Alright, this is a chapter with a bit of a flashback too, so I hope you like the chapter!
A week later Sara sat on the bed at Marshal Gus', feeding Ilsa who was eating hungrily, she hummed an old Irish lullaby she remembered her mom singing to her and her sisters as Ilsa ate before there was a knock on the door and she looked up as King opened the door. "Are you ready to go?" he asked and she nodded as Ilsa pulled away from her breast. She retied her chemise and fixed her dress before nodding.
"Yes," she replied as she stood up. She walked over to King who smiled down at the baby. It had been decided that Sara would remain at Wapasha's house for the remainder of the winter, which should only be two weeks more, and while Sara wasn't thrilled about it, she agreed so that the baby would grow a bit more before they started taking her out on the road with them.
"Now you know you can stay here as long as you want." Marshal Gus was telling her outside as Django put her bag into Wapasha's wagon, while King held Ilsa and spoke to her in German.
"Oh Marshall," she smiled before kissing his cheek. "I've put you out of your own bed for long enough." She told him, earning a small chuckle from the man. "Thank you for everything, you have been so incredible."
"Let me tell you, it's been nice havin' a babe around again, since my Susie's gone and grown up. Last I heard she was in Tennessee, havin' babies of her own." He shook his head. "You come on back now, come and see me."
"You could always come to the store." Wapasha told the Marshall who smiled looking at the older Indian fondly and then nodded as he looked over at Ilsa and King and then to Sara.
"Well I might just do that." He replied before looking at King. "Doctor, now I understand you doin' what needs ta be done, but son, you gotta know when to hang up your spurs. You got a young'un now."
"I know," King looked at Ilsa who squirmed a little, and then stared up at him with her big curious eyes. He looked at Sara who was watching him before she stepped over to him.
"It's time." She told him softly.
"I know." He replied.
"You'll be back in two weeks, right?" She asked him and he smiled as he nodded, stroking the back of her haid with one hand.
"Nothing could keep me." He assured her, before kissing her deeply. She moaned softly into the kiss, before they broke apart, her arms around his neck. He rested his forehead against hers; his beard lightly tickled her face, making her smile sadly.
"I hate being away from you." She whispered softly.
"It will only be for a few weeks time." He reassured her and stroked her cheek with his thumb.
"I know," her chin quivered softly and he handed Ilsa to the Marshall for a moment so he could wrap one arm around his wife's waist and gently cup her face with the other. Her hands rested on his shoulders as she leaned into his touch.
"Shh, none of that." He whispered. "Now I have to keep doing my job, and you have to do your job, looking after our daughter."
"I can't do it alone." She replied and he shook his head.
"You won't be alone. You will never be alone, I promise you." He assured her. "We will come back, we'll come see you as often as we can, I promise."
"I know," she said softly. "But I don't want you to go."
"Don't say that mine leibe," he pleaded. "You know I'll never be able to go if you say that."
"Schultz," Django spoke up and the two looked over. "We need to be going."
"Just give me a moment longer." He waved to Django who nodded, looking at Sara for a moment, and then turned back to the horses he was trying to calm down. "Sara, I need to go."
"I know." She replied.
"I need to know you're okay with me leaving." A tear rolled down her face and she took a deep breath, but nodded.
"Go," she let go of him. "Go, do your work."
"Sara," he stroked her cheek with a soft sigh as he looked down at her. "Ich liebe dich mein Schatz" her chin shook for a moment before she took a breath and nodded, collecting herself.
"Ich liebe dich auch." She nodded before leaning in and kissing him once more. He held her close, kissing her deeply, until someone cleared their throat. The two broke apart and King walked her to the cart, she got onto the cart and King took Ilsa from the Marshall, he kissed the baby's head softly before passing her up to her mother.
"I'll see you soon." He promised Sara as he held her hand. The cart started moving, forcing the couple to let go of each other.
"Look after him Django!" she called back to Django who had mounted Tony and was waiting while King mounted Fritz. "Bring him back to me!"
"You got it Red." He promised with a nod. She nodded and then looked at King one more time. He gave her a small wave and she waved back before looking down at Ilsa who was squirming in discomfort as the cart moved.
Sara woke up on Christmas Eve to her mother calling up through the house for her daughters to get out of bed. After dressing and washing her face in the washing mirror, she helped Shannon, her youngest sister, button up the back of her dress and button up her boots that had once been Sara's.
The four girls went downstairs and it being a Sunday, they had to eat breakfast quickly. After breakfast they all helped clean up and then bundle up before walking outside into the snow and walked together down the road to the Church.
When they got there Sara was surprised to see King and Klaus outside, King who in private had admitted to Sara that he was an Agnostic was wearing a suit and Klaus was dressed in his nicest clothes as well. When he saw Sara in her winter bonnet and capelet he smiled and walked over to the family.
"Mr. Gallagher," he offered his hand to Sara's father who shook his hand with a genial smile.
"Good morning Dr. Schultz," he greeted him.
"Good morning, and good morning ladies," he looked over at Sara, her mother and sisters, all who greeted him happily. "I wonder, Mr. Gallagher, if it would be alright if I sat with your eldest daughter for today's service?"
"I think with you two being engaged it would be fine," he agreed and Sara smiled at her father before looking at King who offered his elbow to her. She slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow and the two walked into the church together where Klaus had found them seats near the back of the church. Sara's family sat closer to the middle of the church and when the service started, King took Sara's hands in his and slipped off her gloves.
She smiled as he lifted one of her hands and kissed her knuckles before she snuggled against his side, wrapping her arms around his arm and laying her cheek against his shoulder while the Preacher began to speak.
After a hymn and a prayer he began to talk about the importance of the holiday, what the birth of Christ meant to the world and more specifically to the parish, and how being a good christian meant being a good neighbor.
After the church service was over he invited everyone back to a special service held that night, and Sara sat up and looked at King who smiled at her as she tied her bonnet again.
They were the first to walk outside, King had just enough time to steal a quick kiss from her before everyone else started to come outside and the two stood together on the walkway talking while the preacher greeted everyone and reminded them all about the service that night.
Her father walked over to the two and smiled at King who smiled back. "Will you join us until the service tonight?" her father asked and King looked at Sara before nodding.
"I would be honored," he told her father before looking at his brother.
"Your brother is of course welcome too," Sara's father assured him and King smiled gratefully.
"Again, we would be honored. Would you mind dreadfully if I took Sara with me on an errand before I escort her home? We will only be stopping by my office and then going to the general store," he explained and Franklin shook his head.
"I trust you to keep my daughter safe." he told King who smiled at him gratefully. He walked over to relay the invitation to Klaus who, after checking with Mr. Pontier, the pastor, left his cart parked behind the church and put his horses in the barn behind the church, where Mr. Pontier kept his horse when he was in town.
Sara and King walked arm in arm to King's office where after unlocking the door he let them in and then locked the door behind him. He cupped Sara's face and kissed her deeply, Sara moaning into the kiss as they embraced before he finally broke apart. "God, my love," he sighed as he looked down at her. "I thought that boring service would never end,"
"King," she laughed in astonishment. "You can't talk about church that way,"
"Can't I?" he asked and she shook her head as she grinned at him.
"No," she smiled and he sighed before giving her another kiss, his tongue brushing against hers, his hands pulling her closer. He groaned into the kiss and Sara sighed as she pressed against him further.
"My love," he said softly as he looked down at her. "I can't sleep without you next to me, I can't eat what you do not cook," he kissed her again. "I am hopelessly nothing without you,"
"Kiss my neck," she whispered and he did just that, leaning in to kiss and suck gently at her neck. She moaned softly at the feeling and King's arms tightened around her.
After a lot of kissing, touching and declarations of love, they finally got what they came to get at King's office and then walked across the street to the general store. King held the door for Sara and smiled at her as she walked in past him.
They looked around a bit before King went to the front of the store and after buying a few things he walked back to Sara and smiled at her. "Are you ready?" he asked and Sara lowered the fabric she was looking at.
"I'm ready," she agreed and they walked out of the store together and walked to her house.
When they got there Sara stomped the snow out from her shoes and opened the door while King did the same. Klaus was talking with Franklin, while Sara's sisters were sitting quietly, looking at picture books, or in Myrtle's case, sewing. Sara stepped into the house, followed by King who smiled at the closest of the sisters, Shannon, the youngest.
"Do you think you're strong enough to hold this for me?" he asked and she nodded as she accepted the packages he was holding. He slipped out of his coat and hung it on the coat rack before untying Sara's bonnet and capelet and removing it from her. He hung it up as well and then helped remove Sara's coat and hung that up before he accepted the packages from Shannon who looked up at him curiously.
"Are those presents?" she asked and Sara swatted her shoulder lightly.
"Why, in fact they are," he told her with a smile. "But I think we'll have to wait until tomorrow to see what they are, won't we?" he winked and she smiled and nodded.
"Are you spending tomorrow with us as well?" Sara asked as he smiled at her.
"Your father did invite me," he told her. "If that's acceptable to you,"
"Of course it is," she said as she smiled at him.
Sara helped her mother make their mid afternoon meal and King sat with Franklin and Klaus and talked with them. After lunch King sat with Sara's sisters, telling them stories of Santa Claus and what traditions they had in Germany.
After getting the girls worked up he helped them hang up their stockings before he looked at Sara. "Will you not be hanging up a stocking?" he asked and Sara smiled at him.
"I think I'm a bit old for that, don't you?" she asked and he shrugged.
"I don't know, you wouldn't want to be left out if Santa were to bring you something, would you?" he asked and she smiled before she sent Shannon upstairs to get a stocking for her. After hanging it up King smiled, kissing her knuckles, much to the amusement of her younger sisters who oooed and awwed at them until Mary reminded her three younger daughters that children were to be seen and not heard. "Oh please, Mrs. Gallagher, I encourage young ladies to express themselves," he told her. "I love hearing ladies be themselves," he explained and Sara smiled at him.
"How very European," she replied and King laughed lightly.
"If I remember correctly, you and your husband are from a place not too far from myself," he winked at her and she smiled softly at him.
"I've been in the United States for some time," she reminded him and he nodded.
"That's true," he agreed. "But let us not let that overpower the great places our people hail from," he said in a lightly teasing manner and she smiled back at him.
After that she was a lot more relaxed as the day went on. After church that evening they all sat together and when it was over King and Klaus were invited to spend the night at the house.
It was decided that Sara would be allowed to spend the night with King, as her father had acknowledged that they had likely done the same when Sara had spent two nights at the Schultz house.
That night they curled up in bed together, Sara smiled as she cuddled up next to him, King wrapped his arm around her and kissed her forehead.
"I love you," he whispered and she smiled as she leaned in to press her lips to his lightly.
"I love you too," she replied.
The next morning Sara woke up to an empty bed. After getting out of bed she dressed and then washed her face before she went downstairs where Her whole family was, along with King and Klaus. "Why didn't anyone wake me?" she asked and King smiled at her.
"Your sisters and I were more than capable of handling your chores," he told her as he stood and pressed a small kiss to her cheek.
"Sara," Shannon smiled brightly. "Santa brought us presents! There's a present for you too!" she said excitedly as she pointed to the stocking hung near the fireplace.
Sara smiled at Shannon before she walked over to the stocking and took it down. She reached into the stocking and pulled out a stick of candy making her laugh as she looked at King who winked.
"We got candy too!" Myrtle said as she held out her candy.
"What else did you get?" Sara asked as she walked over to where her sisters were sitting.
"Candy, cakes, all sorts of things," King said as he put his hand on Sara's lower back. She smiled at him and shook her head.
"You're a dentist," she whispered and he winked again.
"We each got a candy, a cake, combs," Iris said as she showed Sara what they had gotten. "And we each got a nickel!"
"That was- Very generous of Santa," Sara looked at King who smiled at the girls.
"Well, they were all such good girls, how could Santa forget them?" he asked and looked at Sara. "And what did Santa bring you?" he asked and Sara smiled as she reached into the stocking again, finding a cake, and then two small wrapped packages.
She opened the smaller of the two and found instead of a comb or a nickel, a pair of earrings with a pearl in the middle, and beautiful gems circling the pearl. Sara looked at King who smiled at her before nodding to the second package. She opened it and smiled at the beautiful pearl necklace that lay in the wrapped package.
"I saw this," King whispered as he stood behind Sara and took the necklace from her, he held it across her neck and carefully clasped it for her before putting his hands on her shoulders. "And I knew you had to have it. Merry Christmas Meine Liebe," he kissed her neck softly and smiled before he stroked her sides.
Everyone exchanged presents after that and Sara received from her mother a set of new sheets meant to be added to her trousseau, her father had gotten her a beautiful new trunk. She added the sheets to the trunk, as she knew it would be the trunk she'd pack her trousseau in, and she loved it. King had given her the necklace and the earrings, and Klaus had given her a beautiful fur lined cloak with a hood, the fur was soft and black and was finer than a rabbit.
"It's mink," Klaus told her as she tried it on and then looked at him with bright eyes. She hugged him, she couldn't help it. The rest of the present was a mink muff, and despite her protests that it was too much he insisted she take it.
The rest of the family had been given new gloves and hats all made of rabbit fur, and after a wonderful dinner of a roasted goose, vegetables and corn bread all covered in a delicious gravy the Schultz brothers were sent off with much thanks and promises that they would come back soon. Sara stepped outside while Klaus went to go get the horses and hitch them to their cart and stood with King while they held hands, Sara was wonderfully warm in her new cape and King smiled at her. "Meine Liebe," he said softly. "This has been the best Christmas since I was a child,"
"I'm so happy you could spend it with us," she told him and he smiled as they walked to the street together. He cupped her face and kissed her, gently at first, and then with everything he had he kissed her.
When they broke apart she smiled, her hands rested on his which held either side of her face and she went to say something before she saw movement to her left. Looking over she blushed as she noticed a man walking down the street and King, following her gaze, looked over.
"Dr. Schultz," the man greeted him, looking surprised.
"Mr. Shaw," he replied with a nod.
"I am having a meeting with some of the men at the store," he told King, looking from King to Sara. "I apologize ma'am, I don't think we've been introduced,"
"Of course," King moved his hands from Sara's face, resting one on her lower back and gesturing to the man. "Sara, this is Rodney Shaw, he moved to town while you were away," he explained. "Mr. Shaw, this is Sara Gallagher, my fiance."
"Oh," Mr. Shaw smiled at King and then to Sara. "Miss Gallagher, it's a pleasure," he nodded to her, and then looked to King. "Should we wait for you to begin?" he asked and King shook his head.
"I'm afraid not Shaw, I have a long ride home, and it's been a long day," he said as he shook his head. "Have a good night."
"Yes, well, perhaps next time." he said before nodding to Sara. "It was a pleasure Miss Gallagher," he said. "Merry Christmas,"
"Merry Christmas," Sara said back to him before Klaus came down the street with the horses. King sighed and then looked at Sara and smiled at her.
"I will see you soon," he told her and she smiled back at him.
"I look forward to it," she replied before the two shared one more kiss.
"Merry Christmas meine Liebe," he said softly and she smiled at them both.
"Merry Christmas," she said to them both, waving as they rode down the street and watching them until they rode out of sight.
I hope you're still enjoying the story!