The Christmas Bargain (22 page)

Filly took a drink and her eyes widened at the sweet taste of the bubbly liquid. “That is wonderful,” she said, taking another sip. “How is it made?”

Thoroughly discussing the invention of root beer and carbonation, Luke pulled a slim package out of the box.

“Have you ever had chewing gum?” Luke asked, unwrapping a piece and handing it to Filly.

She shook her head and stuck the piece in her mouth. It was sweet and quickly became sticky and chewy. “You chew it, just for fun. When you’re done, you spit it out. Don’t swallow it.”

“What happens if you do swallow it?” Filly asked, liking the flavor of the gum, but not convinced a proper lady would sit and chew on something like a cow with a mouthful of cud.

“It forms a big ball in your stomach and sprouts gum trees,” Luke said, trying to sound serious, although the merry twinkle in his icy eyes gave him away.

“I guess I’ll remember to spit it out, although that doesn’t seem very ladylike,” Filly said, already deciding she would not be purchasing any more gum.

“Just don’t spit it at anybody, and you’ll be fine,” Luke teased. “And don’t accidentally stick it to something you care about like your hair or your clothes. It is impossible to remove.”

“And you would know this how?” Filly asked, looking at Luke with a questioning gaze.

“I just do. You can take my word for it.” Luke was not willing to provide more information.

“I bet I can ask Chauncy and he’ll tell me,” Filly said with a smug smile.

Luke pulled the box back toward him. “If you’re going to be ornery, no more treats for you.”

Looking petulant, Filly stuck out her lip and pouted. “I’ll be good,” she said, glancing at Luke through lowered lashes.

He slid the box back over to her, wondering what she’d do if he captured that delectable full rosy lip in his and nibbled it a while.

Filly dug through the box asking about each item, saving the rest of the candy and edible treats to sample later.

“Thank you, Luke. This was very thoughtful of you. Now when I go to the mercantile, I’ll know what all these items are and I won’t have to feel quite so stupid.”

Taking her hand in his, Luke twined their fingers together. “You have no need to ever feel stupid, Filly. It isn’t your fault things happened and you had no way of knowing about them. If you are curious about something or don’t know what something is, just ask.”

Staring at their hands joined together, Filly nodded. Luke had once again shown her how much he cared. How she longed to be more than just his cook and housekeeper and friend. She wanted with every fiber of her being to truly be his wife.

Her attraction to this good man went well beyond his physical appeal. Luke was generous, caring, kind, and protective. With him she was safe and cherished. He made her feel smart and special and pretty.

Luke made her forget she had been beaten and treated like less than human for the last thirteen years of her life. And for that she would always be grateful.

Filly didn’t harbor any delusions about why Luke married her. It was partly at Chauncy’s urging, partly as a way to collect something on the debt her father owed him, and partly because he felt pity for her.

The last thing she wanted was his pity. She wanted his love, but how could she ever hope to have it when she was so woefully inadequate as a banker’s wife.

Luke finally released her hand and went to his room to change his clothes so he could do the evening feeding and chores.

When he returned and pulled on his chore coat, Filly was waiting, already bundled up.

“Where are you headed, darlin’?” he asked, settling his old Stetson securely on his head.

“Out with you,” Filly said, pulling her gloves on her hands and smoothing down the fingers. “I’ll help and you’ll be finished twice as fast.”

“Filly, it’s cold out and there is no reason for you to get half frozen helping me,” Luke said, shaking his head at her as he pulled on leather gloves.

“Yes, there is,” she said, opening the door and waiting for him to follow her outside. “I want to.”

“You do know you can be unreasonably stubborn?” Luke said, sighing in resignation. It wasn’t that he didn’t enjoy Filly’s company, he just didn’t want her getting chilled or doing more work than she had already done today.

She answered with a flirty grin. Luke nearly missed the last step of the porch and decided he better focus his attention on getting the livestock fed instead of his wife.

Coming in chilled a while later, Filly made them each a cup of hot tea and took it to the parlor on a tray bearing slices of gingerbread covered in fresh whipped cream.

With his toes stretched out toward the fire, a cup of hot tea and a plate of gingerbread cake in his hand, Luke closed his eyes. “Now this is what I call domestic bliss.”

Filly, with a forkful of cake halfway to her mouth, stopped and stared at Luke. She wondered if he really meant that, or was just teasing her again.

“What?” Luke asked, taking another bite of cake, noticing her thoughtful look.

“Nothing” she said, taking a dainty bite, followed by a sip of tea.

“If I’ve learned anything, dear wife, it’s that there is never ‘nothing’ going on in that head of yours,” Luke grinned, his eyes sparking with mischief. “What’s got you so quiet?”

“Did you really mean what you just said?” Filly asked, surprising herself by asking the question.

“Every word,” Luke said, finishing his cake and setting the empty plate back on the tray. “I had no idea what I was missing out on until you came along, Filly. You’ve made this house a home. You’ve made a haven for us to take comfort in at the end of the day, and I appreciate that.”

As was her habit, Filly blushed and ducked her head, focusing her attention on her cake.

“I also appreciate having a lovely friend I can talk to and laugh with,” Luke said, feeling tenderness for his lovely bride curl in his chest, filling his heart. “Marrying you has been such a blessing to me, Filly. Don’t ever forget that.”

“You mean you aren’t planning to send me away when you feel like Pa’s debt has been paid?” Filly asked, afraid of the answer. She didn’t see how the debt would ever be paid with the many things Luke had purchased for her. She certainly hoped it would take her a lifetime to pay off.

Luke looked at her in surprise. Unable to keep from touching her, he moved from his chair by the fire to sit next to her on the couch, placing his arm around her shoulders. She nestled against his chest and Luke felt his temperature rise as her soft rose scent floated around him.

“No, Filly, I have no intention of sending you away. Consider the debt paid in full,” Luke said quietly, rubbing his hands gently up and down her arms. “I know men who would pay a small fortune to have even one of the delicious meals you prepare every day. I had no idea when I took you off the farm I was getting such a marvelous cook. As to your leaving, anytime you want to go, all you need to do is tell me. I won’t force you to stay, but I won’t ask you to leave. Not ever.”

“I see,” she said with a contented sigh, trying to ignore the way Luke’s hands were branding through the sleeves of her blouse. “I don’t want to be anywhere but right here.”

Luke pulled her closer and she could feel his heart pound against her cheek, could smell his spicy, manly scent. Filly relaxed against his strength as he tightened his arm around her.

“You mean right here at Granger House, or right here on the couch with me at this very moment,” Luke rumbled in her ear.

“Both,” Filly whispered and held her breath, waiting for Luke to kiss her.

First, he pushed aside the curls that had escaped the pile on top of her head and kissed her neck. He worked his way around to her ear and nibbled it a moment. The sensations from his touch made her insides quiver.

Slowly, ever so slowly, he cupped her jaw and turned her face to his, capturing her lips with his. The kiss began softly, reverently, before gathering heat and steam that made Filly tremble.

Unable to think, she instinctively turned, wrapping her arms around Luke’s neck. He pulled her flush against him and deepened the kiss. Parting her lips to take a breath, Luke forged ahead, causing her to gasp in surprise and pleasure.

His groan echoed in her ears as she felt something inside her heart burst into a shower of warm sparks under Luke’s loving attention. Returning his passion, she surrendered to his kiss and pressed against him.

When Luke reached down and gripped her bottom through her dress, Filly opened her eyes and jerked away, crashing back to reality.

Jumping up from the sofa, she ran from the room with a hasty “It’s late. Goodnight.”

Despite Luke calling to her, she hurried to her room and shut the door. Flinging herself on the bed, she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. What she felt with Luke was beyond anything she’d ever imagined feeling, but if he didn’t love her, she wouldn’t give herself to him.

Even when he was telling her he would never send her away, it was because of her cooking, not because of her. Not because he loved her. Unless or until he said the words, she would remain his wife in name only, no matter how desperately she wished otherwise.

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Luke sat up and watched Filly run from the room. Calling after her did no good. He could have followed her and apologized for getting carried away, but he sensed she needed to be alone.

Consumed with the fascinating and beautiful woman he was coming to know, he hadn’t meant to take things as far as they had gone. He loved Filly more than anything.

Leaning forward, he raked his hands through his thick golden hair and sighed. Watching the flames dance long into the night, Luke decided he would continue in his plans to court his wife and win her heart, even if it took a lifetime to do it.

He was hopeful, however, that it wouldn’t take nearly that long.

Chapter Thirteen

Filly looked down into the sweet face of baby Erin and smiled. How she loved this precious child. The baby looked up at her with solemn eyes, her long lashes fluttering like butterfly wings on her rosy little cheeks.

“I could sit here all day cuddling her,” Filly said to Abby, as they sat drinking tea by the parsonage’s cozy fire.

“Sometimes I think that is all that I do get done,” Abby said with laugh. “Then her daddy comes home and wants fed and a turn to hold her. I don’t know what I’d do if she wasn’t such a good tempered baby. She hardly ever cries.”

“Why would she need to?” Filly teased as Erin wrapped a tiny hand around one of her fingers. “A willing pair of hands is always anxiously awaiting a turn to hold her and her every need is taken care of quite often before she even realizes she needs it.”

“True,” Abby agreed with a grin. Looking around at the greenery Filly helped her hang the previous afternoon, Abby let out a contented sigh. “I’m so looking forward to Christmas dinner at Granger House. I think this will be our most wonderful Christmas yet.”

“I know it will be mine,” Filly said with a wistful look. She hadn’t celebrated Christmas since she was fourteen, at least not outwardly. Despite her father’s dictates that no more holidays would be observed in his house, he couldn’t keep her from celebrating it in her heart.

Abby put a hand on Filly’s arm and offered her an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, Filly. I so often forget what life was like for you before Luke brought you to us.”

“I’m fine, Abby,” Filly said, shaking off her gloomy thoughts and mustering a smile. “It’s all in the past and that is where I’m determined to leave it.”