Sweetwater Springs Scrooge: A Montana Sky Holiday Short Story (The Montana Sky Series) Read Online Free PDF

that she turned her head to look at him. But even though she needed glasses to thread a needle, nothing was wrong with her side vision, and she watched Elias far too often.
    The church service, normally an enjoyable experience, had never seemed so long. Finally, Reverend Norton pronounced the benediction.
    Marian suppressed a sigh of relief. She glanced over at the neighboring pew, expecting to see Elias fleeing as usual. But instead of slipping out after Reverend Norton uttered the blessing, the man waited to file out with the rest of the congregation, which forced her to acknowledge him with a polite smile and gracious nod.
    Noah popped out of their pew to stand in front of Elias. “Hello, Mr. Masters. Glad you made it.” The boy’s ears practically wiggled as he glanced back and forth between his grandmother and Elias.
    Her grandson was in obvious matchmaking mode. She sent the child a stern glance that didn’t seem to quell his spirits one bit.
    “Mornin’, Noah. Marian.” Elias touched his hat to her, his hazel eyes warm.
    Her stomach tightened. She glanced away, then straightened her shoulders and met his gaze. “Good morning, Elias. I’m glad to see you in church.” Marian’s tone was as stiff as her body. She didn’t mean to sound unwelcoming, but this whole situation felt so awkward, especially since curious churchgoers had stopped to observe them. She gestured to Noah to head down the aisle, hoping to leave Elias behind. But the annoying man stayed right with her.
    They stepped outside, and she was grateful for the cold air cooling her cheeks.
    Instead of running off to play, Noah stayed by them. “Grandma made oatmeal cookies, Mr. Masters. Why don’t you come over and have some?”
    Little scamp! He’s due for a severe scolding as soon as we get home. “I’m sure Mr. Masters has other things to do,” Marian said in a repressive tone barely able to meet Elias’s gaze.
    “That sounds fine.” Elias gave her a warm smile, acting as if she’d extended him a cordial invitation. “I always loved your oatmeal cookies.”
    His words brought back memories of all the times she’d made oatmeal cookies—his favorite—when she expected him to come over, timing the baking so they’d still be warm when he arrived.
    Apparently satisfied with his matchmaking, Noah flashed them an impudent grin and ran off to join his friends, Daniel and Christine Thompson, who’d driven to church in a tiny sleigh pulled by the miniature horses owned by their mother. Normally Marian would have followed him, for the small Falabellas, one gray and one black, charmed her just as much as they did her grandson. But now, she was too discomforted by Elias’s presence to move.
    He extended his elbow to her. “Let me walk you home.”
    Conscious of the gazes upon them, Marian could hardly refuse such a gallant gesture, but oh how she wanted to. The buzz of gossip from the people around them made her ears burn. She knew their thirty-years-ago courtship would be the topic of conversation around the Sunday dinner tables of Sweetwater Springs as people speculated what would happen next. She could have told them if she’d been so inclined. Nothing will happen! Begrudgingly, she took his arm.
    Marian remained quiet until they moved out of earshot, not only to avoid being overheard, but because her resentment of Elias’s unexpected behavior had stolen her voice. Finally, she thought of the kitten waiting at home and realized she needed to thank him, although the words stuck in her craw. “Haggai is quite the addition to our household. Thank you.”
    His eyebrows drew together in puzzlement, then smoothed out. He laughed. “I’m glad to hear it.”
    The laughter brightening his usually dour expression stunned her, and Marian’s stomach dipped. “The kitten’s been sleeping with my grandson,” she said calmly, trying to hide from Elias his affect on her. “I found him curled up on the pillow next to Noah’s head. Not like