And the ranch seemed isolated from everything except the wind and the distant movement of cattle.
Gabriel rose before dawn to feed the animals.
Clara woke shortly afterward.
She dressed warmly.
Prepared coffee.
And began working on the small meal she'd planned for Christmas evening.
They didn't have many luxuries.
There was salted meat.
Potatoes.
Preserved fruit.
A little sugar.
And enough flour to make a special pudding.
Clara had hidden one surprise in the pantry.
A pair of knitted gloves.
She made them during the evenings while Gabriel worked in the barn.
The yarn was dark brown.
The stitches weren't perfect.
But she hoped they'd fit.
Gabriel had prepared something too.
He kept it hidden inside a small wooden box beneath his bed.
Neither knew about the other's gift.
By late afternoon, the house smelled of roasted meat and baked apples.
Snow pressed against the windowpanes.
The fire burned steadily.
And Jasper slept beneath the table, occasionally opening one eye when he smelled food.
They ate together.
For once, the conversation felt easy.
Gabriel told Clara about a Christmas from his childhood when his younger brother attempted to surprise the family by cooking breakfast and nearly set fire to the kitchen.
Clara laughed so hard she had to put down her fork.
Gabriel grinned.
"He insisted the stove was defective."
She wiped her eyes.
"Was it?"
"Not before he touched it."
She laughed again.
Gabriel watched her.
For a moment, he forgot the letters from Missouri.
Forgot the uncertainty.
Forgot the fear that their marriage might never become what he'd hoped.
He simply enjoyed hearing his wife laugh.
After supper, Clara cleared the plates.
Gabriel helped.
Then she approached him with a small wrapped package.
He looked surprised.
"What's this?"
She smiled nervously.
"Christmas."
Gabriel stared.
"For me?"
Clara laughed softly.
"Unless Jasper wants gloves."
The old hound lifted his head.
Gabriel smiled.
Then carefully opened the package.
He stared at the knitted gloves.
For several seconds, he didn't speak.
Clara felt suddenly embarrassed.
"They're not very fine. I only had the yarn I brought with me, and I wasn't certain about the size."
Gabriel picked one up.
Slipped it over his hand.
It fit perfectly.
He looked toward her.
"You made these?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
He turned his hand over.
Examined the stitches.
Then looked back at her.
For a moment, his expression changed.
He seemed almost overwhelmed.
"Clara."
She swallowed.
"Do you like them?"
Gabriel nodded.
"Very much."
She smiled.
He looked down at the gloves again.