale’s eyes twinkled. “As I started to explain, there’s an important reason Sam didn’t tell me their names.” He gallantly waved toward the sleigh. “We mustn’t keep them waiting in the cold.” He helped her into the seat, went around to the other side, and climbed in next to her.
Their close proximity, snugged shoulder to shoulder, made Hester flush. Even as Dale spread a blanket over her lap, she couldn’t meet his eyes.
With a “ha” and flick of the reins, they started off at a trot.
Under the blanket, Hester clenched her hands together and kept her head turned to her right, pretending to admire thescenery. Once she snuck a glance at Dale, but he stared rigidly ahead.
They passed by a group of carolers, and Dale paused the horses to hear them finish singing, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” and start on “Good King Wenceslas.” He laughed. “I was belting out that one this morning. Must be a sign.” He burst into song, keeping his voice modulated so it sounded intimate, only for her.
His beautiful baritone pulled her gaze toward him. Hester listened with shining eyes, until he nudged her shoulder in an obvious attempt for her to chime in, and her stomach tightened.
Bravely, she took a gulp of air and started with a thready soprano that strengthened as she grew more comfortable. Together, their voices rose in harmony with the other carolers.
When they finished the song, Dale raised a hand in farewell to the singers and flicked the reins.
The little horses started forward.
“Come caroling with us next year,” a man called out after them.
This time, Hester raised her hand in amaybewave. The invitation was a step forward in becoming part of the community.
They snuck glances at each other and smiled. Singing together seemed to have ended all constraint they might have felt before.
Dale kept the Falabellas to a walk. “I’m not so good at this conversing…especially with a woman.”
“You seem to be doing just fine.”
“I’ve spoken more to you in one night than I have with all the people in the last ten, maybe twenty, years combined.”
“I’m not talkative, either. I had to speak at my work, of course. And, of course, always with Lovie and her family.”
“Last night when you told me about her, I couldn’t help envying you the support of a life-long close friendship.”
“Leaving my dear friend and her family to come here was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
“I admire your courage.”
Hester blushed but didn’t look away.
“These last few months,” he said, “I finally started coming out from behind my walls, even if I moved as slowly as a somnolent tortoise. I think the change insidiously began with Reverend Joshua’s announcement that you’d be arriving to live in your brother’s house.”
She nodded.
“But after yesterday—” he gave her a quick smile “—I feel I’ve changed into a hare.”
Hester laughed, light and happy, the sound unlike any she’d made since young childhood with her father. “Certainly not a lazy one like in Aesop’s Fables.”
He shot her a look of mock offense.
Another laugh escaped. Then she sobered. “Life has been bitterly lonely the last couple of months.”
Dale nodded to a couple strolling arm-in-arm. “I didn’t mind the solitude. Being alone felt safe.”
