“Does anyone know what day it is?” Eddie asked.
Linette smiled sweetly. “Christmas Eve Day.”
Grady, who played with an assortment of carved animals, jumped up and stared at Linette, his eyes wide with expectation. “It is. Does that mean that tomorrow is Christmas Day?”
Linette nodded.
“Then where’s the tree?”
Eddie feigned surprise. “Why, I almost forgot about a tree. I guess we better remedy that right now. Who would like to help me find one?”
“Me. Me.” Grady jumped up and down.
“Get your warm clothes on.”
The two of them departed.
“I have a few things to take care of for tomorrow,” Linette said. Missy followed her to the kitchen.
Nate turned to Louise. “I’m afraid I have nothing for you for Christmas.”
“But you do.” She stroked his cheek, turning his insides all warm.
“What?”
“You’ve given me the best present I could ever want. Your love. I need nothing else.” She smiled. “Though I certainly appreciate the Bible you gave me.” She lowered her eyes. “I’m afraid I have nothing for you.”
He chuckled. “You’ve given me a double present.” He tucked his finger under her chin. “You’ve given me a wife and a child. That’s most generous of you.” A sudden horrible thought scalded his mind. “Or am I being presumptuous? This is Gordie’s baby. Do you want her raised to think of me as something other than her pa?”
She placed the baby in Nate’s arms. “Chloe, meet your pa. I know he will love and protect you all the days of your life. You will always be safe with him.” She lifted her gaze to him. “Nate, this is your daughter. I give her to you.”
He didn’t consider himself a man given to tears, but lo and behold, if two didn’t trail toward his chin.
Louise wiped them away. “I love you both so much.” She leaned toward him so he could kiss her without crushing the baby.
An hour later, Grady and Eddie dragged a pine tree through the door. Eddie brought a bucket of dirt and they set the tree up in the corner next to Linette’s chair. They all sat back and enjoyed watching Eddie and Grady decorate the tree. They even popped corn and strung it.
By the time they were done, it was time for bed. Nate thought of returning to the bunkhouse, but he couldn’t bear the thought of being so far from Louise.
Eddie grinned at him. “I’m sure no one would object if you want to spend the night with your wife. Linette, could you give them more bedding?”
“I already put more in Louise’s room.” The two women smiled at each other as if they shared a secret.
“Then I suggest we turn in.” Eddie waited for the guests to depart before he lowered the lamps.
In their room, Nate looked at Louise. “I only intend to stay with you and Chloe like we’ve been doing.”
She came to him and wrapped her arms about him, pressing her face to his neck. “I have loved you a long time.”
“Sure wish you’d told me,” he groused good-naturedly.
“Me, too. But maybe I had to go through all those things to be ready to love and be loved.”
“And I suppose I needed to grow up a bit.”
They laughed together softly at the pretend regret in his voice.
He spread his bedroll next to the narrow bed and fell asleep with her hand in his.
It was still dark the next morning when Grady called at the top of his lungs, “Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. Get up, everybody. It’s Christmas.”
Nate opened his eyes and met Louise’s gaze. He smiled, his heart full of joy. “My wife, it is Christmas Day.”
“Merry Christmas, my husband.” They dressed quickly, and he carried Chloe out to join the others as they watched Grady open presents.
The morning passed in a pleasant glow. One after another, the others on the ranch joined them. Cookie and her husband, Bertie. Cassie and Roper and their four children. Jayne and Seth. Sybil and Brand. From the nearby ranches came Abel and Mercy and the twins, Allie and Ladd. Grace and Ward joined them along with her sister, Belle, and his mother and brother. The newlyweds, Blue and Clara, and her two girls came from town to join the celebration.