Lost and Found

Chapter Eighteen

The holiday season arrived with another massive dumping of snow, making slow progress for Freddie and Charlie's house repairs. They'd gone over a week ago and had seen that the damage had been far more extensive than they'd first believed.

They needed to replace the floor in the master bedroom and parlor below, along with a new roof. However, the newly married couple seemed to take it all in stride and spent many of their evenings with Sawyer and his family, enjoying meals and frivolities as often as they could.

Thanksgiving and Christmas passed in laughter and utter delight for Paul and Kitty, who had not been able to celebrate the season for several years.

Lillian surprised the children with handmade gifts she lovingly made in secret. Kitty received a new rag doll with several changes of doll clothes and threw her little arms around Lillian's neck with such happy exuberance it had brought tears to Lillian's eyes.

For Paul, she'd struggled, wanting to give him something fitting for a boy leaving childhood in just a few months. She decided upon making him and Sawyer matching shirts. His chest had puffed up with pride as he grinned at her and stated softly, "Now I can look like Pa."

Sawyer bought her a new dress she'd admired in a catalog on a trip into town and a new pair of boots. Charlie had given her a new pair of gloves and a hat to match the dress.

Unsure of what Charlie and Freddie would like, Lillian snooped through a box in Charlie's old room and found a picture of Freddie stuffed in a book of romantic poetry. Sawyer then supplied her with two other pictures, one of him and the other of Charlie he'd tucked away, explaining they'd all gone to have a photo taken when a photographer came to town close to a decade ago.

Lillian found a silver locket and pocket watch in the catalog at the general store and placed the pictures within accordingly.

She was pleasantly surprised when Charlie gave her a tearful hug, claiming the gift was one of the best she'd ever received. Freddie had kissed Lillian's cheek and hugged her, smiling when emotion had prohibited him from speaking.

Sitting next to Sawyer, Lillian anxiously

watched as he removed the brown wrapping paper to reveal several new shirts and, at his request, a scarf. Grinning, he'd pulled her near for a fierce kiss and laughed when Paul made gagging noises between his giggling. It had all been magical for her, and she was sure the children had felt the same.

Later that night, snow fell outside their window as Lillian tucked her body against Sawyer's side, comforted by the steady beating of his heart against her ear while he sleepily caressed her arms and back. Peaceful contentment enveloped them as they lay on the bed in their room surrounded by love, completely sated.

She was able to reflect upon it all and smile. They tucked the children in their bed, and now she was safely wrapped in the arms of the man she loved.

Placing a drowsy kiss to Sawyer's sleeping mouth, she knew it was only the beginning of good things to come and looked forward to the New Year and all the excitement it would bring them.

"Just put that over there, Lily," Charlie directed from the pile of crates stacked in the front room, before carrying a small pile of bed linens upstairs.

After numerous delays and issues over the past couple of months, the work on the house was complete. Charlie had threatened to use physical violence if needed to get the problems resolved on time and had been more than surprised when Freddie had told her they'd be able to move in within the week.

Lillian arrived early that morning to begin helping unpack all the crates the men had brought over yesterday.

Sawyer took Paul and Kitty to town to get a few necessary supplies for the cattle drive that was only two weeks away. Then they'd be over to take her home.