The Christmas Bargain Read online

  “Open it, Filly girl,” Luke urged, watching Filly’s face to gauge her pleasure in the gift.

  Opening the box, a beautiful emerald ring glistened in the firelight. “Oh, Luke,” was all Filly could manage to say.

  Taking the ring from the box, Luke slid off the settee onto one knee, then gently pushed the ring onto her left-hand ring finger, above the gold band that he placed there on their wedding day.

  With his forefinger, he lifted her chin and got lost in her eyes. “My grandfather gave this ring to my grandmother the day they wed. He loved her fully and faithfully until death separated them. Grandmama gave me the ring and told me to give it to the girl who captured my heart. Filly, it’s yours. You’ve captured me completely. Will you be my wife? My true wife, forever and always? I promise to love you until my last breath.”

  “Yes, Luke. Forever and always. Nothing would make me happier,” Filly said, throwing her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly. It was almost more than she could fathom to know Luke wanted her as his wife, that he truly loved her.

  He picked her up and resumed his seat with her in his lap, holding her close and soaking in her presence, her love.

  Filly’s head rested against his chest and she could feel his heart pounding against her cheek. Looking up through lowered lashes, she studied this man she loved. This good, strong man who gave her a home, a name, her self-respect, and his heart. Luke restored something that she hadn’t even realized she’d lost. By marrying her, by loving her, he’d given her back hope, trust, and a sense of self-worth.

  Raising her lips, she gently brushed his and he pulled her tighter against him. Luke deepened the kiss until Filly felt dizzy with emotion.

  Without saying a word, Luke slowly removed her shoes, then slid his hands inside her skirts, under her layers of petticoats, pushing up the legs of her bloomers until he found the top of her stockings. He first rolled down one, then the other, feeling his passion for his wife multiply at an uncontrollable speed as his hands slowly ran down the smooth skin of her long legs.

  His next kiss left them both breathless and filled with a longing that couldn’t be denied or subdued.

  Setting her on her feet, Filly squeezed his hands and gave him a trembling smile.

  Leaning into Luke when he stood, she kissed the dimple in his chin, surprising herself with her boldness.

  “I dreamed about kissing you right there,” she whispered shyly, making Luke’s heart race in double time while he felt like his internal temperature was reaching the boiling point.

  “What else did you dream about?” Luke asked, his hands tracing circles on her back as he held her in the circle of his arms.

  “About seeing you,” Filly said, slowly tugging off his shirt and letting it fall to the floor. “Just like this.”

  “Are you sure, Filly?” he rasped in a voice deep with emotion. At her nod, he gently set her back from him. He carefully removed her mother’s cameo from the high neck of her dress and placed it inside the little jewelry box. His long, calloused fingers then went to work on the buttons running down the front of her dress. He could feel Filly tremble, which made him work all the faster.

  Once the dress was undone, he helped her take it off. The speed at which he wished to proceed was hampered by the layers of clothing proper ladies wore.

  “Blast, but it is a lot of work getting a woman out of her clothes,” Luke said, his tongue planted in his cheek as he tugged at her petticoats. He considered slicing through the many layers covering Filly with his knife, but knew that wouldn’t sit well with his practical bride.

  Filly laughed, which made him chuckle, and they both relaxed. They were, after all, good friends who had learned to like and respect each other before they acknowledged the love that they shared.

  “If you don’t hurry along,” Filly taunted, shooting him an impish grin over her shoulder, “it will be time for me to put all this back on and cook breakfast.”

  “Why must you women wear so much frippery? Balloon sleeves, bustles and corsets, tucks and pleats, petticoats and crinolines, and who knows what else. It’s a confounded nuisance, that’s what it is.”

  “I haven’t heard you belittling fashion before,” Filly said, stating a fact. Luke often offered compliments on her lovely wardrobe.

  Luke, who’s only concern about fashion, up until he met Filly, was how pretty clothes made a girl look, took a great deal of pride in the appearance of his wife. He liked seeing her dressed as a well-heeled banker’s wife. Of course, he also loved it when she wore her riding skirt and boots and accompanied him outside. He was fairly certain he would best love seeing her in nothing at all.

  “That’s because I wasn’t going to get to see you without your clothes on before. It’s like having the most wonderful present in the world and not being able to get the wrappings torn off,” Luke said, finally realizing he could open the corset from the front. He quickly had it off and went to work on removing Filly’s petticoats.

  When he was done, she stood before him in her light chemise that just reached the top of her thighs. Luke had envisioned how those long legs would look uncovered and wasn’t disappointed by the sight.

  Carefully, he pulled the pins from her hair then buried his hands into the curling mass as it tumbled down her back and over her shoulders. Running his hands through it, he groaned. “I’ve wanted to do that again for so long, Filly. To watch your hair fall around your shoulders. Your hair is one of the first things I noticed about you.”

  “You did?” she asked in surprise, pleased by the feel of Luke’s hands entangled in her hair.

  “I did. I thought it was beautiful that first meal I shared with you at the parsonage.”

  Filly blushed and Luke gave her a wicked grin.

  “If that makes you blush, I can’t wait to see what the rest of our lesson does,” Luke said, staring at her with a heated look of wanting.

  Filly smacked playfully at his arm.

  “You know what else I noticed about you? Your eyes,” Luke said, staring into the emerald depths, glowing from the fire and a light within. “Once you finally looked at me, I think I fell into those emerald pools and have been swimming around in there since.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked, rubbing her hands across the muscles of his chest and broad shoulders. “I think I’ve been in love with you since the day you walked in the door with Pa.”

  “I didn’t want to frighten you, scare you off. Then I was afraid that you didn’t feel the same,” Luke said, nuzzling her neck. “I’m quite pleased that you do, Mrs. Granger.”

  He trailed scorching kisses along her shoulder and down her arm to her fingers, kissing the tip of each one.

  “Luke,” Filly whispered, overwhelmed by new and strange sensations.

  “Hmm?” Luke said, lifting her in his arms and carrying her to the bed.

  “I’d like to finish those lessons now, if you don’t mind,” Filly said, kissing the dimple in his chin. “I’ve got a bargain to uphold, you know.”

  “My beautiful, spirited, Filly,” Luke said, gently laying her down on the bed. “You are without a doubt the best bargain I’ve ever made. Merry Christmas, darlin’.”

  ###

  Author’s Note

  When I decided to write a Victorian Christmas story, I wanted to use a real town from the 1890s. After doing a little research, I settled on Hardman, Oregon.

  Located in Eastern Oregon, about 20 miles from present-day Heppner, Hardman is now a ghost town.

  Around twenty to thirty residents still call Hardman home, but for those driving through the town, there isn’t a lot left from the days when it was a thriving community.

  I used details from this website for my research about Hardman:

  http://www.ghosttowngallery.com/htme/hardman.htm

  Although this is a work of fiction and most of the town in The Christmas Bargain exists only in my active imagination, the town did boast a skating rink, four churches, a school and newspaper
office in the 1880s.

  John F. Royse, reportedly one of the most successful farmers in the area, and his brother, were said to be the first permanent settlers in the Hardman country.

  Originally named Dairyville, the town was popular as a freighting center and saw promising growth in its early days. Dairyville became known as Raw Dog, while a mile away a rival settlement sprang up, known as Yellow Dog.

  Stagecoaches and wagon trains traveling north and south through eastern Oregon and Washington found a convenient stopping point in both Raw Dog and Yellow Dog. The rivalry between the two locations escalated as they competed over which town would secure the stagecoach depot for the area. When Raw Dog received a permanent stagecoach station, the two towns became one, known as Dogtown.

  The town’s name changed to Hardman in 1881 when David N. Hardman, an old pioneer farmer, moved to town and brought the post office with him, by consent of the government, that he operated previously from his farm. The town took the name of the post office and became generally known as Hardman.

  It was rumored the railroad would go through Hardman in the late 1880s. When it was routed through Heppner instead, it was a devastating blow to the community, effectively stunting future growth of the town.

  By the 1920s, trucks replaced horses, mail routes changed and Hardman began its decline.

  The last business in Hardman closed in 1968.

  Hardman is a class D ghost town which means it is a semi ghost town with a small resident population and many abandoned buildings.

  Sugar Cookies

  These soft, delicious cookies are a holiday staple at our house. Enjoy!

  Sugar Cookies

  1 cup butter

  3/4 cup sugar

  1/2 cup powdered sugar

  2 eggs

  1 tsp. vanilla

  dash of lemon juice

  1 tsp. baking powder

  1 tsp. salt

  2 1/2 cups flour

  Frosting

  Cream together butter and sugars. Add in eggs, vanilla and lemon juice. Mix dry ingredients together and gradually add into creamed mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour (or overnight).

  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

  Generously flour a flat surface and your rolling pin. Scoop out half the dough and roll until about 1/4 inch thick. You want to work fairly quickly at this point because the warmer the dough gets the stickier it becomes and you don’t want to add more flour. Cut into shapes and bake about 6-8 minutes or until cookies are just set. You do not want them to get brown at all. Cool in the pan for a minute or two. Remove to wire rack to cool completely. Frost and decorate, then watch them disappear.

  Cream Pie

  More than a hundred years old, I’m sure Filly would have used a similar recipe for making Luke a luscious cream pie.

  This pie filling is really simple to make and always well received. You can serve it plain, top it with fruit and whipped cream, give it a fluffy meringue topping or even alter the basic recipe by withholding the lemon and adding a little cocoa powder for a chocolate filling.

  Cream Pie

  2 cups milk

  2 eggs

  1/2 cup sugar

  1/2 tsp. lemon

  2 tbsp. corn starch

  pinch of salt

  Prepared Pie Shell

  In a heavy saucepan, beat eggs, just until broken up, then add milk, sugar, cornstarch and salt. Cook over medium heat until thick. (If you don’t have a heavy saucepan, use a double boiler).

  When it starts to thicken you need to stir constantly. (This is not the time to start daydreaming about the hunky hero in the novel you’re reading or the hunky hero who will soon be home, ready to eat the pie. Not that this ever happens to me.) Pay close attention so you don’t scorch the pudding. When it starts to get a glossy sheen and is nice and thick, remove from heat, stir in lemon juice and pour into prepared pie shell.

  Cool completely.

  Top with whipped topping and a fruit garnish, serve, and bask in the compliments that come your way!

  Coming Spring 2013!

  The Cowboy’s New Heart - Years after her husband suddenly died, Denni Thompson can’t bear to think of giving her heart to anyone else.

  With three newly married sons, a grandchild on the way, and a busy life, Denni doesn’t give a thought to romance until she meets the handsome new owner of Grass Valley’s gas station.

  Former bull-rider Hart Hammond spent the last twenty years building up a business empire while successfully avoiding love. He buried his heart the same day he made his last bull ride and has vowed to never make the mistake of loving a woman again. Then he meets Denni Thompson, the beautiful mother of the fun-loving Thompson tribe.

  Can a broken-hearted widow and a heartless cowboy find love? Find out in Spring 2013 in the fifth installment of the Grass Valley Cowboys series!

  Grass Valley Cowboys Series

  Meet the Thompson family of the Triple T Ranch in Grass Valley, Oregon!

  Three handsome brothers, their rowdy friends, and the women who fall for them are at the heart of this contemporary western romance series.

  The Women of Tenacity Series

  Welcome to Tenacity!

  Tenacious, sassy women tangle with the wild, rugged men who love them in this contemporary romance series.

  The short story introduction, A Prelude, is followed by three full-length novels set in the fictional town of Tenacity, Oregon.

  Savvy Entertaining Series

  Get seasonal ideas for decorating, entertaining, party themes, home décor, recipes and more from Savvy Entertaining’s blogger!

  The Coffee Girl - Almost thirty, Brenna Smith isn’t sure how much more off-track her life could be. She certainly never pictured herself living at home with her parents, working in a job she dislikes for a loathsome boss. The only bright spot in her mundane existence is the cute guy she runs into every morning as she stops for coffee.

  Brock McCrae has worked hard to be able to manage his own construction company. Handsome, successful and full of life, he finds his world turned upside down as he falls for a woman he knows only as The Coffee Girl. Is there something more than a shared love of coffee brewing between these two?

  The QR Code Killer - Murder. Mayhem. Suspense. Romance.

  Zeus is a crazed killer who uses QR Codes to taunt the cop hot on his trail.

  Mad Dog Weber, a tough-as-nails member of the Seattle police force, is willing to do whatever it takes to bring Zeus down. Despite her best intentions, Maddie (Mad Dog) falls in love with her dad's hired hand, putting them both in danger.

  Erik Moore is running from his past and trying to avoid the future when he finds himself falling in love with his boss' daughter. Unknowingly, he puts himself right in the path of the QR Code Killer as he struggles to keep Maddie safe.

  From the waterfront of Seattle to the rolling hills of wheat and vineyards of the Walla Walla Valley, suspense and romance fly around every twist and turn.

  Learnin The Ropes - Out of work mechanic Ty Lewis is homeless and desperate to find work. Answering a classified ad for a job in Harney County, Oregon, Ty accepts when he is offered the position. Saying goodbye to his sister and his life in Portland, he heads off to the tiny community of Riley to begin a new adventure, unsure about his boss Lex Ryan, a man he has yet to speak with or meet.

  Lexi Ryan, known to her ranch hands and neighbors as Lex Jr., leaves a successful career in Portland to keep the Rockin’ R Ranch running smoothly after the untimely death of her father. It doesn’t take long to discover her father did a lot of crazy things during the last few months before he died, like hiding half a million dollars that Lexi can’t find.

  Ty and Lexi are both in for a few surprises as he arrives at the Rockin’ R Ranch and begins learnin’ the ropes.

  Lesson One

  Location, Location, Location

  “Git yerself out of thet durn city

  and into God’s country.”

  Tyler Lewis rea
d through the classified ad a third time, trying to decide if he was desperate enough to apply for the open position.

  Leaning against his truck door with the paper propped on the steering wheel, cold seeping into his back from the rain-splattered window and hunger gnawing at his insides, he concluded he was, in fact, that desperate.

  Wanted - Good mechanic able to work on a variety of equipment in Harney County, Oregon. Certification a plus. Wages congruent to experience. Room and board included. Must like animals.

  Ty took a deep breath, quickly typed a text message and hit send to the number in the ad before he could change his mind.

  If someone had told him a year ago he would be living in his pickup, unable to find a job, and willing to do just about anything that was legal to make a few bucks, he would have laughed in their face.

  That was before the garage where he worked for the past seven years decided to lay off all but their newest mechanic to cut costs. Ten months later, Ty had $486 left to his name and everything he owned was packed into his pickup.

  Let go with a promise that he would have his job back as soon as business picked up; the once-busy garage in a Portland suburb went out of business within a few months, leaving Ty no hope of being re-hired.

  Applying for every open mechanic job he could find, he interviewed for positions doing everything from janitorial work to flipping burgers and couldn’t get hired on anywhere. There were way too many people in the same sinking boat.

  Five weeks ago, he gave up his apartment and moved into his pickup. With rapidly dwindling funds, he sold all of his furniture and anything else he didn’t need which left him his tools, clothes, and one box full of mementos from his childhood.