An Angel For Mistletoe (O Little Town of Christmas #2)

  AN ANGEL

  FOR

  MISTLETOE

  O LITTLE TOWN OF CHRISTMAS COLLECTION

  BY TERESA IVES LILLY

  Chapter 1

  Angelica Cartwright glanced at the other eight passengers in the stagecoach and wondered how they could sit so still. Every muscle in her body ached from hours of bumpy travel. She longed to stretch. Worst of all, she still had several hours of this agony before they reached Somerset, Kentucky.

  She lifted her slender, gloved hand and pushed a wisp of hair off her face. A wrinkle-faced woman sitting across from her leaned forward.

  “Won’t be too long now, dear. Before you know it, you will be standing in front of your new class of students, writing your name on the blackboard. Best Christmas gift that town will ever have. I was surprised when you told me you were on your way to Somerset to teach. I didn’t think the town had enough money to hire a teacher yet.”

  Angelica smiled. This woman had been her riding companion for two days and had told her almost everything about Somerset. “Yes, Mrs. Broden. I’m excited. I was assured there would be a job waiting for me, but I’m not sure I can endure many more hours of stagecoach travel.”

  “That’s the truth. I feel as if every old bone in my body has been shaken. A few even feel cracked.” The older woman sat ramrod straight. The Concord Coach was sturdy, standing eight foot high and pulled by four horses, but both women were jostled as the wheels hit a gully.

  Angelica nodded. She looked forward to a new job and life as a teacher, even if Somerset was rather remote.

  This is what I want, Lord. To be on my own. To teach children who need me. Not to marry some old, proper man. Tears stung the back of her eyelids as images of her fashionable home in Boston flashed through her mind.

  Will I ever see my home, my mother and father again? Was I too hasty in making the decision to take the job in Somerset?

  “Feels like we’re slowing down.” Mrs. Broden leaned her head out the window and then sat back with a quick jerk of her head. “Yep. We’re making a stop in Mistletoe.”

  “Mistletoe?”

  “It’s barely a town, but it’s the only stop before Somerset. The coach carries mail for the handful of folk who live in the area. Mistletoe is so small, I doubt it’'s on a map. All they have is a few buildings, including a small general store, a blacksmith, and a church. I’m glad that it stopped snowing.”

  Angelica looked out the window as the coach came to a stop. She realized she couldn’t see the town. It was on the opposite side of the coach. All she could see was about twenty foot of snow-covered ground and a hill that edged the dense forest from her side of the coach.

  So, that’s the edge of the Appalachian Mountains. She lifted her head and squinted. As far as she could see, the hillside was covered in thick trees. She’d read that oak and chestnut trees made up the lower part of the Appalachians, and spruce firs covered the upper part of the mountains. However, she noticed several pines mixed in.

  From the window of the coach she could see the ground at the bottom of the hill was covered with a thick blanket of snow, untouched even by small animal prints.

  “It looks lovely. The snow is so fresh.” Angelica pulled her thin wool shawl closer. Although the snow was beautiful, the cold air was seeping into the stagecoach.

  That’s something else I’ll have to get used to. The winters in Boston are cold, but not as frigid as I’ve read about the Appalachians.

  Mrs. Broden’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “Yep, must have fallen overnight. I’ll step out of the coach and stretch my legs. The general store is small, but I’ve often found unique items there. There are wood carvings I adore and usually pick one up for my grandson. A local man carves them.”

  Angelica watched as the woman slid across the seat and stepped out of the coach. Even though it would be warmer inside, the cramped quarters was more than she could bear, so Angelica followed suit and stepped down from the coach.

  Once outside, the cold air took her breath. She asked the driver to hand her valise down so she could get a warmer cloak. The whiskered man placed her bag on the small wooden step in front of the general store. Angelica thanked him. He stomped off with a gruff mumble of, “Ain’t nothing.”

  Angelica unclasped the bag and pulled out a warm wrap. She re-latched the case and slipped the cloak over her shoulders. She glanced in the window of the general store. It looked dark and small. Nothing of interest in there. She turned and walked around the stagecoach and toward the hill. She longed to walk in the fresh snow.

  As she moved farther away from the stage stop, she was surprised by the depth of the blanket of snow. Her small booted feet disappeared as she took each step. It made slow work, but was fun to turn and see the set of prints she’d left behind. From time to time she glanced at the stagecoach. It wouldn’t do to miss getting back on. Although the area was beautiful, Mistletoe was not a place where she would want to be stranded. The town held no appeal.

  I wonder if Somerset will be any different? After a moment, she shook her head. Mr. Reece assured me Somerset was quite a regular town, unlike the scattered buildings which make up the town of Mistletoe.

  Angelica remembered the sprigs of mistletoe the servants hung strategically throughout her parents’ home during the holidays and how she would often be pulled beneath the greenery by eager beaus. Of course, a kiss on the cheek was all she ever offered.

  I wonder why they call this place Mistletoe?

  She lifted a hand to her eyes to scan the area, searching for mistletoe on the branches of nearby trees. She saw nothing, but pushed slightly up the hill to get a closer look at the trees.

  Angelica’s feet grew cold. Snow had slipped inside her boots. I don’t see any mistletoe. It’s probably near time to get back on the stage. She turned and was about to head toward the general store in hopes of finding a warm stove to sit by until the coach pulled out, but stopped when she a heard a small mewing sound.

  That’s strange. She cocked her head and scanned the area, searching for a small cat or an injured animal. She noticed a strange lump of wool covered by snow near the edge of the woods. It was gently moving.

  Oh, someone has placed a kitten in a wool blanket and left it out here to die. Angelica stomped through the snow. How could someone do that to any animal?

  She felt the anger of righteous indignation build up. When she was beside the blanket, Angelica reached out and pulled the covering away. She gasped and stood frozen, staring in disbelief at a small child with stringy brown hair and large black eyes full of tears.

  The child gulped in fright, then immediately calmed. A sweet smile appeared and she whispered. “I told Daddy I was going to find an angel for Christmas.”

  *****

  Angelica bent closer. The child’s teeth were chattering. She was nearly frozen.

  “Where is your father?”

  The child lifted a hand and pointed towards the forest. “Daddy’s at the cabin.”

  “How far is that?” Angelica chewed her lower lip, wondering what she should do. Her eyes turned towards the stagecoach. The other passengers were not boarding yet. Her valise was still on the platform, so she had a bit of time yet. She turned back to the child.

  The girl shrugged. “Not too far.”

  “Can you walk?” Angelica put out a hand for the child to take.

  The child reached for Angelica’s hand and tried to stand, but fell back with a moan.

  “I can’t stand up. I hurt my ankle and then it started snowing. I covered my head with my shawl and started crying. But now that you’re here, you can fix everyth
ing. That’s what angels do, right?”

  Angelica shook her head. The child was obviously delirious. She bent over, scooped the child into her arms, and stood to face the ominous forest.

  “You point the way, I’ll carry you.”

  The child’s finger pointed toward a small opening in the trees. Angelica frowned and hoped the cabin wasn’t too far. Trying to carry a child through deep snow was not going to be easy, and the stagecoach would probably be pulling away in about five minutes.

  The child nestled her head against Angelica’s chest. It was a nice feeling that was reminiscent of the small sister she left behind in Boston. She hoped to return to Boston in the summer months, during the school break.

  “You are my very own Christmas Angel, aren’t you?” The child’s voice was muffled with her face pressed against Angelica’s chest.

  “My name is Angelica. But I’m not an angel.”

  “Yes, you are. I told Daddy we needed a mommy. He said it would be easier to find an angel than a mommy, so I decided to find one. When I hurt my foot, I prayed. I asked God to send my angel to find me. He sent you.”

  Angelica could not help from pressing a small kiss on the child’s forehead as she trudged up the hill that led into the forest. However, when she reached the path, she halted in fear. Standing before her was a large man dressed in a thick red flannel jacket. She could not make out his facial features because he had a dark bushy beard. His black eyes snapped at her with anger.

  The man stepped in front of her. She had to tilt her head back to see his face.

  “What are you doing with my daughter?” His voice bellowed.

  The child’s head popped up, a huge smile split her face. “Look Daddy, I found our angel.”

  CHAPTER 2

  Luke Tanner stared out the window of his cabin with a cup of coffee in his hand. The ground outside was covered with a fresh blanket of snow; a sight he loved, but one his ex-wife, Caroline, had despised. But that wasn’t all she disliked. A year into their marriage and two months after their daughter Lanie was born, Caroline left on the stagecoach and returned to New York. She left behind a letter which explained that she did not like living in the empty forest, did not love him, and could not find it in herself to love his child. Several months later a lawyer showed up with divorce papers for him to sign. That was the last time he heard from her.

  She could never see the beauty of this place. She was too genteel. But how could she not love Lanie?

  The conversation he had with Lanie the night before flitted through his mind.

  “Daddy, we need a mommy.”

  “What do we need a mommy for?”

  “To teach me girl things.”

  “Girl things, like what?”

  “How to sew and cook.”

  “I know how to cook. I can teach you.”

  “It’s not the same. The other girls at church all have mommies to teach them about dresses and ribbons.”

  Luke had to admit he didn’t know much about female things, nor could he sew. He ordered good sturdy dresses for Lanie, but had never bought ribbons for her hair. It was time he started to treat her more like a girl should be treated, because a new mommy was out of the question.

  “So, can we get a mommy?”

  “I think it would be easier to get an angel than a mommy,” he whispered and turned away from her.

  “Would angels know about girl things?

  He turned back, smiled, lifted his daughter and tossed her in the air.

  “Yes, I think an angel would know all about dresses and ribbons.”

  “Then I want to get an angel!”

  *****

  Humph, I’m not willing to supply her with a new mommy, so I suppose I will have to look into buying some prettier dresses and ribbons. I’ll take her into town today and let her look at the catalog.

  He set down his coffee cup and made his way toward Lanie’s room. It wasn’t a big cabin, but there was a large sitting room, a kitchen, his bedroom and two smaller bedrooms. More than most of the Appalachian Mountain families owned. He reached her door, turned the knob and pushed. The room was dark. At first he could see a bundle of blankets on the bed, but when his eyes adjusted, he realized the covers were not hiding his child.

  Luke spun around, searching the room, but Lanie was not there. He rushed to the front door, flung it open, bounded out onto the porch, and scanned the area for footprints leading towards the privy. There were none.

  Luke cupped his hand and called her name over and over, but got no response. The trees were silent, the air frigid. It only took a few seconds to occur to him, Lanie had gotten up early and gone looking for an angel. He ran his hands through his shaggy black hair and groaned.

  Lord, you know where my baby girl is. Keep her safe and warm until I find her. Send your angels to protect her.

  Luke grabbed the closest jacket, shoved his feet into heavy boots and stepped back out onto the porch. She must have gone down the path towards town.

  Headed in that direction, he stomped off the porch and plodded through the thick snow.

  Lord, how long has she been gone? Luke made his way down the path. The town was a short way from the cabin, but the deep snow made the trek longer than usual. His impatience burned inside, but he knew better than to rush. He couldn’t afford to fall and twist an ankle.

  When he reached the edge of the clearing, Luke saw a woman straighten up with a child in her arms. It was Lanie. He watched as Lanie pointed and the woman started to trudge through the snow toward him. She wasn’t looking ahead. Her eyes were on Lanie.

  Luke took several steps then stopped. His large body blocked the way.

  “What are you doing with my daughter?” His voice sounded gruff to his own ears.

  Lanie’s head shot up. “Look, Daddy, I found our angel.”

  Luke’s eyes swept over Lanie to assure himself she was fine, but quickly returned to the woman holding his child. She hadn’t spoken. She stood with her mouth gaping and a stunned look in her eyes. Luke stepped closer and pulled Lanie out of her arms.

  “I’ll ask again, what are you doing with my child?”

  The woman’s blue eyes bore into his for a moment, and he saw a spark flash in them.

  “I was carrying her home. May I ask, what your daughter doing out in the snow, all by herself?”

  The truth of the situation intimidated him somewhat. Luke answered gently, “She snuck out early this morning. Had some crazy idea she was gonna find…”

  “An angel?” the woman finished for him.

  He nodded.

  The child’s small voice filled the void. “I did find an angel. Well, she found me. I hurted my foot and I prayed God would send an angel to take care of me, and He sent her. ‘Sides, her name is Angel.”

  Luke glared at the woman in suspicion. “You told her you were an angel?” The dark shadow of anger filled his eyes.

  “No, I told her my name is Angelica, which it is. I also clearly told her I am not an angel.”

  Again, Luke felt foolish. He had been so frightened when he realized Lanie was gone, and finding her with a stranger hadn’t helped his mood. Lord, I need to get my emotions in check.

  “Look, Angelica, my name is Luke. I’m Lanie’s father. This little one has disappeared several times. I appreciate you trying to help her. I can take her from here.”

  “But, Daddy, we gotta take her home with us. She’s my angel.”

  Luke glanced at the beautiful, obviously well-bred woman standing in front of him. Small strands of blonde hair had escaped from the wool shawl she wore. Her blue eyes reminded him of the lake when it was frozen, and her cheeks were flushed an appealing shade of pink. He had to shake his head to erase the image.

  “Lanie, this woman is not a real angel. She’s just someone nice who came along at the right time to help you.” His head lifted and he scanned the area, then turned towards the woman curiously. “Uhm, exactly where did you come from?”

  “The stage, of course
.” She pointed down the hill.

  *****

  Luke noticed the stage driver, already on the seat waving furiously at her. Luke watched awestruck when the prim and proper looking woman lifted her skirt and bounded down the hill.

  Luke’s voice echoed, “Be careful, or you’ll fall and twist your…” Too late.

  Unable to reach her side, Luke watched the woman stumble, fall, and roll down the hill. From the way she was positioned at the bottom of the hill, she may have broken a leg.

  He carried Lanie along and set her down beside Angelica. He waved at the stagecoach and yelled, “She won’t be able to travel.”

  The stage driver nodded and whipped the horses. The last thing Luke saw were the worried eyes in a wrinkled face staring out the stagecoach window.

  *****

  Angelica opened her eyes and tried to sit, but the pain in her leg shot through her and her head began to swim. She lay back and turned her head from right to left. On the right was nothing but the heavily snow-covered path she had just unceremoniously rolled down. On her left, Lanie sat on a blanket, a worried look in her eyes.

  Angelica tried to smile.

  “I didn’t think angels could get hurt. Daddy says your leg’s broked.”

  Angelica attempted to move her leg, but winced at the pain. “I think your daddy is correct.” She pushed up onto her elbows and searched the area. The stagecoach was gone and so was Luke.

  “Where is your daddy?”

  “He went to get the horse. He was talking to himself about how he couldn’t carry two people with hurt legs.” Lanie giggled.

  Even though her leg throbbed, Angelica couldn’t help but laugh. The idea of both of them hurt did seem a bit amusing.

  “Where is the stage?”

  “Daddy waved it on.”

  Oh, no. How will I get to Somerset in time for my teaching job?

  “Here comes my daddy,” Lanie shouted enthusiastically and pointed.

  *****

  Angelica looked up and saw Luke riding in the front seat of an old brown sleigh, pulled by a powerful, but beautiful coal black horse, with a white mane. It was a lovely site. The thought that the scene would make a wonderful Christmas painting crossed her mind, but her pain quickly drowned out the image.