Love Inspired December 2014 - Box Set 1 of 2: A Rancher for ChristmasHer Montana ChristmasAn Amish Christmas JourneyYuletide Baby

by Brenda Minton

  *

  Breezy hadn’t expected more gifts from Jake. He’d given her a wooden box from Lefty’s shop filled with family recipes. He’d also given her a bracelet with pretty charms and jewels. The gifts were sweet gestures of friendship.

  Now he said there was more.

  “Where are we going?”

  He shrugged. He didn’t answer.

  “Jake?”

  “Do you understand what a surprise is?”

  She sighed and continued to walk with him, trudging across the crunchy, frosty ground. They reached the barn and she wondered if maybe he had given her boxing gloves. That would be nice. She’d like to hit something.

  He led her through the barn, turning on lights as they went. A horse whinnied. Jake didn’t say anything. Why didn’t he say something?

  “Are you going to give me a hint?” she asked.

  “No need.” He put his hands over her eyes and turned her. When he removed his hands she faced a stall. And in the stall a pretty golden horse with an almost white mane and tail stood watching them, its golden ears pricked forward.

  “What?”

  “It’s a horse,” he said, close to her ear. She could feel the warmth of his breath. She could almost sense his lips close to her cheek.

  “Yes, a horse.” She reached and the animal nuzzled her fingers.

  “Merry Christmas, Breezy.”

  She turned to look up at him, awed, unsure. “You bought me a horse?”

  “I’m hoping you’re happy. I was really going for happy.”

  “Of course I am, it’s just… I didn’t expect a horse.” A horse belonged to someone with roots, someone who stayed. She wanted a horse and all it implied.

  He pulled her close. “That’s the wonderful thing about a surprise. It’s unexpected.”

  Yes, unexpected. Like Jake. “You didn’t trust me.”

  He sighed. “I should have told you about that report. I started all of that before I met you. And then I didn’t know what to say, how to tell you.”

  “You could have asked me to tell you what happened.”

  “I know,” he admitted.

  “So what do we do now?” She waited, knowing that she loved him more than she’d ever expected to love anyone. How did she keep boundaries when her heart had already made up its mind?

  “I think we should agree that Lawton made a good decision and he knew what was best for the twins.”

  Her heart quaked a little because she didn’t know what that meant. “Okay.”

  “Breezy, you’re the best friend I’ve ever had. I don’t want to lose you.”

  She pushed her hands through his hair and brought his head close to hers. Face-to-face she stood on tiptoe, touching her lips to his. “And yet, you make friendship more…”

  He kissed her long and sweet, her arms around his neck.

  “I make friendship more…?” he leaned in to her.

  “More complicated. More interesting. More difficult. I’m not sure what we’re supposed to do now.”

  “I think that what we do now,” he said, “is move forward.”

  She waited, knowing there had to be more. Her heart needed more.

  “I know you’ve left a lot behind, Breezy. I think you’ve left more than people and possessions. You’ve left pieces of yourself.”

  “Oh, Jake.” Had anyone ever gotten it the way he did?

  “I love you and I want to put all of our pieces back together and make us whole. Together.”

  She placed a hand on each of his cheeks and pulled him down, touching her lips to his. “Thank you.”

  “I messed up, Breezy. When you first came I was in a panic, trying to protect the girls. Protect my family. And I let you down. I didn’t trust Lawton. And I didn’t trust you. I should have.”

  “I think we couldn’t have imagined this happening.” She raised the hand she held and brushed her lips over his knuckles. “I love you, too. I’m not going anywhere. I want to be here. I want to be in your life and in your arms.”

  “That’s where I plan on keeping you, Breezy.”

  “Forever?”

  “Yes, forever.”

  He kissed her again. It was a slow, lingering kiss, the kind that made them forget the barn, the horse, the people waiting inside. Slowly they returned to themselves, and Jake took her by the hand and led her back to the house for Christmas with the family.

  Their family.

  Epilogue

  Breezy loved Martin’s Crossing. She loved it in the winter when Christmas lights decorated the entire town. She loved it in the spring with trees budding, flowers blooming and warm air reminding everyone that winter never lasted forever.

  She realized that hard times were like winter. They sometimes seemed like they would go on forever, but they never did. Spring always came with sunshine and the promise of better days.

  On a pretty day in late April, with flowers blooming and birds singing, she waited in a small classroom at the Martin’s Crossing Community Church. Somewhere out there, Jake was waiting for her.

  She smiled at her ladies-in-waiting, as she liked to call them. The Coopers were all present to help with wedding preparations. Mia was her matron of honor, even though she was due to give birth in a matter of weeks. Oregon was a bridesmaid. The twins were flower girls. Breezy thought the flower petals would end up everywhere but where they should be sprinkled.

  “You look beautiful,” Marty said as she arranged the veil. Marty was taking the place of mother of the bride. And she was happy to do so, as she had no children of her own.

  The twins had recently started calling her Gamma.

  “And the dress?” It had been Mia’s wedding dress, and Breezy loved that they could share it, and share this occasion. A few years ago she hadn’t dreamed of having a family. Now she had it in abundance. When God provided, He didn’t skimp.

  “Perfect,” Marty concurred.

  Heather Cooper handed her a bouquet of white and pale pink roses. “There’s a guy out there, in the church. He has the sweetest smile.”

  Mia chuckled. “And we thought it would never happen.”

  Heather shot her a look. “Nothing has happened. I just wanted to know his name.”

  The door opened. Lilly ran through the room straight to her mother. She spotted Breezy and stopped to stare. “Wow, you’re beautiful. I think my mom should marry Duke so I can be a bridesmaid…”

  Oregon shot her daughter a look. And Breezy thought it wasn’t the typical mom-embarrassed-by-daughter-talking-too-much look. It was a look of fear.

  Mia must have noticed it, too, because she took over.

  “I think we should probably find out if Jake is ready for his bride.”

  Lilly quickly volunteered and ran out the door. Breezy smiled down at the twins in their pale pink dresses. Caleb was the ring bearer. He was with the men.

  Breezy winked at Oregon. Oregon didn’t smile. Instead she looked as if she might cry.

  But it was too late to ask questions. Lilly was back and informed them that it was time. Breezy walked out the door of the room and down the hall to the back of the church where Tim Cooper, Mia’s dad, was waiting to walk her down the aisle. He smiled at her, patting her hand as she placed it on her arm.

  The music started, and Breezy took a deep breath and prepared herself to meet the man she loved at the front of the church.

  She loved him. She smiled at the memory of the night he’d asked for her hand in marriage, while slipping a ring on her finger. It had been Valentine’s Day and they’d cooked dinner together at her place. She’d turned around and he’d stepped close behind her, waiting for that moment to pull her close.

  “I love you,” he had said as he’d kissed her. She’d seen the walls coming down, the trust growing. She’d known. God had known.

  He’d seen two damaged people and He’d used faith, love and a little time to put them back together. He’d made a family out of those broken people and two little girls. He’d taught them to trust
themselves—and to trust Him.

  Today she would marry Jake and they would continue to build a new life, a new family.

  Mia and Slade walked down the aisle ahead of her. Slade stepped behind Jake at the front of the church. Mia took her place to wait for Breezy.

  Duke waited for Oregon to take his arm. She did, but didn’t look at him.

  And then Tim Cooper walked Breezy down the aisle. She beamed at Jake as she walked toward him, whispering that she loved him. He mouthed the words back to her.

  Yes, they had gotten this right. She stepped next to him. Tim kissed her cheek and wished her all of God’s blessings.

  Pastor Allen recited the vows, words of honor, of love, of standing strong through good times and difficult times. During a quiet moment while they lit the candles, Breezy thought about all of the ways God had blessed her.

  Pastor Allen then brought them together—Jake, Breezy, Violet and Rosie. “Breezy, this is your family. God has entrusted them to your care.” He looked at Jake. “And, Jake, you have been given this wonderful blessing. A wife and two little girls. With everything else in life that you do, everything that keeps you busy, always remember this—this wife and these children are the most important thing God has given you to do.”

  Jake looked at Breezy, smiling as he held her hand. Rosie and Violet wandered off. The people in the church laughed softly as the girls went their own way, sprinkling flowers in their wake.

  Pastor Allen cleared his throat and then he continued.

  “Jake and Breezy Martin, by the power vested in me by God and the state of Texas, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Jake, you may kiss your bride.”

  Everything in her life had led her to this moment. She moved into her husband’s embrace and he kissed her. She melted in his arms.

  They left the church to a cheering crowd and music that celebrated love. When they reached the car that would take them to a resort a short distance from town where they would have a reception, someone shouted that she should throw the bouquet.

  She paused, looking back at the crowd of people gathered to celebrate their wedding. A large group from Oklahoma had traveled to Martin’s Crossing for the wedding. Not only the Coopers, but also Vera and several others. All of them mixed in with her family and friends from Martin’s Crossing.

  Tears gathered in her eyes as she saw this united bunch of people. They symbolized everything that had changed in Breezy’s life. She had a place of her own. She had family.

  A hand tugged on hers, reminding her of the most important change in her life. She had Jake Martin’s love, and together they would raise their twin nieces.

  She would build a life and a family here in Martin’s Crossing. With a smile she tossed the bouquet, watching as women rushed to catch it.

  Breezy smiled up at her husband and he leaned down to claim her lips in a kiss that would be hers, forever.

  *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from AN AMISH CHRISTMAS JOURNEY by Patricia Davids.

  Dear Reader,

  Welcome to Martin’s Crossing, a fictional town in Texas Hill Country. I’m so excited about this new miniseries. New characters, new romances and new places to visit. But I couldn’t change locations without taking a few familiar characters.

  In A Rancher for Christmas, Breezy Hernandez moves to Texas where she finds a home, a place to belong and a man who loves her unconditionally.

  I hope you enjoy your stay in Martin’s Crossing!

  Merry Christmas!

  Questions for Discussion

  Breezy’s life changes overnight. How can she find faith and contentment in those changes? How does faith make a difference in facing difficult situations?

  Jake has to trust Breezy with the lives of his nieces. Facing this unknown, how does he react?

  Breezy lived a life of instability as a child. How does this affect the way she faces situations as an adult?

  Jake helped raise his siblings and still feels responsible for them. How can he let go? What would you do in his situation?

  Jake has to learn to trust that Breezy won’t leave. He is judging her for her past and also for the way his own mother walked out. How are his feelings legitimate? How are they wrong? Have you judged others for what someone else has done?

  How are the traditions of Martin’s Crossing important to them as they celebrate Christmas? What traditions do you have that make the holidays special for you and your family?

  Joe is a mystery to the townspeople. They are both reluctant to accept him and yet willing to include him. Why is that important?

  Why is putting down roots so important to Breezy? What does community mean to you?

  Breezy and Jake have been changed by the circumstances of their lives. How? How does the past affect you? How do difficult times change us?

  Jake has to learn to let someone else help out once in a while. Why is that difficult for him to accept? Is it hard for you to let people help?

  When does Breezy realize that she’s in love with Jake, and that her future is in Martin’s Crossing?

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired story.

  You believe hearts can heal. Love Inspired stories show that faith, forgiveness and hope have the power to lift spirits and change lives—always.

  Enjoy six new stories from Love Inspired every month!

  Connect with us on Harlequin.com for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!

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  Chapter One

  “I suppose we must do it.” Greta Barkman almost choked on her words.

  It was the right thing to say. The only decision her Amish faith would let her make, but she’d rather walk through the snow barefoot…all winter…than spend one hour with her uncle Morris. Bringing him home to stay with them for a few months would be unbearable. Surely God would not ask this of her and her sisters after all they had endured.

  Betsy, the youngest at eighteen, slapped the letter facedown on the table. “It’s not as if Onkel Morris can expect us to drop everything and rush to his side. We escaped his cruelness by the grace of God. Besides, it’s almost Christmas. It will be our first happy Christmas together. I don’t want him to spoil it.”

  He will spoil it. I know that as surely as I know it’s cold outside.

  Greta glanced at the kitchen window. The late-afternoon sun shone brightly beyond the frost-covered glass, but it added little warmth to the December day. The dusting of snow that had arrived in the night blew around, sparkling like glitter in the breeze. She shivered and looked back at the people seated around her grandfather’s table. Her three sisters, her grandfather and his new wife, and two of her sisters’ husbands were gathered for this family meeting.

  Clara, the oldest sister, picked up the letter. “I agree with Greta. We have to do this. His bishop would not write asking us to take Morris in if our uncle’s condition were not serious.” She glanced at her husband seated beside her. “I will go, if you agree, Ethan.”

  He covered her hand with his own. “I won’t pretend that I like the idea, but you must do what you think best. The children and I will manage without you for a few days.”

  “I can go.” Lizzie, the second sister, looked as though she would rather eat dirt.

  Carl, Lizzie’s husband, laid his hand on her arm. “I won’t agree to it. You have to think of the babe. Such a long car ride will not be good for you.”

  Naomi, their grandfather’s wife, reached over to clasp Lizzie’s hand. “You know the midwife cautioned against traveling with the problems you’ve had.”

  Lizzie nodded in resignation, but Greta detected a hint of relief in her eyes. Who could blame her?

  Greta retrieved the letter and scanned it again. Their uncle lived near Fort Wayne, Indiana. She explained the contents
for those that hadn’t read it. “His bishop writes that the congregation is willing to arrange for a van and driver to take Morris from the hospital to our home. His doctors wouldn’t allow him to travel by bus. A car or van is acceptable as long as the driver makes frequent stops. Morris must take brief walks every hour or two to prevent circulation problems with his legs.”

  And he must have someone travel with him. The five-hour car trip from Fort Wayne to Hope Springs would need to be broken into at least two days of travel. It would make a very long trip, breaks or no breaks.

  Although the bishop hinted at some dissention among his flock over the matter, the fact that none of them were willing to take Morris in spoke of a serious rift in the church group. The Amish took care of their own within the community. Families were expected to look after aging or ailing members and normally did so gladly. His nieces were all the family Morris Barkman had left.

  Lizzie crossed her arms over her chest. “I can’t believe old man Rufus turned Morris out of the house and hired a new fellow to work the dairy farm. I thought our onkel and his landlord were friends.”

  “I can believe it,” Clara said with a shiver. “Rufus Kuhns is an evil man. He’s worse than our uncle.”

  Greta nodded in agreement. Rufus had tried to coerce Clara into marrying him by threatening all of them with eviction and physical violence. “Morris is out of a job and has nowhere to live. He is dependent on us, the very women he mistreated for years. It must be a bitter pill for him.”

  It was for her. For all of them.

  Naomi sighed heavily. “Greta, you are the only logical choice to go and fetch him here.”

  She looked up startled. “Me? Why me?”

  Naomi’s gaze softened with sympathy. “Lizzie can’t go. Betsy has a job and shouldn’t miss work, besides she is too young to travel so far alone. Clara is a newlywed. She has a new husband and three stepchildren to think about. It would be cruel to part her from the children so soon. I’m not related to Morris. He might find it uncomfortable traveling with me.”

  “I don’t care if he is comfortable or not!” Greta couldn’t do it. She couldn’t spend two days shut in a car with him.