A Curious Christmas

By Barbara Butterfield

Newly-retired doctor: Alysha Dunsworth escapes the busy-ness of life in a big city, relocating to a town in Iowa. Alysha loves her new home, however she doesn’t care for her rambunctious neighbor: Jon Wintersett, a fun-loving, former Marine and great-grandson of the town’s founder.
Jon falls for his lovely neighbor. However, Alysha’s past hurts haunt her, and her heart says: no men wanted.
Jon is persistent though, and goes to great lengths to win the lady’s heart.
This faith-based story is a humorous and poignant battle of wills between God, Alysha, and Jon. But who will win is anyone’s guess.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 22, 2021
• ISBN: 9781543499803

Barbara Butterfield

Ms. Butterfield is California born and raised, and currently resides in a suburb of Phoenix, Arizona…where she lives with her favorite feline friend: Baybee. Integrity, suspense, camaraderie, romance, and personal growth are all values that play a vital role in her novels. More importantly, the gospel and spiritual growth are also an aspect of life into which she delves. Ms. Butterfield has written for many years; her first novel having been penned at the age of fourteen. She also studied writing and journalism, becoming the Editor-In-Chief of the school’s newspaper. She is currently working on her 60th novel.

Book preview

Copyright © 2021 by Barbara Butterfield.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. [Biblica]

Cover Photograph:

Compliments of Pexels.com

Photograph by: S. Migaj

London, UK

Rev. date: 09/22/2021

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

835473

Contents

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Epilogue

Post-Script

Dedication

My thanks and appreciation are extended to my niece,

Wendy Horton

as it was her creative brain-storming

that planted the seed for this adventure.

* * *

Thanks also to friend and co-worker:

Alysha Dunsworth

for having such a beautiful name. I just had

to use it for the leading lady in this story.

* * *

Additionally, my thanks and sincere appreciation go to

Sue Gardner

and

Gail Chavez

for proofreading the manuscript and lending their insights,

which all came together to improve the final outcome of the story.

Blessings always!

Chapter 1

Holey hell, firefighter Bill Connors muttered through his full-face mask as the fire truck pulled to an abrupt stop in front of the all-too-familiar office building.

Alysha, he breathed his fiancée’s name. With no time to spare, Bill withdrew his cell phone from his cargo pant’s pocket, and tried calling his girlfriend who worked within the building. There was no answer.

Alysha Dunsworth was a twenty-year-old college student. She and Bill had been friends since they shared a Study Hall class at Woodlands Junior High.

At long last, Bill felt compelled to make their relationship official, and had proposed. The couple had been engaged for the past three months.

Alysha was attending the California Institute of Science where she majored in medicine. She worked off-campus at 315 Redlands Drive for the college’s administration department in Records. It was that exact address where the fire truck had braked to a stop.

Where are you?! Came the urgent plea of the struggling firefighter.

Alysha! Can you hear me?! Bill shouted as best he could.

In spite of the current circumstances, he managed to depress the ‘talk’ button on his two-way radio making a desperate attempt to call for additional help.

Firefighter Connors struggled to see his way through the darkened, smoke-filled corridor. With an inner desperation born from an innate instinct to survive, Bill continued to inch his way through the burning structure.

But often the mind’s inherent desire to survive will also wage war with one’s call to service. This was his job, and one way or another, he was determined to locate and rescue everyone that remained within the burning office building. Especially his fiancée: Alysha Dunsworth.

Churning billows of dark gray smoke poured from the aged office building. One-by-one, the windows burst causing dagger-like shards of glass to rain down onto the sidewalk, a mere three stories below.

Upon arrival, the firefighters had observed what appeared to be a small, relatively simple fire. Initially, they figured the blaze could be rapidly extinguished. Unfortunately, Bill recognized the building as being the employer of someone very special to him.

The crew followed orders and had quickly dispersed within the three stories as they avidly sought hot spots that could be easily extinguished.

The building had not been ablaze for very long and the fire hadn’t shown any sign of escalating, until the blast occurred.

With a deafening roar, the concussive force of the explosion rocked the aged building. The ensuing shock waves caused several firefighters to tumble off their feet, while it merely sent others reeling up against nearby walls.

Within seconds, the fire escalated into a roaring inferno and the tones for a second and third alarm sounded at nearby fire stations.

As Bill pushed himself to his feet the stabbing pain in his right arm caused him no small amount of concern. But he didn’t have time to think about that right now, he had to press on.

Bill found tremendous satisfaction in his career as a firefighter. But it was at times like this he wondered if he shouldn’t have taken his father’s advice and become an accountant instead.

But the challenge of being a firefighter was always present, and it fed his intrigue and love of the work. The gratifying achievement of a job well done never failed to cast a warm sense of calm over his soul upon returning to the fire station.

The purpose and satisfaction of lives and property saved, and hopefully…in certain situations, arsonists captured and put behind bars. This was the bottom-line for his choice of career. It all came together to fill a need that lay deep within himself, as well as the other twenty-three members of the crew.

But this…this was different. This time his fiancée was somewhere in the building, and quite possibly trapped. Bill had explained this to his captain and he’d been given permission to team-up with one other firefighter to go directly to Alysha’s second-floor office.

Together, Bill and fellow firefighter Derek Matthews ran into the fire to find Alysha, and anyone else that needed help.

Dark gray smoke billowed low over Bill’s head. On those occasions when the smoke seemed to lighten, he could watch as the eerie tendrils snaked their way along the ceiling. Soon the writhing gray fog would find its way to the out-of-doors, venting itself through shattered windows at the end of the corridor.

However, his attention was quickly forced back to the present as he turned the hand-held extinguisher onto new flames that had flared up. Bill grimaced from the pain in his arm, but he just worked to shake it off. He would get it looked at later.

Determinedly, he and Derek fought their way up the stairs, and then down the corridor. With every fleeting moment the aged building threatened imminent collapse. They briefly paused at each office door in their quest to locate suite #211.

Hey Connors, over here buddy…over here! Matthews shouted, and Bill dashed to his colleague’s side.

Together the men forced the door open, and the two firefighters entered the office to find three women seeking shelter and safety in a storage closet. It had been the victim’s hope to escape the smoke and flames until they could be found and rescued.

Derek helped one woman to her feet and left the office with her, instructing the third woman to follow along right behind. Bill took Alysha’s hand in his as they rushed from the office.

It was just as the couple was nearing the main door to exit the blazing building that there was yet another explosion. The concussive force of the blast sent both Bill and Alysha sprawling to the floor. The power behind the explosion had actually thrown Alysha closer to the exit.

Shaking off the dazed feeling from having been thrown about fifteen feet, Alysha stood up and began peering through the dark haze as she looked for Bill.

With his self-contained breathing apparatus, better known as an SCBA, completely out of oxygen, Bill tore the mask off and tossed it aside. With the heat of the flames so near his face, he painfully stretched his arm out to try and reach a portable extinguisher that had apparently fallen from its mounting on the wall.

Within seconds, Alysha located Bill lying several feet behind her, near the elevator doors. She rushed to his side, but then a whole new terror filled her mind when she saw that a support beam had been dislodged. In the explosion, the beam had crashed down upon the young firefighter…trapping him.

Alysha took hold of his hands and leaned back, tugging on his arms in the hope of dragging him free of the obstruction. It would prove to be a useless attempt, but she had to try.

Alysha, go! Bill shouted as he worked at the beam trying to take some of the weight off his leg.

What?! She shrieked, aghast at his suggestion. I can’t leave you!

Just go outside, get a couple of the guys and send them in. The door’s just right there, he encouraged, pointing in the proper direction.

But…no! Alysha adamantly replied, even as tears began to sting her eyes.

Aly, I know what I’m doing, Bill shouted. Now, go. Go! Get outside and send help!

With tears streaming down her face, Alysha leaned down and kissed his forehead.

With seeming malicious intent, the remaining ceiling beams moaned and creaked as if they would succumb to the fire’s torment at any moment. Knowing she had no other choice, Alysha turned and ran from the building, where she immediately screamed for help.

Three firefighters were just about to run into the building to rescue their buddy when a third explosion rocked the area.

What remained of the ceiling and timbers now surrendered to the incessant demands of the flames.

The glass doors and windows of the lobby area were blown out causing anyone standing within twenty-feet of the entrance to turn away in order to protect themselves from the glassine projectiles.

The inferno, now fed anew, voraciously consumed the lobby. The flame’s spidery tendrils leapt toward the out of doors as if determined to spread the conflagration to other structures nearby.

All the crew could do was turn the hoses on the flames, and then fight their way back inside. At this time there was no way the firemen could enter the building. The lobby was a solid wall of flames, and until the fire was knocked down to a manageable level, the firefighters were relegated to attacking the conflagration from the outside.

Alysha appeared to be in shock from where she stood on the sidewalk, silent and unmoving. She wasn’t even crying. She simply stood there…slack-jawed, staring dumbfounded at the raging fire.

The heat was intense, but her senses had been dulled by the enormity of what had just happened. She probably would have remained there indefinitely had not one of the firefighters gently taken her by the elbow and guided her back…and away from, the heat. He sat her down on the wide, front bumper of the vehicle that had been her fiancés fire truck. Here, she could watch from a safe distance. A good friend of Bill’s, he simply sat with her, by her side.

Bill had died that day, a mere one month before their wedding. He hadn’t suffered, as his untimely death had been instantaneous. In spite of his bravery and unselfish dedication, Bill had perished while attempting to rescue her. It would take years before the memory of that day, and the subsequent loss of her beloved, would relinquish their hold on her.

Chapter 2

The doctor’s teal-colored scrubs, coupled with her white lab coat, were wrinkled, soiled, and tinged with tiny flecks of blood. Now off duty, she wearily threw the strap of her purse over her shoulder.

Making her way from the expansive building, 43 year old Alysha Dunsworth’s rubber-soled shoes hit the dark gray floor pad. This simple act would trigger the double doors to automatically open allowing her to escape the emergency room of Samaritan General Hospital. This was the facility on the harbor, not downtown.

To say it had been a long, tiring shift would have been an understatement of immense proportions.

* * *

Within minutes of the patient’s arrival in the emergency room, the man’s unconscious form had been transferred from the stretcher onto a prepared exam-room table.

Immediately, he was swarmed upon by no less than six medical professionals. One checked his vital signs, while two others removed his uniform and boots. Those items were functionally replaced by a plain, blue hospital gown.

A phlebotomist drew several tubes of blood for lab work, while two nurses set to work cleaning the wound that had bled so profusely.

A portable X-ray machine was wheeled into the room, and positioned beside the examination table. Radiographs were taken to assess possible injuries to the man’s skull.

This was a well-trained and efficient staff of medical professionals. They had to be since they had chosen a unique skill-set within the fast-paced Emergency and ICU departments of the large, metropolitan hospital.

On an almost daily basis their duties included critical life and death situations where every minute counted.

All hospital personnel were highly trained, but the members of the ICU and ER staffs were held to a far more exacting skill set.

A mere thirty minutes later found Dr. Dunsworth quietly standing beside the bed, jotting notes in her patient’s medical chart. Without warning, a hand suddenly lashed out, startling the physician when he grabbed her by the wrist.

Unbeknownst to the doctor, her patient had gradually awakened and was disoriented by not knowing where he was, or why he was there.

Where am I, came Jon’s whispered plea through a voice that sounded hoarse and dry.

Initially, Dr. Dunsworth gasped at the unexpected movement of her patient, but had quickly recovered. As a physician, she was glad to see awareness in her patient’s eyes.

Sergeant, you’re in the hospital, she replied. Placing a gentle hand to his, she removed his grasp, and gently replaced his hand to the mattress.

Sergeant? Jon questioned, as a frown creased his brow. I’m a Major.

Very good. You haven’t forgotten your rank, Alysha smiled, adding yet another note to the chart.

I worked too hard to get it, Jon replied, as he appeared to relax back against the pillows. I’m not about to forget it.

Excellent, the attractive doctor with silky, honey-blonde hair commented as she went about finishing her notes.

Nurse, I’m really thirsty, can I have something to drink?

Absolutely, but just a few sips till we make sure it’s going to stay down, Alysha advised, kindly.

Placing the patient’s chart upon the counter, she poured some cold water into a white paper cup.

"And it’s...doctor," Alysha corrected her patient, and she helped steady the cup as he raised it to parched, waiting lips.

What?

I’m a doctor, not a nurse. As admirable a calling as Nursing is, just as you explained with regard to your rank, I went to school for far too long to get where I am. Consequently, I prefer to be called by my correct title.

I don’t blame you, Jon shrugged, as he released the nearly empty cup into her waiting hands. Sorry.

No problem, Alysha replied, as she extended a hand to him. Dr. Alysha Dunsworth at your service, sir.

Civilian? The woozy Major asked.

Does it matter?

Not as long as you know what you’re doing.

"Oh, trust me, I know what I’m doing," Alysha confirmed as she placed two fingers to his wrist, and then focused on her wristwatch.

That’s good, Jon sighed. As if mentally resigning himself to his fate, the injured Major slowly let his eyes go closed again.

"Captain...Alysha Dunsworth, Reserves," she finally answered, interrupting her patient’s inward reverie.

Ah, I see, Jon replied, his eyes now shut in a lethargic repose.

How’re you feeling, Major? The doctor inquired as she continued her cursory exam.

Not too good.

Care to extemporize on that a little for me? Alysha asked, smiling. Just then Jon opened his eyes and caught the winsome gesture of the petite, though shapely physician.

Can I have some more water? Jon asked as he inwardly worked to realign his thoughts into those more appropriate to this setting.

Not just yet, Dr. Dunsworth replied with a gentle shake of her head. We need to make sure it’ll...

Stay down, yeah I got that part. Why wouldn’t it?

Major, you have a grade III concussion, Alysha explained. That’s reason enough, that’s why.

Grade III? How many grades are there?

Four.

I’ve always been somewhat of an over-achiever, he grinned, and then groaned.

What’s wrong?

Headache.

Well, we can give you something for that, Dr. Dunsworth confirmed. With that she reached over to depress the nurse’s call button that was clipped to the side of her patient’s pillow.

X-rays, bless their archaic little hearts, show no fracture to the skull. Fortunately for you, Major…you appear to have a very hard head.

Yeah well, I’ve been told that before, mostly by my brothers. But there was also a drill sergeant or two… Jon explained as a meager smile lit up his weary face.

Be that as it may, we don’t have MRI capability here yet, so you may need to have that done at another facility.

And when might that be? Jon asked as he turned skeptical eyes on his attending physician.

Well, it depends upon various factors. But if you remain stable, I’ll probably just release you back to your squadron in three days. Upon further follow-up, it’s possible that I might release you to return to work in a week, but no flying, at least not yet.

What?! Jon gasped, quite unexpectedly to both himself, as well as his physician. It was also an action that did nothing to lessen the dull throbbing in his head.

A week?!

"Correct. Not until we’ve got a complete work-up on you, including MRI," Dr. Dunsworth cautioned.

But I thought you didn’t have MRI equipment?

"Precisely why you won’t be piloting until we can get you into Samaritan General, downtown. They have MRI capability."

What, you need confirmation that I have a brain, or what?

Very funny, Major, Alysha replied, maintaining a stoic professional demeanor. We’re pretty certain there’s one in there. We just need to make sure it’s all in one gelatinous piece, okay?

Gross.

"Yeah well, I’m a trauma physician, I deal in gross a lot."

Gross, Jon repeated. So that’s the reason for this immense headache? He asked, as he sought confirmation. Slowly, he raised one hand to the side of his head, where he gingerly explored bandaging he hadn’t even noticed before.

Absolutely, Alysha responded as the door to the private room opened, and a nurse entered. Hi Mike, I need 1cc morphine, IM, please.

Yes ma’am, the nurse replied, confirming the order as he ducked quietly out of the room.

You’re not allergic to any medications, are you? Your personnel file doesn’t note any anomalies in that area.

No allergies, Jon confirmed. What’s IM?

It means you might be a bit embarrassed for a moment or two while I give you the injection. However, that unpleasant experience will be quickly overshadowed by the stinging sensation of the needle. So, concentrate on that, okay?

You’re a big help, you know that?

I try, the cordial doctor smiled.

And this bandage? Jon asked, tenaciously pursuing his line of questioning.

Don’t you remember hitting your head?

On what?

"I guess, no…would be the answer then. You struck your head against the bulkhead when you landed, or rather…when you attempted to land the plane. You lost a lot of blood, but gained fifteen stitches."

Must’ve been a rough landing, Jon added as his fingertips continued to explore the padded bandage wrapped about his forehead.

I’m sure the video will be released soon, Alysha joked, as she jotted a few more notes in the patient’s record.

Someone taped it?

Yes. I dare say it was someone with a bit too much time on their hands.

"Out of curiosity, what area does my personnel file show any anomalies in?" Jon asked, interested in knowing.

Alysha just giggled, slightly. Though it was a rather girlish gesture for the forty-something physician it was kind, sweet, and genuine, and Jon liked the sound of it.

I’m not qualified to go into that area with you, Major. That would quite possibly require the special talents of the base shrink, Alysha chuckled.

For just a fleeting moment, and even as tired as she was, her dark blue eyes sparkled with merriment.

Deep down inside Jon felt something, but at this point he had no idea what it could be. However, it was something he hadn’t felt in a very long time.

If it hadn’t been for the painful throbbing of a very severe headache he was experiencing, he might have been able to identify the emotional sensation. Be that as it may, for now he just chalked it up to being really, really hungry.

There was no doubt he was hungry, the question was: for what.

Chapter 3

Within a few minutes the nurse returned to the room where he handed the doctor a small stainless-steel tray with a single syringe on it. Filled to the proper dosage and securely capped, it was ready to be put into service.

Thank you, Corporal, Dr. Dunsworth smiled as she accepted the offered tray. Simply nodding his response, Mike exited the exam room.

Now Major, would you please turn onto your side for me? Dr. Dunsworth asked as she picked up the syringe.

Studiously, she removed the protective cap from the sterile hypodermic needle. Holding the instrument up to the light, she gently tapped against the barrel and then depressed the plunger ever so slightly. This action would dislodge and remove miniscule air bubbles from the barrel of the syringe. She then picked up an alcohol wipe and stood by, waiting.

Major, you haven’t turned over yet, Dr. Dunsworth commented when she noticed her patient hadn’t budged.

I know, I’ve been watching you, Jon replied, dubiously.

As flattering as that may be, I’d appreciate it even more if you would turn over onto your side, please.

I don’t know, you look like you’re going to enjoy this far too much.

I love my work, what can I say, Alysha quipped, and holding the syringe at the ready…she smiled. It was a pretty gesture but seemed to be just a bit too much on the confident side. Face it, they both knew who held all the cards, and at the moment it wasn’t the patient.

Couldn’t you possibly put it somewhere else? Jon asked, holding out for the smallest glimmer of hope. I have muscles all over.

As interesting as that may sound, Major, to answer your question: no. It just really needs to go in your…ass, and again that knowing grin touched her pretty lips.

I don’t like it when people say that to me.

You’ve had it said to you often? Alysha queried, maintaining a rather dubious expression on a face that was not glamorous, though it was pretty in a country-girl sort of way.

I had this drill sergeant at Boot, Jon began to explain as his mind wandered back through the years to revisit an especially difficult time in his life.

That sounds like a story for another time, Dr. Dunsworth advised as she managed to maintain a kind and compassionate demeanor.

Now, if you’d please roll over? By the tone of her voice, it was certain the physician’s amiable persona would soon be venturing into more demanding terms if her patient’s stubbornness continued unabated.

Rank notwithstanding, as a professional she had a job to do. She would make sure that it got done too, with…or without additional assistance.

Realizing that the jig was up, Jon grudgingly eased his aching body onto his side, facing away from her. The slow, yet determined movement caused the pounding in his head to escalate and he was not very happy about that. Consequently, Jon began to feel that the momentary embarrassment of the injection was worth it.

Tenaciously, the injured patient lay upon his side. Subconsciously, Jon’s right hand covered his face as he groaned in abject misery.

Major, you’ll be feeling much better in a very short while, Alysha reassured her patient as she discretely exposed only a modicum of the officer’s derriere.

Please relax, it’ll help to minimize the discomfort of the injection, she advised.

Just don’t enjoy it, Jon mumbled from beneath the covering of his hand.

I’ll try to keep my emotions in check, Alysha good-naturedly quipped. Quickly, she then swabbed the site and administered the medication.

There now, Alysha said as she stood back upright. Pleased that the mission had been successfully completed, she flipped her patient’s hospital gown, sheet and blanket back down, covering his posterior once again.

You can roll back over, Dr. Dunsworth added as she tossed the used syringe into the sharps container.

No, I think I’ll just lay here like this.

Are you comfortable?

No. When you finished, did you actually remove the needle, or just leave it in there.

Don’t be absurd, of course I removed it.

Doesn’t feel like it. Crap, that hurt.

"Well, I did advise you to relax. It helps, a little. I’ve taken a few in the rear in my time as well, and then she pulled up short as a perplexed expression crossed her pretty features. I can’t believe I just said that."

Neither can I, Jon chuckled, but only slightly, and still from beneath the emotionally protective covering of his hand.

Are you ever going to come out of there? Alysha asked, referencing his palm-covered face.

When I feel like it.

It’ll be easier to eat your dinner if your hand isn’t over your mouth.

I’ll think about it, Jon grumbled, and she chuckled easily.

Alysha thought he was a good-looking man, with a subtle sense of humor too. Plus, he had a nice backside. Choosing to keep her thoughts to herself, she smiled pleasantly as she turned to leave the room.

If you need anything, just press the nurse ‘call’ button.

Thank you, came Jon’s muffled reply.

Any time, Alysha spoke kindly as she reached for the door’s handle.

Dr. Dunsworth? Jon called, without turning over to face her. What’s for dinner around here.

Dull, bland, easily-digested food that a shark wouldn’t eat, even if it was starving.

That bad, huh?

Pretty much, but only for tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll reassess your condition and adjust your menu accordingly.

Thank you.

You’re welcome, Major. Try and get some sleep, Alysha added as the door swung closed on silent hinges, and she was gone.

It was for certain that Jon would remember his first encounter with Dr. Alysha Dunsworth.

Chapter 4

Weary beyond belief, Alysha plodded to her car and wondered if she would make it. Even the thickly-leafed bushes looked inviting as she pondered whether she could actually catch a quick nap within the green boughs.

Chuckling slightly at the impromptu thought, she slid the key into the slot and pulled open the car’s door.

If she hadn’t been so insanely tired following a nearly twenty-hour shift, she would have enjoyed the peace and quiet of the surrounding area.

It was two o’clock in the morning and her world was calm once again. The fresh sea-breeze blew onshore bringing with it wispy fingers of moist, gray fog. Even at this hour of the morning it was refreshing.

Tossing her purse across the console to the passenger’s side of the car, Alysha slid effortlessly into the car where she then closed and locked the door.

With the key in the ignition, she sat there and took a deep breath to decompress and unwind. Her shift was over, and it was time to rest and forget the multi-car pile-up and its ensuing victims that had been rushed to the hospital from Interstate 101.

The wounded would heal, the dead mourned, and the lifesavers who tended to them remembered with fondness and appreciation.

Then there was always that Major. Who, during a flying lesson in a small plane with his instructor seated beside him, performed a not-quite-textbook landing. The result landed them both in the hospital. Fortunately, they would survive to fly another day. However, it was certain that