A Gift Come Christmas...A Work in Progress Pt.2

Mary checked the roast, green beans, yams, bread, and cake for the third time. She paced back and forth back and forth, ringing her hands in her apron. She kept running the words she would say to Chris in her mind. Sue Ann set at the kitchen table; paper and pencil scattered along and underneath it. She no longer drew her picture of her dog Lucky playing in the grass on a warm summer day. She was far too concerned with Mary's pacing. "Are you alright, Mary?" The child's words brought Mary out of her trance. She smiled warmly at the child, and moved around the table to take a seat beside her. She took Sue Ann in her arms and said, "Yes dear I'm fine. I am just excited about Chris coming home because I have to tell him something really important, but let's not worry about that right now, let me see the beautiful picture you have drawn." Sue Ann held the paper high with glee and began to rattle off a detailed description of its meaning. Just as she was getting to the part of how Lucky absolutely loved to chase and nip at the butterflies the clanking of horses reigned to a wagon caught Mary's ears. She ran to the window and peered out through the window. Chris was home. He was unhitching the team preparing to take them into the barn. Mary turned quickly to Sue Ann. "Come on darling, help me clean up this mess before Chris comes in". Sue Ann and Mary worked hard picking up pencils and paper. Sue Ann had crawled under the table to retrieve the last pencil, which was the color of the sky when the door opened, and the silhouette of a young strong man shadowed the doorway.

Chris swept passed the threshold, ran to Mary, took her in his strong arms and kissed her right and proper on the cheek. “Did you miss me my little Lass?” he said warmly as he held Mary in those strong arms of his. He leaned close to her ear, his lips almost touching her lobe, “You look absolutely beautiful today my dear.” He held her tightly in that moment and Mary had to close her eyes to keep the welling pools from spilling over. Chris released his grip gently and moved his attention to Sue Ann who was still sitting quietly under the table with blue pencil in hand.

“Who is this under my table? Tell me is it a big, harry, scary, monster.” He began to growl a low growl as his legs bent to give his head leeway to clear the table. A shrill of excitement and terror exuded from Sue Ann’s lungs as she scurried out the other side of the table to avoid the attack that was sure to take place.
“No, Uncle Chris you know who I am, it is Sue Ann.”
“Sue Ann, Impossible! The Sue Ann I know is knee high to a grasshopper and you my dear are at least 3 hands taller than that!”

They both rolled in laughter as Chris scooped her up in the air flying her this way and that, all the while his legs splayed and his bottom firmly planted on the ground. Chris’s laughter was like singing in the night air. It was deep and beautiful and free. Mary loved it so, and it had been a while since she had heard so much of its sweet chords. She drank every note in. Sue Ann was in awe of Chris. He was always cooking up some mischief or fairytale for her, and she fell like a puddle into everyone. Chris had a gentle strength about him. He had worked in Lumber since he was a young man, and he was a true man of God, not letting too many things weigh him down. He trusted that the good Lord had a purpose for it all and he would take care of it all. He was also devilishly handsome and knew it. He never carried an air of arrogance, but when he wanted something, such as Mary McGregor, all he had to do was brush those strong olive fingers through that dark hair, bat those strong and intense green eyes her way, and smile a devilish yet disarming beautiful white smile her way, Mary’s heart was taken in that moment.
They were married in the spring of 1892. He was 23, she 16. Five years had flown by like a second, and Mary still felt like it was just yesterday that she was being lifted onto the dance floor by those strong arms. Times had been tough, especially recently. Sue Ann had come to them barely a year ago after Chris’s brother and sister-in-law were killed in a fire. The job market was not doing well no matter what line of work you were in. Crops had seen fire, drought, locusts, and hail. People were moving out of the town so there was less need for lumber and other supplies. The local Mercantile had cut way back on their merchandise and the Feed & Grain was barely existent. However, Chris always kept a smile on his face and said, “Things will work out my little Lass, believe in the Unseen, and trust that he provides for us a surely as the birds in the air and the lilies of the field.” He had been traveling a lot more taking lumber to other towns, and doing odd jobs when needed. How she missed the strength in this man. He always helps her to stay on her feet. He keeps her spirits high. She knew he would be overjoyed with the news she had to tell him, but she was afraid of what it might mean to all of them.

She slipped back into her little space of reality as she saw Chris whiz passed her followed by Sue Ann squealing, “I’m going to get you, I’m going to get you.” Chris was screaming a sort of fake terror while his eyes glistened with joy. “Okay you two. Please help me by setting the table supper is ready.” Chris stopped in his tracks scooped the still trembling Sue Ann from her excitement and said, “Eye, eye my Lass we are on the job,” as he raised his hand in solute so did Sue Ann and she followed with a little “Eye eye” of her own.

“My little Lass has been extremely busy cooking up a scrumptious feast. What is the purpose of this treat?” “I helped ice the cake.” Sue Ann interjected before Mary could get a word out. Chris patted the little sprite on her head and said, “You did a beautiful job.” Mary looked at him with longing and comfort, “Well, your little Lass knew that her strong husband would be in need of some good nourishment”.