A Texas Christmas Carol by Karen Witemeyer

Author:Karen Witemeyer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Romance, FIC042110, FIC027050, FIC058000
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2022-06-08T00:00:00+00:00

Felicity left the committee meeting at the church, her head swirling with information. She’d done her best to write everything down, but she worried that if she didn’t relate all the details to Evan straightaway, she’d forget something vital. Organization was not her strong suit. Evan, on the other hand, loved his ledgers. Surely he’d help her keep everything straight.

Upon reaching the two-story gray Victorian that seemed more welcoming now than austere, she hurried up the front steps and rapped on the door. Too impatient to wait for the housekeeper, she let herself in, calling out as she crossed the threshold.

“It’s me, Mrs. Bell. Is Mr. Beazer in his study? I have need of his brain.”

The stern-faced housekeeper emerged from the front sitting room, duster in hand. “I don’t know about his brain, but the rest of him is down at the stable.” She tilted her head in the direction of the barn even as she crossed her arms over her chest. “If you ask me, his brain’s been on hiatus ever since you started showing up here, interrupting his routines and inserting yourself into his life.”

Felicity pulled up short, nonplussed. “I—I’m sorry. I didn’t realize—”

Mrs. Bell broke into a smile, then chuckled as she slapped Felicity lightly on the arm. “You got nothing to apologize for, dearling. You and these Christmas baskets are the best thing to happen to that man in years! In fact, Bob and I put our heads together yesterday afternoon, and we’d like to make a contribution of our own to those baskets. I’ve got four pints of blackberry jam I can parse out into smaller jars. And Bob talked to his missus about cutting down one of their tablecloths into handkerchief squares. I know it ain’t much. . . .” She shrugged, her gaze suddenly shy.

Felicity touched the older woman’s arm. “I’m sure the young boy who shared his loaves and fishes thought they weren’t much either. And just look at how many people Jesus blessed with them. It’s not the size of the gift that pleases our Lord, but the size of the heart that gives it. If God can feed five thousand people with a boy’s lunch, who knows what wonders he can perform with jam and handkerchiefs?”

Mrs. Bell tittered. “Land sakes, Miss Wiggins. You make it sound like we’re changing the world.”

“You just might be.” She winked. “I’ve tasted your blackberry jam. It definitely changed my world for the better.”

A pink blush stole across the housekeeper’s cheeks. “I’ll save you a dollop.” A grin started to blossom, then immediately straightened into her usual business-like expression. “Mrs. Olson will need a couple of days to finish sewing the edges, but Robert thinks they’ll be ready for you to pick up on Monday. Is that too late?”

Wondering at the housekeeper’s change of demeanor, Felicity offered a smile of reassurance. “Monday is perfect. Mr. Beazer and I won’t be delivering the baskets until Tuesday for Christmas Eve. In fact, that’s why I need his brain.

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