Christmas Bells and Wedding Vows: A Marriage of Convenience Anthology by Hedlund Jody & Williams Lacy & Beller Misty M

Author:Hedlund, Jody & Williams, Lacy & Beller, Misty M.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Misty M. Beller Books
Published: 2023-09-23T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 4

Jed woke with no sense of how much time had passed. He rubbed both hands over his face as he sat up. His mouth felt like cotton. He could still feel the warmth of Minnie taking care of him.

A glance at the pocket watch from his nightstand showed it was lunchtime. He'd slept for several hours.

Not enough, but it would have to do.

Voices murmured behind the door. Jamie's. And then Minnie answered. Her voice was both new and familiar. And comforting somehow.

Responsibilities intruded. He needed to check on Ellie Jane. If she remained stable, it wouldn't hurt to make a call on Mrs. Farraday to see how she fared. Surely someone would’ve called on him if she went into labor.

He splashed water from the basin onto his face, rubbed vigorously with the towel to dry it. That only made him think of Minnie and the laundry she'd done—of her own accord—this morning.

The hot scent of a hearty stew. His stomach rumbled, mouth instantly watering.

Jamie and Minnie were at the kitchen table, an open book in front of each of them. Minnie sat back in her chair, sipping from a mug. Jamie was leaning over the table toward her, motioning with one hand.

"No, he wouldn't say that! He hasn't been visited by the spirit of Christmas present yet."

"But his attitude has already started changing," Minnie argued right back, a smile playing around her lips. She was the one who glanced up and caught sight of him in the doorway. Her eyes widened.

And then Jamie saw him, too, and closed his book with a thunk.

"What are you doing?" Jed asked.

Jamie ducked his head so Minnie answered. "Playing a game." She stood from the table and moved toward the stove, where a bubbling pot rested. "Do you want something to eat?"

He did want something to eat, but he felt a pull to the clinic to check on Ellie Jane. "What kind of game?" he asked. His feet hadn't moved.

Was it his imagination, or was Minnie blushing? "Oh. Just something I made up to pass time. Sort of combining two books together.”

Jamie’s fingertip traced something on the tabletop. "You take characters from one book and imagine they are facing all the obstacles or going through life from another book."

How creative. "I suppose you're putting Mr. Scrooge through the wringer?"

Minnie looked slightly surprised that he'd recognized the reference in the short time he'd been in the doorway. "We've put him on the deserted island of Mr. Crusoe."

A short laugh barked out of him at the absurdity of it. "Have you really?"

Jamie’s eyes widened with surprise.

Maybe Jed's laugh was a little rusty. He actually couldn't remember the last time he'd laughed with his son.

Minnie was wiping her hands on her borrowed apron. She hadn't dished out any stew.

"I've been in to check on Ellie Jane." She said it in a rush, like he might've been disappointed to find her in the kitchen instead of at Ellie Jane's bedside.

"Every fifteen minutes," Jamie chimed in. For once, he wasn't wearing the fiery frown.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.