A Child's Christmas Wish. Erica Vetsch

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СКАЧАТЬ and ran with it. But he’d told her she could only expect one thing for Christmas, so she must be very sure what she decided upon. As a result, the wish changed every day.

      He chucked her under the chin. “There’s something I need to tell you. We have visitors.”

      Her little brows arched. “Where?” She looked around the room as if expecting them to pop out from behind the door.

      Laughing, he dropped a kiss on her head. “They’re sleeping down the hall. Last night their house caught on fire, and they didn’t have anywhere else to sleep, so they came home with us.”

      “A fire in a house?” Worry clouded her brown eyes. “What house?”

      Pressing his forehead to hers, he wished he didn’t have to expose her to such harsh realities as house fires. “They are the Amakers, who live next door.”

      “With the brown cows?” she asked.

      “Yes, with the brown cows.” The Amaker pastures bordered Oscar’s land, and from the top of the hill, he and Liesl could look down and see the herd of Brown Swiss as they wended their way to the milking barn each evening. Speaking of which, he needed to get up and wake his guests as Kate had asked last night. There were chores to do, cows to milk and decisions to be made.

      “Scamper back to your bed, Poppet, and I’ll be in to help you get dressed in a minute.”

      “I can do it myself, Daddy.” She gave him a look that reminded him of her mother. Bossy, but sweet about it.

      “I know, but I like to help.” And she still needed him, even if she didn’t think so, if only to fasten her dress up the back and button her little high-topped shoes.

      He dressed quickly, ran his fingers through his unruly hair and went to Liesl’s room. She sat in the middle of her bed, leafing through one of the storybooks they read each night. She stopped on the picture of the princess. “See, pink.”

      “I see.” He gathered her clothing. It was time to do laundry...again. It seemed he barely had the last washing put away before it was time to get out the tubs again. He would be the first to admit he wasn’t much of a housekeeper. The farm took so much of his time, the housework usually got a lick and a promise until he couldn’t ignore it any longer. “Well, it’s going to be a green dress today because that’s what’s clean.”

      “I can do it, Daddy.” Liesl was growing more independent by the day, always wanting to be a bigger girl than she was. Oscar would do anything to hold back time, because he had firsthand knowledge of how fleeting it was, but that was something you couldn’t explain to a four-year-old.

      He handed her the items one by one and she put them on. When it was time for her stockings, he got them started around her toes and heel and she pulled them up. Then the dress. She turned and showed him her back to do up the buttons. He laid her long, straight hair over her shoulder and fitted buttons to holes. Then her pinafore over the top, with a bow in the back.

      “Time to do hair.” Oscar reached for her hairbrush on the bedside table.

      “I don’t like doing hair. It tugs.” Liesl handed him the hairbrush, a scowl on her face.

      “Can I help?”

      The question had both Oscar and Liesl turning to the door.

      Kate Amaker, dressed and ready for the day.

      Oscar sucked in a breath, his heart knocking against his ribs, staring at her rounded middle that the voluminous coat had covered last night. He was no judge, but was she ready to deliver soon?

      Liesl looked their guest over, and Oscar waited. The little girl could be quite definite in her likes and dislikes.

      Evidently, Mrs. Amaker fell into the “likes” category, for Liesl smiled and handed her the hairbrush.

      “What happened to your tummy?” She pointed at Mrs. Amaker’s middle.

      A flush crept up her cheeks, and Oscar cleared his throat. “Liesl, that’s not polite.”

      His daughter looked up at him with puzzled brown eyes. “Why, Daddy?”

      “It’s all right.” Mrs. Amaker smiled, her face kind. “I’m going to have a baby. He’s growing in my tummy right now, and when the time is right, he’ll be born.”

      Liesl’s face lit up. “A baby. In your tummy? When will the time be right? Today?”

      Mrs. Amaker laughed. “No, sweetling. Not for a couple of months. Around Christmas.”

      Oscar’s gut clenched. He’d lost his wife and second child around Christmas.

      Liesl had a different reaction. She clapped her hands, bouncing on her toes. “That’s it, Daddy. That’s what I wish for this Christmas. A baby. Can I have a baby for Christmas?”

       Chapter Three

      Kate took the hairbrush from Oscar and sat on the side of the bed, not meeting his eyes. The poor man looked stricken. She should change the subject. “You have lovely hair.” She smiled at Liesl. “I love to brush and braid hair. Is it all right if I help you?”

      Liesl, eyes round, nodded and turned, backing up until she rested against Kate’s knees. Oscar stood, jamming his hands into his pants’ pockets, looming, a frown on his bearded face. Kate wondered if she’d overstepped by offering to brush and braid Liesl’s hair, but it was too late to recall her offer.

      “Are you a princess?” Liesl asked, breathless.

      Kate laughed. “No, darlin’, but bless you for asking.” She wanted to hug the little sprite. “You’re Liesl, right? My name is Kate.”

      Drawing the brush through Liesl’s hair, Kate remembered her mama doing the same thing for her. “Do you have ribbons for your braids, or do you use thread? My mama used to use thread for every day, and ribbons on Sunday for church.” Liesl’s hair fell almost to her waist, thick and glossy brown. It would be easy to braid.

      “Daddy uses these.” She held up two strips of soft leather. “He calls it whang leather. He made it from a deer.”

      Leather to tie up a little girl’s hair. Still, it probably worked well. She parted Liesl’s hair and quickly fashioned two braids, wrapping the leather around the ends and tying it. “There you go. You look sweet.”

      “Thank you. Daddy says I am pretty like my mama, but it’s how I act that is important.”

      “Your daddy is right.” She caught “Daddy’s” eye and smiled.

      “Can we go eat breakfast now?” Liesl hopped on her toes.

      “Absolutely. Right after we turn down your covers to air the bed. Shall we do it together?” Kate pushed herself up awkwardly, and before she got upright, Oscar was there at her elbow, helping her. His hand was warm on her arm, and she was grateful for his assistance. “Thank you. It’s getting harder to maneuver these days.”

      He СКАЧАТЬ