Treasured Christmas Brides Read online

  “That might be what he said, but I have eyes.” Susan shook her head again. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you, and it’s not like you’re a cook. Besides, if all he wanted to do was thank you, he wouldn’t have invited you to the InterOcean. There are plenty of other restaurants in Cheyenne, but he chose the most exclusive one.”

  “I know.” And that had bothered Esther. Though she’d never eaten there, she knew that the hotel’s dining room was renowned for both its fine cuisine and its high prices. “I told Jeremy it was too expensive, but he insisted.”

  Susan wrapped a lock of Esther’s hair around the curling iron. “It’s what I told you. He’s courting you, and only the best will do.” She released the curl and studied the way it framed Esther’s face. “Perfect. Jeremy will like this.”

  When he arrived an hour later, it appeared that Susan had been correct, for Jeremy was speechless for a second. Clearing his throat, he said, “You look beautiful, Esther.”

  As color flooded her cheeks, Esther tried to control her reaction. It had been many years since she’d dressed to please a man, and she hadn’t been certain she would succeed. The fact that Jeremy’s eyes gleamed with admiration set her heart to pounding.

  “It’s the dress,” she said, running her hands over the purple silk. “I had it made for the wedding, but Susan insisted I wear it tonight.” The gown had been beautiful when Mrs. Bradford had finished it, but unbeknownst to Esther, Susan had spent countless hours embroidering a row of lilacs around the hem. The delicate flowers captured in floss had turned a beautiful gown into one that was truly spectacular.

  Jeremy shook his head. “Your beauty is more than the dress. I’ll be the envy of every man at the hotel.” He reached for Esther’s heavy woolen cloak and settled it over her shoulders. “And now, if you’re ready…” He bent his arm and placed Esther’s hand on it. “I hope you don’t mind walking.”

  Esther did not. Though Jeremy had proposed hiring a carriage, she had insisted that she was capable of walking the one block to the InterOcean. Her initial thought had been to save him the expense, but now that they were on their way, she realized how much she enjoyed walking at Jeremy’s side, having her hand nestled on his arm, feeling as if she was part of a couple. This was the stuff of dreams. And when they entered the hotel and were ushered to the dining room, the pleasure only increased.

  “This is even more beautiful than I’d expected,” Esther said when they were seated. With its polished dark wainscoting and coffered ceiling, the dining room exuded elegance, while the white table linens and shiny wallpaper brightened what could have been a dark room.

  “You mean you’ve never been here?”

  She shook her head. There were so many things she’d never done, and dining with a handsome man was one of them. “A woman alone doesn’t eat in places like this. It would have been awkward.” There were no tables for one.

  “Then I’m doubly glad we came.” Jeremy smiled, and the warmth in his expression made Esther’s pulse begin to race. Was Susan right? Could Jeremy be courting her? Was it possible that her dreams of marriage and happily-ever-after might come true?

  “I feel honored to be the one who introduced you to this restaurant.” Though his words were matter-of-fact, Jeremy’s tone caused her heart to skip a beat. Truly, this was the most wonderful evening imaginable.

  When the food arrived, Jeremy bowed his head and offered thanks for the meal, then waited until Esther had tasted her trout before he picked up his fork.

  “The food is delicious,” she said, savoring the delicate sauce. Perfectly prepared food shared with the perfect companion. She could ask for nothing more.

  Jeremy cut a piece of his meat and chewed slowly before he said, “It’s not as good as yours.”

  Esther did not believe that. “There’s no need for flattery.”

  “It’s not flattery. It’s the truth. The stew you served on Wednesday was more flavorful than this bison.”

  It couldn’t be true, but Esther appreciated the thought, just as she appreciated everything Jeremy was doing to make the night so special. “I enjoy cooking,” she told him, “and I’m more than happy to share it with you.” It felt so good—so right—having Jeremy at her kitchen table. His presence there made her heart pound and fueled her dreams.

  He nodded, as if he’d heard her unspoken words, and Esther blushed. “Your cooking is superb,” Jeremy said, “but the company is even better. I’ve enjoyed these past few weeks more than any I can recall.”

  And then the bubble of happiness burst. Though his words touched her heart, Esther heard the finality in them. Tonight wasn’t simply a thank-you. It was an early goodbye. Jeremy was reminding her that he would soon be leaving Cheyenne.

  Mustering every bit of strength she possessed, Esther smiled. “I’m the one who’s grateful. If it weren’t for you, my dream of giving Susan her Christmas star would have remained just that—a dream. Thanks to you, she will have something she can treasure for the rest of her life.”

  And Esther would have memories of these few sweet weeks when Jeremy was part of her life. He filled the empty spaces deep inside her. He made ordinary days special. He brought color to what had been a gray life. Esther lowered her eyes and pretended that the trout demanded her attention. She didn’t want Jeremy to read the emotion in her eyes.

  Just being in the same room with him lifted her spirits, and when he smiled at her, Esther’s heart overflowed with happiness. She placed a piece of trout on her fork and raised it to her lips. She could deny it no longer. She loved Jeremy. He was the man who’d put a spring in her step. He was kind, talented, and generous. Oh, why mince words? Jeremy was everything she’d dreamed of in a man. If only they had a future.

  But they did not. He was leaving, and she was staying. That was the way it had to be. Even if Jeremy had asked her to go with him, Esther would have refused. If there was one thing she knew, it was that she would be miserable sharing the itinerant life that was so important to him. And misery was the quickest way to destroy love. Esther wouldn’t take that risk, for it wasn’t only her heart that was at stake. Jeremy had been hurt once. She would not be the one to hurt him a second time.

  Chapter 7

  “I don’t understand it.” Jeremy muttered the words under his breath as he sat on the edge of the chair and unstrapped his left foot. He’d believed Esther would be pleased by dinner at the InterOcean, and for a while it had seemed that she was enjoying not just the food and atmosphere but also his company. Her eyes had shone with what he thought was genuine happiness, and her cheeks had borne a most becoming flush. Then suddenly the lovely glow had faded, and only a blind man would have missed the sadness in her eyes. Esther had said all the right words, but Jeremy could tell that she wasn’t happy, and that had spoiled the evening for him.

  He wanted Esther to be happy. Oh, how he wanted her to be happy. But she wasn’t, and he wasn’t certain why. Though he’d replayed the evening a dozen times, trying to understand what had caused the change, the only clue he had was that she’d looked sorrowful when she spoke of the Christmas star. Perhaps Esther’s thoughts had returned to the past and she’d wished she’d had her own star, that Chester had survived the war and given her the life she’d dreamed of.

  Jeremy rubbed petroleum jelly into his stump as he did each night. Though that eased the pain in his leg, it did nothing to assuage the pain in his heart. He hadn’t been lying when he told Esther that he enjoyed seeing new parts of the country. What he hadn’t told her was that the itinerant life was lonely. For years, Jeremy had prayed for a home of his own and a woman to share it. And now when it seemed that his prayers were close to being answered, he feared that once again they’d be dashed, unless he could find a way to make Esther happy. Jeremy couldn’t bring Chester back to life, but surely there was something he could do to make her eyes sparkle again.

  All he had to do was find it.

  What a fool she was! Esther winced as the brush tangled in her hair, but th
at pain was nothing compared to the pain in her heart. She had spoiled a perfectly wonderful evening by worrying about her future. Hadn’t she learned anything in her thirty-eight years? She knew she couldn’t control the future. Only God could. She knew she needed to trust Him. He’d healed her heart after Chester’s death; He’d brought her here and shown her the way to succeed. He would guide her to her future, if only she would let Him.

  Her hair needed to be braided, but that could wait. There was a greater need right now. Esther reached for the Bible on her bedside table and opened it to the book of Jeremiah. Chapter 29, verse 11 had always brought her comfort, and it did not fail her now: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

  Esther closed her eyes, letting the words sink into her heart. When she felt the familiar comfort settle over her, she read the next verse. “Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.” The promise of peace was there, but if she wanted it, she needed to ask for it.

  Kneeling beside her bed, Esther bowed her head. “Dear Lord, help me find joy in each day. Show me the path You have prepared for me.”

  Though the future was still clouded, that night she slept better than she had in months.

  From her vantage point behind the counter, Esther watched as Jeremy put the final brushstroke on the painting.

  “We’re finished, Susan.”

  “Can I see it?” Susan asked as she slid from the stool. “You’ve been so secretive.”

  Jeremy shook his head. “Your aunt told me that’s part of the tradition. Although others can see the portrait, you need to wait until your wedding day.”

  Susan’s pout drew Esther to her niece’s side, and if that meant that she was near to Jeremy, that was all right too. Though she’d tried her best to regain the special feeling of closeness they’d shared at the InterOcean, Esther had failed. It seemed as though a barrier had been erected between them, and nothing she said or did demolished it. Jeremy seemed preoccupied. He’d even stopped eating with her and Susan, claiming he had work to do and couldn’t afford the time. The worst part was that although Esther suspected she had created the barrier, she had no idea how to make it disappear.

  “Jeremy’s right. It’s only eight more days.” A quick glance at the canvas confirmed what Esther had thought: the painting was magnificent. Turning to Jeremy, she raised an eyebrow. “When will you have it framed?”

  “Two days. It needs to be completely dry first. If it’s convenient for you, I’ll bring it Saturday afternoon on my way back from Mrs. Edgar’s house.”

  This was what Esther had feared. Today would be the end of her time with Jeremy. Oh, she’d see him occasionally while he was still in Cheyenne, but those wonderful days of sharing meals and conversations with him, of having only to look across the room to see him, were over.

  “The offer of using the bakery as your studio is still open,” she said, hoping she didn’t sound as if she were pleading.

  He nodded as he dipped his brush into turpentine. “I appreciate that, but Mrs. Edgar doesn’t want anyone to know she’s having her portrait painted. Apparently her husband has been asking for a miniature to put in his watch for years. When Mrs. Edgar heard about Susan and Michael’s portrait, she decided this would be the year Mr. Edgar got his wish.”

  “Will you have enough time to finish it?” Susan’s portrait had taken almost three weeks to complete.

  Jeremy nodded again. “I just won’t be sleeping very much.” Or sharing meals with her.

  “I’m sure it’ll be as wonderful as Susan’s portrait.” Esther darted another glance at the finished work. Jeremy had captured more than Susan’s and Michael’s features; he’d captured their love. Though the other Christmas stars were beautiful, this one was spectacular. “I can never thank you enough.”

  “It was truly my pleasure.” For the first time since the night at the InterOcean, Jeremy’s smile seemed unfettered. As the clock chimed, the smile turned into a frown. “I’m sorry to rush away, but I have another appointment this afternoon.”

  A minute later he was gone, leaving Esther with an enormous void deep inside her.

  Jeremy pulled his watch from his pocket, trying not to scowl when he realized that the store would close in five minutes. If he were able, he’d run, but running had not been a possibility since Antietam. When he opened the door to Mullen’s Fine Jewelry, the clock was striking five, and the proprietor seemed on the verge of locking the door.

  “Thank you for waiting for me. I’m sorry I’m so late.” Jeremy brushed snow from his coat. “Were you able to find one?”

  As the jeweler shook his head, his elaborately waxed and curled mustache wiggled. “I sent telegrams to my best suppliers, but no one had what you want.”

  Though he’d feared this would be the case, Jeremy could not disguise his disappointment. “I know I didn’t give you much notice.”

  Mr. Mullen stepped behind the main display case. The assortment of gold and silver pieces, many decorated with gemstones or pearls, was the best in Cheyenne, yet it held no appeal for Jeremy. There was only one thing he wanted.

  “That’s true,” Mr. Mullen agreed. “You didn’t give me much notice. On top of that, it’s a busy time of the year for every jeweler. I was afraid I would not be able to find it. That’s why—”

  Jeremy had heard enough. This was one dream that would not come true. “There’s no need to apologize, Mr. Mullen. I know you did your best. The fault is mine.”

  The jeweler fingered his mustache, almost as if he were trying to hide a smile. That was absurd. There was no reason to smile.

  “If you’d let me finish, you’d know that I wasn’t going to apologize.” Mr. Mullen’s words came out as little more than a reprimand. “When you first approached me, I knew it was unlikely anyone would have what you need. That’s why I took the liberty of making one.” He reached under the counter and brought out a cloth bag. “Is this what you had in mind?”

  Jeremy stared in amazement at the object in Mr. Mullen’s hand. It was everything he’d dreamed of and more. “It’s perfect.”

  “Is something wrong, Aunt Esther?”

  Startled by her niece’s approach, Esther dropped the rolling pin. As she bent down to retrieve it, she frowned when she saw the amount of flour she’d spilled onto the floor. This wasn’t like her. But then the way she’d been feeling for the past few days wasn’t like her either. Despite her prayers, the future was still unclear.

  “Nothing’s wrong.” Though Esther had hoped that her indecision hadn’t been obvious, Susan had seen behind the mask she’d been wearing. “I’m simply extra busy this year.” That wasn’t a lie, but it also wasn’t the whole truth. Esther had spent far too much time dreaming about a future that would never happen.

  Susan perched on the edge of a chair. “It’s my wedding, isn’t it? I should never have planned a Christmas wedding. I know how busy the bakery is during December.”

  After rinsing the rolling pin, Esther resumed her work on the piecrusts, grateful that the task kept her back to Susan. She didn’t want her niece to see the confusion she knew was reflected in her eyes. “It’s not your fault, Susan. This is the perfect time for you and Michael to marry. I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Being busy should have kept her mind focused on happier thoughts than Jeremy’s absence.

  “But something is wrong,” Susan persisted. “I can tell.”

  Esther hadn’t planned to say anything to Susan until she’d made her decision, but the girl’s obvious concern made her admit, “I’ve been thinking about my future. I’m trying to decide whether I should sell the bakery.”

  “What?” Susan jumped up from the chair and put her arm around Esther’s waist, turning her until they were facing. “You said this was your home. Your life.”

  Esther nodded slowly. “That’s true. You and the bakery have been my life for the last ten years.” She lai
d a finger under Susan’s chin, tipping it upward. “They’ve been wonderful years, but it feels as if they’ve been a season in my life and now that season is ending.”

  Susan was silent for a moment, her eyes searching Esther’s face as if she sought a meaning behind the words. “If you do sell the bakery, you can live with Michael and me.”

  Her niece’s generous offer did not surprise Esther, but there was only one possible answer. “Thank you, Susan, but I cannot do that. You and Michael are starting your life together. As much as I love you, I know it would be wrong for me to be part of that life.”

  Susan looked bewildered. “But what would you do?”

  “I’m not sure.” That was the reason Esther hadn’t slept last night. “I know what I want to do, but I’m not sure that’s possible.” If wishes came true and prayers were answered, she would spend the rest of her life with Jeremy, but he’d never spoken of love or of wanting her to be a permanent part of his life.

  Bewilderment turned to a calculating look as Susan stared at her, and for the briefest of moments Esther feared her niece had read her thoughts. Impossible.

  “Aren’t you the one who told me Grandma Hathaway said Christmas was the season of miracles?”

  Esther nodded, remembering the number of times her mother had said exactly that. “Yes, but…”

  “Then start praying for one.”

  Esther did.

  Chapter 8

  Three days until Christmas. Jeremy peered into the mirror as he wielded his razor. No point in nicking sensitive skin. They’d be a busy three days, but he wasn’t complaining. No sirree. If everything went the way he prayed it would, if he had enough courage to do all that he planned, this would be his best Christmas ever.

  The first part was easy. He would finish Mrs. Edgar’s portrait this afternoon, frame it tomorrow night, and then deliver it early on Christmas Eve morning. The second part was more difficult. Laying down the razor, he studied his face. No whiskers visible. He rinsed the bits of shaving cream from his face, then toweled it dry. Those were all mechanical tasks, things he did every day. What he was contemplating was far more difficult.