Roxton had awakened early and started to get his things together. He didn�t really want to go to the Zanga feast. He wanted to find a way for him and Marguerite to stay at the tree house. But every scenario he ran through his mind seemed so obvious and he didn�t want to embarrass Marguerite. He also didn�t want to endure the teasing or the knowing looks from his fellow housemates.
He would have no choice but to accompany them today. Hopefully he could steal a few moments alone with Marguerite before they left. Roxton left his room and paused by Marguerite�s. He did not hear her stirring inside. She had retired early last night with the excuse she wasn�t feeling well. He�d let her sleep a few more minutes.
When Roxton entered the main room, Challenger, Finn, Malone and Veronica were sitting at the table.
�Come join us for breakfast, Roxton,� Veronica said.
Roxton took his pack over to the elevator and laid it with the others. He then took his usual seat at the table and began to eat. After he had finished he stood up.
�I guess I�ll go wake sleeping beauty,� he said with a grin.
�Don�t bother,� Veronica said. �Finn has already checked on her this morning. She�s still not feeling well. The question is now who�s going to stay with her. I think I should.�
�No Vee,� Finn protested. �Let Roxton do it. Assai will be expecting you.�
�You�re right of course,� Veronica said. �I just hate for Roxton to miss the celebration.�
�It�s alright Veronica,� Roxton said. �I don�t mind at all.�
�Maybe I should check on her to make sure she�s not really ill,� Challenger said, rising from his chair.
�I don�t know Challenger,� Finn said. �It�s that time of the month. I don�t see how you can help.�
Challenger turned red and mumbled something about taking something to the shaman and then disappeared down into his lab.
Veronica was speechless, looking as if the younger woman had shocked her. Malone on the other hand was blushing. Roxton was grinning. That�s why I like him so much, thought Finn. He�s not as uptight as the others.
Finn knew that if she mentioned anything about women�s personal things, Challenger would go running. It was nice to know she wasn�t wrong.
Roxton was so happy he could barely contain himself. Finn was granting his wish today. He just hoped he didn�t have a silly grin on his face.
The explorers got ready to leave and headed to the elevator. Malone and Veronica said good bye and went on down, sending the elevator back up for Challenger and Finn. Challenger walked up to Roxton and pulled him to the side.
�I�d advise you to steer clear of Marguerite today,� Challenger said in a low tone. �She�ll probably sleep most of the day. I wouldn�t disturb her if I were you.� Challenger stepped onto the elevator with Finn. Finn winked at Roxton before she moved the elevator towards the ground.
Roxton looked towards the sleeping quarters. He�d let Marguerite sleep a while longer. He didn�t want her waking up in a grumpy mood. He went over to the stove and put a fresh pot of coffee on.
He knew the moment she walked in the room. It wasn�t his hunter�s instinct that alerted him, but a different kind of instinct, one as old as man.
�Good morning, John,� Marguerite said softly. �Is that your wonderful coffee I smell?
�Yes I made a fresh pot just for you my dear,� Roxton said, placing a cup on the table and pouring some of the steaming liquid into it.
Marguerite sat down and picked up the cup, taking in the strong aroma of the brew.
�It smells heavenly,� Marguerite said. �Just what the doctor ordered.� She took a small sip of the drink.
�How are you feeling this morning?� Roxton asked his lady love.
�I�m fine now, �Marguerite answered. She turned towards Roxton and gave him one of her breath taking smiles. �Thank you for the coffee.�
�You�re welcome,� Roxton said with a smile. �How about some breakfast? What would you like this morning?
�Just some fruit would be fine,� Marguerite replied. She took the fruit Roxton offered her.
�Would you like me to peel it for you?� he said in a seductive voice.
�Thank you John,� Marguerite replied. �That would be lovely.� She gave him her sexiest smile. This was a game she knew well. A game they both seemed to like to play.
Roxton peeled the fruit and then sliced it for Marguerite. He took a small piece and put it to her lips. She opened her mouth and took the gift he offered. Then she surprised him by taking the fruit from his hand.
�You know I am capable of feeding myself,� Marguerite said haughtily. �I am not a child.�
Roxton frowned. What did I do wrong? he wondered. She�s starting to put the walls back up again.
�Marguerite is something wrong?� Roxton asked the hurt obvious in his voice.
�No Roxton,� Marguerite replied, �nothing is wrong.�
�You�re pulling away from me again,� Roxton said. �All I wanted was to spend time with you. Is that wrong?�
�No of course not, John,� Marguerite said. She reached for his hand. �I�m touched that I am your Christmas wish. It�s just old fears sometimes get in the way.�
�Marguerite I know that someone hurt you in your past,� Roxton began. �But I�m not him. Stop punishing me for something I didn�t do. I love you and I would never betray you. I�ve done everything I know to convince you. Tell me what you need and I will give it to you. But don�t make me pay for another man�s mistakes.�
�John I really am trying,� Marguerite replied. �Just when I think everything will be alright, the old fears resurface. I guess I�ve never truly let the past and go and I�m not sure I can.�
�Marguerite don�t you know by now that I would never leave you?� Roxton asked.
�Part of me does,� Marguerite said. �But part of me remembers how badly you acted when my secret about the Ouroboros was revealed.�
�I�ll always regret that Marguerite,� Roxton said. �Especially when I found out you were trading it for your birth certificate. I�ve tried to make it up to you. I suppose the reason I behaved so badly was because you had kept it a secret from me. I want you to be able to trust me with all your secrets.�
�I�m trying to John,� Marguerite said. �But I can�t help but wonder if one of those secrets will eventually drive you away.�
�I will never leave you Marguerite,� Roxton said softly, taking Marguerite�s hand in his. �I can�t promise I won�t get angry, but I do promise I will never leave.�
�Don�t make promises you can�t keep John,� Marguerite replied. �If we make it back to London, there will be outside influences that will come between us.�
�I will never leave you,� Roxton said again with a smile. �Together we�re invincible. We can only be divided if we let those outside forces come between us.�
Roxton stood up and pulled Marguerite to her feet. He pulled her into his arms and gently kissed her. Marguerite broke the kiss and pulled away just a little but not out of Roxton�s arms.
�I�ve been married four times John,� Marguerite said. �None of them loved me. I was just a trophy or a decoration to them. I don�t have any experience with love. I only know what it means to be used and discarded.�
Roxton pulled her closed and hugged her to him. He could feel her trembling.
�Marguerite I have never been in love before I met you,� Roxton said. �I know you love me too. I will spend a lifetime showing you just how much I do love you, but you have to trust me enough to take a chance.�
Roxton then gently pushed Marguerite away. He walked over to the stairs leading to the bedrooms. He turned to Marguerite and held out his hand.
Marguerite hesitated for a minute. Then she turned and walked towards Roxton. She held her hand out to his. When their hands touched, they both felt the electricity. Roxton took her hand and moved it to his mouth kissing it gently. He then held her hand in his as he led her to his room to show her the only way he knew just how much he loved her.
Marguerite and Roxton surfaced to eat a light lunch. They enjoyed it on the balcony, one of their favorite places. They talked for awhile about Christmases past. Roxton told her about the holidays he spent at Avebury as a boy. Marguerite told him about the loneliness she spent as a child at the convent boarding school. How she was the only child left there with the nuns over the holidays. Tears came into her eyes as she recounted the emptiness and feelings of being unloved and unwanted.
Roxton stood and pulled Marguerite to her feet. He held her in his arms and comforted her until she calmed down.
When Marguerite had calmed down, she decided it was time to tell Roxton her newest secret. She told him all about the Zanga ceremony and the part she played in it. He did not look too pleased.
�Veronica should not have put you in that situation,� Roxton said a bit angrily.
�John the Zanga were close by,� Marguerite said. �I don�t think I was in any real danger.�
�And what if something had gone wrong?� Roxton replied. �What if you had failed Marguerite? Could you have lived with our deaths on your conscience? Veronica should not have chosen you. It was unfair.�
�But that�s why it means so much to me,� Marguerite said. �It was because there was so much at stake. I know Veronica has never trusted me. But two days ago she showed she did trust me. Do you know what that means to me? �
�Of course I do,� Roxton said gently. �I just wish there had been another way.�
�What matters is now I know Veronica trusts me, not only with her life, but with all of your lives,� Marguerite said. �It�s the greatest gift she could have given me.�
Roxton smiled at the woman he loved.
�I�m just glad you�re safe,� Roxton said. �I am also glad Veronica did this for you, even if I�m not happy about the way she did it.� Then he took her hand and led her back downstairs. They spent the afternoon reaffirming their love to one another and expressing their complete devotion to one another.
When the others arrived back at the tree house, Marguerite and Roxton were in the kitchen preparing dinner.
�Ummm something smells good,� Finn said heading for the kitchen. �What are you fixing?�
�Never mind that,� Marguerite said, shooing Finn back into the main room. �All of you go get cleaned up. Dinner should be ready soon. Then you can tell me all about your day. I�m anxious to hear what I missed.�
�Marguerite are you feeling better?� Challenger asked.
�Yes much better, thank you,� Marguerite replied. �All I needed was some rest.�
�Yeah Marguerite did you spend the day in bed?� Finn asked innocently, sending a meaningful glance towards Roxton.
Challenger saw the exchange and made an excuse to escape to his lab.
�Just what did you tell him was wrong with me?� Marguerite asked Finn, puzzled.
�Oh nothing much,� Finn replied, moving towards the stairs. �I just told him it was that time of the month.�
�What?� Marguerite exclaimed. Finn rushed to her room before Marguerite could retaliate. It didn�t help Marguerite�s temper that Finn was laughing as she ran.
�Of all the nerve,� Marguerite said �I can�t believe she said that and in front of mixed company too.�
Roxton walked over to where Marguerite was ranting. He put his arms around her.
�I don�t care what she said. I�m just glad I got to spend the day with you.�
Marguerite smiled and turned in his arms. She reached up and placed a gentle kiss on his lips.
�I�m glad too Lord Roxton,� Marguerite whispered. �I hope you enjoyed your Christmas wish. Now I�m going to clean up a little bit. Be right back.� She turned and headed down the stairs to her room.
Malone had washed up and was getting ready to go back up to dinner when he thought about Veronica�s gift. It was a carved wooden music box. It was exquisite. The music box had come from Jacoba�s personal collection and had cost Malone one of his journals. He thought he would try again to wrap it. Once again he was having trouble and this time even let a few curse words slip.
�Why Malone what would our dear Veronica think if she heard you talk like that?� Marguerite asked from the doorway.
Malone turned around, caught by surprise. Marguerite had a smirk on her face and obviously intended to tease him. Well he was in no mood for her tonight. He was about to let her have it too. What right did she have to enter his room without knocking? Then he remembered what Finn said. How many times had he ever thanked her for anything she did, including saving his life many times? Well he could start tonight.
�Marguerite I wanted to thank you for mending my shirts,� Malone said. �I really appreciate it.�
Marguerite expected a lot from Malone She had learned long ago that he did have a temper and she did know what buttons to push. This, however, was not what she was expecting.
�You�re welcome Malone,� Marguerite said graciously. �What on earth are you trying to do?� Marguerite walked into Malone�s room.
�I�m trying to wrap Veronica�s present,� Malone said disgustedly. �But it�s not cooperating.�
�Well you�ll never wrap it that way,� Marguerite said. She walked over and began to wrap the present. In just a short while she had a beautiful package with a bow on top.
�That�s amazing, Marguerite,� Malone said astonished. �I�ve been trying for three days to get that wrapped.�
�Well it helps if you have some coordination,� Marguerite replied, with a smile, taking the sting out of her words. �Now come on and let�s enjoyed this delicious dinner Roxton cooked.�
Malone stopped Marguerite as she started to walk out the door.
�Marguerite thank you,� Malone said softly. �I couldn�t have done it without you.�
�Of course you couldn�t have Malone,� Marguerite said, choosing to ignore his gratitude.
Malone shook his head as he followed the brunette out the door. He would never understand that woman.
Everyone awoke the next morning eager to start the day. It was Christmas Eve. Breakfast was an enjoyable affair. Everyone talked about their plans for the day. Malone, Roxton and Finn were going hunting. Veronica was going to do most of the cooking and Marguerite had agreed to help her. Challenger was going to finish up in his lab so he could spend the holidays with his friends.
Roxton, Finn and Malone set in search of a Christmas turkey. Finn had not stopped talking since they left the tree house. She was so excited. This was her first real Christmas since she was a small child.
�Finn how do you expect us to kill anything if you keep talking?� Malone asked, with a grin on his face.
Finn just struck her tongue out at Malone , but she did shut up for a while.
All of a sudden they heard a noise. There was a small group of turkeys just ahead.
�Great! � Finn exclaimed. �I got it. Just watch this guys.�
Finn aimed her crossbow at the turkeys but missed. The turkeys scattered, making a lot of noise. She let out a few curse words. Malone�s eyebrows shot up but Roxton just laughed.
�Maybe you should let me shoot at the next one,� Roxton said.
�Awwww but I wanted to help,� Finn said sadly.
�Don�t worry Finn,� Roxton said. �I have something in mind in which your crossbow will come in handy.�
Eventually they came up on the turkeys again. This time Roxton took careful aim with his rifle. He was successful.
�You two keep watch for predators while I go get our Christmas dinner,� Roxton said with a wink.
�You know I�m kind of worried with Marguerite helping Veronica in the kitchen,� Malone said with a smile.
�Don�t worry Malone,� Finn said. �Marguerite knows her limitations in the kitchen. I think she just plans to make some sugared fruit. Veronica is going to make some desert with the berries the Zanga gave us last night.�
�Sounds delicious,� Malone replied. �I can hardly wait.�
Roxton came up with the turkey wrapped in some canvas.
�That looks like a big one,� Finn said.
�It is,� said Roxton. �Now let�s get started back. I want to make a slight detour on the way home. Then you get to use your skills with the crossbow Finn.�
�Sounds great, Big Guy,� Finn said enthusiastically. �Let�s get going�
It was after lunch when the trio arrived back at the tree house. Roxton and Malone started plunking feathers and getting the turkey ready for cooking. Finn went on up to join her friends in the tree house.
�Hey everyone we�re back,� Finn called.
�Great ,� Veronica said.
�It�s about time,� Marguerite said
�So did you get a turkey?� Veronica asked.
�Yes a big one,� Finn replied. �The Big Guy shot it. He and Malone are down stairs now plucking it. But Roxton let me get the thing he considered the most important.� Finn took off her backpack and reached inside. She pulled out some green plants.
�What are those?� Veronica asked.
�Roxton said it was called mistletoe,� Finn replied. �He said we really need it in order to have a perfect Christmas. Malone agreed with him too�
Veronica laughed while Marguerite just rolled her eyes.
�Men!� Marguerite said and headed downstairs to her room.
After a very delicious dinner, Veronica began to make preparations for tomorrow. She wanted to get up early and put the turkey on to roast. Marguerite and Veronica had already made desserts that morning. The only thing that needed to be fixed were the vegetables. She intended on making some creamed potatoes.
Marguerite and Roxton had gone on a trip to the Hagan village earlier in the month to do some trading. Some of the things Marguerite had come back with were canned vegetables, including corn and tomatoes. Veronica planned to serve the corn with butter. She was going to serve the tomatoes mixed with some raw vegetables.
Marguerite and Veronica had already polished the silver earlier in the day. Marguerite was setting out the platters and bowls that Veronica would need. Finn was sitting at the table drawing. The men were sitting around smoking cigars Malone had offered them after dinner. He told his companions he had been saving them just for tonight.
Veronica looked around the room. She felt so happy and at peace for the first time in a very long time. They were all together again. This was also the first Christmas she and Ned would spend together after they had confessed their love for one another.
Veronica smiled at the journalist as he laughed at something his companions had said. Challenger, Roxton and Malone were enjoying their cigars and each other�s company. Roxton wasn�t fooling Veronica though. Every now and then he would steal a glance at their fiery dark-haired housemate. Veronica chuckled as she remembered how Roxton had hung the mistletoe at the entrances to the balcony, the sleeping area, and all over the main room. He even hung some over Marguerite�s doorway. Everywhere she went, there was Roxton, waiting to take advantage of the mistletoe. Marguerite pretended she was offended, but Veronica knew better. Marguerite loved all the attention from the man she loved.
Veronica understood. She felt the same way. Malone had already caught her couple of times under the mistletoe. They were just light kisses. After all they had an audience watching. Veronica sighed as she remembered the passionate kisses they shared in the cave yesterday. Well there would be time for those later when the two of them were alone. Veronica smiled at the thought.
Finn put down her pencil and looked up.
�It�s Christmas Eve,� Finn said excitedly. �We should do something Christmassy.�
�What did you have in mind Finn?� Roxton asked.
�A Christmas story,� Finn said. �Each of you has to tell me about your best Christmas ever. It has to be before you came to the plateau. We�ll start with you Challenger.�
�I must admit that the last few years I haven�t even been home for Christmas,� Challenger said a little sadly. �I always put my work first. But there was a time when things were different.�
�The first Christmas after Jessie and I were married is the one I remember the most fondly,� Challenger said. �We didn�t have much money and I was working long hours, but we were so in love, nothing else mattered.�
�I had managed to save enough money to buy Jessie a small cameo broach,� Challenger said. �I surprised her with it Christmas morning.�
�But I got the biggest surprise,� Challenger said. �She had knitted me a beautiful blue sweater. She said it was the color of my eyes.� Challenger looked sad for a moment.
�Do you both still have the first presents you ever gave each other?� Finn asked.
�Jessie still has the cameo,� Challenger said. �It�s her most prized possession. I�m afraid I lost the sweater on one of my many expeditions a few years later. The sad part is I never knew it was missing until she asked me about it.�
�I�m sure she understood Challenger,� Malone said.
�Yes she always did,� Challenger said. �Jessie is a very forgiving woman.�
Finn looked sad for a moment. Then she snapped out of it.
�Okay Malone,� Finn said. �It�s your turn.�
�I can�t really think of any Christmas that stood out above the rest,� Malone said. �Any Christmas I could spend with my family was the best. Now I have a new family. And I�m glad I�m spending this Christmas with all of you.�
Everyone agreed with Malone, saying this would be the best Christmas ever.
�Okay Big Guy,� Finn said. �It�s your turn.�
Roxton smiled and entertained them with the memories of Christmases past. He told of the year he got a sled for Christmas and he and William had spent the whole day in the snow, having the time of their lives. He had even caught a chill and spent the next week in bed but it was worth it.
Everyone had laughed as Roxton had recounted his childhood memories.
�Okay Vee,� Finn said, �You go next.�
�My best Christmas was the year before I lost my Father,� Veronica said sadly. �Father and the other men of the expedition had found the perfect tree. Mother and I spent Christmas Eve decorating the tree and then making all kinds of goodies for Christmas dinner.�
�That night after Mother had tucked me in bed,� Veronica continued, �Father came in and read the Christmas story to me from the Bible. He told me his grandfather used to read it to him every Christmas when he was a boy.�
�I remember that night when I closed my eyes I felt so safe and secure,� Veronica said softly. �I knew my Father would always be there. It never occurred to me that there would come a time when he wasn�t.�
�You know the rest,� Veronica said sadly. �A few months later he was dead and I don�t know what happened after that. But that Christmas will always be special to me.�
Malone put out his cigar and stood up and walked over to the woman he loved. He pulled her into his arms and offered her comfort.
�Awww Vee,� Finn said sadly. �I didn�t mean to make you sad. I wanted everyone to have happy thoughts tonight.�
�You haven�t made me sad Finn,� Veronica said. �It makes me happy to remember that Christmas.�
�I�m glad Vee,� Finn replied. �I couldn�t stand it if you were unhappy.�
�Marguerite it�s your turn now,� Finn said.
Roxton saw the brunette stiffen. He knew she didn�t have any happy Christmas memories. It broke his heart to see her so sad.
�I think we should call it a night Finn,� Roxton said, standing. �Tomorrow is going to be a busy day. We want to make sure we get plenty of rest.�
�It�s okay John,� Marguerite said. �I do have a Christmas memory I can share.� She walked over and took a chair next to Roxton. He sat down beside her.
�It was the Christmas when I was seven,� Marguerite began. �For as long as I can remember I had been at the convent boarding school. My adoptive parents never sent for me. The holidays were the hardest. There were no cards or packages. The nuns of the convent usually put something under the tree for me; a bag of fruit, a new coat or maybe a new pair of shoes.�
�Sister Mary Margaret had just joined the convent,� Marguerite continued. �She went out of her way to be nice to me. That Christmas there were two packages under the tree for me. I couldn�t believe it. I was so excited.�
�I told Sister Mary Margaret,� Marguerite recalled with a smile. �She said it was because I was special. No one had ever called me special before.�
�Anyway,� Marguerite continued. �Christmas morning dawned. I was so excited. I couldn�t wait to open my presents. Of course the sisters made me get dressed and eat breakfast first.�
�I opened the smaller present first,� Marguerite said. �I wasn�t surprised to find an everyday dress and apron. I thanked the nuns and then Sister Mary Margaret handed me the big package. She said it had come by special delivery.�
�The card was addressed to a very special girl,� Marguerite said. �It wasn�t signed. I tore open the package and inside was the most beautiful porcelain baby doll I had ever seen. She was dressed in a long white christening gown.�
�I was so happy,� Marguerite confessed. �It was the best present I�ve ever received. Later I heard the other nuns talking. Sister Mary Margaret had saved her money and used it to buy the doll for me. A few months later she was transferred to another convent outside of London. I heard she died of pneumonia a few years later.� Marguerite looked sad for a moment. Roxton reached for her hand and squeezed it.
�I�m alright John,� Marguerite said with tears in her eyes. �It was a happy memory. The short time I was with her I was happy.�
�You guys have some great stories,� Finn said. �Thanks for sharing them with me. You are making this my best Christmas.�
�Well I agree with Roxton,� Challenger said. �It�s time we were all in bed. Tomorrow is going to be a long day.�
Everyone said good night and headed to their rooms. Malone escorted Veronica to her door. He looked to make sure no one was around. He then pulled the blond into his arms and kissed her good night.
�Thank you Ned,� Veronica said when they finally had pulled apart. �You have made this one of my best Christmases ever.�
�You have made this Christmas special for me too Veronica,� Malone said with a smile. �Good night my love.� They reluctantly parted and went into their rooms.
Marguerite and Roxton had remained behind in the main room.
�Well I think it�s time we retired too Lord Roxton,� Marguerite said, rising from her chair.
Roxton followed stopping right under the mistletoe and pulling her into his arms for a kiss.
�Good night John,� Marguerite said sweetly. She headed to her room. About the time she got there, Roxton grabbed her again
�Roxton!� Marguerite said haughtily. �Will you quit that?�
�Never,� Roxton replied with a grin.
�Marguerite smiled back and turned and went into her room.
Christmas morning turned out to be a beautiful day. Marguerite rose to the smell of the turkey roasting and coffee brewing. She quickly got out of bed and dressed and joined her friends in the main room.
�Merry Christmas Marguerite,� everyone called out and Marguerite entered.
�Merry Christmas to you too� Marguerite replied.
�Can we open our gifts now?� Finn asked excitedly �I�ve can�t remember the last time I had a Christmas present.�
�Not until after breakfast Finn,� Veronica said.
�Okay everyone let�s eat,� said Finn looking forward to discovering the treasures that awaited her underneath the tree.
Everyone laughed but they did hurry through breakfast. They all grabbed chairs and placed them around the tree.
�I think we should take turns,� Finn said. �Each person gives their gifts to everyone and then they can open them.�
�Sounds good to me,� Malone said. The others nodded their agreement.
�Veronica why don�t you start?� Challenger asked.
Veronica reached under the tree and got her presents. They were rolled up paper with a pretty bow on each.
Malone opened his. It was a sketch of Veronica.
�Veronica thank you,� Malone said. �I will treasure it always.�
Veronica smiled as the others opened theirs. Marguerite got a sketch of Roxton and he got one of her. They thanked Veronica, both being very pleased with their gift.
Next Finn opened hers. It was a sketch done of all the explorers including Finn.
�I thought you�d like a portrait of the entire family,� Veronica said.
�Oh Vee,� Finn said. �It�s beautiful. Thank you.� She went over and hugged the older woman.
Challenger just sat there quietly and looked at his picture. Veronica was worried.
�Challenger don�t you like it?� Veronica asked.
�This is amazing my dear,� Challenger said, a little emotionally. �How did you do this?�
�You have a habit of falling asleep in your lab.� Veronica replied. �I just borrowed your watch and used the picture in it for my sketch. Did I get it right?�
�It�s perfect my dear,� Challenger said. He turned it around and showed the others. It was a sketch of his wife Jessie.
Next Malone passed out his gifts.
�What a beautiful package,� Veronica said. �You did a wonderful job wrapping this Ned.�
Malone was about to tell her Marguerite wrapped it when Marguerite jumped in and agreed that he had done a beautiful job.
Finn was right, thought Malone. I don�t give Marguerite enough credit.
Veronica opened her gift to reveal the beautiful music box.
�Oh Ned it�s beautiful,� she exclaimed. �I love it. Thank you.� She leaned over and kissed the journalist on the lips.
�You�re welcome,� Malone said blushing.
The rest of the gifts were opened quickly. Everyone thanked Marguerite for her beautiful hand-made gifts. Challenger had given the ladies scented lotion and the men after shave. Malone had given Roxton and Finn leather sheaths for their knives, Challenger a compass he had traded Jacoba for and Marguerite a colorful Zanga bracelet.
After all the gifts were passed out, everyone just sat around and talked. Veronica kept a check on their Christmas dinner. Soon the day had passed and it was time for dinner.
Challenger opened a couple of bottles of wine from his collection and everyone enjoyed a Christmas feast that was by far the best they had ever had.
Challenger stood to make a toast to everyone.
�I am so pleased to be sharing this Christmas with all of you, my dear friends,� Challenger said. �Everyone did a splendid job on the presents. I want to especially commend you Finn. To be honest I didn�t think you�d be able to pull it off. Here�s to a job well done.�
�Here, here,� everyone said in unison, as they toasted Finn.
�Thank you,� Finn said, beaming with pride.
�To all of you my dear family,� Challenger continued. �I wish you a very Happy Christmas and I hope this year brings nothing but good fortune to all of us.�
Everyone drank to Challenger�s toast. They feasted and partied as they enjoyed their best Christmas ever.
The End
Merry Christmas everyone. Hope it�s your best Christmas too.
