Joseph nodded. “I will. Close the café for the night. I’m not sure when I’ll get back, and I don’t want you to try and cook and serve supper on your own. Tomorrow we can offer a free slice of pie to anyone who complains.”
“I’ll do that, but I’m waiting right here for you to return with Holly. That poor girl must be terrified locked in that cold, dark cellar.” Charity ran to Joseph and hugged him tightly and kissed him on the cheek. “This might be a good time to tell Holly how you feel before Lydia scares her badly enough that she really leaves town.”
“I think you’re right, but I hope my feelings don’t scare her away. She hasn’t had good experiences with men or love,” Joseph confessed. “I don’t want to lose her for any reason.”
“You won’t, I promise. I see how she looks at you. If anyone can fix her broken, empty heart, it's you, brother dear. Just have faith and courage. Say a prayer. God always listens to good intentions,” Charity assured.
“That I will do,” he answered and with a prayer on his lips, Joseph left the café, climbed onto the wagon, and headed toward Lydia’s ranch as fast as the snow and diminishing daylight allowed.
Chapter Ten
Joseph turned down the lane that led to Lydia’s home and could see the house in the distance. Light shone through the front window, and smoke rose from what Joseph assumed was the fireplace or cook stove. It wasn’t large enough for the house to be on fire and he wondered why Lydia would leave fires burning, and lamps lit in the house when she was doing her best to hide the fact that she locked Holly in the root cellar.
Holly heard the wagon approach the house and sat back in the chair she moved to the corner away from the window. She sat with her gun in her hand ready if Lydia returned. She had no intention of shooting Lydia but hoped Lydia wouldn’t know that and she could take the wagon and escape.
Holly’s hand gripped her gun tighter when she heard the handle on the front door rattle. Lydia would know Holly escaped the root cellar and bolted the front door. Now, she’d wait to see how Lydia would react, but instead of hearing Lydia’s cries of anger she heard Joseph.
“Holly,” Joseph shouted. “I know you’re in the house. I’m coming in to get you.”
Holly rushed to the front door, pulled the bar from the door, and yanked it open.
“Joseph,” Holly stammered. “How did you find me?”
Joseph rushed into the house and lifted Holly in the air and spun her around. “It’s a long story, but I’m glad I found you. Are you all right? You look all right. How did you escape from the root cellar? Let me look at you. I thought you left me. Don’t ever leave me. I couldn’t bear it.” He drew her close and slowly set her back on the floor.
She looked up into his eyes. “I’m all right. She locked me in the root cellar. I shot the lock off the cellar door and the pantry door. I’m afraid I’ll have to have them fixed. Do you know anyone who could replace the locks?”
Joseph laughed and answered, “You were held against your will and shot your way out, and the first thing you’re concerned about is replacing a lock you damaged. Most people would want to leave or eat something. You’re worried about destroying what held you captive. It’s one of the many reasons I love you.”
“What? Repeat what you said, please.”
Joseph scrunched his eyebrows the way Holly had seen him do many times when thinking. “I wondered why you didn’t want something to eat or leave.”
“No, after that,” Holly insisted. “You said more.”
Understanding crossed Joseph’s face. He smiled and said, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have blurted that out.”
“Don’t be sorry, I liked hearing it,” Holly confessed.
“You did?”
Holly nodded. “Besides, I’m not hungry. I tried to leave, but I couldn’t see the tracks to follow back to town. Lydia had enough ingredients here that I made biscuits with honey. Would you like some? I made quite a few not knowing how long I’d be here. She also had tea and books. I’ve spent some time eating and reading.”
Joseph stared into the eyes of the woman he loved. “How can you be so strong? Most women would be sobbing.”
Holly bit her lip. “I was an adventurous child. I found myself in trouble quite often, and my punishment was being locked in the utility closet with the mops and brooms until I could learn to act like a proper young lady. I never did learn, and Miss Constance gave me the gun for protection when I lived in Chicago. I wasn’t scared, just angry.”
Joseph smiled, and Holly whispered, “Tell me what you said again.”
Drawing in a deep breath to calm his fraying nerves, Joseph answered. “I love you, Holly.”
Holly leaned into his arms, “I love you, too. I swore to never love again after my experience with Matthew, but you somehow managed to steal my heart.”
Joseph leaned in and captured her lips in a gentle kiss. As her arms slid around his neck, he deepened the kiss and finally pulled back and whispered. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes,” Holly whispered back.
“When?”
Holly smiled. “Christmas. It’s always been my wish to be a Christmas bride.”
“Then you will get your wish. We are heading back to town and can speak to Pastor Elkins tonight or tomorrow, but first, we must let Charity know you’re safe and see the sheriff. He’s holding Lydia at the jail.”
Holly took a step back, and her hands flew to her chest. “Joseph, you didn’t have her arrested, did
