Her Holiday Family
THE CHRISTMAS CHILDRENReserved widow Eileen Pierce never considered herself the kind of woman who was cut out to be a mother. She wouldn't know what to do with one child, much less ten. But when handyman Simon Tucker is stranded in town with a group of young orphans at Christmastime, she discovers she can't just turn them away.Simon knows there's more to Eileen than meets the eye. Though his easygoing demeanor immediately clashes with her buttoned-up propriety, Simon's kindness soon melts Eileen's stern facade. Simon and the children already upended Eileen's quiet, orderly life. Will they do the same to her guarded heart?Texas Grooms: In search of their brides…
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THE CHRISTMAS CHILDREN
Reserved widow Eileen Pierce never considered herself the kind of woman who was cut out to be a mother. She wouldnât know what to do with one child, much less ten. But when handyman Simon Tucker is stranded in town with a group of young orphans at Christmastime, she discovers she canât just turn them away.
Simon knows thereâs more to Eileen than meets the eye. Though his easygoing demeanor immediately clashes with her buttoned-up propriety, Simonâs kindness soon melts Eileenâs stern facade. Simon and the children already upended Eileenâs quiet, orderly life. Will they do the same to her guarded heart?
Texas Grooms: In search of their bridesâ¦
Eileen knew she should not be focusing on Simonâs charming smile.
âIâve always heard one should be cautious when dealing with a woman who insists on having the last word.â Simon shook his head with an exaggeratedly solemn expression that was belied by the twinkle in his eyes.
âAs you should be. Most women with that trait tend to have a quick mind and a sharp wit.â
He chuckled. âIâll keep that in mind.â And with a wave, he turned and sauntered away.
Had they actually been flirting? Eileen shook her head to clear it. Time to concentrate her efforts on something productive, like the mending that sat in her sewing basket.
Strange, though, how difficult it had become to complete even the simplest of tasks. Surely it was due to nothing more than the presence of so many houseguests.
As she accidentally jabbed the needle into her thumb, she acknowledged that perhaps there just might be something more specific tugging at her focus.
WINNIE GRIGGS
is a city girl born and raised in southeast Louisianaâs Cajun Country, who grew up to marry a country boy from the hills of northwest Louisiana. Though her Prince Charming (who often wears the guise of a cattle rancher) is more comfortable riding a tractor than a white steed, the two of them have been living their own happily-ever-after for thirty-plus years. During that time they raised four proud-to-call-them-mine children and a too-numerous-to-count assortment of dogs, cats, fish, hamsters, turtles and 4-H sheep.
Winnie retired from her âday job,â and now, in addition to her reading and writing, happily spends her time doing the things she loves bestâspending time with her family, cooking and exploring flea markets.
Readers can contact Winnie at P.O. Box 14, Plain Dealing, LA 71064, or email her at [email protected].
If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this oneâs religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God our Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
âJames 1:26â27
To my marvelous Starbucks writing buddies, Connie and Amy, who helped me smooth over rough spots and figure out what direction to take my characters when I lost my way.
And to my wonderful editor, Melissa Endlich, who always helps me tweak my stories and nudges me to take my writing to the next level.
Contents
Turnabout, Texas November 1896
Simon stood at the front of the church with hat in hand, trying very hard not to look as rattled as he felt. Ten orphan kidsâTEN!âall looking to him to turn this disaster around and set their world to rights again. What in blue blazes did a bachelor like him know about taking care of kids, especially so many of them?
When heâd agreed to this venture he sure hadnât counted on ending up as the sole caretaker of these kids. But they were his responsibility now, and heâd have to see it through.
Sending up a silent âLord help meâ prayer, Simon made himself smile in what he hoped was a relaxed, neighborly fashion as he watched the members of the small-town congregation file into the hastily called emergency meeting. He and the kids were strangers hereâdidnât know a soulâand he had no idea what to expect from these people. If they didnât help him, he wasnât sure what in the world he was going to do.
The children stood lined up in front of him, and they edged closer together as the church began to fill. Some of them held hands, as if trying to draw strength from each other. He could do with a bit of that himself, but unfortunately he was on his ownâjust like always.
Fern, a much-too-serious thirteen-year-old, was looking out for the youngest, as usual. Three-year-old Molly and four-year-old Joey stood on either side of her, holding on to her hand. He quickly checked over the rest of them, feeling a little kick of relief at the way they held themselves. He knew they were worried and scared, but not one of them uttered a word, and all the tears had been dried before they left the confusion of the train depot. Miss Fredrick had taught them well.
