A Mule Hollow Match

by Debra Clopton

  Trace’s temper flared. He’d never thought he was going to have to compete with a childhood dream. “So that’s it,” he said, keeping his voice low and turning his back to where Zoey couldn’t hear from where she played with her dolls at the far edge of the porch. “So all of this—Zoey, me—all we are really is just a job to you.”

  “Of course not. You know I care—”

  “You bet I know it,” he snapped, throwing away all caution. “I’ve seen it in the way you look at Zoey. In the small things you do that don’t come in the job description. You love Zoey. You—” He hung his head then zeroed in on her, and put it all on the table. “You look at me that same way when you let your guard down.” She inhaled sharply. “You love me, Paisley. You have family here. Zoey and I are your family. I love you, Paisley Norton. You can’t just throw that away all because I made a mistake.”

  She swung away from him and stalked across the yard. He stalked right behind her. “Rene is happy,” he said. “From everything I’ve heard in town, Rene has married the man of her dreams, so I don’t get why you think she has a problem with me. Surely she can look past my worry for Zoey and see that I made a foolish mistake, but that there was no intention on my part to hurt her the way I did.”

  Paisley kept her back to him and remained silent.

  “Paisley. You can’t hold this against me. You have been more than honest with your feelings about all of this up until now, and I’ve respected you for it. So I don’t get this. I don’t get it at all.”

  She spun and glared at him. “You want the truth. Then here it is. I think you want a family for Zoey so much that you think you are in love with me. I think you would think you were in love with any woman you’d hired for this position.”

  “What?”

  “Don’t look at me like I’m crazy. You know it’s true. This has all happened too fast. First Rene, then me. You don’t think you have what it takes to raise Zoey, so you want a wife. But Trace, you are a wonderful daddy to Zoey and you don’t need some woman telling you what to do. You don’t have to just marry someone so Zoey can have a mother. It has to be about you in that moment.”

  “That is so wrong,” he said, still dazed that she actually believed what she was saying. “That isn’t what this is about.”

  “You forget that I’ve seen terror in your eyes where that baby is concerned.”

  “I love you,” he repeated. He raked his hand through his hair. “This is ridiculous. You can’t mean this.”

  She crossed her arms and lifted her stubborn jaw. “I told you from the beginning that this was for Zoey. That I’d help you learn to take care of her and that’s what I’m doing…but, you didn’t really need me. You’re a natural. And the best thing you can do for Zoey is to slow down and think about yourself for a moment.” Her gaze shifted to Zoey and tears filled their green depths. “Maybe under the circumstances you should find someone else to finish out the summer.”

  He fought to remain calm. “You can’t quit.” All his life people had left him. Reality traced a frosty path across his heart. Maybe he wouldn’t be able to keep Paisley from leaving, too, but he wasn’t giving up that easily. “You hired on for the summer, and I expect you to be a woman of your word.” He met her teary eyes with stone-cold determination.

  She blinked in disbelief.

  “That’s right,” he ground out. “I’m holding you to your word. And I’m going to prove to you that I love you.”

  “Why are you determined to make this harder than it needs to be?”

  “I’m determined to do what it takes to fight for my family.”

  She swallowed. Blinked. Shifted from one foot to the other. She loved him. Nothing could prove to him otherwise.

  And no way was he giving up on that.

  “I have to go,” she said, once more storming toward her car. “Tell Zoey I’ll see her in the morning.”

  He should have felt guilty for the wobble he heard in her voice, but he didn’t. He walked to the porch and picked Zoey up. She was holding her favorite book and smiled at him as he snuggled her close. “Wave goodbye to Paisley,” he said and turned her back to him so she could wave at Paisley. He wanted Paisley to see Zoey’s angelic face. To see what she was attempting to walk away from.

  Zoey waved and a pale-looking Paisley waved back through the window then drove down the drive away from them.

  Was he wrong? Should he just give up and let her go easily out of their lives?

  He closed his eyes and buried his face in Zoey’s curling hair, breathing in the wonderfully sweet scent of her. Dear Lord, let me be making the right move this time. Please show me the next move.

  Zoey squirmed in his arms, reminding him that she was his priority. With one last glance down the drive he turned and carried his baby inside. “It’s time for a bath,” he said, forcing his voice to sound light. Zoey chattered all the way up the stairs about her great adventures with Passy. He listened, feeling heartsick, but smiling for Zoey’s benefit as he gave her a bath. Thirty minutes later when she was clean, smelling of baby shampoo and moisturizer and dressed in her soft pajamas she reached for her favorite book.

  “Read,” she said, yawning. It had been a long day for her and he could tell she wouldn’t last long. Feeling at least a measure of contentment, he settled them into the rocking chair and opened her book. He’d given her this baby animals book in hopes of jogging a memory…but he’d given up on that. But she still loved the book; its tattered edges proved it. He placed his finger on the first page but instead of beginning to read his thoughts strayed to Paisley.

  Zoey sighed against his chest and placed her tiny finger beside his. They were pointing to the farmer’s wife. “Passy, mommy.”

  At her words, Trace stopped rocking and his heart began thundering. “What did you say?” he asked, carefully.

  “Passy, mommy,” she repeated. “’ose is coat’s mommy. Cat is kitty’s mommy,” she said, proudly, pointing at the horse and then the cat before she grinned and pointed at herself. “Passy is Zoey’s mommy.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Paisley hung up the phone and wiped her tears away. It had been over an hour since she’d left Trace and Zoey, and it felt like a lifetime. She grabbed her keys and swung open her front door and hurried down the stairs and out the apartment door. She was startled to find Trace coming up the walk.

  His expression was grim. “We have to talk. Now.”

  “Where’s Zoey,” she asked, alarmed, looking toward his truck and noting that the baby seat was empty.

  “I dropped her off at Norma Sue’s.” He wasn’t wearing his hat and he raked a hand through his sandy curls and took a deep breath. “What I have to say can’t be said in front of her and can’t wait until tomorrow.”

  “What is it?”

  “You’re fired,” he said, with all the firmness of Donald Trump. “That’s what.”

  “Excuse me?” What?

  He crossed the space between them. “As of now, you are no longer working for me.”

  “Oh,” was all Paisley could manage, she was so shocked.

  “I realized you are right when you said I was so caught up in wanting Zoey to have a mother that I lost sight of the whole picture. Also, you were right in pointing out that if I want to give Zoey what she needs then I have to know what I want. What I need. Isn’t that what you told me?” he asked.

  “Kind of. I guess,” Paisley said, still not able to grasp the fact that he’d fired her. “You fired me,” she said, incredulously. As in he hadn’t really loved me!

  “Hey, it’s the only thing I can think to do under the circumstances. I think Zoey has been handed around to far too many people. First Stephanie and then all those foster parents. And then me bringing you in—it’s just all too confusing for her emotionally to have so many people floating in and out of her life. Something happened after you left that made me realize I have to get this right. I can’t just have you coming in and then when school starts have someone else come in.
Not in her case. She’s going to get hurt again if I don’t fix this now.”

  “How are you going to fix it? And what happened after I left?”

  His eyes bore into hers as he lifted his hand and laid his fingertips against her temple. Paisley’s world tilted as he drew his thumb gently down the side of her face and brushed her cheek very tenderly. Looking into those dear, wonderful eyes, Paisley couldn’t breathe.

  “You’ve been crying,” he said softly, and she felt his breath touch her skin.

  She nodded, feeling tears threaten again. “I just got off the phone with Rene. But please tell me what happened.”

  “I will. Are you sure you’re okay?”

  She nodded, overwhelmingly happy to see him…guilt free for the first time. “I just had a good talk with her.”

  “Did you ask Rene how she feels about me?”

  “No. I didn’t ask her that.”

  He dropped his hands, exasperation racking his expression. “So you aren’t even going to give her a chance to tell you that she’s over me. That I don’t matter to her future happiness and that you are free to marry me.”

  Paisley’s heart felt as if it would explode. “Is that what you think she’d say?”

  “You better believe it. The Rene I knew was upset when she left here, but she’s not the kind of woman to hold a grudge. Even if she hadn’t fallen in love. You know that, too. Don’t you? Deep down, now that you’ve thought it through.”

  He was right. She’d been so stupid. She wanted to throw her arms around him. “That’s exactly what she told me.”

  “Really?”

  “Really, but I didn’t call her to ask her how she felt about us. I’d already made up my mind about what I was going to do before I made the call.”

  “Really?” Trace said again, as if at a loss for words.

  “Really,” she said, smiling. “Aren’t you curious?”

  He nodded. “You’re torturing me.”

  She laughed softly. “Then let me remedy that. I called to tell her that you and Zoey are where my heart is and that this is where I’d be staying.”

  Trace threw his head back and let out a whoop then swung her into his arms and kissed her as they spun in a circle. She just loved the way he did that! Laughing in relief and happiness against his lips, Paisley had been waiting for this moment for forever, it seemed.

  When the world stopped spinning and he lifted his lips from hers she glared at him and gave his arm a weak slap. “But you fired me.”

  He grinned and his eyes twinkled like onyx. “Only because you seemed to have a problem with me trying to hire a mother for Zoey. I decided the only way to fix the problem was to fire you and prove to you I wanted you for my wife first. And then as a mother to Zoey.”

  She beamed. “What a lovely thing to do.”

  His thumbs stroked her neck. “That’s me, Mr. Romantic,” he whispered, sliding his palms up to cup her face. He looked at her with endearingly serious eyes. “And now that you are officially unemployed, will you, Paisley Norton, please marry me?”

  Paisley sighed, melting against him. “That is my dream come true. And just so you know, I want to be Zoey’s mother with all of my heart. I know you want her to remember Stephanie and I understand that—she is her mother. Her flesh and blood—”

  He silenced her with another kiss and she knew he understood her heart.

  “Zoey loves you, and I’ll have you know she sent me after you when she told me in no uncertain terms that you were her mommy.”

  Paisley went still and knew she was very nearly about to become a blubbering mess. “Did she really say that?”

  He gave her the goosepimple smile and his eyes twinkled. “She said it, all right. And meant it.” He kissed her again, her lips, her eyes, her cheek. “How long do we have to wait before the wedding?” he said. “Please tell me you don’t want a long engagement. But it’s completely up to you. I’ll wait,” he added hurriedly, making her laugh with delight.

  “Oh, Trace.” How she did love this man. “Is seventy-two hours okay with you?” She watched his eyes widen in disbelief.

  “Are you serious?”

  She nodded, more than ready to marry this cowboy! He looked as excited as a kid and then stopped in the act of swinging her up off the floor again—the man loved to pick her up, and she wasn’t complaining.

  “What about your special wedding veil?”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close, feeling their hearts beating as one, just the way they should. “This afternoon you told me you loved me. And on the way home everything became clear to me and I knew I had to call Rene. She’s overnighting the veil first thing in the morning.”

  Trace leaned his head back and laughed and the husky sound sent her pulse racing. “I love you so much,” he said, then he scooped her into his arms and strode toward his truck.

  “Whoa, buster. Where exactly are you taking me?” she asked, knowing she’d go anywhere with him as she locked her arms securely around his neck. She was never going to let go of her dream come true. God was so good she could hardly believe it.

  “Home. There’s a cute-as-a-button little girl who has something very important to tell you.”

  Mommy. “In that case, can you walk a little faster?”

  “Nope,” he said, slowing his pace and tightening his hold on her. “This moment is mine.”

  “Oh, Trace,” Paisley sighed and leaned her forehead against his. “In that case, take your time.”

  He stopped walking and looked at her with eyes so serious her breath caught in her chest. “I plan to. You are my dream come true, Paisley.”

  Paisley sent up a silent thank-you as she cupped her cowboy’s face in her hands and kissed him with all her heart. This moment was theirs, and she had no intention of wasting it…or any of their moments to come.

  * * * * *

  Dear Reader,

  We (Debra and Janet) had such fun putting together these novellas. We’ve noticed that a lot of the people who like to visit Dry Creek also like to drive over to Mule Hollow, and vice versa. So we consider these novellas a special summer gift to our fans. We hope you enjoy them.

  When we decided to tell the story of two cousins, we talked about what would make them tick. The first cousin, Rene, has finished grieving for her deceased mother and is ready to seek her own true love. She believes love will come like a lightning bolt and she’ll just know the man who she’s supposed to marry. It looks like it will happen that way until she discovers that the man who she thought she was meant to marry isn’t the one.

  Rene learns an important lesson. God doesn’t always work in the way we expect Him to—sometimes He has something even better for us.

  Paisley is very protective of her cousin Rene. The last place she expects to find herself is in a situation helping the man who broke Rene’s heart. But for the sake of the little girl, Paisley puts her feelings aside and by doing so finds herself exactly where God wanted her to be.

  If you get a moment, let us know how you like these novellas. You can contact Debra Clopton at P.O. Box 1125 Madisonville or via her Web site at:

  www.debraclopton.com.

  You can contact Janet Tronstad at her Web site:

  www.JanetTronstad.com.

  Or you can contact Debra and Janet by writing to the Love Inspired editors at Steeple Hill Books, 233 Broadway, Suite 1001, New York, NY, 10279.

  Sincerely,

  QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

  Clay and Rene

  The hero of the first novella, Clay Preston, hates to get involved in other people’s problems. Do you ever feel this way? Why or why not? There’s a fine line between not being nosy and not caring. Where do you think Christians should stand?

  Rene Mitchell, the heroine of the first novella, is brokenhearted that her plans to marry didn’t work out. Can you think of similar plans in your life that didn’t go the way you wanted? What happened?

  Rene believes in love at first sight because
that’s the way it happened in her family history. What things do you believe about love and marriage because that’s the way your parents and grandparents experienced life? Have those beliefs hurt you or helped you in your relationships?

  When Rene realizes life isn’t going the way she wants it to, she leaves Mule Hollow in search of a new life in Dry Creek. What actions do you take when you want a new start?

  Rene stops being so upset about what is happening in her own life when she gets involved in helping a young pregnant woman. Do you believe that helping other people can heal a broken heart?

  As Rene gets married, she wears the wedding veil that has been in her family for generations. Rene and her cousin Paisley share the wedding veil. Do you have a similar wedding keepsake in your family?

  Trace and Paisley

  Trace really made a mess of things when he asked Rene to marry him and caused her to leave town. Have you ever made a rash decision and then wished you could take it back?

  Paisley put her own feelings toward Trace aside in order to help Zoey. Still she was reluctant to do so. But once she began to see all of the facts and motivations for Trace’s behavior she was thankful God had put her there to help. Have you ever been in a bad situation turned good?

  Did anything in this book touch your heart? If so, what was it?

  Trace wished he could have done more for his sister—but we can’t control the decisions that another person makes, even someone we love. What are your thoughts on this? Do you have any insights you could share with the group?

  God promises that He can take any bad situation and use it for good. In this case He did exactly that. But, do you think if Trace had stepped back and prayed for guidance the moment he found out about Zoey things would have been clearer?

  In the end of the book Trace tells Paisley that this moment was theirs and he was going to take his time and enjoy it. Do you believe couples need to take time out and make special moments just about themselves and their love? A happy, sound couple who loves the Lord and each other can face anything the world throws their way. What do you think?