Read Online The Christmas Vow by Shanna Hatfield - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Shanna Hatfield
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Toby?
The Tia he remembered would have sent the man a scathing note telling him what she thought of his high-handed behavior in no uncertain terms.
The grown-up Tia, though, seemed more inclined to suggest demurely she didn’t appreciate the judge’s plans.
Adam wondered when Tia had lost her fire or if being part of the proper and snobby Devereux family had just banked the embers.
Annoyed that he cared, he set the book aside and got to his feet. In need of physical exertion, he’d gone outside for a walk.
Without conscious thought, his feet carried him past Tia’s house. When he saw Toby outside struggling to make a snowman on his own, Adam stopped to assist him. The next thing he knew, he’d agreed to stay for a cup of hot chocolate.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” Adam asked, stepping behind Tia as she mixed the melted chocolate into the hot milk.
“If you wouldn’t mind taking down the mugs, I’d appreciate it. You’ll find them in that cupboard, there.” She jutted her chin in the direction of a cupboard near the sink. Adam lifted out three mugs. One he recalled from when they were kids because Tia always wanted to drink out of it.
Creamy white with a chip in the handle, a pattern of deep pink roses decorated the side of the cup. It appeared Tia valued the sentiment of the piece more than she did having a cupboard full of matching dishes.
Adam set the mugs on the counter and watched as Tia filled them with the steaming hot chocolate. She added a dollop of cream to one and stirred it in as Toby raced back into the kitchen with his hair combed and hands scrubbed.
Tia placed the mug with the cream in front of Toby then grabbed the rose-emblazoned mug, handing the last one to Adam.
Nearly as quick as she took a seat, she popped back up, arranged cookies on a plate, and set it in the center of the table along with three napkins.
She handed Toby a cookie then held the plate out to Adam. He accepted one of the sugar cookies and took a bite before sipping the hot chocolate.
Toby was right. His mama did make really good hot chocolate. Unlike many people who scrimped either on the chocolate or sugar, this drink was rich and sweet.
Rather like the woman who made it.
Adam groaned inwardly and redirected his thoughts away from how enticing Tia looked with her hair in a loose bun and a smudge of flour on her cheek. His fingers itched to reach out and brush it away, so he finished his cookie and wrapped them around the cup of hot chocolate.
Toby filled the silence with his chatter. When Adam mentioned that he piloted boats down the river, the little boy scurried to his room and returned clutching a book in his hand. He set it down next to Adam and climbed on his lap without hesitation.
Page by page, Toby went through the different types of boats, pointing out which ones he liked best and why.
“I see you’ve got a sailor in the making on your hands,” Adam observed, offering Tia his dimple-cheeked grin and a wink before returning his attention to Toby.
Flabbergasted by Adam’s easy manner with her son, Tia’s tongue felt tied in knots. She studied the dark-haired man bending over to peruse her golden-headed child’s book.
“That’s a steam schooner.” Adam pointed to a picture then to another. “And a sternwheeler.”
“Have you been on a schooner, Mr. Adam?” Toby asked, turning his gaze from the book to the man who intrigued him.
“I sure have, Toby, and a sternwheeler. If it travels on the water, I’ve probably piloted it at some point. Most often, I pilot big ships coming inland from the sea to Portland and barges carrying wheat. Did you know that a large portion of the nation’s wheat crop, and even a percentage of the world’s wheat, is grown right here in Oregon?”
“It is?” Toby’s voice held a note of wonder as he gazed at Adam.
“It sure is.” Adam watched as Toby returned his attention to the book and pointed to a canoe.
“Have you ever been in one of
The Tia he remembered would have sent the man a scathing note telling him what she thought of his high-handed behavior in no uncertain terms.
The grown-up Tia, though, seemed more inclined to suggest demurely she didn’t appreciate the judge’s plans.
Adam wondered when Tia had lost her fire or if being part of the proper and snobby Devereux family had just banked the embers.
Annoyed that he cared, he set the book aside and got to his feet. In need of physical exertion, he’d gone outside for a walk.
Without conscious thought, his feet carried him past Tia’s house. When he saw Toby outside struggling to make a snowman on his own, Adam stopped to assist him. The next thing he knew, he’d agreed to stay for a cup of hot chocolate.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” Adam asked, stepping behind Tia as she mixed the melted chocolate into the hot milk.
“If you wouldn’t mind taking down the mugs, I’d appreciate it. You’ll find them in that cupboard, there.” She jutted her chin in the direction of a cupboard near the sink. Adam lifted out three mugs. One he recalled from when they were kids because Tia always wanted to drink out of it.
Creamy white with a chip in the handle, a pattern of deep pink roses decorated the side of the cup. It appeared Tia valued the sentiment of the piece more than she did having a cupboard full of matching dishes.
Adam set the mugs on the counter and watched as Tia filled them with the steaming hot chocolate. She added a dollop of cream to one and stirred it in as Toby raced back into the kitchen with his hair combed and hands scrubbed.
Tia placed the mug with the cream in front of Toby then grabbed the rose-emblazoned mug, handing the last one to Adam.
Nearly as quick as she took a seat, she popped back up, arranged cookies on a plate, and set it in the center of the table along with three napkins.
She handed Toby a cookie then held the plate out to Adam. He accepted one of the sugar cookies and took a bite before sipping the hot chocolate.
Toby was right. His mama did make really good hot chocolate. Unlike many people who scrimped either on the chocolate or sugar, this drink was rich and sweet.
Rather like the woman who made it.
Adam groaned inwardly and redirected his thoughts away from how enticing Tia looked with her hair in a loose bun and a smudge of flour on her cheek. His fingers itched to reach out and brush it away, so he finished his cookie and wrapped them around the cup of hot chocolate.
Toby filled the silence with his chatter. When Adam mentioned that he piloted boats down the river, the little boy scurried to his room and returned clutching a book in his hand. He set it down next to Adam and climbed on his lap without hesitation.
Page by page, Toby went through the different types of boats, pointing out which ones he liked best and why.
“I see you’ve got a sailor in the making on your hands,” Adam observed, offering Tia his dimple-cheeked grin and a wink before returning his attention to Toby.
Flabbergasted by Adam’s easy manner with her son, Tia’s tongue felt tied in knots. She studied the dark-haired man bending over to peruse her golden-headed child’s book.
“That’s a steam schooner.” Adam pointed to a picture then to another. “And a sternwheeler.”
“Have you been on a schooner, Mr. Adam?” Toby asked, turning his gaze from the book to the man who intrigued him.
“I sure have, Toby, and a sternwheeler. If it travels on the water, I’ve probably piloted it at some point. Most often, I pilot big ships coming inland from the sea to Portland and barges carrying wheat. Did you know that a large portion of the nation’s wheat crop, and even a percentage of the world’s wheat, is grown right here in Oregon?”
“It is?” Toby’s voice held a note of wonder as he gazed at Adam.
“It sure is.” Adam watched as Toby returned his attention to the book and pointed to a canoe.
“Have you ever been in one of