Washington Nolan's Christmas Watch: A Wyldhaven Series Christmas Romance Novella by Lynnette Bonner

Author:Lynnette Bonner [Bonner, Lynnette]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Serene Lake Publishing
Published: 2019-11-18T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

Downstairs in the dining room, individual tables were set in three rows. The matron instructed them to pick any one they liked. They chose an empty one toward the near end of the middle row. Washington held a chair first for Ma, and then for Zoe.

Aidan didn’t even let Wash sit down before he blurted, “Can I see your watch?”

Zoe bit back her exasperation. Subtle, Aidan was not.

Wash eyed Aidan as he tucked his napkin into his lap. “You have to be careful with it. It belonged to my great grandfather and I’m hoping I’ll be able to get it fixed.”

Aidan stretched out one hand. “I’ll be real careful with it. I’m right sorry I caused it to get damaged.” He blinked puppy dog eyes in Wash’s direction.

Zoe turned her chuckle into a fake sneeze.

Ma rolled her eyes, and then pinned Zoe with a glower that said if Aidan ended up in Sheriff Callahan’s jail one of these days, it would be all her fault.

Zoe held her breath. This would be the critical moment. If Aidan blurted the wrong thing, he could give away the whole plan.

But her little brother, for once in his life, had played his cards perfectly.

Wash reached into his pocket and then handed the gold watch and chain to Aidan, who oohed and aahed over it as a woman set water glasses by each of their plates.

“This sure is fancy! Look Zoe, it has a horse and wagon engraved on the front!” Aidan jostled in his seat as he worked his way to his knees so he could lean to show her, and at the same time he swung his free arm wide, knocking Wash’s water glass right into his lap.

Wash gasped and shot to his feet. Water dripped from his lap, but at least he’d managed to save the glass. He set it on the table with a firm thunk.

They all stared for a moment.

Zoe’s conscience pricked her. Poor Wash. By his expression he was doing his very best to batten down a whole wagon load of frustration. His jaw bulged in and out. Then he muttered, “Never leave yourself behind.”

Zoe frowned. Had she heard him right? What did he mean by that? She might have asked, but it was clear he’d been speaking the words to himself, and she didn’t feel now was the right time to probe.

“Sorry.” Aidan did a good job of sounding contrite. “You better go change. Zoe can hold onto your watch until you have someplace dry to put it.” He reached for Zoe’s hand and carefully tucked the watch into her palm, and then folded her fingers closed over it as if to show Wash how safe the watch now was.

With a sigh, Wash turned for the stairs. “I’ll be back.”

They watched him go until they were sure he couldn’t see them any longer and then Zoe and Aidan burst out laughing.

Zoe ruffled Aidan’s hair. “You are quite the thespian, little brother. Nicely done.” She handed the timepiece to Ma and was happy to see that even Ma had a bit of a smile on her face over the whole affair.

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