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DECEMBER 1886
Ridgeway, California
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PRUDENCE EMERSON CHASE rounded the corner, dashing from the doorway of her daughter's bedroom into the second-floor hallway. In her right hand, she gripped the handle of a hairbrush. "Chloe, come back here this minute!"
Her four-year-old daughter, Chloe Grace, was making a game of running from her mama. Dressed in her new red Christmas dress and fancy white slippers, Chloe had decided she'd rather have a game of tag than sit and let her mama fix her hair. The little girl giggled as she neared the stairs, as if taunting Prudence.
Prudence slid across the polished floor, praying she wouldn't rip her new stockings. She reached out, stretching her arm to its limit- and caught the rambunctious little girl, who was only a second away from taking a tumble down the steps.
Picking up her squirming daughter, she tucked the child on her hip and handed her the hairbrush. While Chloe busied herself by brushing at her mama's short curls, Prudence lifted the hem of her vibrant green satin gown and carefully went down the stairs.
On the first floor, she took a seat on the settee, where she'd set the small box holding Chloe's hair ornaments. Placing her daughter on her lap, she took the brush and set about putting her wild bush of soft curls into something resembling a bun. Chloe wiggled the whole while, but Prudence finally managed to bundle her hair atop her head, secure it, and place a small, ornate comb in it, adorned with a red silk rose.
Prudence turned her daughter around to admire her hard won accomplishment. "There now. You'll be the prettiest little princess at the social."
Chloe giggled, then snuggled close to her mother. "Thank you, Mama."
She hugged her close to her heart. "You're welcome. Next time, thank me by not making me chase you, you little rascal."
Giggling, Chloe hopped down from her mother's lap and went to her small table in the corner. The table, a birthday gift to Chloe from Prudence's parents, was set with the miniature china tea set given to her by Noah and Valerie Rogers.
She was watching Chloe pour imaginary tea for her doll when Derrick descended the stairs. Dressed in a black suit with a red vest and tie, he looked as handsome as she'd ever seen him.
Tugging the lapels, he smiled. "Looks pretty fine, don't you think?"
She stood and went into his arms. "You look very handsome, Reverend."
He brushed his lips against her jawline. "And you, Mrs. Emerson, are certainly going to turn some heads tonight. You look radiant, my darling."
His use of the word 'radiant' made her think of the secret she'd been keeping from him. She wanted to tell him so badly it ached, but she waited. The moment should be just right when she revealed it.
She looked upon the face of the man she loved so dearly, inhaled the familiar, woodsy scent of his soap. She remembered how close she'd come to losing him, when his past had reared its head, bringing danger and violence as a calling card. Those unfortunate events had almost ended his life, before she'd had the chance to discover how much he meant to her.
Bringing her mind back to the present, she smiled up at him.
"We're ready to go whenever you are. I finally got her hair fixed." She gestured to Chloe.
He stooped, held out his arms. "Chloe, come and let Papa see how pretty you look."
Chloe left her doll and ran into her father's arms. "Do you like my dress, Papa?"
Lifting her into his arms, he kissed her small cheek. "Why, you're as lovely as a flower. Are you ready for the party?"
"Yes!" Her rosy cheeks and the merriment dancing in her brown eyes relayed her youthful excitement.
She smiled at her husband and daughter. "I'm sure Janice has planned lots of fun activities for the children. It's so nice of her to take them on at the party, so we adults can enjoy ourselves."
"I agree. We owe her a very nice gift this year." Derrick walked over to the door and got the key from the hook.
She followed, grabbing her handbag from the settee on the way. Once they'd secured the house and gotten seated in the buggy, Derrick took the reins and got them underway. She settled in for the ride, with little Chloe nestled between them.
The December night was clear, but the air held a chill. Reaching beneath the buggy seat, she pulled out the one of the thick woolen blankets she kept there, and draped it over all three of them. Warmer now, she gazed up, taking in the sight of the crescent moon hanging high in the starred sprinkled sky.
Derrick's voice broke the silence. "The Lord has certainly given us a beautiful night."
She had to agree. "Yes, He has."
"And to me, He's given the best blessings of all-our sweet Chloe, and you, my darling."
Tears welled in her eyes, making her vision swim. Now, she knew the time was right. "I have something to tell you, dearest."
Before she could begin, she was distracted by the sights and sounds of Ridgeway, dressed in holiday finery. The buggy now rolled onto the eastern end of Founder's Avenue, and Derrick slowed the two-horse team down a bit as they neared the hotel. The gas lamps lining the street were aglow, and each lamp post adorned with an evergreen wreath. Each wreath had a large bow fashioned of red velvet, as well as few strategically placed bright red holly berries. Most of the storefronts displayed similar wreaths, and a few had lit candles displayed in their windowsills. Befitting the festive nature of the town's first Christmas Social, the Taylor Hotel staff had festooned the front of the building with evergreen garland, curls of red ribbon, and a large banner reading, "Merry Christmas to All."
There was a good amount of vehicle traffic due to the night's event. Several buckboards and coaches were lined up ahead of them, and folks also lined the plank walk on the right side of the street, as everyone made their way toward the hotel. A happy commotion filled the air; it resonated with the sounds of the horses’ hooves pounding the road, the music flowing out of the open door of the hotel, and the din of many conversations.
Blinking away her tears, she repeated, "I must tell you something, Derrick."
"What is it, Pru?"
She drew in a deep breath, her words an emotional whisper. "We're going to have another baby."
He swung the buggy around the corner at Town Road, then pulled into the grassy area folks used for parking. Setting the brake, he looked at her. Beneath the light from the moon, and the gas lamps situated around the hotels rear entrance, she could see the question in his eyes.
He asked, "What was that you said?"
She spoke up a bit this time, to be heard over the festive music pouring out of the hotel. "I said, we're going to have another baby."
He reached over their daughter to join hands with his wife. "Are you sure of it?"
She nodded. "Doc Wilkins says the baby will be here in the late spring."
As was her way, Chloe didn't bother to hide her excitement. "Yay! A baby brother!"
He smiled down at his daughter, then turned his eyes back to his wife. "Or a baby sister. This is wonderful news, darling. Wonderful news."
She brushed away a fat tear running down her cheek. "Yes, it is, dearest."
He released her hands, got down from his side of the buggy, then came around to help her and Chloe down. Once they were both on the ground, he lay a reverent hand on her belly.
Their eyes met in the shadows.
"I love you, Prudence."
She touched his cheek. "Not nearly as much as I love you."
He kissed her then, pressing his lips to hers to convey his love.
A tiny voice interrupted, accompanied by an insistent tugging on the skirt of her gown. "Mama! Papa! We'll miss the party!"
Reluctantly, they parted.
Derrick chuckled. "She's right, you know."
She could only smile at the man who held her heart. Taking Chloe's hand, and linking her arm with his, she started for the hotel. "Let's get out of this cold, and go enjoy ourselves."
So, the Chase family strolled toward the Taylor Hotel, and the dear friends and neighbors waiting inside.