The Christmas Gift

By Bakerj

~~~

Chapter One

When Pa’s command bit through the room, the only thing that surprised me was that he hadn’t told me to sit down sooner.  But with my gut feeling like a dozen squirrels had set up home and were dancing a jig, it was a tough ask.  “How long’s he been up there, now?”

“About five minutes longer than the last time you asked.  Can’t you at least try to show some patience?”

I glared at Adam.  He didn’t find that girl half-frozen in the snow.  I did, and she was my responsibility, not his.

“Yeah.  Quit your fussin’ around.”

My shoulders rolled back as I shifted my glare to Hoss.  Of course, he would back Older Brother up.  The sound of the bedroom door opening pushed an argument out of my mind.   I was hanging onto the newel at the bottom of the stairs by the time Doc Martin appeared. 

“How is she, Paul?” Pa asked before I got the chance.

“Fine.  Remarkably well considering.”

“Is she awake?” I said.

“She is.  In fact, Hop Sing can take up some of that soup he has warming.”

“Let me take it, Doc?”

He looked at Pa.  I met my father’s eyes, and he smiled.  “I guess that’ll be all right.  Paul, you’ll stay for lunch?”

“Thank you, Ben, but no.  I need to get back.”

“Not before having coffee.”

Paul, setting his bag down on the low table, was all the answer Pa needed. 

Right on cue, Hop Sing trotted in from the kitchen.  “Mister Doctor want soup now?”

Pa answered, “Yes, thank you.  Little Joe will take it up.  And could we have coffee and maybe some cookies?”

Adam, Hoss, and I flinched at the scowl that descended on our cook’s face.  “Coffee, fine, but no sugar for cookies!”

After Hop Sing stomped away, Paul gave Pa a questioning look.  He sighed.  “We had trouble with the supplies.”

Hoss slumped further into his seat.  “Yeah.  Christmas tomorrow and Hop Sing’s only gotta few spoonfuls of sugar.  No cookies, gingerbread, nuthin.”

“Christmas is more than sugary treats, Hoss.”

“Aww, Pa, I know that, but it’s something I look forward to all year, and now thanks to Little Brother we ain’t—”

“Now wait a doggone minute!”

“Enough!  I have told you three a million times to stop this bick—”  Pa broke off as the cough rumbled up through his chest and consumed him.

Paul moved to his side, “Fetch some water, somebody.”

Rushing back with the glass, I handed it to the doc.  Thankfully, Pa had stopped coughing.  He tried to wave the water away, but Paul wasn’t taking no for an answer.

“I told you, Ben, that was a serious bout of pneumonia, and you’re not fully recovered.  You need to take it easy, and …”  Paul’s gaze seared the three of us, “what you don’t need is to be agitated.”

The glance I shot at Hoss was filled with the same guilt I saw on his face.  But the hard light in Adam’s stare let me know how he felt. 

“Thank you, Paul.  I feel much better.”

The image of Pa lying in bed for days fighting to catch his breath, hollow-cheeked and sunken-eyed, still brought me out in a sweat.  A relapse was a constant threat.  I sat on the hearth, grateful for the warmth that eased the sudden chill that ran through me. 

Paul picked up the blanket that Pa had earlier laid aside and tucked it back around his knees, then moved to the sofa.  “The weather give you trouble?”

I almost groaned out loud.  That was the least of it.  The early blizzard took everyone by surprise.  Pa was forced to cancel the Christmas party, and every chore got delayed.  As soon as the storm cleared, the job of taking the winter fodder out to the herd was on.  I’d made the second run.  Leaning forward, I reached for an apple, just as I had reached for the brake lever …

I applied the brake to check the speed down the hill as I’d done a million times before, but the lurch that rocked the buckboard almost pitched me into the dirt.  As the wagon picked up speed, the team panicked. Hauling on the reins, the leather bit into my hands.  We hit the upcoming bend at a run.  The team turned.  The buckboard didn’t.

The world went sideways as two wheels dropped off the road.  I jumped.  Like a breaching whale, the buckboard’s other wheels rose, showing me its belly.  A crack split the air as the tongue snapped clean in two, freeing the team.  The wagon dropped, crashing down to the valley below.

The horses trembled and tossed their heads, pawing their feet at the trailing leather.  Picking myself up, I limped to the edge.  Wood and fodder lay spread over half the hillside.

Pa didn’t care about the loss; he was only happy I hadn’t been badly hurt, but to my brothers, I’d messed up.  Like I was five and didn’t know how to drive a team.  I got mad, and they got angrier.  But Hoss would’ve gotten over it if it hadn’t been for the sugar. 

The accident cost us a day, leaving us late for the supply run.  Bad enough they made me ride passenger on the buckboard while Hoss drove, but when Mr. Lehtonen looked up from our list, my stomach dropped like a rock.   When he broke the bad news that he’d sold the last of the sugar the day before, no prize for guessing who got the blame.

Hop Sing returned with the coffee tray, muttering under his breath.  Setting it on the low table, he threw me a black look and pointed to the bowl.  “Soup for little Missy.”

“Thanks.”

“Huh!” was his reply. 

Collecting the bowl, spoon, and napkin, I headed for the stairs. 

“Little Joe, she wasn’t up to talking to me.  But she may once she’s got something warm inside her.  See what you can find out.”

I smiled at Doc Martin.  “Yessir.”

***

Chapter Two

My knock was answered, and I opened the door.  There she lay on the bed, under that thick quilt.  It was like looking again at the form covered in snow …

I’d gone out at daybreak.  The air cut through my lungs, clearing out the tightness that had clung to me for days.  With nowhere special to go, Cooch and I drifted, taking in the morning.

The white pristine powder kicked up under Cooch’s hooves as I moved through the stand of pines.  We thinned them a few years earlier.  They were looking fine, growing wide and tall.  We broke through the tree line, and that’s when I spotted the shape in the snow.  Not an animal.  My heart sank thinking I’d found some kid, but then it tightened even more when I saw the skirts. 

Facing death was never easy, but I dropped onto one knee and turned her over.  One finger stuck between my teeth, I yanked off my glove and swept back the long blond hair that had escaped her fur hat.  Touching her face gave me an even bigger shock.  Warmth met my fingertips.  She was alive!

Off came my coat and scarf.  Wrapping her tight, I maneuvered her onto Cochise.  Swinging up behind, we turned for home.

I’d dragged my freezing, exhausted butt after Hoss, who carried the young woman upstairs, only to have Pa and Hop Sing firmly close the bedroom door in our faces.  Turning to head back down, Hoss looked me over.

“You look half froze to death.  You’d better go get changed afore you catch pneumonia.”

It was the nicest thing he’d said to me in days.  I smiled and disappeared into my room.  Halfway through pulling a fresh shirt over my numbed flesh, Hop Sing busted in to steal one of my nightshirts.

“Little Missy need something to wear until Hop Sing can dry her clothes.”  From the door, he stopped and looked back.  “No fire in room yet.  You get downstairs and warm up!”

I done just that, but at last, I’d get to meet that girl in the snow.  Crossing the room, I smiled down at the face peeking out from under the covers.

“Hi, I’m Joe.  I brought you some soup.”

She blinked.  I’d never seen eyes like hers before. Flecks of gold danced within their green depths, mesmerizing in their intensity.  I froze.

“Are you the one who found me?”

Snapping out of my trance, I mumbled, “That’s right.” 

When she’d got into position, I laid out the napkin and handed over the bowl and spoon.  Then I drew up a chair and made myself comfortable.  I couldn’t help but stare at those eyes gleaming at me from under her long lashes. 

In between mouthfuls of soup, she said, “Thank you for rescuing me.”

“You don’t hav’ta thank me.  What were you doing out there?”

She dropped her gaze and bit her bottom lip.  “I foolishly leaned out at the wrong moment and fell.  Down I went into the snow.”

“And no one noticed?”  Idiot!  Why ask that question?  Her family would’ve turned back if they had.  “Where do you live?  We’ll send a wire to your family.  Let them know you’re safe.”

“They won’t receive it.  They’re taking care of business.  But as soon as that’s finished, they’ll find me.”

“How?  If they don’t know where to look?”

“They’ll know.”

I looked at that confident smile and dropped further back into my chair.  What was she talking about? 

“Look—I’m sorry, but I haven’t even asked your name.”

“Lahja.  Lahja Joulu”

“Lahja?”  That explained her accent anyway.  “That’s a pretty name.  But Lahja, your folks can’t find you if they don’t know where you are.”

“I think they can.  I wouldn’t rule it out, anyway.” 

I didn’t know what to say.  Finished with her soup, Lahja handed me back the bowl.  “That was delicious.  Thank you.”

“I’ll tell Hop Sing.”

“Hop Sing?”

“Our cook.”

“Yes, please tell Hop Sing.”

I grinned back at her.  Why?  I had no idea.  “You rest now.  I’ll bring lunch up later.”

“I feel much better.  I can get up.”  Looking around the room, she frowned.  “Where are my clothes?”

“Hop Sing’s drying them off.”

Her gaze fixed on me. “And who removed them?”

“Not me.  So, I didn’t see you na— without your clothes.  Not that I haven’t seen—  What I mean is, Pa did it.  But it’s all right, he’s a widower — he’s old.  I mean — he’s older, is all.”  Her soft giggle made me blush.  Could I make a bigger fool of myself?  I stumbled out of my seat and headed for the door.  “I’ll see if your clothes are dry.” 

***

Chapter Three

Taking the plate of ham Pa handed her, Lahja smiled.  “It’s so wonderful to meet people as kind and welcoming as you all have been.  Saint Nicholas would be proud.”

“Saint Nicholas?” Adam questioned.  “A jolly old elf flying around in a miniature sleigh with eight tiny reindeer?  It’s a nice Christmas tale for children, but not much else.”

I glared at Adam’s rudeness, but Lahja’s gentle laughter quashed my anger.  “Maybe, but that tale is thanks to a real man.”

“Real?” I asked.

“Yes.  Saint Nicholas was a bishop who lived a long, long time ago, when the Romans ruled.”

“Ain’t that something?” Hoss said.  “But what’s a Roman fella got to do with our Saint Nick?”

“The Saint Nick in your children’s stories gives gifts because that is what the real Saint Nicholas did.  He gave gifts in secret.  Once, he secretly gave bags of gold to a poor father so his three daughters could marry instead of being forced into prostitution.”

I grinned when Hoss turned pink and said, “He sounds like a fine fella.”

“It is his spirit of love, kindness, and generosity that lives in a father and mother who work late into the night making gifts for their children, or a community that comes together to help those in need.”  Lahja turned to Pa.  Her smile lit up the room.  “Or the family that takes in a stranger.”

“I’m just glad Little Joe was there to help.

Adam smirked across at me.  “It isn’t often Joe’s in the right place, but for once he was.”

“Yeah!  Good job, Little Brother.”

Was that praise? Could these two be warming up at last?

Lahja laid her napkin down.  “If you will excuse me.  I think I will go rest.”

“Of course, my dear.  You’ve had quite a day.”

Her bedroom door closed before Adam said, “I wonder what she was really doing out there?” 

“What does that mean?”

“C’mon, Little Joe, her story about falling out of the wagon seems pretty unlikely, don’t you think?”

“No!  I don’t think.”  I looked around the table at the snickering faces and rolled my eyes.  “All right, all right.  But that’s not what I meant.”

Pa chuckled.  “We know.  But I think that young lady could be a runaway, and we need to get her back safe and sound to her family.”

“I know, Pa.  I’ll talk to her again.”

“Good enough.”

***

Chapter Four

When Lahja returned, Pa drew her over to the sofa.  Hoss had taken himself off somewhere, and Adam had long since retreated into a book.  Keen to put off the conversation I’d promised to have, I challenged Lahja to a game of checkers.  Her enthusiasm was a relief, and I hurried to set out the pieces.

When the clock chimed the hour again, Pa looked up from his paper and cleared his throat.  “Look at the time.  I’d better get those figures done.”

“There’s no rush, and are you sure you’re up to it, Pa?”

“I’d rather get them done.  A man can’t keep putting things off, Joseph.  You should know that.”

If that wasn’t a big enough hint, his hard stare was.  Having an audience didn’t thrill me, so I invited Lahja outside for some air.  Running into the drying room, I retrieved her cape and gloves.  My hand ran over the soft green wool and the fur that lined the heavy garment.  She’d picked the right outfit for the weather.  Trying to be a gentleman, I draped it around Lahja’s shoulders, then fetched my coat.  

Freezing air chilled my skin.  Abandoning my idea of a stroll, I steered Lahja to the barn. Thanks to the winter sun already beginning to drop, gloom darkened the interior.  I lit the lamp.  Coal oil mingled with the smell of horses, hay, and leather.  The warm light pushed back the shadows, giving a cozy glow.

I introduced Lahja to the Buck, Chubb, and Sport. She duly admired them, but it was Cooch that caught her eye.  All the ladies loved a pinto.

Trying to keep things casual, I leaned one elbow over the stall and watched as Cooch nuzzled her palm before I dived in.  “Where do your folks hail from, Lahja?”

Her gloved hand continued to stroke Cooch’s muzzle.  Then she looked at me.  I blinked.  My breath quickened.  Needing to stay focused, I tightened one hand over the other.

Lahja smiled.  “Finland.”

“I meant here, now.  Where do they live?  In Storey County?”

“No, they live a long way off.”

My gut tightened.  Getting answers from this girl was like trying to rope a maverick steer.  I tried again, but every answer was as evasive as the last.  Pushing away from the stall, I spun around, throwing out my hands.  “Why won’t you tell me?  What’s the big secret?”

“It isn’t a secret.  It’s just… ”

“What?”

“Hard to explain.”

“Look, Lahja, if you’ve run away from home—”

“Joe, please.  Don’t ask me any more questions.”

The look in her eyes dropped my arms to my side.  She didn’t want to lie to me.  I let it go.  “What am I going to do with you?”

Lahja moved around Cochise, and her smile returned.  “You could kiss me.  I’ve been hoping you would all day.”

Her eyes beckoned.   It was a distraction, but a good one.  So what if she’d run away from home?  Her folks were likely strict and never let her have any fun.  All right, we could give her a little of that before she goes back.  Besides, when those pink lips formed a welcoming bow, what was a fella to do? 

Cochise was the only witness to that stolen moment and a kiss like no other.  In all the years to come, I never could describe it.

***

Chapter Five

When we returned to the house, Pa joined me as I hung up Lahja’s cape and my coat.  In a heavy undertone, he hissed, “What did you find out?”

“Not much.”

His penetrating gaze hooked mine.  “What were you doing out there for all that time?”

“Nothing!”  I glanced toward Lahja, who was talking to Adam, then turned my attention back to Pa.  “All she told me was that her family is here for work.  But you’re right, I think she’s a runaway.”

“Joseph, we need to find out who they are.”

“I know.  I’m not gonna give up.”

“Maybe try asking—”

Hoss bursting through the door ended our conversation.  I never did get to hear what Pa wanted me to ask.

Shutting the door, Hoss pulled off his hat.  I raised my eyebrows and asked, “Where’ve you been?”

“You’ll find out, Little Brother.  I’ve got something to say, and you’re gonna want to hear it.”

The look in Hoss’s eyes got my attention.  This was important. 

Stripping off his coat, he delved into one pocket, pulled something out, and headed for the settee.  He got everyone’s attention, and my eyes didn’t leave his face as I sat down on the fire hearth.

“Something Joe said has been niggling at me.”

Adam rolled his eyes.  “Look, if you’re trying to excuse—?”

“No, I ain’t!  And you need to listen.  Joe said he felt the buckboard lurch just before he lost control.  Like I said, that’s been scratching away at me, and this morning I couldn’t ignore it any longer.  I figured I wouldn’t rest easy until I took a look.”  Opening his hand, he laid some pieces of iron onto the desk.  “I found this.”

“What is it?” I asked.

Adam frowned.  “It’s the brake shoe.”

“Yeah.  See how it split right down the middle?”

Pa picked a piece up and turned it in his hands.  “That can happen if there’s a fault in the casting.  A tiny air bubble is all it takes.  Under pressure, the whole thing can suddenly shatter.”

“It ain’t no wonder you couldn’t hold that wagon.”

Adam raised an eyebrow.  “Looks like we owe you an apology.”

I turned a shard of that cold iron over with my fingers.  Hoss had taken that long ride back to the valley and searched for who knew how long to find this.  My smile beamed at him, “Thanks.”

Dragging me into a bear hug, I yelped when his large palm ruffled my hair.  “Anytime, Little Brother.” 

“Hey!”  Squirming out from underneath, I flattened my curls back down and joined in the laughter.

The call from outside took the four of us to the door.  A buckboard was drawn up in the yard. In the dusky light, I could make out Mr. Lehtonen, the owner of the mercantile.

“Hello, Ben.”

“Karl!  What brings you out this late?”

“I have something for you.”  Pulling back the tarp, Mr. Lehtonen revealed a fifty-pound burlap sack.  My mouth dropped when I saw the letters printed on it.  “Sugar!”

“I was tidying my stock room this morning and found this buried under the flour sacks.  I put it to one side for your next supply run, but I kept thinking how much you needed it, so I thought I would bring it out.”

“Hot diggity! That’s great,” Hoss pounched on the sack and hoisted it onto his shoulder.

Laughing, Pa took the man’s hand.  “You’ve no idea how happy this is going to make Hop Sing.”

“Pleased to help. Now, I must go.  If I’m late for supper, Matilda will be fit to be tied.”

Wishing him Merry Christmas, everyone went inside, but as the buckboard moved away, an idea sent me running after him.  

“Mr. Lehtonen, I found a young lady in the snow this morning, and we’re trying to track down her folks.  Have you seen any strangers?  Her name’s Joulu?”

“Joulu?”

“Yes.  Lahja Joulu.”

Mr. Lehtonen raised his eyebrows.  “That’s one name I would remember, especially this time of year.  Sorry, Little Joe, but I’ve not met anyone with that name or seen any strangers.”

“Okay.  Thanks.”  Something made me hold on to the wagon and ask, “Mr. Lehtonen, why’s it a name you’d remember this time of year?”

“Joulu is Finnish for Christmas, and Lahja means ‘present’ or ‘gift’.  So, in English, we’d pronounce Lahja Joulu as, Christmas gift.”  Mr. Lehtonen shook up his team.  “Merry Christmas to you, Joe.”

I walked back into my house to the sounds of laughter and a warmth that came from more than the fire.  Hop Sing stood in the middle of the room with a smile bigger than the one when he got the new stove, while Hoss counted on his fingers a list of all the sweet Christmas things he wanted him to make.  Pa and Lahja laughed at their nonsense, and even Adam looked happy.  I took a breath and soaked it in.

***

Chapter Six

I’d never enjoyed Christmas Eve supper as much as this one.  We clinked glasses filled with Pa’s best wine.  Hop Sing produced a dessert fit for a king, and we talked and joked in a spirit of good fellowship that would’ve made even Saint Nick proud.

Collapsing on the sofa, my gaze drifted to our Christmas tree.  It was mighty sorry-looking standing there, bare as the day we cut it down.  Pa had hoped the trip to find the tree would’ve healed our rift, but it was a miracle we’d managed to get through the chore without laying each other out.  Ever since we brought it back, there it had stood — ignored — time to fix that. 

I slapped my hands together and leapt up.  “How about we get this tree decorated?”

Lahja clapped her hands.  “Oh, I’d love to.”

“Well, we can’t disappoint our guest now, can we?”  Adam laid aside his book and headed up the stairs.  At the landing, he stopped and looked back at Hoss and me.  “You coming?”

I grinned at Hoss, and we galloped after him.

Standing back, I put my hands on my hips and studied our work.  “Looks good to me.”

“You sure, Little Joe?  That star ain’t crooked?”

“Nope.  It’s just right.”

Adam held out the taper.  “Do the honors, Pa?”

Pa smiled and, one by one, lit the candles.  Next to me, Lahja let out a sigh.  “Ah … it is so beautiful.”

“You know, young lady, we usually sing a carol after dressing the tree.”

With Pa’s bad chest, for him to sing was out of the question.  I glanced at Adam and Hoss, then said, “Let us sing one for you.”

If they could, Lahja’s eyes sparkled even more.  Clasping her hands together, she begged, “Please, Mr. Cartwright, I would love to hear it.”

Pa settled back in his chair.  The smile on his face filled my chest fit to bust. 

Before I had the chance to suggest it, Adam said, “Good King Wenceslas?”  How he picked the same carol I’d thought of, I’ll never know.

We sang our hearts out.  Pa smiled and waved his hands in rhythm.  When we reached the chorus about the good King heading out, Lahja’s hands fluttered up to brush tears away.  But her smile was pure joy.

We finished to applause.  Fresh tears glistened in her eyes when Lahja said, “Thank you, all.  You’ve made this such a special day for me.”  Turning to Pa, she put out a hand.  When he took it, she squeezed his fingers.  “Especially you, Mr. Cartwright.  You who keep the spirit of Christmas alive all through the year and have passed that special gift onto your sons.”

“Thank you, my dear.  But what would make me happy is to see you back safely with your family.  Whatever happened, I’m sure they must be worried about you.”

A flicker of regret crossed Lahja’s eyes.  “It was never my intention that you should worry.”  Then she froze before twisting around to the front door.  When she looked back, her eyes glittered with excitement.  “You needn’t worry anymore.  They’re here!” 

My mouth dropped when Lahja jumped up, grabbed her cape, and flung open the door.  Then she stopped.  Turning back her smile was dazzling.  “Thank you all so much.”

In a wave of green, she was gone. 

“Joe ….” Pa began.

“I know.”  Shaking off my shock, I dashed after her.

Stopping dead on the porch, I looked around.  Snowflakes the size of marbles drifted down.  The moonlight lit the yard as bright as day, but there was no sign of Lahja or any footsteps in the fresh snowfall.  I took off across the yard toward the lane. 

“Lahja!  Wait!  Lahja!”

My breath came in clouds.  The landscape around me lay still and empty.  Snowflakes settled on my hair and shirt.  I shivered.  Then, through the crisp, winter air, I saw it.

I told everyone that I’d seen Lahja leave.  But I never breathed a word about the rest.

Long silver runners flashed under a sleigh whose wood shone like burnished gold.  Leaning out the back, Lahja waved goodbye.  For a moment, I thought she’d topple, but this time, others on the back seat reached to pull her down onto the dark leather.  Eight sturdy reindeer ran ahead.  From their red leather harness, a line of silver sleigh bells jingled.  The reins slapped, and through the night air a deep voice cried, “Peace and goodwill to all!”

The End