Changing Traditions, A Christmas Novella by Rachel Rittenhouse Page B

realize how blessed
I truly am. Everyone is laughing and the dinner has proved much
different than our one at Thanksgiving. Carolyn and Scott even
announced that they are expecting a baby sometime in early spring.
What absolute wonderfulness! Laura is in much brighter spirits and
I believe that deep down she is falling for her doctor. She says
that he, Dr. Luke, and Katie are stopping by later this evening and
she couldn’t be happier.
    Adam and Rosie are running
around and Adam is reveling in all the presents that he has
received. This Christmas is a big deal for a little boy born during
the war. How I wish that situation could have been exchanged for
him.
    And now I have my Jeremy
beside me. He enjoyed a Christmas dinner with us and was even a
part of Laura’s skit. I feel as though everyone is glad to see him
here and I feel as though he has fit in wonderfully. Jeremy left
for his family’s dinner for a bit, but now he is back to take me on
a sleigh ride. I shall have to write more later. But I feel as
though I couldn’t be happier than I am right now.
     
    “ Bethany! Jeremy’s back!”
Laura’s voice carried up to the loft and she quickly put her diary
away before hurrying down.
    Bethany couldn’t contain
the smile that spread across her face as she spotted Jeremy at the
door.
    His appeared to match
hers. “Ready to go, Beth?”
    “ Always,” she grabbed her
shawl and before heading out, turned to say good-bye. Poppa and
Momma stood there with strange smiles on their faces and Laura
looked ready to burst. Thinking that everyone was just happy,
Bethany left without thinking anymore about it.
    As she sat in the sleigh
with Jeremy, Bethany slid her arm through his. “Have I told you
that I am so happy I’m here with you?”
    Jeremy laughed as he
looked down at her. “You might have mentioned it once or
twice.”
    “ Well, I am exceedingly
happy to be here with you. There, now I’ve said it three times.
Which tops you. I don’t think you uttered it once.”
    “ I suppose I should change
that then,” but instead of echoing her words, Jeremy remained
quiet. She wondered what he could possibly mean, but right now, she
was content to just sit with him in the silence as the snow began
fluttering to the ground.
    “ It’s snowing, Jeremy, on
Christmas. I love that.” Bethany closed her eyes, feeling the snow
fall on her face. A cold blast of air surrounded her and when she
opened her eyes, she realized that Jeremy was now facing her in the
sleigh and not just sitting next to her.
    Jeremy clasped both of her
hands in his, “I know we haven’t been courting long, but I’ve long
since told you how long I’ve known you. But coming to this
conclusion, I just feel that it is as right as anytime and I even
had a chance to talk to your father before bringing you out here.”
Bethany looked up and saw that they were right at the lake. The ice
glistened over the water making it look picturesque.
    Now, Jeremy was urging her
from the sleigh until they were both standing in the snow. Bethany
gave a slight shiver, “What are you up to, Jeremy?”
    “ You’ll see,” with a
twinkle in his eye, Jeremy went to one knee, still clasping one of
her hands. “I am exceedingly happy that I am here with you and I
don’t ever want to be anywhere else. I promise I’ll love you
forever. Marry me, Bethany Woodsmall. Say you’ll be my girl
forever.” He withdrew a ring from his pocket, and though it was
simpler than what Albert’s might have been, Bethany couldn’t
imagine wearing anything else.
    “ Yes, oh yes, I’ll marry
you! And I love you too!” As Jeremy slid the ring on her finger,
Bethany fell in his arms before he had a chance to get out of the
snow. Now, this Christmas couldn’t have been any better.

 
     
     
     
     
     
EXCERPT FROM
“FINDING FAITH”
    Carolyn’s Diary
     
    January 12,
1855
    Dear Diary,
    Around lunchtime, it
started snowing pretty hard and around supper when I went out to do
the barn