Stories by Firefly! : 12 Days of Christmas // A Carnathan Christmas {pt.1}

Can y'all believe it's only a week until Christmas? I'm in a bit of denial myself. But hey, all my shopping is complete! Rather happy about that. :)

Also—I have something special for y'all today. For anyone who's been patiently awaiting the release of War Tears (I'm tentatively thinking of a May release, by the way), this may especially interest you. Every other day, today through Christmas Eve, I'll be sharing a part of my short story entitled A Carnathan Christmas. Set during Christmas of 1940, this story focuses on the main characters of War Tears, about a year before the novel begins.

Enjoy! <3

Tuesday, December 17th, 1940

David Carnathan climbed the stairs leading to his fiancée’s apartment with an eager gait, and paused to rap on the door. A white haze puffed out of his muffler with each breath as he waited for her to answer, prompting a grin. There was just something special about cold weather.

A noise from the other side of the door drew his attention back to the reason he was there in the first place.
The door swung open and Bethany appeared; bright eyes and a cheerful smile. “David! Hello! I wasn’t expecting you. I thought Pete would have you up under some greasy, oily engine.”

David laughed, heart full of joy. “Pete closed up the mechanic shop until after Christmas. I’m running a few errands.”

Her nose scrunched up. “I’m considered an errand now?”

“No, never,” he shook his head. “I’ve already taken care of that. Now I’m playing delivery boy.”

She peeked past him and canvassed the porch. “And what are you delivering?”

David heightened an eyebrow, thoroughly enjoying teasing her. “Persistent, aren’t you, Miss Henderson?”

“Is this where I’m supposed to say please?”

“Alright. You win,” David snickered. “I’m here to offer an invitation. To you, from the Carnathan family.”

She smiled sweetly, the tease slipping away. “Invitation for what?”

“To spend Christmas on the farm with the family.” David carefully gauged her reaction. She had no one else to spend the holiday with, no reason to turn him down. But still…they hadn’t talked about her meeting his family ahead of time.

“I don’t think we've discussed this before, but ever since Luke married my little sister, they’ve rotated back and forth from Mom and Dad to Luke's parents for Christmas and such. This year they’re bringing Lenore and coming to Mom and Dad’s. We’re driving up Thursday and I want you to come with us. I was going to ask you Sunday, but Luke and Erin’s weren’t sure of their plans with the passing of his father this year and all.” Now he was just
rambling and making up excuses. He stopped and waited for her response.

Bethany stepped out onto the porch, arms crossed, looking chilled without a sweater. “I'd like that, David. Very much.” She smiled up at him. “It seems terrible that we’re engaged and I haven't even met your parents or your brother.”

“I know,” he nodded somberly. “But we’re going to enjoy changing that. You'll love the farm.”

“I did grow up on a farm, you know.”

“So I heard.”

Her eyes took on a faraway look. “Daddy always said I’d marry a plow-boy. I wish you could’ve met him, David.”

“I wish I could’ve met him too.” Wanting to do away with the melancholy look in her eyes, he leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Have I told you how much I love you lately?”

“Not today.” Bethany smiled and gave him a hug. “And I’ll never tire of hearing it.”

“Good.” He held her close and rested his cheek against her hair. “Because I’ll never tire of saying it.”

~*~

Thursday, December 19th, 1940

Thursday morning dawned bright and clear. Bethany woke up excited that she would soon meet David's parents. Yet, at the same time, her heart pattered with apprehension. What if Mr. and Mrs. Carnathan didn’t approve of their son’s bride-to-be?

She shrugged off the silly possibility. That was nonsense, of course. If Lydia and Raymond were anything like their elder two children, they would get along splendidly.

David’s truck rumbled to a stop at the bottom of the stairs promptly at eight o’clock. Bethany grinned from her perch at the window as she took in the spring in his step, the evidence of anticipation as he bounded up the stairs to greet her.

The joy stayed in her heart as she fairly ran to answer the door, humming the tune of a carol. When she gave the doorknob an effective yank, David nearly tumbled into her living room.

He laughed, steadying himself against the doorframe and grabbing her by the hand. “Ready to go.”
“Ready as I’ll ever be. My bag is on the chair.”

~*~

The younger Carnathans set out for the hill country to spend the holiday with the parents and youngest of the family. David’s sister Erin, his brother-in-law Luke, and their daughter Lenore followed the engaged couple in another vehicle.

During the hours spent in the cab of David’s pickup, the couple carried on as best a conversation they could over the rumbling engine. As they entered a rutted lane, lined with snow-dusted firs and pines, Bethany pressed her face to the cold window and soaked up the mountainous scenery. The truck rounded a final bend in the road and the Carnathan farm came into view.

“Oh, David…” Bethany gasped, exclaiming over the picturesque farm.

Squeezing her hand, David pulled the truck to the side of the road and stopped. Luke curved around them and rumbled on toward the house.

Bethany hardly noticed as she took in the tidy place. The whitewashed farmhouse stood firmly with it’s two stories and wrap-around covered porch. The humble abode gave an air of safety and… home. A rustic red barn sat off to the side, offering shelter to a multitude of animals she was sure. A vegetable garden, turned under for winter, covered the patch of raw land to the opposite side of the house. Other eye-catching interests scattered about the little hollow included a well house and a large maple tree with a rope swing hanging from a study branch.

“What do you think?”

She turned at the sound of David's voice. “Oh, it’s...wonderful!” She scooted closer to him and clasped her hands around his arm. “Just perfect.”

David grinned, beyond pleased that she shared his love of the family’s farm, and maneuvered the truck around a few pot-holes until the came to a stop in the front yard.

Bethany knew Lydia and Raymond right away as they came out of the house and into the yard to greet their children. David’s mother was especially beautiful for her age. Her auburn hair and the upturn of her nose reminded Bethany of Erin’s features, but the color and shape Mrs. Carnathan’s eyes most definitely resembled David.

Bethany figured she would’ve been able to pick Raymond out of a roomful of men. Tall and strong, David took after his father in height and build very much.

As David climbed off of the truck and came around to open her door, Bethany watched through the windshield as hugs were exchanged between Erin and her parents, then all the more so when Luke and Lenore joined them.

“Prepare to be the center of attention.” David grinned as he helped her down to the slushy ground.

“Oh, I’d rather not be.”

“Sorry, dear, it’s not like you have much of a choice.”

“David!”

Bethany and David turned as one when the call sounded from behind them.

A young man appeared from the shading of the barn and ran toward them. Bethany smiled when he and David embraced, laughing and slapping each other like guys were inclined to do.

“Michael, I’d like you to meet Bethany. Beth, my not-so-little brother.” David was quick to make introductions.

“So nice to finally meet you, Michael,” Bethany exclaimed. “I’ve heard ever so much about you.”

Michael took her hand and swooped into a bow as though he were greeting royalty. “The pleasure is all mine, madam.”

David rolled his eyes, but Bethany laughed. “So you are a jokester like your brother.”

Michael’s grin split his face, and he whacked David on the arm. “She’s got you all figured out.”

“Are you going to keep her hidden away over there all week?” Someone inquired from the other side of the yard.

“I just might.” That wide, boyish grin she loved so much hiked back into place on David’s features. Taking Bethany’s hand, he guided her around the truck and toward his parents. Michael sauntered along behind them.

Bethany took a deep breath as she approached her future in-laws, quelching her doubts. But Bethany knew she had no cause to worry as soon as Lydia swooped down on her, grabbing her in a loving, bone-smashing hug.

“Oh, how are you you, dear! We’ve heard so very much about you. Oh, you’re just as lovely as David has told us.” Lydia fairly bubbled, exclaiming over the engagement ring on Bethany’s left hand and hugging her daughter-in-law-to-be over and over. Although a bit flustered by all the attention, Bethany knew right away where Erin got her talkative nature.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you all, as well,” Bethany returned, though she was pretty sure no one heard her among all the ruckus.

Never ceasing her loving chatter, Lydia moved from Bethany to David, pulling him down into a firm embrace. “How are you, son? You look well. It’s been too long since we last saw you!”

Raymond approached her next, three-year-old Lenore clinging to his neck. Bethany liked him at once. He smiled and offered her a half-hug of sorts. “I’m so glad to finally meet you, m’dear. You’re all David talks about.”

“A pleasure to meet you as well.” Bethany found that her smile came easily. “How are you feeling after your…escapade?” A tractor accident during the summer had left Mr. Carnathan laid-up for months.

Raymond brushed it aside. “Ah, that was nothing.”

“Oh, really?” Bethany countered, eyebrow raised.

“What am I going to do with him?” Lydia shook her finger in falsified anger and then her head in mock despair. “I should warn you about the Carnathan men, dear. They’re terribly stubborn, but—”

“Mom!” David broke in, tugging Bethany closer to his side. “You’re supposed to wait to tell her this stuff until after the wedding!”

Lydia rolled her eyes at her son. “As I was saying before someone interrupted me, they’re stubborn, but they have soft spots, too.”

Bethany grinned. “You’ll have to tell me more about that sometime, Mrs. Carnathan.”

“Oh goodness, we can’t have you calling me Mrs. Carnathan when that will be your title as well pretty soon. Lydia will do just fine.”

“Alright,” Bethany agreed with a smile, but figured she would still add a “missus” to the name. Mrs. Lydia just seemed to fit this sweet lady, mother to the man she loved.

“Well, come along!” Lydia waved for everyone to follow her as she started for the house. “Less than a week until Christmas and there are still millions of things to do!”

David bent his head closer to Bethany's ear. “Told you,” he whispered.

She grinned up at him adoringly. “They’re even more wonderful than you said.”

// extra

Kaylee of Kaylee's Kind of Writes is hosting a Christmas giveaway—and my darling Behold is featured! The giveaway also includes an ebook each from four other indie authors, including another of our 12DoC-ers—Rebekah Morris. :)

Open December, 18th through 23rd. Enter here!