North Country Family

by Lois Richer

  Making Amends

  After losing his clients’ life savings, former broker Rick Salinger went in search of redemption. Now a pastor in the remote Canadian town of Churchill, he focuses on his congregation and working with the kids at a center for troubled boys. But when the center’s new nurse arrives with her own struggling son, Rick fears getting too close. Widowed mom Cassie Crockett once lost almost everything because of Rick—and he’s not sure she’ll ever forgive him. Yet he can’t stop his growing feelings for her. He wants to help Cassie and her son build a new life…one that just might include him.

  Northern Lights: On the edge of the Arctic, love awaits

  “Rick, would you be able to talk

  to my son?” Cassie asked.

  “Ever since his dad died, he’s been struggling. I can’t seem to reach him. But you might.”

  Rick’s heart swelled with compassion for this mother’s hurting heart.

  “Please?” she whispered.

  “I don’t know that it will make any difference, Cassie, but I promise I’ll do whatever I can to help Noah,” Rick said. “The offer is open to you, too, if you want.”

  She shut down—there was no other way to express it. “Thank you, but I don’t talk about the past. I appreciate whatever you can do for Noah though.”

  It was a warning. Back off. And yet Rick knew he was going to have a hard time doing that. Her husband’s death had affected her whether she admitted it or not.

  Don’t get involved, his brain chided again.

  She’s hurting, his soul answered. Am I not here to help others? How else can I make amends for my past?

  He lifted his head and found a pair of beautiful brown eyes watching him.

  Staying focused on his goal definitely wasn’t going to be easy.

  Books by Lois Richer

  Love Inspired

  This Child of Mine

  *Mother’s Day Miracle

  *His Answered Prayer

  *Blessed Baby

  †Blessings

  †Heaven’s Kiss

  †A Time to Remember

  Past Secrets, Present Love

  ††His Winter Rose

  ††Apple Blossom Bride

  ††Spring Flowers, Summer Love

  §Healing Tides

  §Heart’s Haven

  §A Cowboy’s Honor

  §§Rocky Mountain Legacy

  §§Twice Upon a Time

  §§A Ring and a Promise

  Easter Promises “Desert Rose”

  ‡The Holiday Nanny

  ‡A Baby by Easter

  ‡A Family for Summer

  ‡‡A Doctor’s Vow

  ‡‡Yuletide Proposal

  ‡‡Perfectly Matched

  +North Country Hero

  +North Country Family

  Love Inspired Suspense

  A Time to Protect

  **Secrets of the Rose

  **Silent Enemy

  **Identity: Undercover

  *If Wishes Were Weddings

  †Blessings in Disguise

  **Finders Inc.

  ††Serenity Bay

  §Pennies from Heaven

  §§Weddings by Woodwards

  ‡Love for All Seasons

  ‡‡Healing Hearts

  +Northern Lights

  LOIS RICHER

  began her travels the day she read her first book and realized that fiction provided an extraordinary adventure. Creating that adventure for others became her obsession. With millions of books in print, Lois continues to enjoy creating stories of joy and hope. She and her husband love to travel, which makes it easy to find the perfect setting for her next story. Lois would love to hear from you via www.loisricher.com, loisricher@yahoo.com or on Facebook.

  NORTH COUNTRY FAMILY

  Lois Richer

  Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.

  —Proverbs 3:5–6

  This book is dedicated to my sister Darcy,

  who sees a need, and quietly, in her own way, fills it.

  Bless you, Darc.

  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

  Epilogue

  Dear Reader

  Questions for Discussion

  Excerpt

  Chapter One

  “My dad’s d-dead.”

  Rick Salinger ignored the December snowscape outside to study the face of the stuttering boy slouched on the train seat next to him. They’d been talking for the past half hour.

  His heart ached for both Noah and his father, but at the moment he felt most saddened by the knowledge that Noah’s father would never get to see his son grow and change. That sadness came from the knowledge that Rick would never get to see a son grow and change, either. He would never have a family. Because he didn’t deserve one.

  “My d-dad stole f-from our ch-church.” Noah rubbed one eye then put his glasses back in place. “Th-then he k-killed himself. M-mom said he was t-too a-ashamed to t-tell us.”

  Rick wanted to hug the kid, but Noah’s rigid expression said he wouldn’t tolerate that.

  “My f-father died r-running away. And now that’s wh-what we’re d-doing, too.”

  “Running away?” Rick stared at him, surprised by the disgust in the boy’s voice.

  “My m-mom calls it s-starting over,” Noah muttered.

  “That’s way different than running away.” Rick frowned when the boy shrugged. He tried a different approach. “You and your mom must miss your dad, Noah.”

  “M-my mom m-maybe. She c-cries when she th-thinks I c-can’t hear her, but I d-don’t cry for him.” Noah’s fingers tightened around his iPod.

  “I’m really sorry,” Rick told him sincerely. He suppressed a groan. What an inane remark. “That’s not much help, is it? But you can pray about it.”

  “I don’t p-pray,” Noah said, an edge tingeing his voice. “N-not anymore.”

  “That’s too bad because God hears the prayers of His kids,” Rick said softly.

  “Maybe He h-hears but He d-doesn’t answer.” Noah turned his head away.

  “God always answers, Noah.” A yearning to help this angry, fatherless boy swelled deep inside Rick. “You know, a lot of us make mistakes that we wish we could undo. But that doesn’t mean God doesn’t hear our prayers.”

  “Then wh-why doesn’t He m-make things d-different?” Noah demanded.

  Rick had asked himself that same question a thousand times, mostly whenever he was reminded of his last days as a stockbroker, right after he’d made that last, greedy, too-speculative gamble and lost his clients’ money. Seniors, single parents, a fund to help the needy—they’d all put their trust in wonder broker Rick Salinger. And because he was so desperate to prove he was better than the no-account street kid he’d been, he’d skipped the due diligence and invested in a scheme that cost them everything.

  With that memory came waves of guilt. For a moment he got sucked into it. Then he shook it off, forcing himself to focus on Noah.

  “You want God to wave a magic wand and make it all better?” When Noah nodded, Rick smiled. “That would be nice, but I think G
od wants us to learn from our mistakes.”

  Noah didn’t look convinced. “How do you kn-know for sure?”

  “Because God is a loving Father who wants the best for His kids.” Rick stifled a laugh at the look on Noah’s face. Clearly the kid had no love for members of the clergy.

  “My g-grandfather is a minister, t-too,” he said after a long silence.

  Rick waited for more information but Noah just added, “I wish m-my mom would w-wake up. I’m s-starving.”

  As if in answer, an anxious voice across the aisle, two rows back, called, “Noah?”

  Rick watched Noah’s shoulders tense. He waited for the boy to answer. When he didn’t, Rick said, “He’s here. With me.” He half rose to identify himself and immediately got caught in the worry-filled stare of the loveliest brown eyes he’d ever seen.

  A woman who looked too young to be the mother of this boy stood. She passed a hand over her jeans, straightened a sweater that accentuated the golden glints in her eyes then stepped into the aisle. Her blond hair caressed her cheeks in tumbled layers of tousled curls as she raked a hand through them.

  He knew that face.

  Rick scrambled to remember where he’d seen her before but came up blank. He was positive that he knew her, though Noah’s mother didn’t seem to know him. She barely glanced at him before she hunkered down beside her son.

  “You were supposed to tell me if you were going somewhere, Noah.”

  Rick immediately understood that the harshness he heard in her voice came from the fear still lingering in her eyes. A mental image of her—younger, without the worry, carefree and happy—flashed through his head.

  Where did that come from?

  “S-sorry, Mom,” Noah muttered. He didn’t sound sorry.

  “Noah didn’t want to wake you so he moved over here. We’ve been chatting to pass the time.” He thrust out a hand. “I’m Rick Salinger.”

  Instantly a barrier went up in her cocoa-toned eyes. After several moments’ hesitation she slid her small hand into his for about half a second then immediately pulled it away.

  “Cassie Crockett,” she said with her chin thrust forward. “I’m sorry Noah bothered you.”

  “He didn’t— Just the opposite, actually. Did you know your son is a cardshark?” Rick was certain he’d never met anyone named Cassie Crockett so he couldn’t possibly know her, and yet that face…

  Rick regrouped and grinned at Noah. “He beat me in six straight games of hearts.”

  “I’ve been there.” A smile flickered at the corner of her lips. “Humbling, isn’t it?”

  “Very,” Rick agreed, wanting to see what a real smile looked like on Cassie Crockett. “But I was glad to have someone to talk to. Seventeen hours from Thompson to Churchill makes for a long ride, even if this part of northern Canada is the best of God’s creation.” He paused then asked, “Have we met before?”

  “No.” Short and succinct, her answer flew out almost before he’d finished asking the question.

  “I don’t mean to push it, but you seem very familiar to me,” he said.

  “I assure you, I have never seen you before.” She held his gaze, dark brown sparks in her eyes defiant.

  “I’m h-hungry, Mom.” Noah looked at Rick, and seemed to sense an ally. “I b-bet Pastor Rick is hungry, t-too. We want b-breakfast.”

  “Pastor?” Cassie’s voice squeaked. Her heart-shaped face paled as her eyes narrowed.

  “H-he’s a minister in C-Churchill.” Noah seemed either unaware of or unconcerned about his mother’s reaction.

  “I am.” Rick sensed that a change of subject would be helpful. “They serve a passable breakfast on board, Mrs. Crockett.” He smiled again, hoping to allay whatever fears made her tense. “I could show you the way.”

  “That’s okay,” she said, her voice colder than before. “We’re not ready yet.”

  “I’m r-ready, Mom,” Noah contradicted.

  “We have to clean up first.” Cassie’s brow furrowed as she studied her son. “Your hair needs combing.”

  “Then c-can we have breakfast with P-pastor Rick?”

  Noah’s blue eyes begged her, but Cassie seemed to be searching for an excuse not to join him, so Rick gave her an out.

  “Maybe I’ll see you there.” He grinned at Noah. “It was nice meeting you. Thanks for the card game.”

  “It was n-nice m-meeting you, too,” Noah responded. “T-thanks for telling m-me about Churchill. If we g-go to a r-restaurant, I’m g-going to order c-c-caribou.”

  “Good. But if anyone offers you muktuk, make sure it’s fresh.” Rick hid his smile and waited for the inevitable question.

  “Wh-why?”

  “Whale skin and blubber are best eaten fresh.” Rick chuckled at Noah’s dismayed look. “It’s actually not bad when you get used to it.” Then he nodded at Cassie. “Excuse me.”

  Apparently Cassie hadn’t realized she was blocking his way. Her cheeks flamed bright pink as she stepped out of the way and beckoned to Noah to follow.

  Rick tried not to hear their discussion as he waited for another passenger to move out of the aisle, but it was difficult not to eavesdrop.

  “Why d-didn’t we go with Pastor R-rick, Mom? I’m s-starving.” Noah’s stutter seemed to worsen with his temper. “I w-want to g-go n-now.”

  “Noah, behave.” Cassie sounded irritated. “We’ll go for breakfast soon, but not if you’re going to make a fuss. That is not how a Crockett behaves,” she said softly, almost too softly for Rick to hear.

  “Mrs. P-Perkins said all C-crocketts behave b-badly,” Noah muttered in a sullen tone.

  “Mrs. Perkins was wrong.” Cassie sounded desperate to shush her son.

  “Th-that’s what she said about y-you,” Noah retorted. “Sh-she said you m-made the b-b-biggest mistake of your l-life.”

  Able to finally move forward to the dining car, Rick couldn’t hear Cassie’s response. Noah’s words had raised a thousand questions in his mind—but first and foremost was this: Why, when she’d learned his profession, had she shrunk away from him as if he had the plague?

  That question was quickly followed by another: Why did her offended look bother him so much?

  In the dining car, Ned Blenkins stood waiting to take his order.

  “Nice to see you again, Preacher. Same as usual?” Ned asked with his cheery smile.

  “Yes, please.” Rick accepted a cup of coffee.

  “Won’t take a minute,” Ned promised.

  Rick carried his steaming cup to the only empty table. Though most of the other passengers had finished their meals and now lingered over coffee, no one invited him to join them. He took a seat, reminding himself that eating alone didn’t bother him. He deserved a lot worse than a solitary breakfast, he thought with a pang of fresh guilt.

  Rick had seen most of the other people in the dining car around Churchill, though not in his church. He knew each member of his small congregation personally, and he suspected they all knew about his ugly past. In a small town like Churchill there were few secrets.

  He’d been very honest in telling the hiring committee how he’d lost every dime of his own and that of every client who’d trusted him. He’d also told them how he’d found God, and of his vow to serve Him in an effort to rectify the wrongs he’d done. Though none of his parishioners had ever confronted him about it, Rick figured it was the reason why he hadn’t attracted any new parishioners. Who wanted to attend the church of a man who’d caused such harm?

  As he waited for his breakfast, Rick glanced at the paper his neighbor was reading. His heart took a nosedive when he saw the headline of a small piece in the bottom right corner—“Local couple loses bid to sue publisher for risky book on investing.”

  “Not again,” his soul cried.

  He grabbed the paper off his own table and read the entire section. The leaden weight in his stomach grew as he read about a young couple desperate to have children. They needed money for fertility procedures. Now they
were homeless because they’d mortgaged their house and sold everything they owned to invest their money after they’d read a book called Untold Riches in the Stock Market. Rick had written the book under the same pseudonym the publisher had used for six other how-to books in the same series. It was doubtful his authorship would ever be made public because Rick had signed a confidentiality agreement. But that didn’t ease any of his guilt.

  Almost five years later and there were still ramifications. Worse, he was powerless to stop it.

  He read that the court ruled that though the book offered risky—perhaps even foolhardy—advice, the advice was not illegal and the lawsuit had been dismissed.

  Oh Lord, he prayed silently. How can I ever atone for all the pain my greed has caused?

  Overwhelmed by guilt, Rick had promised God that last day at the seminary that he’d give up his most precious dream—he’d clung to it all through the years he’d scrabbled to stay alive on the streets of Toronto—the dream of having a home and a family. Those two things were all he’d ever wanted—a place to call his own, and people who loved and cared for him.

  It had cost Rick dearly to sacrifice that dream, but every time he learned of someone else who’d suffered because of him, he renewed his vow. It was his way of showing God he was worthy of His love.

  But was he?

  Defeat nagged at Rick as he thought about the eight months he’d been ministering in Churchill. By most measures, the lack of new members in his church probably meant he was a failure as a minister. But he’d promised God he’d serve where he was placed and for now, that place was Churchill. All he could do was his best until God sent him somewhere else.

  “Eggs over easy with bacon.” Ned set the loaded plate in front of him.

  “Thanks, Ned.” Rick palmed him a generous tip.

  He’d barely lifted his head from saying grace when the door burst open and Noah stalked in, followed by Cassie. She quickly realized there was no empty table and frowned. Her brown eyes narrowed as she endured curious stares.

  “Come and join me,” Rick invited, rising. Noah didn’t even glance at his mother for permission before he strode over. Cassie followed more slowly.