Chapter 15: Christmas Eve - December 24th, 1907
Lottie dear, breakfast! Be right down, Josie! Morning, honey. Is Uncle Henry up yet? Yes, he's in the kitchen with Jamie. I invited him for breakfast. Oh, goody! What's for breakfast? Flapjacks. Morning, Jamie. Morning, Lottie. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas to you, honey. Morning, Uncle Henry. Good morning, Lottie. Merry Christmas. What's on the plan for today, Josie? Well, someone has to go out and shoot a turkey for tomorrow. The Virginian asked me to help him with that after breakfast. Good, Jamie. So Harper and I will be busy all afternoon today. And tomorrow, you and the boys will need to move the bunks to make room for the table. Sure, Josie. Breakfast is ready now. Come and get it, everyone. The syrup and butter are right here. These are good, Josie. Just like Mama used to make hers. Thank you, Lottie. They are delicious, Josie. Thank you, Uncle Henry. My mama's flapjacks tasted about like this, too. Hmm, it must be the same recipe as your mama's was, Jamie. Maybe, Josie. Or maybe you have a knack for making them taste like home. Uncle Henry, would you mind keeping an eye on Lottie today? Or could I help you and Harper out, Josie? I suppose that might be best Lottie. On second thought. Yes, that would be best, Josie. Alright, Uncle Henry. I can see you have something up your sleeve that we should'nt know about. [Winks at Lottie] Hee-hee-hee! What's so funny, Lottie! Oh nothing, Josie. Uh-huh. Who knows, we might just have us some elves around here. We might at that Jamie, Josie said laughing. Would you help us clear up, Lottie? Sure, Josie. Just put the dishes in the sink over there. I'd better go find the Virginian, Josie. Alright Jamie, see you later. Thanks for breakfast. You're welcome, Jamie. See ya later, Jamie. So long for now, Lottie. Don't get into mischief. I won't, Jamie. Let's get these dishes washed up, Lottie. I'll see you two later. I've got some Christmas business to attend to. Alright, Uncle Henry. And before Josie knew it, they had the dishes washed and dried and put away in the cupboard. Come, Lottie, let's go over to the bunkhouse. Hello, Harper. I'm here to help with Christmas dinner. Hi, Josie. Glad to have your help. You just take a seat over there, Lottie. We'll call you when we have something for you to do. Alright, Josie. The Virginian and Jamie should be along with the turkey in a little while. And on they worked until way after lunch time. There, now its all ready for tomorrow, Josie. Thank you, Harper. And it looks like Jamie and the boss found that turkey. Then we'll leave you to the cleaning of it, then. Come on, Lottie. Let's go see Jamie and the turkey. You found us a fine turkey, Jamie. Let's take it in to Harper so he can clean it. You sure got a nice fat one, Jamie. That I did, Lottie. It must be past lunchtime already! It is, Jamie. Come up to the house and I'll fix us all some lunch. You three sit down and I'll make us all some sandwiches. That sounds fine, Josie. They're ready now. Dig in, everyone. After we eat, would you two like to help Lottie and I decorate the tree? Sure, Josie. We'd be glad to. Thank you. As soon as you finish your sandwiches, we'll get started. It's going to be so much fun! It certainly will be, Lottie. [After Lunch] The beads and ornaments are in this trunk right here. Will you help me string the beads, Jamie? Sure, Josie. There, all done! Does'nt that look pretty? It sure does, Josie. Now Lottie, you can help Jamie and I put the ornaments on. We'll do the parts you can't reach and you can do the bottom and middle of the tree. Okay, Josie. And before they knew it, the fun of decorating the tree flew by and it was done. That's the prettiest tree I've ever seen, Josie. It certainly is, Lottie. Good job, you two. But there's one thing missing. What's that, Josie? The star, Lottie. Would you like to put it on the tree? Oh, yes! Up you go, Lottie. Thanks, Jamie. There, now it's complete. And it looks beautiful. And all ready for tomorrow when our company comes. It must be clean on to suppertime now. You're right, Jamie. Would you and Jamie like to stay for supper? We'd be pleased to, Josie. Good. Come on up to the house when you're ready. Come, Lottie. [Knock-knock!] Come in, girls. We got the tree decorated, Uncle Henry. I invited the Virginian and Jamie for supper tonight. Good, Josie. It'll be ready in a little while. Come, Lottie. You can help me set the table. Okay, Josie. I'll be back shortly, you two. Alright, Uncle Henry. Come in, Jamie. It's good to have you. Would you and Lottie set the table please? Sure, Josie. The plates are in that cupboard there. Lottie, the silverware is right here in this drawer. Supper will be ready in a little while. Hopefully Uncle Henry won't be too much longer. Did I hear someone mention my name? Oh you're back, Uncle Henry. Supper will be ready in a while here. Sit down and relax, everyone. [Some Time Later] It's ready, everyone. It smells good, Josie. Dig in, everyone. Before it gets cold. So, what did your family do for Christmas, Jamie? Our Christmas was about like this, Josie. Pa would go and fetch the tree and the turkey and he'd take me with him. Mama would bake more goodies than I could put a number on, and we'd all decorate the tree together. And Mr. MacIvor always came for Christmas dinner. He's the man that my pa was foreman for. This will be the first real Christmas I've had in a while, Josie. Really, Lottie? It's hard to have Christmas when you're traveling all the time. All the Christmases I had with my family back in Virginian were about like that too, Jamie. Do you still have family back there, boss? Some, yes. As I remember, Christmas with my family when I was that age was the same as you described, Jamie. It was, Uncle Henry? Oh yes, Josie. Mine with my parents were the same too, Jamie. I'm sure they were all wonderful. That's right, Jamie. [After Supper] That was a wonderful meal, Josie. Thank you. You'd better be getting to bed now, Lottie. You've got a big day tomorrow. Alright, Josie. Goodnight, Jamie. Goodnight, Josie. Goodnight, Uncle Henry. Goodnight, Lottie dear. I'm going to go to bed as well. Goodnight, Uncle Henry. Goodnight, you two. See you in the morning, Judge. Goodnight, Virginian. I'll help you with the dishes, Josie. Thank you, Jamie. I'll wash and you can dry. My, what a long day its been, Jamie. It sure has. But a good one, too. Yes, it has, Jamie.
[A While Later]
Thank you for your help, Jamie. I was glad to help, Josie. I'll walk out with you if you like. I'd like that, Josie. Goodnight, Josie. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas to you, Jamie. See you in the morning. Oh look, Jamie. What is it, Josie? Someone put some mistletoe here! I guess you know what that means. Sure I do, Josie. Merry Christmas, sweetheart, kissing him on the cheek. Merry Christmas, Josie. Sweet dreams. And when everyone was asleep, Josie came and put her gifts under the Christmas tree.