Stranded for the Holidays

by Lisa Carter

  Once AnnaBeth explained about Hunter’s Christmas mommy wish, Victoria practically threw them out the door.

  “I hope you’ll share your little guy with us.” A wistful expression crossed her lovely features. “AnnaBeth sure loves him.”

  Jonas nodded. “Hunter loves her right back.”

  Eyes brimming, AnnaBeth hugged Victoria. “I love you, Mom.”

  Victoria kissed her forehead. “Be happy, my darlin’ Bethy.” Rapidly blinking, she fanned her face. “Oh, no. My mascara!”

  With tentative plans for a New Year’s weekend at the ranch to bring both families together, he finally got AnnaBeth into the truck, with Victoria sending them off. As it turned out, Victoria also sent gifts to Hunter and Jonas’s mother.

  AnnaBeth rolled her eyes.

  “What?” Victoria closed the cab door with a click. “I totally expected a happy ending. And you know how I love to shop.”

  One special present, however, AnnaBeth cradled carefully in her lap. It was a small, green velvet square box with an overlarge ivory silk bow. She’d put it together herself. Hunter’s name was on the gift tag.

  Pulling onto the interstate, Jonas flicked his eyes at her. “Is there any reason why you’re sitting over there, and I’m way over here?”

  Smiling, she slid over, nestling against his side. “I can’t think of one good reason in the world.”

  The night sky had begun to lighten when he steered the truck through the stone gateposts of the FieldStone Ranch. Errant rays of light emerging beyond the ridge threw the mountains in silhouette, spearing the darkness.

  She drew in a deep breath.

  He cut his eyes at her. “Second thoughts?”

  She touched her finger to the space between his brows. “Stop frowning.” She smoothed the crease, a smile playing about her lips. “You’re stuck with me now. No second thoughts, I’m just happy to be home.”

  “Home?” he rasped. “What about Charlotte?”

  She rested her head against his shoulder. “There’s nowhere I want to be but here, Jonas. This is where I belong. I can continue to write the blog from the FieldStone. It will be even better because Heart’s Home will have finally found its truest home with you and Hunter.”

  A lump rose in his throat. “I never want the FieldStone to come between us the way it came between...” Emotion clogging his voice, he pulled to a stop in front of the darkened lodge.

  Capturing his face between her palms, she pulled his face toward hers. “God has given us both a second chance at love. With His help, we’ll make this work. No more running away. I’ll never leave you, I promise.”

  He kissed her cheek.

  The velvet box in her hands, she inched over to the cab door. “But now it’s time to go see my boy.”

  Her boy... She not only already had Jonas’s heart, but she also had Hunter’s, too.

  Looking over her shoulder at him, she smiled. “I have a certain Christmas wish to fulfill.”

  His heart swelled with more happiness than he’d ever believed it could hold.

  Lips curving, he followed her into the house. In the living room, a small fire crackled in the fireplace. The massive tree twinkled with bright, colorful lights.

  “Jonas?” His mother unfolded from the sofa. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep. Is that you, AnnaBeth?” Catching sight of his beautiful runaway bride, his mother’s voice hitched. “Oh, honeybun. I’m so glad you’re back.”

  Rushing forward, his mother embraced AnnaBeth. There was a lot of hugging and soft laughter. Tears, too.

  Until a thump from upstairs.

  He smiled. “Hunter’s awake.”

  “Oh.” AnnaBeth fluttered her hands. “Quick. Put the gift under the tree.”

  Boots clattered across the floorboards upstairs. Hunter’s bedroom door creaked open.

  “Here.” Snatching a big purple bow off another present, his mother stuck its adhesive edge atop AnnaBeth’s head. Just in time, she shuffled AnnaBeth out of sight.

  Cowboy pajama pants tucked into his boots, Hunter clomped down the stairs.

  “Merry Christmas, Hunter.” Jonas hugged his son. “It’s going to be the happiest Christmas ever,” he whispered in Hunter’s ear.

  Frowning, Hunter rubbed the sleep from his eyes. “Where were you, Dad?”

  “I told you he’d be back this morning.” His mother beckoned his son. “Come see what Santa—” she winked at Jonas “—brought you this fine Christmas morn.”

  Hair mussed from sleep, Hunter crouched by the green velvet box under the tree. “What’s dis?” Brow creased, he looked from his grandmother to his father. “Where did dis come from?”

  Jonas squatted beside him. “What does the tag say?”

  “It says my name.” His voice rose. “For Hunter. Wight, Dad?”

  He grinned. “It sure does. It’s a special gift. From someone who loves you very much.”

  “From you, Dad?”

  He shook his head. “Nope. Though I do love you a lot.”

  “From you, Gwam-ma?”

  “I love you, too, Hunter.” His grandmother eased into the nearby armchair. “But it’s not from me.”

  Hunter shrugged his pajama-clad flannel shoulders. “Den who?”

  “Open it, Hunter.” Jonas laughed. “Open it and see.”

  “It’s weally pwetty.”

  Jonas smiled. “The outside is pretty, but I think you’re going to love the inside even more.”

  Lifting off the velvet-wrapped lid, Hunter peered into the box. “It’s a piece of paper.”

  His grandmother clapped her hands together. “Take it out. Let’s read it.”

  Chewing his cheek, Hunter pulled out the page of ivory stationary. He held it out to his father.

  By the light of the Christmas tree, Jonas ran his finger under each word. “For Hunter Stone—a Christmas mommy.”

  Hunter’s eyes went large. “A Chwistmas mommy?” He scrambled to his feet. “Where?”

  AnnaBeth popped out from behind the stairs. “Can I be your Christmas mommy, Hunter?”

  With a small cry, he dashed across the living room. AnnaBeth opened her arms wide.

  “You came back!” Arms encircling her legs, he buried his face into her waist. “I wuv you so much, AnnaBef. I wuv you so much.”

  Bending over him, her hands flew, stroking his hair, his face and back again. Tears flowing across her cheeks, she whispered sweet words of love into his son’s ear.

  His mom hugged Jonas. “They’re so wonderful with each other,” she whispered.

  Thank You, God, for bringing us together.

  His mother swiped her eyes. “I’m going to fix everyone the biggest breakfast ever.” She slipped away toward the kitchen.

  Jonas cleared his throat. “Is there r-room for one m-more?”

  Lifting his son into her arms, AnnaBeth smiled. “There’s always room for your dad, right, Hunter?”

  Hunter tucked his head into the hollow of her throat. “I wuv you, AnnaBef. I wuv you, Dad.”

  She kissed Hunter’s hair. “Dad and I love you so much.”

  Hunter stuck his finger in the corner of his mouth. Something Jonas hadn’t seen him do since he was a toddler.

  “Is it okay to caw you Mommy or...” His little chin wobbled. “Awe you still AnnaBef?”

  “I’m going to be your mommy, Hunter.” Closing her eyes, her lips brushed his forehead. “Forever.”

  Jonas—who prided himself for always keeping his emotions in check—couldn’t for the life of him seem to stop the flow of tears.

  He swiped his cheeks. “I’m dying over here wanting a hug from you two.”

  “Dad needs us, Hunt.” She smiled at Jonas. “Let’s go take care of him.”

  Shifting Hunter onto her hip, she brought his son to the Christmas t
ree.

  Keeping one arm firmly locked around his Christmas mommy, Hunter threw his other arm around Jonas, drawing the three of them into one unit. The family they were always meant to be.

  Suddenly, Hunter lifted his head. “Dad! Mommy! Wook!” He pointed to the window. “It’s snowing.”

  Like feathers from a quilt, large, delicate flakes floated from the sky.

  AnnaBeth hugged them tight. “Another Christmas gift from our Father.”

  Hunter’s eyes shone. “We got our snow pwincess, Dad.”

  And with everyone he loved safe within these walls, a lightness, unlike any he’d known since he was a boy, filled Jonas.

  He kissed his son. Then kissed his beautiful, runaway snow bride.

  “We sure did, Hunter. We sure did.”

  * * *

  If you loved this book,

  be sure to check out Lisa Carter’s

  other heartwarming stories

  The Deputy’s Perfect Match

  The Bachelor’s Unexpected Family

  The Christmas Baby

  Hometown Reunion

  His Secret Daughter

  The Twin Bargain

  Find these and other great reads

  at www.LoveInspired.com

  Dear Reader,

  Welcome to Truelove, North Carolina, set in the breathtakingly lovely Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

  Though the course of true love doesn’t always run smooth, never fear. The Truelove Matchmakers are there to make sure everyone finds their happily-ever-after.

  The heart of this story is about a man searching for a love that will never leave or desert him. It’s also about a woman searching for a place to belong. This story is about trusting God. With the good. With the bad. With everything.

  As AnnaBeth discovers at the FieldStone Ranch, no matter how tragic the past, God has a place of belonging for each of us. And most importantly, she learns to see herself from God’s perspective.

  You, too, dear reader, are so beautiful to Him. A precious jewel. And so beloved.

  This is why I wrote this story. And because it is my prayer that you will ultimately find in Him your home. The happily-ever-after for which you were truly made.

  I hope you have enjoyed taking this journey with AnnaBeth, Hunter and Jonas. I would love to hear from you. You may email me at lisa@lisacarterauthor.com or visit www.lisacarterauthor.com.

  In His Love,

  Lisa Carter

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired story.

  You believe hearts can heal. Love Inspired stories show that faith, forgiveness and hope have the power to lift spirits and change lives—always.

  Enjoy six new stories from Love Inspired every month!

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  An Amish Christmas Promise

  by Jo Ann Brown

  Chapter One

  Evergreen Corners, Vermont

  The bus slowed with a rumble of its diesel engine.

  Michael Miller opened his eyes. A crick in his neck warned him that he’d fallen asleep in a weird position. The last time he’d ridden a bus was when he caught one to the train station in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Then he’d traveled with his twin brother and Gabriel’s bopplin to their new farm in Harmony Creek Hollow in northern New York.

  Now he was on a bus on a late October day because he needed time away, time with peace and quiet, to figure out the answer to one vital question: Should he remain in their Amish community, or was the future he wanted beyond a plain life?

  Today Michael was in Vermont, on his way to Evergreen Corners. The small village was at the epicenter of powerful flash floods that had accompanied Hurricane Kevin when the massive storm stalled over the eastern slopes of the Green Mountains last week.

  The bus hit another pothole in the dirt on what once had been a paved road. He was shocked to discover the other lane had been washed away. The road, a major north–south conduit in the state, was barely wider than the bus’s wheels. He didn’t see any cars anywhere, just a couple of trucks with what looked like a town seal on their doors. They were parked near a building where all the windows and doors were missing.

  His stomach tightened. Had those vehicles been commandeered as ambulances? Were the people working there looking for victims?

  The stories coming out of Vermont had warned that the situation was dismal. Whole sections of towns like Evergreen Corners had been washed away by torrents surging along what had been babbling brooks. People left with no place to live, all their possessions gone or covered with thick mud. Trees torn from the banks. Rocks—both giant boulders and tons of gravel—swept beneath bridges and damming the streams, forcing the water even higher.

  Michael could see the road—or what there was left of it—followed a twisting stream between two steep mountains. The job of rebuilding was going to be bigger than he’d imagined when he’d stepped forward to offer his skills as a carpenter.

  How much could he and the other fifteen volunteers on the bus do in the next three months? Where did they begin?

  And what had made him think he’d find a chance to think about the future here?

  God, I trust You know where I should be. Help me see.

  The bus jerked to a stop, and the driver opened the door. “Here we are!”

  A pungent odor oozed into the bus. It was a disgusting mix of mud and gasoline and the fuel oil that had been washed out of household storage tanks. Michael gasped, choking on the reek.

  When a mask was held out to him, he took it from his friend, Benjamin Kuhns, who was sitting beside him, but didn’t put it on. Like Michael, Benjamin had volunteered when a representative of Amish Helping Hands had come two days ago to Harmony Creek Hollow. Amish Helping Hands worked with other plain organizations to help after natural disasters. Benjamin announcing that he wanted to come, too, had been a surprise, because he’d been focused for the past year on working with his older brother, Menno, in getting their sawmill running. Business had been growing well, and Michael wondered if Benjamin was seeking something to help him grasp onto his future, too.

  “Watch where you step,” shouted the bus driver before he went out.

  Michael stood and grabbed his small bag off the shelf over his head, stuffing the mask into a pocket. He noticed a few people on the bus had donned theirs.

  His larger bag, where he’d packed the tools he expected he’d need, was stored under the bus. Nobody spoke as they filed out, and he knew he wasn’t the only person overwhelmed by the destruction.

  As his feet touched the muddy ground, he heard, “Look out!”

  He wasn’t sure whether to duck, jump aside or climb back on the bus. Looking around, he saw a slender blonde barreling toward him, arms outstretched.

  Squawking was the only warning he got before a small brown chicken ran into him, bounced backward, turned and kept weaving through the crowd of volunteers moving to get their luggage from beneath the bus. The chicken let out another terrified screech before vanishing through a forest of legs and duffels.

  The woman halted before she ran into him, too. Putting out her hands, she stopped two kinder from colliding with him. The force of their forward motion drove her a step closer, and he dropped his bag to the ground and caught her by the shoulders before she tumbled over the toes of his weather-beaten work boots. He was astounded that though her dress was a plain style, the fabric was a bright pink-and-green plaid.

  “Are you okay?” Michael asked.

  She nodded and looked at him with earth-brown eyes that seemed the perfect complement to her pale hair. She was so s
hort her head hardly reached his shoulder. Her features were delicate. Thanking him, she turned to the kinder.

  He hadn’t expected the simple act of gazing into her pretty eyes to hit him like the recoil of a mishandled nail gun. Was she plain, or dressed simply because she was cleaning up the mess left by the flood?

  He glanced at the kinder who’d been chasing her and the chicken. The boy appeared to be around six or seven years old. He had light brown hair, freckles and blue-gray eyes. Along with jeans and sneakers, he wore a T-shirt stained with what looked like peanut butter and jelly. Beside him, and wearing almost identical clothing, though without the stains, the little girl had hair the same soft honey-blond as the woman’s. Like the boy, she had freckles, but her eyes were dark. When she grinned at him, she revealed she’d lost her two front teeth.

  He couldn’t keep from smiling. The kind was adorable, and he could imagine how she’d be twisting boys’ hearts around her finger in a few years.

  Just as Adah Burcky had with every guy who’d glanced her way. What a dummkopf he’d been to think he was the sole recipient of her kisses and flirtatious glances! He could hear her laugh when she’d walked away with another man. There had been a hint of triumph in it, as if she took delight in keeping track of the hearts she broke...including his.

  What had brought Adah to mind? He’d come to Evergreen Corners to decide what he wanted to do with his future, not to focus on the past. For too long, he’d been drifting, following his twin brother to their new home, a place where he wasn’t sure he belonged. Was his life among the plain folk, or was the route God had mapped for him meant to take him somewhere else? He had three months to figure that out.

  “She’s getting away,” the boy insisted in an ever-louder voice, breaking into Michael’s thoughts. “We’ve got to catch her before she gets hit by a car.”

  “There aren’t a lot of cars on the road,” the woman replied, ruffling his hair in an attempt to calm him.

  “But there are buses.” The boy flung out a hand toward the one that had brought Michael to Evergreen Corners. “See?”

  Michael wasn’t the only one trying to stifle a grin as the woman said, “We’ll pray she’ll be fine, Kevin. Place her in God’s hands and trust He knows what’s best.”