THREE HISTORICAL STORIES THAT REVOLVE AROUND CHRISTMAS TIME
In Christmas Day Wedding Bells by Lynna Banning
THE LIBRARIAN AND THE U.S. MARSHALL
U.S. Marshall, Rand Logan will have the unpleasant duty of informing Alice Montgomery that her baby sister, Mrs. Dottie Coleman is deceased. But even worse, she was murdered, and for three weeks, nothing has been solved in the town of Silver City, Idaho. With the Marshalls and Pinkertons, it is decided that if Alice agrees to go in undercover, she may be able to get miners to share information that will help solve this crime.
“This girl was no ordinary librarian. In fact, he was beginning to realize that Alice Montgomery was not ordinary in any way.”
How can a librarian get miners to talk? Change her name, and occupation to saloon girl and put on a sequins red dress and become Lolly Maguire. What a lonely miner is willing to tell for a little attention and a dance.
“And it makes me wonder who I am. I mean who I really am inside. Am I a librarian who is play-acting at being a seductive siren? Or am I a siren play-acting as a librarian?”
While the crime is solved and those responsible are arrested, the loss is painful for Alice to know that her sister Dottie is never coming back. And what about the feelings that Rand and Alice have for each other? He is a U.S. Marshall and duty calls, she is the librarian in Smoke River. Will they find their happily ever after ending or is this truly goodbye?
Snowbound in Big Springs by Lauri Robinson
MY BLUFF WAS CALLED
Caught and stranded in a blizzard will have Big Springs native walking the tracks for miles to the town to get help for the other stranded passengers on the train. He will stumble in the livery and home of his grandfathers, a place he has been for nearly five years. What a shock to see Sophie, the girl of his dreams and one of the reasons he has stayed away.
The story will bring up what kept Welles away when he left to go on a horse buying trip and never returned. He has lived with guilt, and over the years has sent home money to her grandfather. He is taking a gamble by stopping in on his way to Denver for a Christmas day poker game. His visit is met with mixed emotions by both Chester and Sophie.
“Never trust a gambler. They’ll trick the love out of your heart as quickly as they do money out of another man’s pockets.”
Chester isn’t happy that Welles plans on leaving again for another poker game. Sophie is disappointed in him and can’t believe she has spent five years in love with a man who gambles for a living. She has been the one who has cared for Chester, and that doesn’t look like it is going to change.
“When are you going to learn that sometimes we have to play the hand that we’ve been dealt?”
Chester and Sophie have taken care of each other for nearly five years. When her mother died, he took her in, gave her a home, and she has helped with the house and livery. Welles being home leaves to mixed emotions—will he return, and then what will happen to her?
“We can do anything, go anywhere, be anything you want to be, Sophie. Don’t ever let anyone tell you differently. All you have to do is believe—and be willing to work for it. It’s not just going to fall in your lap.”
Has the past been skewed with mistruths that have kept Welles from returning? Was he protecting Sophie and because of what happened, doing penance for what he did to Chester?
Christmas with the Outlaw by Kathryn Albright
A PROMISE—A COMMITMENT—A FOREVER
How fun to be back in Oak Grove and to see Abigail White have her story. Even if you haven’t read previous Oak Grove stories, with all the mail-ordered brides, you won’t be lost. Abigail is an intelligent, strong-willed, determined woman, but she doesn’t ever think she will find love, and will just remain a spinster, working on the town's newspaper.
The plot will have Abigail hearing something and discovering a man in the back room, and he is injured. What a shock to see his face and the past is brought to the present. Knowing this man is seriously hurt, he needs medical attention. But how to keep a gunshot victim a secret, especially when there are wanted poster with his picture on them.
“Christmas is the perfect time of the year to forgive old hurts.”
The story will have Abigail and Teddy doing their best for their childhood friend, Russell Carter, but they are placing themselves in jeopardy by having him at the newspaper office. Especially after Sheriff Baniff has already given Teddy the wanted information to place in the paper. They just need a little more time.
This intriguing tale will also have two people sharing about their lives, their past, and their hopes for the future. As teenagers, the age difference was an issue; now it is facing charges of murder. What will become of Abigail and Russ? Is there a chance for a future? Did they just become reunited to be separated again?
“Wouldn’t it be something if we could have a practice go at life? Then we would be prepared for the difficulties.”
With the help of an inspiring little girl, Patricia Owens, who wants to be a newspaperwoman just like Abigail, it opens up the possibilities for not only Patricia, but her insight may help the entire town with having little elves help with projects. After all, the spirit of Christmas should be in all of us.
The spirit of Christmas and goodwill is prevalent in the town of Oak Grove. Sheriff Baniff must do his sworn duty as an officer of the law, but he also does more to help Russ Carter obtain a fair trial, with an attorney. Now that justice has been served, what will become of Abigail and Russ? Was it all from wishing on a shooting star—or did fate finally bring two people together.
"I’ve missed you, Abby. I didn’t know how much until I saw you again.”