The Cowboy's Easter Family Wish

by Lois Richer

  His Unexpected Family

  After a heartbreaking tragedy, youth pastor Jesse Parker stopped believing he had anything to offer kids. Working with the boys at Wranglers Ranch, he’s slowly beginning to trust himself. And when he meets widow Maddie McGregor and her young autistic son, his connection with little Noah and his pretty mom is instant. Maddie’s heart is as guarded as his own, but as he spends time with the McGregors—helping Maddie in his gran’s quilt shop, caring for rescued puppies, and bringing mother and son closer together—he rediscovers his purpose…including an Easter holiday surprise of renewed faith and love.

  “I don’t like to talk about my past,” Jesse said.

  “Me, neither.” Maddie’s focus rested on something beyond the laundry room. “I’m trying to concentrate on the future, on my new life.”

  “As a widow, you mean?” Jesse didn’t quite understand why but Maddie had suddenly tensed, as if whatever was in her past was painful.

  “More as a new person, an independent person who is strong enough to build a good life for herself and her son.” She frowned. “I’m trying to forget my past but—sometimes it seems like there are things you’ll never be able to forget. Do you know what I mean?”

  “Yes.” He nodded. “In a way I suppose I’m trying to do the same.”

  “To forget the boy you feel you failed.” Maddie said it gently, as if she thought the words would hurt him, but it wasn’t the words that hurt Jesse. It was knowing he’d failed Scott.

  “You have such a way with my son,” she said.

  “He’s a great kid.” He felt a bubble of pleasure in having shared something so personal with Maddie.

  Lois Richer loves traveling, swimming and quilting, but mostly she loves writing stories that show God’s boundless love for His precious children. As she says, “His love never changes or gives up. It’s always waiting for me. My stories feature imperfect characters learning that love doesn’t mean attaining perfection. Love is about keeping on keeping on.” You can contact Lois via email, loisricher@gmail.com, or on Facebook (loisricherauthor).

  Books by Lois Richer

  Love Inspired

  Wranglers Ranch

  The Rancher’s Family Wish

  Her Christmas Family Wish

  The Cowboy’s Easter Family Wish

  Family Ties

  A Dad for Her Twins

  Rancher Daddy

  Gift-Wrapped Family

  Accidental Dad

  Love For All Seasons

  The Holiday Nanny

  A Baby by Easter

  A Family for Summer

  Serenity Bay

  His Winter Rose

  Apple Blossom Bride

  Spring Flowers, Summer Love

  Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com for more titles.

  Join Harlequin My Rewards today and earn a FREE ebook!

  Click here to Join Harlequin My Rewards

  http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards.html?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010002

  THE COWBOY’S

  EASTER FAMILY WISH

  Lois Richer

  Whatever your hands find to do, do it with all your might.

  —Ecclesiastes 9:10a

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Epilogue

  Dear Reader

  Excerpt from Easter in Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad

  Chapter One

  “That’s not Dad’s peanut butter.” Eight-year-old Noah looked shocked by his own blurted words. He quickly ducked his chin into his chest.

  “We could try it.” Fully aware of how much the busy Tucson grocery store aggravated her son’s autism, Maddie McGregor hesitantly suggested, “You might like this kind.”

  “I like Dad’s kind. So do twenty million other people according to ads.” Noah always recited facts he’d memorized. “Dad’s rule was, buy the bestseller.” And he always quoted his father’s rules.

  Noah’s hands were fluttering, a sign of his mounting agitation. Changing peanut butter brands right now wasn’t worth it. Maddie set the jar back on the shelf reluctantly. She was giving in to Noah’s rules. She’d vowed to stop doing that. But it had been a long day and giving in was easier than dealing with his upset behavior for the rest of the evening.

  “Twenty million people could be wrong.” His expression said arguing was futile. “Okay, you choose.” She almost groaned when Noah selected the same oily brand his father had preferred. So much for her goal to break free of the past.

  “You should give the other kind a try,” a male voice suggested. “It’s the one with the nut on top and if you’re going to eat nut butter, you need many nuts.”

  “Many nuts eating nuts. Ha!” Noah’s burble of laughter erupted, then died away.

  Maddie turned to find a pair of twinkling blue eyes studying her from an angular sun-tanned face atop a lean, lanky cowboy. Her first thought was how carefree he looked. Her second turned to envy of his confident, relaxed stance. He looked so comfortable in his world.

  When she noted a fan of tiny creases beside his eyes her envy died. He, like everyone else, no doubt had some story of past pain. She wondered half-absently what that story was before noticing the man’s short cropped hair was the same shade of gold as a tropical sandy beach she’d once dreamed of visiting. And his shoulders—well, that broad width was the perfect place for a girl to rest her head.

  Not this girl, of course, but—Maddie’s cheeks burned as she visualized her late husband Liam’s berating if he knew her shameful thoughts.

  Forget him. You’re breaking free of the past, remember?

  But how to do that when her self-confidence was nil?

  “I’m a peanut butter expert, ma’am.” The stranger’s smile coaxed her to respond to his joke. “Trust me, that brand tastes way better than the one the boy and twenty million others mistakenly prefer.”

  “Noah.” Maddie’s heart winced when her son’s brown eyes flickered to the man, then skittered away, his face closing into its usual disinterested mask.

  “Sorry?” The peanut butter expert arched an eyebrow.

  “His name is Noah.” Maddie hoped the stranger wouldn’t comment on her son’s now swaying body.

  “Noah—like the guy with the ark,” the man remarked. Something in his teasing tone caught Noah’s attention, Maddie noticed. “You have lots of animals?” he continued.

  “A dog. Her name is Cocoa.” The swift response surprised Maddie.

  “Why Cocoa?” The man looked interested, not merely polite.

  “’Cause she’s a chocolate lab,” Noah clarified. “Dogs should be named by their features. It’s not a rule but—”

  “It’s a good idea,” the stranger finished with a nod.

  “Yeah.” Noah’s eyes widened with surprise at his agreement.

  Maddie stared at her child. Noah didn’t talk or interact with strangers. Not ever.

  “Chocolate labs are the best.” The man thrust out his hand. “I’m Jesse Parker.”

  Though Noah hesitated, he couldn’t ignore the gesture. His father h
ad drummed politeness into him, one of his many unbreakable rules. Sure enough, Noah finally thrust out his small hand.

  “Glad to meet, you, Noah, owner of Cocoa.” Jesse’s blue gaze slid to her. “And your lovely mother is?”

  “Maddie McGregor.” She liked the way Jesse included her.

  “Maddie McGregor.” He said it slowly, his forehead furrowed as if he was reaching for a stray thought. Then those blue eyes widened. “Not the amazingly talented quilter named Maddie McGregor who works for my grandmother at Quilt Essentials?”

  Amazing? Talented? No one had ever called her that before.

  “Grandmother—?” Maddie tried to put it together while distracted by his good looks. “Oh.” Suddenly it made sense. “You’re Emma’s grandson.”

  “The best one of the bunch.” He preened, then laughed. “You look shocked.”

  “No, I—that is, I wasn’t expecting...” Thrown by his mischievous wink, Maddie gulped.

  “Ninety-five percent of all children think their grandparents love them the best,” said Noah, who didn’t have any grandparents.

  “In my case it’s true.” Jesse grinned.

  “Emma always speaks of you as if you’re four,” Maddie blurted. Her cheeks burned when Jesse’s hoot of amusement rippled to the ceiling. She almost checked over one shoulder before correcting the impulse.

  It’s been more than a year since Liam’s death. He’s gone. You’re free now. Free.

  “I guess I act that age sometimes,” Jesse joked, and laughed again.

  All down the grocery store aisle, heads turned to study him, and Maddie knew why. His laugh revealed the same zest for life that his grandmother possessed, the kind that beckoned you to join in. Maddie was pretty sure Jesse would be fun to be around.

  Not that she was looking for fun. She was too old, too world-weary, too responsible for that kind of girlish silliness. Still, Jesse intrigued her.

  “We have to go.” Noah frowned at her.

  Maddie studied him in confusion. Noah never volunteered conversation when strangers were present. Even more unusual, his agitated arm movements had ceased.

  “What’s the rush?” Jesse asked.

  “Ice cream.” While Noah pointed into the cart, Maddie wondered why her son was apparently unruffled when speaking to this stranger. But it didn’t matter. Better to leave now, before something else upset Noah. Because something always did.

  “Nice to meet you, Jesse. Thanks for the advice.” In an act of defiance, she grabbed the jar of peanut butter Jesse had recommended and put it in her cart. Baby steps to independence, she thought defiantly.

  “Uh, Maddie?” Jesse’s amused voice stopped her in her tracks. She couldn’t help contrasting his tone with a memory of Liam’s beguiling-when-it-wanted-to-be voice that could also cut like a sword.

  Immediately, her tension returned. Schooling her face into impassivity, she glanced at Jesse. “Yes?”

  “I’ve been trying to reach my grandmother by phone with no success.” His sincere friendliness chased away her tension. “I’ve stopped by her house a couple of times, but she doesn’t answer.”

  “No, she wouldn’t.” Maddie almost groaned as Noah mumbled statistics about meeting strangers. Hopefully, Jesse hadn’t noticed her discomfiture.

  “Why wouldn’t Gran answer?” Even Jesse’s frown didn’t spoil his good looks.

  “She’s not home.” Noah’s quick response surprised Maddie.

  “Where is she?” Jesse glanced from him to her.

  “Away.” Noah’s vacant stare returned, but his hands stayed by his sides, calm for now.

  “Emma’s at a women’s retreat in the mountains of New Mexico.” Maddie was puzzled by Noah’s seeming tranquility. Prolonged grocery store visits usually upset him.

  “She likes it there.” Though Noah appeared inattentive, he was obviously keeping track of the conversation.

  “Emma goes every January,” Maddie clarified. “She’s due back tomorrow, but you can’t reach her cell because she always shuts it off for the retreat.”

  “I forgot about her yearly retreat.” Jesse looked so disappointed Maddie felt a twinge of pity when he added, “I wanted to surprise her, but I guess the surprise is on me.”

  “She’s supposed to call me at work tomorrow morning.” Maddie couldn’t stop herself from offering to help. “Do you have a number I could give her to reach you?”

  “No. I don’t have a cell phone.”

  Maddie blinked. She’d thought Liam’s refusal to own a smartphone made them virtually the only ones left behind in this age of technology. Of course, now that she was a widow she could have bought her own, but hadn’t yet because of inner doubts about mastering it. Battling doubts had become an ongoing war for her mind.

  “The FCC says to keep cell phones one inch from the body.” Noah’s speech ended as abruptly as it had begun.

  “Oka-a-ay.” Jesse, eyes wide, dragged out the word, then glanced at Maddie. “I let my contract expire when I left Colorado. I’ve been on the move for several months, so I haven’t really needed a cell phone.”

  The way his voice tightened when he said that made her wonder if he’d left Colorado under unhappy circumstances. Funny, Emma hadn’t mentioned anything.

  “Well, when I see your grandmother I won’t tell her you’re in town, so you can still surprise her,” Maddie promised.

  “Scientific studies say unexpected pleasure is more rewarding. Emma will probably like your surprise.” Noah frowned at Maddie. “Ice cream?”

  “Yes, we’re leaving.” She laid her arm protectively across his shoulders, expecting him to jerk away, and not caring. Her action was meant as a motherly defence against Jesse’s searching scrutiny of her child. She hated when people gawked at Noah, then labeled him weird.

  “Nice to meet you, Noah and Maddie,” Jesse said.

  Nice? Maddie almost laughed at the pale, insipid little word that didn’t describe this encounter at all.

  “Bye, Jesse.” Maddie walked with Noah toward the cashier while sorting through what she’d learned about him during her three-year tenure at Quilt Essentials.

  Details were scant. Though Emma constantly raved about Jesse; how loving and generous he was, how good-natured his big heart, how his love for God embraced everyone he met, the one thing she hadn’t mentioned was Jesse’s good looks. But then Emma was all about a person’s heart, not their looks. Perhaps that’s why Emma had never asked Maddie about the puckered red scar that ran from her left earlobe down her neck, the scar that made her so self-conscious.

  Emma’s friendship had been the lifeline Maddie had clung to—that and her own prayers that God would help her survive her marriage. Emma’s quilt shop was a refuge where Maddie could bury her unhappiness in the comforting textures and glorious colors of fabrics, and let her inner soul come alive in a quilt. That very first day, Quilt Essentials had become Maddie’s sanctuary and Emma the best friend she’d ever had.

  Now Maddie pulled out her credit card to pay for her purchases, savoring thoughts of a relaxing evening ahead. Her hobby ranch on the outskirts of Tucson was mostly cactus and desert, but the charming, newly renovated house was all hers, the place where she could be and do what she wanted. And what Maddie wanted was to make Broken Arrow Ranch into the kind of home where Noah could enjoy a happy, carefree childhood while she taught herself to be strong and confident.

  So far Maddie wasn’t succeeding at either. No matter how she prayed, she couldn’t shed the memory of Liam’s voice constantly berating her. As for independence—well, learning to stand on your own two feet after a lifetime of having someone tell you what to do was a lot harder than she’d imagined. But she couldn’t, wouldn’t give up, though Noah resisted every change she tried to make.

  Some days Maddie almost lost hope that she would ever feel
worthy of God’s love, that Noah would make friends, relax and have fun like an ordinary kid. But she didn’t often pray about it anymore, because she figured Liam was right; God probably wouldn’t answer the prayers of someone as unimportant as Maddie McGregor.

  They were storing their groceries in the trunk of Maddie’s red SUV when Noah said, “Tomorrow’s Martin Luther King Day lunch. I hafta bring food to school.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me while we were in the store?” Maddie masked her exasperation.

  “Forgot.” Noah shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. Ninety-nine percent of the other kids will bring stuff.”

  “I’m sure your teacher expects one hundred percent participation.” She closed the trunk with a sigh. “Come on. Let’s go find something.”

  “You want to talk to that guy again.” Noah’s lecture tone reminded her of Liam. “Sometimes strangers form lasting relationships after their first meeting.”

  “Lasting relation—what?” Maddie gaped at him.

  “Dad would be mad that you like Jesse.” Noah’s dark-eyed gaze met and held hers.

  “Honey, your father is gone.” Where did he get these statistics?

  “He’d hate Jesse.” Noah kicked a pebble on the pavement. “Dad never liked his kind.”

  “What kind?” Maddie asked. The happy kind? The kind of person who doesn’t automatically find fault? “Jesse seems nice. And he’s Emma’s grandson,” she reminded Noah.

  “Emma’s nice. But Dad wouldn’t like Jesse.”

  “Maybe, maybe not. But that’s no reason for you to dislike him.” Maddie refused to pursue this. They both needed a break from the past. “Let’s quickly get whatever you need so we can get home before the frozen stuff melts.” As they walked across the lot and in through the automatic doors, she asked, “You didn’t get a note from your teacher?”

  “Lost it.” He wouldn’t look at her.

  “Noah,” Maddie chided, then let it go. He was always ultra responsible. Maybe losing the note was his way of avoiding the interaction of lunch. He wasn’t exactly the social type. “What exactly did your teacher say?”