The Christmas Quandary: Sweet Historical Holiday Romance (Hardman Holidays Book 5) Read online

  Determined to make an effort, he lifted his left arm and draped it across the back of her chair. Other than give him a quick glance and a smile, she continued her conversation with Junie about things she’d enjoyed most in New York during the holidays.

  Aware of his sly maneuver, James lifted an eyebrow and gave him an approving nod.

  Once the waitress appeared with their meals, the conversation moved to local happenings. When there was a lull between topics, Tom wiped his mouth on a napkin and grinned at his parents.

  “Did you hear about the ghost at the White House?” Tom asked.

  “A ghost?” Junie gave him a dubious look. “I didn’t hear about that.”

  “I read an article in the Heppner newspaper that the President and Mrs. McKinley were startled when a great crash sounded in the East Room on a recent evening. The room had been closed up since that afternoon, so several staff members conjectured what might have caused the disturbance. Everything from a collapsing wall to an exploded bomb was suggested.”

  Lila stared at him, eyes wide with interest. Tom could have kissed her but refrained, even when she blinked and leaned toward him. “What happened, Tom?” she asked in a light, breathy voice.

  Unsettled by the sound of it, he cleared his throat. “A handful of attendants went to investigate and discovered a life-sized portrait of Abraham Lincoln on the floor. The frame, a ten by fifteen foot affair of gilded moulding, was badly damaged, but the canvas was salvageable. The article said a new frame will be constructed.”

  Tom leaned back in his chair and grinned. “The painting was hanging on a wall with likenesses of George and Martha Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Although some speculated work on a new stairway to the president’s office loosened the plaster and caused the cornice where the picture hung to give way, I think it was Jefferson’s ghost. He probably gave ol’ Abe’s painting a shove and off the wall it went.”

  Lila giggled when Tom stuck out his left arm, as though he gave someone a hearty push.

  “I highly doubt Jefferson would have done such a thing. Perhaps it was Mrs. Washington’s ghost,” Lila teased.

  “It couldn’t be George,” James said, grinning at them both. “Our nation’s founding father wouldn’t stoop to that type of thing.”

  “You all are wrong. If there was a ghost acting ornery, it was most likely Zachary Taylor. Old Rough and Ready was probably reliving his days of battle, brandishing a sword throughout the place as he battled imaginary foes, and knocked the painting off by accident,” Junie said. Her conversational tone and the sincere expression on her face made Lila give her a second look to gage if she was serious or joking.

  A little dimple popped out in Junie’s cheek and she laughed, drawing the rest of them into her mirth.

  When the meal ended, James insisted on paying. Outside the restaurant, the cold air nearly stole their breath away. James settled an arm around Junie and tipped his hat to Lila. “Thank you for joining us this evening, Miss Granger. It was a pleasure to dine with you.”

  “Thank you, kind sir,” Lila said. She politely nodded her head while a happy smile filled her face. “The pleasure was all mine.” Impulsively, she gave Junie a warm hug. “Thank you for making the sheep costume. I can’t wait to see what you come up with for the cow.”

  “I’ll bring it in to show you as soon as I have it finished,” Junie said, returning her hug then giving one to Tom. “Make sure you walk Lila home, honey. It’s far too cold and dark for a girl to be out on her own.”

  “I was planning on it, Mama. You and Dad had better head home, too. It’ll only get colder and with you being…” He caught himself before he referred to her pregnancy. “With your delicate condition, you shouldn’t get chilled.”

  James thumped him on the back. “I’ll be sure to keep her warm, son. Now you two go on.”

  Tom rolled his eyes, but took Lila’s elbow in his hand and started toward Main Street. He glanced back and grinned at his parents. “See you both later.”

  They waved and James made a face that caused Tom to work to hold back a laugh.

  “I like your parents. They are bunches of fun,” Lila said, smiling up at him. “All through dinner, I was trying to decide if you took after one of them more than the other.”

  Tom glanced down at her and raised an eyebrow in question. “And? What did you conclude?”

  “Well, you look quite a bit like your father. He’s very handsome for a man his age, so I assume you will be as well.” She leaned back, as though she studied him. “But you have your mother’s smile, her sense of humor, and penchant for fun.”

  Tom nodded. “That’s about right.” He observed her for a long moment. “Which of your parents are you like?”

  Lila shrugged. “I think a combination of them both. I closely resemble my mother, but my zest for life and positive outlook are from my father. Greg reminds me of him in many ways.”

  “Mr. Granger is amusing. When they first came back to town, I expected him to be rather stodgy and look down his nose at people like me, but he’s always so friendly and kind. I suppose that’s where Luke and Ginny get it from.”

  A wry smile touched her features. “It certainly isn’t from Dora, although she has changed considerably in the last several years. I think each grandbaby that arrives softens her heart even more.”

  “Well, perhaps Filly and Luke better plan on having another half dozen,” Tom teased as they strolled through town. He noticed Lila shiver and moved so his arm settled around her shoulders, holding her close to his side.

  Rather than protest, as he expected her to do, she sighed in relief as his warmth enveloped her. Emboldened by the slight progress he made toward winning her affections, he stopped at the gate to Granger House and smiled down at her.

  “Miss Lila Granger, if I asked nicely, would you allow me the pleasure of accompanying you to the skating party at Blake and Ginny’s home this Saturday? I know you’re going anyway, but it would be a great honor if I could escort you.”

  Clearly caught off guard by his question, Lila appeared to frantically work to formulate a reply.

  Tom wished he hadn’t asked. He’d rather have Lila’s friendship than nothing at all. He backed a step away from her and dipped his head. “I’m sorry, Lila. Forget I asked. I just thought…”

  She settled her hand on his left arm and gently squeezed. “No, Tom. It’s fine. I’d very much like to go with you. However, it will save you a long trip into town and back out if I meet you there. I’m sure we’ll go out early since Filly is helping with the refreshments and Luke is assisting Blake. Why don’t you arrive half an hour early? No doubt, you’ll be put to work if you do, but that way we can visit that much longer.”

  A wide grin settled on his face as Tom’s eyes sparkled with joy. “I’ll be there, Lila. Have a nice evening.”

  “Good night, Tom.” She offered him a quick wave then hurried up the walk and disappeared inside the house.

  Tom watched until the door shut then turned and hurried back to his home. He didn’t care what he had to do, he wouldn’t stop until he won Lila’s heart.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Impatient to leave, Lila stood at the back door with a basket of doughnuts in one hand and another of cookies in her other.

  The fourth time she glanced at the clock in as many minutes, Luke chuckled as he waited beside her. “In a hurry to go somewhere, Lila?” he asked.

  She scowled at her cousin and feigned indifference. “I just don’t want to be late.”

  Another chuckle rolled out of Luke. “You don’t want to be late or you want to be sure you’re early and have plenty of time to see a certain young man?”

  Indignant, Lila huffed. “Not that it is any of your concern, but I asked Tom to meet us at Blake and Ginny’s place thirty minutes early. It would be terribly rude to keep him waiting.”

  Luke smirked. “Terribly rude, indeed.” He reached out and tweaked her nose. “You, my lovely little cousin, are smitten with Tom Grove.
Why don’t you just admit it?”

  Aghast, she gaped at Luke. “I’m no such thing! Did you forget I’m an engaged woman, practically wed to Emerson, at least I will be once he returns to New York.”

  “I haven’t forgotten, but I thought you may have.” Luke studied her a moment. “You aren’t married to Emerson, Lila, so it’s okay if you have feelings for Tom. Honestly, if Emerson was that worried about holding on to you, he wouldn’t have ever let you go while he traipsed all over England.”

  She stiffened. “He’s hardly traipsing all over, as you put it. Emerson has been diligently studying at the university. I’m sure he’s worked very hard in his academic pursuits.”

  “I’m sure,” Luke agreed. “That still doesn’t change the fact that Tom makes your eyes sparkle or that you just seem to blossom when he’s around. Emerson won’t be back for another month or so. Why not give yourself time to explore things with Tom? What if you miss out on the opportunity to know a very special kind of love because you’re clinging to one that’s familiar?”

  Rather than offer a sharp retort, she snapped her mouth closed and considered his words as Filly sailed into the kitchen with Cullen on one arm and Maura skipping behind her.

  “I thought I’d never get these two wrangled into their coats,” the woman said, smiling at Luke and Lila. “Shall we go?”

  “We shall, wife,” Luke said, taking Cullen from Filly and opening the back door. “The sooner, the better. Lila is quite anxious to arrive at Blake and Ginny’s.”

  Filly grinned at her. “I take it Tom is coming?”

  Lila nodded and scurried out the door without making any further comment.

  The dog followed them out to the waiting sleigh and barked once. “You stay here, Bart, and keep an eye on things,” Luke said, handing the baby to Filly once she settled onto the seat. He gave the dog a good scratch on his head and pointed toward the back step. “Go on, boy.”

  Bart woofed then trotted off in the direction of the back porch.

  Luke swung Maura into the air and kissed her little cheek then set her down between Filly and Lila.

  The child giggled and squirmed, drawing smiles from her mother and Lila.

  “Did Blake finish making the benches he was working on for today?” Lila asked as Luke guided the sleigh through town and headed out toward the Stratton place.

  “He did. Dora contributed several cushions to pad them for the elderly folks who’ll be using them,” Filly said. “We took out a bunch of pillows for the children to use as padding.”

  Lila gave her a strange look. “Padding? For what?”

  “Tia and Adam came up with the idea of tying pillows around the little ones’ waists, so when they fall backward, they land on the pillows and it softens their fall.”

  Lila grinned. “That’s brilliant! I wish someone had done that for me when I was learning to skate. I had so many bruises that I was black and blue for weeks.”

  “I gonna skate good!” Maura declared, looking at her mother then Lila.

  “I’m sure you will, little miss,” Lila said, tapping the child on her nose. “Who do you plan to skate with today?”

  Maura tipped her head to the side, deep in thought. The child brightened as a smile filled her face. “Daddy!”

  Luke chuckled from the front of the sleigh. “You certainly will skate with me, honey.”

  “Who else?” Lila asked, wrapping an arm around the little girl and pulling her closer to her side.

  “Uncle Blake and Uncle Arlan and Uncle Chauncy…” Maura grinned up at Lila. “And Mr. Grove and maybe Billy.”

  “Billy?” Lila asked, knowing Maura liked the little boy who sat across the aisle from her at school. “He’s a handsome lad.”

  Maura wrinkled her nose. “Billy pushed me on the swing yesterday.”

  Filly smiled at her daughter. “That was very kind of him, wasn’t it?”

  Maura nodded her head with such enthusiasm, her curls engaged in a frenzied dance around her little face.

  Lila bit back a laugh. “How about Erin? Who will she skate with?”

  Maura sighed and plopped her hands on her lap. “She’s sad because Toby isn’t here.” She gazed at Lila with a solemn expression. “His mama and daddy couldn’t come to visit because they gots a baby and it’s too cold for babies to be on long trips.

  “Yes, it is, but I bet Toby will come next year, don’t you think?”

  Maura shrugged. “Probly, if Toby doesn’t get another baby. We gots Cullen and Erin’s gonna get a new baby, too.”

  “She certainly is,” Lila said, looking at Filly. There had been much speculation if Abby would make it to her due date. Her movements slowed every day and Lila had taken to visiting her more frequently to help all she could.

  “Oh, look,” Filly said, pointing to the wagons and sleighs already arriving at Blake and Ginny’s place.

  Luke stopped the sleigh near the door of the house and helped Filly out. He lifted Maura and set her down. Before she could run off, he cupped her chin in his hand. “You stay with your mother while I see to the horse, honey. I don’t want you getting into mischief.”

  “Okay, Daddy,” she said, traipsing after Filly into the house.

  Luke drove the sleigh down to Blake’s large barn. Lila pretended to watch him go while covertly looking around to see if Tom had arrived. She didn’t see him in the handful of people milling around, so she hurried into the house where some of the older girls would take turns keeping watch over the babies and toddlers too young to be out in the cold.

  Ginny smiled as she entered. “Hi, Lila. What a beautiful outfit. You’d be the belle of the ball if this wasn’t a skating party.”

  Lila grinned and brushed a hand down the front of her deep purple velvet skirt. A matching jacket trimmed with mink fur, a fur muff, and lavender gloves completed her ensemble. “Thank you, Ginny. Mother had this made for me a few years ago when we planned to attend a big skating event the Vanluthen’s hosted, but I caught a cold and wasn’t able to attend.”

  “Well, it’s gorgeous,” Filly said. She settled Cullen into a cradle in the kitchen then lifted the lid on a pot on the stove. Fragrant, cinnamon-laced steam rose upward in an aromatic cloud, filling the kitchen with a delicious, mouth-watering scent. “Mmm, this cider smells so good, Ginny.”

  “Blake said we had to have hot cider this year. He thought if we made it in here, we could carry it out later when everyone is ready for a break from the skating.” Ginny sat down at the table with a moan.

  Lila placed a hand on her shoulder and gazed at her in concern. “Are you not feeling well?”

  “I think I may have spent too much time on my feet the last few days getting everything ready for the party. My feet were so swollen this morning I couldn’t get my shoes on, so I’ve been shuffling around in my house shoes.” She held out a foot covered by a soft embroidered slipper.

  “And how do you plan to put on your boots and frolic in the snow?” Filly asked as she slid a pan of rolls into the oven to warm.

  “She doesn’t,” Blake said, stepping inside and grinning at his wife. “I don’t care what she says, I think it best she stay inside today and rest with her feet up. If I have to tie her to the chair to keep her in here, I’m not above doing it.”

  With a complete lack of maturity, Ginny stuck out her tongue at Blake.

  He laughed and kissed her cheek. “No fussing, love. You know I’m right.”

  “I might know it, but I don’t have to like it,” she said, leaning against him as he stood next to her chair.

  “I’m sure some of the other women would be happy to stay in here with you.” Filly brushed her hands on the apron she’d donned and tipped her head toward the window. “I don’t think you’d get any argument out of Abby about staying indoors. And Alex might prefer to stay inside as well.”

  “And don’t forget about Mrs…” Lila slapped a hand over her mouth, recalling not everyone knew about Junie Grove being in a family way.

 
“Mrs. who?” Ginny asked, staring at Lila.

  Lila shook her head. “I forgot it’s not something everyone knows.”

  Filly smiled and bumped Lila with her hip as she stepped beside her. “If you’re talking about Junie Grove, we already know.”

  Lila sighed in relief. “Oh, good. It’s such an exciting thing, isn’t it?”

  “It is,” Filly agreed.

  “I think it’s wonderful they’ll welcome a little one after all these years of waiting,” Blake said, moving toward the door. He pointed a finger at Ginny. “And you, wife of mine, better not set foot outside this door or so help me, I’ll pack you right back in here.”

  Before she could proclaim him a bossy, overbearing boor, he disappeared outside.

  “I guess he told you,” Lila said, offering her cousin a sassy smile.

  “Oh, hush. Just wait until you are in my position and you won’t find it to be nearly as funny.” Ginny rubbed a hand over her belly. Lila watched it bounce as the baby kicked.

  She envisioned herself round with a child and smiled. A picture of a beautiful baby with soulful blue eyes and thick brown hair filled her mind. A baby that looked like Tom Grove.

  Dismayed by the direction of her thoughts, she took Maura’s hand in hers. “Come on, honey bunny. Let’s go see who has arrived.”

  “Bye, Mama,” Maura said, waving at her mother as she and Lila hurried outside. Hand-in-hand, they strolled past the barn and along the path out to the pond where Blake had built a big bonfire and set up makeshift tables to hold the refreshments. Luke, Greg, and Tom set out benches while Dora placed cushions on the seats.

  “Grandma!” Maura squealed, racing to Dora. The woman dropped the cushions on the closest bench and scooped the little girl in her arms, covering her face with kisses.

  “How is my little sweetheart?” Dora asked, leaning back so she could look in Maura’s face.

  “I’s good, Grandma! Did you bring skates? Will you skate with me? Daddy said he skate with me. Will Grandpa skate with me?” Maura patted her grandmother’s cheeks with her mitten-covered hands.