She had so much to be thankful for. Several months ago, they had almost lost everything, but God really did work miracles. Billy was found safe and sound and told Josiah that he’d snuck back into the burning house and pulled out Elias’s Bible and left it for them to find before running and hiding.
The day after they returned to Eufaula, Bass and his deputies made sure the outlaws were secured in a local house. Then, along with a recovered Harjo and his tribal police, they rebuilt Josiah and Mia's home. The men had even returned a few weeks later and built a small schoolhouse for her to teach in. In addition to Summer, Billy, and Elias, she now had seven more students who’d been turned away from the regular school in town.
Over the last couple of weeks, everyone had pitched in, baking all sorts of delicious food to make today’s celebration a joyous one. The most special gift, of course, she and Josiah would give the children as soon as he came in from tending the horses.
She heard Josiah’s heavy boots on the front porch. The door swung open then closed. She smiled, waiting for her husband’s cold hand to cover her warmer one, but was pleasantly surprised when his somewhat warm lips nuzzled her neck, kissing her instead.
She chuckled. “Did you stick your face in front of the stove before coming over here?”
“I didn’t think you would appreciate me sticking my cold face against your toasty neck.”
“Hmmm, so thoughtful. Thank you. Are you hungry?”
“Starving.”
“Everything’s ready. I’ve been keeping the food warm until you got back.”
“You don’t mind me helping Bass every now and then?”
Mia shook her head. “Not if it helps you work off some of your restless energy. Besides, you love working with Bass. You were meant to be in law enforcement every bit as much as you were meant to raise horses. It’s a blessing you can do both.”
“Like you with our misfit family?”
She scowled up at him. “I don’t like that word.”
“I think it’s the perfect word for us and doesn’t have to mean something negative. You turned it into a positive and created a home for a bunch of people who never really fit in anywhere else. You did that, Mia, and I love you all the more for it.” He leaned down and kissed her on the nose. “I don’t want to wait until later to tell the children our surprise. I want to tell them now.”
She giggled. “I think you’re more of a child than they are.”
He held out a small box. “Happy Christmas.”
She frowned. “We said we weren’t exchanging gifts—that this year would be only for the children.”
He smiled. “I lied.”
She took the box, her excitement building. “You are incorrigible.” She lifted the lid and gasped. Inside lay a beautiful silver bracelet. The etched design looked like flowing figures—a man and woman—surrounded by beautiful filigree designs pressed into the shiny metal. “I have never seen anything so beautiful,” she whispered, as Josiah took the bracelet from her shaky grasp and slid it round her wrist tightening it with a gentle squeeze.
“Something small from my heart.” He turned her hand over and kissed her palm, his touch thrilling her as it always did. “Now you’ll just have to bake me something sweet every day for a month to make up for not getting me a present.”
He wiggled his brows and walked to the stairs, Mia’s gaze following him. He'd been different after the kidnapping last summer. His lightness had turned more somber and darker, but he was just as loving and tender to her and the children. If anything, he was more so. Her heart swelled with emotion, and she pressed a hand over her heart, tears of joy burning the back of her eyes. She had never known such happiness.
“Children, come downstairs! Mia and I have something we want to tell you!” Josiah hollered, his deep voice booming through the house.
Elias and Billy, in their usual manner, bounced down, while Summer followed at a slower pace. He motioned for them to sit on the floor in front of the fireplace. When they were finally seated, which seemed to take forever since Billy liked to poke and push Summer as much as possible to annoy her, Josiah sat down next to Mia on the sofa, took her hand in his, and cleared his throat.
“We have something very special we want to ask the three of you.”
Summer’s eyes narrowed, her gaze darting between Mia and Josiah. Mia bit back her smile. Summer detested surprises, and this one would be a big one.
“Mia and I asked the tribe if we could officially adopt the three of you.”
The house had never been so quiet. Mia thought she could actually hear the snow falling outside. “Well, say something. Anything. Don’t you want to be a family?” She leaned forward, worry forming hard knots in her stomach. Maybe they should have asked them before asking the tribe?
In a blink, all three children erupted in whoops and hollers as they jumped up and launched themselves at the two adults, hugging both of them. With everyone laughing and talking all at once, no one heard the pounding on the front door. Finally, Josiah pulled away and opened the door, his smile fading as he stared at two men in military uniform staring back at him.
Mia frowned, shushing everyone and walked into the kitchen to stand next to her husband.
The older man took off his hat and held it between his hands, displaying his nervousness, his gaze never moving away from Mia. “I’m—we’re sorry to disturb you on Christmas, but we’ve come a long way—from New York City.” He cleared his throat. “Let me introduce myself. My name is Major Xavier Bradley, Jr, and this is my younger brother, Major Gerald Bradley.”