Blue led Clara from spot to spot, telling her of his plans. “A big garden here. Of course, I’ll have to fence it. I’ll put it close to the house so you can easily tend it. You do want a garden, don’t you?” he asked, as if realizing she might have a say in the plans.
But she didn’t care where he put the garden or anything else.
He loved her. She loved him. They were going to start over again. A new family. A new home.
“Show me again where the house will be.”
He led her to the spot he’d chosen. “Do you like it here?”
“I like it fine. What kind of house will it be?”
He scrubbed at his chin. “Do you want one as big as the Gardiners’? I know it’s what you’re used to but—” He lifted his hands in a helpless gesture. “I’m not a rich man.”
She pulled him to face her. “I’ve been rich and pampered. I didn’t much care for it. I’ve been penniless and homeless over the past weeks. Worried about how I was going to take care of the girls. I didn’t like that, either.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “But I do have a dream.” She pulled his head down and kissed him.
“Tell me,” he said when she released him.
“Stop distracting me.”
He laughed and kissed her nose. “Tell me about your dream.”
She turned and leaned her back into his chest and pulled his arms about her. He rested his chin on the top of her head.
“I dream of a home where I make simple meals, where our children share our mealtimes and help with chores. I dream of a real family where each individual is valued and important.”
He chuckled, his breath warm against her cheek. “And I thought you meant to tell me about the house you wanted.”
“That’s easy. Four walls and a roof that doesn’t leak. A big kitchen, a cozy sitting room with books and dolls and wagons for the children. Two bedrooms...maybe more.”
He turned her into his arms. “I can see we’re going to be busy.” His voice grew husky. He kissed her again, so tenderly her heart squeezed out pure, sweet joy.
He leaned back and sighed. “I won’t be able to build a house here until spring.”
“Spring? Why, that’s months away. Must we wait until then to marry?”
He laughed at her eagerness, and heat rushed up her cheek. “Am I being presumptuous?”
“I’m pleased to know you’re as eager as I to get married. But we need a house.”
“Blue, I’ve lived in a little half-canvas shack and would do it again if it meant we could be together. I don’t need much. Only you and the girls.”
“I don’t want to wait, either. You know, there is a small house in town that is empty. Perhaps we could rent it for the winter.”
She hugged him. “That sounds fine to me. Now let’s go tell the girls.”
He hesitated. “Do you think they’ll approve?”
She laughed. “I’m quite sure they will. They’ve been cross at me because I said I wasn’t going to stay and keep Mr. Blue in their lives.”
He grinned. “I love those girls of yours.”
“From now on, they’re ours.”
“I like that.”
She cuddled close to him as they made the return trip. Oh, how she loved this man. “When we arrived in Edendale, I assured the girls that God would lead us to where we were meant to be. I thought it was Fort Calgary. But He has guided us to a far better outcome than I could have ever asked or dreamed.”
Snow began to fall. Great fluffy flakes that plopped to her face and clung on her lashes. She caught some on her tongue and laughed. “I need not fear the winter for the good shepherd has led me to a safe place.”
He pulled her close and kissed the snow from her lashes. “God blessed us with our love.”
When they reached the ranch, he pointed to the big house. “Look.”
The two little girls had their faces pressed to the glass of the window overlooking the ranch. Eleanor was pointing toward them, and Libby jumped up and down.
Clara turned to him. “A kiss for their benefit?”
He chuckled. “Not only for theirs, I trust.” He lowered his head and caught her lips in a kiss full of promise and possibility.
They broke apart, and she turned toward the house.
Eleanor and Libby could not have looked more pleased.
“God has answered all our prayers,” she whispered and pressed her head to Blue’s shoulder.
The future beckoned...a future filled with love and trust and things she couldn’t even imagine at this moment.
Her heart was full to overflowing.
* * *
Blue and Clara took the girls into the library so they could talk to them privately.
Blue pulled them each to sit on his knees. “Is it okay with you if I marry your mama?”
Eleanor nodded, her eyes brimming with joy.
Libby patted Blue’s cheek. “I always knowed it.”
Clara laughed. “I think they saw you as a permanent part of our lives from the beginning.”
Eleanor nodded. “We did.”
Libby squirmed about on Blue’s knee and leaned over to whisper in Eleanor’s ear. “Can I tell now?”
Eleanor shushed her sister. “Not yet.” She turned to her mama. “When will you and Mr. Blue get married?”
“I don’t know. We haven’t made plans.” Clara looked at him for answer.
He shrugged. He’d get married this moment if she agreed, but perhaps she needed time to make plans.
Clara turned back to Eleanor. “Why do you ask?”
Eleanor and Libby shared a secretive look.
“Can you get married before Christmas?” Eleanor asked.
Blue studied the three females who were about to become his family. He sensed the girls had a wish.
“I’m agreeable if your mama is.”
Clara smiled, warmth and love and a hundred promises brimming from her eyes. “I’m most agreeable. No need for rush but no need for delay, either.”
He knew his eyes must surely speak from the overflow of a grateful, happy heart.
“Will we have our own home for Christmas?” Eleanor asked, her voice revealing a mixture of caution and hope. Then she shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. We can stay in the shack.”
Blue smiled. “We already have a home picked out. Did you notice the house near the river behind the store?” He wasn’t sure they would know which one he meant.
“Is that where we’re going to live?” Eleanor didn’t wait for an answer. “Can we put up a Christmas tree?” Eleanor seemed to think it was important they do so.
Considering the abundance of pine and spruce to the west, Blue thought a Christmas tree would be a simple thing to find and said so.
“Good. Now we can tell.” Libby bounced up and down so hard Blue could hardly hold her. “We asked God to send us a special Christmas present.”
Eleanor nodded and slid in a few words as Libby paused to catch her breath. “We asked for a new papa for Christmas.”
“And a new family,” Libby added.
“And we got Mr. Blue.” The girls spoke the words in unison and turned to wrap their arms around his neck.
Blue felt the tears gather in his eyes, but he didn’t bother to hide them. He had never thought to know such love and joy. He signaled for Clara to join them. She sat beside him and pressed her head to his shoulder.
He kissed the top of her head, then pressed a kiss atop each girl’s head.
“I am a very blessed man.”
“God has led us together, and I will never cease to be grateful.” Clara sounded as if she was close to tears.
“This is going to be the best Christmas ever,” Libby crowed. Unable to sit still, she leaped to her feet, grabbed her sister’s hands and the pair swung about in joyful abandon. “The best Christmas ever,” they sang over and over.
Clara tipped her face to Blue.
“It will be a Christmas to remember,” he said before he kissed her lips gently.
* * * * *