Day 23 of Christmas Cheer, part five from A Place Called Home by Janet Lee Barton

Scene five
Beth had come down earlier, and now he found her in the kitchen, just closing the oven door on the huge turkey she’d put in to roast while they were at church. Jeb leaned against the doorframe, thoroughly enjoying the chance to watch his new bride putter around, until she finally turned and spotted him.


The delicate color that stole up her cheeks and the sweet smile she gave him when she saw him were enough to warm him clear through.


“Jeb! I didn’t hear you come downstairs. Coffee will be ready soon.”


“I should have known you’d be down here with this stove. It’s the real reason you accepted my proposal, isn’t it?” he teased.

Beth giggled. “Well, I’ll admit, my fingers have been itching to cook a meal on it ever since I found out you bought it. But, it’s certainly not the reason I married you.”

Jeb crossed the room in two strides and pulled her close with his good arm. “No?”

She shook her head as she gazed into his eyes. “No. I married you because I do love you, Jeb. . .more than I ever thought possible.”

Jeb’s heart seemed to expand in his chest. He knew she loved him, as he did her. They’d told each other so over and over in the past few days. But he’d never tire of hearing it. . .nor of saying it. “I love you, Beth.”

Jeb bent his head and captured her lips in a kiss meant to assure her completely that he was telling the truth. Cassie and Lucas yelled for them to hurry, and Beth quickly broke the kiss and pulled away.

“We’re coming,” Jeb answered. But he caught Beth’s arm as she started out of the kitchen and pulled her back into his embrace. The children could wait another minute or two.

“Merry Christmas,” he whispered right before his lips claimed Beth’s once more in a lingering kiss.

“Uncle Jeb, Aunt Beth!” Lucas was getting impatient to open his presents.

Jeb chuckled as Beth broke the kiss and pulled him toward the parlor. He followed willingly, thanking the Lord above for leading him to Beth. . .and to a place called home.

Day 22 Christmas Cheer, part four of Janet Lee Barton's A Place Called Home

Scene four

Jeb stood only inches away, looking deep into her eyes. “I told you I was going to ask you again once the house was done. Well, it’s done and you need to make up your mind.”

“Jeb, I—” Beth’s heartbeat sounded like thunder in her ears, and she wondered if Darcie could hear it. She’d never felt so flustered in her life. She knew she needed to be doing something. . .she was at work. She turned around and found Darcie watching the two of them, several lines in her hand waiting to be plugged into sockets. “Can this wait? I’m working. I—”

“I’ve waited long enough.” Jeb pulled her close with his good arm. “I need an answer now.”

Now. He needed an answer.

Beth looked back to see her switchboard lighting up all over the place and Darcie trying to take care of both switchboards while trying not to miss a thing going on in the office. For the first time since she’d come to work here, Beth decided some things were just more important than the Roswell Telephone and Manufacturing Company.

“An answer to what?”

“You told me that if I finished the house by Christmas, you just might marry me. Back then, when I asked you to marry me, we barely knew each other and it was for the children’s sake. This time I’m asking simply because I love you. . .with all my heart, and I can’t imagine not seeing you every day. I want you out at the ranch with me and Cassie and Lucas. I know you may never love me like you loved Harland, but Beth, will you please marry me?”

It suddenly didn’t matter if the whole town would soon know what went on here. She turned her undivided attention to the man she loved. “Oh, Jeb! I. . .you. . .”

Beth stopped and took a deep breath. She had to tell him everything. “I thought I could learn to love Harland. I truly did. But I’d been having second thoughts about marrying him for weeks before he died. I was going to tell him the next time he came into town, only I didn’t have a chance before he was killed in the stampede. I promised myself that I would never marry a man I didn’t know and didn’t love after that. Then, you came into my life, and I’ve felt so guilty over the growing feelings I’ve had for you. I—“


Jeb shushed her with a finger at her lips. “I understand. I’ve had my share of guilt over falling in love with you. But I have. Deeply and completely. And I want nothing more than to marry you, if you’ll have me—”

Beth’s heart seemed to have wings as it rapidly beat in her chest. “Oh, Jeb. You are the only man I’ve truly loved. . .and yes, oh yes, I will marry you.”

Beth tried to be careful of his bad arm and sore ribs as Jeb pulled her closer and bent his head toward her. Their lips met and clung in a kiss that turned the challenge of a moment into a promise of a lifetime.

Christmas Cheer Day 21, part three from A Place Called Home by Janet Lee Barton

Scene three
It hadn’t. It was a short note. . .from Jeb’s boss. . .telling him his job was open and the children were welcome. Beth’s heart twisted in her chest. Was Harland right? Was Jeb fixing up the house only to sell out and go back north?


Well, there was only one way to find out. Beth ran though the house, down the porch steps, and around to the ladder leading to the roof. She clambered up it as fast as she could in her long skirts and holding the offending letter in her hand.

Jeb’s back was to her when her head cleared the roof line. “Can you tell me the meaning of this, Jeb Winslow?”

“Beth?” Jeb whirled around. “The meaning of what? What’s wrong?

She waved the paper in her hand. “This is wrong! Have you been planning on taking this man up on his offer? Are you leaving here? Fixing up the house just to sell out? Are you taking the children with you?”

Jeb got to his feet and stared down at her. . .his mouth opening and shutting at first. Then he found his voice. “How could you think that? I just asked you to help me decorate this house! Why would I be working this hard. . .trying to get this roof finished before the first snow. . .the house ready before Christmas. . .if I didn’t plan on making a home here?”

“You said that Mr. Snow thought it would add more value to the property!”

Jeb shut his eyes and shook his head before meeting her gaze again. “Beth Morgan—can’t you see. . .I’m trying my best to get this house finished by Christmas to answer your challenge. And why would I be doing that?”

“I don’t know. Why?”

“Because I—” Just as the words were out of his mouth, Jeb slipped and started sliding down the roof.

“Jeb!” Beth yelled, but there was nothing she could do except watch him fall. She didn’t know if she heard or felt the thud as he hit the ground, but her heart seemed to stop beating as she saw him lying on the ground. Jeb didn’t move. No! Tears streamed down her face. It was all her fault. Had she killed the only man she’d ever loved?

Christmas Cheer, Day 20, scene two from Janet Barton's A Place Called Home

Scene two
“I’m glad I’ve had good weather,” Jeb said. “Christmas will be here before we know it.”


“It sure will be. And it will be time to decorate that tree at school. How about we string some popcorn and cranberries?”

“Sounds good to me.” Jeb chuckled. “How about you, Lucas? You ready to learn how to thread a needle?”

Cassie ran to get Beth’s sewing basket while Jeb and Lucas popped the corn. Then Beth brought out the cranberries she’d found at Jaffa-Prager, and they began making garland.

It took only a moment to teach Lucas what to do, and for the next few hours, they took turns stringing and eating the popped corn. By the time the popcorn was gone, they found that the cranberry garland was longer by at least half, but they had two beautiful contributions to the decorating of the school tree.

“Next time, I’ll have to pop more,” Beth commented as she began to clean up. “I think it’s time for bed, children. You have school tomorrow.”

Jeb got to his feet. “Guess I’d better get back to the ranch.”


Cassie and Lucas gave him a hug, and Beth walked him to the door.

“Did you ever get a chance to talk to Liddy about Christmas?” Jeb whispered.

Beth nodded and pulled a piece of paper from her pocket. “I telephoned her. These are some things she suggested.”

“Thank you. I haven’t had a chance to get by their place. I guess I ought to see about getting one of those telephones installed. Can I get one out there?”

Beth nodded. “Yes, you’re close to town, and there are lines out that way now. Cal and Liddy live farther out than you and they have one. Would you like me to place your order tomorrow?”

“Would you, please? I’ve never had a use for one, but I suppose it would be good to have, once I move Cassie and Lucas out there.”

“Well, naturally, I’m a big believer in having a telephone. Liddy and I can keep in touch much easier, instead of waiting to see each other on a Sunday or running into each other when she comes into town. Plus, if one of the children gets sick and you need a doctor to come out, it will make it easier and faster to get hold of him.”

“I hadn’t thought of all those things. Please, do put my order in tomorrow.”

“I will.”

Jeb stood looking at her for a moment. “You know. . .Christmas is almost here. The house is going to be finished soon.”

Beth held her breath.

He reached out and touched a wayward curl of hair on her forehead. “You haven’t forgotten your challenge to me, have you?”

She could only shake her head.

“Well, then. . .it appears you have some thinking to do. Because I haven’t forgotten, either.”

Christmas Cheer, Day 19, part one from A Place Called Home by Janet Barton

This week we will be enjoying five scenes from Janet Barton's A Place Called Home. I want to thank Janet again for being so generous in her sharing with us this Christmas season! Enjoy, and come back tomorrow for part two.

Part One
Still, it would be the perfect answer for keeping the children with her, and something deep inside wished that what Jeb was proposing could become a reality. But it couldn’t—no matter how many somersaults her heart did or how fast her pulse raced each time he came near. After all Harland had told her about Jeb, she just couldn’t believe he could commit himself to her and the children. It was only a matter of time until he took off. . .in spite of how good his intentions seemed to be.


Now, she tried hard not to let Jeb see how deeply his proposal had affected her. “Jeb, your brother and I corresponded for months before he moved out here. Enough to get to know each other a little.” But, not well enough. “You and I have only known each other a few days.” And you cause my heart to race in a way your brother never did. “Besides, Harland told me you would never settle down. . .that you were used to going wherever you wanted to, whenever you wanted to. You aren’t used to staying in one place.”

“That doesn’t mean I can’t or won’t.”

Could he? Would he? Her heart thudded against her chest. If he did, might this be an answer to her prayers as a way to keep the children? Dare she allow herself to hope that he would stay? No. She couldn’t. She would only be setting herself up for disappointment and heartache.


Beth just couldn’t see him staying for long, and she had a feeling the only way she could deal with his proposal was to treat it lightly. “Well, I tell you what. If you stay around long enough to finish the house. . .maybe I’ll just agree to marry you.”

“Lady, I’m going to accept your challenge. I’ll have it finished by Christmas. And when I finish it, you are going to have a decision to make.”

Beth tried to ignore the warm wave of elation flowing through her at his words. She forced herself to laugh off his acceptance, praying he couldn’t tell how flustered she felt. “By Christmas?”

“Yes.”

“We’ll see.” Christmas was over three months away. He’d probably be long gone by then.

“Yes, we will.” Jeb grinned at her as he stood to go. He sauntered over to the back door and took his hat off the hook beside the door. “We sure enough will. Good night, Beth.”

Beth shut the door behind him and locked it with trembling fingers. Leaning her forehead against the curtained window, she took a deep breath and tried to will her rapidly beating heart to slow down. Had she really said she might marry him if he finished the house by Christmas? She thought back over the conversation. It appeared she had. And he had accepted her challenge.

She shook her head and pushed away from the door, trying to put it all out of her mind as she busied herself cleaning up the kitchen. But, she couldn’t get Jeb Winslow out of her mind. Part of her was sure he hadn’t meant what he’d said. . .and another part was afraid to hope that he did.