Christmas

Christmas week had arrived, the children had decorated a huge tree which Scott and a few hands had brought. Sam enjoyed all the colors in the house. Scott had brought her a mini Christmas tree, just for her! He had placed it on his desk.

"Oh, just for me? Thanks Daddy!" She had thrown herself into his arms for a hug.

The Christmas Eve meal had been scrumptuous. Rita and Evi had surpassed themselves! The meal was followed by a fireside vigil. Scott was sitting, Evi on his knees, Johnny and Sam were playing a game, Murdoch was reading a book but in reality he was watching his family, happy with everyone's happiness at Lancer.

"Sam? Time for you to be in bed sweetheart, it's late!" Scott ordered.

"Yes Daddy!" The child stood up, gave Scott a kiss, Evi, Murdoch, even Johnny got his kiss tonight! Good night !, are you coming to me Daddy?"

"Yes, start going up, I'm coming."

"Johnny? Start putting the game away, it will be your turn soon." Murdoch said.

"Yes Dad!"

"Well, two children so polite, obedient, and well behaved! Every night should be Christmas Eve!" Scott teased.

They all burst out laughing.

Scott walked into Sam's room, she had obeyed, lying in bed, waiting for him. He sat down next to her, wrapping his arm around her and resting her head on his chest, he knew she liked it. He hugged her.

"Daddy, I'm so lucky!"

"No Sam, I'm the lucky one!"He said.

"Daddy? How will I know when I am allowed to get up tomorrow?"

"Good question, because if I catch you downstairs in the night for gifts ..."

"It's a spanking! I know Daddy." Scott smiles.

"Yes! You can count on it! Well, you look out your window, if it's still dark, it's too early but if the sun comes up you can get up. Okay?"

"Okay! Good night Daddy! Hold me tight! I love you!"

"I love you Sam! Close your little eyes, I will stay and hug you until you fall asleep."

Put on your coat and shawl, let's go for a buggy ride." Scott told Evi later that night.

"The moonlight is beautiful Scott!"

"Not as beautiful as your eyes honey!"

Scott, drove her to the cove they liked. The one where he had taken her when she arrived. He knelt on the ground and took out the small box revealing the magnificent ring bought in Stockton. The precious stones which decorated it, shone with a thousand lights!

"Evi, will you marry me? I promise to love you, to cherish you, to take care of you, I will be a good husband, and a good father for our children! I love you so much! Why wait any longer?"

"Oh Scott! Yes! Yes! Yes!" She clung to him "I love you! I know what a wonderful man you are! Please hold me tight! When? How?"

"I was thinking of a ceremony just between us here at Lancer. Actually it's up to you. What do you want? We could do this the day after tomorrow. I know the Reverend is coming for lunch. Or, we could wait a few. months for a more beautiful ceremony, a beautiful dress and a princess wedding? What do you decide?"

"It's you I want! I don't care about the dress! I just want to be with you!"

"Okay, I knew you would say that! That's what I want too!"

Then Evi turned tomato red ... "But Scott… what about my debts?" Do you want to marry someone with so much debt?"

"Yes, you are a wonderful woman, Evi! I'm very lucky! And you don't have a lot of debt! Nothing I can't pay. We can afford this Evi, you don't have to worry about money. Now, let me take care of this, I don't want you to worry about this anymore, promise?

"Yes Scott, you are such a good man! Thank you! I love you so much!"

"Me too, sweetheart, a little more every day!"

They kissed tenderly.

They informed Murdoch of their decision.

"I agree, waiting is tearing you both apart, it looks like you've been together for years! Your bond is impressive! Nothing is too much to wait, you're already bonded!"

"Thank you, Dad!"

"The Reverend has no idea what to expect when he comes to lunch! I'll give you my room on the second floor, so you will be alone on this floor, it's a large room, Evi and it has a private bathroom. You will have your privacy, away from the children's rooms. I will take your room, Scott."

"That would be perfect! I hadn't thought of it! Thank you Dad! Are you sure?"

"I'm sure son! Evi and you will need some privacy! Let's enjoy Christmas tomorrow for the kids, then we'll make the changes for the day after tomorrow. I'll send a hand to tell the Reverant as well. Just so he has the necessary papers!"

Christmas morning arrived, Scott and Evi were asleep on the living room sofa.

The sound of the papers tearing woke them up, the kids had been spoiled! Games, clothes, a dinette, a pretty jewelry box to store his special necklace, for Sam! And Johnny was delighted with his knife!

"Rules accompany this particular gift John!"

"Yes Scott! Thank you!"

"Come here, in front of me, look at me. The rules are you don't take it to school, you use it with care and safety, always carry it point down. It's as much a weapon as a gun John, I'm very serious!"

"Yes Scott".

"Good, because if I catch you playing with it dangerously, I'll give you a good bare spanking, right on the spot, before taking you to Daddy for a second round! Do you hear me?"

"Yes sir!"

"Good, keep on going."

Murdoch had let Scott handle the rules talk as it was his gift. And what a man! He had said it all in a few words, firm and stern, including the simple, clear and precise threat of disobedience. Murdoch was proud, Scott had become a righteous man.

"I'm so proud of you Scott! You said it all! Clear, crisp and precise! You are an exceptional man, you will be a loving husband and a good father!"

"Thank you Dad!"

Evi was delighted with her mirror and Murdoch immediately changed wallets to please Sam.

Sam wore her cameo pendant with her daddy's picture prominently and proudly, in fact she only took it off to wash.

Scott had also hung up his beautiful pocket watch. Evi never took her eyes off her hand, probably fearing that all this happiness was just a dream and that she would wake up!

After lunch, Scott informed everyone of his wedding the next day.

"Tomorrow? Already?" Sam said. "What will become of me?"

"What do you mean?" Scott asked, not understanding the girl's thoughts.

"Well, you're going to get married, have your own kids, what about me?"

Scott had tears in his eyes. "Come here honey, on my knee."

Scott waited for her to obey and put his arms around her.

"Nothing changes for you, you are my daughter, it's official. You will now have a new mom, that's all that changes."

"Yes, Sam, look at me," Evi said. Sam turned her head. "We could have ten children, you will always be the oldest Sam, always! You understand?"

"Ten children? " … Scott repeated with a raised eyebrow.

They all burst out laughing!

"Yes, okay!" Sam replied.

In a fluid motion, Scott rotate Sam face down on his knee, he raised his hand and smacked the back of the upturned dress in love, punctuating each word with a little slap of love.

"I never want you to doubt again! You are my daughter, now and forever! Even when you are an old lady, you will always be my little girl!"

When he straightened her up, she threw herself into his arms!

"Yes Daddy! I love you! and "Mom?" she said trying it.

They then talked about the new arrangements for the rooms.

"Sam, I'll be right on the top floor. You can still come from time to time, but Evi will be there with me. You will always have to knock and wait for permission to enter."

"Yes, they could be naked in that bed!" Johnny said.

"Johnny!" Scott scolded sternly, "You can't say such! It's not polite! Sam is eight! If you say that again, it's a spanking! You got me?"

"Yes sir, sorry!"

"Okay, I accept your apology, but don't do it again! But yes, that's one of the reasons, but Evi could be in her bath or whatever. The rule is that you never walk in without permission. If you disobey, it will be directly over my knee, am I being clear enough?"

"Yes sir!"

"Good, keep on going."

The day passed quickly, the rooms had been exchanged, the children had had fun moving everything!

In the evening, Scott and Evi asked Murdoch to sign for the two tomorrow, although Evi would ask Sam to be her maid of honor, and Scott for his little brother to be his best man, it was unofficial. Only Murdoch could legally sign as a witness to the marriage, but the children did not know.

Murdoch was thrilled and thought getting the kids involved was a great idea!

Evi walked into Sam's room to ask her if she would please be her maid of honor.

"Me? Really? You want me?"

"Yes, I want you, Sam!"

"Ok! Thank you Ev..." Mom "... that sounds weird!"

"It will come, give yourself some time to get used to the name."

"Johnny? Come here, I want to talk to you." said the man, sitting on the boy's bed.

"Sorry Scott! I didn't mean to disrespect Evi earlier when I said she was naked! Are you going to spank me?" The child asked already putting his pants down to his knees.

"Pull up your pants John, I told you I forgive you, if I wanted to spank you I would have done it sooner!"

Motioning for the child to sit beside him, Scott requests "Look at me,please. I have come to ask you to be my best man tomorrow. Our relationship is complicated since I am sometimes more a second father to you than your brother, but the point is that you are my little brother Johnny. No matter how many children I may have, even if it is ten!" He said teasingly, making John smile.

"But a little brother, I only have one, and that's you! You'll grow up, our relationship will evolve. I only see you in this role. Will you do me the honor to be by my side for this special day my brother?"

Not hearing a reply, Scott asked "Johnny?"

The child still said nothing, but threw himself into his brother's arms! Hugging him tight!

"I love you Scott!"

"I love you too brother! I think that's a yes!" Scott teased.

A bit later, while the adults were in the office chatting, the two children sneaked into the barn discreetly.

"Do you have your knife, Johnny?"

"Yes, do you have the matches?"

"Yes, it's going to be fun! We're going to put in some hay, cut this piece of leather there, put on this wrapping paper too ... the bets are open! What will burn the fastest?" Sam exclaimed happily!