Meg ran a frustrating hand through her pinned up but slowly unravelling hair. Heath, momentarily mesmerized by the movement, had to stop himself from unravelling the wondrous disarray or reddish-auburn hair further. "Oh Heath," Meg fretted. "There is so much to do. Jarrod arrives back home with Victoria and Audra tonight and this is my first Christmas preparing everything. I'm so worried it will all go badly wrong. And I so want it to be wonderful for everyone... for the children...for you."

"Shush," Heath soothed, mouthing his words into her hair in exchange for breathing in its wonderful scent... "You are doing just fine. The house looks wonderful, the tree magical. Have you noticed the children can't take their eyes of it. I think I will have to drag Sean away or else he'll sleep right in front of it." They both laughed imagining their little boy doing just such a thing. Heath continued to reassure her. "Darling, you are making this very special. You make it special. And in a minute, I promise, Nick and I will report for kitchen duty. We just have a few chores to do outside first, and then we’ll be in to help you. And as to the rest of the family? Just you wait till Mother's eyes take a look at all that you have done. I am so very proud of you. I reckon I'm a lucky man to have you take me on."

Meg, not for the first time, was fully disarmed by the man she was caught up in and wrapped her own arms around his neck letting her fingers dangle the kitchen towel down his back. "It wasn’t such a hardship,” she teased, “or so I found out." She added coquettishly. She loved seeing the magic twinkle in his eyes respond. They really were the most romantic eyes in the world and she had their complete attention. It made her feel special - incredibly special and loved.

"Don't be long." She cautioned, as the pressing time made her break free from his hold. "I have aprons for both you and Nick and literally tons of vegetables for you to prepare for tonight's and tomorrow’s meal.

"Aprons?" Heath’s face suggested it was not such a good idea.

Meg was not put off. "You were chaps when you're with the cattle, don't you?"

"Meg, it's not quite the same." Heath reasoned.

"Be that as it may, you're both wearing one in my kitchen. Now don’t get all pained on me.”

"I'm not your problem. The problem will be Nick. I don't think I have ever seen Nick wear one."

"Well there’s a first time for everything."

Heath kept a deadpan face, then let out a laugh. "This I have to see!"

“Oh you will. You will.” Meg promised.

Heath was still laughing when he donned his fleece jacket, hat and gloves. Collecting the men's bonuses he turned back to his flushed but determined wife. "I'll see you shortly."

Outside, Heath paused on the veranda to watch the falling snow. It was not yet settling on the ground. He pulled up his collar against its bitter feel and hoped the snow would not cause his mother, Jarrod and Audra to remain in town. The door creaked open behind him and six year old Thomas peered out from behind it. "Where ya going, Papa? Can I come with you?" Heath bustled him back in side. "I won't be long. Now get back in side and stay warm." Thomas looked up sleepily. It was not far off his bedtime and Heath was looking forward to reading them their Christmas Eve story. "Go on," Heath encouraged. "I'll be in soon."

Heath pushed his hat down on his head and patted his gloved hands together once more to face the cold. He set off for the bunk house.

As he approached he could see the warm glow of lights and hear the laughter and talk of the men. A fair number had stayed behind this year unable to get home to their own families.

The Barkleys were good employers. The one-room building was furnished with sturdy bunk beds and extra warm bedding. Long tables and benches occupied the centre aisle between the beds. A blazing fire roared in the well-built fireplace, its heat sufficient to heat the whole room and keep everyone warm. The men had gone to the effort of putting up a tree and decorating it. On his bed someone was playing a guitar and singing Christmas carols. A few men were singing along.

A separate building provided washing facilities, a cook house and dining room. There the turkey and vegetables the Barkleys had gifted the men would be cooked and enjoyed.

On reaching the bunk house Heath kicked his boots free of the freshly fallen snow. As he opened the door he was met by raucous laughter as a joke was told by one of the men. Heath only caught the end of it, but what he heard was funny and had him smiling along with the rest of them. He was welcomed warmly, hustled towards the fire and a drink placed in his hand. He recognised it as Frank Hambledon's own brew. For a moment it left him without the power of speech. "Good stuff." He finally rasped. Hambledon with a knowing smile patted his young boss on the back. "It'll put hairs on your chest, lad." Heath peered down his shirt front. "Reckon I got enough of those, Frank. Thing is, will I get my voice back?"

He stayed for a short while, genuinely enjoying their company. He shared a joke of his own. It was a good one and had the men laughing. Before becoming a Barkley he had slept in many a bunkhouse and remembered the camaraderie of such evenings. To a boy on his own it offered a brotherhood and sense of family when none other was available. He liked and respected the men and was liked and respected in return. He handed out the bonuses to the men, extra included for those who had families, and wished them all Happy Christmas.

“You bring those boys of yours out here tomorrow, boss.” Hambledon spoke for the men. “The men here have been working on a Christmas gift for each of them.” Heath was genuinely touched. “I will.” He paused to put back on his hat and jacket. “Now I must be going. Everyone have a good Christmas.”

“You too, boss.” The men chorused.

Before heading back to the house, Heath had one more job to do. He needed to collect the firewood.

Inside the house, Nick started to make himself comfortable. Kicking off his boots, he settled down in an easy chair near the fireplace and picked up a newspaper to read. He would catch up with the news and then have a nice doze before dinner. First to disturb his plans was Sean who along with Thomas had been playing in the playroom next door. The six-year old peeked under the newspaper and climbed up onto his uncle’s lap. “When will Father Christmas come, Uncle Nick?” he asked. “Will he come before I go to bed?” Thomas tugged on his uncle’s arm. “Yes, Uncle Nick. When will he come?”

Warming to their theme, Uncle Nick was in his element. “Well now. Father Christmas doesn’t even set foot outside his house until all the little children are asleep.”

“But how does he know when we’re all asleep,” Sean asked, tucking under his uncle’s arm and bringing it across his front.

“Oh he knows. He’s clever that way.”

“And then he’ll deliver our presents?”

“You bet. Tomorrow morning, they’ll all be there. Wrapped and under the tree. I tell you, it will be something special all right.”

Thomas leaned up to his uncle’s ear. “Don’t tell Papa. But Mama helped Sean and me buy Papa a present. Father Christmas didn’t bring it.”

“I won’t say a thing.” Nick said conspiratorially. “Truth is, I bought your father one myself.”

“You did. What did you get him?”

Nick shuffled in his chair with Sean’s weight on his knee and looked at the two boys. “Well, you’ve got to promise you won’t tell.”

Both boys gave a solemn promise. Nick’s faced beamed at the choice of present he had made. “He’d sent away for the finest fishing rod he could find for his brother. A perfectly weighted instrument he knew his brother would appreciate. He couldn’t wait to see his brother’s face when he opened it. Heath’s old fishing rod had seen better days and numerous repairs. Nick looked forward to furnishing him with not just a new one, but one of supreme craftsmanship and reputation.

Meg came in carrying Cate. "Don't get comfortable, Nick Barkley. I have work for you," she cautioned.

"I just sat down." Nick grumbled.

"I'm just going to put Cate to bed. Heath, will be in soon. He’s just taken the men their bonuses."

Nick knew what that meant. He’d tasted Hambledon’s brew before. Best not to let on to Meg what that entailed.

“Can I at least have five minutes?” Nick pleaded as his sister in law began to climb the stairs.

“You have as long as it takes me to put Cate to bed.”

“That long, huh?” He winked at the boys, knowing Cate’s penchant for taking a long time to settle.

Heath came in through the door and brought the firewood into the Parlour. “You need any help, Heath?” Nick offered weakly.

“I reckon I got it covered.”

Shortly afterwards Meg came downstairs. Nick was dumbstruck.

“She went out like a light.” Meg explained.

“Just my luck.” Nick complained. “Okay, what do I have to do?” Meg led him into the wonders of her kitchen. Heath followed wanting to see his face when he had to don the apron.

“I’m a rancher, Meg! A rancher doesn’t wear aprons. Look, I don’t mind peeling the vegetables but don’t make me wear this.”

“I can’t believe I’m having this discussion again." Meg sighed, exasperated. "Look, it’s a protective garment that’s all. You wear chaps, don’t you? You wear slickers in the rain? You wear a hat to keep the sun and the flies off?”

There wasn’t really much Nick could say. “Okay, okay!” He conceded, putting the apron on. "Now lead me to the vegetables.”

Heath was amazed. “You see,” Meg told him. “It wasn’t a problem at all." She paused to think of the next task, "It’s time for the children to have their bath.”

“Got it all sorted.” Heath answered.

“You have to read them the story too.” Meg reminded him.

“Got it, too.” Heath looked over at Nick and the mountain of vegetables and smiled. “You reckon I can leave him to it?”

“It would be a brave man, who would try.” Meg reasoned.

“Maybe I’m not that brave,” Heath joked. “I’ll get the boys into a bath, read them a story and be down. Twins okay?”

She nodded. “Look in on them before you come down. But they’re fed and changed and should sleep through.”

Heath went into the parlour to gather his oldest twins. “Is Father Christmas coming?” They both chorused. “Soon,” Heath advised. “Come on, you need a bath and then you can hang your stockings up.”

Heath let them run onto the bathroom and stopped off in their room to gather nightclothes, slippers and dressing gowns.

Bath time proved a fun time. Heath generally got soaked. Tonight was no exception as both boys took delight in splashing him. Eventually, he had to call a halt to their fun and gathered each one up in a big fluffy towel and towelled them dry. They both smelt of soap and their hair stuck up on end. Heath got them into their night clothes and robes and combed their hair which would soon dry by the fire.

He cleaned up in the bathroom and followed them into their room. “Stocking, Papa! Stockings!” Heath went into his and Meg’s room and pulled out two long thick socks from his own drawer. “Here you are!” he said, returning to the boy’s bedroom where he helped them secure them to the end of the bed. The boys excitedly called for their story. Heath checked the drying of their hair and let them snuggle in the same bed. He then got out the storybook he had been keeping for them and began to tell them the story that had been told to him in his youth by his own mama.

“Papa?”

“Yes Sean.”

“Don’t forget to leave carrots out for the reindeer.”

“I won’t.”

The boys yawned. As much as they wanted to stay awake, their little bodies wouldn’t let them. Heath checked they were dry and warm and kissed them goodnight. They were asleep as his kiss dropped to their foreheads.

Downstairs, he reported for duty and sat down with Nick at the table to begin peeling the vegetables. They sat like two soldiers up on a charge and on potato duty. Meg looked at her little army. She smiled, feeling once again in charge. Christmas was back on schedule and everything was going to be just fine.

Christmas morning came early for Heath and Meg. Two little ones crawled into their bed and whispered hot, excited breaths of words into their ears, “Get up Mama! It’s Christmas” “Get up Papa! It’s Christmas!” It’s Christmas, Papa!”

At first Heath and Meg fought off the feeling on their ears as just the night air and continued to sleep.

Thomas and Sean looked at each other disappointed. Together, they shook their parents awake. “Papa! St Nicholas has come! St Nicholas has come! He’s left us presents in our stockings. Ya gotta to see.” Heath felt a sock roughly pushed into his face.

“I see, I see,” the young father declared laughing, as he blinked himself awake and tried with his elbows to ease himself into a more comfortable position to see. Meg drawn from her sleep tried to do the same, finding time to kiss her husband and wish him and the children Merry Christmas. Sean and Thomas threw themselves in to their parents’ arms. “Well, I guess we have two happy boys this morning. Come on show your mother and me what Father Christmas brought you.” Said, Heath, betraying none of their prior knowledge, for it had been both of them who had filled the stockings the night before. The boys snuggled deeply in between them and began emptying their stockings all over the bed. Heath ended up with an orange rolling on to his lap and Meg some candy they had bought specially for the children from the store.

The boys were so excited, all the fretting Meg had done over organizing Christmas just melted away; for this was what Christmas was all about, family and happiness and celebrating the birth of the baby Jesus. She felt the warmth of Thomas snuggle into her. She had only been his mother since marrying Heath, but the joy he and his brother and sister brought her by calling her Mama couldn’t be measured on this earth. It was a wonderful feeling.

All told, the little family spent half an hour looking at the presents and listening to Sean and Thomas sing Christmas carols they had been singing at school for their school nativity. Finally, Meg decided that Christmas needed to begin for the rest of the family. There were twins and Cate to get up, breakfast to be put on the stove and Christmas service to attend in town. And then, there were the presents under the tree. The ones the children had no idea about yet.

Heath slipped out of bed and looked out of the window. There was a thick blanket of snow that had fallen during the night. A trip to town would be out of the question. Meg joined him at the window. “Never mind, we’ll have the service here.” She decided quickly. Heath squeezed his wife in agreement. “I’ll get a wash and get the boys washed and dressed at the same time. They shared a quick kiss and separated to go about their individual tasks. Their marriage had made them a team.

In the bathroom the boys were distracted and just too excited. Heath had a job getting them to clean their teeth or stand still as he sponged their faces clean of their night time sleep. As they brushed their teeth the boys chatted, often talking over the other. Trying to get them into their clothes proved a longer task than usual. Still it was all part of the excitement of Christmas morning and Heath didn’t really mind. They even continued to chat as Heath got his own wash and then a shave.

Eventually, Heath Barkley and sons were ready to go downstairs. They met Nick on the way coming from his room. The boys showed him their stockings. “Well, what do you know,” joined in Nick. “I reckon he left me one too. Look I got me some special tobacco left in mime.” He winked at Heath above the boys’ heads in acknowledgement of who had really bought him the gift. “All I can say is that St Nicholas has good taste.”

“I heard that,” replied Heath, smiling.

Gradually, the family gathered for breakfast. They decided to eat in the kitchen leaving the dining room table decorated and prepared for a huge Christmas lunch. As with the night before Nick and Heath helped Meg with the food. Breakfast under their charge was an informal affair with talk and laughter and Nick offering to make more. “You better leave room for lunch.” Meg warned him. “I could eat a whole turkey.” Nick boasted. “Don’t tempt me, Nick Barkley. I might just make you do that.” Victoria looked at her and Tom Barkley’s family and imagined how he would loved all this.

After breakfast things had been cleared away, the family gathered for prayers and carols in the foyer. They invited the men from the bunk house to join them. Nick melodious voice kept them all in tune. At the end Thomas and Sean saw no reason to stop and continued singing, causing the adults to smile gently at them. It was a wonderful feeling having children in the house and they all agreed Christmas was more special because of it.

Afterwards, the Barkleys mingled with the ranch hands, offering them a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie. They talked about families, where they were from and the ranch and plans for the future. Finally, the time came for the men to go and prepare for their own celebrations. “Don’t forget to bring the young’uns across to the bunkhouse,” Hambledon reminded Heath. Again, Heath promised he would. “The children were looking forward to it.” He said. That brought a smile to the grizzled Hambledon’s face.

Finally, the house emptied leaving just the family gathered in the foyer. Thomas’ and Sean’s eyes were homed in on the Parlour door. “Is it time, Papa?”

Heath smiled at them, enjoying the sense of anticipation as much as them. “I reckon so. Are we all ready? Okay, then.” He opened the doors to the Parlour and in the family went, two little boys leading the way and scurrying towards the tree.

There were so many presents they stood in wonder for a while It was left to Heath to usher them forward and show them what to do. The family stood around enjoying the spectacle of the tree, the presents and the children’s happy faces. “Now first thing’s first, boys.” Heath began. There were presents from Father Christmas and one each from members of the family. The boys didn’t know where to begin so their father knelt down to direct them. “How about you each opening your present from Father Christmas and then maybe you can hand out the presents to the family” he whispered into their ears. “Okay,” came their small voices, clearly overwhelmed but liking their new responsibility.

Heath brought out their big presents and took Cate from Meg whilst the boys began unwrapping the Christmas paper to reveal a child’s saddle for them each. “Look Papa. Father Christmas must know you are going to teach us to ride.” Sean announced. “Look he brought us our own saddles.”

Heath played along. “Well, I reckon he’s a pretty smart fella that Father Christmas. Must be a cowboy himself. I take it you like them?”

“I love my saddle,” Thomas declared. “Look it has my name on it. And look Sean, yours has yours on it too. That way we’ll not get them mixed up. “Can we start learning today, Papa?”

“Well, I thought tomorrow would be soon enough. What do you think?”

“And you won’t get up behind us to hold on to us. We can do it all on our own?”

Heath laughed. “No, this time you can sit in the saddle on your own.”

The boys were delighted.

Heath then found Cate her present. The three year old still did not know what to make of Christmas, but she loved the rag doll her mother had made her and its wool hair and colourful clothes and hat. It was just the type of doll that could be played with safely and thrown around without getting broken. They all laughed when Cate gave it a kiss on its embroidered lips.

There were more presents to open, but Heath reminded his two boys of their duties. Dutifully, the two got up to distribute the presents for the rest of the family. Of course, their curiosity at what was inside each parcel made the process that big longer and when uncles and aunt declared they needed help unwrapping their presents, little eager hands were only too happy help. “Look, you got a new writing pen, Uncle Jarrod.” Sean declared.

“Well, look at that, “their uncle proclaimed, appreciative of the gift and the thought Meg and Heath had given to his present.

The morning continued in much the same vein. Heath loved his fishing rod from Nick, taking in the craftsmanship and balance with which it had been made. He received a friendly cuff from his big brother when he went to thank him.

Time came for Victoria’s present from her children. She watched it carried in by Nick and Jarrod and could tell immediately from its shape and size that it was a painting. She wondered which painter it was by. Jarrod had a talent for finding something she would like.

When she opened it she was amazed to find a portrait of her four children. When had they had time to sit for it? How had she not known? It was absolutely wonderful and what made it more special was that their father, Tom Barkley, had been included in the portrait - Tom Barkley and his children, including Heath, his unknown son.

Victoria felt herself crying. Jarrod squeezed her hand. “With your permission, Mother, we thought here might be a good place to hang it.” It was not far from the great portrait of Tom Barkley that hung over the fireplace. “I agree,” she said, dabbing her eyes with her handkerchief. She accepted a kiss from each of her children and took a few moments to remember her late husband and the happy life they had shared together. It was the nature of Christmas that it could be sad as well as happy.

Soon the floor of the parlour was covered in paper as the children unwrapped the remainder of their presents; this time they were presents from the family. The children loved them and played with them on the floor. Meg and Heath spent some time with their youngest twins who were still too young to understand what was going on. Jarrod and Nick excused themselves to the verandah where wrapped up against the cold they enjoyed a cigarette and a few moments peace. “We got all this to come.” Nick opined.

“It’s exhausting but fun. Our brother shows a talent for fatherhood. You think we will show the same?” Jarrod, asked.

“All I see is Heath loving and caring for his children. I reckon we can do the same.” Nick answered, wisely.

Nick eyed the snow. “How long since I gave you a snowball fight, Jarrod?”

“Too long ago to remember,” Jarrod replied.

“Well now, what say we round up the family and have us one now.” Before Jarrod could answer, Nick rounded up the troops, even his mother agreed to come out and see the fight.

Adults and children skidded in the snow, snowball missiles hit their targets, Meg and Audra pleaded being women to escape the rough and tumble and then slyly saw to it that snow was promptly squashed down the men’s' necks. Eventually, Meg, Victoria and Audra went inside to see to lunch and to check on the sleeping twins, and Heath, with Jarrod and Nick, took his sons and daughter to the bunkhouse as promised.

Inside, Nick and Jarrod were treated to Hambledon’s brew which Heath skilfully avoided second time round. He watched as both brothers sat quietly trying to recover the power of speech. Simply wrapped gifts were brought out for the boys. A carved horse and rider each for Sean and Thomas and a dolls crib for Cate. The children were delighted and thanked them with childlike glee. It was all the thanks the ranch hands needed. Their bosses children had brought a little of their own families closer.

Eventually, brothers and children wound their way back to the mansion. So far it had been a wonderful day. Inside they had the turkey dinner to eat. Heath would carve as head of the table and the best wine had been brought from the cellar. Afterwards, some may attempt a walk in the snow, or others may choose to nap away the afternoon, including two overtired little boys who had been up early that morning.

All agreed it was a good day.