Mail Order Melody by Kirsten Osbourne Page B

him, her face going to the crook of his neck and his arms holding her tightly. He was still inside her as he stroked her back, trying to tell her without words just how much she'd pleased him.
    She didn't know how long she sat with him that way, completely surrounding him, collapsed onto his hard body. Finally she slid upward, detaching herself from him and fell to the bed, lying on her side. "Why didn't you tell me it would feel so good?" she asked, immediately regretting the words. She shouldn't speak so freely, should she?
    He laughed softly. "I had no idea it would feel like that." He moved down and pulled her against him, hugging her tightly. 'Thank you."
    Eliza kissed his shoulder, pillowing her head. She was exhausted. "My pleasure." She giggled at her own words, not believing she could enjoy a physical act quite so much. Why, it was better than singing!
    Calvin held her close as she fell asleep in his arms. All he could think about was doing it again. Maybe he'd wake her early in the morning. She wouldn't mind, would she?

Chapter Five
     
    When Abigail came over on Wednesday, Eliza had a list of questions to ask the younger woman about how to cook certain things. Christmas was only a couple of weeks away, so she was thrilled to learn how to cook some more complicated dishes for her husband for the holiday. While they were talking and laughing together, Eliza asked, "Why don't you and Stanley come over for Christmas dinner? Do you go to church on Christmas morning?"
    Abigail nodded eagerly. "I would love that. We could come over right after church, and I'd help you cook."
    Eliza loved the idea of spending so much time with the younger couple. As they sewed together, she sang softly. They each made an apron while Eliza sang and she and Abigail chatted. By the time her new friend was leaving, she was sad that their time together was over.
    She hadn't realized how much she missed having other women around until she'd made a new friend, and then she wanted to weep for the years of loneliness. Abigail made her miss Beulah more than ever, because her sister had always been her closest friend. How could she possibly go for years without seeing her?
    An idea slowly formed in her mind, and she thought about writing to Elizabeth Miller from Beckham and asking if she could find a husband for Beulah. She wanted her sister with her.
    Letting the idea go, she shook her head, deciding that whatever happened would happen when the time was right.
     
    *****
     
    Before church on Sunday, Pastor Gibbons spoke with Eliza and asked her to sing at the Christmas service. She knew immediately it had been Abigail who had told him of her voice, but she shook her head. "I'm sorry. I don't sing in public." She silently added 'anymore.'
    Calvin was standing beside her, and looked at her with surprise. "You have a real pretty voice. You should do it. I bet you'd sound good with Christmas songs and not just those old songs in other languages you usually sing."
    The minister looked at her in surprise. "Old songs in other languages?"
    Eliza smiled, not looking at Calvin. "I'm an opera fan. I mainly sing arias around the house." She forced herself not to panic and to simply downplay her husband's words.
    "Are you sure you won't grace us with just one song? 'Silent Night' is my favorite."
    Pastor Gibbons was all but begging her to sing, and she felt that she had been given the gift, so she should use it for the Lord. He would protect her if she used it for His glory, right? Finally, she nodded. In a town the size of Pudville, there wasn't much chance that she'd meet up with someone who had heard her sing. "Yes, I'll do it." She hoped she wasn't making a mistake.
    Calvin smiled and nodded at her, obviously happy she was going to sing a song he liked. "She'll do the whole church proud, Pastor. She's got a beautiful voice."
    That evening as they had supper, Calvin asked her why she'd been reluctant to sing. She shook her head, tears springing into her