"You're going to keep me from retirement, young lady," the doctor teased after he stitched her up. "Burns, black eyes, knife wounds ...what's next?"

     "I've never actually broken anything," Kate smiled through her pain.

     "Try to schedule that for after the holidays, would you?"

     "Why's that, Doc?" Joshua asked helping Kate into Clancey's coat.

     "I'm heading to Walla Walla to visit my folks for Christmas. I haven't seen them in some time and they're getting on in years."

     "You won't be gone long will you?" Joshua asked.

     "A few weeks maybe but don't worry, I'll be back. Seattle is more exciting than Walla Walla any day. They may have a railroad but we have our own Hurricane."

     "What'll we do without you?" Kate asked ignoring his comment.

     "Well, if anyone needs a midwife I'm telling them to call Joshua here."

     "Sorry, Doc," Joshua grinned. "I'm through delivering babies. I'll leave that to you and Lottie!"

      "That's what I thought. Oh well, maybe I can pick up an assistant in Walla Walla."

      Kate jumped down off the examining table and rolled down the sleeve of her blouse. Joshua looked over at her and then back at the doc. "Katie should probably stay quiet tonight and rest that arm of hers shouldn't she?"

     Richard looked up just in time to see his patient shoot a look at the logger that might have killed a lesser man.  He chuckled as he put away his instruments. "Joshua, as far as I know there is no power on earth that can stop a hurricane from its path. If Katie can stay put and relatively still she'll recuperate just as well in a chair at Lottie's as she can from her bed."

      Katie arched her eyebrows in triumph, daring Joshua to argue with the doctor's logic. Joshua just shook his head. She always got her way. How did she do that?

     Joshua drove Kate back to the dormitory and made her promise him that she would rest before the party. She gave him that promise if he promised to check in on the Indian family before nightfall.

      Joshua's next stop was the saloon. Jason, Clancey and Lottie were the only ones still waiting for him. The others had dispersed to their homes to prepare for the festivities.

     "What took you so long, Joshua?" Lottie asked from behind the bar.

     "Had to find the perfect tree and perfection takes time," the young man replied carrying the tree in over his broad shoulder. He wanted to tell them all about his adventure but Kate had sworn him to secrecy.

      "It is perfect," Lottie agreed.

     "The best one we've ever had," Jason declared as he helped his brother set his load down near the piano.

      Josh smiled, "You say that every year, Jason."

     "Well, it's true every year."

      Joshua brushed off his jacket as he headed for the door.

     "Aren't you going to help us decorate it?" Lottie asked.

     "I have a few things to do before tonight. I'll see you all later."

     Joshua returned to the sleigh and drove back up the mountain to move the Indian family into the old Bolt cabin. When he arrived at the place they had camped he discovered that the teepee had been moved. There was evidence that several horses had been in the area. The tribe must have returned for the mother and her children. Joshua followed the trail to be certain but after twenty minutes he gave up the search and returned home to his warm cabin for dinner.

     Over in the dormitory, Candy and Biddie sat in Candy's room discussing the new life Biddie was enjoying. Biddie's first two weeks of married life had been an adventure. The two laughed themselves silly over her mistakes in the kitchen. Biddie had been so used to cooking for a dormitory full of girls that she neglected to adjust her recipes to the needs of two people. The Websters ate their first romantic supper for three days straight.

      "There is just so much to learn about married life," Biddie sighed. "My Aunt Irene never told me half of what I needed to know."

     "Barnabus is a patient man," her friend assured her. "Besides, I'll bet he doesn't know all there is to know about marriage either."

     "That's true," Biddie's eyes sparkled. "Oh, Candy, being a wife is so much fun and so...so...well, I just can't seem to find the words to describe it. I can't wait until you and Jeremy are married too."

     "Either can I, " Candy said softly. "I've pictured our wedding in my mind so often that sometimes I fool myself into believing we're already married."

     "In a few months you will be, and then, oh, what good times we'll have!"

      Christopher came running into the room and plopped himself down on his sister's bed. "Jeremy and Barnabus are downstairs. They want to take us over to the party."

      "Now?" Candy looked at the small clock on her nightstand. "Biddie, we've been talking for two hours and I'm not ready. Christopher, go down and tell Jeremy I'll be there soon."

     The eleven-year-old rolled his eyes, he's not going to believe me."

     Candy pushed him out the door with a smile, "Well, tell him anyway and give him a big kiss for me."

     "What?!" His eyes widened in amazement as Candy shut the door on him and Biddie giggled herself breathless.

      Christopher raced down the stairs, stood in the parlor door where the gentlemen waited and exclaimed, "Biddie's ready, Candy's not but she will be soon and she said something else but no one can make me so I'm going to Aunt Lottie's right now."

      With that he struggled into his coat, pulled his cap over his ears, raced to the door and shot out across the square.

      "What did he say?" Jeremy asked.

      "It sounds as if we're going to have a short wait," Barnabus guessed.

      The men took a seat in the comfortable chairs near the roaring fire and discussed the events of the day while Candy raced around making herself beautiful for her fiancé.

      Over at Lottie's the children's party was gathering steam. The fiddlers had finished tuning their instruments and were ready to play the night away. The children grazed their way from one pile of sweets to another after being assured by the hostess that this special night and all it offered, was for them.

      The adults gathered together to chat while keeping an eye on the youngsters. They often raised a cup of rum punch to toast one another's health with a joy that was contagious. Even staid Aaron Stempel looked as though he was having a good time passing out cider to the children.

      "Having fun, Aaron?" Lottie asked with a grin, right after one small reveler spilled the contents of her glass all over the businessman's new shoes.

     Aaron grimaced as he lifted his feet out of the sticky puddle, but when he saw tears welling up in young Sarah's eyes, he bent down to her level and smiled.

      "No harm done," he said softly as he wiped away the mess with a bar towel. "Miss Miller, would you allow me to refill your glass?"

      The six-year-old wiped away her tears, as he took the glass from her. Her blue eyes could not have gotten any wider as she watched Mr. Stempel fill her empty cup almost to the brim then return it safely into her chubby grasp. Little Sarah remembered to curtsey politely before she dashed off to hide behind her mother's skirt.

     "You've made her evening, Aaron" Lottie chuckled. "You'll be the talk of the playground for weeks."

     "Can't have tears at a Christmas party," Aaron smiled.

      Just then Biddie and Barnabus appeared at the door bearing presents for the children. Biddie had spent many hours knitting small purses for the girls and small bags for holding marbles for the boys. The children crowded around them excitedly.

     As soon as she saw the couple at the door, Ann called out to them.

     "Look over your heads!" They did and saw the mistletoe Jeremy had placed there.

     "No one comes through that door tonight unless they are kissed," the dark haired young lady teased.

     "Well, rules are rules." Barnabus said as he removed his hat. "May I, Mrs. Webster?"

     "Oh, yes indeedy, Mr. Webster," Biddie giggled.

     A cheer rose up from the crowd as the newest of the newlyweds shared a kiss. Jeremy and Candy were next through the door.

      "Admission price is one kiss per couple," Ann announced again.

      Laughter filled the room when Jeremy turned around abruptly and walked back out onto the porch. Candy just as abruptly turned him around again and received her kiss.

      After this, Lottie and Jason led the children in a lively game of musical chairs. When that was over and everyone was thoroughly winded, Captain Clancey made his appearance at the top of the staircase.

      "Ho, Ho, Ho! It's Father Christmas himself, it is," Clancey called out.

      Lottie groaned. With that brogue the children were sure to guess who he was. She looked around her. If the little ones had guessed it didn't seem bother them in the least. They clambered around him joyfully throwing their arms about his legs. What did they care if he sounded like their friend the captain and smelled of the sea? Father Christmas had found them in the wilds of Seattle and he was loaded down with peppermint sticks and toys!

************************

     A persistent, rhythmic tapping at her door woke Kate from her nap. She glanced out the window and saw the moon peeking at her through the curtains.

     "The party!"

     The girl sat up quickly and almost fainted.

     "Slowly, Macready, slowly," she told herself as she made her way to the door.

     Joshua stood smiling at her in the hallway. "Hey, are you coming to Lottie's or not?"

     "I'm coming. Give me ten minutes. Is anyone else still here?"

     "Nope, the place is deserted. They all think you're working on your paper."

     "I'm dedicated but not that dedicated," she laughed. "I slept longer than I thought I would, but I feel much better now, really."

     "I'll be keeping my eye on you." Joshua warned. "If I see you running around getting interviews it's back to the dormitory for you. Deal?"

     "You are sounding more like Jason every day," she smiled. "It's a deal. I'll be down in a minute."

     Kate closed the door on him. She had just turned away when she was stopped by another knock. "Josh..."

     He surprised her by taking her in his arms and kissing her right there in the doorway.

     "What if someone came up..."

     "Couldn't help myself. See you downstairs, love."

      Kate's smile sprang up from the depth of her soul as she watched him descend the staircase. Her father had always told her that someday a special man would come into her life and her heart would belong to him forever. If only she could promise herself to Joshua completely everything would be perfect, but that she couldn't do, not just yet.