Christmas Under Western Skies by Anna Schmidt Page A

for such a toy, even though his wish had been for a horse of his own.
    â€œHow about a hat?” Nathan said, as if reading her mind. “It’s not a horse, but it’s a start.”
    â€œI have just the thing,” Jacob said, reaching onto a high shelf for a hatbox printed with a single word: “Stetson”. “Young fella by the name of Stetson, from Philadelphia, lived out west of here and came up with an idea for a hat. He went back east and started his own business, but the dandies back there aren’t too keen on his design. I picked up half a dozen for next to nothing when Mrs. Putnam and I traveled back east to see family last summer.”
    He blew the dust off the box cover and pulled it open. “I think this might just be small enough for Luke.” He held up a tan felt hat with a high crown and a wide brim. “Waterproof inside and out,” he said, “in case Luke finds himself in need of water, with no bucket handy.” He made the motion of dipping water from a stream.
    â€œIt’s dandy,” Nathan said, taking the hat from Jacob and perching it on his head.
    He looked so ridiculous that Julianne laughed.
    â€œI’m pretty sure I have one in your size as well.” Jacob scanned the row of hat boxes.
    â€œNope. My old one will do me fine,” Nathan told him.
    â€œTry it on,” Julianne urged. “It will help me imagine what Luke might look like.”
    Nathan shrugged and accepted the hatbox from Jacob.
    He pulled out a black version of the wide-brimmed hat and put it on. “I like it,” he admitted, adjusting the brim so that the hat fit snugly over his forehead. “Maybe when spring comes.” He reluctantly removed the hat and returned it to the box. He turned back to the teacups. “Could you add a couple of those to my tally?”
    While Jacob added up the bill, Julianne tried to think of some gift she might choose for Nathan. She looked over the merchant’s wares, commenting on this and that and getting absolutely no reaction from the man. She wanted so much to give him something, but she knew that the price of a hat for him, as well as Luke, would be too dear.
    â€œThanks, Jacob,” Nathan said, as he collected his packages, the contents of which were disguised by brown wrapping paper. “Merry Christmas to you and your family.”
    â€œAnd to you,” Jacob replied absently, as he gave his attention to wrapping Julianne’s purchases.
    â€œHas the captain ever admired anything in particular?” she asked.
    Jacob paused in his wrapping and ran one hand over his whiskers. “Not that I can recall. Any time he comes in, it’s been to check if there’s mail or to get something for the Foster place—or yours. He did seem to like that hat.”
    â€œI can’t afford two hats, Mr. Putnam.”
    Jacob considered the hat. “It looked mighty fine on him. Maybe the church elders would agree to give it to him as a token of our appreciation for all he’s done since coming here.” He winked at Julianne. “You never know. That might just be enough to get him to stay on.” He returned to his wrapping. “He’d stay if you asked him,” he said after a long moment. “We’d have a full-time preacher and the twins would have a father again.”
    â€œOh, Jacob, that’s hardly reason enough to marry. Besides, what would Emma say? She’s been trying to match him with Lucinda since he arrived.”
    â€œHe’s not right for my girl.”
    â€œBesides,” Julianne continued, “he’s finally located his brother. It would be selfish of us to want him to stay, when all along his goal has been to be reunited with Jake.”
    The shopkeeper handed her the parcels and came around the counter to hold the door open for her. “I suppose you’re right.”
    â€œYou know I am. Why, the man has been here only a matter of weeks.