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

marched down the street, her spine stiffer than a parade soldier’s. Once, she slipped on a patch of ice, but never lost her dignity, recovering her footing and continuing on.
    Elias wondered if he’d ever again nerve up his courage to try to court her.
    The sound of boyish laughter tore his attention away from Marian. Once again, the miniature horses trotted by, pulling the little red sleigh. Both boys’ faces were alight with glee.
    Daniel reined-in by the church.
    Noah climbed out of the sleigh. He lingered in conversation with the older boy for a minute, than ran over to join Elias. “Where did my grandma go?”
    Elias pointed down the street.
    Noah glanced at Marian’s retreating form and shook his head. “Uh, oh. I think you’re in the doghouse.”
    “That’s true, boy. I’ve been there for nigh on thirty years, and I tell you, the space is getting pretty cramped.”
    “Are you still coming over for cookies?”
    “Something tells me your grandma wouldn’t appreciate my presence right now.”
    “Gee.” Noah looked down and scuffed the snow. “What’re you going to do?”
    “I don’t know,” Elias said glumly, his shoulders slumping.
    The miniature sleigh with the two Thompson children inside sped down the street, heading for their ranch. A bigger sleigh with the rest of the family slid into place behind it.
    As Elias gazed after the two sleighs—large and small—an idea came to him, so big and unexpected that it almost knocked him off his feet, and he could barely fit his mind around the outlandishness of it. But a buzz of exhilaration in his belly made him realize he might have just struck gold. The very notion was daunting, yet excited him, nevertheless.
    Can I? Executing such a plan would require a mighty change—one that he’d have to live up to his whole life long.
    Might as well rope the moon , Elias borrowed a cowboy analogy, trying to give himself encouragement. Else I’ll live in the shadows for the rest of my life.
    Elias dropped a hand on Noah’s shoulder. “Don’t come over after school tomorrow. I’m going to be busy.” A smile played about his mouth. “I’m catching the train to Crenshaw. Maybe even stay overnight there for a few days.”
    Noah’s eyes lit with interest. “What you gunna do?”
    “Well, let’s just say I’m taking a leaf out of Old Saint Nick’s book.” And that of Ebenezer Scrooge, as well!
    ~ ~ ~
    On the afternoon of Christmas Eve, Marian was dressing for church and the grand opening party afterward at the new hotel. The closer she came to finishing, the more her reluctance made her drag out the process. But Noah had been on pins and needles all day, hurrying her to get ready far too early. And since the occasion seemed important to her grandson, she had. But unlike Noah, she was in no rush. She pinned a brooch made of pearls and Montana sapphires to the lace at her throat—a gift from Harold for Juliana’s birth.
    The gesture brought back memories of a fight with Elias over her purchase of a lace and ribbon collar to add to her best dress. He’d been upset that she’d spent money frivolously. His intention was for them to each be saving toward their home, for he hadn’t wanted to wed until he’d built a house for them. They’d had far too many arguments over money, along with a few over her casting supposedly flirtatious glances at other men. Ridiculous and unjust accusation! Even now the memory angered her. She’d only given friendly smiles to men she’d known all her life.
    With a huff of annoyance, Marian pushed the thought of Elias out of her mind, something that had become increasingly difficult. She glanced at a silver-framed photograph on her vanity of Juliana, Edward, and Noah—taken when the boy was a toddler, and then at another in a matching frame that was of Juliana at age sixteen.
    Marian sank onto the chair in front of the vanity and stared blankly at the photographs, her throat tight. In that moment, she doubted she could get