Wings of an Angel

by Shanna Hatfield

1 chocolate cake mix

  3 eggs

  1 ¼ cups milk

  ½ cup vegetable oil

  Topping:

  1 large box instant chocolate pudding mix

  2 cups milk

  12 ounce bag chocolate chips

  With an electric mixer, combine cake mix, oil, eggs and 1 ¼ cups milk on medium speed until batter is smooth.

  Spray a slow cooker with non-stick spray. Pour the mixture into the slow cooker.

  Beat together the remaining milk with pudding mix and pour over the top.

  Do not stir.

  Sprinkle chocolate chips over the top. Again, do not stir.

  Cover and cook on high for 2 ½ hours. The cake is done when the outsides and top are sponge-like and the middle is gooey. Serve with vanilla ice cream. Makes approximately 10 servings.

  Note: Cook times can vary depending on the size and shape of your slow cooker. If yours is taller and not wide, it may take longer. Keep an eye on the cake when cooking on high to be sure it doesn’t burn.

  Author’s Note

  It started with a camel.

  A few years ago, Captain Cavedweller and I were at a community event and there, in all his fuzzy, giant glory, was a big camel, just eating up the attention.

  The overactive part of my imagination that never shuts off began to mull over the idea of a camel bringing a couple together. How could that happen? What would it look like?

  What if there wasn’t just a camel, but an entire cast of crazy, funny animals doing their best to play matchmakers?

  Then the words from a Christmas song drifted through my head and I knew exactly what I wanted to do.

  You see, that Christmas song is called “The Friendly Beasts.” It’s about the gifts animals present to Jesus in the manger. The origins of the song go all the way back to 12th century France, but the modern English words were penned in the 1920s.

  Artists from Burl Ives to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir have performed the song, but my favorite version is from Garth Brooks on his Beyond the Season Christmas album. And I highly recommend looking up the lyrics, too, because they’re not only fun, but will also add an element of understanding as to why I chose such specific animals for these four stories.

  Once I’d decided the series would be about a bunch of loveable, wacky animals meddling in the lives of four unsuspecting couples, I had to figure out the rest of the details.

  I wanted the story’s setting to be in Oregon. It had to be somewhere with snow for the story to work, but also close to a bigger city or town. That’s when I decided to create the fictional town of Faraday on the way up the mountain to Mount Hood.

  The details about the lodge are from the existing Timberline Lodge located there.

  I had the animals, the idea, and the setting.

  All I needed then were the characters. I started thinking about who would own each of these unique pets. That spurred the idea of four friends who’d known each other from childhood.

  Of course, the camel had to be the lead story. But who would own a camel? And not just any camel, but a Bactrian camel. The answer to that came in the idea of an eccentric uncle to the hero of the first story. It wouldn’t seem strange for a man who collects any number of odd things to add a camel to the mix.

  I liked the idea of a mechanic who wanted to get away from the small town but found himself back there (and grudgingly glad to be) when his uncle needed him. Enter Rhett — our tousle-haired mechanic with a bad boy reputation.

  How perfect for his love interest to be an uptight career-focused woman recovering from a breakdown.

  I kept picturing Cedar’s first meeting with Lolly in my head… that moment when Cedar is trying so hard to just find her “happy place” and be filled with peace. Then she opens her eyes to find a camel staring at her through the patio door and freaks out. I could imagine her reaction, how upset she’d be with her neighbor, and Rhett pretending he didn’t live across the pasture from her upon discovering she was the woman who’d called a dozen times to complain about Lolly.

  How long could he keep up the ruse? What would happen when she discovered he owned the camel? Entertaining stuff, right?

  I will admit, I had the most fun writing the second book in the story because the hero of Tidings of Joy is inspired by someone very near and dear to my heart (and if you are guessing, yes, that’s right… Captain Cavedweller). CC has carried mail for most of the time we’ve been married and he’s had so many adventures in that job. In fact, that’s his uniform coat you see on the cover of Tidings of Joy.

  So if I seem a little biased toward Drew Miller’s character, it’s only because he is based on my beloved CC. And some of those crazy experiences Drew had were actual things that have happened to CC on his mail routes (like the dead snake in the mailbox and the lion, only the lion that terrorized CC was a taxidermied lion, not a dog dressed up like one). I’ll let you guess about the stapled pants incident, but even my imagination couldn’t have conjured something that hilarious!

  Oh, and the snack mix Drew loves is from snack mix CC used to get every year on his route. I’ve tried to duplicate the recipe and have not yet mastered it. Someday!

  I also have to share this story: when I was in high school, one of the groups I belonged to decided to do a community service day where we went around and did helpful things in our little hometown. At one house, there was a sweet, tiny old woman who was so excited we were there. She brought out a whole pie and gave us slices, right into our hands. No napkins. Not even a paper towel. I took a bite to be polite and reacted about like Drew did. And it was mincemeat pie. I managed to choke down the bite I’d taken and hide the rest in the trunk of my friend’s car until I could throw it away. That was my one and only experience with mincemeat pie!

  Knowing how shy and introverted Drew’s character was going to be, I wanted him to fall in love with a girl who could draw him out of his shell. Joy was perfect for that. I just loved her character and how full of joy she was even with her injury. And Joy’s Christmas birthday is a nod to my dad who was born on Christmas Day.

  It didn’t hurt that she was the owner of Pete and Bacon either. I giggled every time I typed Bacon’s name. Don’t ask me how I came up with that. I was sitting at my computer one day trying to decide what names to give all the animals and “Bacon” just kept popping up in there. (Maybe it was caused by a BLT craving.) Anyway, I adore Bacon’s little character and the way he interacts with Pete the donkey. Seriously, I want my own Pete and Bacon now (and I love, love the way they look on the cover of Tidings of Joy!)

  Since two schemers are better than one, it stood to reason that with Pete and Bacon on the job, it wouldn’t take long for Drew and Joy to fall in love.

  If you’ve read many of my books, you know I thoroughly enjoy writing about cowboys. I had to include one in this series, so that’s where Seth comes in. He and Rhett make rather unlikely best friends, but their relationship works because the things that bind them run deep below the surface and wind around the heart.

  I liked that they were there for each other and helped one another when they needed a hand.

  An older, wiser cowboy in the form of Seth’s grandpa played a vital role in this story. After all, without Sam’s injury, Holly would never have had a reason to come to the ranch, even if Seth had already met her (and decided he didn’t like her!).

  Seth, who’s roots run about as deep as they can go on the ranch, falling for a woman without any ties to bind her seemed like a great combination. They give “opposites attract” a whole new definition, but at the end of the day, they have far more in common than first meets the eye.

  In addition to getting a cowboy included in the series by working in a ranch as one of the settings, it provided the perfect means to work in a cow, “all white and red.” That’s why Ivy and baby Rudy are part of the story.

  If you’ve ever had a sick calf you had to drench while trying to keep the mama at bay, you have my sympathies. From experience on our family fa
rm, I know that is not an endeavor for the faint-hearted. And writing that scene into the story seemed like a good way to initiate Holly into rural life.

  Don’t ask me why I gave Holly such a whackadoodle name. It just came to me and insisted on being included. I could envision her mother as a hippie who idolized Florence Nightingale, yet had a strange sense of humor, too.

  And that scene where Sam puts bacon on Holly’s plate (maybe I really was hungry for bacon while I was writing these stories!)… I just thought it would be amusing for these two beef-raising, meat-eating ranchers to try and persuade Holly to give up her vegetarian ways.

  I know I had both Rhett and Seth take their girls into the woods to get Christmas trees. I included that not just because it provided a wonderful opportunity for romance, but also because my family had a tradition of going every year to the woods. It was about an hour and a half drive from our house up to the woods. We’d often make a day of it, with my dad and brothers hauling along snowmobiles. Sometimes they’d take one of the farm trucks and cut a load of wood while we were there, too. It was such a not-to-be-missed tradition, I even went one year with a broken foot in a cast. When the doctor cut off the cast a few weeks later, pine needles fell out. Gosh, I wonder where they all came from?

  With all those animals running around in Faraday, I decided we needed a youngster, too. Enter Nick, the sweet little boy of the town’s veterinarian. And since the other three stories involved fairly sudden romances, I thought it would be nice for this last story if the couple had secretly been in love with each other for a while.

  Angela’s been hurt so badly in the past, she can’t begin to the think of the future. And Drake, poor Drake, can hardly think straight for loving her so much. But he’s terrified of losing her friendship if he tells her the truth.

  The foundation of my education took place in a small school, even smaller than the Faraday School in the story. And I absolutely adored my first-grade teacher. She was the best! And she had a treasure chest filled with all kinds of wonderful goodies that we could choose from when we excelled at something. I remember how much fun it was to walk up to her desk and pick something from it.

  Another tidbit from my school days were the school cooks mentioned in this story. We had two amazing cooks who prepared delicious meals. Not only that, but they were just full of fun and took such good care of us all.

  The thingamajig toy that Nick plays with is from one my grandpa made and would let me play with when I stayed at their house.

  That nostalgic feeling that swept over Angela when she opened her Granny’s box and the scent wafted around her? I know it well.

  Every year when my mom would open a certain holiday box, the scent of bayberries and sweet memories would float out of it, embracing me with this wonderful feeling of home and Christmas and family. I know just how Angela felt when she opened her Granny’s special box.

  I have to mention Shep (the sheep with the curly horn) and Jasper (the dove in the rafters high). Aren’t they a fun matchmaking duo? I took great delight in imaging the conversations taking place between Jasper and Shep - and then the things the two of them whispered to Nick.

  Oh, and if you didn’t read the recipes at the end of each story, check them out. If you put them all together, you have an appetizer, salad, main dish, and dessert!

  I extend a special note of gratitude to my editors and proofreaders. Thank you Shauna, Katrina, Leo, Cindy, Sonya, and Becky. And thanks to Jessica and Melanie for your excellent help with the book blurbs.

  Without the incredible talent of Rob Foote, illustrator extraordinaire, the covers for these books, along with the amazing art piece of all the animals together would not exist. I first worked with Rob when he agreed to illustrate my children’s book, Steve the Mule. Rob was so wonderful to work with, he immediately came to mind when I thought about covers for these four stories.

  He took my crazy ideas and turned them into beautiful pieces of art that made me cry with joy when I first saw them. Thank you, Rob, for being willing to work with me again. You are fantastic and so appreciated!

  Thank you, faithful readers, for coming on an adventure to the fictional town of Faraday where a fun-loving camel and her cohorts made Christmas merry and bright.

  I hope this holiday season brings you and yours a bounty of joy and hope, laughter and love.

  Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

  The Friendly Beasts of Faraday

  Scent of Cedar (Book 1)

  Tidings of Joy (Book 2)

  Boughs of Holly (Book 3)

  Wings of an Angel (Book 4)

  Thank you for reading Wings of An Angel. I’d be so grateful if you’d share a review so other readers might discover this heartwarming holiday series. Even a line or two is appreciated more than you can know.

  Read the rest of the books in the

  Friendly Beasts of Faraday series!

  Also, if you haven’t yet signed up for my newsletter, won’t you consider subscribing? I send it out a few times a month, when I have new releases, sales, or news of freebies to share. Each month, you can enter a contest, get a new recipe to try, and discover news about upcoming events. When you sign up, you’ll receive a free short and sweet historical romance. Don’t wait. Sign up today!

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  If you enjoyed meeting the quirky, loveable characters in the Friendly Beasts of Faraday series don’t miss out on the Rodeo Romance series!

  Rodeo Romance Series

  Hunky rodeo cowboys tangle with independent sassy women who can’t help but love them.

  The Christmas Cowboy (Book 1) — Among the top saddle bronc riders in the rodeo circuit, easy-going Tate Morgan can master the toughest horse out there, but trying to handle beautiful Kenzie Beckett is a completely different story.

  Wrestlin’ Christmas (Book 2) — Sidelined with a major injury, steer wrestler Cort McGraw struggles to come to terms with the end of his career. Shanghaied by his sister and best friend, he finds himself on a run-down ranch with a worrisome, albeit gorgeous widow, and her silent, solemn son.

  Capturing Christmas (Book 3) — Life is hectic on a good day for rodeo stock contractor Kash Kressley. Between dodging flying hooves and babying cranky bulls, he barely has time to sleep. The last thing Kash needs is the entanglement of a sweet romance, especially with a woman as full of fire and sass as Celia McGraw.

  Barreling Through Christmas (Book 4) — Cooper James might be a lot of things, but beefcake model wasn’t something he intended to add to his resume.

  Chasing Christmas (Book 5) — Tired of his cousin's publicity stunts on his behalf, bull rider Chase Jarrett has no idea how he ended up with an accidental bride!

  Racing Christmas (Book 6) — Brylee Barton is racing to save her family’s ranch. Shaun Price is struggling to win her heart. . . again.

  The combination of Christmas and hunky cowboy

  May prove to be more than she can resist. . .

  The Christmas Cowboy (Rodeo Romance Book 1) — Tate Morgan is as tough as they come. He can handle the wildest bronc on the rodeo circuit, but he loses the ability to think straight around the beautiful woman he keeps running into at the airport. Completely captivated by the uptight executive who makes it clear she detests cowboys, Tate will have to work a little holiday magic if he wants to win her heart.

  Married to her job as a corporate trainer for a successful direct sales company, Kenzie Beckett doesn’t have time for a man. Besides, after being burned twice by two-timing losers, she refuses to allow a third opportunity to exist. Unfortunately, no one told that to the handsome rodeo cowboy who catches her eye at the airport. He’ll need more than a pair of fine-fitting jeans, dusty boots, and dimpled smile to break past her resistance and bring her a heaping helping of holiday cheer.

  Full of laughter and ten
der romance, The Christmas Cowboy takes readers on a sweet Christmas adventure to a happily ever after.

  Turn the page for an excerpt…

  “This seat taken?”

  Startled by the deep voice speaking close to her ear, Kenzie Beckett glanced up into eyes the color of sapphires and lost the ability to speak.

  Shaking her head, she moved her oversized shoulder bag from the chair in question to a space near her feet. The intent gaze of the man made her sit up straight in the chair and fight the urge to lick her suddenly dry lips. She’d noticed the handsome cowboy at the airport many times, but never had the opportunity to be this close to him.

  He smelled every bit as good as he looked.

  “Mind if I sit down?” he asked, pointing to the empty chair beside her.

  Nervous, but with no reason to refuse, she again shook her head. Slowly inhaling a deep breath, she smiled and stuck out her hand as the cowboy folded himself into the seat. He filled the space next to her with an appealing scent that made her think of leather, spice, and rugged masculinity.

  “I’m Kenzie.”

  Pleased when he took her hand and gave it a firm, yet gentle shake, the contact created an unsettling storm of electrical currents to rush up her arm.

  “Tate.” A white-toothed grin displayed two dimples through the scruffy stubble on his face. “Tate Morgan.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Morgan.” Tongue-tied and awestruck, Kenzie couldn’t believe she sat next to Tate Morgan, rodeo star.

  Although ranching and rodeos were no longer part of her life, she kept up with some of the details. The good-looking cowboy sitting next to her was one of the top saddle bronc riders in the world. She knew he was from Washington State, but never connected him to the Tri-Cities area where she lived. She absently wondered if he was from Kennewick, Richland, or Pasco.