Christmas Gifts: Small Town ChristmasHer Christmas Cowboy Page 10

  Mike patted the sofa cushion and Amy sank beside him.

  Ivy grasped a box and hugged it. “I love the puzzles Gramma Ellie gave us.”

  “And the birthday lunch she cooked for us.” In the past weeks, Holly’s expression had taken on a loving glow. The old determination had taken a backseat.

  Mike caught the girls’ attention. “I meant to tell you both how happy I was that you thanked her for the gifts and the lunch. It made me proud.”

  They beamed, although their focus stayed on the gifts.

  When Mike gave the go-ahead, they tore into their presents—a game, new hair ribbons and new clothes for school. When they ripped off the paper of Amy’s gift, their eyes widened as they delved into the boxes, pulling out the dolls dressed in their period clothing and the book that told their story.

  Holly cuddled the doll to her chest. “I love her.”

  Amy’s eyes moistened as Ivy ran to her, with Molly in one arm, and threw the other around her neck. She planted a kiss on Amy’s cheek as love flooded her. “I’m so glad you like them.”

  “I have one more gift for you.” Mike rose and slipped the final package into each girl’s lap.

  Amy held her breath, knowing they were the picture frames.

  When the girls opened the boxes, they lifted their heads, their faces full of awe and their voices mingled. “It’s me and Mom.”

  “It’s our mom and us.”

  The girls exchanged photos, and when Ivy retrieved hers, she sought Mike. “Now we can remember Mom.”

  Amy’s heart tugged.

  “I have lots of other pictures for you to look at, too, but those are your very own.” Mike had trouble keeping his emotions at bay.

  Amy leaned back, not wanting to break the spell. But when the girls settled back again to survey all their birthday gifts, Amy drew in a long breath, sensing this was the best time to tell them. “I have something I wanted to tell you.”

  Mike’s head pivoted as the girls’ attention shot to her. A quizzical look grew on Mike’s face as she began.

  “I received a text message from Chicago. I don’t have the details yet, but they have elementary school openings, and they’ve offered me a job.”

  The girls’ smiles faded as Mike’s face paled. “What will you do?”

  Her heart beat faster. “I’ve decided to refuse the offer and accept the one here in Harrisville.”

  Ivy and Holly’s squeal pierced her ears.

  Mike drew her into his arms. “You scared me.”

  “Mike, I wanted you to know I didn’t choose Harrisville by default. I chose it because it’s where I should be.” Her pulse surged as she looked into his eyes. “With you and the girls.”

  “I’m…ecstatic.” He held her close, shaking his head. “But don’t scare me like that again.”

  “Not us either.” Holly shook her finger and made Amy laugh.

  “Understand?” Ivy’s two-sided pigtails bounced as she mimicked her sister’s finger shake.

  “I promise I won’t ever do it again.”

  A grin grew on Mike’s face. “Is it time for Amy’s surprise?”

  As if jerked by a string, the girls’ cry pierced the air. “Yes!” They bounded to his side, their eyes darting from her to their dad and back.

  “What surprise?”

  He headed for the tree, retrieving a package. “This is for you.”

  She looked at the silver gift wrap. “Why do I get an early Christmas gift?” She lifted her gaze to his, trying to understand.

  Mike held out the package. “It’s not a Christmas gift.”

  Curiosity grew as she studied the gift. “It’s not?”

  “Open it,” Ivy commanded.

  Finally it struck her. The girls had made her something special. She pulled the wrap from the box and lifted the lid. Her heart stopped.

  “Amy.” A faint tremor sounded in Mike’s voice. “You told me you were staying, and I talked with the girls, and…”

  She gazed at the lovely gold ring. Between the circle of diamonds she read the word joy. Her eyes blurred as tears trickled down her cheeks. God had made her path known, and He’d filled her with joy in His presence and in the presence of the three people she loved. When she looked up, she saw tears in Mike’s eyes.

  “Do you like it?” Ivy’s soft voice brushed past her.

  She smiled at the girls and gazed into Mike’s eyes. “I love it. It’s the most wonderful present I’ve ever received.”

  “Really?” Holly nestled beside her. “Because we love you.”

  She captured the sob that broke to her throat. “I love you all so much.”

  Mike drew her closer. “I thought you might think it too early for an engagement ring, but I hoped that this ring would let you know I love you with all my heart, and when you’re ready, I want you to be my wife.”

  She gazed into his eyes, knowing that time meant nothing when the Lord’s hand created the moment. “I’m so ready.”

  He brushed a kiss across her lips and whispered, “More kisses later.”

  “Later and forever.”

  “Forever.” Ivy swung around and hugged Holly. “It’s not just us anymore.”

  Holly looked into her sister’s eyes. “Now we’re a real family.”

  Amy gazed at the girls’ loving embrace, cheeks together as they gazed at her. Their faces shone as bright as the Christmas lights. Amy knelt and drew them into her arms. Could love be any greater? She didn’t think so.

  Amy sat in the church pew next to Grams, waiting for the children’s choir to perform. Mike had sneaked out moments earlier, which surprised her because he was as thrilled to see the girls in the choir as she was.

  The sermon ended and a prayer followed. As the ushers passed out small candles to everyone, the piano began to play, and when she looked up, she gasped. Mike stood in front of the Christmas tree, his guitar strapped over his shoulder. He began to play, and his amazing voice filled the church as the words to “Love Has Come” wrapped around her heart.

  Grams leaned closer. “Look what God has done.”

  Struggling with a sob, she could only nod. The words filled her heart. God had given love to the world with the birth of His Son, and He’d also given her love with the gift of a family. The music captivated her, and Mike’s gift of music assured her that he had healed from the past as she had finally done.

  The ushers returned, lighting candles at the end of the rows. As the flame was passed to each candle, the children’s choir filed in. Her chest expanded seeing Ivy and Holly attired in their red Christmas dresses with their hair hanging in the soft curls she’d fashioned for them. They stood side by side like two angels.

  Finished with his song, Mike slipped back into his seat and drew Amy’s hand into his. The ring he’d given her adorned her finger just as he adorned her life. She whispered, “I love you,” and later she would tell him how amazed and proud she’d been to hear him sing.

  “Silent Night” began and the children’s sweet voices swelled in song as the congregation rose with their lighted candles. The overhead lights dimmed, and the flicker of the candles reflected the glow in her heart.

  All is calm. All is bright. The words washed over her, reflecting her new life in Harrisville. She’d finally come home—full and complete.

  And loved.

  Dear Reader,

  The wonder of Christmas captures everyone—children and adults. Families enjoy their special holiday traditions, yet for some, traditions fade as they did for Mike following his wife’s death. The death of loved ones seems harder to bear at Christmas. Yet we rejoice because we know they are waiting for us one day. And as Mike said to the twins, love is endless, and even though he and the girls had lost a wife and mother, love opens doors again to new experiences and new relationships. Amy opened a door for Mike and his girls. God hears our prayers and knows our hearts. He provides not only at Christmas, but also every day of our lives.

  I hope you enjoyed meeting Amy, Mike, G
rams and the twins, who learned to show their love again. I also hope you enjoyed the people of Harrisville, a real small town in northern Michigan.

  May your Christmas be blessed, and may you allow the Lord to open doors of love and hope for you this Christmas and always.

  Questions for Discussion

  Amy was set against living in a small town. What changed her mind? What are your impressions of small town living?

  Christmas is a special time of year filled with traditions and special activities. What traditions do you enjoy at Christmas?

  Siblings don’t always get along, and the twins exemplified this in the book. Why do you think they misbehaved? What changed their behavior?

  Amy provided some good tips on discipline techniques and she also seemed to understand the reasons these things happen. Discuss her discipline ideas.

  Although Mike struggled with the twins’ discipline, what other good qualities did he have as a father?

  Have you ever experienced an “old-fashioned” Christmas? What kinds of things did you do to make that Christmas different and special?

  Grams’s faith was strong, and even though Amy was a believer, hers seemed weak. What kinds of things can weaken someone’s faith? And what keeps faith strong?

  HER CHRISTMAS COWBOY

  Brenda Minton

  To my editor, Melissa Endlich.

  For God so loved the world that He gave His only

  begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him

  should not perish but have everlasting life.

  —John 3:16

  Chapter One

  If life had been fair, Elizabeth Harden would have been on a beach in the Caribbean. Instead she was knee-deep in cow manure. Okay, not exactly knee-deep, but she was standing backstage at a charity bull riding event in Tulsa, Oklahoma, that her dad should have attended had things gone the way they were meant to.

  She stepped to the side as a herd of bull riders walked past. Her back pushed against a metal gate and her heel caught on a power cord. She moved to the left and the action was followed by the cameraman. He moved with her, keeping the offending black camera close. She blinked and turned away from the bright light.

  Two more hours and she’d be on a jet heading back to St. Louis. She could handle this for two more hours. She could handle the crowds of people. The cheering. The smiles. She could handle hiding the fact that she was falling apart on the inside.

  At least for the next hour or so she could think about something other than her lonely apartment, the wedding gifts waiting to be returned, the ring she’d put back in the box after Richard’s phone call a week before their wedding and the dress hanging in her mother’s bathroom.

  For the next hour she could focus on the children this charity event would help. She could get her head on straight and remember that being jilted was nothing compared to children living in poverty. This event had been organized by her dad and a few other men to provide food and gifts for those children.

  So she smiled at the cameraman, his infernally bright light and the reporter who wanted to ask a few questions during intermission.

  “I’m sorry, we’ll get this done.” The reporter stepped with her as they tried to stay out of the way in the crowded aisle, surrounded by bulls, cowboys and sponsors.

  “It’s okay.” What else did she have to do?

  Another small group of men pushed past. One of the cowboys in the group, tall and lanky with wavy light brown hair and black-framed glasses shot her a grin. Elizabeth didn’t smile back. Smiling took too much effort. Instead she glanced away, giving her attention back to the reporter who wanted to know why Harden Industries had become interested in bucking bulls.

  She had no idea why other than the fact that her dad loved a new challenge. Last year it had been NASCAR. This year he’d invested in bucking bulls owned by a rancher named Tim Cooper. Elizabeth filled in a few details for the reporter, trying to remember everything her dad had told her as he packed his suitcase the previous weekend.

  “So why are you here rather than your father?” the reporter, a smiling woman in jeans and a Western shirt, asked.

  Elizabeth let out a sigh. Behind her bulls bellowed in temporary pens that had been set up that afternoon. She’d watched as panels were set up and loads of dirt brought in to cover the floor, transforming a college basketball stadium into a rodeo arena.

  Why wasn’t Frank Harden here to represent his company? Why had he sent his assistant, his daughter? Because Elizabeth’s parents were on her honeymoon? She pasted on a happy smile and told the easy answer, “My parents are on vacation.”

  The smile got tight and her eyes watered. The reporter gave her a sympathetic smile and touched her arm.

  “Thanks, Ms. Harden, I appreciate the interview. If you’d like to join us on the catwalk, you can.”

  The catwalk was a metal bridge that ran behind the chutes where bulls were being penned for the rides. She’d rather not. She’d prefer to go home now. She’d like to hide away somewhere, a place where no one could give her sympathetic looks, where there would be no questions.

  Maybe she should have gone on her honeymoon. Alone. She could have spent Christmas sitting on the beach, the way she’d been planning for months. Only in her plans, she hadn’t been alone.

  Her heart ached again. It was an odd ache, part anger, part betrayal and sadness. She hadn’t wanted to admit, still wouldn’t put a name on the other ingredient mixed in with the heartache. She felt too guilty to even think about it.

  “I think I’ll grab a soda and join you later.” She excused herself, touching the reporter’s arm and ready to make her escape.

  “You’ll enjoy it. Just give it a chance.” The reporter, Janice, smiled again. She was genuinely nice. “But ignore Travis Cooper. He’s a heartbreaker.”

  “Travis Cooper?”

  “Tim Cooper’s son. He was the cute guy flirting as he walked past. He’s not a rider, he’s a bullfighter.”

  “Bullfighter?”

  The reporter laughed a little. “You really are new to this.”

  “I’d much rather be at the ballet.”

  “Think of it as a dance, bull against rider. The bullfighters are the guys that put their lives on the line for the riders. Watch in the arena, the three guys that are there to jump between the bull and the rider as he hops off, they’re bullfighters.”

  Over the tall, metal pipe panels that made up the arena, she could see the action. Intermission was over. A rider was spinning out of the chute on the back of a bull. One amazing twist and the cowboy on the back of the bull went flying. A bullfighter, dressed in bright blue and yellow, jumped forward and grabbed the fallen rider by the back of the shirt, quickly tossing him out of danger and then taking a near hit to his own backside.

  “They’re fearless,” the reporter said with serious appreciation.

  “I’m sure they are.” Elizabeth managed a grim smile. “See you later.”

  She turned and walked down the narrow aisle, past the temporary bull pens and cowboys standing in small groups. A bull bellowed and crashed against his pen. Another bull joined the ruckus. Elizabeth glanced back and watched the animals moving around in the pens. The bull from the last ride ran out of the arena and through the narrow aisle intended to get him back to the pens. From the other side of the fence she watched the big animal trot past and she was glad for that fence that separated them.

  As she walked away from the action a shout went up. She turned, frozen as a bull clambered against pens. She shivered and hurried toward the exit. Another shout went up, louder, more excited. She kept walking.

  Metal crashed and men called to each other. Elizabeth started to turn and before she could, a hard body hit her from the side. Strong hands lifted her from the ground and she flew over the gate to her left. Before she could gather herself, a body landed next to hers. On the other side of the panel a blur of gray, hooves pounding and then a rider on horseback and a length of rope flying through the air.


  “Well, that was close.” Her rescuer sat next to her, long legs clad in blue shorts stretched in front of him. He wore cleats, not boots. His hat was askew and those dark-framed glasses tilted awkwardly on his nose.

  “What happened?” She shivered and a chill ran up her spine and down her arms.

  He stood and reached for her hand to pull her up. “I think I saved your life, city girl.”

  “I think you nearly broke my neck.”

  “Is that how you talk to your knight in shining cleats?”

  She shivered again, thinking about that bull pounding past them. The bull she could have been in front of had he not thrown her over the fence.

  “Thank you.” She was on her feet, standing next to him. His smile flirted and flashed dimples. “By the way, I’m Elizabeth Harden.”

  He took off his hat and swept a deep bow in front of her. “My pleasure, ma’am. Travis Cooper, at your service.”

  He had an accent, not the Southern one he tried to affect. She knew that the Coopers had several adopted children. She guessed that he must be one of them.

  When he stood back up, he grimaced. The smile and dimples dissolved.

  “Did the bull get you?”

  He stretched, raising his arms over his head and twisting. Next he pushed his chin right, then left. His neck cracked and snapped. She cringed. He smiled again.

  “Nah, just pulled a muscle jumping over the panel.” He put a foot on the bottom rail of the panel. “You okay?”

  “I’m fine. Thank you. You didn’t tell me what happened.” She couldn’t look away because his blue-green eyes flashed with laughter, holding her attention. “Other than the part where you saved my life.”

  He scaled the fence and hopped to the other side. His confident grin probably worked on most women, she guessed. The glasses gave him an almost studious look. “A bull managed to push a panel loose and get out.”