One Christmas Wish
It was four days before Christmas and Buck Wilmington and Vin Tanner were in the saloon enjoying a round of whiskey when Mary Travis strolled into the saloon with a small bundle in her arms.
"Miss Travis," Vin said, touching the brim of his hat. "Yer lookin' mighty purty this afternoon."
"I hope I'm not disturbing you gentlemen," Mary said sweetly, looking from Vin to Buck. "But I need your help with something."
The corners of Buck's mouth kicked up into a grin. "I reckon we can do that." And without taking his eyes off Mary, he said, "Isn't that right, Vin?"
"Sure we can," Vin agreed.
Mary shifted the bundle in her arms to the other side, gently patting the tiny calico quilt. "Thank you. I knew I could count on you gentlemen."
"What's that you got in your arms?" Buck asked Mary.
"Well, that's what I need your help with." Mary smiled brightly. From under the quilt a faint noise whirred.
Buck raised a skeptical eyebrow. "What was that sound?"
Mary stepped closer to Buck and pulled back the quilt, revealing a tiny bald head. "Isn't he just the sweetest thing you've ever seen, Buck? Can you imagine anyone abandoning such a precious little one at my doorstep? I certainly cannot. That's why I need your help looking after him for a bit."
Buck tossed his head back and laughed at the notion. "Miss Travis, I'm not the right man to look after--"
Mary placed the bundle in Buck's arms, and before he could protest, she said, "He's really no trouble at all. He's got the sweetest smile and is just so cuddly. Just look at those eyes, have you ever seen anything more innocent in your whole life? Why, Buck, you look quite at home holding him."
"Whoa there, Miss Travis, maybe you ought to find someone else to look after him." He held the baby out for Mary, but when she made no move to retrieve him, he added, "I'm not the type to be looking after a baby especially one so small. Babies need attention and they get wet and messy ...and I'm not the type of man who could change him when he needs changing."
"You'll do just fine," Mary said confidently. "He already had his feeding and shouldn't need anything until I get back from seeing Josiah."
"Why don't you take him with you?" Buck asked, not so sure of what he'd gotten himself into.
Mary started for the bat-winged doors. "I won't be gone long," she called over her shoulder, then disappeared outside.
Silence hung in the air while both Buck and Vin stared down at the baby in Buck's arms. The baby stretched out a small arm, then let out a yawn and promptly fell asleep.
"I think he's kinda cute," Vin said at last, touching the baby's plump cheek.
Buck shot Vin a look. "Here, you hold him."
Vin reared back in his chair. "Hold up Buck. I ain't any good with babies. 'Sides, he's all comfy in yer arms, don't wanna wake him and get him all riled up."
At that moment, J.D. Dunne entered the saloon and ambled over to the table where Buck and Vin sat. He lowered himself into a chair, then poured a shot of whiskey and chugged it back. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he looked over at Vin who was still watching Buck as he tried to position the baby in his arms so he wouldn't it wake up.
"Hey Buck, why didn't you tell us the good news? You're a proud papa," J.D. chirped.
"Hush yer mouth, J.D." Buck growled. "I ain't a papa. We're only doing Miss Travis a favor."
J.D. pushed his hat up his forehead. "Whom does the baby belong to?"
"Well, if we knew, we'd be taking him back to his rightful owners," Buck issued.
Vin turned to J.D. and said, "Mary found the baby. He was left behind."
"Poor little baby, " J.D. murmured. "I don't understand how anyone could leave a baby to fend for himself."
* * *
An hour later, Mary found Buck and Vin in the general store. She stood behind them, relishing how Buck looked with the baby. He was also making silly cooing sounds and showing the baby a wooden train displayed in the window.
"Now isn't that a fine train, Jared?' Buck was saying, "All boys need a toy train to play with. Course, you'll need a wooden horse, too."
"Is everything going okay?" Mary asked.
Both Buck and Vin whirled around.
"Mary," Buck said, surprised. "Didn't hear you sneak up behind us. We're just showing Jared this here train."
"Jared?"
"Well, uh, we needed something to call him while we were looking after him," Buck declared.
"And you gentlemen gave him that name?" Mary smiled, pleased that the men were taking their charge seriously. In fact, Mary never would have guessed in a thousand years that Buck would behave quite the way he was at this very moment. After all, Buck was a lady's man. He wasn't used to caring for children, let alone a baby. But, he seemed to have everything under control, and this delighted Mary very much.
"Yes, ma'am. We thought he looked like a Jared," Vin piped up.
Mary's smile was still in place. "Here, let me take him from you, Buck." She held out her arms and took the baby from him. "Seems like you've gotten along right fine with him. Thank you gentlemen for looking after him."
"It was no trouble," Buck answered. "In fact, I've gotten kind of used to the little guy being around. Any word on where his folks might be?"
Mary lowered her lashes. "I'm afraid not. I'll be taking him home with me. If nobody steps forward to claim him as their child, paperwork will be started for his adoption when the judge comes to town the day after Christmas."
Buck's brows furrowed. "Adopted? He'll be adopted out?"
"Why yes, Buck, adopted. I'm certain he'll go quickly to people who will love him and raise him up right." Mary could tell by the look in Buck's eye that this bit of information wasn't sitting well with him. "What did you think was going to happen if we couldn't locate his folks?"
Buck removed his hat and raked a hand through his hair. "Here in Four Corners?"
"Yes. And if no citizens are willing to adopt, he'll be placed with an orphanage."
Buck held up a hand. "Now hold on a second. I don't like the idea of him going to an orphanage."
"Nor do I, Mr. Wilmington. Now, short from a miracle happening, all we can do is pray."
Buck looked at Mary for a long moment. "Tis the season for miracles, Miss Travis." And with that, he strode to the front door and headed outside to the boardwalk.
* * *
Three days had gone by and still no word about the whereabouts of the baby's parents. It was just after nine o 'clock that evening on Christmas Eve, when Buck rapped on the front to Mary's house.
"Mr. Wilmington," Mary said, opening the door, surprised to see him.
"May I come in?"
Mary held the door open. "I've got some wassail simmering. Can I get you a cup?"
"Mighty obliged," Buck said walking through the threshold. "Where's Jared?"
"Asleep. I have him by the fireplace to keep him warm," Mary replied, then headed to the kitchen.
Alone, Buck gazed around the living room. It was cozy. Warm. Inviting. Mary had decorated for Christmas with boughs of cedar and golden bows wrapped around the staircase, draped over picture frames and over the doorway. And the centerpiece: A 6-foot noble fir presided in the corner of the living room, decked with ribbons, cookies, and paper ornaments. Under the tree, she had placed nine presents, some wrapped in fabric and others in wall paper.
Buck removed his hat, then took four steps toward the fireplace and stopped dead in his tracks. The baby was snuggled under that same small calico quilt and laying on his back in a wooden cradle with his tiny head poking out. Buck moved closer, watching as the quilt rose and fell with each breath the baby took. Except for the crackling of the wood in the fireplace, all was quiet in the small living room and he just stood there, watching the baby.
A minute or two later, Mary was back with a silver tray with two china cups and saucers. "Here you are. Sure is cold out there tonight."
"That it is," Buck agreed. He took the cup Mary offered him. "Any word on Jared's folks."
Mary sat down in the rocking chair. "A telegram arrived today from a lady who read the article I ran in the newspaper. She claims to be the sister to the baby's mother. She also said her sister is very ill and is dying and she was going back home a week ago."
"I take it she didn't make it home."
Mary took a sip of her wassail, then set the cup on the saucer. "That much I don't know."
"There has to be more to the story than that. A mother abandoning her child because she's dying, there's something missing here. She could've sent for relatives. Made arrangements. Anything."
"I agree. But if the mother, or relatives, don't come forward, I'll have to turn him over to--"
"Someone will come forward," Buck said with a nod. "It's nearly Christmas." He moved toward the window, drawing back the heavy curtain and stared out at the stars winking in the sky.
The baby started whimpering and quickly Mary rose from the rocking chair to comfort the little one.
"There, there," she said, rubbing his back in small, rhythmic motions. "If you'll excuse me a moment, I'll need to warm some milk for him."
Buck watched as Mary made her way back to the kitchen with the baby nestled in her arms. The tiny cherub had immediately stopped crying once she had picked him up.
Mary was good with the baby. And, she was a good mother to her son Billy. She knew how to soothe a child, make him feel loved. But she was right about what she had told Buck earlier in the day, that the baby deserved to be with his family. Or at least two people who were willing to care for him. A mother and father. Mary's own son didn't even live with her and how could she take on raising this child, alone?
Buck gazed out into the night once again. In the distance, lights flickered from windows in nearby houses. In the sky, one bright star out shone all the others. He closed his eyes, silently making one Christmas wish for the precious child in the other room that he would go to a good home before the judge came to town the day after tomorrow.
An hour later, Mary saw Buck to the door. "Christmas dinner here tomorrow at two o'clock. I'm roasting a turkey with all the trimmings."
"We'll be here," Buck replied, referring to himself and his six good friends, who together, helped keep the law in Four Corners.
"Good night. Sweet dreams," Mary said softly.
Buck reached out and touched the tiny hand of the baby Mary still held in her arms. "You sure you don't want me staying so you can get some rest, Mary? I could sleep on the couch and look after Jared."
"I'll be fine," Mary said, a pretty smile gracing her lips. "See you tomorrow. Now you be sure Mr. Larabee comes."
"I will," Buck promised.
* * *
The next afternoon, the dining room was crowded with the seven men and Mary sitting around the lavishly decorated table set for Christmas dinner. Beside Mary was the wooden cradle where the sleeping baby lay.
"You sure out did yourself, Miss Travis," J.D. complimented.
"An exceptionally wonderful meal you have prepared for this fine feast, and certainly fit for a king," Ezra Standish put in.
"Ain't ever tasted a more savory turkey, and these sweet potatoes remind me of my mama's," Nathan Jackson added.
Mary smiled at all the compliments. "I'm happy we're all together on Christmas."
Dinner was a noisy and joyful affair while they chatted about the days events and the happenings around town that would be going on later that evening. Earlier in the week, Mary had placed signs on the pine posts, inviting the townsfolk to go caroling. About half of the citizens would be coming to her house later in the evening, and then they would make their way through town, singing.
A knock sounded at the door.
"You expecting someone?" Chris Larabee asked Mary.
Mary shook her head, then excused herself to go answer the door. All the men rose, then took their seats again when she left the room.
A few minutes later Mary returned. "Gentlemen, I'd like to introduce to you, Miss Tabitha Duncan," she said.
Seven pairs of eyes eyes fell on the lady standing beside Mary.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your Christmas dinner," the other woman said, pushing back a lock of stray hair from under her bonnet. "But I've come to get my nephew."
Seven pairs of eyes looked toward Mary, then back at Miss Tabitha Duncan, who was now wringing her hands at all the attention falling upon her.
"Miss Duncan, you've traveled all this way, won't you sit down and have dinner with us?" Mary said, turning to the pretty young lady on her left. "There certainly is plenty."
"I'd be mighty obliged," Tabitha said. "And please, call me Tabitha.
Mary rushed to get an extra chair from the corner, moved it to the table beside Buck, and he immediately stood to push in Tabitha's chair.
J.D. took a sip of wine, then said, "How do we know you're really Jared's aunt."
Mary shot J.D. a look, then took her seat. "Tabitha has explained the situation to me."
"And what is that?" Buck asked, leaning back in his chair. He looked to Tabitha, who sat primly beside him. "Please, go on, tell us."
Tabitha cleared her throat. "My sister was brought home yesterday. I'm sorry to say that she died from consumption," she paused to wipe a tear now coursing down her cheek. "She was moving North, for the cool, fresh air with her husband, just like the doctor suggested. But, my brother- in-law was shot and killed two weeks ago and my sister, Rose, was making her way back home.
"I didn't get Rose's telegram until a couple days ago, otherwise I would have sent for her and my nephew immediately." Tabitha reached for the glass of water Mary had set in front of her, then took a long drink. "Rose was too ill to travel alone, much less care for her baby. But, she said that she had left him on a doorstep of a lady whom she knew would find a good home for Daniel." She looked over at Mary."Was that lady you?"
Mary's chin came up. "Yes. But I don't recall meeting Rose. I would have remembered, especially Jar--Daniel."
"Well, obviously she thought mighty high of you, to entrust her infant son in your care," Tabitha smiled.
Mary's eyes welled with tears. "Tabitha, would you like to go caroling with us this evening?"
"I would be honored."
Buck rose from his chair and quietly left the room. When he returned, he held a box wrapped in fabric and a fancy gold bow. He handed it to Tabitha.
"What's this?'Tabitha asked, accepting the box from Buck.
"It's just a little something I got for Daniel," Buck replied. "He was asleep when we opened presents. Why don't you open it for him."
Slowly, Tabitha unthreaded the long ribbon, then unwrapped the fabric. Opening the box, she peered inside before retrieving a wooden train.
Buck met her gaze. "He likes trains. All little boys need a wooden train to play with."
"I'll see to it he knows who it came from," Tabitha pledged. "We'll be leaving in the morning."
"Tabitha," Buck said, rounding the table to peer down at the sleeping baby in the wooden cradle. "I'd be happy to accompanying you home on the stagecoach to see that you arrive safely."
"I would be honored. What a perfect Christmas this has been."
"Indeed it has," Buck replied with a grin.
~* The End*~
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