Once Upon a Texas Christmas

by Winnie Griggs

  Partners for the Holidays

  Abigail Fulton is determined to find independence in Turnabout, Texas—and becoming manager of the local hotel could be the solution. But first, she must work with Seth Reynolds to renovate the property by Christmas—and convince him she’s perfect for the job. If only he hadn’t already promised the position to someone else...

  Ever since his troubled childhood, Seth yearns to prove himself. And this hotel is his best chance. But what does someone like Abigail know about decor and furnishings? Yet the closer the holiday deadline gets, the more he appreciates her abilities and her kindness. His business ambitions require denying Abigail’s dearest wish, but can they put old dreams aside for a greater gift—love and family?

  “Perhaps I could take over the front desk?”

  “That’s a generous offer, but I think it best if I handle this,” Seth said.

  Abigail stiffened. “Are you saying you don’t think I can handle the job?”

  “It’s not so much you personally as that I really don’t think this is an appropriate job for any young lady.”

  “Why ever not? I’ve studied the work Mr. Crandall does, and even relieved him a time or two when he had to tend to his sister. So I actually have some experience.”

  She called that experience? “It was inappropriate for Mr. Crandall to leave you in charge.”

  “You obviously want me to prove myself, Mr. Reynolds. But in return, will you give me your word that this is just a first step? And you will train me on the responsibilities of a hotel manager?”

  “Agreed,” he said without hesitation. If she could handle the desk job, then he’d humor her with the additional training.

  But at the end of the day, someone else would be hired as hotel manager. Someone who was not Abigail. That was how it had to be.

  Winnie Griggs is the multipublished, award-winning author of historical (and occasionally contemporary) romances that focus on small towns, big hearts and amazing grace. She is also a list maker and a lover of dragonflies, and holds an advanced degree in the art of procrastination. Winnie loves to hear from readers—you can connect with her on Facebook at Facebook.com/winniegriggs.author or email her at winnie@winniegriggs.com.

  Books by Winnie Griggs

  Love Inspired Historical

  Texas Grooms

  Handpicked Husband

  The Bride Next Door

  A Family for Christmas

  Lone Star Heiress

  Her Holiday Family

  Second Chance Hero

  The Holiday Courtship

  Texas Cinderella

  A Tailor-Made Husband

  Once Upon a Texas Christmas

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  WINNIE GRIGGS

  Once Upon a

  Texas Christmas

  Do not bear a grudge against others, but settle your differences with them, so that you will not commit a sin because of them. Do not take revenge on others or continue to hate them, but love your neighbors as you love yourself.

  —Leviticus 19:17–18

  Dedicated to my fabulous agent, Michelle Grajkowski, who is not only a great advocate for my work but also a great friend. And also to my wonderful husband, who is not only incredibly supportive but has never once complained about the amount of time I dedicate to my writing career.

  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

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Epilogue

  Dear Reader

  Excerpt from The Gift of Twins by Gabrielle Meyer

  Chapter One

  Philadelphia

  October 1899

  “Check and mate.” Seth Reynolds leaned back in his seat, a satisfied grin on his face. It wasn’t often he could defeat his employer and friend.

  Judge Arthur Madison raised a brow. “So it is. I must say, after I captured your queen I thought I had you.”

  Seth began setting the pieces back on the board. “That was the plan. I’m prepared to sacrifice anything, even my queen, if it ensures a win.”

  As the older gentleman helped reset the board, Seth surreptitiously massaged the damaged muscle in his left thigh, a constant reminder of all he lacked in the eyes of the world.

  “Speaking of winning,” the judge said without looking up, “how’s the Michelson deal coming along?”

  Seth knew the prying question was well-meant, so he didn’t get his back up. “I’ve received an extension on the balance owed until year’s end.”

  The judge looked up. “I’d be glad to loan you the money.”

  If anyone else had offered, Seth would have rebuffed him soundly. But Arthur Madison wasn’t just anyone else. “I appreciate that, sir, but this is something I must do myself.” Achieving the goal he’d been working toward for over a decade wouldn’t mean anything if he didn’t do it on his own.

  The judge’s expression shifted. “You’re only in this bind because you took in your nephew last year. That proves all anyone needs to know about your measure as a man.”

  Seth brushed aside the words. Taking Jamie in after the death of his sister was simply something family did. No matter how estranged he and his sister were. Besides, his being a man of honor wasn’t what he needed to prove. “Don’t worry, I have the matter well in hand.”

  The judge raised a brow but otherwise didn’t pry.

  Which was why Seth felt obliged to expand. “This hotel job in Turnabout, Texas, is what will help me finalize the deal. I just need to wrap things up by the end of the year. My bonus, along with hiring the right person to serve as hotel manager, will seal the deal.”

  And he would get both done before year’s end.

  No matter what it took.

  * * *

  An hour later, Arthur Madison stood at the window, watching Seth walk away. It was satisfying to see how far the young man had come in the eleven years he’d known him. From a determined but untrained scrapper to a competent man of business. To see him on the road to becoming a business owner in his own right was quite gratifying.

  But even though he had the utmost respect for Seth, he also worried about him. He’d long suspected the most crippling scars Seth bore were not the physical ones responsible for his limp. He only knew bits and pieces of Seth’s history, but he’d never doubted what an inherently good person the young man was. Then again, his opinion was colored by the fact tha
t he’d first met Seth when the then eighteen-year-old had saved his life, at considerable risk to his own.

  Now it was his turn to save Seth.

  Seth’s entire focus was aimed at showing the world he was as good as any man who could walk unhindered. He was driven to the point that he didn’t seem to know how to enjoy what he already had. Someone had to give him a nudge in the right direction before it was too late.

  And if he could help a certain young lady in the process, so much the better.

  Arthur glanced again at the letter on the corner of his desk. Abigail was the opposite of Seth in many ways—sweet, optimistic and a bit naive—but she was also intelligent, spirited and had a mind of her own. Like Seth, she also needed a bit of a push to set her feet on the right path.

  The plan forming in his mind could be described by some as meddlesome. But he’d employed a similar tactic with his granddaughter six years ago. That had worked out even better than he could have hoped. Could success repeat itself? After all, just as with Reggie and Adam, he would merely set the stage. The rest was up to them.

  Speaking of setting the stage... He sat, then reached for a pen and paper.

  My dear Abigail...

  “How is the hunt for a job going?”

  Abigail Fulton grimaced as she set her letters and parcel on the pharmacy counter. “I’ve checked with nearly every business here in Turnabout and no one is hiring.”

  Constance Harper, her best friend, gave her a look that seemed equal parts sympathy and amusement. “Surely you’re exaggerating. I can’t believe you checked with every business in town. For instance, you never checked with me.”

  Just this week, Constance’s long-held dream had come true when Mr. Flaherty had retired and turned over the keys of the apothecary shop to her.

  Abigail patted her friend’s hand. “Don’t even think about offering me a job. You can’t afford to hire me, not for a wage that would allow me to move into the boardinghouse.”

  Constance gave a reluctant nod then smiled. “Give it time, something will come up.”

  “That’s just it—I’m running out of time. I absolutely have to move out of Everett and Daisy’s home by the end of the year.”

  Constance’s expression turned skeptical. “Has Everett or Daisy said anything to make you feel unwelcome?”

  “No, not at all.” Not yet anyway.

  Living with her older brother had been fine when Abigail was fifteen and Everett was single. But she was twenty now and Everett had a wife and two children. Lately, she’d begun to feel she was taking up much-needed room. Better to work this out herself than to wait for them to bring it up themselves.

  “Daisy and Everett are expecting another child.”

  “Oh, that’s wonderful.” Constance’s smile faded. “Aren’t you happy?”

  “Of course. They’re wonderful parents and have enough love to encompass a houseful of children.” Abigail sighed and leaned her elbows on the counter. “But I can’t justify taking up a room in their home any longer.”

  Constance frowned thoughtfully. “Actually, I’d think having you around to help would be more important than ever now.”

  Daisy ran the local restaurant and Everett produced the town’s newspaper. Abigail helped out where she could, which was her way of repaying their kindness to her.

  “I’ll still help when I’m needed, of course. But it’s past time I get out on my own and gave them the space they need. I just need to prove to someone that I’d make a good employee.”

  “Of course you would.” Constance sounded almost indignant.

  It was easy for her friend to feel that way—she had an important job and was a respected businesswoman.

  “After all,” Constance added, “You’ve been running the town’s only library since you were fifteen years old.”

  Abigail waved a hand dismissively. “It barely makes pin money, certainly not enough to allow me to support myself.” Then she fingered her collar. “Actually, there is a job coming available that would meet my needs.”

  Constance eyed her suspiciously. “You don’t sound happy about it, whatever it is.”

  “I ran into Hilda Burns earlier. Seems she and Joseph Melton are engaged. And they’re planning a Christmas Eve wedding. Which means, come mid-December, Mrs. Ortolon will be looking to hire someone new.”

  Hilda’s job consisted mainly of cleaning and cooking at the boardinghouse and using her “free time” to run errands for Mrs. Ortolon. Not only was the work near-drudgery, but it was common knowledge what a hard-to-please employer Mrs. Ortolon could be.

  Constance apparently sensed something of her feelings because she touched her arm sympathetically. “You don’t have to decide immediately. You have two and a half months to find something else. Think of it as a last resort.” She paused a moment. “When is the baby due?”

  “February.” Abigail lifted her chin. “All right, I either find something else, or the boardinghouse job it is.” She firmly believed there was always a way if one looked hard enough. She need only convince one local businessman she could bring something to his business he hadn’t realized he needed. It would take a bit of imagination, but she was convinced she could find her niche if she just looked hard enough.

  Time to change the subject. She touched the parcel she’d set on the counter. “I have something here from Judge Madison.”

  Constance shook her head. “It’s beyond me what you two can have to say to each other. I can’t think of a thing you have in common.”

  Abigail grinned. “I’ll have you know we enjoy a very lively correspondence on a wide variety of subjects.”

  She’d first written to Judge Madison when she learned how he’d given her brother his second chance, a chance that brought him to Turnabout. She’d wanted to thank him, tell him how well it had turned out, and let him know it had given her a fresh start as well.

  To her surprise, he’d written back and they’d enjoyed a regular correspondence ever since. She found him charming, intelligent and quite intriguing. Even though they’d never met face-to-face, he’d become like the grandfather she’d never had. And her letters to him had become almost like entries in a diary, sharing hopes and dreams she didn’t tell anyone else.

  “It looks like it contains a book of some sort,” Constance observed.

  Abigail frowned. It wasn’t unusual for Judge Madison to send her books. In fact, ever since he’d learned about her subscription library he’d periodically sent books from his personal collection. But in her last letter she’d asked him not to send her any more—she simply didn’t have room for them. Had he forgotten? Or simply not believed her?

  “Let’s see.” She opened the parcel and her breath caught. It was a copy of Birds of America by John James Audubon. “Oh, Constance, look.” She stroked the cover, anticipating the beauty of the images inside. Perhaps she could find room for one more book...

  It took her a moment to notice there were also two letters in the parcel. The first had her name on it, the second had the name Seth.

  “Who’s Seth?” Constance asked.

  “I have no idea.” Curious, she set aside the book and second envelope, then quickly unfolded the one with her name.

  My Dear Abigail,

  I will dispense with the normal pleasantries because I have a business proposition for you and I want to get right to it. As you know, I invest in properties from time to time. I recently became aware that the Rose Palace Hotel was on the market. So yes, I have bought the place.

  She looked up at her friend. “He’s bought the Rose Palace from Mr. Crandall.”

  “I didn’t even know it was for sale. Mr. Crandall must be planning to accompany his sister to Chicago when she goes to the hospital there.”

  Abigail nodded and turned back to the letter.

  The curr
ent owner is already in the midst of enlarging the facility, which suits my needs. I have noted the growth Turnabout has undergone in recent years and I believe this will be a good investment. I am sending Seth Reynolds, an acquaintance of mine, to oversee the remainder of the work.

  Abigail glanced at the second envelope. That must be who this was for. But why send it to her?

  Here is where my offer comes in. I want to hire you to take charge of the decor, matters such as paint colors, wallpaper, curtains and the like. I would also like you to assist in the interviewing and hiring of new staff. I’m sure your familiarity with the local citizenry will prove invaluable.

  In return, I am willing to provide you with something that will solve a problem you are facing. You mentioned that your library had outgrown its space in your sister-in-law’s restaurant. So, as payment for your assistance, I will allocate a room on the hotel’s ground floor to permanently house your library, free of charge.

  I have not yet mentioned your involvement to Mr. Reynolds since I was unsure of your response. If you agree, please give him the enclosed note when he arrives as it will explain matters to him. If you decide to decline, simply send me a wire saying so and there will be no hard feelings.

  I don’t know the exact date of Mr. Reynolds’s arrival, but it should be within a few days of your receipt of this letter. He has one small task to complete for me and then will head your way.

  On a side note, I have decided to spend Christmas in Turnabout with my granddaughter and great-grandchildren. I look forward to finally meeting you in person.

  So much good news, it was hard to take it all in.

  She would have willingly helped the judge for free. But to have a new place to house her library was exciting!

  And she was finally going to be able to be of service to the man who had done so much for her family.

  And she’d also have the opportunity to meet him in person when he came for Christmas.

  To know that he trusted her to handle the furnishings and decor of his hotel was gratifying. It was a big responsibility but she was absolutely determined to do him proud. Besides, it would be fun. She was already thinking of possibilities.

 
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