A Baby For Christmas
From Pregnant Widow to Cowboy's Bride For widow Louise Porter, a temporary marriage to cowboy Nate Hawkins seems the only solution to protect her unborn child. Especially when she's threatened by her late husband's business partner. She needs a safe haven—and Eden Valley Ranch, where Nate works, is supposedly just the place. And yet, in Nate's care she feels secure and cherished as never before.The protection of his name is all Nate can offer Louise. He's not cut out for family life long-term. However, he'll risk anything to keep Louise safe during their perilous journey. Perhaps an early Christmas arrival will show them both just how precious—and how permanent—their new family can be…
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From Pregnant Widow to Cowboyâs Bride
For widow Louise Porter, a temporary marriage to cowboy Nate Hawkins seems the only solution to protect her unborn child. Especially when sheâs threatened by her late husbandâs business partner. She needs a safe havenâand Eden Valley Ranch, where Nate works, is supposedly just the place. And yet, in Nateâs care she feels secure and cherished as never before.
The protection of his name is all Nate can offer Louise. Heâs not cut out for family life long-term. However, heâll risk anything to keep Louise safe during their perilous journey. Perhaps an early Christmas arrival will show them both just how preciousâand how permanentâtheir new family can be...
âIâm so sorry. It seems Iâm always causing you a problem.â
For some silly reason the words caught in her throat and wobbled.
Nate clasped her shoulders and looked into her face as if searching every corner of her mind. âYou are not a problem to me.â
Louise told herself it was only words, perhaps for the benefit of those who couldnât help but overhear. Despite her arguments to the contrary, she believed him. For the moment, sheâd allow herself to be comforted by his admission.
She nodded, the book clutched to her chest.
He reached past her to get the title heâd chosen, and they returned to the table to sit side by side.
She read the words and turned the pages, but couldnât have said what the story entailed. Her thoughts wouldnât settle. It was merely worry, she told herself, about getting to Eden Valley Ranch before the baby came. Concern for the safety of the little life she carried. But in a moment of honesty she admitted that her predominant thought centered on Nate. Why was he being so nice to her? Treating her as though he really cared when they both knew he was only doing this out of a sense of obligation.
LINDA FORD lives on a ranch in Alberta, Canada, near enough to the Rocky Mountains that she can enjoy them on a daily basis. She and her husband raised fourteen childrenâfour homemade, ten adopted. She currently shares her home and life with her husband, a grown son, a live-in paraplegic client and a continual (and welcome) stream of kids, kids-in-law, grandkids, and assorted friends and relatives.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
âIsaiah 9:6
To Christine, my day-after-Christmas baby.
You have brought much joy into our lives and continue to do so.
Contents
December 1882
Twenty-year-old Louise Porter cupped her hands to her rounded belly. How was she to protect this baby, as well as herself and her eighteen-year-old sister-in-law? Where could she go? Where could she find help?
No answer came to mind, but she must get away from that vile man who grew bolder and bolder with his threats and advances.
She turned the corner. Without thought, sheâd walked toward the church. Head down, watching her footing carefully on the rough ground, she made her way toward the spot where theyâd buried her husband six months ago.
Not until she was almost there did she look up and nearly fell backward. Nate Hawkins stood at Gordieâs graveside. Sheâd gotten a fleeting glimpse of him last year on his annual visit to his mother, but still she stared at him, taking in his rumpled dark blond hair and his blue eyes that always made her feel as if he pinned her to the spot where she stood. Heâd filled out in the three years since he left, but he was still tall and slim. His muscular body spoke of hard work and strength.
âNate, I never expected to see you.â Too late she thought to pull her shawl closed to hide her belly.
Nate held his hat in his hand. âI had to come say goodbye to Gordie.â His gaze skittered to her stomach and away. âYou married again?â
âHardly. This is Gordieâs baby.â
âOh.â He shifted from foot to foot. âDonât know if I should say sorry or congratulations.â
âDonât say anything.â She wouldnât tell him that she struggled with similar feelings. A baby to bring up on her own presented challenges. Some she dreaded, but that didnât mean she didnât look forward to welcoming the little one. âIâll leave you to say your goodbye.â She turned back the way sheâd come.
âWait. Donât let me chase you away.â
âI can come back anytime.â She continued on her way, not slowing until she knew she was out of his sight. Then she paused to catch her breath. It was getting harder and harder to move about with her growing size. She patted her tummy as the baby kicked up a storm. âNot much longer, little one,â she murmured. She expected the baby would be born Christmas Day. A Christmas baby. Her heart swelled with anticipated joy.
