Christmas in a Snowstorm

by Lois Richer

  “What?” she asked, a frown marring her beauty.

  “I’m afraid I may have misunderstood something you said earlier and I’d like to clarify it.”

  “Okay.” She looked wary.

  Sam knelt in front of Joy, clinging to her hands

  “Darling, Joy. You fill my heart and my soul. I want to be better, do better, work harder with you in my life. I want us to be a family, to be a dad to your kids, if they’ll let me. I want to share my family with yours. Will you marry me, Joy?”

  “I already told everyone at that meeting that I was marrying you, Sam,” she said, blushing furiously.

  “I know. I heard. I’m just making sure you haven’t changed your mind.” Sam grinned at her droll look. “So? Marry me, Joy?”

  “Yes,” she said simply. “I’ve spent my whole life waiting for you, even when I didn’t know it.” They kissed and Joy sighed.

  “What?” Sam asked.

  “I guess you managed to give me my family Christmas, didn’t you?” She kissed him again, but there was a bitter sweetness to it because they both knew her parents wouldn’t be part of it.

  “Trust, remember?” Sam encouraged softly.

  “I am,” she said. “I will. Life is going to be so wonderful for us, Sam. I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  An hour later Sam walked home through the snow, thrilled by how God had come through for them.

  “There’s just one more little thing, Lord,” he murmured as he watched the stars appear. “And I’m trusting You about that, too.”

  Epilogue

  Christmas Morning

  “How did you make such a lovely thing, Josh?” Joy turned the handmade rolling pin over and over, amazed by the smooth yet sturdy feel he’d achieved. “It’s wonderful and I’ll use it forever. Thank you, son.”

  “Welcome.” Josh smiled, endured her hug and then went back to his new video game.

  “This is for you, Mommy. From me and Cwis.” Becca’s grin now boasted a missing front tooth. “We love you.”

  “I love you, too, you sweethearts. But how—” She turned her head toward Sam and knew instantly that he’d had something to do with it. What a guy!

  “Open it,” he said quietly.

  She parted the delicate tissue paper and caught her breath. A beautiful green satin robe with hand-stitched silver embroidery lay nestled inside.

  “It’s amazing,” she said, rising to model it. “And it fits so perfectly. But how on earth did you get it?”

  “We worked,” Cris said proudly. “We helped other kids make their Christmas presents and we cleaned up the crafts and we did lots of cutting out decorations for Miss Grace.”

  “An’ I dwad some stuff an’ put the ABC’s wight, an’ lotsa stuff.” Becca wasn’t to be left out.

  “They really earned their money,” Sam told her. “They’re very good workers.”

  “Thank you, children. I am so proud of you and all you’ve done.” Joy kissed each of them, refolded her robe and then headed for the kitchen. “I need another cup of coffee.”

  “Me, too.” Sam followed her, his arms curving around her waist as he held her fast. “I have another gift for you, Mrs. Baker.”

  “But Sam,” she argued, turning to face him. “You’ve already given me so many gifts. And all I gave you was that sweater I knitted.”

  “Which I love. This is from me to you, Joy.” He slid an emerald solitaire ring on her finger. “I asked your kids and they said it’s okay if we get married.”

  “Oh, Sam.” Ecstatic, Joy kissed him then wiggled her hand free so she could get a better look. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.”

  “It was my birth mother’s. It reminds me of your eyes. I thought it could be the start of one of our traditions. Oof!” he grunted when she threw her arms around him, but he certainly didn’t protest when she kissed him so thoroughly that he lost his breath.

  Then someone knocked on the door.

  “I thought the family sleigh ride was tonight—” Joy pulled open the door and stared. “Mom? Dad? What are you doing here?”

  “Merry Christmas, Joy. We came to ask you to forgive us for not being part of your and the children’s lives.” Her mother was weeping. “The loss has been all ours.”

  “Blame it on a stubborn old man,” her dad stammered. “But we never stopped loving you, Joy. Never.”

  Joy gave a squeal of delight and flew into their arms. In that instant, all was forgiven.

  “Would you like to come inside?” Sam asked with a smile. “It’s nice and warm if you close the door. Glad you could make it, by the way.”

  Her parents entered and closed the door behind them, handing their coats to Sam.

  “You knew they were coming?” Joy demanded, frowning at him.

  “Nope.” Sam shook his head. “I prayed. And I trusted God,” he said before inviting everyone to sit down.

  “Well, what changed your minds?” Joy asked after she’d introduced her children.

  “Their gifts.” Her mother dabbed her eyes. “How could any grandmother resist a child’s Christmas gift?”

  “Your mother said that, too, Sam.” Joy studied him suspiciously. “Did you—”

  “Grace Partridge,” he explained with a grin.

  “But Sam helped.” Becca hugged him. “He took us to the Fespex.”

  “The what?” Joy looked to Sam for an explanation, but Cris answered first.

  “The Federal Express office,” he explained. “Sam said we needed as express as we could get if we were gonna get you a real family Christmas at Hanging Hearts Ranch.”

  * * *

  “Will you ever stop trying to surprise me, Sam?” Joy asked later that night when they were alone.

  “I hope not, Mrs. Baker. Soon to be Mrs. Baker Calhoun.” Sam gazed at his betrothed. “Because I’m constantly surprised that you love me. And I assure you, the feeling is entirely mutual.”

  “There will be some tough times though,” she warned, loving the feeling of his strong arms around her. “So, we have to keep trusting each other completely. And God.”

  “He’s the one who holds our future in His hands. And if I ever forget it,” Sam murmured, tilting her chin to stare into her eyes, “you just put on your alligator hat to remind me.”

  “I love you, Sam.” Joy savored the memories of how God had brought them together before asking, “Would you mind if I kissed you again, Sam, just to make sure I’m not dreaming?”

  “Bring it, sweetheart,” he whispered, right before bent his head and kissed her.

  * * *

  If you enjoyed this story, pick up these

  other stories from Lois Richer:

  A Dad for Her Twins

  Rancher Daddy

  Gift-Wrapped Family

  Accidental Dad

  Meant-to-Be Baby

  Mistletoe Twins

  Rocky Mountain Daddy

  Rocky Mountain Memories

  Hoping for a Father

  Home to Heal

  Available now from Love Inspired!

  Find more great reads at

  www.LoveInspired.com.

  Keep reading for an excerpt from The Texan’s Unexpected Holiday by Jolene Navarro.

  Dear Reader,

  Welcome back to Hanging Hearts Ranch. I hope you’ve enjoyed Sam’s and Joy’s journeys through the hard parts of life to find each other through trusting God. Trust is such a difficult thing to learn, isn’t it? Just when you think you’ve got it down pat, something happens and you’re forced to figure it out all over again. Or perhaps that’s just me.

  I confess to being a Christmas lover. The sights, the sounds, the smiles, the generosity, the curiosity—all of it draws me into remembering God’s great love for we unworthy humans who inhabit His creation. He se
nt His only son! Now that’s true love.

  I’d love to hear from you, either through Love Inspired, via email at loisricher@gmail.com, or snail mail at Box 639, Nipawin, SK Canada S0E 1E0. Or you can check out my webpage at loisricher.com.

  As we celebrate Christmas once more, I wish joy for you, abounding delight that fills your soul so full it gives you strength and courage and stays with you through the entire new year.

  Merry Christmas!

  Lois Richer

  WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS BOOK FROM

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  The Texan’s Unexpected Holiday

  by Jolene Navarro

  Chapter One

  Somewhere in the vast darkness, a cow lowed. Lexy Zapata stepped carefully through the strange terrain and shifted her eight-month-old niece to her other hip. Her sister followed as they made their way to the softly lit barn fifty yards off the road. They were somewhere close to the Texas coast. Or, at least, she hoped they were.

  They’d been making their way to the Diamondback Ranch, and now Lexy wasn’t sure if it was around the curve or still miles away. Apparently backcountry ranch roads were not on GPS

  Baby Jess gripped Lexy’s nose and laughed. Happy to be free of her car seat, her niece was wide awake.

  The clouds danced around the full moon.

  Moooo. Another cow answered the first.

  Pressing her lips against Baby Jess’s soft curls, Lexy sings “And the cow jumped over the moon.”

  “All we need is a little dog laughing to see the sight we’re making,” her sister, Naomi, said, somewhere from behind her. “This would have been so much simpler if the stupid gate would open.”

  The moon vanished behind the thick clouds. “I can’t believe we’re sneaking into a stranger’s barn at two in the morning.” The baby fussed against Lexy’s shoulder “Shh. I’m right here, Jessie.”

  There was a thunk followed by a gasp.

  “Naomi?” Lexy squinted into the dark, back down the overgrown dirt path. “Are you okay? Where are you?”

  The tall form of her sister stood still on the other side of the cattle guard.

  Behind her, the efficient compact car looked out of place parked on the other side of the barbed wire fence. It was pretty much useless now that the tank was almost empty. It had been over an hour since they had seen any real evidence of civilization.

  With the car out of gas, a fussy baby and none of them having a clue where they were, Lexy had started praying. That’s when she had spotted the barn.

  Now getting to the barn had become a challenge. Crossing the bars of a cattle guard freaked her sister out, so Lexy had volunteered to carry the baby.

  Another thud and an odd metal clanking sound filled the night air. “Sunday morning biscuits,” Naomi grumbled.

  Hearing her sister’s quirky exclamation, she knew all was good. “Naomi? Did you fall between the bars and get sucked into the abyss?”

  “I’m fine. I made it across that death trap, but I ran into a post and knocked off a bucket.” She grabbed Lexy’s arm, and they moved toward the barn together. “We’d never make it as cat burglars.”

  “I thought I knew what country was,” Lexy said, “but this is a whole new type of wide-open space. GPS can’t even find us.”

  “This city girl needs street signs,” Naomi complained. “There’s nothing out here but miles of dirt roads and cows.”

  Lexy agreed. This was a whole other world from the street she lived on in Houston. In just fourteen hours, her life had completely changed. Naomi had called her in tears. Her little sister never cried, no matter how bad things got. She was made up of sunshine, puppies and butterflies. Ten years older, Lexy had been as much a mother to Naomi as a sister.

  Whenever she had asked about the baby or how college was going, she got the happy smiling Naomi saying everything was great and she loved living in Dallas and school was awesome.

  So she’d believed her. After years of taking care of her sick mother and little sister, Lexy spent the last two devoted to her career. Her love for scuba diving, environmental studies photography and writing were all coming together. But she had let her sister down because she had been selfish.

  She had been relieved when Naomi had told her Steve was out of their lives. Then yesterday, Naomi called, and all his drama was back. Two men showed up at her door threatening her if she didn’t turn over her boyfriend, Steve, or “the goods.” They didn’t believe her when she told them she didn’t know where he lived anymore.

  “I guess the good news,” Naomi interrupted her thoughts, “is that Steve can’t find us if we don’t know where we are at.”

  Lexy bit back her frustration. Why had her sister told her sooner that Steve was dangerous?

  After they left Steve showed up and accused her of stealing from him. He tore the place up, with a threat that he’d be back in the morning and he needed his bags.

  Scared and with no idea what to do, she’d called Lexy. And for the first time was honest about her relationship with Steve.

  Lexy wasn’t letting her sister out of her sight again until they had the mess with Steven Hutchins cleaned up. Naomi and Jess would just have to stay with her until it was safe. She was moving anyway; Steve would have no way of finding Naomi if Lexy took her with her. So, she’d called her new boss and made arrangements to come a few days early.

  And now they were here. Wherever here was.

  Lexy stumbled over a rut in the pasture. She managed to keep hold of Jess, but the bag she was carrying hit the ground.

  Naomi stooped to pick it up. “Lexy, I’m so sorry.” It was probably the hundredth time she’d said it since they’d left Houston.

  “It’s okay, Naomi. We wouldn’t be sneaking around in the middle of the night if I’d followed my instincts. If I’d made the time to visit you and Jess, we would have avoided all this.”

  “No. I’m nineteen now and should be making better choices. You’ve got your dream job and the chance to build this awesome life you’ve spent years planning. You put everything on hold for us for so long. It was your turn to go and...” There was a heavy pause. “I’m just sorry. You have to be tired of taking care of me.”

  “You’re my baby sister. I love you. We’re in this together. Seriously, stop apologizing.” Lexy soothed her eight-month-old niece.

  Not being able to handle the stress, Naomi’s father had left them. All they had was each other. She had promised their mother she’d look after Naomi. Her little sister had been only six when their mother had been diagnosed with cancer. She had lived much longer than the doctors had predicted—almost eleven years—but that didn’t make it any easier when they’d said goodbye.

  Now it was just the two of them. Well. She smiled at the baby in her arms. Three. This precious little girl was named after their mother.

  They crept up to the well-cared-for barn. It looked like something out of a top equestrian magazine. A little cabin stood nearby, probably the caretaker’s quarters. “Look,” Lexy said, pointing. “Maybe we should knock on the cabin door and asked for help.”

  “At two o’clock in the morning?” Her sister snorted. “Out here we might be shot first. And I’m not up to facing more angry men. I hit my limit already. We’ll just sneak into the nice warm barn and, when the sun’s up, we’ll figure out where we are.”

  They found a door at the back of the barn, and Naomi slid it open. A single light came on. They both froze. Several horses turned to study them. A couple of them tossed their heads and made soft rumbling noises.

  There was a comforting warmth inside the building. Lexy had always loved horses, and these seemed to be welco
ming them home. A half wall to her left sectioned off a large space filled with bales of hay and bags of wood pellets. The place was clean and neat. She breathed in the calming scents of alfalfa, pine and leather.

  “We can put the blanket down here and let Jessie stretch out.” Naomi handed her the diaper bag, then strode to a corner and flung out the quilt. “I’m going to look around.” As Lexy settled the baby on the blanket, Naomi walked toward the horses on the other side of the barn. With a gasp, she vanished through a door that was next to what looked like a large wash area for horses.

  With a huge grin, she poked her head out. “This tack room has a full bathroom with a shower and it’s clean.” She practically skipped across the aisle. “Hand me my bag. We can brush our teeth and wash our hair. We don’t have to look like stowaways when we meet your boss tomorrow. If you watch Jess, I’ll take a long, hot shower. Then you can take one.” Not waiting for a response, she rushed back through the side door, leaving it open.

  “I think your momma is a bit too happy about the idea of a shower.” She stretched out next to Baby Jess on the blanket. Tight muscles that Lexy had never met before eased and relaxed. “Ahh. It’s good to be out of the car. I’m not sure I want to move again.”

  She grinned as the baby turned and rolled, grabbing a colorful toy and putting it in her mouth, then handing it to Lexy. “Thank you. Such a sweet little lady.”

  She stroked the baby’s face till slowly the little eyelids closed, then fluttered open again. “Stop fighting sleep, baby girl.”

  A noise came from the front of the barn. Lexy sat up. A dog stepped over the threshold. A large dog that could do a lot of damage. She picked up Jess and wrapped her jacket around her.

  A long shadow fell over the dog. A tall dark male followed closely behind. He was reaching for the wall. Coming out the door behind him was her sister with a shovel in her hand. She lifted it.

  “Naomi!”

  He turned and ducked just as Naomi swung. The shovel caught the side of his face. Losing his balance, he fell. A gun slid across the brick floor.