by Caryl McAdoo
Her heart was so full, she couldn't imagine ever being more blessed than at that moment! What a most wonderful day!
Wonders of wonder! Corbin could hardly believe how God had blessed him! He squeezed Liberty's hand then kissed her again. “I love you so much, Mis'ess Harrell.”
“I love you too, Mister Harrell.”
Laud pronounced the bird ready, and everyone gathered around the new table, suddenly laden with all but the meat and pots still warming over the coals. The men brought them over one by one, placing the turkey in front of Corbin, sitting at the table's head with his new wife to his right. Seve sat at the other end, smiling as big as he'd ever seen.
“Real quick before the Reverend blesses our food, let's hold hands all together and count off, and after we've counted, share what we're thankful for around this grand Thanksgiving table filled with the blessings of God!”
The little boys groaned then Aaron spoke up. “One! I'm thankful for all this food!”
“Two! Me, too.” Rich chimed in.
Around the circle they all offered thanksgiving and acknowledged God's provision. Safe journeys. Texas. Bounty. Friends. Headrights. It got around to Alicia sitting next to Flynn, and she looked at her husband who nodded. “Eighteen, and I'm thankful for the new life growing inside me.”
Grandmas—to—be Liberty and Mallory squealed in unison.
“Nineteen. I'm thankful God gave me this woman for my wife.”
On around the table the thanksgiving continued. Isabel thanked God and Pap for her freedom. Gabrielle, for new friends, shooting a demure glance toward Mister Baldwin. Liberty gave her thanks for new beginnings, and it came Corbin's turn.
“Twenty-six. And I'm thankful that God wrote my name in His Book of Life this year.”
Amens traveled around the circle.
George prayed over the food, and twenty-six souls sat down at the table to enjoy a very special celebration dinner.
What a day indeed!
Could the Lord have blessed him any more?
How his life had changed that year!
Glancing around at all the people—his new friends and family—he lifted his eyes toward the rafters. “How could '41 ever be better than this, Father?”
I have a real treat for you, Readers!
Here’s a sneak Preview of
Susette Williams’s
Gateway to the West
the next story in the
Thanksgiving Books & Blessings Collection!
For your reading pleasure . . .
Chapter One
Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
Independence, Missouri — June 1, 1840
H aley Hunter’s jutted jaw and cute upturned nose exuded a sense of confidence and determination. Yet the pleading look in her eyes hinted at an underlying vulnerability. She planted her fists firmly on her hips, her reticule dangling from the drawstrings clasped within her grip. “Well, do you or don’t you need a cook?”
“I do.” Malcom Wheeler recalled saying those words a long time ago, and he hadn’t been there, not when she needed him. It was a mistake he would never make again.
“Then it’s set.” Haley smiled.
“Wait, no.” Malcom shook his head vehemently. “You can’t do that. I wasn’t finished speaking.”
“Well, it appears you are now.” She picked up a green floral valise, clasping it firmly in her hands. “Show me the way.”
Malcom gritted his teeth. The cook he originally hired for the job had backed out. He wanted to find another man for the job. Heck, he was willing to do it himself if he had the time and forethought to planning meals. His job was to lead the wagon train and get everyone to their destination in one piece, with their scalps intact.
“It ain’t safe for a woman.” His jaw clenched. He could be as stubborn and unmoving as she was—even more.
Her eyebrow arched. “Then why are you taking women with you on the wagon train?”
“Because they’re married.” And from what he could tell, she wasn’t. She’d be a distraction to several of the other single men, and he needed everyone to have their wits about them.
“I am… I was…” Her mouth clamped shut, giving him a moment of peace and satisfaction. It only seemed to fuel her determination. “So, if something happens to one of the men during the trip, you just toss their wife by the wayside?” Haley asked. “Perhaps leave them for the Indians?”
“No.” Haley infuriated him more than fur flying in a cat fight. “It’s my job to protect the members of my wagon train, and I take my job very seriously.”
“Perhaps you think it best if I tried to make it on my own, without the protection of a larger group?” Her attempt at pious indignation wrenched his gut.
“Why is it so important to you that you insist on going?”
“I have to find my brother and his family.” Haley wiped her left eye. “Now that I am a widow and alone in a strange land, I need to go be with what family I have left here.”
Crying didn’t work on him, or at least not any more. But he was concerned about her safety. A woman alone could be in just as much danger in a town like this as she would be on the trail. “What about your parents?”
“They are in Britain.” Her voice quivered. “We said our goodbyes when we came to this country, knowing full well we might not see them again. My brother and I had hoped to make our way here with our families and then send for our parents.”
Malcom wasn’t happy. Not one bit. He grunted in frustration, knowing full well everyone from the wagon train was lined up and ready to leave. His every move was on display. While the cook he had lined up to cook for his crew and some of the single men had backed out, he questioned his own sanity at allowing a woman with no family to join the wagon train.
Tiny Tim, who wasn’t the least bit tiny, had a habit of burning food on the campfire. One would think a man that size could cook. His talents apparently lay more in consuming vittles than preparing them. What choice did Malcom really have? And that infuriated him even more. “Come with me.”
He led Haley to the Van Der Heims’ wagon and introduced her to the middle-aged couple, Martha and Jonathan. “I don’t know if the two of you would mind allowing Miss Hunter to ride with you in your wagon. It would be greatly appreciated.”
“We would be happy to have you, Miss Hunter.” Martha’s eyes brightened. “Jonathan is the love of my life, but not the talkative type.”
“Not that you give me a chance to get a word in edgewise.” Jonathan gave his wife a sideways glance and winked. “Now I’ll have two chatterboxes to keep me company on the long journey.”
“Does this mean I am hired?” Haley looked at him with questioning eyes. “If so, I have my own wagon.” She flashed an apologetic glance at the Van Der Heims.
Nick took his hat off and ran his hand through his hair before replacing it. He wanted to shout or throw his hands and his hat up in the air in frustration. “Pray tell, who is going to drive this wagon for you?”
He knew the answer before she even spoke. That defiant chin raised. “I’m quite capable.”
“Of course, you are.” His tone was sarcastic, not meant to encourage her, but none-the-less, she smiled. “Bring your wagon up alongside the Van Der Heims’ and then when we pull out in ten minutes you can pull in front of them.” Malcom focused his attention on Jonathan. “I hope you won’t mind keeping an eye on Miss Hunter? It would certainly put my mind to rest.”
Malcom caught a glimpse of Haley still standing there. “Yes?”
“I’m sorry.” She laughed nervously. “It will take me a little time to get my wagon hitched. Do you think you could send someone to help me?”
He stood there, dropped jaw, staring at her. “Are you serious?”
She nodded like an innocent deer, unaware it was about to become another animal’s prey.
Grabbing Haley’s arm firmly at her elbow, he excused himself and lead her toward the back of
the wagon before realizing he had no idea where her wagon even was.
He noticed Colby Jackson riding in their direction. Colby had a habit of making his acquaintance with everyone before they left on the trail. Malcom knew it was so he could scout out the most eligible fillies in the group, not that the yuck buck was ready to settle down.
“Colby.” Malcom motioned for him to head their way.
It didn’t take two seconds for Colby’s gaze to dart toward Malcom’s companion. Haley was a beautiful woman and he knew he’d be protecting her honor as well as her life bringing her on this journey. Instead of having Colby help Haley get her horse and wagon hitched, he’d do it himself.
Colby brought his horse to a stop five feet in front of them. He tipped his hat at Haley. “Howdy, ma’am.”
She smiled and greeted him in turn.
“Since you’re already making your rounds,” Malcom’s tone was curt, “I need you to make sure everyone has everything they need before we leave. I have to help Miss Hunter get her wagon hitched so we can get on the trail.”
“Yes, sir.” Colby winked and tipped his hat again to Haley. “Pleasure meeting you, Miss Hunter.”
“Likewise.” While polite, Haley didn’t appear the least bit starry-eyed over Colby. Which undoubtedly took the young stud’s ego down a notch. All the girls swooned over him like he was the last piece of dessert and they couldn’t wait to devour him. It was refreshing to see a woman who didn’t fall for his charm.
“Come along.” Malcom loosened his grip on her elbow but held it firm enough to still urge her to continue moving. “Where did you say your wagon and horses were?”
“The stable.”
He nodded and headed there with her in tow.
“You’re going to learn to do this yourself,” Malcom said. “I can’t guarantee there will always be someone available to help you and you need to be able to pull your own weight on the trail.”
“I’m a quick learner,” Haley said. “Just teach me what to do.”
Malcom showed her how to put on the horse’s harness and had her do the other one. Then he led one of the horses in front of the wagon while she repeated his steps with the second horse. He taught her how to back it up and connect the center shaft to the pole strap of their harness. Then he collected the reins and tossed them onto the driver’s seat of the wagon.
“Let me help you in the wagon.”
“Thank you.” Haley retrieved her reticule and valise from where she’d laid them on the ground while they worked. She placed the valise on the floorboard of the wagon and set her reticule on the seat.
He placed a hand on either side of her waist. His face warmed as his chest constricted. Sara was the last woman he’d ever touched so intimately. Memories of her touch, or the feel of her lips against his had been fading. Haley reignited the sensation he’d once felt.
Malcom didn’t deserve happiness. He shouldn’t even be alive. He should have died protecting his family—but he didn’t. He wasn’t even there to look out for them when they needed him most. His throat went dry. He tried to swallow in order to moisten his mouth. Looking out for Haley would be a form of penance to make up for his past.
Without a second thought, he hopped up into the wagon beside Haley.
All the Stories of the
Thanksgiving Books & Blessings Collection
(beginning with earliest time setting)
GONE TO TEXAS by Caryl McAdoo, full length
GATEWAY TO THE WEST by Susette Williams, novella
TRAIL TO CLEAR CREEK by Kit Morgan, full length
HEART AND HOME by P. Creeden, novella
NO TURNING BACK by Lynette Sowell, novella
DAUGHTER OF DEFIANCE by Heather Blanton, novella
NUGGET NATE: MOYA’S THANKSGIVING PROPOSAL
by George McVey, novella
UNMISTAKABLY YOURS by Kristin Holt, full length
ESTHER’S TEMPTATION by Lena Nelson Dooley full length
Please enjoy reading what you’ll find in each story!
Gone to Texas
Deception drives seventeen souls to hard choices. Either stay on the land they thought they’d bought or heed the lure of free land in the faraway wilderness of a new Republic. Rife with peril and hardship, three families knit together by blood and friendship head out with a widowed man, daughter, and his slave, gambling everything they own on the prospect of land ownership and working it together. Does friendship pave a way to marriage? Can puppy-love survive through a harrowing journey to blossom into a forever lover? With duress at every turn, can the clan stay together all the way to Texas and accomplish their goals?
Gateway to the West
Coming to America was supposed to be a new adventure for Hayley Hunter and her husband, a chance for a fresh start in a new country. She never dreamed her journey would land her alone in a strange place with nobody she knew. Malcom Wheeler knows the hardships and heartbreak families face, but there’s usually safety in numbers, so he runs his own wagon train to try and help people determined to head out west. Taking the lady along rubs his better judgement; understanding her plight and being happy about it are two different things. Can Malcom help Hayley find comfort by restoring a part of her past when he finds her family’s journal? Is there hope for both of them to find a family of their own?
Trail to Clear Creek
Honoria Sayer’s husband dreamed of leaving England, going to America, and starting a cattle ranch. Unfortunately, he dies in the middle of seeing his dream fulfilled. This leaves his wife and three sons in a bit of a pickle. Honoria, being a resourceful woman, is determined to see her late husband’s dream fulfilled. Too bad she can’t journey with the wagon train her late husband had signed up with without being married. Rules are rules. Enter Jefferson Cooke, a recent widower with two sons in somewhat of the same bind. She needs a husband. He wants a wife. So the two strike a bargain and marry. But can two shattered hearts find love along the way to a new land? With five sons between them, can they ever become a family when they get there?
Heart and Home
When Caroline moves from her hometown to a small mining town in the Montana Territory; two things convince her to go—her husband and the children there who need a teacher. But when her husband dies in an accident, only the children keep her in Helena. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, Caroline misses having her family and friends to connect with, but she still has the children who need her. And then when the mayor hires an out-of-work miner to repair the schoolhouse, Caroline wonders if she can help fulfill the needs of others in the spirit of the season.
No Turning Back
Elizabeth “Lizzie” Westford is a determined young widow trying to manage her late husband’s Texas cattle ranch after he is killed by a bull. Then, an old boyhood friend of her husband arrives. Buford “Buck” Hannigan has always considered himself a wandering soul, with the call of the open wild more attractive than the idea of staying tied down. But the heart of the itinerant former gambler-turned-cowboy--and sometimes preacher--feels a tugging toward Lizzie that neither can deny and steps up to help the widow. After a quick wedding to prevent talk of impropriety, he learns one of Lizzie’s secrets, and the open road calls to him once again.
Daughter of Defiance
One betrayal after another had led Victoria down a dark path. And when you hit rock bottom, you have a choice: look up for help or live in the darkness. She chose the dark and became the most debauched madame in the West. She wore her reputation proudly like a mink stole--calculating, brutal, bitter, and vengeful. Then the opportunity presented itself to take revenge on an old lover. Inadvertently, her choice results in the death of dozens of innocent men—including the preacher who loved her. He’d told her of a savior, of unconditional love, of redemption, but how can Victoria accept grace now? The weight of her sins threatens to crush her heart, extinguish her hope. Is there anything or anyone who can convince her forgiveness is only a breath away?
Nugget Nate
&
nbsp; In this follow up to the first short story in my Nugget Nate: The Holiday adventures. Nugget Nate and Penny Ryder have made a vow to help the Young Widow Moya Campbell find a new husband to help her run the farm she sharecrops for Nate. It's been a year since The Ryder's were last at the Farm on Ryder Mountain and now they are returning to find check on Moya and fulfill their vow to help her find a husband. Usually the problem with a widow with 3 small children is finding a man willing to take on all that entails. However, that isn't Moya's problem, she has the opposite problem too many suitors. Three eligible men have made it plain they each want to marry her. But her heart wants another.
Unmistakably Yours
One prize. Two contestants. Three Thanksgiving Miracles.
Expanding Hank Murphy’s grocery emporium into the adjacent storefront should be easy. Yet his clueless neighbor, Miss Jane Vinton, intends to enlarge her silly Tea Room into the not-so-vacant premises. Negotiations should be simple, but the landlord delights in pitting Hank and Jane against one another, and foolishly involves the community—and the annual Harvest Celebration—in the business decision. Matchmakers hope to unite the incompatible Hank and Jane.
Discovering a solution… Warding off misguided matchmakers…Uniting two hearts ravaged by the past...… Will take a Thanksgiving miracle!
Esther’s Temptation
Saddle weary, former US Marshal Jac Andrews rides into Denton, Texas and can almost smell his prey. He’d hunted a swindler and his daughter— identical twin daughters if Jac is right—and he feels he finally has caught up with this criminal gang. He is immediately distracted by the lovely redhead, Esther Brians. Feeling like an old maid surrounded by happy couples, Esther is drawn to the intense blue-eyed gaze of an unknown cowboy. But several things cause her to become wary of his intentions—and his spiritual well-being. Has this unsaved lawman captured Esther’s heart or will the Lord deliver her from the temptation of Jac’s presence? What will it take for Jac to win this lovely lady and become her husband?
