A Log Cabin Christmas (48 page)

WANTED DEAD O ALIVE
N
OTORIOUS
O
UTLAW
W
ILLY
P
RATT
W
ANTED FOR
F
ORGERY OF
L
EGAL
D
OCUMENTS
, R
OBBERY, AND
M
URDER
R
EWARD $500

“You know where this man is?”

“Ja. Here.” Amadeus answered for her.

“Where?”

Amadeus led the sheriff to the window. He scanned the street and pointed him out.

“You stay here,” the sheriff ordered Amadeus and Awnya. He loaded his rifle and headed out the door.

Minutes ticked away like hours. She fidgeted with her hands.

“It vill be okay, liebling. Have faith.”

She nodded, but it wasn’t easy.

The door opened, and in stepped the sheriff with a handcuffed Mr. Cane. Rather, Willy Pratt. In amazement, Awnya listened as the sheriff pulled information out of the old sidewinder—how he had sold land to her pa, land he didn’t own.

“Yeah, I killed the old man.” The devilish gleam in Cane’s eyes sent shudders of revulsion through Awnya.

She put her hand over her mouth as her stomach threatened to empty its contents. Amadeus tucked her under his shoulder and away from the evil staring her down.

“Got a pretty penny for them pelts he had on him, too. And his rifle and his horse. Yep …” He continued to boast about how he had emptied their meat shed and cabin and how he had sold most of its contents in another town.

“What about my mother’s Bible? Did you sell it, too?” She hated asking, but she had to know if there was the slightest chance that he still might have it.

“Nope. Used it for kindling. That’s all it’s good for anyway.”

Burned? The thought of her mother’s Bible being used for kindling splintered her heart into millions of tiny pieces. Unable to look at the man any longer, she turned her face into Amadeus’s chest.

“She has heard enough. I vill take her home now.”

“Wait.” The sheriff made sure the outlaw didn’t have any weapons on him before he opened the cell door and shoved his prisoner inside. Then the sheriff knelt in front of a safe. He stood and handed a stack of bills to Amadeus and one to Awnya.

“What’s this?” She tilted her head.

“The reward for Willy’s capture.”

“I—” No more words came. All of this was too much to take at once. She needed air.

Seeing her pale face, Amadeus tucked the money in his pocket and led her to the door. Outside in the crisp winter air, away from the jail, he motioned for her to sit on a bench.

His heart wrenched with uncertainty and fear that the woman he loved might very well slip away from him forever now that she had the money to do so. He couldn’t let that happen. He faced her. “Awnya, I must speak what is in my heart.”

She nodded.

“Now that you have the reward money, I fear you vill leave Grand County und me. That thought I cannot bear.” He pulled her hands into his. “I love you, Awnya, und have for some time. Please, do not go. Stay und marry me, ja?”

Awnya stammered, “You … you love me?”

“Ja. I love you more than words can express.”

She threw her arms around him. “Oh, Amadeus. I love you, too.” She pulled back. “But what about Isabella? She hates me.”

“Nein. She does not hate you. She just misses her mutter. It vill take time, but I truly believe she vill come around.”

“Do you really think so?”

“Ja. Or I wouldn’t have said so.” He held his breath for what seemed like forever, waiting for her answer.

Slowly she nodded. “Okay. I’ll marry you.”

“You vill?”

“Ja.” She giggled.

“Now, meine liebling?” he whispered in her ears.

“Yes, now.” She pulled back. “But first, what does liebling mean?”

“It means
darling
.”

“Oh-h-h ja, I like it.”

Their chuckle ended when he found her lips. He wanted to take his time enjoying her, but he wanted to get married before she changed her mind. He pulled back and helped her to her feet.

They found the parson at his house and asked if he had time to marry them. “I sure do.” He pumped Amadeus’s hand. “I’m so happy for you, Amadeus. And you, too, Awnya. It’s about time you two found someone special. I’m glad it was each other.” He rubbed his hands together. “Now, let me go get the missus as a witness.”

Within seconds, he came back into the room with his wife. Amadeus and Awnya repeated their vows after him. “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

“With pleasure.” Amadeus cupped her face, and his lips found hers. He deepened his kiss, willing his lips to show Awnya just how much his heart overflowed with love for her. Awnya returned his kiss with equal passion and love.

“Uh, umm.”

Amadeus reluctantly raised his head at the sound of someone clearing their throat.

“Congratulations,” both the parson and his wife said.

“Vielen dank.”

“Thank you.”

He and Awnya responded at the same time then laughed.

Everyone hugged and said their good-byes, and then Amadeus and Awnya headed for home.

“I cannot wait to tell my family we are married. After dinner we go for a sleigh ride und tell them then, ja?”

She hooked her arms through his and leaned into him. “That sounds so romantic.”

“Ja.” He leaned down and kissed his wife.
Wife
. That word sent his heart dancing.

The wide eyes on everyone’s faces when Awnya stepped into the house tickled her. The boys ran up to her and hugged her.

“We’re so glad you came back,” Jakob said with tears in his eyes.

“Ja,” Louissa added and smiled.

“I didn’t want you to go,” Ethan whispered.

“Thank you. I’m glad to be back.”

Isabella glared at her.

Awnya quickly looked away, hoping that everything would work out as Amadeus thought it would.

After dinner Awnya watched her husband—
husband
… she loved that one word—hitch the horses to the sled.

The children climbed in the back and sat on a bed of straw. Amadeus draped blankets over their legs.

His hands spread across her waist as he hoisted her up into the wagon and tucked a blanket around her legs. Louissa didn’t come—she didn’t want to get out in the night air—so they had taken her aside and told her. Awnya smiled thinking how happy Louissa was for them. When Louissa asked Awnya to call her mama, Awnya held back her tears—tears of joy that she had a new mother, and tears of sadness that her ma wasn’t here to see her happily married.

Under the full moon, they headed out for a sleigh ride. Bells jingled along with the jostling tack. Snow crunched under the sled runners, and snow powder dusted Awnya’s face as she sang Christmas carols with Amadeus’s family. Her family now. She sighed and closed her eyes.

“Silent Night” drifted through the darkness in German from the children and Amadeus.
“Stille nacht, heilige nacht
…”

Awnya listened to Amadeus’s deep voice and strong German accent. Goosebumps rose on her flesh. Not from the cold, but from the reverence inwhich he sang and from the mere presence of the man next to her.

The song ended when they crested the hill.

“Whoa, boys.” Amadeus pulled on the reins. He smiled at her then shifted in the wagon seat, facing his children, still smiling.

“What you smiling about, Papa?” Isabella asked.

“I am happy, liebchen, und I have wonderful news.” He reached for Awnya’s hand. “Today, Awnya und I got married.”

The boys tossed their blankets aside. Jakob threw his arms around Awnya’s neck. “Can I call you mama, now?”

Ethan shoved Jakob aside and hugged her, too. “Can we, please?”

“No!” Isabella shouted.

All four swung their attention toward her.

The girl’s head swayed back and forth, and tears splattered onto her cheeks.

Seeing Isabella cry crushed Awnya’s heart. She had no clue what to say or do. Prayer would be good, but her faith in the face of impossible was still so weak. Then she remembered Amadeus’s words, so she silently prayed.
Lord, I do believe, but help my unbelief. I love this little girl. Please work this awkward situation out
.

The ride back to the cabin was quiet. Amadeus squeezed Awnya’s hand often.

“Do not fret, liebling. God vill work it out.”

Back at the cabin, for the rest of the evening Isabella sulked. The family tried to draw her in, but she refused. When they took communion together, which Awnya learned was a custom they did every Christmas Eve to celebrate not only Christ’s birth but also his resurrection, even then Isabella refrained from partaking, saying her heart wasn’t right. Awnya was glad when Amadeus announced it was time for everyone to head to bed. She and Amadeus were the last ones up.

Her husband pulled her into his arms and whispered against her lips, “I love you, liebling.”

“I love you, too.”

His lips captured hers. He kissed her until her knees gave way, but Amadeus caught her. With his lips still on hers, he swept her into his strong arms and carried her to his … their … bedroom.

The next morning Awnya awoke to her husband, leaning on his elbow, staring down at her.

“Good morning, meine liebling.”

“Good morning,
geliebte
.”

“Sweetheart,” he whispered, pleasure sparkling through his eyes that she had learned a new German word.

“Ja.” She winked.

He pulled her to him and kissed her softly.

Noise from the kitchen snagged Awnya’s attention. “We’d better get up.”

He sighed. “Ja.”

Breakfast consisted of bacon, fried potatoes, and
blinna
. When she bit into the blinna, it reminded her of the crepes her mother used to make. Joy mixed with a generous dose of grief washed over her, making her heart wish for those long ago days spent with her mother.

The feeling stayed with her through the morning even when they all went and sat near the fireplace, facing the Christmas tree.

Amadeus handed the boys their presents first.

Jakob and Ethan untied the string around their flour sacks and yanked out the hand-carved farm animals. Their eyes widened. “Papa, these are
wunderbar!”
They took turns hugging their father. “Thank you.”

Awnya smiled. She loved being a part of this.

Amadeus scooted a package toward Isabella. She raised the cloth halfheartedly and stared at the empty doll cradle Amadeus had made. Her eyes held confusion and sadness.

“Isabella? Open your other gift, liebchen.” An understanding tone filled his voice.

She nodded and sullenly tugged the string off her package and then removed the cloth. She blinked. Reverently, she picked up the doll her mother had made—the very one Awnya had spent evenings repairing with Amadeus in his workshop. With each stitch Awnya had fought back tears, knowing exactly how devastated and heartbroken Isabella felt losing her mother. With awe in her eyes, Isabella faced her grandmother. “Oh, Oma. You fixed Lilly. And you made her clothes, too. I love her. Thank you. Vielen dank.” She tucked the doll to her chest and rocked it. Tears slipped over her eyelids.

Awnya turned her head away and discretely brushed the tears from her eyes. All her hard work had been worth it just to see the joy on Isabella’s face.