Chapter 45

Violet and Lin didn’t want to return to the schoolhouse on Christmas Day to tidy up, so they remained after the guests went home. Once the last buckboard rumbled off into the distance, they began gathering up pinecone ornaments and mints from the tables.

Tate and Mister Liu stayed long enough to take the garlands down. They would have remained, but the women assured them that they were fine.

Sheriff Hanson, changed from his red velvet suit back into his usual attire, congratulated them on giving the town a fabulous holiday to remember.

He raised his voice as he looked around the empty schoolroom. “Well, it looks as if you’re almost done here. If you’re sure you don’t need any help, I’ll head on home now.”

Violet waved him toward the door. “Nothing to worry about, Sheriff. We don’t mind being here alone. Why, it’s nearly Christmas! We’ll finish clearing up and start home ourselves.”

“That sounds like a plan. Remember to lock up, ladies. And Merry Christmas.”

The sheriff tipped his black hat as he turned and headed out the door.

When it shut behind him, the big room fell eerily quiet.

Lin and Violet had discussed this plan with Sheriff Hanson before the party. They decided that if the Chinese villains did not make a move during the festivities, they might be coaxed into a false sense of security and show themselves afterward. The key enticement, to give the impression that the women were alone and defenseless, had gone off without a hitch.

Violet looked at Lin.

Lin’s eyes held a steely glint in their deep brown depths.

They continued to chatter as if they were confident that they were safe.

The desks and benches were straightened out, the floor swept, and the chalkboard wiped and washed. The children had a holiday recess that lasted until next Monday, so Violet did not attempt to write a new daily message on the board. Perhaps by next week, her arm would be greatly improved.

Finally, there wasn’t one thing out of place and the schoolroom sparkled. Even the Christmas tree had been so well watered it looked as if it were growing inside its bucket.

Violet and Lin stood back and admired their handiwork. The complete stillness was so profound, it almost seemed impossible that a few short hours ago the building been filled with loud laughter and exuberant singing.

She put her left arm around Lin’s shoulders. “Well, I guess we’re finished here. Thank you for helping me get the place cleaned up. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

Lin stifled a yawn with the back of one hand. “Family works together.”

“You’re right. Now, let’s work on getting home. I believe we shall stay in bed later than usual tomorrow morning and observe the holiday in our nightclothes. I, for one, am exhausted.”

“I, too.”

They got their coats, hats, gloves, and scarves and dressed for the short, snowy walk.

Lin banked down the fire while Violet checked the candles on the tree once more. They were all out and their wicks were cold and blackened. They were safe to leave.

Violet blew out the last lamp on her desk while Lin grabbed the oil lamp used for travel.

They went to the front door and paused to take one last look around.

Lin’s soft soprano broke the silence. “Silent night, holy night. All is calm, all is bright…”

Linking arms, they went outdoors.

Feathery flakes fell from the sky, landing on their heads so softly they felt like the brush of angels’ wings.

Lin tilted her face and opened her mouth. She closed her eyes and waited for the snowflakes to fall on her tongue.

She opened one eye and gazed at Violet. Arching one perfectly shaped brow, she waited for Violet to tilt her head back and open her own mouth.

They stood catching snowflakes on their tongues for a few minutes. The air was still, and the temperature hadn’t dipped low.

“We should get home, Lin.”

The other nodded. “Yes. Let us go home.”

Snow crunched underfoot as they walked across the schoolyard.

“Tomorrow I will have to write many notes to those who donated their time and talents so graciously to our celebration. People like Tate and Missus Milligan. Also, Gertie, who I must ask for the recipe for her special pumpkin bread. I don’t recall when I’ve had a tastier bread.”

Lin stopped walking. “She baked one for us—for Christmas breakfast. It is in the schoolroom.”

“Well, we can’t leave it for the mice to eat, can we? Besides, it will be a wonderful start to our day. What a kind woman! See? I really must write some thank you notes tomorrow.”

They were a short way from the front door, so they turned and went back.

Lin entered, held the lamp high, and walked straight over to the Christmas tree. She picked up the wrapped pumpkin bread and waved it in the air. “I have it!”

Violet opened her mouth to reply, but before she could utter a word a dark shape emerged from behind the wood stove. It moved so fast that it appeared to cross the room in less time than it takes for a heart to beat.

“Lin! Watch out!”

The figure grabbed her friend from behind and lifted her right off her feet. Lin kicked out and wrenched from side to side. She screamed in Chinese which made the man loosen his grip for an instant.

She took that opening and swung her arm around to hit him in the face. Pumpkin bread didn’t make the best weapon, so it did not deter the man. As the loaf crumbled onto the floor, he swung Lin’s body in a circle, yelling in Chinese as he tossed her about like a puppet.

The lantern crashed onto the floor. Oil spread on the floorboards and blue flames licked their way across the space.

Violet ran to help Lin but a force from behind knocked her off her feet. She fell onto her injured arm. As white-hot surges of pain spiraled toward her center, the figure that pushed her down climbed on top of her.

Anger and hatred shone in his eyes. She saw that he meant to kill her.

Dark ink wound out from beneath the hair at his right temple, down his cheek, and onto his chin. Disgust mixed with fear as she struggled to get away from the man with the snake tattooed on his face.

Lin’s cries for help mingled with the sound of popping noises.

Violet remembered the gun in her pocket, so she wrestled her arm down to her hip. Her assailant smirked and said something in Chinese that sounded cruel. Then he reached between them and pushed her skirts high, and she understood his intentions.

Her hand floundered in the fabric bunched up over her knees, but she persisted, searching for the weapon that might save them.

She found her pocket and pushed her hand inside, even as the man’s palm touched the delicate skin on her inner thigh. Violet fought revulsion. She choked on the smoke that began to fill her lungs.

Her fingers found the derringer, so she angled the pocket upward, toward the despicable human who had placed his hand where it wasn’t invited. She pulled the trigger.

The sound was deafening.

She gagged when his hand dropped at the apex of her thighs and his body crumpled on top of hers. His head fell forward onto her shoulder, bringing the ugly tattoo inches from her eyes.

Violet screamed.

She pushed at his shoulders and twisted beneath the dead man, but her skirts were tangled around her legs. She kicked at him and pushed again—and suddenly his body was torn from hers.

Powerful arms lifted her and carried her from the smoky room. She resisted, trying to find release so she could help the woman who had become as beloved to her as her other sisters were.

“Lin! They have Lin!”

Thomas crushed her against him. “No—Wei has Lin. She’s in safe hands.”

The move from stifling heat to chilled air brought on a fit of coughing. Thomas carried her away from the schoolhouse, put her on her feet, and held her as she gasped for air.

When she could speak, she met his gaze and asked, “Lin? Please, tell me she is unhurt!”

He took her by the shoulders and turned her so she could see the couple standing beneath an oak tree that grew between the schoolhouse and the rectory. Lin and Mister Liu were in each other’s arms and both appeared fine.

Violet looked up into Thomas’s deep brown eyes. In the darkness she recognized the truth in them. It required no effort because it was the truth of her own heartbeat, too.

“Thank you for saving me again.”

“I’m sorry it took so long. We figured they would be waiting at your house, so we were there. Except Wei—he would not go that far from his princess—and those were his exact words. He calls her his princess.”

She did not comment on that. It would be up to Lin—and Wei, also—to keep or share the meaning of the endearment.

“But you got here so quickly. It felt like the attack happened in a heartbeat, Thomas. It was so fast—and horrible!” She covered her face in her hand and shuddered.

He pulled her close. “We heard the shots.”

She looked up at him. “Shots? But I only fired once.”

“Wei shot to sound the alarm.”

Those were the sounds she heard inside the schoolhouse while they were scuffling with the assassins. It made sense now.

“I heard them. Thank goodness he stayed behind.”

“Because of Wei’s quick thinking, we’ll be able to save the schoolhouse, too.”

They turned to face the building. Flames were being extinguished by what seemed like most of the men in Wylder. They passed buckets of water and snow from man to man, into the front door and onto the fire.

“The Chinese men?”

“They won’t bother anyone again. You took care of the snake-faced bastard and Earl has the other one tied to a tree over yonder. Let’s just say he won’t be able to walk to his hangin’. Pretty sure his legs were broken during his rescue from the fire.”

Violet didn’t feel one ounce of remorse for killing a man. And she didn’t feel sorry for the man with the broken legs, either. She planned to be standing in the front row when he got his due.

In a heartbeat, she had nearly lost all that she held dear.

And in another heartbeat, it had all been returned.

Violet knew she must look frightful, but she did not care. She met Thomas’s gaze. “I have to ask you a question and I want you to give me your sincere reply, please.”

“I promise I will forevermore be completely honest with you. You have my word. What is it you need to know on this wild Christmas Eve?”

“Thomas, how slowly do you intend to court me?”

The corner of his upper lip lifted as he shook his head. “Not very slowly at all. In fact, I think that we need to move our courtship along, enjoy every minute we have together, and love as passionately as anyone ever has.”

She quirked an eyebrow. “Passion…I must admit, I’m not as skilled in certain areas as I believe you might be. Remember, Wylder’s schoolteacher is an unmarried lady…”

He growled as his lips claimed hers. The kiss was tender, loving, and filled with promises of what lay ahead.

When he released her mouth, Thomas put a cheek against hers. “It will be my pleasure to teach the teacher, although I have to admit she has already taught me plenty.”

“Then we shall both be pupils.” Her heart was full as she settled into the circle of his arms. She had found her way home. “It must be past midnight by now, don’t you think?”

“I believe you’re right.” He leaned in to kiss her again. Before his lips touched hers, Thomas murmured, “Merry Wylder Christmas, Violet.”

The End.

***

A word about the author…

Sarita Leone loves happy endings—in life and on the page.

When she’s not busy writing her next novel, this adventure-loving yoga teacher likes to hike, travel, and dance beneath the stars. She studies languages, enjoys making a mess in the kitchen, and never says “no” to fun. Finding pockets of peace everywhere she goes, this author plans to make every moment of this journey count.