AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She slipped off the ribbon and opened the box. Nestled inside the black velvet was the most beautiful diamond and emerald ring she’d ever seen. Her throat closed up and she was sure tears were going to fall before she could hide them. “Oh, Ben.”
“Please say yes, Sophie.” He sat on the bed and pulled her into my arms. “Please say you’ll stay with me forever, for all the Christmases we could ever have.”
She swallowed, tasting the salty tears in the back of her throat, and nodded.
Laughter filled the room. “You have to stay the words, sweetheart.”
She met his gaze and stroked his cheek. “Yes, Ben. I’ll marry you.”
Hours later, dressed in warm clothes, Sophie took Ben’s hand so he could drag her up the high hill way beyond Mosby House. Considering the house had an orchard and a pond and many acres of farmland, this hill had to be at least a mile away from town. But once she reached the top, she realized the entire town was already there. And everyone was facing west, toward Mosby’s Gap.
They all sat on blankets and passed around tins of cookies. She and Ben found Kane, Eve, Clara, and Jacob sitting on a flannel blanket at the highest point of the hill. Despite the late hour, and the darkness, her face felt hot and red. Since Eve and Clara had helped decorate the bedroom, they all had to know what she and Ben had been doing.
The entire town probably knew because she’d left her own parade without a word to anyone before it was over.
“So,” she sat next to Clara and took a mug filled with hot chocolate. “How did the parade end?”
Everyone laughed, and Ben’s brothers clapped him on the back. And once she showed them her engagement ring, congratulations could be heard in Milltown.
“Where’s Georgie?” Ben asked around a mouthful of cookies.
“Watching the baby,” Clara said. “She’s too cool to wish on Caleb’s Christmas star.”
“For now.” Jacob laid on the blanket to stare up at the stars. “Give her a few years and she’ll start believing in Christmas wishes again.”
Buzzers started going off, and she realized it was everyone’s phone alarms warning them midnight was approaching. A moment later, everyone extinguished their candles and flashlights and phones, and watched the dark, western horizon..
Ben moved next to her and held her in his arms. “We didn’t do this last year. That’s why I wanted to make sure the star worked this year.”
“Is it really that big of a deal?”
“Wait and see.”
A moment passed, and her eyes adjusted to the darkness.
“Make your wishes,” Ben said softly. “Here it comes.”
Just as she counted her wishes, a bright light in the mountain beyond Kingsmill lit up the night. It stood so tall, and so alone on that lonely ridge, it appeared to have been placed there by angels.
She shivered and held her breath until everyone around her began to clap and cheer.
“Merry Christmas, Sophie. I love you.” His voice sounded husky, and she turned to find him watching her. “Every year since we’ve been apart, I’ve wished on Caleb’s Christmas star to find you again. That’s how I knew to buy your ring when I wasn’t even sure you remembered me.”
“I love you too, Ben.” She touched his cheek, leaned closer, and whispered in a voice tinged with tears, “My memories of you are what led me back here. As far as I’m concerned, you are my brightest Christmas star. And I promise I will never, ever let you go.”
The End… for now.
Read how Ben and Sophie reunited in the limited edition romance :
Love and Coffee
Details on this limited edition romance anthology and all of my books are available on my website at www.sharonwray.com.
Enjoy the story? Be sure to leave a review! Also, sign-up for my newsletter for exclusive sneak peeks, giveaways, and updates on my next releases.
About the Author
Sharon is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the Deadly Force Romantic Suspense Series, the Kingsmill Courtships Contemporary Romance series, and the Devil’s Renegades MC series.
