A Mountain Christmas Romance by Misty M. Beller

Author:Misty M. Beller
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: rocky mountain story, Christian Western, inspirational western, western and frontier, historical romance, Christian historical romance, cowboy, inspirational cowboy love story
Publisher: Misty M. Beller Books, Inc.
Published: 2017-10-10T00:00:00+00:00

OPAL LISTENED TO THE retreating boot thuds as Matthias stomped down the back hall. Then the sound faded into the crackling of the fire in the cook stove.

That wasn’t the same man she’d ridden beside the last two days. Not the same man who promised he would not let her be hurt again. Even by her father. Not the same man who’d looked at her so tenderly just yesterday.

What had happened to change him? What put that cloak over his gaze to keep his thoughts from showing in his eyes? She’d seen that kind of expression before. Tori could shield her thoughts and feelings in the same way, keeping them from displaying on her face. Had done it so many times back at Riverdale, Opal could spot the reaction at a glance. Usually when she feared getting too close to what was really happening. Afraid she was about to be hurt. Or had just experienced pain.

Was Matthias afraid of getting hurt? But that didn’t make a bit of sense. Maybe ’twas the opposite. He was such a good man, perhaps he thought she was growing feelings for him, and he meant to warn her off. That would make sense, given the way she’d been acting toward him.

But she wouldn’t develop an attachment to him. She intended only...friendship. How could one spend day after day in another’s company and not feel kindly toward that person? After all, he was so...noble and kind and honest and...good. Worthy of someone much more special than her.

Mrs. S.’s heavy tread puttered through the dining room, forcing Opal from the gloom of her thoughts. She was late getting the bread in the oven, which meant it would put all of them behind this morning.

“Well. Zat man. He says he may not be back for Yule. I don’t understand.” She propped her hands on her ample hips and shook her head, her brows knitting as though she were looking for the hidden meaning behind Matthias’s words. “It doesn’t make sense.”

“Perhaps he’s traveling to make more inquiries about his sister.” She should keep quiet, yet the words slipped out as she loaded the oven full of bread pans. It wouldn’t do for the Shumeisters to think ill of him just because he was trying to protect her feelings.

Although, if she’d realized at the time what he was doing, she’d have let him know she had no intention of developing affection for him or any other man. She was doing just fine living out her days here in this little kitchen.

Mrs. S. harrumphed. “He knows I’ll make Christmas stollen. He’ll be back.”

The words almost pulled a smile from Opal. Food was always the answer for Mrs. S., whatever the problem might be. Cooking was the gift she gave those she loved, which meant Christmas was likely to be a flurry of food.

Gifts.

Opal almost dropped the cup of flour she’d just scooped from the bin. She’d not even thought about gifts for the holiday, had nothing to give the Shumeisters on Christmas morning.

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