Chapter 26 Christmas Holiday

The fine white powdery snow was falling outside. Elizabeth put on her robe and opened the French doors to admire the beauty from the balcony of their new home. Winter time truly is beautiful she thought to herself. Lucas pulled the covers up over his head blocking the chill in the air. "Elizabeth since you decided to let all the heat out of our bedroom, sweetheart you better come snuggle with me and warm me up." Lucas said with a grin. Elizabeth was more than eager to comply with his request. They lay there for another couple of hours enjoying being together on this, their first Christmas Eve as husband and wife. Eventually they decided it was time to start their day.

Today was Jack's third birthday as well as Christmas Eve. Lucas had picked up Jack's birthday present when he went to Union City to testify against Conklin and Walden. Elizabeth was going to be busy in the kitchen all day making food and baking for the reception this evening and including cake. She baked blueberry muffins for breakfast knowing they were Jack's favorite. He loved muffins and Lucas wouldn't complain about Elizabeth's muffins either.

The family all gathered around the dining table eating muffins, reading Rosemary's newspaper and drinking tea or coffee. The men talked about their business developments and plans. Jonathan always had stories about all the people he has met traveling as an Ambassador and the pressures it put on his family. The women talked about the newest book releases or fashion, and Lucas and Elizabeth's upcoming honeymoon.

After breakfast Lucas took Jack outside. They tied a sled to Sargent and had him pull them around the yard. The women watched out the bay windows as the two laughed together admiring how loving Lucas was with him. Lucas would fall off the sled and Jack would laugh at him. They made quite the sight. When they were all finished outside Jack helped Lucas carry in wood for the fireplace. He was getting to be such a big helper. They carried in enough for the day. Then they rewarded Sargent for his hard work. Jack fed him an apple and then they took him back to the barn and gave him hay. They scooped up some fresh snow and took it inside so Elizabeth could make some homemade ice cream to go with the cake.

Lucas and Jack came in to clean up and get warm, tracking snow through the house.

Elizabeth was less than pleased, "now since you have brought the snow in with you, I'm going to give you the honor of mopping the floors." She had a slight grin on her face.

"That is so kind of you Mrs. Bouchard," he teased her with a kiss rubbing his frozen cheeks all over her face.

Lucas made Jack some hot chocolate and then he proceeded to mop the floors. Cleaning up all the snow he and Jack had brought in with them. When Jack was finished with his hot chocolate, Lucas took him upstairs and changed him into dry clothes while Elizabeth and Julie stayed in the kitchen working on Jack's birthday cake and the ice cream.

The Coulter's and Bill arrived at noon. So they sat Jack down and began his birthday party. Jack wanted to open presents first. The Coulter's had gotten Jack a horse and stagecoach and Rosemary had made him a few new outfits. The Bouchard's had given him some new books and the Thatcher's gave him a board game called Over the Fence. Bill gave him a photograph of him and Jack Thornton on one of their adventures for Jack to put in his room. Julie gave Jack a new suit for their trip. Elizabeth and Lucas talked about Jack's gift and Lucas had convinced her to buy him Tinker Toys, although she was pretty certain they were more for her husband than for Jack!

Jack said thank you to everyone. Then they sang happy birthday and ate the beautiful chocolate cake Elizabeth had made with homemade ice cream. Jack had it all over him. When he had finished, Lucas took him upstairs and gave him a bath and put clean clothes on him. Then returning downstairs Lucas, Bill, and Lee sat in the family room in front of the fireplace helping Jack build a train out of tinker toys, while the women watched from the kitchen loving every minute of it. They played that way into the evening until it was almost time to leave for the Christmas Concert.

Lucas hitched up the sleigh and grabbed blankets and hot chocolate. They were going to ride to town in style. He helped carry all the food out. Then he escorted his wife, Jack, and Julie out to the sleigh making sure they were all warm and settled. Everyone else was going to drive into town. Then they headed to town. Jack loved how the bells jingled on the sleigh as the horses pranced up and down.

Lucas dropped Elizabeth off early at the schoolhouse so she could get ready for the concert. He then proceeded to the Queen of Hearts to drop the food off and make sure everything was in place for the reception meanwhile Julie and Jack went over to the library until time for the concert.

The concert was beautiful. Elizabeth had worked with Allie on a solo of Silent Night. Lucas always admired how beautiful his wife's voice was. She loved music and he would often catch her singing to Jack and adored it. It was another one of her fine qualities that attracted him to her.

The rest of the evening was spent at the Queen of Hearts. The reception was grand. There was a plethora of wonderful food and desserts. Everyone mingled while enjoying good fellowship and friendship. Elizabeth could not just walk to town being so cold right now so she used the opportunity to catch up with everyone. Lucas took the opportunity to make sure his father was up to date on everything at the Queen of Hearts, tomorrow was Christmas and they would be leaving the next day. He also made sure he showed William what to do with the railroad and Gowen Petroleum, which pretty well ran themselves.

After everything was taken care of, they went home. Jack had fallen asleep on Julie's lap on the sleigh. Lucas helped the ladies inside with Jack and then went to unhitch the sleigh and put Sargent up. He went to Jack's room to kiss him goodnight and proceeded to his room to turn in as well. It had been a long day and he was beat! He gave his wife a deep, passionate good night kiss, wrapped his arms tightly around her, pulling her as close as he could to keep her warm and fell into a deep sleep dreaming of his wonderful life.

Christmas morning, Jack awoke Elizabeth and Lucas with his excited greeting. "Momma, Daddy its Christmas! Wake up."

They both groaned and rolled over.

"Come on Daddy!" He said shaking Lucas awake.

"Alright Jack, I am up." Lucas grumbled as he kissed his wife. "You go back to sleep love. I'll take Jack downstairs."

Jack ran down the stairs and his eyes lit up when he saw the presents under the Christmas tree. There was a beautiful hand crafted train with wheels and a seat painted with an extraordinary design sitting under the tree. "Daddy, Daddy is it mine?" Jack asked excitedly.

"Well it isn't mine Jack!" He replied from the kitchen where he was making his coffee still groggy and trying to wake up.

"Can I ride it now? Please, Please." Jack said pleadingly.

"Go ahead Jack!" Lucas told him.

Jack got on the train and using his legs he rode that train all around the downstairs. Of course the noise from the wheels on the hard floors had everyone awake within twenty minutes. Elizabeth came down the stairs in her robe to see her son with the biggest smile on his face. She met her husband in the kitchen, where he handed her a cup of coffee and greeted her with a kiss.

"That really was the perfect idea Lucas." She said with her arms around him leaning on him for physical strength still trying to wake up. "I'm glad we decided to ask Mike to make it."

"Mike really does the best work. He has such a talent; I am surprised he doesn't sell this stuff on his own. He could do really well at it!" Lucas told her.

Lucas pulled out a jewelry box from his pocket. "Merry Christmas love!"

She opened the box with surprise; it was a beautiful gold heart shaped locket that contained their family photo from Union City. On the outside it was inscribed with, you own my heart!

Elizabeth came to tears at her husbands beautiful gift. "Thank you darling! It is beautiful!"

He reached behind his back and out of nowhere he handed her a beautiful bouquet of flowers. "Beautiful flowers for a beautiful woman!"

"You truly are amazing." She kissed him passionately. "I have something for you too!"

She went downstairs and picked up the book she had been working on. The cover was leather bound and it was titled "Our Journey the first few years". She brought it up and handed him the wrapped gift.

"What's this?" He asked curiously.

He opened it and it brought tears to his eyes.

"I wanted to write you about all of my personal feelings and struggles for you since the day we met. It is for your eyes only. It is very personal leading up to our wedding day!"

He took her in his arms and kissed her with all the passion he could until they were interrupted by Helen and Grace coming down the stairs. "I love you Elizabeth with all of my heart!"

"I love you too!

The couple proceeded to make breakfast together and then spent the day with their families, laughing, playing with Jack, opening presents, eating, and finishing up their packing for tomorrow when they would take their first real adventure away from Hope Valley together as a family.