Page 73 of A Convenient Heart

And then the conveyance jostled as he climbed up beside her. His shoulder nudged hers as he settled in the seat. She tucked the lap blanket over his legs, and he clasped her hand briefly in thanks before he tapped the reins and the horse Merritt had rented from the livery sprang into a walk.

She tucked her arm through his, felt the cold winter sunshine on her cheeks.

“If you’ve never received a Christmas gift,” she wondered aloud, “what about for your birthday?”

“I don’t know it,” he said. “The orphanage didn’t exactly celebrate and neither did the Farr family.”

There was no trace of bitterness in his voice. Only a hint of sadness, maybe for the boy he’d been.

“We could celebrate together,” she said. “My birthday is in May.”

He rested his cheek on the top of her head, his hat casting a shadow on her face. “I’d like that.”

Mr. and Mrs. Hyer were walking down the boardwalk, arm in arm, and Twila looked up and saw Merritt and Jack in the buggy. She waved happily.

Merritt found herself beaming back. All those months ago, she’d attended their wedding and felt such a deep emptiness, thought of everything that her life was missing.

They traveled out of town, and the landscape opened up in front of them, only a dusting of snow hanging on from days ago, the mountains in the far distance purple against the horizon.

Jack had arrived in town in such an unexpected way. She’d expected John, and God had brought Jack into her life. A man she’d never have chosen, wouldn’t have gotten to know well enough to discover his compassionate heart, the boy who had overcome a terrible upbringing to become a man of honor.

He shifted the reins to his left hand and moved his right so that their hands were linked together. He’d worn the new gloves and it made her smile.

She had the family she’d always wanted in Jack. And if God blessed them in the future, a house full of children.

She’d been given everything she’d dreamed of.

“I love you,” she whispered.

She felt him stiffen for a moment, then relax. Would he ever stop expecting the worst? She didn’t know. But the simple joy in his face every time he heard words like the ones she’d just said were enough for now.

He pressed a kiss on top of her head. “I love you too. I’ll love you even more if you protect me from your cousins.”

A smile stretched across her lips. “I think you’ve already won Nick to your side.” And Drew, too, if he’d sent the youngest brother on such an errand to help Merritt and the schoolhouse.

“Nick isn’t the scary one. Have you seen Drew’s glower?”

She turned her smile into his shoulder but couldn’t resist teasing him once more. “You haven’t met Isaac yet.”

He groaned and she laughed. She couldn’t imagine a better Christmas than one spent with family and the man she loved.

“You’ve got your whole life ahead of you to win them over,” she said. “Just be yourself. I fell in love with you. They will too.”

His hand squeezed hers. “I’ll try.”

She couldn’t ask for anything more.

* * *