A Log Cabin Christmas (35 page)

A
die’s ham, baked in apple cider in the kitchen’s oven, sat on the tiny table in the cabin. The mashed sweet potatoes, smothered in butter, were whipped up fluffy. At the center of the table, on top of her mother’s special violet-dotted tablecloth, stood a three-layer spice cake, slathered in buttercream frosting.

She sat in her chair, its curved arms smooth from years of use. Tonight she didn’t mend or knit but twisted her fingers as she thought about giving Noah his Christmas gift, the gift of freedom. If he did love her, he wouldn’t be happy. She’d have to convince him it was for the best.

And it was.

An inexplicable sadness settled over her. She’d miss him. She’d come to care for him. He’d been so good to her—how couldn’t she? When she left in the spring, she’d be alone, nowhere to go, no one to go there with, only God and His promise to keep her under His wings. That would have to be enough.

Tonight she’d taken her time to look her finest, sweeping up her curls and putting on her best dress, her wedding gown. She smoothed the brown poplin against her lap.

The door swung open, and Noah arrived in a blizzard of snow and sleet. “That storm is something.” He stomped the snow from his boots and unwound his muffler.

She ran to assist him. “Warm yourself by the fire, and I’ll pour the coffee.”

He looked at the table. “Is this your surprise?”

She tugged at her sleeves. “Do you like it?”

He stopped in front of the fireplace and rubbed his hands together. “You made all of it?”

She nodded.

“I say we hurry and pray so we can eat.”

He liked it. Now if only he’d eat slowly, prolonging the time before she told him the rest.

An hour later, he wiped the ends of his mustache with his napkin and leaned back. “That was the best meal I’ve had in a long time. Almost as good as Ma’s.”

Though better than his mother’s would have been nice, she accepted the compliment. She wanted to enjoy the evening, but anxiety was about to burn a hole through her stomach. Maybe it was best to just say it.

She wished she didn’t have to hurt him. She felt his pain as her own.

“Adie, what’s wrong? You look distressed.”

She couldn’t hide it any longer. “I have to tell you something.”

He sat forward. “What? I’m not going to like it, am I?”

“It’s my Christmas gift.”

“Why are you upset? I’m sure I’ll love it.”

“I appreciate how you stepped forward to take care of me. That cost you your dream. I don’t want to steal that. I’m giving you your freedom. Come spring, I’m leaving. Alone. We’ll have our marriage annulled.”

Mama would’ve told him to shut his mouth ‘cause he’d catch nothing but flies. “What are you saying?”

“In the end, you’ll be happy. It’s for the best.”

He stood, towering over her, his words firm. “No, it’s not.” He lowered his voice.
“I
made the decision to marry you—voluntarily. I knew the cost.”

She peered back, not intimidated. “I won’t stand in the way of what you want.”

“What if I want you?”

He didn’t know what he said. Adie shook her head. “My mind is made up.”

He stomped to the door and grabbed his jacket from the hook.

“Where are you going? It’s storming, and the temperature’s dropping. You’ll freeze to death.”

“And that wouldn’t bother you much, would it?”

Tears blurred her last glimpse of him.

Noah walked into the storm, not knowing where he was going and not caring. How could she do that? Just say she would leave him in the spring. He loved her. He thought she at least liked him.

He’d been mistaken.

Her rejection smarted worse than the snow pellets stinging his face. Tears filled the corners of his eyes.

He walked a few more minutes, blinded by his hurt, wondering what he’d done wrong. Had he said something that had driven her away? He had to think of a way to convince her she was his dream. He wanted her to stay.

Lost in his thoughts, he never heard anyone approach. Rough hands grabbed him from behind and dragged him into the snow. Rock-hard fists slammed into his face and belly. “I always get what I want.” A blow with each word.

Owens.

Noah fought back. He landed several punches to the side of Owens’ head. He connected hard, injuring his hand. The heavier man wasn’t fazed. The strikes kept coming. He tasted blood.

Then Owens knocked him on the temple. Hard. His ears rang. Dots danced in his vision.

His last thoughts were of Adie.

Adie must have paced a mile or more between the door and the table. She had done it all wrong, springing the news on Noah like that. On the most blessed of days, too.

Now, because of her, he’d been gone a long time. Frigid air seeped under the door. She feared for him. If anything happened to him, she’d be to blame.

Lord, cover Noah with Your feathers. Keep him warm and safe under Your wings
.

She needed to find him.

A few minutes later, wrapped in as many layers as she could manage, she grasped the knob to open the door. She pulled, and someone pushed and then stumbled into the room.

“Mr. Larsen.” At least she thought that’s who was under the floppy hat.

“Where are you going on a night like this, Adie?”

“Noah and I had a disagreement. He walked out and has been gone too long. I’m worried.”

He handed her a bulging envelope. “I came to deliver this. You stay here.” He raised his lantern. “I’ll look for him.”

“But …”

“Stay put. It’s too cold for you. He couldn’t have gone far. I’ll find him.”

Before she mounted another protest, he left. She unwrapped herself and tried to settle in front of the fire. She had no heart to clear the table.

“What ifs” assailed her. What if he didn’t come back because he was so angry? What if the storm worsened and he couldn’t find the cabin? What if he never came back?

She didn’t want to lose him. She crumpled with the thought. Without him, life would be empty. By her own actions, she’d lost another person she loved.

Loved.

She sat up with a start. She loved him. Why hadn’t she realized it before?

Her mind had closed itself to the possibility of love, but her heart hadn’t. Without even knowing, she’d fallen in love with her husband.

And sent him away.

She needed to make things right. Again she pleaded with the Lord to bring him home.

As she finished her prayer, something—or someone—crashed into the door. “Open up.”

She let in Mr. Larsen, who dragged Noah with him. “Found him in the snow. He’s taken a pretty good beating, and he’s cold. Get some coffee while I settle him in bed.”

Mr. Larsen peeled off Noah’s shirt. She turned to coax the fire to life but glanced over her shoulder from time to time. She’d never seen her husband like this. Her pulse throbbed wildly in her neck, and her legs trembled. His arms, though thin, bulged with muscles. Dark, curly hair covered his chest, and his flat stomach caved inward.

Heat suffused her.

She brought the coffee, and Mr. Larsen rose. “He’s bruised, and I suspect his ribs are cracked, but he should be fine.”

“Thank you for saving his life.”

Mr. Larsen nodded. “Now I need to take care of Owens.”

A rush of alarm swept over her. In all her concern about her husband, she’d shut Derek from her mind. He might be out there. He might come after them.

“Do you think he’ll …?”

Mr. Larsen patted her back. “I found him in the snow about fifty yards from Noah. Don’t know what happened to him, whether your husband landed a good blow to his head or he drank himself to his grave. Either way, he’ll never bother you again.”

She wilted in relief. Here in this cabin they were safe, snug, secure.

Chicks under God’s wings.

After Mr. Larsen left, she checked Noah, brushing a sandy lock from his brow.

“Did you hear that? I’m safe. But I didn’t think it would be this hard to let you go.”

He stirred and opened his eyes. “Adie?”

“Right here.” She ceased breathing for a moment as she realized she was right where she wanted to be.

“I love you.”

Her heart asked if this could all be a dream. No, Cookie had been right. He did love her. “I know.”

“Please don’t leave me.”

She didn’t want to. But no reason remained for the marriage. “Derek’s dead. I’ll be safe. I won’t let you give up your dream.”

“You’re my dream.”

She couldn’t reply.

“Your present is in the top of my chest. Get it.”

“You don’t have to give me anything.” Especially after the disaster her gift had turned out to be.

“I want to.”

She’d upset him enough for one night and didn’t want to distress him further. Going to his chest, she discovered a package clumsily wrapped in brown paper.

“Open it.”

She wondered what could be inside the strange, lumpy parcel. Her hands shook as she tugged away the paper. She pulled out a miniature cabin and gasped. Turning it, she inspected it from every angle, not able to believe what she saw.

“It’s perfect. Just like my drawing, like the log cabin from my childhood.”

“Do you like it?”

“I love it.” She sat facing him on the edge of the bed. “Thank you.” Her supple lips brushed his.

Her touch ignited him. He embraced her and, ignoring the pain it caused, drew her close, claiming her kisses. She reciprocated. When they parted some minutes later, they were both breathless.

Something changed in Adie. She shone. The words burst from him. “I love you.”

She began to cry. “Don’t say that.”

He saw the truth in her face, in the soft curve of her pink lips. “I know you love me.”

“Nothing’s changed. No matter how we feel about each other, I won’t allow you to trade what you’ve always wanted for me.”

He moaned in pain as he struggled to sit. “You’re the most stubborn woman God ever put on this earth.”

She giggled through the tears. “Daddy told me that all the time.” She went to sit at the table. Her eyebrows creased as she picked up a large envelope.

The parcel caught Noah’s curiosity, too. “What’s that?”

“I don’t know. Mr. Larsen brought it. That’s when he offered to look for you.”

She unfolded the flap. Her eyes grew as large as tree trunks, and her hands shook as she withdrew a sheet of paper and read it. Then she laughed.

“What’s inside?”

She came and handed him the envelope. “This is for you.”

He gasped when he saw the number of bills inside. Why would she give him all this money? Where had it come from?

“The note says Daddy saved it to buy me a farm, like I’d always wanted. Use it for seminary. Don’t give that up.”

He couldn’t take Quinn’s final gift from her. Not deserving, he held out the envelope. “I won’t take it. You can’t give up that for me.”

She picked up the miniature log cottage. “I won’t be giving up anything. I’ll always have this, wherever we go. Whether we live in a palace or a hovel, or even a little log cabin, it will be home. Because you’ll be there.”

Would she give it all up for him? Them? “Are you sure?”

“I love you. God protected you for a reason and gave us both our dreams.”