CHRISTMAS DAWNED TO A BLANKET OF NEW SNOW on the ground and temperatures that frosted the windows.
When Anna first awoke, she snuggled down beneath the blankets on her bed and tried not to think about her daddy and mama. This would be her first Christmas without both her parents, and she missed them so much it was a physical ache in her chest. Memories of Christmases before Daddy went off to war, before he was killed and Mama took sick, flitted through her mind, and she cried. Silent tears. Guilty tears. After all, she had a new home with good people who cared for her.
A soft rap sounded at her door, followed by Violet’s voice. “Anna, are you awake?”
“Yes.” She swiped away the lingering tears as she sat up. “I’m awake.”
The door opened and Violet stuck her head in. “Merry Christmas, Anna. I’ve made pancakes. Put on your robe and come down to eat. There are presents to open when we’ve finished breakfast.”
Guilt hit Anna again. She didn’t have anything to give to the Leonards. Why hadn’t she thought of presents before this moment? How could she be selfish and thoughtless when they’d been so kind?
Violet smiled. “Hurry now. I’m a kid in a candy store on Christmas morning.”
Anna reached for her robe. A short while later, slippers on her feet and robe cinched around her waist, she went down the stairs and entered the kitchen. Violet was there ahead of her, turning bacon on the griddle. A stack of pancakes waited on a plate nearby.
“Good morning again.” Violet glanced toward the back entrance. “Abe went to check on something in the barn. Could you call for him to come and eat?”
“Okay.”
She walked to the door and opened it. But she didn’t have to shout anything. Abe was standing in the snow, just beyond the steps, holding the lead rope to a palomino mare.
“So, Anna,” he said, “what do you think of her?”
“She’s beautiful. Did you buy her? Is she yours?”
“Yep. She’s ours. She’s sort of your Christmas gift to me and Vi.”
Anna shook her head. “My what? I didn’t—”
“I got to thinkin’ about what you said, a couple months back. About raising Quarter Horses. Goldie here is the start. Golden Girl, her papers say. As long as Shiloh’s Star is willing to do his part, she oughta throw some nice colts.” His eyes twinkled in the early morning light. “What do you think, Anna? Can we do this?”
There was that stupid lump in her throat again. “I think it’s wonderful. Yes! Yes, we can do this.”
“Abe,” Violet said from close behind Anna, “put the horse back in the barn and come inside. Breakfast’s getting cold, and there are some packages under the tree to be opened.”
“Yes’m. On my way.”
“Anna?”
She turned to face Violet.
“You okay, honey?”
She nodded—lumpy throat, threatening tears, and all. Mama had told her to keep trusting the Lord, even when trouble came. Things would work out. And so it seemed they had.