bound to see.
Silence stretched between them again, as Anna resumed her sewing, too. But the quiet was torture. Too many memories fought for attention. She couldn't let them surface, or she would lose control. Clearing her throat, Alejandra searched for a new conversation topic. One that would surely be safe. "Would you like me to put out your nativity scene? Since today is Las Posadas?"
Anna's brows almost met as her forehead wrinkled. "Las Posadas? What does that mean?"
"It's the celebration when we set out the nativity. Then Papa would lead our friends in a parade to the scene. The same way Joseph and Mary searched for the inn."
A light filled Anna's eyes. "What a great idea." But her mouth pinched. "Unfortunately, we don't have a crèche. But I'll make sure Jacob remedies that before next year."
They didn't have a nativity set? "Do you…celebrate Navidad?"
Anna blinked. "Christmas? Oh, yes. That's one of my favorite holidays. It might be simpler this year, because of my…condition." She motioned toward her expanded middle.
Alejandra sat straighter. "But that's why we're here. Tell me what you normally do, and I'll make sure it's taken care of." Finally, she'd be able to really make a difference.
A smile spread across Anna's mouth. "Okay, then. I guess we should talk about the Christmas dinner first."
Chapter Eleven
The day before Navidad—or Christmas as the Americans called it—a special mood seemed to fill the air. A sense of anticipation. It shimmered in the eyes of the vaqueros as they sat around the breakfast table. The spark even shone in Edward's eyes. Until she shot him a hard glare. That snuffed it out quickly enough. It still didn't seem fathomable that a woman as kind and sweet as Anna could have a brother who was a soldier.
As soon as the men left the house and the breakfast dishes were cleared, Anna brought out a huge bowl that had been tucked in the storage closet. She uncovered it for the women to see. "I thought we could string some popped corn for the Christmas tree."
Emmaline clapped her hands. "Goodie!"
They settled into chairs around the fire in the living room, and with the group of them working, had several strings of popped corn assembled in no time. Although, Alejandra still wasn't quite sure what they would do with it now that the strings were complete.
The front door opened, and the sounds of scraping and shuffling echoed from the hall. "Did someone ask for a Christmas tree?" a male voice called.
"Papa!" Emmaline squealed, jumping up from her perch on the floor and leaping toward the hall.
A man appeared in the doorway, his broad shoulders not disguised under the wool coat. Edward. Her stomach did a flutter before she squashed the feeling. He carried something as he shuffled backward. Something big and bushy.
A tree. Alejandra stared at the man-sized pine tree Edward and Señor O'Brien hauled into the room and leaned against a wall in the corner. When Anna talked about a Christmas tree, she'd thought it would be some kind of decorated evergreen clippings or maybe even a waist-high shrub. Not this massive tree. They'd need to string popped corn all day to have any hope of making the strands wrap around these branches more than twice.
Emmaline danced around the men as they worked to secure it in a wood platform Señor O'Brien brought in. "May I string the corn now? Please?"
Edward chuckled, the rich sound rising from his chest. "All right, Emmie-bug. Bring a rope of it over."
The child scooped an armful and carried it to the tree, plopping it on the floor. "Where do we start?"
"Well." He squatted beside the girl. "The first thing every cowgirl needs to learn is how to take care of her equipment." He picked up the popcorn string at one end, and began looping it loosely over his hand. "You have to keep your lasso from getting tangled up. See?"
He was so gentle with the child. Holding the loop and following her around while she placed it just so on the
Silence stretched between them again, as Anna resumed her sewing, too. But the quiet was torture. Too many memories fought for attention. She couldn't let them surface, or she would lose control. Clearing her throat, Alejandra searched for a new conversation topic. One that would surely be safe. "Would you like me to put out your nativity scene? Since today is Las Posadas?"
Anna's brows almost met as her forehead wrinkled. "Las Posadas? What does that mean?"
"It's the celebration when we set out the nativity. Then Papa would lead our friends in a parade to the scene. The same way Joseph and Mary searched for the inn."
A light filled Anna's eyes. "What a great idea." But her mouth pinched. "Unfortunately, we don't have a crèche. But I'll make sure Jacob remedies that before next year."
They didn't have a nativity set? "Do you…celebrate Navidad?"
Anna blinked. "Christmas? Oh, yes. That's one of my favorite holidays. It might be simpler this year, because of my…condition." She motioned toward her expanded middle.
Alejandra sat straighter. "But that's why we're here. Tell me what you normally do, and I'll make sure it's taken care of." Finally, she'd be able to really make a difference.
A smile spread across Anna's mouth. "Okay, then. I guess we should talk about the Christmas dinner first."
Chapter Eleven
The day before Navidad—or Christmas as the Americans called it—a special mood seemed to fill the air. A sense of anticipation. It shimmered in the eyes of the vaqueros as they sat around the breakfast table. The spark even shone in Edward's eyes. Until she shot him a hard glare. That snuffed it out quickly enough. It still didn't seem fathomable that a woman as kind and sweet as Anna could have a brother who was a soldier.
As soon as the men left the house and the breakfast dishes were cleared, Anna brought out a huge bowl that had been tucked in the storage closet. She uncovered it for the women to see. "I thought we could string some popped corn for the Christmas tree."
Emmaline clapped her hands. "Goodie!"
They settled into chairs around the fire in the living room, and with the group of them working, had several strings of popped corn assembled in no time. Although, Alejandra still wasn't quite sure what they would do with it now that the strings were complete.
The front door opened, and the sounds of scraping and shuffling echoed from the hall. "Did someone ask for a Christmas tree?" a male voice called.
"Papa!" Emmaline squealed, jumping up from her perch on the floor and leaping toward the hall.
A man appeared in the doorway, his broad shoulders not disguised under the wool coat. Edward. Her stomach did a flutter before she squashed the feeling. He carried something as he shuffled backward. Something big and bushy.
A tree. Alejandra stared at the man-sized pine tree Edward and Señor O'Brien hauled into the room and leaned against a wall in the corner. When Anna talked about a Christmas tree, she'd thought it would be some kind of decorated evergreen clippings or maybe even a waist-high shrub. Not this massive tree. They'd need to string popped corn all day to have any hope of making the strands wrap around these branches more than twice.
Emmaline danced around the men as they worked to secure it in a wood platform Señor O'Brien brought in. "May I string the corn now? Please?"
Edward chuckled, the rich sound rising from his chest. "All right, Emmie-bug. Bring a rope of it over."
The child scooped an armful and carried it to the tree, plopping it on the floor. "Where do we start?"
"Well." He squatted beside the girl. "The first thing every cowgirl needs to learn is how to take care of her equipment." He picked up the popcorn string at one end, and began looping it loosely over his hand. "You have to keep your lasso from getting tangled up. See?"
He was so gentle with the child. Holding the loop and following her around while she placed it just so on the
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