Once Upon a Texas Christmas Read online

  “With what?”

  Constance gave her a sideways look that Abigail couldn’t quite interpret. “It’s hard to explain. I need to show you.”

  Her normally pragmatic friend was acting very strange. “Where are we going?”

  “To the church.”

  “Oh.” Abigail’s suspicion was somewhat mollified. Nothing untoward could be happening in a church.

  Deciding she wasn’t going to get any straight answers, she quit asking and tried to keep pace with her friend. By the time they reached the church steps, Abigail was feeling a bit breathless. What in the world had required this rushing about?

  “We’re here now. What was so important?”

  “Inside” was all Constance would say and she pushed past Abigail to open the door.

  Abigail followed her inside, for a moment unable to see clearly as her eyes adjusted from bright sunlight to the muted interior.

  As soon as she recognized the man standing by the last pew, though, she stiffened and turned on her friend.

  But Constance was ready for her. She gave her a quick hug and a smile of apology, then quickly slipped back out the door without a backward glance.

  Abigail decided it was time to rethink Constance’s best-friend status.

  Then she turned to Seth. “That was quite a production to get me here. You could have just asked.”

  He moved closer, giving her one of those crooked smiles that always tugged at her heart. “I wanted to see you alone. And I wasn’t sure you’d come if I did the asking.”

  “Well, I’m here now. But I warn you, I’m in no mood for apologies.”

  He nodded “Fair enough. Though goodness knows you deserve one.”

  “Well?”

  “I wanted to let you know the job of hotel manager is yours, if you still want it.”

  What was going on? “But Mr. Michelson—”

  “He wasn’t the right person for the job. I realized that almost as soon as he arrived. He might have a lot of experience with big-city hotels, but he knows absolutely nothing about fitting into a community.”

  She stepped forward, concern overriding caution. “But Seth, what about your deal? What about the property you want to buy?”

  “I’m afraid that’s dead. They already have another buyer.”

  “Oh, this is all my fault.” She closed the distance between them completely, placing her hands against his chest. “I don’t need that job. This deal means too much to you. Get him to come back, tell him it was all a mistake. I’m sure you can work something out.”

  He closed his hand over hers, pressing them more firmly against his chest. “The deal means nothing to me, not anymore.”

  “But the money you’ve invested—”

  “Is my worry, not yours.”

  “Oh, Seth, I’m so sorry.”

  “Don’t be, I’m certainly not. I have a new project, something with better potential, something I’m really excited about.”

  Of course. He’d merely exchanged one project for another. “I’m so happy for you.”

  “I hope so, because I traded Judge Madison my interest in the Michelson property and the bonus he owes me for a fifty-one-percent interest in the Madison Rose.”

  “What? You mean you’re staying?”

  He nodded. “Jamie has found a home he loves here. And I have as well.”

  Seeing the look in his eyes, feeling the strong beat of his heart under her hands, a wild sort of hope took hold of her. Could it be—?

  He gave her hand a squeeze. “I know you don’t want apologies, but I’ve been every kind of fool and pigheadedly blind on top of it. I hurt you and I can never forgive myself for that. But I want you to know... I. Choose. You.”

  He stared into her eyes as if he could see all the way to her soul. “I love you, Abigail Fulton. I love your sunny smile and your schoolmarm scolds. I love how deeply you care about others and how unaware you are of your own considerable worth. I love you and I will always choose you, no matter what. Whether you will have me or not.”

  She felt as if her heart would burst. “Oh, Seth, I love you, too. I—”

  He put a finger to her lips. “Those are the sweetest words anyone has ever said to me.” His eyes caressed her face in an almost tangible way and she thought for a moment he would kiss her.

  To her disappointment, he didn’t. “Before we proceed, there’s more I need to say to you.”

  When she nodded, he removed his finger. “I don’t want there to be any more secrets between us.” He held her gaze. “You know about my limp, of course, in fact you know more about the whys and wherefores of it than most. But the reality is that the sight of the scar itself is very ugly and unsettling. I’m not in any sense of the word a whole man. It’s important to me that you understand that before we go any further.”

  The sweet, honorable, totally clueless man. She touched his cheek. “Oh, Seth, you’re wrong. You are a whole man in every sense of the word. I have, in fact, seen your scars and they neither frighten nor disgust me. They only prove to me how much you’ve suffered and how strong you must be to live with them without excuse or complaint.”

  * * *

  Seth was flabbergasted. “You’ve seen them? When?”

  Her cheeks pinkened adorably and her gaze dropped. “That morning I found you on the floor of your room. Your nightshirt was...well, it revealed your scars. But don’t worry, I covered them so no one else could see.” Then she peeked back up at him. “By the way, if that was just some kind of convoluted marriage proposal you just offered, I accept.”

  Seth let out a roar of laughter and grabbed her in a fierce embrace. If he had his way, he’d hold her this way forever. “Oh, my darling, darling Abigail—what a treasure you are. You are well and truly stuck with me now. There is no way I will ever let you go.”

  Abigail’s eyes twinkled and she gave him that sassy smile he loved so much. “Prove it.”

  So he leaned in and captured her lips with his.

  Epilogue

  Seth sat on the sofa in the hotel office with Abigail close by his side. She’d arrived bright and early this Christmas morning so she could see the look on Jamie’s face when he received his Christmas present.

  When the boy had learned that he and Abigail were to be married and that they were planning to settle down here in Turnabout as a family, Jamie had been over-the-moon excited and had declared that he had everything he needed, there was no need to get him any gifts for Christmas. Already he was calling Abigail Aunt Abby.

  However, Abigail had other ideas. And of course she’d been right. When the two of them presented Jamie with a wriggly, clumsy puppy this morning, the boy had nearly started crying with happiness. He was currently down on the floor getting better acquainted with his new pet.

  Seth cut a glance at the woman who would soon become his wife. “I’ve just realized that it was a total lack of foresight on my part not to have boughs of mistletoe hung throughout the hotel.”

  She gave him one of those innocent, wide-eyed looks that held more than a touch of mischief. “Why, Mr. Reynolds, I have never known that circumstance to deter you before.”

  With a grin, he leaned down and gave her a quick kiss, in deference to Jamie’s presence. As soon as they straightened, Abigail gave his hand a squeeze and stood. “I believe I hear people arriving.”

  Jamie scrambled to his feet, cuddling the puppy in his arms. “Come on, Nemo, time for you to meet everyone.”

  They entered the lobby to see the judge and the Barr family arrive, all of them loaded down with brightly wrapped packages.

  Christmas greetings were exchanged as everyone made their way to the dining room. Jamie’s friend Jack and his sister, Patricia, exclaimed over the new puppy and each wanted a turn to hold the exuberant ball of fu
r.

  Before long the rest of the close-knit Sunday lunch group had arrived and the room was filled with conversation and mirth.

  Seth considered these people his friends now. He was one of them and proud to be so.

  Judge Madison approached him with a warm smile. “Well, my boy, I see you’ve finally discovered the real secret to success.”

  Seth nodded. “Yes, sir, I have. It’s finding someone to love and be loved by.”

  “Make sure you don’t ever lose sight of that.”

  Abigail sidled up next to Seth, linking her arm with his. “Don’t worry,” she said to the judge, though her gaze never left his, “I plan to remind him on a regular basis.”

  Seth was both humbled and elated by the love he saw reflected in her eyes. It was all he could do not to sweep her up into a crushing embrace.

  She caressed his cheek, then turned to Judge Madison. “We’ve decided on a New Year’s Day wedding. It would make us both so happy if you say you’ll stay to celebrate with us.”

  The older man’s smile softened. “I wouldn’t dream of missing it.”

  Abigail gave Seth’s arm a squeeze, then let go, moving to link her arm with that of Judge Madison.

  She waved a hand, encompassing the whole group in her gesture. “Look around, this is all your doing. It’s thanks to you that these families came together.” She turned and met Seth’s gaze, reaching for him with her free hand. “That Seth and I came together.”

  “I merely set the wheels in motion. I can’t take credit for more than that.”

  Abigail raised up on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “That, my dear friend, was the catalyst for all the love and joy present in this room. Without you, none of us would have found our true loves.” Then she squeezed his arm and stepped away, returning to Seth’s side.

  * * *

  Abigail’s words filled Arthur Madison’s soul with a sweet, quiet joy the likes of which he hadn’t felt in a very long time. His darling wife, Rosemary, gone these fifteen years, would have dearly loved being a part of this.

  Perhaps he could find a place here in Turnabout himself. After all, it would be nice to see his great-grandchildren grow up. And there was a lot he could still do for this town that had such a special place in his heart.

  In another week it would not only be a new year, but also a new century. Perhaps it was also time for a new chapter in his own life.

  * * * * *

  If you loved this story,

  pick up the other books in the

  TEXAS GROOMS series:

  HANDPICKED HUSBAND

  THE BRIDE NEXT DOOR

  A FAMILY FOR CHRISTMAS

  LONE STAR HEIRESS

  HER HOLIDAY FAMILY

  SECOND CHANCE HERO

  THE HOLIDAY COURTSHIP

  TEXAS CINDERELLA

  A TAILOR-MADE HUSBAND

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  Dear Reader,

  I hope you enjoyed Abigail and Seth’s story. I’ve known since Abigail first showed up in book two of this series as an adventurous fifteen-year-old that her story would likely be the one to wrap up this series—I just had to wait for her to grow up. Seth is her opposite in many ways and he’s also her perfect match. I fell a little bit in love with him as I wrote his story.

  It was a bittersweet moment for me when I wrote “The End” on this story. This is the last book in the Texas Grooms series (for now—never say never), and saying goodbye to Turnabout and the community was unexpectedly difficult. But I am looking forward to turning the page on a new chapter in my writing life and I hope you’ll come along with me and see where it leads.

  For more information on this and other books set in Turnabout, please visit my website at www.winniegriggs.com or follow me on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/WinnieGriggs.Author.

  And as always, I love to hear from readers. Feel free to contact me at [email protected] with your thoughts on this or any of my other books.

  Wishing you a life abounding with love and grace,

  Winnie Griggs

  Keep reading for an excerpt from THE GIFT OF TWINS by Gabrielle Meyer.

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  The Gift of Twins

  by Gabrielle Meyer

  Chapter One

  Little Falls, Minnesota

  October 15, 1858

  Reverend Benjamin Lahaye was usually a man of patience, but tonight he felt like a caged bear, pacing up and down the room. He stopped in front of the fireplace and placed another log on the blazing flames to give himself something to do. When he stood, he glanced out the window at the raging blizzard and started to pace again.

  The new schoolmaster, Mr. Emery Wilkes, should have arrived on the stagecoach hours ago, but the temperature had dropped steadily all day and an unseasonable snowstorm came out of nowhere. Maybe the stagecoach driver had stopped to find shelter. At least, that’s what Ben hoped. He’d hate to think the schoolmaster was stuck in a snowdrift, freezing to death.

  A knock sounded at the front door, bringing Ben’s worries to rest.

  He sprinted across the room to the front door where a lantern sat on a table near the window. He kept it lit every night to welcome friends or strangers who might need a warm home, a listening ear or a bit of counsel. Tonight, the lantern would welcome the first male schoolteacher to Little Falls—a much-needed change after the three previous female teachers had all married before their contracts were fulfilled. In a town that boasted over two hundred bachelors, women were in high demand. As a school board member, it had become a tiresome task to refill the position, so Ben had been adamant about hiring a man. He’d also offered to let the new schoolmaster board with him, since he lived alone.

  Ben opened the door, a smile at the ready. “Welcome, Mr.—”

  A young woman stood on his front porch, shivering and hugging her body as she blinked up at him with snowflakes clinging to her long lashes. Her cheeks and nose were pink, making her blue eyes more brilliant under the light of the lantern. “H-hello,” she said through chattering teeth. “A-are you Reverend Lahaye?”

  He stood there, speechless at the sight of her.

  “I’m M-Miss Wilkes,” she continued as a shiver moved through her body. “Th-the new schoolteacher.”

  She couldn’t be. He’d reviewed the applica
tion himself. It had clearly said “Emery A. Wilkes.”

  She stared at him for a moment, a frown creasing her brow. “Y-you are R-Reverend Lahaye, aren’t y-you?”

  He finally found his voice. “Yes.”

  “May I—I come in?” She took a step toward the warmth of his home. “I—I’ve never been s-so cold in m-my life.”

  Where were his manners? He couldn’t let her continue to freeze on his front porch. He opened the door wider and let her come over the threshold. “Yes, of course, come in.”

  She moved past him and shook out her full skirts, snow falling to the ground in a perfect circle around her gown. “Is there s-someone to help with my l-luggage? The driver p-practically tossed me off the s-stage in his quest to find suitable lodging.”

  He looked out at the swirling storm where three trunks sat haphazardly collecting snow. Ben couldn’t very well bring her trunks into the house—what would people think? But he couldn’t leave them out there to get buried, either. If he did, they might not dig them out until spring. “I’ll see to them.”

  He grabbed his coat off the hook and slipped it over his shoulders, his mind whirling with unanswered questions. “Go on over to the fireplace and warm yourself.”

  Miss Wilkes didn’t wait for a second invitation, but walked to the fire and extended her hands to the heat, closing her eyes with a sigh.

  Ben stood for a minute, his confusion mounting. Who was this little bit of a thing and how had this mistake happened? Nowhere on the application did it hint that Emery Wilkes was a woman.

  He stepped into the biting wind and hefted the first trunk onto his shoulder. It was surprisingly heavy, and he suspected it was full of books. He brought it into the house where the ring of snow was now melting into a puddle.

  He dropped it to the ground and shoved it to the side. As soon as he had a place for her to go, the trunks would need to leave. But where would he take her? The Northern Hotel? It seemed the best place, though it could be dangerous trying to get there in this storm. He’d known people lost to wander in the blinding white, freezing to death without finding shelter. Maybe he’d take her to the Coopers. They were his closest friends and they’d never turn away a young lady in need. Their house was full, but it had been fuller.