MERRY CHRISTMAS! . . . Excerpts From My Latest Novel

My latest novel, My Hope Secured, featured scenes of two family Christmases. One Christmas celebration depicted Hannah Bramwell at her brother’s home in Oregon City. The other showed Zeke Pershing at his father’s farmhouse outside of town. Neither character enjoyed their holiday festivities.

Here is a description of Hannah’s Christmas:

Christmas dinner in the Bramwell home was a somber affair. Charity and the two boys were cranky after eating too many sweets from their stockings, and even Faith’s mood was subdued. Alice looked peevish as she carried the turkey and mashed potatoes to the table. Jacob’s blessing went on so long the food was cold by the time they turned to their plates.
They ate mostly in silence, though Alice eyed Hannah and seemed to want to say something. Once, Alice opened her mouth as if to speak, but Jacob shook his head at her. She shut her mouth again.
Hannah felt the tension between her brother and his wife. Had they argued over her? If so, did Jacob want her to stay? Or was Jacob simply trying to preserve family peace for the holiday and he’d raise the topic of her departure tomorrow? She wished again she’d known of his marriage to Alice before she’d left Cincinnati—though how could she have stayed in Jane’s house with Charles leering at her daily?
It seemed Jacob only cared to keep the argument from spoiling the holiday meal. In the afternoon, as they sat quietly in the parlor, he told her again, “Ships departing every week for California. Not on a regular schedule, but you could book passage and be ready to go when the boat docks in Portland.”
“Are they coming as far as Portland now? I disembarked last fall in Astoria.”
Jacob nodded. “Portland is overtaking Astoria as the primary port in Oregon. The Columbia River is treacherous, but navigable by ocean-going vessels. Most captains are eager to get their cargo as close to the customer as possible. Makes my life as a storekeeper easier.”
Hannah hoped he would move on from the topic of her departure, but he continued, “I’ll see which ships are likely to arrive here in January.”
Furious, Hannah stood. “Why are you in such a hurry to see me leave? I won’t go before the school term ends. Faith and I’ll head back to the McDougall claim in the morning.”
“Your school is on holiday until after the New Year.”
“I can work on lesson preparations.”
“What if I want Faith to stay in Oregon City?”
“She’s your daughter. You have that right. But I’m returning to the claim tomorrow. Alone if I have to.” Hannah marched into the small room she shared with Faith and Charity, unwilling to tolerate her brother’s displeasure any longer.

* * * * *

And here is Zeke’s:

Zeke rode to his father’s house for Christmas dinner, arriving about noon. The smell of roast venison wafted from the cabin as he led his sorrel Red into an empty barn stall. His little brother Noah entered the barn behind Zeke. “Can I ride your horse?” the boy asked.
“I just unsaddled him,” Zeke said. “He needs his Christmas dinner, like you and me.”
“Can I feed him?”
Zeke took a carrot out of his saddlebag and handed it to Noah. The seven year old fed it to the gelding, crooning as he did so.
“Why are you outside?” Zeke asked.
“Mother Amanda sent me out. Said I was too noisy. But I ain’t as loud as Henry”—referring to their stepbrother—“nor as fractious as Frankie.”
“That young’un does cry a lot.”
“He sure do. And I usually get blamed for it, when I ain’t done nothing.”
“Maybe you can sneak back in with me. She can hardly keep me outside—I’m a visitor.” Zeke frowned at his brother. “Where’s your coat? It’s cold.”
“She ain’t given me no time to fetch it. Just shooed me out the door.”
Esther and her family arrived as Zeke and Noah left the barn. Zeke lifted Jonah and Cordelia out of the wagon, while Daniel took baby Sammy and helped Esther climb down the wheel. She moved awkwardly, though her pregnancy still had months to go.
“Why are you outside?” Esther asked Noah, who went through his story again.
Esther’s lips thinned. “That woman,” she muttered, as they all entered the cabin.
The smells of food made Zeke’s mouth water, but he winced at the din inside. Noah hadn’t exaggerated—Frankie bawled, while Henry made faces at him. Mother Amanda shouted for someone to tend to the toddler, but the girls had their arms full of dishes they carried to the table.
Esther picked up Frankie and cuddled him. “He’s the only thing I like that’s come from that witch,” she whispered to Zeke. He patted his sister’s shoulder, then went to sit beside his father near the hearth.
“Merry Christmas, Pa.”
“Merry Christmas, son.” Franklin smiled—a boozy smile, Zeke thought.
“You started the Christmas cheer already?”
“Only way to tolerate the day, my boy. Want some?” Franklin pulled a flask out of his pocket.
Zeke took a surreptitious swig. “Thought you’d laid off the drink.”
“Christmas is a special occasion.” His father beckoned to Daniel and handed him the flask also. “Good to see you, boy. How’s your pa?”
Zeke shook his head. His father must have been drinking awhile to ask after Daniel’s father—Pa and Samuel Abercrombie had been at loggerheads ever since they met.
“We’re headed there for supper with Ma and Pa,” Daniel said. “Ma’s upset we’re having the noon meal here. I suppose next year Esther and me should host everyone, so’s not to cause trouble between our families.”
“No trouble here, Daniel.” Pa gave another sloppy grin.
The meal dragged on forever. His stepmother hadn’t scrimped on food, and Esther brought bowls of beans and potatoes as well. When it came time for cakes and pies, Zeke could hardly manage a slice of each.
The twins had no difficulty eating—they helped themselves to seconds of everything and dared each other to eat the most pie. Finally, Jonathan retched and bolted outside. Zeke got up to follow his brother, but Esther said, “Let him go. He done it to himself.”
Zeke went after Jonathan anyway, and found the boy upchucking his meal. “Maybe a little more caution next time, huh?”
“I’m gonna die,” the boy moaned. “It’s David’s fault.”
Zeke grinned and returned to the house. Esther met him at the door. “Those boys are running wild,” she said, hands on her hips. “They don’t listen to anyone. Neither Pa nor Mother Amanda looks after ’em at all. They respect you—you should do something.”
“Hah!” Zeke said. “They don’t respect me any more’n they do anyone else. They’ll learn about life the hard way, like Joel’n me did.”
“You and me, Zeke, we’re the only ones who care. Ever since Ma died, it’s just been us.” Esther sniffed. “I can’t do no more. I’ll have three of my own soon, plus Jonah. You need to handle the twins.”
Zeke hadn’t meant to say anything on Christmas, but Esther’s bossiness stoked his ire. “Pa can handle ’em. I won’t be here. I’m going to find Joel on the Rogue River!”
“You’re leaving?” she shrieked so the whole house could hear.
“Where you going, son?” Pa asked.
He couldn’t back down now. “I’ve decided to follow Joel. Try my luck prospecting.”
“But your farm!” Pa stood unsteadily. “What’ll happen to your land?”
“Government won’t let me keep it all anyway. I’ll start over in the south.”
“Don’t go, Zeke!” Noah threw his arms around Zeke’s waist. “I don’t want you to go.”
Little Frankie started to wail. That clinched it. “I’m leaving as soon as I can pull my kit together,” Zeke said.

* * * * *

Wherever you are this Christmas season, I hope you enjoy your holiday more than Hannah and Zeke did!