I am so sorry for the delay - hope everyone is staying safe!
There was a crispness to the air as Molly walked with Buck toward the Saloon. He'd assured her that everyone made it through unscathed, if not worried for being separated. Deacon Kay stopped just a head of them outside the hotel and turned to watch them approach.
"Ms. O'Rourke, I wanted to take the opportunity, in case I don't see you later, to wish you a Merry Christmas." He turned toward Buck. "You must be the Mr. Willimington I heard about. I don't think I have to tell you how lucky you are."
"That you don't. I'm grateful to you for staying with her."
"It wasn't a hardship," Deacon responded, directing a smile toward Molly. She felt Buck tense underneath her arm.
"Buck, we should get to the others," she said, pulling on his arm toward the saloon. "Merry Christmas, Mr. Kay."
"Did he try anything?" Buck asked.
"He's as much a rogue as you are," Molly retorted.
"Molly..." Buck's tone held a warning edge to it. She stopped and stood in front of him.
"I'm not sure whether to be flattered or insulted but I'm leaning toward insulted. He's not the first man whose advances I've had to discourage," she said, crossing her arms over her chest. "And to be clear, he may have tried, and wasn't subtle in the least, but nothing happened."
"There you are, cherie," Lily's voice came from behind them. "Come on inside and warm up with some tea." Without waiting for a response from Buck, Molly turned and smiled at Lily and walked into the saloon.
Molly refreshed herself after the long night with tea and conversation with the other ladies. They each offered to help Lily with the meal she planned on having after service that night. After taking a short nap, Molly changed into a dark green and brown dress and walked with Mary and Billy toward the church for service. The men of the town had cleared paths in the street and along the sidewalks. Lanterns were lit in windows and those who were out seemed in a festive mood. Mary hurried ahead to keep up with Billy who took off in a run toward several other children. She watched as Buck walked out of the boarding house he lived in. As if sensing he was being watched, he turned toward her and smiled when he saw her. That smile of his always had the effect of making her knees slightly weak, especially when he placed it against her skin...feeling her face heat at the images going through her mind she returned the smile and walked toward him.
"Merry Christmas, Mr. Willimington," she said in a light tone. The light in his eyes changed and Molly realized he knew what she'd been thinking. He pulled her toward him and against the building as he kissed her.
"Miss O'Rourke," he said against her mouth. "I've been waiting all day to do that." He leaned in for another kiss and Molly pulled away, placing a gloved hand over his mouth.
"And you'll have to wait longer for anything else. Service will be starting soon."
"We could have our own service," Buck nodded toward the door of the boarding house. Everyone would be at the church. They'd be alone, a rarity since they'd been back in town away from Mr. Larabee's cabin.
"You are right next door to a perfect heathen," Molly scolded good naturedly.
"I do have a present for you," he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled something from it. "I didn't get a chance to wrap it," he handed it to her. It was a copy of Little Women. Dora had let her read her copy of it years before and it was a favorite. How Buck could know that Molly had no idea. The cover of the book was embossed black leather and had to have cost him a small fortune. The bell rang at the church singling that the service was about to start. Molly reached up and kissed Buck before pressing the book to her heart with one hand, grabbing his hand with the other and hurrying down the road to the church.
