A Daddy for Christmas
Single mother Ellie Grantâs little girl only wants one thing for Christmas: a daddy. But after adopting Gracie and losing her fiancé, Ellie made a vow to focus on motherhoodânot romance. But the five-year-old has her sights set on veterinarian Wyatt Wright, a handsome widowed father whose toddler son means an instant brother. Ellie knows that Wyattâs heart is as closed to love as hers is. Yet when Wyatt also starts working at Wranglers Ranch, Ellie canât deny her growing feelings. Now her daughterâs fondest wish might make two families into one just in time for Christmas.
âWhat if I spend some time with Gracie, just to clear up this daddy notion of hers?â Wyatt asked.
âIn exchange for what?â Ellieâs eyes searched his face.
âFor you watching my son for a few hours. I know Iâm getting the better deal, but Gracie obviously needs someone to talk to. And I need help with Cade.â
âBut the evenings, before bedtime, those are special daddy moments you shouldnât miss with Cade,â she protested.
âSomething has to give, Ellie.â He hated admitting that. âI have to work and keep our home up.â
âI have just one condition,â Ellie said.
âName it.â
âYou have to agree that this is simply an arrangement between friends and nothing more. Iâm not looking for a father for Gracie or a relationship for myself. I need you to be clear on that, Wyatt. Strictly friends.â
âAgreed,â he said with a nod, relief swelling. âI donât want any romantic entanglements, either.â He grinned at her and thrust out his hand. âDeal, friend?â
Ellie took her time but finally she shook hands with him. âDeal.â
Dear Reader,
Welcome back to Wranglers Ranch where lifeâs so busy an on-staff nurse and veterinarian are necessary. But these two single parents arenât interested in finding someone to love. Itâs going to take some strong-minded love to bring Ellie and Wyatt together. Fortunately thereâs a little girl determined to get a daddy for Christmas whether or not itâs on her momâs list.
I hope youâve enjoyed Wyatt and Ellieâs struggle to understand Godâs love is always there, waiting for us to come home to it. Join me next time at Wranglers Ranch where youâre always welcome.
I love to hear from you: write me via Facebook, www.loisricher.com, [email protected] or snail mail at Box 639, Nipawin, SK S0E 1E0, Canada.
I wish you a Merry Christmas as together we celebrate the greatest gift ever given. May His love penetrate your heart and soul as you move toward a future He has prepared just for you.
Blessings,
LOIS RICHER loves traveling, swimming and quilting, but mostly she loves writing stories that show Godâs boundless love for His precious children. As she says, âHis love never changes or gives up. Itâs always waiting for me. My stories feature imperfect characters learning that love doesnât mean attaining perfection. Love is about keeping on keeping on.â You can contact Lois via email, [email protected], or on Facebook (loisricherauthor).
Whatever your hands find to do,
do it with your might.
âEcclesiastes 9:10
This book is dedicated to my nephew Drew,
who is on the way to discovering his future. God bless you, Drew.
Chapter One
âThat little boy would be a good brother, wouldnât he, Mommy?â
Wyatt Wright stifled his groan. Not another one. Heâd been in this grocery story almost twenty minutes, and heâd put only three things from his list into his basket, thanks to his sonâs many female admirers. At least, thatâs how he preferred to think of the women who used Cade to open a conversation with him.
Only this time Cadeâs fan sounded like a little kid.
âHeâs a cutie all riââ A womanâs light, cheery voice paused. âUh-oh.â
Intrigued by the way warning overtook her amusement, Wyatt did something heâd vowed not to. He looked directly at the stranger and spoke to her.
âIs something wrong?â
She peered at Cade. âYour son is about to be sick.â
Clear gray eyes set in a heart-shaped face met his, empty of the coy look he often saw in the ladies who wereâhow did he say it without sounding conceited?âlooking to make his acquaintance. And yet Wyatt didnât get the impression that he was the attraction here, given the coolly polite smile that lifted this womanâs pink lips. Still, he couldnât help but admire her flaxen hair as it tumbled to her shoulders in an attractive disarray of curls. She wore a pale blue sundress, probably in deference to the heat of a late-October evening in Tucson, that flirted around her tanned legs.
Cade was sick? That was an opening gambit he hadnât heard before. Of course she was wrong. Wyatt had been eighteen-month-old Cadeâs sole parent for over a year. He knew all aboutâ