Twas the Night Before Christmas
Chapter One
Vin Tanner was dead tired, and the only thing he really wanted to do was stop by the saloon for a plate of Inez's spicy enchiladas washed down by some of Ezra's good whiskey he kept behind the bar.
But he'd promised Mary Travis that he would stop by her house for dinner. Reluctantly he had agreed when Chris Larabee had strongly suggested that he show up.
It had been one of those days he would sooner forget, Vin sighed, as he knocked lightly on Mrs. Travis' front door.
After spending the night on patrol, he stopped by Ian McLaren on his way back to town, to find the old man trying to pull a half dozen dumb cows out of a mud hole by himself. By the time he had left McLaren's ranch he had not only pulled the cows of out the bog, he'd also cleared the stream feeding the lower pastures dammed by a family of beavers and repaired the corral gate.
The smell of cookies, cakes and cinnamon treats wrapped around him like a warm blanket as the door opened. Was this what Christmas was supposed to be like? He felt a pang of regret for all the Christmases he had missed since his Mama died when he was five.
But he wasn't five anymore, and he had six friends who were as close as family, and townsfolk who trusted him to keep them safe.
No matter what happed in the future, he knew he was making holiday memories he would keep for a lifetime. He smiled at the thought of Inez decorating the saloon with Piñatas and paper flowers and Mrs. Potter hanging pine branches over the doorway with silver bells jingling when anyone entered the store.
The best was listening to Josiah reading every night from a book called Oliver Twist. He was both surprised and a little angry the way J.D and Mary acted when Josiah got to the part where Oliver Twist was asking for 'more, Sir'. You'd think they never heard of a kid forced to work for watery gruel. He'd seen it plenty a times. Hell, he'd lived it.
Josiah hadn't finished the book and Vin had no idea if it had a happy ending. He hoped so. The kid deserved a break. Maybe…
Before he could follow that thought, Billy came running through the office, sucking on a candy cane.
"Vin! Ya gotta see!"
"See what, Pard?"
"Come on," the boy yelled, grabbing Vin's hand and dragging him past the printing presses to the small house Billy and his Mom shared behind the newspaper office.
The sound of Mary humming a Christmas song and the crackle and pop of logs burning in the fireplace didn't give Vin a hint of what he was about to walk into.
"Chris…?" Vin blinked to make sure he was seeing what he thought he was seeing.
Chris stood on the coffee table while Mary hemmed the bottom of a red and white striped night shirt.
Chris whirled, the white ball at the end of the oversized red and white striped stocking hat bopping him in the nose.
"You got a big date tonight, Cowboy?" Vin grinned.
Green eyes glared at the tracker. "It's the costume for the play tomorrow night. And if ya don't stop grinning like a damn jackass, I'll shoot ya where ya stand."
"Ya best be careful not ta freeze off what God gave ya out there in the cold."
"Vin!" Mary yelped, pricking her finger with a pin.
"Vin…." The warning voice came from Josiah sitting in an overstuffed chair next to the fireplace, nodding his head toward Billy.
"I'll be warm enough," Chris snapped. "Wearing my long johns and a jacket."
Vin lowered his head trying to keep from busting out laughing. "Ya know how silly ya look?"
"Be nice, Brother Vin." Josiah chuckled. "Give Brother Chris credit for swallowing his pride for one night for the benefit of the town and its children."
"Hey! I spent three days workin' on that fake house a yours in the middle of the street. Damn, never saw a house without front walls before."
"And you did a fine job, Vin," Mary beamed. "It's going to be such a wonderful night. Buck and J.D. finished painting the scenery before they went on patrol. Who would have thought that Buck was so artistic?"
"I still don't see how ya got Buck ta pick up a paint brush for more than whitewashing the side of a barn."
"A little pillow talk goes a long way." Mary giggled.
"Mary…" Josiah looked stunned.
Chris pulled off the stocking hat and threw it at Vin. "Make yourself useful and help me read over my lines again."
"Ain't ya remembered 'em yet? We've been going over 'em every day for a week. I think I know 'em as well as you do!"
"It's tomorrow night. I just want to make sure I'm ready."
Vin scooped Billy up in his arms instead. "Why don't ya have Josiah here practice with ya? Me and Billy are gonna work on his Christmas present fer his Mama."
"Sorry, Vin," Mary said as she motioned Chris to turn slowly so she could check the hem. "Dinner is almost ready, then Billy has to go to bed early. He promised Josiah to help with the last minute preparations for the stage."
"Ah…" Billy whined dejectedly.
"Sounds like a pretty important job there, Vin said. "Sides, we got plenty a time before Christmas, Pal. And I think my belly is kissing my back I's so hungry."
"OK, Vin. But ya promise we'll get it done by Christmas Eve."
"I give ya my promise. Man ta man."
Billy grinned and slithered his way out of Vin's hold and went running for the dining room.
The morning dawned cold and crisp. Vin snuggled deeper beneath his blankets and thought about the play tonight and Chris in his nightshirt. The memory of his best friend in that red and white striped nightshirt and matching stocking hat brought Vin nearly to tears. How was he gonna keep from bursting out laughing when he saw the hardened gunfighter in that ridiculous getup? And how had Chris convinced the old biddies from the sewing circle that there was nothing wrong with him and Abigail Worth huddling under the blankets for everyone to see? He guessed it helped that Abigail was about as pretty as a swayback mule.
He pulled up his braces and slipped his buckskin coat on against the chilly morning and climbed down from his old covered wagon and made his way toward the saloon where he saw Mary walking back and forth in front of the paper.
He rushed across the street and found her in tears.
"Mary, what's wrong? Is Billy all right?"
She flung herself into his arms as he reached the boardwalk. "It's all ruined," she wept. "All of it."
"What's ruined?"
Chris stepped out of the door, a towel wrapped around his throat.
"Me," he croaked. "I can't talk."
Josiah handed Chris a cup of something steaming hot. "Hot lemon and honey."
Vin couldn't believe it. He actually felt disappointed. All the work they had done. The house, the scenery, Santa's sleigh and the eight reindeer made of sawhorses. And all the time Chris spent practicing.
"Maybe ya can do it next week," Vin tried.
"No…" Mary belted out a howl of misery that nearly shook the windows behind her. "The children have been practicing all month for this. And it's not just Four Corners. People are coming from all over. They are already filling up the hotel. They're all here. And they'll all be disappointed."
"I'm sorry, Mary," Chris croaked.
"I know you are. It's not your fault, Chris. It's just…"
Chris suddenly grabbed Vin's shoulder and dragged him into the office. "Vin knows all the lines."
Vin sent Chris a look that could have frozen the gunslinger to death instantly.
"Well, you do," Chris squeaked. "You've been saying 'em with me all week."
"Oh, no. No. Ya ain't getting me in that getup in front of all them people."
"But Vin…" Now Mary was looking up at him, her tears drying up. He could almost see her brain working.
Vin took a step back. "Ain't no way! What about Josiah?"
"I'm playing Santa, remember? Ho, ho, ho!"
"No. I can't do it. I'd rather stand in front of a firing squad."
Josiah slowly closed the front door barring Vin's escape. "It's only one night, and it won't be fatal."
"Only to my reputation. No!"
"Oh, Vin, please," Mary pleaded. "Think of all the kids at the orphanage."
"Think of Dolly McGuire." Chris croaked.
Vin looked at Chris. "Dolly?"
The blonde nodded. "Abigail Wroth got a case of the nerves and backed out two days ago. It's Dolly who'll be nestled in that bed."
"In a nightgown? How come Buck didn't know about that?"
"Because, Brother Vin, this is a family play if you get my meaning."
"She'll have enough clothes on to keep an Eskimo warm," Mary tisked. "But she'll still be close enough to kiss and that would be too much of a temptation for Buck Wilmington."
Vin had his share of kissing the ladies, but not in front of a whole town …and her father too.
"Ya know I don't do good with crowds. And…"
"Oh, Vin, please!" Mary grabbed Vin's arm. "Everyone has worked so hard. And you are the only one who knows the story as well as Chris. It would mean so much to me."
Vin looked at the new tears forming in Mary's eyes and knew he was a doomed man. He dipped his head. It wasn't fair. It just wasn't fair. Nobody told him this side of having family and friends.
Finally he nodded, just once, just ever so slightly.
"Oh thank you, Vin!" Mary wrapped her arms around him. "You won't regret it."
"Well, that's settled," Josiah sighed, slapping Vin on the shoulder. "I have lines of my own to rehearse. Let's see…On Dancer, On Prancer… Ho, ho, ho…" As he passed Vin he leaned down and whispered in the tracker's ear. "I'm proud of you, Son. And believe me, you won't regret it."
Vin had a feeling he would for a very long time, and moaned when Mary pushed him through the office and pointed to the coffee table as she picked up the red and white striped nightshirt. "I'll have to take the hem up just a bit. I wouldn't want you tripping on your way to the window."
He sank into a nearby chair and thought: "What have I done?"
It seemed that breakfast was barely over when Mary set lunch in front of Vin, but he was too nervous to eat.
Ezra had arrived in town just before noon and was stunned to hear what they had talked Vin into doing.
Chris walked the tracker through all the scenes, writing down notes when his voice was at its weakest. Ezra sat down at the table and added suggestions here and there.
"Ez, you've been in plays before. Why can't you…" Vin's Texas drawl was growing stronger as he grew more nervous.
"Because, Mr. Tanner, even for an accomplished thespian like myself…it takes time to learn lines. I would do the play an injustice."
"No more'n me."
Ezra reached over, placing his hand atop Vin's shaking ones. "It is normal to be nervous before going on stage. But I have every confidence that you will bring Clement Clarke Moore's words to life. Vin, I have heard you tell stories about The People. I have been transfixed by your storytelling. Just think of this as another story to be shared."
Vin smiled. "Thanks, Ez."
"It's Ezra. E Z R A."
"I know. Thanks, Ez."
"What's the use?" Ezra muttered. "I get more respect from a drunken saddle tramp than my so called friends."
Vin snorted then suddenly looked up at everyone around the table.
"Hey, wait a minute. I just thought of somethin'."
"What?" Chris croaked.
"Ain't Santa supposed to be this little guy sliding down the chimney? How's Josiah…?"
"Basil Stephanopoulos is playing Santa. Josiah will be hiding behind the house reading his lines. Basil is perfect for Santa, but I don't think Santa speaks with a Greek accent."
It made perfect sense. Basil was barely five feet tall, and it was a shock to everyone the first time they saw him walk from behind the counter at the telegraph office to find that he had been standing on a two foot platform.
"Anybody left ya didn't trick inta being in yer play?" Vin asked.
"Tricked?" Chris croaked, though his voice seemed louder than it had a few hours ago. "We didn't trick anybody. We just asked for volunteers."
Vin arched an eyebrow. "There's all sorts a volunteerin'…"
Ezra stood up, clearing his throat. "Believe me, Vin, you won't regret this. Now let's get going, we don't want to be late for your debut."
"My what?"
Chris laughed. "Come on, I'll tell you later."
All too soon they were at the church. Costumes and props took over most of the vestibule and general chaos abounded. The Prendergast twins, Eleanor and Thomas were dressed in warm pajamas and ready to hop into bed.
Outside the children were singing Christmas songs, the sound lighter than air. Mary was fiddling with Vin's stocking cap and he had to push her away. He was nervous enough.
"Five minutes!" someone yelled and Mary yelped in excitement.
"I know you will do fine, Vin. I love you!" She pecked him on the cheek. "We all love you."
Dolly appeared out of nowhere wearing a white nightgown and kerchief. She slipped her arm around Vin's and grinned up at him. "Shall we, husband?"
It took every ounce of courage Vin Tanner possessed to squeeze Dolly's arm and walk into the Christmas house.
9