Jillian Hart by Sara's Gift (A Christmas Novella) Page B

room ought to make her feel wanted, as it had yesterday, but today she wanted only to escape. Please let the train come this morning.
    "Your breakfast is getting cold," Connie reminded her gently. "We want to hear more about last night. Mary told us she played Christmas songs for you."
    "Yes, she did." Sara forced cheer into her voice. "She's a very talented little girl."
    "Nah, I just practice a lot," Mary denied, but pride beamed along her soft face, pink with pleasure. "Pa said my ma played the piano and she was real good."
    Sara sunk down into her chair, her heart sinking like lead. "Is that why you wanted to learn?"
    "Yep. Pa said my ma learned in New York with an important teacher."
    "I never knew your mother, but I saw her a few times." Sara forced the words past the pain in her throat. "She was a nice lady and very pretty. I'm sure she was talented at everything she did."
    "You know what my ma looked like?"
    "Sara grew up in the same town as your pa and I did," Connie told Mary. "But I'm very glad she came our way."
    Sara felt the tenderness of those words and saw the compassion etched on Connie's face. Her heart rocked to a stop as realization struck. She knew. Connie knew the truth and didn't blame, didn't suspect.
    Overcome, Sara grabbed her teacup and found it cooled, but drank anyway, one sip after another, willing the grateful tears away.
    "I can still hop over to the telegraph office," Jim volunteered, relentless in his kindness.
    Sara suspected he did not know her secret. "I wish I could ask you to, but I can't."
    "Well, we hate to see you go." Connie reached for the teapot and filled Sara's cup. "But Missoula isn't so far away and we could write each other. Would you like that?"
    "Very much."
    "After all, it's fun to keep in touch. I could let you know how Jim and I are getting along. And tell you all that Mary is up to."
    Sara set down the cup with a rattle, speechless at what Connie offered.
    "Yeah, I'm up to a whole lot of things." Mary grabbed the jar of huckleberry jam and dipped her spoon in it. "I get a pony as soon as I'm five."
    "A pony?" The words caught in Sara's throat.
    "Yep. And I'm gonna learn to ride. And I want to learn to sew like you. And next year I getta start school."
    "I know you are going to be my best student," Jim offered, scraping the fork against his plate.
    "Pa says I'm smart like my ma."
    "And as pretty, too," Connie added, her gaze landing on Sara.
    Her chest hurt, her heart felt ready to shatter. How she wanted to belong here.
    But Sara knew she didn't. She had to leave now while she still could find the strength to walk out that door.

    Sara Mercer was all Gabe could think about that morning when he showed up at the office, where Clancy had the stove roaring and the coffee boiling. Still waiting on word from the railroad crew, his deputy explained, but it looked as if the tracks were clear. A crew of men, hired just to shovel snow, had returned to town about an hour ago.
    Looked as if the train was going to beat the storm. Gabe glanced up from his desk, considering the northern horizon rimmed with gunmetal gray clouds. Maybe Sara was going to be able to leave, just as she wanted.
    The front door swung open, bringing with it the crisp rush of a northern wind. "Sheriff. Got news on the train."
    "Jesse Garrett. Come in and warm yourself. Feels like the temperature's dropping."
    "It is. And I've come a long ways, galloped my mare all the way from the pass." The young man, his face pale from the cold, took the wooden chair Gabe offered and gratefully collapsed into it in front of the stove.
    "Should I spread word the train is coming?"
    "Not yet it ain't." Jesse tugged off his wool cap. "The engine's broke. Got a part being rushed out of Billings. Will take all day to repair."
    "You don't say."
    Gabe considered this new piece of information. Sara might not think she was right for him and Mary, but he could not deny the situation. The forces that be wanted to keep Sara in Moose Creek,