The gunshot had caught her off guard as she scrambled for the door. She ran toward the sound, stopping short as she saw Tanner vault off his horse, snatch Alice up from the ground and wrap his arms around her. He had tears streaming down his face but was somehow able to keep his voice steady as he soothed her. You’re okay. I’m here.
The raw, unguarded emotion on his face had taken her breath away. And then, once he’d regained his control, he’d left without any other explanation.
Eve dropped marshmallows into the mugs and stared down as they swirled in the creamy milk chocolate.
She’d just watched him walk away, thanking Jesus that he’d been there and her baby was safe.
What else would she do? She’d told him she loved him. Her heart was in his hands, and she had to be patient. If she had any hope of a future with him, he needed time to figure things out. She couldn’t force it. She could choose to give up, maybe. But would that help her avoid heartbreak? No. And besides, she was stronger than that.
She believed he was stronger than that, too, but when she hadn’t heard from him all day on Christmas Eve, she’d started to wonder. Maybe she was wrong about him.
Maybe he wasn’t ready.
Maybe he never would be.
She picked up the mugs and called Alice. “Are you ready, Ali-Cat? Have your Christmas pj’s on?”
Her four-year-old danced out in pajamas decked with her favorite princess and, of course, topped with a matching tulle princess skirt. She twirled to a stop, her little hands in fists on her hips. “Where are your Christmas pj’s, Mama?”
“I’ll put them on in a little while. Right now it’s time for Christmas wishes and hot chocolate by the fire.”
“Christmas wishes!” Alice did another twirl in her glittery skirt, blond curls whirling with her. Eve laughed. She’d worried the gunfire would be a setback for Alice, but instead the opposite had happened. Tanner had kept her safe, and that fact seemed to ease Alice’s fears.
Eve’s worry about having to move had been settled, too. With all her orders packaged and sent—thanks to Lacey and Wynn’s help—and her bank account nicely full, her fears of having to uproot their small family again had dissipated.
Eve brought the Santa mugs filled with hot chocolate, placed them on a stool in front of the fire and topped them with a peppermint stick. This was Eve’s favorite Christmas tradition. And it wasn’t about the decorations or the gifts—it was about the people they loved. “Ready now?”
“Wait, Mama. One more thing.” Alice ran for her bedroom, returning in just a moment with the baby Jesus from her grandparents’ nativity and a crib from her animal figurine set. She placed the crib under the tree and, very gently, placed the baby in it. “There you go, Baby Jesus. We’ve been waiting for You to come.”
Eve swallowed hard around the knot in her throat. Alice had managed to drill down to the very heart of Christmas with one nativity figure. Baby Jesus, we’ve been waiting for You to come.
Eve settled on their pile of blankets and took a sip of her hot chocolate. Alice flopped down beside her. The fire was warm and cozy, despite the blustery winter weather outside. “Okay, it’s time for Christmas wishes. Who are you going to wish for first?”
“The babies.”
Surprised, Eve laughed. “Okay, what’s your Christmas wish for the babies?”
“I wish that the babies grow up and learn to stop pulling hair.”
Not exactly the idea of Christmas wishes since that wish definitely benefited Alice, but Eve decided to give her daughter a pass. “My turn?”
“Yes!” Alice bounced.
Eve pretended to think. “My wish is for Gramma and Grampa—that Gramma would get to bake cookies with you and that Grampa would get to take you for a long walk, because that will make them very happy.”
“I like that wish! Now me?”
As Eve nodded her head, there was a knock at the door. Sadie barked. Eve’s stomach flipped, heart picking up the beat, even as she told herself not to get her hopes up.
When she pulled open the door, there he was—his dark brown hair with the tinges of gray at the temples, his jeans and boots. His long, lean body topped by the tackiest Christmas sweater she’d ever seen. It was bright red with a neon-green Christmas tree, complete with lights that flashed on and off.
She pressed her lips together so she wouldn’t laugh. “Merry Christmas, Tanner.”
“Mr. Tanner!” Alice flew to the door and launched herself at Tanner, who caught her handily and settled her on his hip. “It’s Christmas Eve. We’re doing Christmas wishes.”
“That sounds awesome.” His slow smile curved in his face, but his eyes, when they met Eve’s, were uncertain. “Is it okay if I come in?”
Eve nodded and stepped out of the door so he could enter, pushing it closed against the bitter, cold wind. “I’ll get you a cup of hot chocolate. It’s our tradition.”
He followed her into the kitchen with Alice still in his arms.
As Eve poured another mug of hot chocolate and topped it with a peppermint stick, she said, “That’s quite a sweater you have on.”
“I’ve been told I needed to find some Christmas spirit.” He set Alice on her feet, and she danced off. “I looked for it. I even felt it, from time to time, but I could never quite get it to stick around. I even bought this tacky sweater before I realized that my Christmas spirit doesn’t come from the lights or the tree or the music.”
Her eyes filled. “No?”
“No. It took me a while, but I finally figured out it’s you. You make me feel something I haven’t felt in a long time. Hope.” He lifted one shoulder, his own eyes glossy. “I didn’t know how to handle it. I’m sorry.”
She took his hands and looked into his eyes. “That’s the most awesome sweater I’ve ever seen.”
He laughed and closed his eyes, letting a long, relieved breath seep out. “You’re not mad?”
“No. There’s no reason to be,” she said simply. “Do you want to do Christmas wishes with us?”
“Ah, sure? Can I take off this sweater now?”
Eve laughed as she settled back into her place on the floor in front of the fire. “I think that would be okay.”
Tanner turned off the battery pack and pulled off the crazy sweater, revealing his customary flannel, this one in red and green. Christmassy. She smiled up at him as he sat cross-legged right next to Eve, across from Alice.
He took a swig of his hot chocolate. “So how do Christmas wishes work?”
Alice said, “We take turns picking somebuddy we love and we make a wish for them. Something they would like. It’s the rules. And it’s my turn.”
“Okay, then. I’ll follow your lead.” Tanner’s hand crept into the space between them and found Eve’s, lacing his fingers through hers.
Eve could barely breathe, let alone follow what Alice was saying, but when Alice announced that she was doing “Mr. Tanner,” Eve’s attention snapped to her daughter.
“My Christmas wish is that Mr. Tanner could have a family and not be sad anymore.”
“Oh, Alice. That’s such a sweet wish.” Eve watched Tanner for his response, but she needn’t have worried.
His gaze on Alice was soft. “That’s the sweetest wish anyone’s ever made for me.” Swallowing hard, he said, “I never expected to find you two. Never expected to want to.”
“I certainly didn’t expect to move to Alabama and find myself in love with a cranky cowboy.”
He laughed. “Well, who can resist a cranky cowboy?”
“Not me, apparently. Okay, it’s my turn,” Eve said. “My wish is for Alice. I wish that Alice would always be as brave as she is right now.”
“I am really brave!” She announced it as if they would be surprised by the fact.
“I wish I had as much courage as you, Alice.” Tanner said it quiet
ly. He took a deep breath. “Is it my turn?”
When Alice nodded, he turned to Eve. “My wish is for Eve. I wish that you will always know just how much you’re loved.” He pulled a small box out of his pocket and handed it to her. “Merry Christmas.”
A tear streaked down her face. She opened the box, gasping as she saw the diamond solitaire. Her hand went to her throat. She breathed his name.
“I love you, Eve.” He looked at her through a blur of tears in his own eyes, feeling like his heart might beat out of his chest. “Marry me? Please?”
* * *
“We will!” Alice’s little voice piped up, and Eve laughed.
He couldn’t breathe, waiting for her to answer. “Eve?”
“Are you really sure this is what you want?” Her eyes searched his, looking for reassurance.
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
A slow smile started to form on her face. “Alice and I start playing Christmas music in October.”
His eye began to twitch. “Still sure.”
“We have three Advent calendars.”
A small shudder, but—“Still sure.”
She narrowed her eyes and said, “All the tinsel—”
Tanner leaned forward, stopping her words with a kiss. As her arms curved around his neck, he said, “I’ll put the tree up in August if you want. I don’t care. I want us to be a family. Marry me, please?”
“Yes.” She laughed. “Yes, I will marry you. We will marry you.”
Taking the box from her, he tugged the ring out and slid it onto her finger. Cupping her face in his hands, he kissed her.
Tanner turned to Alice and crooked his finger at her. She crawled in between him and Eve, and the two of them together pulled her close. “Do you think you’d be okay with me being your dad?”
His little princess narrowed her gaze. “Does that mean I get to keep Hamlet?”
Tanner laughed. “Why do I have the feeling this is the first of many negotiations I’m going to have with you?”
From his back pocket, he pulled out the picture she’d drawn of the three of them under a rainbow and tucked it into the branches of the Christmas tree. “You know what? I’m pretty sure my Christmas wish already came true.”
Eve kissed Alice on the head and leaned forward to kiss him. “Best Christmas ever,” she whispered.
Later, after the cookies had been left out for Santa and Alice had been tucked into bed, Tanner sat with Eve in front of the fireplace. She pointed upward, and when he looked, he saw that they were sitting under mistletoe.
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, tipping his head down so he could kiss her properly. When he pulled back, he ran a finger down her cheek. “You are so beautiful. Your heart drew me in from the first day I met you.”
“The first day?” Her tone was skeptical.
“Almost the first day,” he allowed. “I’ve been afraid for a long time, so afraid that I didn’t let myself feel anything, especially love. But you showed me that love isn’t finite. If you share it, it grows. I want to love like that. I want us to love like that.”
“You already do, Tanner.” She smiled up at him, and in her eyes he could see the reflection of Christmas—love, joy, grace. Second chances.
His heart was so full. It was a revelation to him, that love could find him, even when he was so lost.
And now that they’d found him?
He was never letting go.
Epilogue
Christmas night, one year later
Tanner flopped down on the king-size bed they’d wedged into the master bedroom in the farmhouse. “I’ll never stop being grateful Devin and Lacey finally got their house built.”
Eve was already under the covers, her freshly scrubbed face tired but happy. “Well, they needed more room, too, especially since the little surprise.”
The “little surprise” was what they’d taken to calling Liam, the baby who’d surprised them all at Lacey’s second ultrasound. Twin B, the doctor had called him. Heart attack, Devin had called him.
“Yeah, four kids under the age of three...” Tanner shuddered. “I realized too late that I should’ve gotten some earplugs before we opened presents today.”
“It was a zoo,” Eve agreed. “Abby looked good. Baby Olivia is so sweet.”
“Charlotte and Olivia are gonna give their daddy a run for his money when they get a little older. Did you see Charlotte chasing the goat around the front yard?” Tanner laughed. “It was a hoot. Charlotte chasing the goat, Garrett chasing Charlotte. Abby was just sitting on the porch eating a piece of pecan pie.”
“Mom goals,” Eve said.
“I checked on Alice. She’s crashed out, arms and legs going all directions. Sadie’s sprawled out beside her. Both of them exhausted.”
“It was a busy day. I’ve never seen so much food. Or so many presents.” She reached to the side and pulled out the drawer on the bedside table. “Which reminds me. There’s one more for you.”
“But we already opened our gifts to each other.” He pulled the paper off and opened the top of the box. “Is this a—it’s a—wait, this thing says pregnant?”
He looked up and realized Eve had big tears brimming in her eyes. “Hey, why are you crying?”
“I know you didn’t really want more kids.”
Tanner leaned forward and kissed her gently. “Can I tell you something? I’m not scared anymore. I realized that if I spent all my time thinking about what catastrophes could happen, I’d miss all the blessings with all of you. And I don’t want to miss a thing.”
“I love you so much.” She laid her head on his shoulder and snuggled in. “You know what this means?”
“Alice’s Christmas wish is going to come true? It was a good day, Mrs. Cole,” he murmured into her hair.
“Best Christmas ever,” she whispered back.
He kissed her temple. “My Christmas wish for you is that all of your Christmases are the best ever. I love you.”
With her head snuggled into his shoulder, she mumbled sleepily, “I love you, too. I wish for you...”
Her voice trailed off, but he smiled. He didn’t need any Christmas wishes this year. Because with Eve, all his wishes had already come true.
* * *
If you loved this story, check out
the other books in the
Triple Creek Cowboys series
The Cowboy’s Twin Surprise
The Cowboy’s Unexpected Baby
And be sure to pick up the books
from her previous series,
Family Blessings
The Dad Next Door
A Baby for the Doctor
Their Secret Baby Bond
The Marriage Bargain
Available now from Love Inspired!
Find more great reads at www.LoveInspired.com
Keep reading for an excerpt from An Amish Holiday Courtship by Emma Miller.
Dear Reader,
This story brings us to the end of the Triple Creek Cowboys series. The Cole brothers have a special place in my heart. These brothers were having a hard time seeing God at work in their lives as they were trying to find a way to move on. Forget thriving—separately, they were each just trying to survive.
Saving Tanner’s story for last was a deliberate choice. Tanner experienced a tragedy that most of us can’t fathom. He was happy for his brothers as they were able to move on with their lives and find happiness. As the brothers began to grow closer, he was able to crack open the door to his heart, just a smidge, to let them in. But even as he saw God at work in his brothers’ lives, he didn’t really believe that God could restore his own.
He needed a special heroine, one willing to go toe to toe with this wounded hero. One who understood loss and grief but who could
show Tanner that, even though you may never stop grieving, joy and redemption is possible. Eve and Alice fit the bill. And slowly, Tanner was able to let go of the past and step into the future.
There are times in our lives when we can’t see God’s hand at work. He is still working. There are times when we can’t feel God’s presence. He is still with us. There are times when we can’t understand how God could possibly have a plan for this. He still does.
I’m so thankful for you, and I love hearing from readers! Please feel free to email me at [email protected] or look me up on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authorstephaniedees and Instagram at www.instagram.com/authorstephaniedees.
With love,
Stephanie
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An Amish Holiday Courtship
by Emma Miller
Chapter One
Hickory Grove, Kent County, Delaware
Ginger Stutzman followed her mother down the baking aisle of Byler’s store pushing a grocery cart. They’d come midday because her sister wanted to make rosina kuchen. Tara made the best raisin pie in Kent County, hands down. She’d been halfway through the recipe when she realized she was short a full cup of raisins, and their mother had offered to run to Byler’s as she already had a list of items to pick up. Ginger had volunteered to accompany their mother because she genuinely enjoyed grocery shopping, but also because she knew the young man she was sweet on, Joe Verkler, frequented Byler’s at that time of day. Not only did the store sell groceries and kitchen goods, and even woodstoves, but they also had a deli where sandwiches were made. Amish work crews often stopped there for lunch, and Joe had mentioned after church the previous Sunday that he was overseeing a work crew nearby. She hoped that she might accidentally bump into him.
A Daughter for Christmas Page 17