And all the clan was there. The four brothers, their children, the cousins. As Jake said grace, he counted each of them as a blessing.
When he sat down, Griff called for everyone’s attention. “Seems we’ve got even more to be thankful for,” he said, smiling at his wife, who was seated next to him. “Camille’s tests all came back benign.” He bent to kiss her as the family cheered.
Across from him, Harry hugged Melissa. He knew how worried she’d been about her mother. Then he asked Jake and everyone seated at the table, “I know y’all can’t wait to eat, but would you mind if I said something, too?”
Jake spoke for the family. “Of course not, Harry. Go ahead.”
He stood up. “Well, you know this is my fourth year as a guest at your Thanksgiving table, but I want to tell you that I won’t be coming as a guest anymore.” He paused for a moment before he added, “Next time I’ll be coming as a member of the famous Randall family.” He smiled down at Melissa. “Melissa has agreed to marry me. The wedding is Sunday and you’re all invited.”
Dinner forgotten, everyone rushed to congratulate Harry and Melissa. All the women offered to help Camille with the reception. Then Jake said, “But I thought Melissa was going back to France.”
“Only to pack up,” Harry explained. “And I’ll be going with her, for our honeymoon. We’ll be back before Christmas, so if you have any shopping requests, let Melissa know.”
“I’m opening my own jewelery design business based right here in Rawhide,” she told everyone. “But I’ll appreciate it if you’ll all pitch in and make Harry feel at home when I have to be out of town.”
There were a lot more questions, but Red and Mildred insisted everyone start eating before the food got cold.
As Harry feasted on the holiday spread, he looked around the table at the family he’d acquired overnight. The Randalls could be overwhelming, meddling, matchmaking, but no one could argue about how they loved each other. They were so different from his own family. He couldn’t have given his future children a better gift than making them a part of this clan.
Harry wondered then if he should bite the bullet and get in touch with his parents and sister, to tell them about the wedding. He hadn’t spoken to any of them in years. But somehow sitting there with all the Randalls, Harry knew he would. His parents could never be like Griff and Camille, but he’d have to accept whatever it was they could offer. Even for just a day. After all, as Melissa had said, he was only getting married once.
Melissa shook his arm, drawing him out of his deep thoughts. “Harry, did you hear all the wedding presents everyone wants to give us?” She listed the items.
“They can’t give us all that,” he whispered to her.
“Why not, Harry? That’s the way we Randalls do things. You’d better get used to it.”
“Give him time,” Griff said from across the table. “He’ll come ’round.”
Then Jake offered to pay for the trip to Paris, and Harry couldn’t rein in a protest. “I’m supposed to pay for the honeymoon. I know that much at least.”
Jake just grinned at him.
Melissa put a comforting hand on his. “I can’t tell Uncle Jake what to do. Can you?”
“N-no,” he stammered. “But your dad will tell him.”
Melissa just laughed at him. “Don’t worry, Harry. They won’t pay our bills after we’re married. That’ll be your job.” She kissed him and everyone hooted.
When he pulled her close and deepened the kiss, Griff teased, “There they go again. Kissing in front of everyone.” But he couldn’t be happier.
Melissa smiled at her husband-to-be. “We’re going to have a lovely life together, Harry. I love you so much.”
“I love you, too. And I promise—right here in front of everyone—that I’ll do whatever it takes to make you happy.”
“It just takes being yourself. You’re the perfect man for me.”
Harry’s gaze scanned all the Randalls, his new family, then lit on his future wife. He wrapped his arm around her. “We’ve got a lot to be to be thankful for.”
ISBN: 978-1-4268-5882-6
A RANDALL THANKSGIVING
Copyright © 2006 by Judy Christenberry.
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario M3B 3K9, Canada.
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
® and TM are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.
www.eHarlequin.com
†Tots for Texans
†Tots for Texans
†Tots for Texans
*Brides for Brothers
*Brides for Brothers
*Brides for Brothers
*Brides for Brothers
†Tots for Texans
*Brides for Brothers
**Children of Texas
**Children of Texas
**Children of Texas
**Children of Texas
**Children of Texas
A Randall Thanksgiving Page 18
