Coming Home: (Contemporary Christian Romance Boxed Set): Three Stories of Love, Faith, Struggle & Hope

by Debra Ullrick

  “Yes,” she nodded, and then she smiled up at him. “But they’re happy tears. I never knew someone could cry from being so very happy.” The rain mixed and mingled with her tears as she stared up into Chase’s eyes. “And all the credit goes to you and God.”

  Epilogue

  “Oh, Sami, you’re the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen,” Emily said with tears in her eyes.

  Sami turned and looked at her reflection in the mirror for the first time. “I can’t believe this day is finally here.” She ran her hands along the silky fabric of her gown and smiled.

  “What a wonderful way to celebrate the first day of spring.”

  “Oh, Sami.” Her mother breezed into the room, heading straight for her daughter. “You’re beautiful.” She pulled Sami into a hug.

  “Thanks, Mom.” She gave her mother a good squeeze and stepped back.

  “Let’s get this wedding started. Why does it always take you women so long to get dressed?” Miles teased as he stepped into the room. “Wow! Is that Sami Lawson? I hardly would’ve recognized her.”

  Heat rushed up Sami’s neck and into her face.

  “Stop that, Miles.” Their mom poked him in the side. “She’s nervous enough without you teasing her.”

  Miles held up his hands in surrender and backed up a couple of steps. “I was kidding!”

  Brent stepped into the room, and he eyed Sami up and down. “How in the world are you ever going to sit in the saddle with such a big wedding gown on?”

  “Why don’t you boys go ahead and bring her horse around to the front and we’ll be right out,” their mom said, jumping into the conversation again, taking over so Sami didn’t have to.

  The wedding party rode out on horses to Sami’s Place on the ridge.

  Tears filled Sami’s eyes when she saw all the work her mother, Aunt Edna, Anna, and Emily had done to make their wedding day a very special day to remember.

  There had to be at least sixty white folding chairs lined up neatly making two separate rows. Down the center aisle, attached to each chair was a bouquet of colorful wildflowers tied together by a satin ribbon. Pastor Mitchell stood underneath an archway also covered in wildflowers.

  Her dad reached up and helped her down from her horse. “You look beautiful.” Pride and love filled his dark eyes. “I can’t believe my little girl’s getting married and is going to start a family of her very own,” he whispered as he pulled her into his arms and gave her a squeeze.

  She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “I love you, Daddy.”

  “I love you, too, baby girl.”

  Tears glistened in her father’s eyes. He took her hand and wrapped it around his arm. With his chest puffed out and his head held high, he walked her to Chase’s side, and there, settled her hand in Chase’s. “Be good to my daughter. She deserves the very best.”

  “I will, Sir. You can count on it.”

  “I know you will, or she wouldn’t be here right now.” With a wink, he turned and walked back to where her mother was seated in the front row.

  Chase looked deep into her eyes. “I promise you, I’ll do my very best to never disappoint you, and I’ll never leave your side. Sami, I will always love you from the very depths of my heart. It’s you and me forever and always, Sweetheart.”

  They exchanged their wedding vows on the ridge. As the minister said, “You may kiss the bride,” Chase lifted Sami’s veil, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her deeply, paying no attention to the whoops and hollers going on. When he ended the kiss, with his mouth a breath above hers, he whispered, “I’ll love you forever, Mrs. Samantha Townsend.”

  She sniffed. “I’ll love you forever too, Mr. Townsend.”

  Just then, Sami heard her father whisper, “Well, what do you know, I was wrong. Cowgirls do cry.”

  Also Available from Debra Lynn Collins

  A Marriage of Convenience

  by Debra Lynn Collins

  Chapter One

  Isn’t it strange how someone’s death can bring all sorts of strangers out of the woodwork like termites from an exterminated home?

  Lily Meyers wondered who these other three women and two men were as they waited together in Attorney Charles Hopper’s conference room for the reading of Martin Chapman’s will. Not one of these people looked familiar to her. One thing she was certain of, during the past three years while she’d lived on the ranch taking care of Martin, not one of them had ever visited.

  The group huddled together on the other side of the long mahogany table, whispering and chatting among themselves. They sounded like chipmunks arguing over a nut. Each one of them had a sour expression on their face, and they were as cold to her as the artificial tree tucked in the corner. They took turns pointing and glancing down the table at Lily. They weren’t even trying to hide the fact that she was the topic of their conversation, and with raised eyebrows, they made it obvious they wondered who she was, too.

  She definitely didn’t fit in with this crowd. These people were money. They were three-piece suits and Armani while she was Wrangler jeans, boots, and plaid. In fact, she felt more out of place than a colorful hummingbird in a flock of black crows.

  All five of them were dripping in jewelry and not one of them had a hair out of place. She guessed they were the type of people who had weekly standing appointments at a hair salon.

  She overheard one of the women whisper loudly, “She looks like she just stepped out of an episode of…” she tapped her well-manicured nail on her temple. “What’s the name of that show?”

  “The Beverly Hillbillies,” one of the men replied with mocking derision.

  “Ellie Mae,” a couple of them said simultaneously.

  Laughter thundered around the room. It was so loud it vibrated Lily’s eardrums, making them ring.

  Now, Lily wished she hadn’t pulled her long brown hair back in a ponytail. Compared to these people, she was as frumpy as she could be.

  They were all quite a bit older than she was. She guessed they were probably in their late fifties or early sixties. Around these parts most people of their age were usually friendly and would greet you with a smile and a, How are you today? But not these people. She feared their faces might crack if they smiled.

  Shifting uneasily in her chair, Lily began to look around the room to try to avoid their icy stares. The room was as dreary as a rainy and cold December day. The carpet was a deep brown that perfectly matched the table. Three different abstract paintings hung on one of the beige walls. None of them was particularly interesting, but all had probably cost more than what she’d made in the last year.

  The four large windows on the outer wall were from ceiling to floor but were covered with dark shades preventing the sun from streaming in. If it hadn’t been for the fear of bringing even more attention from the others, she would have asked Mr. Hopper to open at least one of the shades to brighten up this dreary room. Anything would be an improvement at this point. Nevertheless, one thing she was thankful for was the four empty leather chairs on the other side of the table. Being trapped in this room with these five people was enough for her.

  She glanced up at Mr. Hopper who was sitting at the head of the table for some kind of moral support or at least a friendly face. His glasses were perched on the end of his long, straight nose as he read over some papers. Deep in thought, it was as if he were the only person in the room.

  “How much longer are we going to have to wait?” The woman with the long red fingernails impatiently tapped her nails on the table. “I have dinner guests coming at six tonight. Can’t you hurry this along?”

  Mr. Hopper looked at his watch. “I’m sorry, but I can’t begin until everyone is here.”

  “Meg, you know we’re waiting on Bryce. He should be here any moment,” the woman with the triple-strand pearl necklace replied as she wound one strand around her finger.

  “Are you sure he’s even coming, Sherry Ann?” Meg, the woman with the red fingernails, asked.

&n
bsp; The door opened, and every person in the room twisted in their chairs and looked over at it.

  “See I told you he’d be here. I know my son.” Sherry Ann childishly stuck out her tongue at Meg.

  Oh no, not another one. Lily breathed out slowly, trying to settle her frayed nerves. The knot in her stomach pulled tighter at the thought of another one like them showing up.

  The man slowly reached up, pulled off his sunglasses, and slipped them into the v of his shirt.

  His blue eyes sparkled like early morning dew in the sunlight. His sandy-brown hair bounced when he turned his head. This man appeared to be no stranger to the gym, from the way his biceps bulged beneath his white polo shirt. She was certain he turned heads when he walked down the street. A funny feeling thumped into the pit of her stomach.

  Lily hadn’t realized she’d been staring at Bryce until he looked her way. He smiled and gave her a quick nod. She diverted her eyes as heat rose into her cheeks.

  “Well it’s about time,” Meg huffed. She leaned forward in her chair, shaking a finger.

  “Hello to you, too, Aunt Meg.” The man flashed the woman a crooked, impish smile.

  “Do you know how long we’ve been waiting on you?” Meg’s top lip curled up like a mare that had just smelled a foul odor as she glared at him.

  “Sorry you had to be kept waiting. I know how you hate that.” He bumped up his brows, making her irritation grow worse.

  “Humph.” She swirled her chair back around and crossed her skinny bird legs.

  Mr. Hopper stood to greet the newcomer and extended his hand. “You must be Bryce Fowler?”

  “Yes, Sir. Sorry I’m late.” He walked over and shook Mr. Hopper’s hand. Then he strode over, and dropped down into the seat next to Sherry Ann.

  “Why can’t you ever be on time, Bryce?” Sherry Ann whispered.

  “Sorry, Mom, my flight was delayed,” he said and then leaned over his mother and spoke to the man next to her. “Hello, Dad.”

  The man’s father scoffed and mumbled something under his breath.

  “Can we please get this over with? I’m bored with all this waiting, and this Alabama heat is playing havoc on my hair.” Meg bumped up her overly bleached-blonde hair with one hand.

  “Well, all I can say is, if we inherit the old man’s place, I’m putting it on the market as soon as possible. You couldn’t pay me enough to live in Al-lua-bam-mur.” Bryce’s father sneered as he chuckled deep in his throat.

  The others laughed at his pitiful attempt of trying to imitate a southern accent.

  Lily wrapped her sweaty fingers tightly around the arms of her chair and pinched her eyes shut. Lord, give me strength to endure these dreadful people.

  “Come on, Dad, that’s enough.” Bryce frowned.

  Bryce glanced over at Lily, and for a fleeing moment, she thought she saw an apologetic smile sweep across his face. Shaking her head almost without moving it, she knew she had to be imagining things.

  Sherry Ann elbowed her husband and giggled under her breath. “Now, Russell, behave yourself. We’re supposed to be serious after all, but that was funny.”

  The hair on the back of Lily’s neck prickled. She swallowed the bitter-tasting anger rising up in the back of her throat.

  Lord, who are these insufferable people? They were too young to be Martin’s siblings. Were they his nieces and nephews? He’d never mention having any living relatives.

  From the front of the room, Mr. Hopper loudly cleared his throat. “Now that everyone’s here, we can get started on why all of you were summoned here today. Typically this kind of thing is handled in the Probate Court, but at Martin’s request, it’s going to be carried out exactly how he wanted it.”

  Lily’s heart ached at the mention of Martin’s name. The reading of his will made it all too real that he was gone.

  She smiled when she recalled the first time they’d met. She’d come to his rescue after he’d fallen in the local market’s parking lot and broken his hip. Soon he’d hired her on as his caregiver, but it didn’t take long before he took on the role of a father to her and a grandfather to her son. Over the last three years, he had become her family regardless if they shared the same blood or not.

  “Now, that Bryce has finally made it. Can we get started?” The man in the tweed jacket lifted his hand in the air and snapped his fingers.

  The woman seated next to him, shook her head in irritation, and nudged him with her elbow. “Sid, be quiet. After all, this man was your father. Can’t you show just a little respect?”

  Father? Lily’s breath jerked in her throat. These people were Martin’s children!

  She took a quick look around the room. Not only had these people never visited Martin in the past three years but not one of them had even attended his funeral a week earlier, nor did they seem upset by the fact Martin had passed away.

  “Respect? That’s a laugh.” Meg snorted and narrowed her eyes at the woman next to Sid. “He’s not going to get an ounce of respect from me, I can assure you of that.”

  Sid lifted his hand in the air. “I second that. Can I get a third?”

  Lily’s blood turned to ice in her veins as the group all laughed. She shot Mr. Hopper a glance in hopes he would intervene and put a stop to this.

  As if he could read her mind, Mr. Hopper pushed his chair away from the table and stood. “Silence, please.” He said as his voice climbed an octave.

  “Okay, okay. Let’s all settle down so Father’s attorney can wrap this up as soon as possible. I know we’re all ready to head back to New York and leave this place behind us. So, go ahead, please continue, Mr. Hopper.” Sid leaned back in his chair and folded his arms over his chest. “You have our full attention.”

  Mr. Hopper took his seat again. “Martin was a man who had his own way of doing things, and he certainly didn’t like to do things in a traditional manner.” He flipped open a folder and pulled out a DVD. “This is Martin’s own version of his will, and he’ll be reading it himself through video.”

  “He always did have to have the last word,” Sid grunted and snarled his nose in disgust.

  Mr. Hopper cleared his throat once again and ignored Sid’s remark. He twisted his chair around to the cart that held a TV, which was directly behind him. He pulled the remote from his shirt pocket, switched on the TV, and then slid the DVD in the player.

  Tears burned in Lily’s eyes when Martin’s sweet face filled the TV screen. It was amazing the love she had for him. It was hard to imagine not ever seeing him again rolling around in his wheelchair or hearing him whistling a tune. Grief tugged at her heart, but she quickly blinked away the tears.

  “Well, I guess if you’re watching this, it means I’m no longer living in this world, and I’ve moved on to the next.” Martin lifted one brow and grinned. “I wonder, how many of you will miss me?”

  Lily refused to turn her focus to any of the people on the other side of the table because she feared all she would see would be stone-cold expressions.

  “I have appointed my legal counsel and dear friend, Charles Hopper, executor of my estate, and he’s already taken care of all the legal jargon. All the papers have already been drawn, signed, and filed. Therefore, everything you hear today is legal and binding, but I wanted to tell each one of my children myself, exactly what I’m leaving to each of you. I guess you could say, I’m going out with a bang.”

  Meg huffed, leaned back in her chair, and mumbled something under her breath that Lily couldn’t quite make out.

  “But, first things first.” He picked up his pipe and lighter, and with trembling hands set fire to the tobacco. He pulled in a couple of puffs. Within seconds, a swirl of smoke surrounded his graying, partially bald head. Even though his face was heavily lined with wrinkles, his blue eyes still were as bright as a young man’s.

  Lily closed her eyes and could almost smell the familiar aroma of Captain Black tobacco.

  “I guess by now you’re all wondering who the cute little brunett
e cowgirl is. Well, everyone I’d like to introduce you to Lily Meyers.”

  Lily squirmed in her chair when everyone’s attention turned to her. The old cliché “if looks could kill” came to mind.

  Martin continued, “I took a nasty fall about three years ago and broke my hip. Lily’s been the one who has taken care of me all this time. I certainly don’t know what I’d have done without her either, especially when I had my stroke last year.” He paused and patted the arms on his wheelchair. “That’s what put me in this thing. Lily has made an old man’s life a little brighter just by knowing her. When I could no longer manage the ranch, she stepped up to the plate. She’s been my ranch supervisor for the last two and a half years. My place would have fallen apart had it not been for her.” He laid his pipe in the ashtray and smiled. “I just thought all of you needed to see what a pure and loving heart really looks like. It’s embodied in her.”

  “Ah, now I’m beginning to see.” Sid’s voice made Lily’s skin crawl with the hate and condescension it held.

  “So Father had a playmate, huh?” An evil smirk curled Meg’s lips as she made a clicking sound with her tongue.

  “You know, Meg, I think you’re right.” Russell grinned, and then winked at Lily.

  Lily’s breath hitched in her throat at their insinuations. She opened her mouth to speak in her defense but quickly closed it. She didn’t owe any of these people an explanation. If they had been in their father’s life, they would’ve known the relationship between her and Martin was like a father and his daughter.

  Martin had always been so kind to her and her five-year-old son, Joey. It was hard for her to believe these selfish, cruel people were even his children.

  She decided to let them think what they wanted. So what if they believed Martin had a girlfriend young enough to be his granddaughter? He deserved to have had someone in his life to love him like that. A sly grin tickled the corner of Lily’s lips. She liked the idea of irritating these awful people.