Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
"Coming Home: A Christmas Story"
Written By: Emily A. Linzi
After Brian and Nia announced their engagement to the family the men now joined by Daniel and Cloud Dancing decided to go out to the property and decide how the land should be put to use. They decided after much debate that the house would go in the middle, with the barn to the north and the privvey to the south. Brian wasn't sure when he'd start building seeing as he and Nia hadn't set the date yet. Later that night after the supper dishes were cleared and washed Brian and Nia went outside to talk.
"So when do you want to get married?" Asked Brian.
"Anytime, anywhere you want." Said Nia.
"Well, if it's alright with you I'd like to get married here." Said Brian.
"I think that's a good idea."
"Okay we can ask the Reverend tomorrow." Said Brian
"So when?" Asked Nia.
"What would you say to us getting married before we go back to Boston."
"Really?" Said Nia as she looked up at Brian who was sitting on an upper stair.
"Yeah, I mean since my family is all here now."
"Okay, what have we got to loose?" Said Nia.
"Great, so we're suppose to back to Boston on January 10th right?"
"Yes."
"So how about we get married New Year's Eve, maybe go up to Denver and then meet the train there to go back to Boston." Said Brian thinking out loud.
"I think that's a great idea." Said Nia.
"Okay, should we go tell my parents?"
"If you want to." Said Nia.
"Okay come on." Said Brian as he helped Nia up.
Brian and Nia went into the house only to find everybody had gone upstairs already. They hadn't realized they had been talking for so long.
"Well so much for that idea." Said Nia.
"Yeah, no kidding." Said Brian. "Well you should get up to bed." He said noticing how tired Nia was.
"Okay, goodnight." Said Nia as she climbed the stairs.
(The Next Day, December 5th)
The next morning at breakfast, Brian and Nia told the family of their plans. The whole family got behind them, Sully told him that he would help build a starter cabin then he would help them build a larger one come spring. Soon the plans took effect. That weekend the starter cabin was started, the floor was in and two walls were up. During the week Brian started to help build the hospital, and Friday afternoon- Sunday evening Sully, Brian, Matthew, Cloud Dancing, and Daniel worked on the cabin so they could have it ready for when Brian and Nia returned from Boston.
The next couple weeks went by with little excitement Brian was working on the hospital during the week and also helping Dorothy at the Gazette and on the weekends working on the cabin. Nia was prepping for the wedding as well as making things for the cabin like curtains and rugs. Nia and Colleen were almost done with her dress that she had bought at Loren's store and they decided to add some of their own touches to. Everything was coming together nicely the Reverend had agreed to marry them on New Years' Eve. Little was left to be done on the cabin, mostly little things like shelves and cabinets. But other than those things the cabin was done and as soon as Brian and Nia returned from Boston it would be there waiting for them.
Christmas came with a light dusting of snow over the town. The family went to the church service and Katie's class put on a nativity as the reading of the birth of the Christ child was read aloud. After the church service was through the town gathered in the center for the lighting of the tree and the singing of the carols. After the singing stopped and the tree was lit the family return to the homestead where Michaela read 'A Christmas Carol' By Charles Dickens, just as she had done for the past 10 years to her family.
On Christmas morning the whole family gathered in the living room of the homestead for the exchanging of the gifts. After the gifts were exchanged lunch was made and the family sat down and enjoyed the meal. The family chatter consisted of many topics including the upcoming wedding that was scheduled to take place in about a week.