Boone moved to Donella’s side and held her hand. He thought she must be beside herself for her brother to be missing. He was torn between want to stay here with her and going on the search to find him.

The door swung open and shut as available men from town joined them in the restaurant at Hearth and Home.

Marshall KC stood before them. “We’re going to be looking for two now—Michael Turley and the Crowthers have reported Rita missing as well.” He divided them into teams of three. “You men take the west side of town. That group will take the south and follow Willow Creek up the east side. The rest you search the businesses and see if they waited out the storm in one of those. Let’s get going. Report back in a half hour.”

Isla whistled, and the gathered crowd turned her way. “Doesn’t anyone else think it’s a little too much of a coincidence that Michael and Rita are both lost in the snow storm?”

Boone didn’t think so, but he looked around. It didn’t seem as if anyone else did either.

She continued. “They’ve been courting for months, and no one thinks they’re together?”

“They haven’t been courting at all,” Lissy said. “She’s younger than me. You didn’t let her start courting, did you?” She pinned her parents with a stare.

“And you’re younger than me,” Penny said.

Rita’s mother shook her head. “Of course we didn’t.”

Mr. Crowther, however, raised his hand to stop the bickering. “I might have given Michael my blessing.”

“Well, that’s out of the bag now,” Isla said. “They’ve been sweet on each other for months. I’ve seen them sneak a kiss in every corner of this town.”

“I think I’ve seen that too,” Donella confirmed.

Mrs. Crowther’s face was red when she blurted, “Well, where are they then?”

“We still need that search party,” KC said. “Be back here in half an hour.”

“Boone,” Donella said. “I need to go to the train station to check on Jaron Creel’s broken leg. Would you be able to walk me there?”

Boone knew he’d dumped a lot of responsibility on Holt for their projects lately and looked at his brother. Boone knew what he was going to do and apparently Holt did too. He rolled his eyes, and Boone said, “Yes, ma’am. I’d be happy to.”

He waited until she returned with her medical bag and then walked her down Main Street in the crisp morning air. The sun shone off the new snow, making the day brighter.

As they walked along, Donella commented, “Fresh snow always makes our town seem clean and tidy. In a few days it will be a muddy or frozen mess though. I’m glad we get to see it this way today.”

Was she coping with her brother’s disappearance by talking about something so normal? If so, he’d help her. “Are you getting used to Colorado weather?” Boone asked. He looked for any signs of worry in her face, but didn’t see any.

“I’m ambivalent about it still. I don’t like the cold, but I do love the snow.” Donella stopped, jerking on his arm as he continued to move. “Michael!” She waved at a couple coming out of the passenger station and quickened her pace to catch them before they walked into the street.

When she was within arm’s reach she threw her arms around her brother for a tight hug. Then she stepped back and slapped him on the shoulder. “You scared the wits out of us,” then she turned to the young woman beside him.

Boone knew she had to be the daughter the Crowthers reported missing. The girls all looked the same.

“And your parents are beside themselves with fear for you too.” Without even a pause, she threw her arms around the young woman, then she added. “I suppose you’re Mrs. Turley now. Welcome to the family. You can find your parents and sisters at Hearth and Home.”

“Thank you,” Rita replied with a blush. “We had planned to send a telegram, but the lines were down. I’m so sorry to frighten everyone.”

“Let’s go tell them the good news.” Michael wrapped his huge arm around his wife. “Are you leaving town, Donella?”

“No.” She lifted her medical bag. “I’m visiting Jaron. I’ll be back soon. Are you coming to the Christmas Eve party?”

“We’ll be there,” Michael replied.

Donella checked on her patient. “You seem to be healing fine. You’ll have a few more weeks before you’ll be walking.” Then she and Boone returned to the restaurant.

Outside the doors, Boone said, “I’ll see you at the party tonight. I’m going to put in a few hours doing an electric project.” He wanted to get the wiring done at the Hidee Hole, then take some time off for some proper courting. They were ahead of schedule, and courting had become as important to him as breathing.

“See you then,” she said and walked inside.

Boone went back to the warehouse and gathered the materials he needed for his surprise for the town. A Colorado blue spruce stood between Hearth and Home and the Nugget Saloon. He parked his supplies and got to work. After a couple of hours, he pulled out egg crates of colored light bulbs—gold, blue, green, red—screwing them into the bases that he’d wired around the tree. He stood back and looked at it. His smile broadened with approval. It was ready.

He put the materials away and went to the Hidee Hole to work for a few hours.

“Did you get it wired?” Holt asked when Boone arrived.

“Yeah. It’s ready.” Boone walked around the mine with Holt as he described the work they’d accomplished already.

“It looks like you’ll be done soon here.” The anchors were secure and the wires were nearly complete.

“We’ll be done soon here,” Holt corrected. “The men have tripled their efforts.”

“Thanks for picking up the slack while I’ve been distracted.” Boone said the words tentatively, but then added, “I never thought I’d leave you to do this without me.”

Holt patted Boone’s cheek good-naturedly. “It seems like it’s for a good cause.”

“The best.” Boone nodded. He’d always thought it would take a long time to fall in love. It only took the right person. He hoped she felt the same way. “Where do you want me to work?”

“Down that tunnel. It’s ready for the bases to be wired. We’ll turn on the lights before we leave tonight.”

A few hours later the generator was started, the bulbs glowed to life, and another mine was lit with electricity. Boone looked down the cavern. This had been his dream for more than a year now. Satisfaction expanded in his chest to see it becoming a reality.

He went back to his hotel, cleaned up, and put on his Sunday suit to attend the party.

He walked along the now dark streets between the Cattleman’s Hotel and Hearth and Home, and imagined what it would look like when electric lamps glowed beside every business. Miners still walked to work although Christmas Day was in the morning. Most of them would get a half-day off to celebrate.

He looked through the frost-bordered window of the restaurant as he arrived. Immediately he saw Doni. She took his breath away. Her smile radiated the goodness he’d come to know. She would have been a pretty woman without it, but it magnified her beauty. He removed his hat and opened the doors. He was greeted by the sound of Christmas carols being sung and the fresh smells of gingerbread, rolls, roasted meat, and apple cider all blending together to pull up past memories of Christmas.

He set his coat on a chair at the farthest table from the door. There were only two tables on that side of the room because the kitchen took up a large part and the stairs to the second story took up some more. But that was the table he needed. He slipped a large package he was carrying under his table.

A wave of apprehension swept through him. Was he moving too fast? Would Donella think so? Every minute they’d spent together reassured him that she would welcome his question. He hoped she would.

He joined the group around the piano where Millie was playing carols for the group to sing.

At the end of one song, Boone stood up. “Holt and I have arranged a surprise for Christmas from the Morgan Electric Company. If you’ll bundle up and come outside to the end of the boardwalk, we’d like to show you.” Joy bubbled up in anticipation of sharing this with Donella and the rest of the town.

Donella squeezed his hand. “It is a surprise with lights?”

“Yes,” he answered. He looked into her eyes, and his heart pounded. Every day with her would be a gift. “I actually have three surprises for you.”

The crowd gathered between Hearth and Home and the Nugget next door. Holt stood ready at the generator, and Boone addressed the group. “Thank you to the people of Creede for welcoming change and electricity. A few of you have already seen it and many more will have it installed soon. We’d like you to see what all the fuss is about. “Ten, nine, eight.” Boone smiled at Donella. “Seven, six, five.” She’d become his world in such a short time. “Four, three.” She was smart, and sweet, and quick thinking. “Two” He loved her. “One!”

Holt turned a switch on the steam engine, and the Christmas tree lights flashed on.

Gasps and cheers followed. That had been the reaction he wanted when he and Holt had planned the display, but now he only wondered what Doni thought of it.

Her eyes were open wide and a smile stretched broadly across her face. She seemed to be looking at each individual bulb and assessing the beauty it gave. Her enjoyment of the lights have him a trill of pleasure.

Millie began singing Silent Night and everyone joined in. “Silent night. Holy night. All is calm. All is bright.”

Donella’s soprano voice sang soft clear notes, piercing Boone’s heart, and he pulled her to his side in a hug.

“Round yon virgin, Mother and Child. Holy infant so tender and mild.”

Donella tapped Boone’s chest and pointed to the window on the second floor. Eliza and KC were looking out on the celebration, holding their swaddled infants. That precious scene reminded him of the divine gift of the Lord coming to the earth. His heart burned, and he gave silent thanks.

“Sleep in heavenly peace. Sleep in heavenly peace.”