An Old-Fashioned Christmas Romance Collection

by DiAnn Mills

  Lord, he leaves tomorrow. I’d ask him if I could. It’s just too late for us.

  A thought struck her with force. How badly did she want David in her life? What was she willing to risk if she really loved him?

  She looked down the hill to where David petted the nose of the bay. The car had already passed by and was entering town.

  “The best dream is usually what God places within reach,” vibrated through her mind.

  Her feet suddenly took flight. She slipped and skidded down the steep slope and passed David before she was able to stop her forward motion. She limped on her left ankle and stepped back in front of him.

  “You can’t leave tomorrow,” she panted.

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Not before we settle something.”

  He stared at her, undoubtedly thinking she was acting strangely.

  “When you asked me to marry you, I had to refuse.”

  He grimaced and grasped the horse’s bridle.

  “Wait,” she cried and hurried to continue, “I had to see the world to know what I was missing. I needed to do some…growing up.”

  “And…” He looked impatient with her speech, and she almost faltered in her plan.

  “I needed time before I could see that,” she searched for the right words, “sometimes the best things God has intended for us are right within our reach.” She longed for him to understand. “David, what I’m trying to say is, if you would ever ask me again, I would now be more inclined to say ‘yes’ to your proposal.”

  He dropped his hold on the horse and took a step toward her. She placed her hands out in front of her in a defensive stance.

  “But I will understand if you say you have moved on to new avenues of your life—”

  Her words were stalled as David drew her flush against him, and with deliberate slowness, he lowered his mouth to hover above hers. Her breathing caught as she lifted her gaze to meet his dark eyes. What she saw in their depths caused her to relax against him.

  Then his lips touched her, the heat searing her wind-chapped skin. She responded to his deepening kiss with all the pent-up longings she had been trying to suppress. It was better than a homecoming; it was as natural as a sunrise.

  “Gracie my love,” he moaned as he pulled away, “I have wanted to ask you that particular question since I saw you at the train station, but…”

  “Who wants to ask the same question twice?” She supplied.

  “Yes, I guess that’s how it was.” He smiled and lightly pressed his lips to hers again.

  He turned to hand her into the sleigh.

  “But…where are we going?” She was confused. He hadn’t asked her “that” question yet.

  “Home.”

  “Home?” Her voice came out flat. Her foot felt weighted as she lifted it into the sleigh.

  “I need to talk to your father.” He climbed in beside her and smiled at her confused expression. “Yes, even before I ask ‘that’ question.”

  With one hand holding the reins and the other holding tight to Gracie’s hand, David steered the horse and sleigh through the sleepy town of Tappan, along the still pastures of the valley, and to the weathered and worn farmhouse where they would plan their future together. A future made bright by a rich heritage and the goodness of God.

  Epilogue

  Forty years later

  Grace pushed open the sliding glass door and stepped out onto the shaded deck. A cool summer breeze blew across the lake and played with her silver-edged hair. The fresh air felt good to her tired body. She had lugged boxes and scoured cupboards all day long.

  Suddenly, David was there, wrapping his arms around her from behind. “The boys and I have all the living room furniture in, but I’m sure you will want to do some rearranging.”

  “You know me too well,” she chuckled.

  David hugged her tight.

  “Who would have guessed that we would ever buy a retirement home on Tappan Lake?” she mused. “What do you think Mother and Daddy would have to say about it?” She stared across the bay to another area of waterfront homes. “We knew the family that once owned the property under this section of water, and the town is only marked by a much-visited boat launch.” She felt close to tears.

  David gently encouraged her. “They would say you have a lovely home on a beautiful lake. It’s a far cry from the old farmhouse where you grew up, my love.”

  “Yes, but does it have the charm of a house that has seen a lot of living?” Grace wanted to know.

  “It’s home, and we will make many memories with our children and grandchildren,” David insisted. “We will tell them of what used to be and teach them how to make the memories live in their own lives.”

  They watched as their two grown daughters walked out onto the dock, their auburn hair highlighted by the afternoon sun. Julie was just out of graduate school while Karen was a wife and new mother. David and Grace were proud of their beautiful daughters, just as they were of their three older sons, all husbandsand fathers.

  “God blessed our life in Michigan and now He has brought us full circle,” David told Grace as he planted a sweet kiss on her earlobe.

  About the Authors

  Award-winning author DiAnn Mills is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. DiAnn’s first book was published in 1998. She currently has more than fifty books published. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

  Multi-published author of numerous award-winning books, Loree Lough is also a frequent guest speaker who encourages other writers. She lives in Maryland with her husband of (mumble-mumble) years, where she’s determined to stay until she succeeds in prying the secret Old Bay Seasoning recipe from McCormick employees.

  Gail Gaymer Martin, multi-award–winning author, has been blessed with 52 published novels and nearly 4 million books in print. CBS local news listed Gail as one of the four best writers in the Detroit area. She is the author of Writing the Christian Romance from Writers Digest. Gail is a cofounder of American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of numerous other professional writing and speaking organizations. In her earlier professional career, Gail was a teacher of English, literature, and public speaking at the high school and university levels and still enjoys teaching workshops at conferences across the US. She lives in Detroit, Michigan, with her husband and is active in her church, especially in the music program. Visit her website at www.gailgaymermartin.com.

  Sally Laity has written both historical and contemporary novels, including a coauthored series for Tyndale House, nine Heartsong romances, and twelve Barbour novellas. She considers it a joy to know that the Lord can touch other hearts through her stories. Her favorite pastimes include quilting for her church’s Prayer Quilt Ministry and scrapbooking. She makes her home in the beautiful Tehachapi Mountains of Southern California with her husband of over fifty years and enjoys being a grandma and a great-grandma.

  JoAnn A. Grote lives on the Minnesota prairie, which is a setting for many of her stories. Once a full-time CPA, JoAnn now spends most of her time researching and writing. JoAnn has published historical nonfiction books for children and several novels with Barbour Publishing in the Heartsong Presents line as well as the American Adventure and Sisters in Time series for children. She enjoys researching and weaving her fictional characters’ lives into historical backgrounds and events. JoAnn believes that readers can receive a message of salvation and encouragement from well-crafted fiction.

  Peggy Darty is the author of 31 novels, ranging from inspirational romance to romantic suspense to mysteries. Recently widowed, she is the mother of three children and the grandmother of three little boys. Writing is her passion and she hopes to inspire readers with themes of hope, forgiveness and trust.

  Rosey Dow is a bestselling and award-winning author. Her novel, Reaping the Whirlwind, won a
2001 Christy Award for excellence in fiction. A former missionary and lifelong mystery buff, Rosey now makes her home in Delaware where she writes and speaks full-time.

  Colleen L. Reece was born and raised in a small western Washington logging town. She learned to read by kerosene lamplight and dreamed of someday writing a book. God has multiplied Colleen’s “someday” book into more than 140 titles that have sold six million copies. Colleen was twice voted Heartsong Presents’ Favorite Author and later inducted into Heartsong’s Hall of Fame. Several of her books have appeared on the CBA Bestseller list.

  Rebecca Germany works full-time as a fiction editor and has written and compiled several novellas and gift books. She lives in Ohio, where she enjoys country life.