Christmas Surprise Read online

  Paisley Kirkpatrick

  Christmas Surprise

  This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

  CHRISTMAS SURPRISE

  First edition. March 4, 2019.

  Copyright © 2019 Paisley Kirkpatrick.

  ISBN: 978-1386859208

  Written by Paisley Kirkpatrick.

  Also by Paisley Kirkpatrick

  Northwoods

  Christmas Surprise

  Love's Embrace

  Frontier Cowboy

  Smugglers' Roost

  Permanently Yours

  Farewell Doesn't Mean Forever (Coming Soon)

  Paradise Pines

  Marriage Bargain

  Forever After

  Night Angel

  Broken Promise

  One-Eyed Charly

  Stealing Her Heart

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Also By Paisley Kirkpatrick

  Dedication

  Christmas Surprise

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Epilogue

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  Also By Paisley Kirkpatrick

  About the Author

  Dedication

  Special thanks to the supportive people of Tomahawk, Wisconsin, who've welcomed me into their community as 'The Book Lady'. With special thanks to Larry and Debi Winkelman for opening The Cheese Shoppe to a wine and cheese soiree book signing for two of my book releases. A special thank you to my family in Tomahawk for all of their support and help since we've moved to town.

  Thanks to my husband Ken for being understanding of the long hours I've spent shut away in my office.

  Julie Thayer, thank you for your 'just an idea' email that sent thunderbolts through my muse and started my ideas for this Northwoods Series.

  Hugs to Jim and Karen Richards who come up with great story ideas each time we visit one the many cafes and restaurants in the Tomahawk area.

  Bill Scarborough you give me encouragement and never-ending patience in writing my stories. Thank you for being at my fingertips.

  Thank you Gail R. Delaney and Jenifer McConnell Ranieri for making me part of the Desert Breeze Publishing family. I'm so glad I met your father, Hank Hughes, when I read your book, Feel My Love, Gail. I knew he must be the heart of this series. Thank you for giving me permission to use his persona as the owner of Howling Hank's Trading Post.

  Christmas Surprise

  This work is copyrighted © as of 2015 by Paisley Kirkpatrick

  The cover design is copyrighted © by Gwen Phifer

  All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording or by any information retrieval and storage system without permission of the publisher.

  Ebooks are not transferrable, either in whole or in part. As the purchaser or otherwise lawful recipient of this ebook, you have the right to enjoy the novel on your own computer or other device. Further distribution, copying, sharing, gifting or uploading is illegal and violates United States Copyright laws.

  Pirating of ebooks is illegal. Criminal Copyright Infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, may be investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is punishable by up to five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

  Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination, or are used in a fictitious situation. Any resemblances to actual events, locations, organizations, incidents or persons – living or dead – are coincidental and beyond the intent of the author.

  Chapter One

  Howling Hank's Trading Post

  Northwoods, Wisconsin

  October 1856

  "Daddy!"

  Hank Hughes saw the panic filling his youngest daughter's face the moment before she slammed against his midsection. "Whoa, slow down." He didn't like the sound of her wheezing. He held her away until she caught her breath, and then checked to make sure nothing was broken or bleeding.

  "What's wrong, Gabriella."

  The six-year-old wrapped her arms around his waist. "Caroline is dying!" Tears flowed down her cheeks.

  Hank hugged his little girl and kissed the top of her head.

  He broke loose from Gabby's embrace and knelt in front of her. "Tell me what happened."

  "I don't know. Sissy told me to come get you."

  "Where is she?"

  "In the barn."

  Hank wiped the few remaining tears off her flushed cheek with the back of his hand. "I promise Caroline will be good as new. Thank you for letting me know she's hurt."

  He stood. "You go into the kitchen and stay with Lottie until I see to your sister. If someone comes in and needs me, you know where I'll be."

  "All right, Daddy. Can I ask Lottie for a cookie, please?"

  "Sure," he held up his finger, "but just one."

  She gave him a quick smile before she skipped toward the kitchen. How could Caroline scare her sister like that?

  He watched Gabby as she left, then his attention returned to his oldest child. He walked behind the bar and grabbed the medical box.

  Hank left the lodge and walked across the courtyard to patch Caroline up for the second time this week. Frankly, he was tired of her antics. She'd taken her mother's death harder than the other children, so he'd given her more leeway to come to grips with their tragedy. Now her dramatics had scared Gabriella.

  "Step aside." He moved the few onlookers away from the barn's entrance and saw Caroline sitting below the loft in a pile of hay. She looked a mess with her long dark hair cascading over her shoulders. He knelt and set the box next to his knee. "What's the matter this time?"

  "I fell."

  He stared into her golden-brown eyes so like his mother's. "Don't lie to me, Caroline."

  She brushed strands of hair away from her face. "All right. If you want the truth, I jumped off the hayloft and scratched my arm." She showed him the injury.

  Blood seeped from a jagged three-inch gash along the underside of her arm.

  "You get this from a nail?"

  She nodded. "It hurts."

  "I imagine it does. It needs cleaning." Hank glanced at the stable boy standing beside her. "Tell Spike I need his bottle of whiskey."

  Caroline jerked her arm back. "No, Daddy, please don't put that horrid stuff on my cut."

  "I'm sorry, but it's necessary to clean out the gash."

  "No, it's fine now." She started to get up.

  Hank put his hand on her shoulder. "You sit still until I say you can leave. The rusty nails up there are old and crusted with God knows what. They can cause a serious infect
ion."

  Spike approached them and held out his bottle of booze. "You need this?"

  Hank nodded.

  Spike pulled the stopper out of the top of the bottle and handed it to Hank.

  "Thanks, I don't need much." He held his daughter's hand as he poured a sufficient amount of alcohol over the wound.

  Caroline screamed. Her chin trembled, but she didn't shed one single tear.

  He bit his lower lip. His heart broke at seeing one his children in pain, but he had no other choice. He almost took a swig of the whiskey to settle his nerves, but fought the urge and handed the bottle back to Spike.

  Hank pulled a clean cloth from the box and dabbed the blood and whiskey off her arm. "I want you to be careful you don't get dirt or anything filthy from the inside of the barn on your wound." He picked up a sticky plaster and placed it over the top of the gash. "I'm serious about you following my orders, young lady. I've seen what can happen if you don't keep it clean and, trust me, it isn't pleasant."

  "I'm sorry I worried you, Daddy."

  "I wish I could believe you, Caroline, but your actions of late tell me otherwise." He helped her to her feet and grasped her by the uninjured arm. "You come with me."

  She didn't resist him this time. He hoped it was because she'd finally come to her senses, but doubted it. They walked across the quadrant to the lodge without saying a word. He opened the door and followed her inside the main room.

  Gabriella ran toward them. "Are you all right, sissy?"

  Caroline patted her sister's head. "Yes, I am. Thank you for telling Daddy I needed him."

  The little girl rocked back on her heels and grinned. "I'm glad you didn't die like Mama."

  Caroline lifted Gabriella's chin. "I love you, little one." She leaned down and kissed her cheek.

  "You find something to do, Gabby. I need to talk to Caroline for a while."

  Gabriella danced away.

  Hank led his eldest to his private office. "Take a seat." He motioned toward a chair on the opposite of his desk. "We had a discussion about your behavior less than a week ago, did we not?"

  Caroline slumped onto the chair. "You know we did, Daddy."

  He closed the door and took his seat. "Enough with the sass, girl. I've hired a governess to teach you and your sisters some manners and more schooling."

  Caroline jumped to her feet. "I'm almost nineteen years old and don't need someone telling me what to do."

  Hank slammed his palms against the top of his sturdy oak desk. "Sit down!"

  She didn't move.

  The two of them locked gazes. He took his glasses off and tossed them on his desk. "I said, sit down." He leaned toward her. "Now!"

  She plopped back onto the chair.

  Hank took a deep breath and put the glasses back on. "You and your sisters no longer abide by the lessons your mother tirelessly taught you. It's my fault for letting you run wild since she died, but you are now of an age where you need to use restraint in your actions." He took a piece of paper from his top desk drawer. "Miss Vellechamp will continue with what your mother taught you."

  He ran his index finger down the information on the acceptance letter. "Miss Genevieve Vellechamp will arrive from San Francisco, California." Hank read through the rest of her long list of traveling itinerary. "Ah, here it is, sometime during the next week or so, depending on the weather."

  Caroline crossed her arms. "No! I won't listen to some old bitty who thinks she knows everything. I've learned enough from Mama."

  He pushed the paper to the side of his desk. "It's too late. She'll be here soon and I expect that you'll show her respect."

  "You've changed, Daddy." Caroline got up and walked to the door. She opened it, but paused a moment. "You used to be fun and play with us. Now all you do is raise your voice and make unfair demands." She left the room and closed the door behind her with a loud bang.

  Hank stared at the empty seat across from him and shook his head. He would let Caroline calm down a while before he reasoned with her. Unfortunately for them both, they were much too alike.

  He got up and left his office. His wife always took care of confrontations between him and their daughters. Isabella did it with patience and calmness. She never raised her voice. He on the other hand, didn't have her gentle ways and consistently upset his children.

  Hank entered the main room and glanced up at the oil painting of Isabella. Her portrait graced the room from its place over the rock fireplace's mantel. The same deep cold he'd grown used to since she'd passed away filled him once again. Tears rimmed his eyes. Two years had passed and his children needed more of him than he could give. He knew Caroline's so-called accidents were her way of begging for his attention. He wanted to be a good father to all six of his daughters, but didn't know how to do it without their mother.

  It was time to grab wood for tonight's fire. A brisk wind whipped the leaves off the white birch trees growing behind the lodge and sent a shiver through him. Winter would arrive early this year.

  He hurried to the lean-to where they stored the lodge's wood supply and picked up the ax. After splitting enough kindling to last almost a week, Hank dropped the pieces into a bucket. He grabbed several logs, took the handle of the bucket, and headed toward the lodge.

  As Hank approached the back door, Madeleine swung it open. "Hello, Daddy."

  "Thank you, Maddie. I appreciate the help."

  His twelve-year-old daughter moved aside and let him pass into the main room. Firewood fell from his arms into the metal bin on the rock hearth. The kindling fit into the large copper container on the floor.

  "Can I help?"

  Hank smiled at his daughter. "You can grab the tin can off the mantel." He set the kindling and laid a few of the smaller logs on top.

  Maddie pulled a wooden match from the tin and handed it to him. "Thank you. Step back while Daddy lights the wood." He scratched the tip across a rock on the hearth and touched the flame to the tinder.

  In a few moments, the fire came to life and soon warmth pushed dampness from the air.

  The front door swung open. Danielle hurried toward him. "Daddy, there are two lights shining across the lake."

  Hank sighed. Would this day never end? He picked up the screen and shoved it in front of the fire. "Stay here with your sisters and let Caroline know I had to leave in a hurry."

  He hung his pouch around his neck, and pulled his badger skin hat on. "You behave while I'm gone."

  He rushed out the door and hurried across the quadrant toward the barn. His stable boy already had Rebel saddled and ready to ride. Hank pulled his key ring from his breeches pocket and unlocked the gun cabinet. He pulled out his rifle and shoved ammunition into the pouch.

  "Get Matthias to answer the signal."

  "I've already lit the lanterns, Hank."

  "Thanks, Jimmy."

  Hank shoved the rifle into its sheath on his saddle and led his horse out of the barn. He mounted and kept a tight hold on the reins until after they passed through the rear gate and rode across the bridge. With a free head, Rebel took off and raced across the dirt trails.

  The cool wind whipped around him. He pulled the collar of his coat up and tilted his head down. Hank usually loved the freedom of the wind rushing past him, but two signal lights meant trouble. His stomach clenched at what awaited him.

  When he reached the established meeting place, Hank pulled Rebel to a halt and dismounted. He grabbed his rifle and extinguished the two signal lanterns positioned on a rock easily seen from his trading post. "Show yourself."

  "It's Michel Martel, Hank. I have Luc with me and he's hurt." His brother-in-law stepped out of the brush.

  Hank shook his hand. "Take me to him."

  They pushed through the brush until reaching a clear area where the nineteen-year-old lay. Blood seeped through his tattered buckskin breeches. "What the hell happened, Luc?"

  "We were at Lake Michigan taking a few logs from the jam when more slammed through the flume and hit the
water almost on top of me."

  Michel stood next to Hank. "We got him out as fast as we could, but not quick enough. Along with the bruise on the side of his head, his thighs are full of slivers and severely bruised."

  "How could you put the boy into a dangerous situation, Michel? We agreed Luc would not be part of your smuggling operation."

  "I'm not a boy."

  Hank ignored Luc's outburst. "Where's the blood comin' from? His legs broke?"

  "Not as far as I can tell. They have some gashes though, and have already started to swell."

  "Dammit, Michel, he could have been killed." Hank knelt in front of Luc and pulled open the torn buckskin. He flinched at seeing the small pieces of wood lodged into the black and blue flesh.

  "As you can see, I'm still alive."

  "Yes, Luc, you are and I'm thankful for that, but next time you may not be so lucky."

  "Calm down, Hank. He's a tough one."

  Hank stood. "Why'd you bring him back this way, Michel? You could've gotten him to Sault Ste. Marie and the family ranch quicker than bringing him here."

  "Gervais and a couple of his Mountie friends are visiting with our folks right now. You know the kind of questions they'd be asking about what Luc was doing to get hurt. I couldn't take the chance of my brother uncovering our night raids."

  "Can you ride as far as the trading post, Luc?"

  He held his chin up. "Help me to my feet."

  Hank recognized the stubborn determination reflecting from Luc's eyes and knew it would be futile to argue with the boy. He might as well help him mount his horse and get him to the lodge as soon as possible. Hank held out both hands, but Luc only grabbed one to pull himself to his feet. He walked with stoic determination to his horse and mounted without help. "Let's go."

  Hank glanced at Michel. "You heard the boy."

  "Stop calling me a boy, Hank."

  Luc was right. "Excuse me for not recognizing you've grown into a strong man."

  Hank and Michel mounted. They rode back to the post at a pace Luc could handle with the jostle of his horse. When they reached the rear entrance, Hank dismounted and opened the gate. Michel and Luc rode inside and headed toward the back of the lodge. Hank closed and secured the gate before he motioned for Jimmy to come and take Rebel.