The Lawman's Yuletide Baby

by Ruth Logan Herne

  By the time he got up to the third floor, Corinne had been admitted and full-blown panic set in.

  How could he do this? How could he put her through this? What if something happened to her? Or to the babies?

  Pete intercepted him, smacked him on the back and met his look, man-to-man. “It will be fine. I promise.”

  Pete couldn’t promise that. No one could. “You don’t know that.”

  “Maybe not, but if you go into that room—” he pointed to the waiting room behind him where Kate and the kids had gathered “—or that one—” he pointed through the locking double doors separating them from the labor and delivery unit “—looking scared, I’ll mop the floor with you.”

  His tough words helped. Plus, Gabe was pretty sure Pete meant it. He breathed deep, then stopped by the waiting room door. When Tee and Callan spotted him, he jerked a thumb toward the birthing center. “I’m going in, and I’ll keep you guys updated, okay?”

  “Yes.” Callan nodded, calm but concerned.

  Tee practically bounced in her seat. “I can’t wait!”

  A nurse appeared behind him. “Mr. Cutler? We’re getting close, and your wife is refusing to deliver either baby until you’re with her.”

  Close? That was impossible. Wasn’t it? “She just got here. Are you sure?”

  “Reasonably certain.” She held the door for him, winked at the family and then showed him where to wash up and grab a gown.

  He jumped into the hospital-issued clothing and rushed to Corinne’s room.

  “Gabe.” She looked up at him as a contraction rocked her. He grasped her hand, wishing he could do more, wishing he could—

  And then Jacob Gabriel appeared into the world, all six pounds, four ounces of him, and Gabe Cutler fell in love all over again. With his wife, with his life and with this amazing creation who squalled for short seconds, then paused, peeking here and there as if wondering what just happened.

  “How is he?” Corinne pushed herself more upright to see, but Gabe brought the tiny fellow down to her level. “Is he fine? He’s so quiet.”

  “He’s perfect,” the doctor declared. “Absolutely perfect, Corinne. And it’s not going to take long to deliver his sister, so be ready. And it might have been a while for you, but remember—” the doctor smiled at her “—a quiet baby isn’t necessarily a bad thing.”

  “Those are true words,” she whispered, gazing on the wonder of her baby son. But then the rise of another contraction pulled her attention in another direction. “Hang on to him, Gabe.” She laid her hand against baby Jacob’s hospital blanket and whispered the words up to him. “I want him to know how much we love him even when I’m busy with his sister.”

  “I’ve got him, darling,” he promised as the contraction took hold. “I won’t let go. I won’t let go of any of you.”

  “And here we go again.” The doctor smiled at Corinne over her surgical mask. “You’re doing great, Corinne.”

  Weighing in at nine ounces less than her brother, Isabella Katherine Cutler made her appearance, and let the entire room know she wasn’t all that happy about the environmental changes she’d just endured.

  Baby Jacob blinked twice, snuggled into Gabe’s chest and dozed off, ignoring his sister’s newborn theatrics.

  “How we doing, Dad?” Corinne reached up a hand to him as the NICU crew checked Isabella.

  How was he doing?

  There were no words, but he tried. He slipped into the chair next to her bed, leaned in and kissed her sweetly. Gently. And then he laid his forehead to hers. “I have never been happier in my life. That’s how I’m doing.”

  “Me, too.”

  They brought Isabella to Corinne, wrapped in a traditional hospital blanket. They’d snugged a tiny pink crocheted hat onto her head, and a blue one on Jacob. And then one of the nurses began to take a photo. “First family shot,” she announced, happily.

  Gabe stood, messing up the shot. He handed her the baby and said, “Hold that thought.” He hurried down the hall, through the doors, and had Callan and Tee come back into the room with him. “Big brother and sister have to be in on the act,” he explained. “It’s not a family shot without them.”

  “That’s right,” Corinne agreed.

  Eyes wide, the older kids took a spot on opposite sides of the hospital bed, and when the nurse snapped the picture, she held up the camera for all of them to see. “You are now a family of six.”

  “Perfect.” Corinne smiled at the kids, then him, and the two utterly beautiful babies that had just joined the family. “Everything is absolutely perfect.”

  And it was.

  * * * * *

  If you loved this story, pick up the other books

  in the GRACE HAVEN series

  from author Ruth Logan Herne:

  AN UNEXPECTED GROOM

  HER UNEXPECTED FAMILY

  THEIR SURPRISE DADDY

  Available now from Love Inspired!

  Find more great reads at www.LoveInspired.com.

  Keep reading for an excerpt from A TEXAS HOLIDAY REUNION by Shannon Taylor Vannatter.

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  Dear Reader,

  I love writing holiday stories. I go a little crazy with twinkle lights, ornaments, heartwarming nativities and Christmas movies! I love the music, the warmth of hymns and carols. I have so much fun decorating and baking and getting together with family. I love the church services, filled with light and hope. I love all of it.

  But people who’ve suffered loss may have a very different experience with holidays. The grief, guilt and sorrow can weigh heavily during the holiday season. That was Gabe Cutler’s life since losing his daughter and wife. He buried himself in work every November, and didn’t emerge until the New Year. In his heart, he couldn’t forgive himself for what happened that fateful day, years before.

  Corinne blocked herself in a different way. Her loss made her a little control-crazy. She loves her children, but their growing independence rocks her world. She needs to adjust...and it takes a near-tragedy to show her the true lessons of life.

  I’m always amazed by God’s timing, and I’m always blessed by the warm responses I get from readers. I love hearing from you! Feel free to friend me on Facebook, come by my website to see what’s happening in Ruthy’s world right now, and join me in Seekerville (seekerville.blogspot.com) or the Yankee Belle Café (yankeebellecafe.blogspot.com), where I partner with other delightful authors to talk about faith, family, food...and (of course!) romance!

  God bless you and wishing you the very best holiday season ever!

  Ruthy

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired story.

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  A Texas Holiday Reunion

  by Shannon Taylor Vannatter

  Chapter One

  As her parents exchanged their wedding vows, Resa McCall dabbed at her tears.

  And tried to ignore one mind-numbing cowboy, Colson Kincaid.

  She and Dad had pulled it off—surprised Mom with a renewal ceremony at the Bandera, Texas, dude ranch where they’d married thirty years ago last spring.

  On this first afternoon of December, the anniversary of the day they’d met, they wore replicas of their original wedding finery. The same bridesmaids and groomsmen who’d stood up for them initially now flanked her parents. Even the thirty-five-year-old ring bearer and flower girl had come. And most of their friends and family were here, too.

  But try as she might, Resa couldn’t keep her gaze from wandering to Colson now and then. Confident and still ridiculously handsome. Bandera rodeo hero, high school heartthrob with swoon-worthy, vivid green eyes. They’d worked together in their early twenties, six years ago. Fallen in love.

  And then he’d left without so much as a goodbye. Spurred her vow to never trust another with her heart other than Jesus Christ.

  “I now pronounce you still husband and wife.” The pastor winked and pointed to the mistletoe overhead. “Duncan, you may kiss your wife.”

  Great. Resa had missed half the vows thanks to Mr. Cowboy Distraction.

  Beneath the tulle-draped rafters of the great room, multicolored twinkle lights reflected off the iridescent Christmas garland as her parents laughingly kissed. Their devotion to one another was clear in their sweet embrace. As a teen, she’d longed for that kind of love. To follow in their footsteps with a committed lifetime marriage.

  Until Colson Kincaid.

  “Mr. and Mrs. McCall request your presence for the reception in the dining room across the foyer,” the pastor announced, as a mideighties love song started up.

  Her parents turned to face their guests. Wearing blissful smiles, they retraced their steps down the white-poinsettia-lined aisle toward the foyer. The wedding party followed and then Resa and her brother, before ushers began escorting guests.

  Her gaze flitted to Colson, then darted away. The last person she wanted to see. Today or any other day. She’d had to invite him. How could she not, since his father was her parents’ business partner? But she hadn’t thought he’d actually come.

  In the foyer, Mom and Dad lined up with the wedding party.

  “This is so wonderful.” Mom latched on to Resa’s arm. The tears started up again, and before she knew it they were blubbering, with Dad pulling them in for a hug.

  “It was Dad’s idea.”

  Mom kissed his cheek. “It was perfect.”

  True to form, Resa’s brother, Emmett, stood off to the side. Inspecting his nails, looking bored.

  “Break it up, you two.” Dad cleared his throat. “Greet our guests without getting them wet.”

  “I better go make sure everything’s set in the dining room.” Resa disentangled herself, dabbed under her eyes, shot a glare at Emmett.

  She stepped through the doors to the reception area. “Ceremony’s over.” Garland lined each side of the steaming buffet, which included lasagna, zucchini and seven-layer salad. “They’re greeting guests.”

  “All set here,” a voice called from the kitchen.

  There was a long row of tables in the center for her parents, family, close friends and the wedding party. Round tables filled each side for guests, graced by centerpieces with strings of imitation pearls woven through white poinsettias.

  “Thanks.” Resa checked her appearance in a barn-wood-framed mirror. Thankfully, her waterproof mascara had lived up to its hype.

  Backing to the entryway doors, she scanned the room. Intricate rockwork twin fireplaces bordered the space, with a wall of windows on the far end. Two massive chandeliers her father had crafted from iron wagon wheels nestled among the massive beams framing the wood ceiling.

  Exactly the way it had looked in pictures of her parents’ original reception. Perfect. Only better, since all the current furnishings and decor had come from her family’s handcrafted log furniture store.

  The door from the foyer opened. Spicy cologne filled her space. The same scent that had haunted her dreams for six years.

  More like her recurring nightmare. She could feel him right behind her now. She drew in a calming breath, turned around.

  Not one smart-aleck word surfaced. Probably best. Smart-aleck and Christian attitude didn’t compute. So he’d finagled his way into her heart. Told her she was the only girl for him. Then left her behind, to marry someone else. It was a long time ago. She needed to get over it already.

  She forced a smile as her lungs deflated. “I’m surprised you came.”

  “I got an invitation.”

  “Yes, but—”

  “You haven’t seen hide nor hair of me in six years.” He ducked his head. “Dad strong-armed me into coming. Said it was important to your folks.”

  He was hatless for once. But his boots, jeans and Western shirt proved he hadn’t changed. He was still a cowboy through and through.

  “This place is awesome.” He pointed toward the foyer. “I did those chairs out there.”

  “How can you remember?” She’d designed the two cowhide wingbacks on sturdy log frames instead of the usual Queen Anne legs, but hadn’t realized he’d been the crafter.

  “I remember all the pieces I build. The same as you probably remember all of your designs.”

  She did. And those had been a challenge. When the order had been placed, she hadn’t been sure she could make rustic wingbacks come together. But in the end, it worked. And the second generation owners, neighbors and friends had placed more orders, until only Rusticks Log Furnishings complemented Chasing Eden Dude Ranch.

  Silence hung loud and heavy, and turned awkward. He shifted his weight.

  “I’m sorry about Felicity.” There, she’d said it. And she was sorry. Why was it so hard for her to say his wife’s name?

  His eyes dimmed. He was obviously still grieving her. “Thanks.”

  The doors opened. “Heads up.” Devree, her wedding planner, entered the dining room. “I gave the guests a nudge in this direction, so we’re about to be inundated.”

  “We’re all set here.” Resa sidestepped Colson, but he chose the same direction and she smacked into him. It was like running into a brick wall.

  “Whoa.” His breath fanned her forehead.

  He was still solid. Her cheeks went hot as she stepped around him and opened the door to the foyer.

  Mac beamed at her. “Resa, so good to see you.” Colson’s dad gave her a warm hug.

  “You, too, Mac. Thank you so much for doing the best man thing again.”

  “Wouldn’t have missed it.” He was such an honorable man. If only his son was as loyal.

  “Please come in,” she called to the guests, gesturing toward the tables. “You’ll find name cards at each place setting and the ushers will help you find your seat.” Her smile felt forced.

  Partly because of Colson. But mostly because after the reception, Mom and Dad were leaving and would be gone until Christmas Eve. They were finally taking the time to realize their dream of a Mediterranean cruise. Leaving Resa to oversee Rusticks Log Furnishings and the family ranch.

  Alone.

  Her gaze landed on her brother. Fun-loving, charming ladies’ man. He didn’t take anything seriously and didn’t have a speck of dependability in him.

  Even though Mom had asked him to come home to help run things during their absence, Emmett would probably leave as soon as he
took their parents to the airport. At least Resa wouldn’t have to worry about keeping him in line, along with everything else.

  Once the reception ended, Colson would leave, too. Then maybe her heartbeat would get back to normal and she could focus on designing furniture and keeping the ranch and the store running smoothly through the Christmas rush.

  Just get through this day. Concentrate on Mom and Dad. Not Colson.

  * * *

  The reception got under way and Colson tried to blend in. Resa’s mom was radiant as she chatted with guests at the head table.

  Colson stiffened, immediately on guard when his gaze landed on Emmett sitting just down from his mom. He hadn’t noticed Resa’s elusive, prodigal brother. Hadn’t expected him to show.

  But Cheyenne was safely tucked away at the McCalls’ house with his stepmom. Protected from the one man who could turn her world upside down.

  With a yawn, Emmett’s ice-blue eyes scanned every attractive female in the room. Nothing had changed since high school. He was still a playboy who was always in trouble, who left a string of young girls heartbroken. But he wouldn’t get a chance at Cheyenne.

  Emmett was the epitome of a spoiled rich kid, while Resa never gave off our-parents-are-loaded vibes. A kind, caring Christian. If only Colson had listened to her in high school when she’d tried to tell him about Jesus.

  His life would have been so different.

  But he wouldn’t have his little girl. Cheyenne was proof that good things could come out of bad decisions.

  “Can you believe Maryann asked Emmett to help me at the store while they’re gone?” his dad whispered.

  Colson’s insides tilted. “He’ll be here?”

  “I sincerely doubt it. I’m surprised he even showed up for the ceremony. He’ll probably leave as soon as they do.”

  Colson couldn’t possibly stay here if Emmett did. No way around it, he’d have to let Dad down.