The Christmas Vow (21 page)

Tia stared at the box in his hand, but didn’t ask what was in it as they finished the walk to the school.

Adam opened the door and waited while Tia and Toby stepped inside out of the cold. The three of them stood at the back of the classroom while all eyes turned their direction.

Alex smiled and hurried toward them. “Oh, I’m so glad you came.” She hugged Tia and Toby then placed a hand on Adam’s arm. “I’ve been telling the students about your work, Adam. They are quite interested to hear more about it from you.”

Adam helped Tia remove her coat then took off his, leaving them on hooks by the door. He picked up the things he’d brought along and followed Alex to the front of the room.

“Class, please welcome Mr. Guthry. I think most of you know him. For those who do not, Adam is my husband’s brother.” Alex smiled at him and motioned for Adam to take a seat at her desk.

He shook his head and remained standing in front of it. “Hello, students.”

“Hello, Mr. Guthry.” The class smiled at him, eager to discover more about his work.

Adam talked about how he came to be a pilot on the river, about the dangers involved, and the long hours he worked. He used Toby’s picture book to show them the different types of vessels he guided from the bar on the coast to Portland and ports further inland.

“Have you ever been in a shipwreck?” Tom Grove asked from his seat at the back of the room.

“I have, Tom. Experience doesn’t make it any easier.”

“Did you get hurt?” A little girl in the front row asked.

Adam smiled at her and nodded his head. “I sure did.”

“Did you get any scars?” Percy Bruner asked from his seat beside Anna Jenkins.

“I’ve picked up a few,” Adam said.

Tia had noticed several scars Adam didn’t have as a young man. She assumed the nasty scar on his back and the long, thin line that crossed his mid-section, as if something had attempted to gut him, came from his work. However, she never imagined he’d been in a shipwreck.

“Can we see one?” another boy asked.

“Class, I don’t think…” Alex stepped forward but Adam gave her a look that let her know he didn’t mind their questions.

Adam rolled up his shirtsleeve to reveal his bicep and showed them a jagged scar across the flesh.

“What happened?” Anna Jenkins asked with round eyes.

“The steam engine blew up in a ship I was on. I woke up in the hospital a little worse for wear, but happy to be alive.” Ready to change the subject, Adam picked up the two lengths of rope he’d brought along and showed the students how to tie several knots. He invited Toby to the front of the room and asked the little boy to demonstrate his knot-tying skill.

Toby beamed with pride as Adam complimented him on tying a perfect knot.

“Many times, the boats I pilot carry cargo from faraway places,” Adam said, digging into the box he picked up at the mercantile. He’d asked Aleta to fill it with a variety of imported spices. He lifted a stick of cinnamon. Closing his eyes, he held it beneath his nose and sniffed, then handed it to one of the children in the front row to pass around the room.

“One of my favorite things about the cargo ships is being able to smell the spices. Did you know cinnamon comes from a type of evergreen with a soft bark? It is originally from a small island near India, but the Egyptians imported cinnamon from China. Ancient Romans held cinnamon sacred. I’ve even read that Emperor Nero burned a year’s supply of cinnamon at his wife’s funeral.”

Engaged by the story, the students passed around the cinnamon while Adam lifted a knobby root from the box.

“Ginger was first cultivated by the Chinese and growers in India. It was one of the spices that led to the opening of spice trade routes.” Adam passed around the root then lifted out a few star-shaped spices. He held them in the palm of his hand as he walked around the room. “Star anise is the fruit of a small tree native to China. The seedpods give the fruit its distinctive shape.”

He showed them nutmeg, cloves, and bay leaves then grinned as he pulled a peppermint stick from the box. “Peppermint is a cross between watermint and spearmint. The plant is indigenous to Europe and the Middle East, although it can grow most anywhere. Mint leaves can be used for tea or to garnish a fancy meal.” Adam looked at Tia and winked. “The oil from the leaves can also be extracted and used for a number of purposes. My favorite use is peppermint sticks.”

Adam passed around a tin of candy and each student received a peppermint stick.

He nodded to Alex and she stepped beside him. “Well, class, wasn’t that wonderful of Mr. Guthry to bring you all a treat?”

“Thank you, Mr. Guthry,” the students said in unison.

“You’re welcome.” Adam picked up Toby’s book and the rope he’d brought along. “A word of caution — do not practice tying knots on anything but a piece of old string or rope. You might end up out in the woodshed if you do. Toby and I discovered that the hard way.”

Tia blushed as he stared at her and the older students laughed. Adam helped her on with her coat, tugged on his own then waved to Alex and the students as they stepped outside.

Toby skipped along beside them, sucking on his peppermint stick.

“Where’s your candy, Mrs. Guthry?” Adam asked as they strolled toward the center of town. He popped a piece from a broken peppermint stick into his mouth.

“I didn’t take a piece, but it was so kind of you to buy candy for the class, Adam.” A saucy grin highlighted her high cheekbones as she glanced at her husband. “I’m sure Alex will appreciate all those sticky hands and faces. You certainly know how to endear yourself to the relatives, don’t you?”

Adam sucked on the candy in his mouth. “Don’t you remember how hard it was to sit in class and pay attention the week before Christmas. We would have welcomed any kind of interruption, especially one that involved candy.”

“Agreed.” Tia squeezed his burly upper arm with both hands, unsettled by the strength she felt through his coat sleeve. Hastily shifting her thoughts away from his physique, she smiled at Toby as he ran ahead and glanced back at them. “Where did you learn so much about all those different spices?”

“Oh, you pick up tidbits here and there,” Adam said, waving for Toby to draw closer as the boy raced ahead of them. “When I’m not out on a boat, I do a little reading.”

“I have a hard time picturing you quietly sitting in a parlor reading a book. I don’t think you can sit still for that long.”

Adam grinned. “Maybe I don’t have quite as many ants in my pants now that I’m all grown up.”

“And who says you’ve finally grown up?” Tia teased. “From what I’ve seen, you’re only marginally more mature than you were at sixteen.”

“Is that so?” Adam’s look held an appealing mixture of mischief and mirth, causing Tia to be instantly wary of him. She started to pull away, but he stopped on the boardwalk and wrapped his arms around her. Much to her surprise, he licked her cheek with his candy-coated tongue.

Thrilled by his playfulness but unwilling to show it, she grimaced and tugged a handkerchief from her pocket, scrubbing at her sticky cheek. “My word, Adam. Must you?”

“I must, Queenie,” he said, winking at her as he took her arm and they continued on their way.

Toby spied Erin waving from the window of her mother’s store across the street and skipped that direction.

Before Adam or Tia could tell him to be careful, a man darted from around the corner of the building and snatched Toby, turning to run back down the alley.

Tia screamed while Adam took off running after him.

Not one to stand around in hysterics, she picked up her skirts and ran to the sheriff’s office. The door banged against the wall as she rushed inside, terrified and out of breath.

“That man,” she gasped, forcing herself to speak between gulps of air. “The one from the skating party. He took Toby.”

The sheriff lunged to his feet and grabbed his coat, yanking it on as he hurried out the door with Tia right behind him.

“Which way did he go?” he asked as they crossed the street.

“Down the alley by Abby’s shop.” Tia watched as the sheriff sprinted past the store and around the corner. Abby ran out and put her arms around Tia, holding her as she cried.

“He took my baby, Abby. He took my baby.”

“It’ll be okay. Adam will get him back. Come inside and wait.”

Tia tried to pull away, but Abby guided her inside the warmth of her store.

When the sound of gunshots rattled the windows, Tia and Abby both raced outside. Abby stood by her door with Erin clinging to her skirts while Tia ran toward the sound.

Around the corner and down several blocks she sped, heedless to her skirts trailing in the snow or the hairpins falling from her head.

By the time she reached a crowd gathered around a prone form, her hair tumbled around her shoulders and down her back, with the hat she’d worn lost somewhere along the way.

Fearing the worst, her heart stopped then resumed beating when Adam broke away from the group with Toby in his arms. The little boy clung tightly to his neck and Adam kept a protective hand on his back as he held him close.

Upon seeing his frantic and fearful wife, Adam gathered her into his arms and held them both.

“That man, he almost… he might have…” For Toby’s sake, Tia held back her sobs as she took her son from Adam and cuddled him close. “Oh, baby. Are you okay? Did he hurt you? Is…”

Adam put a hand on her back and she glanced at him. He shook his head and frowned slightly, warning her not to add to Toby’s fright.

Tia rained kisses across her son’s cheeks and forehead.

He leaned back from her and sniffled. “I was scared, Mama, but I ‘membered Daddy promised he’d take care of me.” Toby reached out to Adam. The big man took the little hand in his. “And you did, Daddy. Just like you said. You didn’t let the bad man take me.”

The three of them watched as the sheriff and Douglas from the livery hefted Beauregard Bass as the man howled in pain from a bullet to his knee and one to his thigh.

The sheriff stopped in front of Adam. “As soon as we get him patched up at Doc’s place, he’ll spend Christmas in jail. Unlike Mr. Nivens, I’ll make sure he doesn’t disappear before he can testify against the judge.”

Adam nodded his thanks and took Toby from Tia then draped his arm around her shoulders. The crowd dispersed about the time Arlan and Chauncy ran up the street.

“What happened?” Chauncy panted, as though he’d run a long distance and had yet to catch his breath.

Adam looked to the pastor then his brother. “That was the man who tried to take Toby Saturday at the skating party. He was bold enough to grab him while we watched and tried to run off. I chased after him while Tia fetched the sheriff. We caught up to him about the same time. While he had his eye on the sheriff, I grabbed Toby. He put up a bit of a fuss, but the sheriff made certain he couldn’t run off, at least for a good long while.”

Tia noticed blood at the corner of Adam’s mouth and a bruise forming on his cheek. When she reached up to wipe away the blood, he jerked his head back. “No need to soil your gloves, Tia. I’m fine. Thank goodness, we’re all just fine.”

Adam rested his forehead against Toby’s for a moment. “I think I’ve had enough excitement for one day. How about we head on home?”

“If you don’t mind, I’ll come along with you,” Arlan said, falling into step beside Adam and Tia.

Tia looked ready to drop, so Adam handed Toby to Arlan and put his arm around her waist, lending her strength and support. “We’ll be there in no time, Queenie.”

She nodded her head, remaining silent as they made their way home. Arlan shifted Toby so he clung to his back, enjoying the ride his uncle gave him.

At the house, Adam opened the door and ushered Tia inside while Arlan followed with Toby.

“Thanks for the ride, Uncle Arlan. That was fun.” Toby grinned at the tall man as he backed up to the sofa and let him drop to the soft cushion.

“You’re very welcome, Toby.” Arlan ruffled his hair. “I’m happy to give you a ride anytime.”

“Be careful what you say or you might become Toby’s personal pack mule,” Tia said, smiling at Arlan. She helped Toby remove his coat and hat along with his mittens and boots. “Go wash your hands and face and then we’ll have a snack.”

“Okay, Mama.”

Toby raced out of the room with all of his usual enthusiasm, unaware of the tension and turmoil still coiled around the adults.

“That was a close one,” Adam said, helping Tia out of her coat and motioning for Arlan to take a seat. His brother shook his head.

“I need to get back to the bank, Adam, but I wanted to make sure you all were fine.” Arlan moved closer to the door.

“If we aren’t, we soon will be. Thanks for checking on us, Arlan. It’s appreciated.” Adam thumped his brother on the back as he walked him to the door.

“Why don’t you join us for dinner tonight? I’m sure Tia doesn’t feel like fixing supper and I promised to take Alex to the restaurant. You three might as well join us.” Arlan gave his brother a hopeful look.

“That’s a fine plan, Arlan. Meet you at the restaurant?”