Stories by Firefly! : 12 Days of Christmas // A Carnathan Christmas {pt.3}

Good morning, happy Saturday, and merry Christmas!

The party schedule for today is quite full. Largest number of posts in one day so far I believe, which means lots of fun for all!

Today I bring you the third part of the four-part story, and perhaps my personal favorite. :) Enjoy and check back for the conclusion on Christmas Eve!

Bethany descended the creaky farmhouse stairs with an uncertain smile, yet a lightness in her step over doing something so unlike her. She couldn’t help snickering as she glanced down at her thrown-together outfit. Even with the galluses pulled all the way up, the overalls were still much too long. With her sweater tucked in underneath, she fit the definition of a ragamuffin.

At the kitchen door, Erin was waiting, tugging on boots and a scarf. She turned at Bethany’s footsteps and began to laugh.

“Just wait ‘til the fellow see you.”

~*~

From where he stood in the barn, shoulder propped against the doorway, David looked across the snowy yard. Bethany and Erin trudged towards them—both wearing old, hand-me-down overalls. A grin spread across his face. Man, she sure looked cute.

“Oh great.” Michael’s groan drifted past on a breath of frosty white. “Erin’s been in somebody’s closet again.”

“Yeah, yours.”

Shoving off the doorframe, David strode into the barnyard with his hands in his pockets. “Good morning, farm girl.”

Beth laughed, twisting in a circle to show off her get-up. “What do you think?”

“I think…” He drew his arm around her shoulders and tugged her closer to his side, whispering into her knitted cap. “I think you look better in those than Michael or I ever did.”

Her eyes widened. “Are these yours? No wonder they’re so long.”

David snickered. “I don’t know, but Michael got most of my cast-offs that were still fit for wear.”

Out of nowhere, a handful of icy slush came sailing through the air and smacked the back of David’s head. He yowled as the snow skittered down his shirt.

“That was for keeping your swell gal a secret for so long!” Michael hollered from across the yard, already forming a second round of ammo.

“Sure wasn’t because I feared my baby-faced brother could steal her away,” David called back, grinning at the sight of his fiance, laughing heartily, cheeks pink with cold.

There was no time to take cover before another snowball arrived, smacking into the front of Beth’s overalls.
“And that was for stealing my clothes without permission!”

“Hey, it was your sister’s idea!”

“I’m calling a snowball challenge,” Luke called, tossing Lenore over his shoulder and grabbing Erin by the hand. “All out war!”

“Are you sure y’all are brothers?” Beth asked as David grabbed her by the hand and nearly drug across the yard. “Because he acts nothing like you, sometimes.”

They ducked behind the semi-seclusion of a shade tree, snow grenades already catapulting through the air.

“And what does this all out war stuff mean?”

Snickering over her cluelessness, David leaned closer until his forehead dropped to hers. “It means every man—and woman—for themselves.”

~*~

After a brutal snowball fight—Carnathan family style—the gang clambered inside and gathered by the kitchen stove to shed soaked boots and gloves. Although laughter and good spirits abounded, no one felt like returning to the chilled outdoors for sledding. Perhaps tomorrow, someone suggested, as Mrs. Lydia passed out hot cider, coffee, and Christmas cookies, gifted from a neighbor.

Finding her borrowed overalls too wet to comfortably dry while on her person, Bethany excused herself and slipped upstairs to change into dry clothes.

As she returned a few moments later, rambunctious laugher emitting from the front room told her that the majority of the family had ventured away from the stove’s warmth to take up residence by the fireplace.
Recognizing David’s voice still in the kitchen though, she halted just out of sight.

“What do you think of her, Mom?”

“I think you love her very much, son,” Lydia answered, as Bethany held her breath.

“And?”

“And, maybe even more importantly, she loves you. With all her heart.”

“I know,” he answered softly, so softly Bethany barely heard.

Lydia’s gentle laugh drifted around the corner. “Then why are you asking?”

“I don’t know… I’m just so happy. She’s added so much to my life. Something that—that I didn’t even realize was missing. Do you know what I mean? Does that even make sense?”

“I certainly do. I’ve felt that way for the past twenty-seven years, son.”

~*~

Satisfied by his talk with his dear mother, David stepped out of the kitchen. Beth had surely returned by now and would’ve probably joined the others.

He rounded the corner—and halted. Bethany stood at the bottom of the staircase, almost hidden by the shadows. A beautiful smile was on her face even as large tears welled behind her eyes. She’d undoubtedly heard his exchange with Mom.

“I love you,” she whispered.

He looped his fingers through hers, smiling. “Love you more.”

Saturday, December 21st, 1940

After breakfast on Saturday morning, Lydia gathered Erin, Bethany, and Lenore in the kitchen to get some baking done. The four fellows were banished to the outdoors with orders not to return until noon or when called as volunteer samplers.

As the grandfather clock neared twelve, Bethany—with Lenore’s help—was working on decorations for the sugar cookies while Lydia and Erin started on lunch for the family.

Bethany wiped her finger along the edge of the bowl, nabbing the about-to-drip frosting. She quickly licked her finger and found Lenore grinning up at her.

“Good, huh?”

Bethany bent down to whisper to the little girl who would soon be her niece; she smiled at that thought. “It’s delicious, but don’t tell your mama and grandma that we’re sampling the goodies.”

“Okay,” Lenore whispered, obviously enjoying sharing a secret. “I won’t tell.” She licked more of the gooey frosting from her small fingers.

Loud shrieks resounded across the barnyard and heavy footsteps bounded across the porch. The women glanced up from their duties as a figure darted passed the window. Michael appeared in the doorway, red-faced and panting, with David following mere seconds behind him.

The screen door slammed behind the brothers as David chased Michael around the dining room table, yelling something about snow down his shirt and revengeful justice.

Lenore giggled from her perch on the countertop and Bethany watched the two with amusement.

“I’m gonna give you what-for!”

“What-for?” Michael repeated as he rounded the table for the third time. “But for what, big brother?” He howled at his own joke as he took off up the stairs with David on his tail.

Bethany laughed at the screams and laughed floating down the stairs. “Mrs. Lydia, how did you ever manage this wild group for all these years?”

Lydia laughed. “A lot of prayers, dear. A lot of prayers.”

Sunday, December 22nd, 1940

Walking into the white, snow-dusted church on David’s arm, Bethany stopped to look up at the steeple and the bell below it, ringing out the hour to the community.

“It’s beautiful.”

She didn’t realize she’d spoken her thoughts aloud until David verbally agreed.

“Yup. I always thought the church looked all the more glorious draped in snow.”

She smiled and squeezed his arm with her mittened hand, tipping her head against his shoulder. “You’re such a romantic.”

David snickered as he led her on towards the church steps. “Dad would tell you that trait comes from him.”

Bethany laughed with him, but quieted before they reached the door where the pastor was welcoming the members of his congregation.

The man in the black suit was sixty-something, she would’ve guessed, with thinning gray hair and a pleasant smile. His smile grew when he saw the Carnathan clan approaching. Or, rather, when he saw all of the Carnathans crossing the snowy lot.

James and Lydia exchanged seasonal greetings with the gentleman and proceeded on into the church. Erin, Luke and Michael, toting Lenore, followed closely behind them.

After stopping to admire the church, David and Bethany ended up climbing the few, icy church steps a few minutes later—another couple having slipped in between them.

“David!” The pastor greeted, pumping his arm. “How are you?”

“Doing well,” David shook the man’s hand. “How are you, sir?”

“Can’t complain.” He was very different from Frank, the young pastor at Cana’s Protestant Church, but Pastor Howard seemed to fit this community. “Your parents said you were coming up for Christmas and bringing someone special.”

With those words, he turned to shake Bethany's hand. “Good morning, ma’am. I’m Pastor Howard.”

“Bethany Henderson,” she smiled warmly as she shook his hand.

“My fiancée,” David quickly added.

The minister chuckled. “I heard that, too. All Mrs. Lydia talks about is wedding plans.” His gaze swept the empty lot with a quick survey. “We’d better get inside or Maria will start the service without me.”

“Who’s Maria?” Bethany whispered as they ducked through the double doors.

“Maria is George’s wife, the Sunday school teacher, and the church pianist.”

“Busy woman,” Bethany commented, as David led her down the center aisle of the church and into the pew next to the rest of the family.

“A true server to the people of the community,” David agreed.

No sooner had they taken their seats, than a young woman approached, made up like some kind of Hollywood star.

“David, darling! Whatever brings you back to these parts?”

David turned at her appearance, politely standing and taking her hand. “Christmas, of course. It’s been awhile, Clara. How are you?”

Bethany fought a grimace at the woman’s excessive eyelash batting.

“Oh, you know. Just the usual. Nothing exciting ever happens here.” Clara leaned closer to David, as if she were going to say something no one else was meant to hear. “Who’s this doll you’ve brought home to the folks?”

“Oh, right.” Disengaging his hand from Clara’s possessive grasp. “Clara, meet my fiancée, Bethany Henderson. Beth, this is Clara, a childhood friend.”

Wearing a sufficient heel, Clara was nearly as tall as David—making Bethany feel quite dwarf-like standing between them.

Clara reached out a hand to Bethany. “Congratulations, hon. We all tried to snag him. Looks like you did it.” She grinned, revealing white teeth behind too-thick lipstick. “Best wishes, David.” The blond woman who wore entirely too much on her face winked at him and waltzed off.

Bethany glanced over at her fiancé. “Who was that? An old girlfriend?”

“Clara Holland?” David smirked. “Goodness, no. We went to highschool together.” He winked at her. “You should know by now that I prefer the cute and quiet girls.”

Bethany rolled her eyes at his teasing and leaned around him to speak to his sister. “Is this all true, Erin?”

David’s sister laughed. “They did go to school together and as for girlfriend I think he’s right there too. David never thought he had time for the girls. He preferred to have his nose buried in a book.”

David snorted. “You can’t talk, sis. You’re a pretty good bookworm yourself.”

“I just looked up more often than you,” Erin grinned before turning back to Lenore.

Bethany nudged David, regaining his attention. “Y’all are really good at changing the subject. What else about this Clara character is so funny?”

“She seemed to think,” David started, trying to maintain a straight face, “that she and I were going to elope. Just run off to California, get married, and go into acting together.”

Bethany raised her gloved hand to stifled a laugh. “You, an actor?”

David did his best to act offended—and failed tragically. “What? You don’t see what Clara saw?”

“Sorry, but no,” Bethany shook her head. “Her, though? An actress? Absolutely. She would be like…the villain’s wife or something.”

David’s eyes widened and he quickly looked down, trying not to burst into laughter and cause a scene in church.

“Oh my goodness,” Bethany exclaimed, her cheeks blushing. “Did I really say that?”