The Christmas Vow Read Online Free PDF

with bright green eyes swishing his tail from his box beside the stove.
    The feline was cantankerous and ornery on a good day, but Tia put up with the animal because Toby loved it. She’d also seen the cat protect Toby from a stray dog that ran into their yard and almost bit him. From out of nowhere, Crabby sailed through the air and landed on the dog’s back in a fury of claws and flying fur.
    Although the cat tolerated her presence, it rolled over and purred the moment Toby knelt by his box and stroked a hand over his head. “I started Crabby’s motor, Mama.”
    Tia grinned as she washed the breakfast dishes. “You most certainly did. Do you think Crabby will ever let a grown up make him purr?”
    “Nope. He only likes kids.” Toby filled the cat’s dish with food and poured fresh water into a deep bowl then resumed petting Crabby. “He likes Erin and Maura.”
    “Yes, he does.” Tia had watched the finicky feline let the pastor’s little girl and Maura Granger practically maul him with attention. Docilely, he sat and purred, not so much as swishing his tail or cocking an ear. Yet, the moment Chauncy bent over to pet him, Crabby hissed and ran off to hide beneath Toby’s bed.
    When Tia finished the dishes, she sent Toby off to comb his hair and brush his teeth while she changed her dress and tidied her hair.
    After digging through her things at the back of the closet, she found a pair of winter carriage boots trimmed with fur and lined with lamb’s wool for warmth. She sat on the end of her bed and pulled them on her feet, tying the black silk ribbons before moving to stand in front of her dresser mirror.
    Quickly pinning on a black hat with an emerald plume, she slipped on her favorite wool coat. The dark green fabric accented with hand-painted roses and fur collar had been the last Christmas gift she’d received from Patrick.
    One thing she couldn’t deny was that he’d possessed excellent taste in fashion. Over the years, he’d provided so many lovely clothes for her, she often wondered if he viewed her as a life-sized doll.
    Casting aside her memories and musings, she picked up a pair of gloves and her reticule then hurried down the hall to the kitchen. Toby talked to Crabby as the two of them looked outside.
    The cat jumped down from his perch on the windowsill and sauntered to the door. He looked back at Tia once with a narrowed gaze before staring at the door.
    “Yes, your highness. The message you’d like out has been clearly conveyed.” Tia opened the door. The cat gingerly stepped across the porch and behind the house, disappearing into the bushes.
    Toby struggled to button his coat with his mittens already on his hands.
    “Here, sweetheart. Let me help.” Tia knelt in front of him.
    Toby patted her cheeks with his wool-covered fingers as she buttoned his coat then pulled a knit cap onto his head and down over his ears. Before he could run outside, she wrapped a small red scarf around his neck. “Ready to go?”
    “Yep! Let’s go, Mama. I want to see if Pastor Chauncy let Erin make a snowman in her yard.” Toby grabbed her hand and pulled as Tia closed the door. She followed him down the steps and across the backyard to the boardwalk.
    She listened to his lively chatter as they strolled toward the heart of town. Some of the industrious men in Hardman had already cleared most of the snow from the boardwalk. Tia wondered if Adam helped since Arlan was often among those who picked up a shovel and cleared away the snow.
    Lost in the vision of Adam’s muscular arms hefting a shovel full of snow, she and Toby walked around the corner near the mercantile and plowed into a solid form.
    Hands reached out to steady her then immediately pulled back, but not before Tia caught the look of distress on Adam Guthry’s face.
    “Oh!” Tia reached up to straighten her hat as Toby tugged on her sleeve. She looked down at him while he stared at Adam.
    “Mama, that’s the mad-sad man.” His whisper