Garnet's Gift by Kimberly Grist

Author:Kimberly Grist [Grist, Kimberly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Forget Me Not Romances, an imprint of Winged Publications
Published: 2019-10-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

1890 – Rules for Teachers

You may not dress in bright colors.

Garnet picked up her reticule, counted her coins and retrieved her shawl. After securing the door to the schoolhouse, she glanced at the late afternoon sun and took in a deep breath of crisp air. Her spirits lifted at the thought of joining the Scott family for dinner. She’d promised to stop by early to put the final touches on the repurposing of Bobby’s and Stephen’s outfits.

Her mouth twitched at the sight of tumbleweeds bouncing merrily across the dusty street. Although it was now one week before Christmas, except for an occasional wind burst, the weather continued to be pleasant, only dipping into colder temperatures in the evening.

She increased her pace and hurried along the boardwalk, pausing to admire the display in the dress-shop window. A set of mannequins posed in matching dresses in tartan fabric with half capes in forest green. The child-sized figure held a ragdoll in an identical pattern. Goodness, the doll’s clothes have the same attention to detail.

Taking a backward glance, she continued to the mercantile. The store’s large picture window reminded shoppers of the upcoming holiday. Dressed in a pastel gown and cap trimmed in lace, an infant-sized doll with a china head lay in a miniature cradle. Various wooden tops and blocks were positioned strategically in front of assorted-sized tins promoting the best spices, flour and cocoa.

Garnet walked through the double doors and headed toward the post office in the back corner. The store owner’s son, a thin man in his early twenties, stood sorting mail. She cleared her throat. "Good afternoon, Mr. Mackenzie. When you have a moment, I have a letter to post." She deposited the envelope and the necessary coins on the desk.

The young man straightened his back. “Nothing too surprising about that.” He positioned a nub of a pencil behind his ear. “You've got a package. Give me just a moment.” He sauntered to a worktable and sifted through piles of letters and packages. “I guess Santa stopped by early.”

Garnet let out a small gasp. “If he delivered prematurely, I’m certain it will be alright to open it in the same manner.” She accepted the long box wrapped in brown paper. “Thank you.”

The young man nodded and continued his sorting. “You’re welcome." He paused, glanced up and raised one eyebrow. “Anything else?”

“No, that’s all for now.” Garnet ran her finger along the package, recognizing her mother’s handwriting. Traditionally every year her mother made her a new outfit for Christmas. But this year their budget had been stretched to the limit, and she’d not expected a gift of any kind. “Mama, you shouldn’t have,” she whispered and clutched the package to her chest. “But I’m so glad you did.”

~.

Garnet positioned herself by Mrs. Scott’s dining room window to take advantage of the afternoon sun. She reached for a small flannel shirt set aside for the Johnson brothers.

“Why don’t you go ahead and open your package. I’m dying to see what your mother sent.

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