pattern. The sleeves and neckline had flounces trimmed with black ribbon, and she wore a matching bonnet.
They pulled up outside the bluestone Presbyterian Church. It stood on a rise, giving it a commanding view of the countryside. By the numerous carriages and buggies already in the churchyard, the service appeared well attended.
Late again. David dithered like an old woman sometimes. The congregation sang the opening hymn as they made their way to an empty pew near the back. The sun's rays reflecting on a beautiful stain glassed window threw colored reflections on the vaulted ceiling.
Tommy enjoyed the simple service and traditional hymns and Christmas carols. Of the people she recognized in the congregation, only a few nodded or smiled. They received this cold treatment because of their ongoing battle with Adam Munro. Interlopers, strangers who dared defy the mighty squatter, were sent to Coventry as punishment for their sins.
At the conclusion of the service, they rose to leave. As they waited for those at the front to move on, something made her glance up and she bore the full brunt of a devastating smile from Adam. Shock at seeing the very man she had been thinking about brought a guilty rush of heat to her cheeks. Thank goodness he was too far away to notice her turmoil.
Why would a man like him bother attending church? Then she spied Sophia resplendent in cream alpaca trimmed with crisscross bands of green. Here to see the minister about their coming nuptials? The thought caused a sudden, excruciating pain in the region of her heart.
At the door they shook hands with the minister who introduced his wife and daughter. Fiona Lawson looked about nineteen, a slim, dainty young woman, even shorter than Tommy’s five feet two inches. She had huge, fawn-like hazel eyes, and wore her auburn hair pulled back into a neat chignon.
Tommy gave her brother a poke in the back to bring him out of his trance. “She wants her hand back, too.”
David turned brick-red, instantly dropping the dainty hand he’d been holding. “Sorry.” He limped off.
“He's not, you know, Miss Lawson.” Tommy’s eyes met those of the other girl; understanding flashed between the two of them. “Merry Christmas, I'm sure we'll be seeing you again.”
They both smiled at each other. Cupid's arrow had gone straight through David's heart. Still laughing, she hurried to catch up with him.
In her haste she bumped into someone. “Sorry.”
“Well, really. Can't you look where you're going?” Sophia tossed her head and stared down her nose at Tommy.
“Still as impetuous as ever, Miss Lindsay?” Adam quirked an enquiring eyebrow.
“I've apologized; for a lady that should be enough.” She used her, as David would say, “lady of the manor” voice. Sophia turned red with rage and almost stamped her foot, while Adam stood with the suspicion of a smile hovering on his lips. Did he think she cared about him attending church with Sophia?
“Would you mind?” Tommy's words dripped out, sweet as honey. “You're blocking my way.”
“Merry Christmas, Adam.” Jamie darted up to them.
“Merry Christmas yourself.” Adam’s wide, genuinely pleased smile, revealed a dimple in his chin. “Did you find some nice presents in your stocking?”
Adam leaned over to speak with her little brother, putting his face up close to Jamie’s.
“Come on.” Sophia tugged at his arm.
“I got a picture book, chalk and a new slate.”
Sophia snorted. “That wasn't much; of course you—”
“Sophia.” Adam's voice cut in, sharp as a razor, reducing her to silence.
“Is my stock whip made yet?” Jamie continued blithely, unaware of the animosity simmering between the two women.
“Yes, I'll have it sent over soon.”
“Couldn't you bring it over? Tommy made a Christmas cake, plum pudding and everything. We're having roast chicken tonight because it's too hot at lunch time. You can come too.” He turned his back on Sophia, clearly indicating
They pulled up outside the bluestone Presbyterian Church. It stood on a rise, giving it a commanding view of the countryside. By the numerous carriages and buggies already in the churchyard, the service appeared well attended.
Late again. David dithered like an old woman sometimes. The congregation sang the opening hymn as they made their way to an empty pew near the back. The sun's rays reflecting on a beautiful stain glassed window threw colored reflections on the vaulted ceiling.
Tommy enjoyed the simple service and traditional hymns and Christmas carols. Of the people she recognized in the congregation, only a few nodded or smiled. They received this cold treatment because of their ongoing battle with Adam Munro. Interlopers, strangers who dared defy the mighty squatter, were sent to Coventry as punishment for their sins.
At the conclusion of the service, they rose to leave. As they waited for those at the front to move on, something made her glance up and she bore the full brunt of a devastating smile from Adam. Shock at seeing the very man she had been thinking about brought a guilty rush of heat to her cheeks. Thank goodness he was too far away to notice her turmoil.
Why would a man like him bother attending church? Then she spied Sophia resplendent in cream alpaca trimmed with crisscross bands of green. Here to see the minister about their coming nuptials? The thought caused a sudden, excruciating pain in the region of her heart.
At the door they shook hands with the minister who introduced his wife and daughter. Fiona Lawson looked about nineteen, a slim, dainty young woman, even shorter than Tommy’s five feet two inches. She had huge, fawn-like hazel eyes, and wore her auburn hair pulled back into a neat chignon.
Tommy gave her brother a poke in the back to bring him out of his trance. “She wants her hand back, too.”
David turned brick-red, instantly dropping the dainty hand he’d been holding. “Sorry.” He limped off.
“He's not, you know, Miss Lawson.” Tommy’s eyes met those of the other girl; understanding flashed between the two of them. “Merry Christmas, I'm sure we'll be seeing you again.”
They both smiled at each other. Cupid's arrow had gone straight through David's heart. Still laughing, she hurried to catch up with him.
In her haste she bumped into someone. “Sorry.”
“Well, really. Can't you look where you're going?” Sophia tossed her head and stared down her nose at Tommy.
“Still as impetuous as ever, Miss Lindsay?” Adam quirked an enquiring eyebrow.
“I've apologized; for a lady that should be enough.” She used her, as David would say, “lady of the manor” voice. Sophia turned red with rage and almost stamped her foot, while Adam stood with the suspicion of a smile hovering on his lips. Did he think she cared about him attending church with Sophia?
“Would you mind?” Tommy's words dripped out, sweet as honey. “You're blocking my way.”
“Merry Christmas, Adam.” Jamie darted up to them.
“Merry Christmas yourself.” Adam’s wide, genuinely pleased smile, revealed a dimple in his chin. “Did you find some nice presents in your stocking?”
Adam leaned over to speak with her little brother, putting his face up close to Jamie’s.
“Come on.” Sophia tugged at his arm.
“I got a picture book, chalk and a new slate.”
Sophia snorted. “That wasn't much; of course you—”
“Sophia.” Adam's voice cut in, sharp as a razor, reducing her to silence.
“Is my stock whip made yet?” Jamie continued blithely, unaware of the animosity simmering between the two women.
“Yes, I'll have it sent over soon.”
“Couldn't you bring it over? Tommy made a Christmas cake, plum pudding and everything. We're having roast chicken tonight because it's too hot at lunch time. You can come too.” He turned his back on Sophia, clearly indicating
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