The time from when they put Lucy into jail to the day they set off for Missouri went fast. There had been so much to do. Vera had written right away to inform Thea that they were bringing a friend in need with them. She’d wired back to say it was fine. She’d put him in with the boys, and Sam could sleep on the settee.
Vera wanted to send a wire back suggesting that Jack and Wyatt take their parents’ room and she’d sleep on the settee, but she didn’t want her sister to know that their marriage hadn’t been consummated yet.
When they arrived in Oakville, Wyatt asked Vera, “Does your family put up a Christmas tree?”
“Goodness, no. We use any trees on our property for firewood, but the children decorate the house after Thanksgiving, so it will look festive.”
Wyatt pointed at the general store. “Look—they still have three trees left. They’re scrawny, but let me buy one. It will be my gift to your family.”
Vera covered her mouth with her gloved hand. “Oh, that would be lovely! We’ve always wanted one.” Then, she frowned. “We don’t have any ornaments for it.”
“I’ll bet your siblings can decorate it in no time. They’re probably good at making things like that.”
Vera nodded and smiled. “They will love it.”
Jack pointed at the livery. “I’ll rent us a wagon or buggy. Bring the tree over after you buy it.”
Thea answered the door when they arrived, saw them and the tree, she burst into tears. She hugged Vera and even hugged Wyatt. When she saw Jack, she smiled shyly.
Once inside, Vera introduced Wyatt and Jack to the family. The children had gathered around in awe of the tree and hardly paid any attention to either Jack and Wyatt. Perry kept touching the tree. He pointed excitedly at the corner of the sitting room. “Can we put it there, sissy?”
Thea laughed. “It’s the perfect place for our very first Christmas tree. Everyone, thank Wyatt, your new brother.”
They all thanked him in unison.
Wyatt looked around the room. “Someone’s been decorating. The house looks great.”
Portia smiled up at him. “I made the popcorn chain.”
Wyatt bent down and said, “You can put one on the tree, too. And I hope you can make some decorations for it. It badly needs it.”
The children happily dispersed to other parts of the house to find the supplies they’d need to make decorations while Jack talked to Sam about his job at the mill.
Thea addressed Vera, Wyatt, and Jack. “I have some hot water on the stove. Let’s have some tea and get acquainted.”
“The house smells great,” Vera said as she escorted the men into the kitchen. "What have you been cooking?”
“The usual: salt-rising bread, vinegar pies, dried apple pies, and the—”
Vera gasped, “You didn’t forget to age the plum pudding, did you?”
Thea smiled. “I took care of it. Sam’s promised to shoot our main course on Christmas Eve, maybe a deer or pheasant.”
Vera looked around the large, homey kitchen. “Ah, it’s so good to be home for Christmas. Everything looks the same.”
Thea seated them around the table and poured the tea. She put a plate of sugar cookies out on the table. “Now, Vera, you must remember, you’re a guest now. You aren’t to do a stick of work or find anything that isn’t perfect. Understood?” She winked as if to soften her words.
Wyatt spoke up. “I promised to keep her in line, Thea.”
“Oh, bless you, Wyatt.”
Vera smiled and took a bite out of a cookie. “Hmm ... who made these? They’re tasty.”
“Georgia. And Celeste frosted them.”
Vera chuckled. “That’s a miracle. I could never get Celeste to do anything in the kitchen.”
“The girls all have jobs, and it will make them better wives when the time comes. The boys do the heavier work outside.”
Vera realized her sister was right. She should have delegated some work to give the children the experience. It had taken living far away from them for a few months to realize it, though.
“You’ve done a fantastic job, Thea.”
The looks exchanged between Thea and Jack didn’t go unnoticed by Vera. Could a romance for them be possible? Then she remembered they’d only be staying until New Year’s. It wasn’t enough time for anything to bloom, but she could always invite Thea to Kansas.
Finnian ran into the kitchen, his eyes lit up like a lantern. “Sam put the tree up. Come and see it.”
Everyone got up to see the tree. Scrawny and a bit crooked as it was, it looked wonderful. Portia was putting a chain of paper dolls around the tree. Celeste sat with shears making snowflakes while Uma tried to reach the top to place a star she’d made from paper. Wyatt lifted her up to give her a boost.
“In England I’ve heard they put candles on the trees,” Jack said, speaking for the first time.
“Oh, dear,” Thea said, “isn’t that dangerous?”
“I’m not sure,” he said. “I think the people who can afford them have servants to watch them closely.”
“Have you been to England?” Thea asked.
“No, but I read a lot.”
“Do you?”
Jack nodded.
“I love to read. I have a bookcase upstairs if you’d care to browse through the books.”
“I’d like that.”
Thea led Jack up the wooden stairs.
Vera gave Wyatt a nudge, and they smiled.
Before bedtime, Thea took Vera aside. “Will our parents’ bedroom be all right for you and Wyatt?”
Vera sighed. “Is the settee still in there?”
“Yes, why do you ask?”
Vera felt herself blush. “I just wondered.”
“You do sleep together, don’t you?”
Vera hedged. “Not yet. We’re working on it.”
“Why didn’t you say so? What’s taking so long?”
“We’re still getting used to
