The school term ends in two weeks for a winter break. Perhaps then it would give us time to prepare, but not too long. Two weeks, Yates agreed, his smile suggesting even that was longer than he'd prefer. January 5th. I'll speak to Reverend Collins tomorrow.
Their goodbye kiss was briefer than the first, but no less sweet. As Faith watched him ride away through gently falling snow, she touched the locket now hanging around her neck. For the first time since Thomas's death, she felt truly hopeful about the future, not just surviving, but living fully, loving deeply. Christmas morning dawned bright and clear with sunlight glinting off fresh snow. Emma woke Faith at dawn, bouncing on the bed with excitement.
Mama, Santa came. There are presents under the tree. Faith blinked awake, smiling at her daughter's enthusiasm. Are there indeed? Well, we should investigate immediately.
Under the tree were the gifts Faith had prepared, a new dress she'd sewn late at night, a rag doll with yarn hair, and a picture book from the merkantile. But there were additional packages as well, wrapped in colorful paper Faith hadn't seen before. Mr. Yates must have left these," she realized aloud. "Wasn't that thoughtful?" Emma tore into the gifts with abandon, squealing with delight at each revelation a childsized saddle.
"For your riding lessons," the attached note explained. "A wooden farm set with tiny animals and a beautiful illustrated edition of fairy tales." Santa was very generous this year, Faith remarked, watching her daughter arrange the wooden animals in careful rows. It wasn't just Santa, Emma said matterof factly. Mr. Yates helped, too.
He told me so when he tucked me in last night. Faith laughed. Did he now? Well, Mr. Yates and I have a special surprise for you, too.
Something that's not under the tree. Emma looked up. Curiosity peaked. What is it? Faith sat on the sofa, patting the space beside her.
When Emma joined her, she took her daughter's small hands and hers. "How would you feel if Mr. Yates became a permanent part of our family? If he became your papa?" Emma's eyes widened. "You mean you're going to marry him?" "Yes, sweetheart." He asked me last night, and I said, "Yes, we'll be married in 2 weeks, just after school breaks for winter.
The three of us will live together at the Circle T. And Whistle and Meadow, too. Of course, their family, too. Emma launched herself into Faith's arms, hugging her tightly. This is the best Christmas ever.