Chapter 22

Preston drove the sleigh to Millie's house and stopped in front of the door. He hoped she was home. Jumping down, he went to the door and knocked.

The housekeeper answered and said she'd gone out for a while with her dog.

He had met her that day over by the road to the mines. Funny, he hadn't seen her while coming into town. Perhaps with all the snow, she'd gone somewhere else. He got back in the sleigh and went to the foothills to look for her.

The snow was thick in places and barely inches deep in others, making driving the sleigh difficult. He'd been gone maybe thirty minutes when he heard the dog barking. Praying that Millie was all right, he drove to where he heard the dog.

"Millie! Bob!" He called and listened. After a few minutes, he saw the brown and white dog bounding over the snow to reach him.

Preston laughed, stepped off the sleigh, and kneeled to welcome the dog.

Bob ran to him, barked, and wagged his tail.

"Good boy. Now, where is your owner?" He stood and scanned the field. The snow was bright, causing his eyes to squeeze shut. Then he saw her on the fringe by the trees. Preston scooped the dog up, set him in the sleigh, then gathered the reins, and set off to pick up Millie.

The closer he got, the more sure he was that she was fine. He stopped in front of her. "I've got Bob. Where's your horse?"

She pointed behind her. "In the trees."

"I'll get him, and we can tie him to the back of the sled. Get in and put the blanket around you." He smiled as he heard her talk to Bob and tell her he was a traitor dog.

Within minutes, the horse was tied to the sleigh, and they were ready to go. "I was hoping to find you at home."

She sat closer to him. "I was hoping you'd come home today. I guess things are all right at the mine?"

"They will be. Our fathers are getting along. That's a miracle."

He stopped the sleigh and turned to face her. "Now, about us. I've been thinking that we need to have a serious talk. I've done nothing but think about you. Even when I was in Boston, I would think about you. There never was a chance for another girl. You were always on my mind."

He took her hand in his. "I hope you felt the same."

She blushed. "Yes. I dreamed about you even as a girl. I always thought we'd get married and live happily ever after. Then you went to Boston, and I wasn't sure of anything."

"That was my mistake. I should have written to you. I should have told you how I felt about you before I left."

Millie smiled and kissed his hand. "I'm glad we feel the same way."

"Millie, will you marry me?"

Her heart warmed as she said yes. "Should we pick a date? I was thinking of a spring wedding. That will give us time to sort things out. You have a practice to start."

Preston pulled her to him. "Six months from today. That will make our wedding in May." He looked around, told Bob to sit, and kissed Millie. "That's the down payment. We'll look for a ring tomorrow."

Millie sighed. All that worry and fuss for nothing. She glanced heavenward and thanked the Lord. He'd answered her prayer and directed her steps. Soon, they'd be married, just like she always dreamed.