Daughter of Grace by Michael Phillips

Author:Michael Phillips
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC042030;FIC042000;FIC026000
ISBN: 9781441230768
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2016-11-11T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

The Rest of Christmas Day

When we got back to the cabin, the spirits inside were high again.

In one corner Alkali Jones was telling one of his tall tales. The laughter of the kids and the gleam in his eye told me he was spinning a good one, probably no more true than his occasional claim that he told Sutter where to build his mill.

Miss Stansberry still held a dish towel in her hand, but instead of using it on anything she was talking to the minister with Uncle Nick standing to her right, listening to every word. I don’t think I’d ever seen Rev. Rutledge and Uncle Nick say two words to each other without Pa or Mrs. Parrish around. Now there they both were with Miss Stansberry.

Pa and Hermon Stansberry were at the fire, and it looked like Pa was explaining something to him about one of his guns. Pa was looking toward the door, and the minute we came in he burst out, as if he hadn’t seen us just a moment before, “Where you ladies been? We was about figurin’ on diggin’ into them pies without the two of you!”

Mrs. Parrish laughed and threw it right back at him, “Don’t you dare, Mr. Hollister! When I bring pies to such a festive gathering as this, I reserve the right to cut them myself!”

She came into the room as if it were her own house and marched right over to the basket of pies and started pulling them out. The minute she was back, the younger kids deserted poor Mr. Jones. His best story couldn’t hold a candle to being with Mrs. Parrish!

“Now, children, what would everyone like, do you suppose?” she said, testing a knife with the edge of her thumb.

“Apple . . . pumpkin . . . mince!” came the shouts all at once.

“Please, please!” she replied with a pretend scowl and a wag of her finger. “Who do we serve first?”

“The ladies,” said Emily.

“No, the company,” insisted Tad.

“Well, since I am both a lady and company,” returned Mrs. Parrish, “as well as the one who made the pies, my answer is that we serve the head of the family first.” She turned toward Pa with a little nod and smile. “Mr. Hollister,” she asked, “what is your pleasure?”

“Well, ma’am—thank you,” said Pa, taken a little by surprise, but pleased at the honor. “I reckon I’ll have a slice of your apple.”

“Very well. Zack, hand me that pie there, will you?”

“To begin with, that is!” added Pa.

Mrs. Parrish laughed. “Yes, of course, Mr. Hollister. I wouldn’t want you to go away hungry! That’s why I made plenty—I know how fond you are of pies!”

“And how would you know a thing like that, ma’am?” Pa’s voice had a tone in it I don’t think I’d ever heard before, at least toward Mrs. Parrish. He was always so serious around her and now it sounded like he was teasing her.

“There are ways to learn these things, Mr. Hollister,” replied Mrs.

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