“What would you have me do?” Arabella asked, tossing her hands up. “I won’t be able to show my face in Town without it being accompanied by gossip.”
“You must not give up without a fight.”
Arabella’s shoulders slumped. “I’m afraid I don’t have much of a fight left in me,” she admitted. “I am tired.”
Her grandmother reached for her hand in her lap. “You have had a rough go of it, but I promise it will get better.”
“I am not sure if that is true,” Arabella dejectedly replied.
“When I lost my husband, I thought the same way as you are doing now,” her grandmother shared. “I thought of him every moment of every day until it nearly consumed me.”
“What changed?”
Her grandmother smiled. “I started reflecting on what brought me true joy, and I dwelt on those things.”
“Surely it can’t be that easy.”
“Never underestimate the power of expressing gratitude for the things that we do have,” her grandmother advised.
“And that helped you move on after Grandfather died?”
“I have never moved on,” her grandmother replied, her tone wistful. “I just learned how to live without him.”
Arabella lowered her gaze to her lap. “I doubt I will ever have what you and grandfather had.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do,” Arabella murmured.
Her grandmother released her hand. “Perhaps you need a distraction.”
“I could stand to use one.”
“The orphans are coming in a few days to decorate a tree in the saloon for Christmas,” her grandmother shared. “It would be helpful if you helped select a tree from the woods.”
Arabella gave her a baffled look. “Why me?”
“Because I trust you are up to the task.”
“I am sure you have many servants who would be able to accomplish the task.”
“That may be true, but this party is very important to me,” her grandmother said. “I want it to be perfect for the orphans.”
Arabella knew that she couldn’t refuse her grandmother’s simple request, especially since it was for the orphans. “I would be willing to help.”
Her grandmother clasped her hands together. “Wonderful,” she declared. “The ceilings are high in the saloon, so do not be afraid to select a large tree.”
“I think I can manage that.”
“I have already made arrangements for someone to assist you,” her grandmother said.
Arabella rose. “With any luck, I will find the ideal tree while I am out on my morning ride.”
“Do be careful,” her grandmother remarked, “and be mindful to stay on our lands.”
“That shouldn’t be too difficult.”
Her grandmother bobbed her head. “Once you return, we can have breakfast in the parlor together.”
