Gift of Faith

by Shanna Hatfield

  “I’m so sorry everyone had to go through the grief of thinking I was dead. According to the medics, I wasn’t far from it, but I guess I inherited Gramps’ stubborn will to live.”

  “I think you might have gotten some of that from your dad, too.”

  Marc nodded. “Probably. Gramps said after that telegram came, he started writing letters and calling anyone who would listen, trying to find out what really happened to me. Turns out there was a private named Marcus Rawlings who was also serving on Guadalcanal. Poor guy passed away the same day I was injured. Whoever sent the telegrams got them mixed up. When Gramps found out where I was, he called the hospital and kept pestering them until they agreed to release me into a doctor’s care. That’s when Gramps convinced Nik to come along on the adventure. Let me tell you, traveling by train in a wheelchair during the holidays with a war going on is not for the fainthearted, but we made it.”

  “And I couldn’t be happier that you did.” Amy stretched up and kissed his cheek before resting her head on his shoulder again. He shifted, slipping his arm around her, needing to hold her closer.

  “Honestly, Amy, you’ve been incredible. Not just believing that I was still alive and encouraging Gramps to keep searching for me, but for your letters. They gave hope and humor to everyone who heard the stories you shared and they reminded us of what we were fighting for back home.” He grinned at her. “Did you really mean what you wrote about my eyes?”

  “Yes,” she said, sounding shy and uncertain. “You have the most magnificent eyes I’ve ever seen, Marc. I’ve always been fascinated with them, even when we were little.”

  “I didn’t realize you even knew I existed until I came back from my police training,” he said, cuddling her closer. The movement made his chest hurt, but for the moment, he didn’t care.

  “Of course I knew you existed. You were always good-looking and fun, even if I thought you were far too young to be of any significance to me. Then when you came back and joined the police force, I realized you’d grown up.” With light fingers, she traced the contours of his jaw and trailed them down his neck, causing him to fight back a delicious shiver. “I still can’t quite believe a handsome Marine like you wants anything to do with a small-town girl like me.”

  “Amy, you’re the sweetest, kindest, funniest, most wonderful girl I’ve ever met. It’s a grand honor to be loved by you. Do you think I really wanted a cup of cider when I came to the bakery last year?”

  “Well, I assumed so.” Amy stared at him.

  “I came because I wanted to see you. You’re so gosh-darn pretty, I lost my nerve about asking you out that day. It took until after Christmas to work it up again.”

  “Oh, Marc.” Amy snuggled closer against him. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

  Marc tilted his head and listened to the radio one of the boys had left playing across the room. “Hear that?” he asked.

  Once again, Bing Crosby sang about a white Christmas, like the ones he used to know.

  “So many of the fellas get teary-eyed when they hear that song, thinking of home,” Marc said, recalling how it made him feel that day in the hospital when he heard it. “All I could think about each time it played was getting home to you, back to the life I want us to build together.”

  “Oh, Marc.” Amy drew in a ragged breath before she turned her face and looked at him. “I can’t wait to get started on our forever, together.”

  Marc kissed her softly, then smiled against her lips. “Remember that rundown old house I showed you before I shipped out?”

  “Yes, the old Johnson place. It’s going to take a lot of work to make it into a home.”

  “Are you up for the task? Because I bought it back in May before I ever left.”

  “What!” she exclaimed then dropped her voice to a whisper. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me before now, Marc Rawlings! All this time I’ve been walking over there, dreaming about what it could look like if we put some effort into it.”

  “Keep on dreaming, beautiful girl, because we’re going to turn it into a happy home full of love.”

  “I can’t wait, Marc. I can’t wait.” Amy kissed him then, a kiss filled with yearning and passion, hope and promises. Before he could do something that would get him in trouble with Nik, a floorboard creaked and giggles floated into the room from the doorway.

  “They’re at it again,” a childish voice proclaimed from behind him.

  “He’s gonna suck her lips right off her face. Ewww!” a second voice chimed in followed by another round of giggles.

  Their laughter caused the dog to woof as he looked up with sleepy eyes at Rory and Rogan.

  Marc narrowed his gaze and looked in the direction of his twin brothers. “Go to bed, you two little rascals, or Santa is definitely going to fly right on by.”

  They giggled once more then raced down the hallway to their room, the sound of their footsteps echoing back to Marc, making him smile.

  “Dad will be in here in a minute, so I’ll talk fast, Amy. You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me and I plan to spend the rest of my life showing you just how special you are to me. I love you so much.” Marc snuggled her close. “Merry Christmas, beautiful Bella.”

  “Merry Christmas,” Amy whispered, her lips claiming his in a kiss that assured him of their life together. Soon, they’d begin their future, one built on a foundation of hope, faith, and lasting love.

  Recipe

  Although this modern version of the cookie isn’t exactly what Caterina might have made, they are delicious!

  Amaretti

  2 ¼ cups almond flour

  1 cup granulated sugar

  pinch of salt

  2 large egg whites

  ¼ teaspoon lemon juice

  ½ teaspoon almond extract

  Confectioners’ sugar

  Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

  Stack two heavyweight cookie sheets together, one inside the other, to keep the cookies from getting too brown on the bottom. Line the top sheet with parchment paper.

  In a large bowl, whisk together almond flour, sugar and salt until well blended. Set aside.

  In a mixing bowl beat egg whites and lemon juice until they hold soft peaks.

  Add beaten egg whites and almond extract to dry ingredients. Blend together until the mixture forms a soft, sticky dough. If necessary, knead with your hands to incorporate.

  Lightly dust your hands with powdered sugar. Use a small cookie scoop to portion dough into 1-inch balls. Form into a smooth ball by rolling dough between palms, then dip in powdered sugar. Arrange on parchment-lined baking sheets, leaving an inch of space between cookies.

  Bake approximately 30 minutes until tops are cracked and bottoms are just barely golden. Remove from oven and let cool a few minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely. Dust with additional confectioners’ sugar, if desired.

  Store cookies for up to five days at room temperature in an airtight bag or container.

  Author’s Note

  Thank you for coming along on another Gifts of Christmas adventure with Gift of Faith. I hope you enjoyed reading Marc and Amy’s story.

  It was fun for me to return to Pendleton during the days of WWII to create this story. If you haven’t yet read it, you might enjoy Home of Her Heart, which tells Delaney and Klayne Campbell’s story.

  When I first introduced Amy’s character in Home of Her Heart, I knew I wanted to write more about her. A Christmas story about love reunited seemed the perfect way to incorporate her romance with the dashing Marc Rawlings. (And if you’d like to read more about Marc’s grandparents, check out Caterina.)

  There are just a few historical tidbits I wanted to share that I incorporated into the story.

  When Myrtle was talking about Clarence being killed in a mine explosion, I based that on a true tragedy that happened. The Monongah Mining Disaster occurred December 6, 1907 at the Monongah Mine in West Virginia. More than 300 miners were there when two of
the Fairmont Coal Company’s mines exploded. Dubbed as the worst mining disaster in American history, the number of deaths reached 362. Due to the explosion, the public demanded something be done to ensure the safety of mine workers. In 1910, Congress created the United States Bureau of Mines with the goal of investigating and inspecting mines to reduce explosions and limit the waste of both human and natural resources. The bureau also set up field officers to train mining crews, provide rescue services and investigate disasters.

  During the course of the war, Cannon Towels ran a series of amusing advertisements that let the people at home know why there was a shortage of towels. The ads included every branch of the service, showing bathing soldiers in various locales. The one I mentioned in the story did have a colorful drawing of Marines on a South Pacific Island bathing between two pieces of netting with a headline that read “Army Day – Crocodiles Keep Away!” Each advertisement featured a “true” story from a soldier. This one, in particular, was from a Medical Corp Captain, who said the men put up nets across a stream and weighted them down to keep the crocodiles from getting at them while they bathed. The ads also encouraged those on the home front to buy war bonds since there was a lack of towels to purchase, and gave tips for making the towels they did have last longer.

  The more research I did on Guadalcanal, the more I was awed by those who served there. The sacrifices those soldiers made, the determination and grit, bravery and steadfastness they exhibited was extraordinary. Those brave men have my utmost respect and gratitude.

  I happened upon a 1942 issue of LIFE Magazine and had it be the magazine Marc was flipping through at the hospital. In it were advertisements asking people to not make long distance calls during the holiday season, reminding the folks at home the long-distance lines were loaded with urgent war messages. The magazine also included a wonderful full-page advertisement about “the kid in Upper 4” about a newly enlisted soldier riding on a train. It reminded those riding the train to be mindful of treating that enlisted young man with respect as he heads off to war. There was an article about women taking over more of men’s work as more men enlisted. It also featured two colorful pages of gift ideas, including the toy tank Marc thought about purchasing for Rory and Rogan.

  As for Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas,” one of my all-time favorite Christmas songs, it debuted in 1941 on Christmas Day, performed by Bing Crosby on his radio show. He made a second recording of the song in May, 1942, with the John Scott Trotter Orchestra and the Ken Darby Singers for Decca Records as part of an album released that summer to go along with the movie Holiday Inn. By the end of October, 1942, Crosby’s recording of the song climbed the charts. It spent eleven weeks at the top of the Billboard charts. In 1944, at a USO Show with Bob Hope and the Andrews Sisters in northern France, Crosby reportedly performed the song for troops, many in tears as they listened to the words. The version of the song most often heard today is a recording from 1947. The 1942 master recording was damaged due to frequent use so Crosby re-recorded it in 1947, making every effort to reproduce the original recording session.

  The local news that Amy writes about in her letters to Marc comes from newspaper articles from 1942 I found in local papers. A new soldier recreation center had just opened and it seemed every issue had a request for something else the soldiers needed. There were also pleas for help with the various military camps around the state. One headline actually asked for clothes hangers!

  The hope chest I mentioned Amy and her mother filling with things for her future home came from an advertisement from 1942 that caught my eye. The cedar hope chest in the ad looked so much like one my mother received for her high school graduation that I just had to include it. I’m happy to say that cedar chest now belongs to me and holds many precious treasures!

  Special thanks to Shauna, Leo, Katrina, and my Hopeless Romantics beta readers for their help with this story. I appreciate you so much!

  For more of the visuals that inspired the story, please visit my Pinterest board.

  Thank you, dear reader, for joining me on this story’s journey. May your holidays be joyous and filled with the beauty of the season.

  Thank you for reading Gift of Faith. I hope you enjoyed reading Marc and Amy’s journey to a happily ever after. If you have just a moment, would you please leave a review so others might discover this book? I’d so appreciate it!

  If you haven’t yet read them, check out the other books in the Gifts of Christmas series! Each book can stand on its own so you can read them in any order.

  Please hop over to my website and read more about the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund and how your book purchase helps a rodeo athlete in need of a hand up.

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  Gifts of Christmas

  Read all three books in the Gifts of Christmas series!

  If you enjoyed this sweet World War II romance, try the Hearts of the War series!

  It took the hearts at home to help end World War II…

  Garden of Her Heart (Book 1) — Torn between doing what her country orders and what her heart demands, Miko Nishimura discovers love can bloom in the most unlikely places and circumstances.

  Home of Her Heart (Book 2) — He needed someone to remember him when he was gone. Instead, he found a woman he’d never forget.

  Dream of Her Heart (Book 3) — Would beautiful Nurse Brighton be the woman to tame him, or merely a distraction to his wartime mission?

  Pendleton Petticoats Series

  Read more about Kade, Caterina, and the other Pendleton characters in this heartwarming series

  Dacey (Prelude) — A conniving mother, a reluctant groom and a desperate bride make for a lively adventure full of sweet romance in this prelude to the beginning of the series.

  Aundy (Book 1) — Aundy Thorsen, a stubborn mail-order bride, finds the courage to carry on when she's widowed before ever truly becoming a wife, but opening her heart to love again may be more than she can bear.

  Caterina (Book 2) — Running from a man intent on marrying her, Caterina Campanelli starts a new life in Pendleton, completely unprepared for the passionate feelings stirred in her by the town's incredibly handsome deputy sheriff.

  Ilsa (Book 3) — Desperate to escape her wicked aunt and an unthinkable future, Ilsa Thorsen finds herself on her sister's ranch in Pendleton. Not only are the dust and smells more than she can bear, but Tony Campanelli seems bent on making her his special project.

  Marnie (Book 4) — Beyond all hope for a happy future, Marnie Jones struggles to deal with her roiling emotions when U.S. Marshal Lars Thorsen rides into town, tearing down the walls she’s erected around her heart.

  Lacy (Book 5) —

  Bound by tradition and responsibilities, Lacy has to choose between the ties that bind her to the past and the unexpected love that will carry her into the future.

  Bertie (Book 6) — Haunted by the trauma of her past, Bertie Hawkins must open her heart to love if she has any hope for the future.

  Millie (Book 7) — Determined to bring prohibition to town, the last thing Millie Matlock expects is to fall for the charming owner of the Second Chance Saloon.

  Dally (Book 8) — Eager to return home and begin his career, Doctor Nik Nash is caught by surprise when the spirited Dally Douglas captures his heart.

  Quinn (Book 9) — Full of opinions and plans to help women, Quinn Fairfield has no time for such nonsense as falling in love.

  Evie (Book 10) — Will a man focused on his work notice the love of
a lifetime in his client’s effervescent nanny?

  Read all four sweet romances in The Friendly Beasts of Faraday series!

  Don’t let the friendly faces fool you.

  They won’t stop until their humans fall in love…

  Scent of Cedar (Book 1) — A woman in need of a new beginning finds herself tormented by a camel and captivated by the town's bad boy. Can she overcome her fears to embrace a sweet holiday romance?

  Tidings of Joy (Book 2 — Only one woman can draw a shy mail carrier out of his shell, but it will take the help of her donkey and puppy to make it happen.

  Boughs of Holly (Book 3) — A free-spirited nurse winds up on a ranch with a stubborn cowboy and his matchmaking grandpa. Will love triumph over her need to roam?

  Wings of an Angel (Book 4) — Will a fun-loving teacher convince a woman sworn off romance to give love a second chance? He'll need a hand from her son and his furry, feathered friends.

  Books by Shanna Hatfield

  FICTION

  HISTORICAL

  Baker City Brides

  Tad’s Treasure

  Crumpets and Cowpies

  Thimbles and Thistles

  Corsets and Cuffs

  Bobbins and Boots

  Lightning and Lawmen

  Dumplings and Dynamite

  Pendleton Petticoats

  Dacey

  Aundy

  Caterina

  Ilsa

  Marnie

  Lacy

  Bertie

  Millie

  Dally

  Quinn

  Evie

  Hearts of the War

  Garden of Her Heart

  Home of Her Heart

  Dream of Her Heart

  Hardman Holidays