Chapter 7

Chapter Seven

T he next few days were spent in a whirlwind of activity as everyone prepared for the Christmas festival. To complicate things, Aunt Carol took ill with a case of catarrh and was not supposed to be up and about. It was only when Hunt threatened to lock her in her room during the festival did she obey the doctor’s orders. Although she kept to her bed, she still continued to dictate what needed to be done.

Despite Eva’s initial reservations about Hunt’s aunt and cousin, they managed to get along. Hunt was absent from the house most of the time, much to Hayley’s dismay.

They were sitting around the dining table decorating the final batch of Lebkuchen when they heard the front door open and felt a cold wind sweep through the house.

“Oh, Hunt?” Hayley called out in a sweet tone.

Eva could sense his reluctance as he walked into the room. He did not answer, just stared at Hayley, waiting for her to speak.

“Mr. Walker said you were riding into town today. May I join you?”

“The weather is turning. Taking the carriage will be too slow.” Eva could not recall Hunt’s tone ever being so abrupt and harsh, not even when he had slammed the door on her more than two weeks ago.

Despite his tone, Hayley was not to be deterred. “I’ll ride on horseback.”

It was then Roberta Strauss’s turn to chime in in support of her daughter, “Let her go with you, Hunt. She will be no bother. With the baby napping, Miss Kenward and I can have these decorated in no time.”

“Fine. Five minutes,” Hunt said, shaking his head before he turned and muttered something under his breath. As quickly as he entered the house, he walked back outside, shutting the door with such force that a painting on the wall shifted.

Hayley turned to Eva, clearly pleased with herself and, seemingly oblivious to Hunt’s anger, said with a triumphant smile, “I am a proficient rider. You have to be in these parts.” And with that, she stood up, smoothed down her split-leg, brown suede skirt, and left the room in a flurry of childish giggles. It had not dawned on Eva until now that Hayley was already wearing suitable riding attire. Eva suspected she had been planning this outing with Hunt.

Just the thought made her blood boil. Without realizing what she was doing, she crumbled the cookie she had been decorating, and then snatched up another with equal force.

“Careful, if you continue to break cookies, we won’t have enough for tomorrow,” Mrs. Strauss said before making casual conversation about the following day’s festival. “It is always great fun. Hayley has led the singing for several years now, ever since Hunt’s…”

Eva had been listening with only half an ear, but the change in Mrs. Strauss’s tone caught her attention. “Ever since?”

“Oh, never mind. I’m sure Hunt will tell you one of these days.” There were only a few more cookies left to decorate when Mrs. Strauss changed the subject yet again. “How long do you think you will stay at the ranch?”

Eva felt uncomfortable all of a sudden at the woman’s smug look. She also thought it terribly rude of Mrs. Strauss to ask so directly about her plans, but over the last couple of days, had come to know being forward was just her way. Regardless, Eva had no intention of discussing her future with this woman when she was so unsure of it herself.

The only person she intended to speak to regarding that subject had been avoiding the house ever since the arrival of his aunt and cousin.

Attempting to be vague and protect her feelings for Hunt, Eva focused her attention on the cookie she was holding as she casually replied, “I am not able to continue my journey at this time.”

Mrs. Strauss raised a brow with interest and studied her, then narrowed her eyes.

Eva wondered if she had said the wrong thing.

“Are you short on funds?” Mrs. Strauss asked in a calculated way.

Eva stared at the rude woman and shrugged, unwilling to answer the prying question, and continued on with decorating the cookie in her hand, but not before noticing Hunt’s aunt had a curious look in her eyes.

“My dear, I had no idea. It is a dreadful position to be in. Having been on my own once, with no family, I know what it is like to have nothing. If you ever want to leave Montana sooner, or need money, anything…anything at all, you come to me.” She ended her speech by patting Eva’s hand with supposed affection.

Flabbergasted that the woman had made a correct assumption, before Eva could wrap her thoughts around what Mrs. Strauss was really saying, Lily let out a tremendous scream. She was thankful for the interruption.

* * *

Hunt was pleased the day had turned fine. The storm clouds that had threatened yesterday had disappeared over the western horizon, leaving nothing but glorious sunshine for the festival.

The large red barn was the main site of the festivities. Garlands of red and gold paper draped the huge double doors, and long tables decorated with Lebkuchen, colored lanterns, and paper ornaments had been pushed up against the walls around the inside perimeter of the structure.

In the center stood a bare pine tree that Devon and Smythe had brought in just that morning. It was tradition that, when the children arrived, they would decorate the tree with the ornaments and cookies. By the end of the evening, the fragrant pine would be covered, with no hint of green peeking through, and everyone would gather around and sing “ O Tannenbaum .”

That had always been the highlight of the day for Hunt. Glancing about, he was pleased the afternoon was going well. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, especially Eva. She was sitting with Aunt Carol, surrounded by children, at one of the tables that had been set up for them to use to decorate their spiced cookie treats. Lily was sitting on her lap, gumming a cookie in the shape of a tree, while Nero was curled up at Eva’s feet. The pup had become most devoted to Lily and was never too far away. Hunt suspected the devotion had something to do with the food that Lily always managed to drop onto the floor.

Ever since that day in the stable, something changed between him and Eva. It was not simply physical, but so much more. She loved the world he lived in, and it was as if she was made to belong here. He’d wanted to tell her how he felt, and had just about mustered up the courage the other day when he was interrupted by the arrival of his aunt and cousin. Since then, the household had been in a state of utter confusion.

Watching Eva now, helping the children embellish their spiced cookie shapes, there was no doubt in his mind what she meant to him. She stirred a deep longing that he had ignored for far too long. He wanted a wife and children. He wanted to create his own traditions that would be handed down for generations to come.

Walking up behind her, he rubbed his hand across her shoulder. She glanced up at him with a bright smile. He was just about to bend down and kiss her cheek when Hayley hollered to him in a very unladylike voice.

“Hunt, can you help us over here?” she called from the far end of the table. Funny, he had not even seen her sitting there. He was sorry now he had not taken time to speak to Hayley privately. This was certainly not the time or place to tell his cousin that he had no intention of making her part of his future, not that he had ever even remotely considered it.

With great reluctance, he moved away from Eva. He stopped when he saw the young Bradberry girl struggle with decorating a cookie shaped like a rocking horse. Everyone in town knew the poor child was slower than all the other girls her age, and she spoke with a stutter. Although that never seemed to bother her. Little Jessica was one of the happiest and most caring children he’d ever met.

“May I help you with that, Miss Jessica?”

She giggled in response, too shy to answer. Hunt sat down beside her. Taking a dollop of icing, he smoothed it all over the surface. He reached for various candies and sweets, placing the vast assortment in front of her. With little hesitation, she started to adorn the rocking horse, never saying a word. When she was satisfied with her creation, she stood up and gave Hunt a quick kiss on the cheek before running to her mother to show off her creation.

Hunt glanced up just in time to see Eva’s warm smile.

* * *

Several hours and many full stomachs later, it was time for everyone to gather round and sing Christmas carols. Eva had been looking forward to this in particular all evening. Guests, young and old, formed a large circle around the tree that the children had dressed with love and excitement. Each held a single lit candle.

The soft glow from the candlelight created an ethereal effect, light and airy. As the musicians began to play the last carol, “ O Tannenbaum ,” Eva felt magic in the air. For the first time in her life, she belonged.

What started as a soft hum soon gained momentum as guests raised their voices in song, celebrating the joys of the season. Eva rocked Lily back and forth, singing softly into the baby’s ear. Lily cooed and giggled, raising her voice in competition with the others. Her little angel seemed to know that this was her home, her family too.

When the evening came to an end, Hunt and Aunt Carol passed out a decorative holiday tin filled with treats to each family. Each child also received a special wrapped gift with his or her name on it. Eva watched in wonder at the generosity displayed by the Strauss family. She could not wait to confess her feelings for Hunt. She wanted the moment to be just right, and decided she would tell him on Christmas Eve, after church, two days hence.