Happily Ever After: A Badlands Christmas

Happily Ever After: A Badlands Christmas

As part of A Pioneer Christmas Collection, Marcia Gruver takes us to sophisticated 1885 New York City in A Badlands Christmas, though we don’t stay there long. Inspired by the adventures of Theodore Roosevelt in the town of Medora, A Badlands Christmas shows the contrasts between festive scenes in the city and a Christmas spent in a dilapidated sod house in the middle of a brutal Dakota Territory winter.

Our poor immigrant has to live half underground!

The rest of the story when, several years later, Noela Nancarrow wrote a letter:

My Darling Mrs. Baumann,

Truly you are a darling, for you have shown me the greatest kindness. Securing Mum’s piano and chair for me was blessing enough, but sending her snow globe was the height of kindness. Holding it in my hands again, my joy is full. You may ship the other items immediately. Hiram has finished the house!

It’s a lovely wood frame, and though hardly the Chateau de Mores, it is home and a palace to us. Did I mention that the lumber was a wedding gift from Mr. Roosevelt? We are forever in his debt.

The house has a bedroom for Hiram and me with a view toward the rolling plains. There is a nursery, of course, and a room downstairs for the twins. The girls are walking now and such a joy—Rachel, dark-eyed and thoughtful, Cherie, fair-haired and adventurous.

I’m afraid I must postpone my visit to New York this Christmas, though we will send Beatrice in my stead. You see, the nursery won’t be empty much longer, so travel is out of the question. Hiram longs for a boy this time. If we are so blessed, we’ll call him Nathan Allen.

Father has settled into his role of Dakota farmer, and Bea as mistress of Vine House. With Hiram’s help, they expanded the soddy and added more outbuildings. This once God-forsaken land no longer seems like a bad dream. Wherever our feet trod on this blessed 160 acres feels like home. I believe, with God’s help, we’ll prove the Nancarrows are indeed a hearty breed. I have no doubt the McGregor offspring will follow suit.

Eternally grateful for your kindness,

Noela Nancarrow McGregor

 

What’s happened to Marcia Gruver?

After a major move from the Southeast Coastal Region of Texas to the gorgeous Texas Hill Country, Marcia put her writing on hold for a bit. However, with various plotlines, settings, and character conversations tumbling in her head, she’ll be settling down behind the keyboard in the very near future.

As to A Pioneer Christmas Collection, she wrote:

I love the unique combination of early American pioneers spending Christmas in remote places, unconventional homes, and rustic shelters—overcoming hardships while discovering the magic of Christmas.

Reading Christmas novellas awakens the spirit of the season and, in most cases, reminds me of the reason we celebrate the birth of Christ. I enjoyed writing one for much the same reasons and especially liked rubbing shoulders with the talented group of authors in A Pioneer Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

Tweetables

Theodore Roosevelt supplies the wood for a Pioneer Christmas home. Click to Tweet

Getting over the difference between New York City and Medora, ND. Click to Tweet

A chateau or a soddy? One woman learns to value the ND earth. Click to Tweet

 

It’s the Advent season and Michelle has written an ebook called Reflections on Advent, available to subscribers to her newsletter. If you’re interested in obtaining this free Advent gift, click on the link here.