The Christmas Token Read online

  She’d promised to love him forever, but he never heard from her again. The numerous letters he wrote to her arrived in a box one summer afternoon, all unopened.

  Gathering up what was left of his broken heart and pride, he moved on with his life, even if he’d never again fallen in love.

  They were both so young then, just seventeen and fifteen, they had no business making any promises, let alone expecting one another to keep them.

  Walking back toward town, Blake wondered what brought Ginny to Hardman. He knew, through Luke, she was yet unmarried. According to her brother, Ginny had no interest in matters as mundane as domestic bliss. She preferred to spend her time traveling, taking up causes, and campaigning for what she perceived to be right.

  Picturing her big blue eyes gazing up at him with mud speckling her cheeks, Blake felt a chuckle work its way up his chest and out his mouth as he opened the door to the Hardman Bank.

  “Hi, Blake. What tickled your funny bone today?” Luke Granger asked as he stood from his desk and stuck out a hand to his friend.

  “Your sister, actually,” Blake said, grinning as a confused Luke stared at him. “She arrived on the afternoon stage in a flurry of mud and wealth of insults aimed at the driver.”

  Snatching his hat off the coat rack behind him, Luke walked toward the door with Blake beside him. “Ginny? Ginny’s here? Well, I’ll be... did she say anything to you about why she came?”

  “Not a word. As would be expected, she brought a trunk and several bags with her. I gave Percy a coin to keep watch over her things until you can collect them.”

  “Thank you so much,” Luke said, pumping Blake’s hand again. “I’ll see if George at the mercantile will let me borrow his wagon for a moment. Otherwise, I’ll run home and hitch my buggy.”

  “I can ask George. I’m heading that direction anyway,” Blake offered, part of him anxious to see what Ginny looked like devoid of the mud covering her from head to toe.

  The smart thing for him to do would be to ignore her very existence, the way she’d ignored him when she left Hardman all those years ago. Where she was concerned, though, Blake knew his common sense often failed him.

  “I appreciate the offer, Blake, but I’ll take care of it. I’m sure you have better things to do than escort my mouthy sister around town,” Luke said with a grin, knowing Ginny had a multitude of opinions and wasn’t afraid of expressing them.

  “All right, then. I’ll see you at church Sunday,” Blake said, nodding at Luke as he continued down the street to the livery where he’d left his horse while he took care of some business around town.

  “You’re welcome to join us after services for lunch, if you’d like,” Luke offered, as he opened the mercantile door.

  “Thanks, I’ll take you up on that offer.” Blake wondered how he’d make it until Sunday before seeing Ginny.

  Considering the fact he hadn’t seen her in almost ten years, he supposed a couple of days wouldn’t make much difference.

  Chapter Two

  “I can’t believe you ran away from home, Ginny Lou. Are you ever going to grow up?” Luke asked as they sat at the cozy table in the kitchen eating the delicious dinner Filly prepared.

  Luke turned his icy blue eyes to Ginny, pinning her with his gaze while his wife kicked his shin beneath the table. Ignoring the kick and look of reprimand sent his direction, he continued to press his sister for details.

  “How irresponsible are you? Running off across the country alone, letting Mother and Dad think you were in Boston,” Luke set down his fork and continued his tirade. “Anything could have happened to you. What if someone tried to abduct you or... or...”

  “Luke,” Filly said softly, placing a gentle hand on his arm, calming his agitated state. She didn’t think Ginny needed to undergo an inquisition when she was tired from her travels. Anyone could see the girl looked weary.

  “Dear brother of mine, I realize I should have been more forthcoming with my plans, but there is no need for you to carry on so. I’m not only fine, but perfectly able to care for myself and defend myself if need be,” Ginny said, thinking of the grabby cowboy who’d think twice before he fingered a woman’s knee again. “I did intend to go to Boston to visit a friend but my plans changed at the last moment and I decided to come see you and finally meet Filly.”

  “What changed your plans?” Luke asked, still not willing to let the subject of her unexpected arrival go until he unearthed the reason behind it. Ginny could have met Filly any number of times in the past two years and had conveniently presented excuses for either not traveling with his parents or not being home when he and Filly visited New York. He didn’t believe for one minute she came to Hardman solely to meet his wife and play the part of the adoring sibling.

  Knowing his spoiled sister as well as he did, Luke had no doubt there was some underlying reason for her trip across the country. He wouldn’t let the matter drop until he found out exactly what.

  “Fate.”

  Luke, who was taking a drink from a glass of cool water, snorted it out his nose at Ginny’s comment. Spluttering, he coughed a few times before he could speak again.

  “Look, Ginny Lou, cut the act and tell me plainly what you’re doing here. I mean it,” Luke warned, glaring at his sibling.

  “I’ve asked you a million times to not call me Ginny Lou,” Ginny said, annoyed at both Luke’s nickname and the fact he did know her well. Too well, apparently. “It makes it sound as though I should be barefoot and brainless, feeding chickens or churning butter, or some such thing.”

  “So you view farm women as unintelligent and beneath you?” Filly asked, feeling her temper start to rise since she grew up on a farm and several of her friends were farm wives.

  Ginny realized in that moment she was treading on very thin ice. Her brother was already skeptical about her motives for visiting unannounced while Filly had been nothing but kind and gracious to her. She didn’t want to get on the woman’s bad side.

  Curbing both her irritation and blunt words, she turned big blue eyes, suddenly moist with emotion, to her sister-in-law.

  “My sincere apologies, Filly. I did not intend for my comment to offend. I merely meant that the name is undignified and makes me feel like a country bumpkin. That is precisely why my pesky brother insists on using it,” Ginny said, trying to work up a few tears to further her cause.

  While Filly’s face softened and she reached out to pat her hand, Luke shook his head and leaned back in his chair.

  “Enough, Ginny. I won’t have your theatrics in my home. You couldn’t care less if your comment offended anyone, so don’t pretend it did. Furthermore, you meant every word you said and I know you’re trying really hard to work up a few tears to garner Filly’s sympathy. Now, I’ll ask one final time - what you are doing here. If I don’t receive a satisfactory answer, you’ll find your prim and proper bustle on tomorrow’s stage heading back to New York.”

  Ginny stuck out her bottom lip in a pout and glared at Luke. “Must you always be so beastly to me? I’m your only sibling, Luke. You’d think you’d care for me, a little. If Mother was here…”

  “If Mother was here I’d say exactly the same thing and this time she might even agree with me. In case you haven’t noticed, Mother isn’t quite like she used to be.” Luke cast a glance at Filly, giving her a wink that Ginny couldn’t see.

  The change in Dora Granger occurred through Filly’s kindness to her despite the harsh way she treated the girl upon first meeting her.

  “Fine. You win,” Ginny said, sitting straight in her chair and plucking nervously at her napkin. Her pout and tears disappeared instantly. “The reason I came here…”

  “Ran away,” Luke supplied.

  “Came to stay with you,” Ginny said, lifting her chin defiantly, “is due to extenuating circumstances that are beyond my ability at this particular time to control.”

  “And these circumstances would be?” Luke asked, fast losing patience with his sister. />
  “Well, you see, when I was touring Europe, I met a man. An American. He was also on tour with friends and we happened to run into each other numerous times. He escorted me to a ball or two and then he somehow latched onto the mistaken idea that I was interested in a future with him. Something that involved a permanent attachment,” Ginny said, speaking quickly as though the words were spewing out from some well deep inside her. “He resides in New York and has made an absolute pest of himself. He won’t leave me alone, Luke. Everywhere I go, he’s there and he’s been telling people we’re engaged. I can’t abide the man. He positively makes my skin crawl.”

  “You poor dear,” Filly said, gently patting Ginny’s hand and offering her a compassionate smile.

  “His name, Ginny. What is the man’s name?” Luke asked impatiently.

  “Nigel Pickford,” Ginny whispered, refusing to look at Luke as she glued her gaze to her half-eaten meal.

  “Pickford? Not the son of ol’ Morton Pickford?”

  At Ginny’s nod, Luke raked his hand through his hair and let out a sigh.

  “You’ve landed in it this time, for sure, haven’t you, Ginny?”

  “I don’t understand, Luke. Who are the Pickfords?” Filly asked, looking from Ginny’s distraught features to the lines furrowing Luke’s forehead, a telltale sign of his concern.

  “One of the wealthiest families in New York, tied to just about every aspect of business you could think of from politics to shipping and transportation,” Luke said, studying Ginny, who truly did appear to be upset. “What do Mother and Dad say about all this?”

  “At first, Mother was thrilled Nigel wanted to court me, but eventually she agreed with Father that the man is absolutely unbalanced. Not only that, but he isn’t what I have in mind for a husband, should I ever lose my sense and decide to wed. He’s pale and thin and… ghastly.”

  “And who, dear sister, do you have in mind for a suitable husband?” Luke asked with a hint of censure in his tone. “What are your top requirements for filling that lofty and unenviable position?”

  Ginny’s thoughts flew of their own accord to Blake Stratton. Now there was a man of both physical beauty and an honorable heart. She recalled the way his brown hair peeked from beneath the brim of his hat, his hazel eyes twinkled with mirth mingled with surprise, and his white-toothed grin made her smile at him in return. His shoulders were broad, his arms strong, and his voice kind.

  Wondering what happened to the gentle boy who had promised to love her forever, she was beside herself when he never wrote her a single letter. She wrote him dozens but never received a reply. After six months, she finally gave up hope of ever hearing from him and avoided returning to Hardman so she’d never have to lay eyes upon him.

  Although, after seeing him today, she was glad she’d made the impetuous trip to Oregon for no reason other than to see Blake’s smile once again.

  “I don’t have any man in particular in mind. I just know Nigel is not the one for me,” she said, looking first at Filly then at Luke.

  “Fair enough. Now, enlighten us as to why your trip to Boston turned out to be one to visit us here instead,” Luke prompted. “And no falderol about how you were dying to see me and meet Filly.”

  “I arrived at the train station and happened to see Nigel. It was obvious he was looking for me. The thought of him following me to Boston made my stomach churn, so I charmed my way to the front of the line, bought a one-way ticket for Hardman and here I am,” Ginny said. “I realize I should not have assumed you’d be pleased to see me, or at the very least offer me refuge in my little storm, but I’m begging you, Luke. Please don’t send me back to New York. Not yet. I just need some time to figure out what I’m going to do about my future.”

  Luke stood and walked around the table and pulled Ginny to her feet, kissing the top of her head and enfolding her into a warm hug.

  “You’re welcome to stay as long as you like, but just be mindful that I won’t put up with any stories, exaggerations, or excuses,” Luke said, returning to his seat next to Filly. “I’ll expect you to earn your keep. There aren’t servants here to see to your every whim. We just have Mrs. Kellogg who comes a few times a week to help Filly with the housework. You’ll have responsibilities to assist in maintaining order in our home, and you’ll be respectful to our friends and us. Understood?”

  “Perfectly,” Ginny said, hoping Luke really didn’t expect her to work around the house. Although Filly seemed to take great pleasure in keeping house and cooking, Ginny had no experience in the domestic arts and no inclination to learn.

  “Perhaps before we send you back to New York, you’ll learn something useful you can apply toward corralling that future husband you mentioned,” Luke teased, returning his attention to his meal, ignoring Ginny’s frustrated sigh and the smile Filly hid behind her napkin.

  With Ginny in town, he had no doubt life at Granger House was about to become quite lively.

  “That was one of the best meals I’ve eaten in a very long time,” Blake said, looking to the end of the dining room table where Filly sat blushing at his compliment. “I don’t know when I’ve eaten pork so tender it just fell apart at the touch of my fork. And this pie, Filly, it is truly beyond delicious.”

  “Doesn’t it seem a complete shame Luke gets to enjoy food like this on a daily basis?” asked Chauncy Dodd, pastor of the Hardman Christian Church. He took another bite of his apple pie, topped with freshly whipped cream.

  As Luke’s oldest and closest friend, Chauncy felt it his duty to torment the man whenever the opportunity arose.

  “What is a shame,” Abby Dodd teased, reaching over to pat her husband’s stomach, “is that, unlike you, Luke doesn’t gain an ounce from all of Filly’s wonderful food because he has some control over himself, instead of eating like a gluttonous beast whenever he sits at the table.”

  “Did you all hear that? Oh, wife, how you cut me to the quick,” Chauncy said, taking Abby’s hand in his and kissing her fingers.

  “Kiss mine hand, Daddy. Kiss mine,” little Erin chirped from her high chair, placed between Filly and Abby. Almost two years old, Erin had a strong vocabulary and an endearing smile along with a head full of dark curls and beautiful blue eyes.

  “Here’s one for you, sweetness,” Chauncy said, blowing his daughter a kiss. Waving her plump little fist in the air, Erin knew the routine well, catching something she couldn’t see and slapping her hand to her cheek.

  “Aunt Fiwwy kiss mine, too,” Erin said, turning her charming smile to Filly. Although the Dodd and Granger families weren’t related by blood, Erin knew Filly and Luke as her doting aunt and uncle.

  Filly picked up the tiny hand, playfully nibbling the fingers, making Erin giggle gleefully.

  “Isn’t it about time you had one of those?” Chauncy asked Luke, tipping his head toward Erin. Filly took the toddler out of her high chair and settled the sweet little girl across her lap.

  The rich mahogany curls of his hostess bent over the head of dark brown ringlets made such a picture of pure love and adoration, Blake felt something stir in his chest. Something he’d long ago buried and declared forgotten. Glancing across the table, he felt Ginny’s eyes lingering on him and saw a look pass across her features that he thought looked like regret.

  All eyes suddenly turned to Luke as he choked on a bite of pie and began coughing violently.

  Abby shook her head at Chauncy, giving him a dressing down with her look without saying a word.

  At Luke’s continued coughing, Ginny leaned over and whacked her brother’s back a few times.

  “Please stop, Ginny Lou,” Luke said, taking a sip of water, once his coughing subsided. “You’ll dislodge something vital whomping at me like that.”

  “Just trying to help, big brother,” Ginny said, smiling sweetly, although hitting Luke had been quite satisfactory. The man had turned into a tyrant since she’d last seen him.

  Her beloved brother no longer doted on her or gave her his undivi
ded attention. Instead, his attention was focused, and quite rightly, on his lovely wife.

  That first night, after the debacle at dinner and his extracting the truth out of her, she was ready to retire to her room for a good night’s rest. Starting up the stairs to her old room, Luke grabbed her arm and ushered her down the hall to the bedroom that belonged to the cook when her parents lived at Granger House.

  Tremendously insulted that he expected her to stay downstairs, he quietly told her the two bedrooms downstairs were for guests and she could either stay there or find her way to the boarding house.

  He’d even made her get out of bed at an unreasonable hour so she could help Filly with breakfast.

  When she grumbled about that, he threatened to send her out to gather the eggs from the small henhouse by the barn. Speechless at the very notion of sticking her hand into a nest already occupied by a chicken, Ginny clamped her lips together and set the breakfast table without a further word of complaint.

  This morning, instead of letting her sleep in, he bellowed down the hall for her to hurry up since it was their Sunday to help set things up at church before services.

  Tired from her recent travels and trying to keep her wayward tongue from getting her into more trouble with her brother, since she was temporarily at his mercy, she liked the idea of an afternoon nap.

  Biting her cheek to keep a yawn from escaping, she listened to the good-natured teasing going on around the table. Wondering when Blake became such good friends with Luke and Chauncy, they all seemed quite familiar with one another. They did play together as boys, but she didn’t think they were close friends back then since Blake was a few years younger than the other two.

  “How long will you be staying, Ginny?” Abby asked as she helped Filly begin gathering dirty dishes to return to the kitchen.

  “I’m not yet certain. I considered staying through the holidays, since Mother and Dad are planning to spend Christmas here, but Luke may decide to send me home before then,” Ginny said, smiling at Abby. For a big gangly oaf, as her mother so often described Chauncy Dodd, he married a very pretty woman who appeared to have manners, refinement, and an aura of elegance about her.