“Again!” he demanded.
Hannah watched them a moment, her heart almost bursting with the sweet image they made together. When Rafe finally set Danieldown to take off his coat, she looked out the window at the frosty afternoon. Her breath fogged the glass, and she used her sleeve to wipe it clean.
The entire world was white outside, looking even more incredible than she could have imagined it in the summer, six years ago, when she’d first arrived in Perseverance. She sighed, resting her chin on her hand as she watched the snowflakes swirl around.
A pair of strong arms wrapped themselves around her middle, and she leaned happily back against Rafe’s chest.
“Admiring the dull and frozen landscape again?” he asked, his breath warm against her ear.
“It may be frozen, but it’s far from dull. Look, isn’t it pretty how the snow dances in the sunlight like that?”
“There will only be sunlight for one more hour,” Rafe said sullenly.
“And when you step into town, it looks so clean and perfect. It hides all the mud and filth and dirt.”
“Until it melts and mixes with the mud, filth, and dirt to make more mud, filth, and dirt,” he said.
Hannah turned around to look up at him. “You, sir, are no fun in the winter.” She pointed a finger at his chest.
He laughed and kissed her forehead. “I promise to be fun when I take the boys sledding at Prospect Mound. For a little while, anyhow.”
“I know you keep your promises, so I’m looking forward to seeing that.” She reached up and ran a thumb over a wet lock of his hair that had been unprotected from the snow. She couldn’t wait to see Rafe tumbling into the snow with Seth and Daniel, over and over and over. While she and baby Tally snuggled together in a warm coat watching it all happen.
“Daddy!”
Hannah glanced down to find Daniel handing something up to Rafe.
“What’s that?” Rafe asked, dropping his hands from where they’d rested around Hannah.
Hannah threw a hand over her face. Daniel held the new pocketwatch she’d ordered specially at the general store to replace the one Rafe had lost on a trek up into the mountains three months ago.
“Danny, honey, that’s Daddy’s Christmas gift. We’re supposed to give that to him on Christmas morning,” she said.
“It’s for Daddy. Time.” Daniel shook the watch, almost dropping it in the process.
“That’s right,” Rafe said as he reached down to take the watch before his son broke it. “It tells time. Thank you, Danny. I love it.” He squatted down to hug the little boy, who looked entirely pleased with himself.
As Daniel scampered off to play, Rafe stood up and handed the pocketwatch back to Hannah. “Here. Wrap it up and give it to me on Christmas so Seth can be there for it too.”
Hannah took the watch from him. “I’m sorry your surprise was ruined.”
“It wasn’t ruined. It’s never ruined when it comes from any of you.” He tucked an escaping length of hair behind her ear. “And I love it. It’s much nicer than my old one.”
Hannah smiled, happy to have chosen something he liked.
“I suppose I should let you in on a secret too,” he said.
“A secret?”
“I meant to keep it for Christmas, but since I know what I’m getting, it’s only fair you know what you’re getting.” He grinned at her, clearly unable to hold it in. Hannah couldn’t imagine what it was.She wouldn’t mind having a new sewing basket, or maybe a pretty looking glass to hang on the wall.
“How do you feel about a larger kitchen?” he asked.
“A larger . . . but how?” Hannah glanced at their kitchen, tucked into the corner of the room.
“I talked to a few men in town. Come this spring, we’re going to add on two rooms in the rear of the house. One will be a kitchen, and the other will be a bedroom.”
Hannah’s mouth fell open. She couldn’t imagine how much that might cost. And the space! What would they do with all that room?
