Chapter 28
Shadow Valley, Texas 1870
"Come on, slow pokes!" Buck's booming voice called out from the porch, dragging Halona's attention from the muffin batter she was mixing.
"We're comin', Papa!" Little Megan came toddling out the front door, her chubby legs working overtime to keep upright on the slick wooden planks. She teetered precariously before sliding right into Buck's waiting arms with a squeal of delight.
"Whoa there, darlin'," he chuckled, steadying her with a gentle squeeze. "You gotta watch your step on this ice."
"Halona looks silly!" Isaac giggled, clumping over in his oversized winter boots and plopping down to tug on his woolen mittens.
Buck's gaze swung to Halona emerging from the house, swimming in one of his giant coats that engulfed her petite frame completely. "Ain't nice to say that about a lady." He took in the comically oversized shoulders and sleeves hanging past her hands before throwing his head back with a deep belly laugh.
"What was that about not laughing?" Halona shot him a mock glare, sticking her hands on her hips in feigned indignation. The coat sleeves were so ridiculously long that her forearms disappeared entirely into the fabric, leaving just her mittened hands poking out the ends like disjointed wings.
"Alright, alright," Buck held up his palms in surrender, still grinning broadly. "C'mere, let me fix you up proper."
Halona obediently shuffled over as he retrieved a length of thick rope from the back of the waiting buckboard wagon. With deft motions, he wrapped it twice around her slender waist and knotted it securely before fashioning a slipknot to cinch the coat in closer to her body. Rolling up each billowing sleeve twice, he finally stepped back with a satisfied nod.
"All better now, ain't it?" His deep voice was warm with affection.
"Much better, thank you." Halona couldn't help but return his smile as he took her mittened hand and helped boost her up onto the buckboard bench.
Isaac hopped up next, nestling in on her other side as Buck clicked the reins and the sturdy horses began plodding forward through the fresh layer of pristine snow. "Let's go find our tree!"
"Papa, someone's coming!" Isaac suddenly piped up, pointing down the rutted dirt road with a mitten-clad hand.
"Hallie," Buck's relaxed demeanor shifted in an instant, his shoulders squaring as a carriage appeared through the swirling flurries. "Take the kids inside," he instructed Halona in a low tone, his eyes never leaving the approaching vehicle.
Halona quickly ushered the two youngsters back inside, settling them on the worn sofa before crouching by the frosty window. She peered out with bated breath as the sleek black carriage pulled up, anticipation tightening the muscles along her spine. Relief washed over her as Fiona emerged, a heavy shawl clutched tightly around her shoulders against the biting chill. The other woman rushed forward without preamble.
"I just heard about that terrible incident yesterday!" Fiona cried out, throwing her arms around Buck in an exuberant embrace despite his rigid posture. "I was simply sick to my core when I thought your poor darling children had been put in harm's way by that wretched woman!"
Halona stifled a snicker at Buck's obvious discomfort under Fiona's overly-familiar onslaught.
"They weren't in any danger from her," Buck corrected once Fiona released him, keeping her at arm's length.
The other woman's bright smile faltered slightly at his refutation. "But can't you see it's her mere presence?"
Buck's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. "I believe you've outstayed your welcome, Miss Hayes." He gestured towards her awaiting carriage, the crunch of snow under his boots punctuating the terse words.
Fiona's eyes went wide with surprise and outrage. "You vile, ungrateful man. I'll pray the good Lord opens your eyes to that deceiver's wicked ways!" She spun on her heel, skirts swirling, and marched back towards her carriage, slamming the door behind her with an indignant huff.
Halona remained frozen by the window until the sleek black carriage had disappeared back down the snowy road before finally creaking the front door open a sliver. "Everything okay?"
Buck looked over, the hard planes of his face softening as his gaze met hers. "Everything's perfect. C'mon, we've got us a tree to find!" he called cheerfully, throwing his hands up in a grand gesture as the children came scampering back out.
The rest of the morning passed in a whirlwind of laughter and rosy-cheeked exertion as they trooped out to the small cluster of pines at the edge of Buck's land. Halona led a rousing chorus of carols as the buckboard bumped along, their voices ringing out in joyful harmony against the pristine winter backdrop.
It took nearly an hour of vigorous debate, with each member of the family emphatically casting their vote for the "perfect" tree, before Halona finally settled the dispute. Burrowing her hands deep into the pockets of Buck's oversized coat, she crunched through the fresh drifts towards a stately fir situated just beyond the others. As she circled it slowly, admiring the lush, fragrant branches and deep green hue, she knew this was the one.
The cold nipped at Buck's cheeks, a sharp sting that made his breath visible in the twilight. He swung the ax again, the bite of steel into frozen wood a familiar rhythm. "Well?" he shouted over the crunch of snow, his voice muffled by a knit scarf. "You see something you like?"
Halona stood a good distance away, snowflakes were beginning to stick to her dark hair, and in the fading light, she looked like a figure from a storybook. "Sure do," she replied. Her lips curved into a sly grin, and one eyebrow lifted in a silent challenge. Buck couldn't help but smile back. There was a spark between them, a warmth in the December chill.
Oblivious to the undercurrent of tension, Isaak and Megan darted through the snow-covered underbrush, their laughter ringing out crisp and clear in the winter air. Their breath puffed out in little clouds as they chased each other, dodging bare tree trunks and leaping over fallen branches.
Buck stood still, watching them intently. His eyes tracked their movements, drinking in every detail as if he were trying to etch the scene permanently into his mind. The way the weak winter sunlight caught Megan's hair, the sound of Isaak's whooping cry as he narrowly avoided his sister's outstretched hand. The contrast of their bright coats against the stark white of the snow.
A lump formed in Buck's throat, and he swallowed hard against the sudden wave of emotion. These were the good times, he realized. Simple moments of joy and innocence, untouched by the complications of adult life. He wanted to remember this scene when he was old and gray, when his joints ached and his memories were all he had left.
The cold nipped at his exposed skin, but Buck didn't move. He stood rooted to the spot, committing every sight, sound, and sensation to memory. The crunch of snow under the children's boots. The way the bare trees creaked softly in the light breeze. The crisp, clean scent of winter in the air.
As he watched his children play, Buck felt a bittersweet ache in his chest. Time was slipping by so quickly, and moments like these were precious and fleeting. He silently vowed to cherish them while he could, storing them up like treasures to revisit in the lonely days of old age.
What made the scene truly complete was Halona's presence beside him. She stood close enough that he could feel the warmth radiating from her body, a stark contrast to the chill air. Her eyes, too, were fixed on the children, a soft smile playing at the corners of her mouth.
With a final, satisfying crack, the tree Buck had been working on toppled. It was a beauty, its branches heavy with snow. He hauled it onto the sled, the weight of it a welcome warmth against his hands. As they made their way back to the wagon, the children's giggles carried on the wind, a cheerful melody that soothed the ache in his heart. Halona's hand brushed against his as they passed the reins, a fleeting touch that sent a shiver down his spine.
Wrapped in blankets, the four of them huddled together on the buckboard. Isaak and Megan sang off-key Christmas carols, Halona hummed along, her eyes closed, a serene expression on her face. Buck found himself watching her, the lines of her face softened by the soft glow of the lantern.
In that moment, with the family gathered around him, a sense of peace washed over Buck. It was a fragile hope, but it settled in his chest and warmed him from the inside out. Maybe, just maybe, they could weather whatever storms lay ahead together. As the wagon creaked its way home through the silent darkness, Buck held onto that feeling of hope and promise.