Christmas Roses by Mary Jo Putney EPUB & PDF – eBook Details Online
- Status: Available for Free Download
- Authors: Mary Jo Putney
- Language: English
- Genre: Regency Historical Romance
- Format: PDF / EPUB
- Size: 2 MB
- Price: Free
Juniper smoke billowed up from the central firepit in a gray, stinging
cloud. The tears that wet her lashes were the first she had allowed herself to
shed in a long while. Catriona blinked hard, wiped her eyes, and grasped an
iron poker to prod the high pile of evergreen branches that smoldered over
glowing peat bricks.
Coughing, she waved her hands to spread the smoke to every corner of
the little shieling hut to cleanse and purify and protect, just as her mother
had done on every Oidhche Challuinn, New Year’s Eve, when she had been
a child. Such memories, bringing back her mother’s kindness and loving
companionship, had sustained her during these months of living alone here,
without hope for her future.
The hut was hardly a fine fortress, but it was her home. Castle Kilernan
was lost to her now. The memory of Christmas Day, and the Frasers’ refusal
to help her stung as harshly as the smoke in her eyes. New Year’s Eve was a
time to gather blessings and attract luck to the household, and she would
honor her little home with the proper traditions, and hopefully turn her luck
for the better.
She waved at the billowing juniper smoke. When she could scarcely
breathe—her mother had taught her that the smoke must be thick enough to
drive everyone from the room—she went to the door and pulled it open.
Cold air and swirling snowflakes rushed inside.
She coughed and pulled her plaid snugly over her frayed gown as she
watched the storm. Bitter chill snapped at her cheeks, and she ducked
deeper into the plaid, keeping the door open while the smoke dispersed.
A small, solid body stropped against her leg. She glanced down at the
black cat who blinked up at her with pale green eyes.
“Pardon the smoke, Cù,” Catriona said. “But you and I will have some
wonderful luck after the juniper is burned,” she said with forced brightness.
She reached down and scooped up the cat, and watched the snow pile wild
and thick over the hills. The darkness had a soft blue tint, and the air felt
gentle somehow, filled with promise and hope.
But she knew the dangerous reality of such a storm. Behind her, the dim
hut offered shelter and warmth. Tonight, she would not set foot beyond the
wedge of light that spilled into the flurrying snow.
No one else would venture outside tonight, either, although it was New
Year’s Eve, and likely near midnight by now. No one would come up to her
hut for a traditional visit after midnight, bringing small gifts of food or
drink or coin as tokens of good luck. The storm and the distance would
keep visitors away. She was disappointed, but relieved to know that Parlan
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