Christmas Comes Home to Canaan Page #3

talking about her.

Got it.

Always talk about her.

And, for heaven's sake,

whatever you do,

don't use "reckon"

every other word.

It makes you

sound like a hick.

Well, dang-flabbit, son!

Maybe I am just a hick.

Well, let her

catch on to that gradual.

You don't have to

spring it on her

the first thing.

Anything else?

Isn't that enough?

Daddy, just relax.

Relax and have

a good time.

You'll do fine.

Okay.

Goodnight.

Relax, have a good time...

So, you think

he's serious?

I don't know.

I'll tell you

one thing for sure...

Giving my dad advice

about women?

Something kind of

unsettlin' about that.

Hmm...

Hey, you want a soda?

Oh, sure,

if you're buying.

Why should today be

any different?

Morning, Mr. shoup.

How you doing, dj?

Good.

What's with

the seed catalogs?

You ain't thinking

about farming, are you?

No, but I am

thinking about farmers.

Fact is, it was your dad

that got me started on it.

I might be carrying

a whole new line here.

That might work.

You think so?

Well, farmers got

to buy their stuff somewhere,

no reason it shouldn't be

from you.

I like the way

you think, son.

Mm-hmm.

Welcome to the fireglow.

May I help you?

Yes, sir, uh, Burton,

party of two?

I called in earlier.

Ah.

Excuse me, sir,

but, uh, may I have

a word with you?

Sure.

I'm sorry, sir,

but we require our patrons

to wear a tie.

Oh, I got on a tie.

I mean a tie-tie,

the normal kind.

I'm afraid I don't own

the normal kind.

I see.

Well, I'm sure we can find

something that will work.

That should suffice.

You think

it's bright enough?

Well, let's just

call it colorful.

That'll be $5, please.

Five bucks?

You're gonna need to

tie it for me.

I see...

There.

Voila.

Voila...

What's that for?

Well, I guess

I needed a tie.

You had a tie.

Ah, we're finally

dressed for dinner.

I thought I was dressed

when I got here, but...

Are we coming?

No, we're not coming.

We're going.

I know a place where people

still have manners.

There's a great little

restaurant on the wharf.

Uh, excuse me...

It's not fancy,

but it's got...

I'll need the tie.

Sure.

That should get

your fire glowin'.

Whee, howdy!

Thank you.

Wow!

Now, that

is what I call service.

I waited my share

of tables back home.

Cheers.

Oh, cheers.

So when'd you decide

to be a doctor?

It's what I've always

wanted to be,

for as far back

as I can remember.

But even knowing early on,

I mean, it still

must have been long.

You have to make

a lot of sacrifices,

but I'm sure you know

all about that,

considering you raised a family

all by yourself.

Not fair.

You know way more about me

than I know about you.

What do you want to know?

You a single lady?

Now.

Oh. Are you seeing anyone?

My job keeps me pretty busy.

That would be a no?

That would be a no.

Ah. Hmm.

Ever married?

Mm-hmm.

Children?

My folks sure enough

thought we were.

You know that's not

what I'm talking about.

You got kids?

No.

Did you want

some malt vinegar with that?

I don't know,

you tell me.

I'm pretty sure

that you do.

It's not my prettiest feature.

It doesn't matter.

You're still beautiful.

You want to tell me about it?

You mind me asking?

My mama and I

were canning preserves.

The boiler that she used

to sterilize the jars exploded.

It knocked

a whole box of paraffin

into the fire

and all over me.

By the time we put it out,

I had third-degree burns,

all the way up to my shoulder.

Eight surgeries later,

half a dozen skin grafts,

a lot of tears

and hard work,

and here I am.

So, that's what did it.

Did what?

Changed bobber's mind.

You told him about you,

didn't you?

I may have mentioned it.

I want people to know

that it's okay to be afraid.

Everybody's afraid of something.

Probably even you.

I'm not going to be able to

thank you enough

for all that you've done.

You'll never know

how grateful I am.

I just remember

reading your story,

thinking,

"who is this guy?

"This Daniel Burton?

"So strong.

"Never backs down

"from what he thinks

is right,

yet so kind."

Now you're

embarrassin' me.

I thought,

this guy can't be real.

He's gotta be just

some character in a book.

But here you are.

I hope I'm not

a disappointment.

No.

You're not a disappointment.

Would it be all right

if I kissed you?

I'd never forgive you

if you didn't.

Hope that wasn't

against the rules.

It wasn't.

Well, I wouldn't much care

if it was.

We've stabilized

the injury.

That's

the important part,

and, judging from

the test results,

there seems to be

some modest improvement

in motor function.

So what you're sayin' is

it didn't work.

I'm saying there's improvement,

and that's what we want.

But the boy still can't walk.

Pa, it's okay.

It is some better,

it really is.

It just seems to me

like he's been through

an awful lot

for only "some better,"

that's all I'm sayin'.

You can't let yourself

get discouraged.

With ongoing

physical therapy,

there's a chance

we could still see

continued improvement.

Just how am I

supposed to manage that?

We'll find someone

near canaan.

I can even work with them

to set up a program

specifically for Bob.

I'm happy to make

some phone calls.

Or you could just

follow us back

and find someone in person.

Whoa, now,

hold up here, son.

We can't just

ask Dr. adair

to drop everything

she's got going on here

and fly off to canaan.

I mean, especially

with the holidays

just around the corner.

Maybe she oughta

spend Christmas with us.

I'm sure she's got plans.

Do you?

Bobber...

Actually,

I don't.

Well, then it's settled.

She's spending Christmas

with us

and she can

meet Sarah

and dj.

Oh, and Rodney'll

be there, too.

I don't want to impose.

Impose? My dad

doesn't even know

the meaning

of the word "impose."

Do you, pop?

Of course, we'd love

for you to come join us,

but you just

need to know

what you're

getting yourself into.

It ain't nothing ritzy.

Just a good ol'

family Christmas.

It sounds wonderful.

Okay, well,

come on, pop,

we got to get to a phone

and tell the others.

You go ahead, son,

I'll catch up with you.

Looks to me like

you just got railroaded.

Are you sure about this?

Are you kiddin' me?

I've been wondering

how on earth

I was ever gonna manage

saying goodbye to you.

It's gonna be

a whole lot easier now,

knowin' there's a hello

just a few weeks away.

I can't imagine

anything better

than spending

Christmas in canaan,

with you.

Bandit, either push, pull,

or get outta the way,

preferably the latter.

Here, I'll put him out.

Come on, bandit.

Come on, boy.

Is that the nicest tree

you could find?

What's wrong with it?

It's green.

It's got branches

in all directions.

And there ain't

no squirrel nests.

Seems a little

thin on that side.

Rodney, what if we

turn it the other way?

Maybe it's got

a better side.

Did you clean all the junk

out of the guest room?

What, all those

seed catalogs?

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