Free The Christmas Bargain by Shanna Hatfield Page A

few times I’ve been sick since I’ve been in his employ, Luke either came to see me to make sure I’ve not passed on to glory, or he sends some little something from the mercantile. He’s a very generous and caring person.”
    Philamena had experienced some of that generosity and caring herself, so she just nodded her head in agreement.
    Finishing with the front rooms of the house, they moved on to the library then Luke’s room. Before Philamena could stop her, Mrs. Kellogg opened the guest room door and saw all of Philamena’s things.
    “Not that it’s any of a bossy old woman’s business, but it doesn’t appear that you and Luke are sharing a room,” Mrs. Kellogg said, stepping out of the room and closing the door. “If I was a young pretty thing like you married to a handsome man like your husband, I sure wouldn’t be sleeping down the hall from him.”
    Philamena blushed and swallowed hard. How did she explain to this kind, albeit nosy woman, that Luke had married her to settle a debt?  Trying to think of a tactful way to change the subject, Philamena felt tears sting the back of her eyes.
    Mrs. Kellogg sensed her discomfort and put an arm around her waist, leading her toward the kitchen. Pointing to a chair at the table, Mrs. Kellogg made them each a cup of tea while Philamena sat down and swiped at her tears.
    “If you want to tell me what’s wrong, that’s fine. What you say won’t go any further than this room. If you don’t, that’s fine, too. We all have things we rather keep to ourselves than share with others, although sometimes sharing lifts our burdens just a bit.”
    At the older woman’s encouraging smile, Philamena found herself telling the whole story to Mrs. Kellogg right down to her being a bargaining tool her father used to settle his debt with Luke.
    “Oh, dearie, you poor thing,” Mrs. Kellogg said, wiping her own eyes as Philamena finished her story. “Don’t you worry. Luke’s a smart man and it won’t take him long to figure out he got the best end of that bargain. Not long at all.”
    “What do you mean, Mrs. Kellogg?” Philamena asked, confused at the housekeeper’s words.
    “What I mean is that you just keep being your sweet self and don’t worry about a thing,” Mrs. Kellogg said, a smile wreathing her face as she pictured Luke falling in love with his wife. If he was even half as intelligent as she thought he was, he’d be head over heels for the girl before Christmas. “Your husband is about to learn the value of a good wife.”
     

Chapter Five
     
    Glancing out the bank window, Luke saw Philamena walk by carrying a bundle in her arms. She paused for a moment on the sidewalk in front of the bank and lifted her hand in a quick wave before continuing on toward home. He knew she couldn’t see him through the barred windows, but was pleased she would wave, in case he was watching. He’d seen Abby do that in front of the church many times and knew that was where Philamena got the idea.
    When his growling stomach alerted him it was time for lunch, Luke asked Harlan, his assistant, to take care of the afternoon business and lock up at five sharp.
    The sun was shining and it was unseasonably warm for November. Wanting to take advantage of the nice weather, he quickly made plans for the afternoon and hoped Philamena would be agreeable to his ideas.
    In the days since he wed Philamena, Luke had yet to find something she was disagreeable about. Polite, quiet, thoughtful and genteel, Luke knew her mother must have taught her well before she died.
    Although he had initially expected their marriage to be only a way for her father to pay his debt, Luke found himself looking forward to spending time with his bride. She was intelligent and, much to his surprise, quite witty when she allowed herself to come out of her shell. At dinner the night before, she made a comment that nearly made him fall out of his chair in laughter.
    Strolling home, Luke found himself whistling a