“Are you ready?” he asked, his usual smile back in place.
Catherine forced herself to send her worrisome thoughts to the back of her mind. “I am. Do you think Mrs. Bell will like it?”
“I know she will.”
She fell into step behind him and the tree, watching as the branches sliced a path through the snow.
All would be well, she thought. Ithadto be.
Chapter Fourteen
THE LITTLE CHURCH SEEMEDto glow with the spirit of the season, and it seemed to Jonathan that Catherine’s spirit shone just as brightly. She sang along to the hymns, leading Jonathan to sing more quietly just so he could hear her.
When the service was over, Mrs. McKetrick, whose husband owned the nearest mine, turned and praised Catherine’s voice. “Please, you must join our special Christmas choir,” she said. “We need another lady to round out the number of men we have.”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Catherine looked to Jonathan, clearly embarrassed at having been caught with a beautiful voice. He didn’t understand her shyness, but he also didn’t want to push her into something that made her too uncomfortable.
“It’s your decision,” he said. “Although I’d be awfully proud to have my wife singing up front in the church on Christmas Day.”
“Please say you will,” Mrs. McKetrick added.
Catherine’s throat bobbed, and Jonathan knew she wanted to decline.
“Perhaps if you attend a rehearsal, that will help you decide?” he suggested.
Mrs. McKetrick nodded in agreement.
“Well, I suppose that won’t hurt,” Catherine said slowly. “It would be just like singing during a church service.” She didn’t sound entirely convinced, but Jonathan smiled reassuringly at her.
After a quick conversation with the doctor and another with Denzinger and his wife, they finally exited the church into a blustery morning.
“Griffin usually opens the mercantile for a few hours after church,” Jonathan said. “What do you say to a little gift shopping?”
Catherine nodded. “I’d love to purchase something for Mrs. Bell. And perhaps something for Mr. O’Rourke, since he’s been so helpful. And well . . .” She gave him a secretive smile.
“I can’t imagine anyone else you’d like to purchase a gift for,” he said. “In fact, I can’t think of anyone I’d like to buy a Christmas present—”
