Mistletoe Courtship by Janet Tronstad

leading to the main room. When she got to the door, she glanced back. “But wait to cut the bacon until I can do it. You shouldn’t be using knives with your hand the way it is, anyway.”
    Colter nodded as she slipped out of the room. He liked having someone worry over him.
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    She just needed a moment to think, Virginia told herself as she stopped on the other side of the door. The big black circle in the middle of the floor reminded her that this whole building could have burned down and her with it. As Colter had been talking, she remembered that Petey and some of the other men had taken to sleeping behind the bar in Lester’s saloon. They boasted that he couldn’t see them and he had no idea they were enjoying the warmth of his establishment long after he’d gone to bed. She wondered if one of the men had found the kerosene can. Maybe they even knew who had started the fire.
    She didn’t get a chance to walk over to the stairs before Patricia came out of her bedroom.
    â€œLook,” the girl demanded as she stood on the top landing,pointing at the bird pin on the collar of the shirt she was wearing—Danny’s old shirt.
    â€œYou have to come closer so I can see,” Virginia said and the girl obligingly started down the stairs.
    â€œIt’s a singing bird,” Patricia said as she reached the bottom. “I didn’t see it right off, but see its beak? It’s singing. It loves music just like me.”
    â€œWhy, yes, it does,” Virginia agreed in satisfaction. This must be how it would feel to teach in that school down in Denver. To awaken young people to an appreciation of music would make a worthwhile life for her. “Don’t forget we have a lesson this afternoon.”
    â€œOn the bells?”
    â€œYou need to start on the piano, that’s what Colter—I mean, your father requested.”
    Virginia noted the surprise on the girl’s face. She had probably not heard anyone call Colter her father until now. Besides, as far as Patricia was concerned, he was just someone temporary in her life until her mother came for her.
    â€œBut couldn’t I just do something with the bells?” Patricia asked.
    â€œThe Wells girls are coming over to practice them later this afternoon. Maybe you can ring one of the bells with us.”
    The deepest bell didn’t have to be rung very often and Patricia would probably enjoy that one because it had the most sliding echo to it.
    The girl beamed.
    â€œBut first we need to cook breakfast,” Virginia said as she led the way to the workroom.
    Virginia told herself that she might not be as good a cook as Colter, but at least she had the use of both of her hands.
    She looked around as she entered the other room. Danny had set the bacon on the counter and Colter had pulled the butcherknife down from the shelf. He was obviously considering how to go about slicing off some of it.
    â€œI can do that.” Virginia walked over to the cupboard.
    â€œThanks. I should be able to do it, but—” Colter apologized.
    â€œThere’s no shame in being wounded,” Virginia said as she took up the knife and started slicing the meat.
    Patricia, meanwhile, was standing in the middle of the room, studying Colter. “Are you Danny’s father, too?”
    Virginia turned around and noticed Danny stop patting his new dog. The boy looked up with a flash of longing on his face and then bowed his head down again.
    â€œI just do the dishes,” Danny mumbled.
    â€œYou do more than just the dishes,” Virginia said indignantly as she set down the knife and put her hands on her hips. Then she realized she’d said that wrong. Danny was still looking down and she could see his misery from here. “I mean who you are is more than just someone who does the dishes.”
    There was a moment’s silence and then Colter cleared his throat.
    â€œI should have said it earlier,” he