Danny and Netty came back into the room. Netty sat in her favourite chair with a sigh and fanned herself with her hand. ‘Thank heavens Christmas comes only once a year,’ she said. ‘Amos sends his apologies. He’s gone to see to the horses.’ She glanced at Caleb. ‘He says Mac wants to apologise to you.’

‘Mac?’

‘The horse that hurt you. Amos says Mac has been off his oats ever since the accident.’

‘He’s a horse. He doesn’t need to apologise.’

‘That’s as may be, but he’s bringing Mac over later. I have some carrot tops you can give him.’

‘He’s a horse,’ Caleb repeated.

Adelaide laughed. ‘Not in Amos Burrell’s world. His horses are people to him.’

Danny glanced at the Christmas tree. ‘Mama, can we open our presents now?’

Caleb clapped a hand to his forehead. ‘I clean forgot. I have Christmas presents. Danny, can you bring me my bag?’

Danny picked up the satchel Caleb had left by the door that morning and handed it to him. Caleb waited until the other presents had been exchanged. Socks and a notebook for Danny, a woollen scarf for Netty and a battered copy of Jane Eyre for Adelaide.

Caleb extricated the two neatly wrapped brown packages from Mackie’s General Store and a third, badly wrapped in newspaper and tied up with string. This last package he handed to Danny.

The boy’s eyes gleamed as he tore at the string. ‘A knife!’ he exclaimed.

‘Not just any knife, a Barlow knife,’ Caleb said. ‘You’ve got to be careful that you fold it properly. It’s sharp and will cut you.’

He looked up, feeling an icy chill in the room.

Adelaide glared at him. ‘Mr Hunt, I cannot approve of you giving Danny a knife,’ she said.

‘Why not? I had one when I was younger than him. I had learned how to whittle by the time I was ten.’

‘Mama, please. I’ve always wanted a knife.’ Danny paused and glanced at Caleb. ‘Caleb’s been showing me how to whittle. Have you seen his stick?’

Adelaide sighed. ‘It’s a gift, and I’ll not take it from you, but if you injure yourself, Daniel Greaves, I will take it off you until you’re old enough to know better.’

She unwrapped her own package, her face softening at the sight of the pretty handkerchief. She looked at Caleb and smiled and his heart melted in the radiance of that smile. She had forgiven him for spoiling their Christmas lunch.

‘Do you like it?’ He sounded like an overeager schoolboy.

She nodded and refolded the square of cambric. ‘It was very thoughtful of you, and not necessary. I’m sorry I have no gift for you.’

‘Ma’am, you have given me the gift of your hospitality and your friendship. That is more than enough.’