Page 22 of A Texas Christmas Carol

Prez winked. “Sneaking up on people deep in thought is one of my favorite pastimes. Drives Tom crazy.”

“I imagine so,” Evan said, feeling a sudden comradery with Tom. “Lester doesn’t mind?”

Prez chuckled. “Lester’s never deep in thought.”

Evan choked down a laugh.

“You know, there’s a reason God calls himself I Am and not I Was or I Will Be. Now is the only place where change happens. Regretting the past or fretting about the future might motivate you, but it doesn’t change you. You must seize the moment you are standing in and make a commitment to be better, trusting that the I Am is standing with you, lending you his power.”

Evan stared at the ground, watching one shoe tread in front of the other as he entered the churchyard, his gut clenching tighter with each step.

Prez’s hand clapped Evan’s shoulder, then fell away. “No darkness is so great that his light cannot dispel it. Remember, you serve a God who can speak light into existence in an instant. Now could be that instant.”

“How did you know that I—” Evan turned to his companion, but Prez was gone.

Evan scanned to the right and left, but there was no sign of the old fellow anywhere. A shiver danced down his nape. Prez must have ducked behind one of the churchyard trees. Yes, that was it. The trickster was probably snickering at him right now, watching him crane his neck about in all directions like some kind of ninny.

“Evan? Are you all right?” The sweet tones of Felicity’s voice brought heat to Evan’s face. Of course she was here. Witnessing his folly.

Witnessing . . .

“Did you see where my companion went?” he asked, not quite able to stop himself from looking behind him one last time.

Felicity’s brow scrunched in concern. “I didn’t see any companion. Only you.” She moved closer and placed her hand on his arm. “Are you well, Evan?”

He waved away her concern. What a fool he must seem to her. “I’m fine. Prez likes to sneak up on his friends, then disappear without warning. He probably ducked behind one of those pecan trees when I wasn’t looking.”

Her smile smoothed the crinkled lines from her brow. “Sounds like quite the prankster. Not your usual type of friend.”

“Yes, well, he didn’t give me much choice in the matter. Just thrust his friendship upon me whether I liked it or not. Rather like someone else I know.”

Her cheeks turned a lovely shade of pink as she ducked her chin. “I hope my friendship isn’t a trial to you.”

Evan took her hand. “If anyone’s a trial, it’s me. I know that full well. I’ve been regretting not accompanying you yesterday.” He’d been able to think of little else. What if she’d been met with the same anger by Darby’s men that Darby had exhibited? It was only the knowledge that his presence would likely worsen things for her that kept him from mounting Fred and charging after her. “Did Darby’s wife treat you well?”

“Betsy? Oh, yes. She and I know each other from our school days. We had a nice long chat over a cup of tea. She told me about the two hands working for them who have families. She assured me they had a strong garden crop at the ranch this year and that none of them would go hungry. Her husband’s pride was dented more than their larder. I told her we would put together a small basket of Christmas surprises he could put his name on and pass along to his men. Things like warm woolen socks, scarves, and penny candy. It won’t be the same as a cash bonus, but it’ll be something to fit the spirit of the season.”

Evan stared at her in wonder. Did her generosity know no bounds? Not only was she willing to give to a man who had endangered her with his recklessness, but she would let him put his name on her gifts and steal the credit.

She continued speaking as if nothing she’d revealed was the slightest bit extraordinary. “Betsy’s only regret is that her husband won’t be home for Christmas. With no ready money to pay his fine, they’ll have to wait until after the holiday to sell one of their cows to cover the cost.” She glanced up at him, her expression hesitant, as if afraid she might have angered him by mentioning Darby.

Evan still didn’t like her going so soft for the rancher, but he was beginning to understand that her tender heart couldn’t help itself. It was simply part of the magic that made her such a remarkable and rare woman.

“I’m glad you spoke to her,” he said, the tightness in his chest loosening a bit at the relief that flooded her features. “And I’m happy to donate extra funds to help cover the expense of the additional items. Perhaps we can add a cake of shaving soap and a small towel to the packets. A man can always use more soap and a clean towel.”

Felicity clapped her hands together and bounced on her toes. “How perfect! I never would have thought of that. Oh, Evan, I’m so glad we’re working together again.”

“Me too.” More than glad. Yet his strange conversation with Prez lingered at the back of his mind, pricking and prodding him as he escorted her into church and found a seat in a pew at the back.

It didn’t help when George Wiggins turned around in his seat four rows up to look at them with disapproval as they came in late. He could almost hear the man’s censure. How noble could a man be if he couldn’t bother to show up to church on time?

Then the sermon began, the preacher urging generosity in his congregants, not just during the Christmas season, but all throughout the year. He spoke of the widow and her mite and how Jesus praised her generosity because her small gift cost her much, while the large gifts given by the wealthy demanded little personal sacrifice. They gave only out of a sense of duty, not out of any true generosity of spirit, and Christ had no praise for such offerings.

The preacher’s words held up a magnifying glass to Evan’s faults. Exposing every little wart and blemish.

“And what of the man blessed with prosperity who only thought to build bigger barns?” The preacher’s deep voice boomed. “He thought not of how he could help his neighbors. He thought only of himself and providing for his leisure. God called this man a fool, for when he died, what did he have to show for his life besides large barns full of rotting crops no good to anyone? How much richer would his life have been if he had heeded the words of Christ, spoken during the sermon on the mount? ‘Lay not up for yourselves treasure upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.’”

Evan’s chest tightened. His breathing shallowed. It was too much. Was he to be pummeled from every side? He was not that selfish rich man. He’d just vowed to give gifts to the employees of his enemy, for heaven’s sake. Was he not purchasing Christmas hams for half the county?