Abigail inhaled a sigh of relief causing Will to reach out and pull her hand into his. He gazed lovingly at her and said, “It’s the biggest gift we could have ever been given.”
She thought about his comment for a minute and decided now was a good time to share her news. “Will…um, I’d say getting the girls was, indeed, a most wonderful gift, no doubt about it. And knowing that the girls are ours forever, without the possibility that anyone could ever take them from us is certainly a blessing too. But to say it is the biggest gift we could have been given may be overstating the fact…just a bit.”
Will turned to her, his forehead a frown of confusion. “Overstating the fact? Are you saying you aren’t happy that these three little girls call you Mother?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” she grinned at his shocked expression. Oh, she was going to get him good this Christmas. He had managed to guess what she had gotten him for Christmas last year…but not this year, she mused.
He turned to her with a panicked look and she decided she didn’t have the heart to string him along.
“Abigail, what are you saying?”
She left her rocking chair and sat in his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I’m saying that I’m no longer satisfied with three little girls calling me Mother, because—”
He pulled her into his arms, his dark eyes rounded in panic. “Abigail, please tell me what’s changed?” He begged. “I’ll fix it. Just tell me and I’ll—”
She placed her finger over his mouth to stop him from talking. He was making this harder than it needed to be. She cast a glance to the girls under the tree. They could see Will was upset and now they focused all their attention on their parents.
“I would be happy to tell you if you would let me get a word in edgewise. I said I’m no longer happy to have three little girls call me Mother, because by next Christmas, there’ll be one more.”
“One more? One more what?” Her husband rambled.
She laughed at his confusion. She supposed she would just have to spell it out for him. “Will, by next Christmas, we will have one more little one to join our happy little family.” He stared at her as if she had suddenly grown a second head.
Violet was the first to comprehend her meaning. “We are having a baby sister,” she yelled and jumped up and down nearly knocking over the Christmas tree. Lily quickly followed her big sister’s example and the two of them held hands and danced around in a circle. Baby Rose, nearly two, joined her sisters, but Abigail was certain she had no idea why everyone was jumping about.
She turned her attention back to Will and was shocked to see tears pool in his big brown eyes. “Will? I was hoping you would be happy about the news. Merry Christmas?”
He laughed and he pulled her close, whispering in her ear. “I’m deliriously happy, Abigail. You can’t possibly know how happy this makes me.” She heard the catch in his voice when he continued. “I don’t deserve any of you—not a one—but I will thank God all the rest of my days for my miracles.”
Eight months later,
Abigail handed Baby Daisy up to Will who was waiting for her on the broad wagon seat of their newly purchased covered wagon pulled by a team of eight drafts. Violet, Lily, and Rose rode behind them just inside the wagon’s gathered canvas tarp.
Will reached down to help her up onto the monstrous wagon. She could see the excitement shining in his eyes. She settled next to him and took Baby Daisy from him. He leaned in and gave her a quick kiss. “Are you ready for an adventure of a lifetime, Mrs. Bennett?”
“I’m ready, Mr. Bennett. Does that feel strange not being called captain anymore?”
He shook his head. “No, I was ready to leave the army. I’m ready to do something else. I think my experience as a soldier prepared me well for my new job.”
“I think you’ll make a wonderful lawman. It was really nice of Sheriff Cassidy and his brother, Colin, to invite us to tag along with them to Texas. And I’m grateful to have their families along too. Sarah and Emma are so nice, and their children will be such great playmates to our girls, don’t you think?”
“I certainly do, that is until that boy of Quinn’s grows up and starts to notice our girls. I’m not sure how I’m gonna handle that situation. I was young once. I know what kind of thoughts goes through a young man’s head.”
Abigail laughed at the change of perspective her husband had since she first met the handsome bachelor in Angel Creek. “You’ll do just fine. I’m sure you’ll instill just the right amount of fear in the young man’s heart.”
Quinn Cassidy walked up to Will’s side of the wagon. He tipped his hat to her and then spoke to her husband. “All set?”
“All set,” Will answered.
Quinn grinned and nodded. “Good. I’m glad you and Abigail decided to join us down south. Texas is a growing state with a lot of opportunities for the right man—and woman,” he nodded toward her. “The Texas Rangers are looking to hire good, honorable men to uphold the laws of Texas. I’d say between you, me, and Colin, we’ll do them proud.”
“I’m excited for the opportunity, Quinn. Thank you for thinking of me. And Jeremy.”
“Someone call my name?” Jeremy rode up next to Will and Quinn. “Everything is buttoned down and ready to travel,” Jeremy reported.
Quinn nodded. “Very well then, Mr. Maxwell, lead the way to Texas.”
Abigail watched Jeremy grin from ear to ear. “My pleasure, Sheriff—I mean Mr. Cassidy.” He kicked his horse forward and hollered at the top of his lungs “Wagons ho.” Then grinning like a possum, he turned his horse and trotted down the streets of Angel Creek for the last time.
Will turned to her. “Are you sad to be leaving Angel Creek? This was supposed to be the place you found your new beginning, you know.”
Abigail shook her head. “Will, this is the place I found my new beginning. This is the place where I found you and my girls. It’s the place I finally found what I had been looking for all along. It’s the place where my own Angel Creek Christmas miracle found me. I’m hoping we’ve left a few miracles for those other poor lost souls still searching for happiness, don’t you?”
He grinned and kissed her again. “I would absolutely agree, Mrs. Bennett. No need to be greedy because no one can argue the fact that you and I have been gifted with more than our fair share of miracles. And as grateful as I am, I don’t intend to give any of them back.” And with that declaration, Will fisted the reins and slapped them against the giant rumps of the draft horses. With a jerk and a ring of harness bells, the Cassidys and the Bennetts set off for new adventures in the Great State of Texas.
I hope you enjoyed my third Angel Creek Christmas Bride story.
Now, up next is Grace by author Jo Grafford. Enjoy!
Grace
A long-lost soldier, a sister of the woman he was once engaged to, and the merry mischief of a Christmas matchmaker…
Grace Byrd has been in love with Lieutenant Charley Arrington for as long as she can remember, but he barely notices her existence when her oldest sister, Elizabeth, is around. Grace’s heart is shattered when he goes missing in action and is presumed dead. She silently vows to live out her days as a spinster, because she cannot imagine ever giving her heart to another man.
Now he’s back in their lives — returned from a southern hospital where he suffered of amnesia for months. Ready to claim her oldest sister’s hand in marriage at long last, he quickly learns Elizabeth has become a mail-order bride in his absence to help out with her family’s failing finances. What’s more, she’s fallen in love with her new husband.
Is this Grace’s second chance to win the heart of the man she loves? Can Charley move beyond his old dreams and replace them with new ones? One-click this sweet, small town romance to find out…and be whisked away by the hope and healing of the holidays!
More Books In This Series
Angel Creek Christmas Brides
2018
Charity – Book One – Sylvia McDaniel
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Julia – Book Two - Lily Graison
Ruby – Book Three – Hildie McQueen
Sarah- Book Four – Peggy McKenzie
Anna – Book Five – Everly West
2019
Caroline - Book Six - Lily Graison
Melody - Book Seven - Caroline Clemmons
Elizabeth - Book Eight - Jo Grafford
Emma - Book Nine - Peggy McKenzie
Viola - Book Ten - Cyndi Raye
Ginger - Book Eleven - Sylvia McDaniel
And now there’s even more great stories…
2020
Abigail - Book Twelve - Peggy McKenzie
Grace - Book Thirteen - Jo Grafford
Pearl - Book Fourteen - Hildie McQueen
Rebecca - Book Fifteen - Lily Graison
Charlotte - Book Sixteen - Kari Trumbo
Minnie - Book Seventeen- Sylvia McDaniel
Adele - Book Eighteen - Cynthia Woolf
Victoria - Book Nineteen - Maxine Douglas
Meg - Book Twenty - Caroline Clemmons
About the Author
Born and raised in Oklahoma, Peggy McKenzie has been in love with happy endings and second chances of the old west as far back as she can remember. Mesmerized by Miss Kitty and Marshal Dillion, she just wanted to write her own romance stories.
A move to southwest Colorado allows her to write the novels she has always dreamed of writing in the beautiful mountain home she shares with her husband, Jim, and their three fur babies, Augustus McCrae (Gus), Maddie, and Miki (Mickie).
Join her newsletter and fan club @ peggymckenzie.com.
Follow Peggy on social media to learn more about this author and new releases.
MORE BOOKS BY PEGGY McKENZIE
BRIDES OF THE RIO GRANDE
Grace – Book One
Faith – Book Two
Hope – Book Three
Charity – Book Four
Mary – Book Five
Aggie – Book Six
The ALPHABET MAIL-ORDER BRIDES
Olivia’s Obligation-Peggy McKenzie-Book 15
And Twenty-Four other authors
Available at Amazon.com
LANGLEY’S LEGACY SERIES
Finn’s Fortune – Book One – Kathleen Ball
Patrick’s Proposal – Book Two – Hildie McQueen
Donovan’s Deceit – Book Three – Kathy Shaw
Aidan’s Arrangement – Book Four – Peggy McKenzie
Heath’s Homecoming – Book Five – Merry Farmer
Colin’s Challenge – Book Six – Sylvia McDaniel
The End
Abigail (Angel Creek Christmas Brides Book 12) Page 20