The Texan's Twins
Big Texan ReunionBetween providing for her five-year-old twins and achieving her dream of running a wildlife sanctuary, Danica Bergmann has no room for anything—or anyone—else. So when the wildlife volunteer she’s taken on turns out to be Reid McAllister, her secret husband, who disappeared before she got a chance to reveal she was pregnant, it flips her world upside down. Six years ago he wasn’t worth chasing down, but Danica can tell Reid’s a changed man—and he’s still the only man she’s ever loved. It’s a long road to redemption, but can Danica learn to trust Reid with their children…and their future?
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Big Texan Reunion
Between providing for her five-year-old twins and achieving her dream of running a wildlife sanctuary, Danica Bergmann has no room for anythingâor anyoneâelse. So when the wildlife volunteer sheâs taken on turns out to be Reid McAllister, her secret husband, who disappeared before she got a chance to reveal she was pregnant, it flips her world upside down. Six years ago he wasnât worth chasing down, but Danica can tell Reidâs a changed manâand heâs still the only man sheâs ever loved. Itâs a long road to redemption, but can Danica learn to trust Reid with their children...and their future?
Danica stared him down.
Let him get angry. She didnât care.
Her finger thrust against his rock-hard chest. âI waited for you.â Her voice shook. She squared her shoulders. âWhen I took the first pregnancy test, I was alone. Iâve been alone every step of the way, except for my family. My girls are Bergmanns, and thatâs all they know. You showing up on my doorstep does not change the fact they donât have a father. They never did, and theyâre fineâbetter than fine.â
Mouth open, Reid didnât say a word. From deep in the back of his throat, his voice emerged. âTheyâre mine.â
âNo. You gave up that right when you decided it was easier just to vanish than tell me what was happening. Iâm not talking to you about them.â
Unable to deal with his self-inflicted wounds any longer, she marched past him and into the office. Slamming the door felt better than it should.
A seventh-generation Texan, JOLENE NAVARRO fills her life with family, faith and lifeâs beautiful messiness. She knows that as much as the world changes, people stay the same: vow-keepers and heartbreakers. Jolene married a vow-keeper who shows her holding hands never gets old. When not writing, Jolene teaches art to inner-city teens and hangs out with her own four almost-grown kids. Find Jolene on Facebook or her blog, jolenenavarrowriter.com.
He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
âMicah 7:19
This book is dedicated to the tribe of women
that I get the blessing of calling my aunts. Kathy, Dollye, Nellie, Molly, Jan, Melody and in memory of Trish. Thank you for being role models and inspiration throughout my entire life.
I canât go without acknowledging the people
that have made the dream of being a writer my real life.
The brainteam: Alexandra Sokoloffâs
2016 group at West Texas Writerâs Academy. Also Sasha, Storm and Damon. And a special thanks to Jeannie Lyons for all her help. And Matt Sherley for the insight into the background information of Reidâs arrest.
To my agent, Pam Hopkins, for believing in me
even when I completely doubt myself.
To my editor, Emily Rodmell.
Thank you for working so hard to make my stories the best they can be.
Contents
The numbers blurred on the computer screen as the reality of Danicaâs financial situation became clear. The bank statement bore the proof that her dream of a thriving animal sanctuary was morphing into a nightmare. She rubbed her eyes and opened the grant proposal file.
Linda Edward had trusted her to take care of the fur babies. Danicaâs father thought it was a waste of time and money, but it wasnât only her dream in jeopardy. The animals depended on the facility. There were a couple of big cats and a crippled bear that had nowhere else to go.
She leaned back and sighed. Was she fighting so hard just to prove her father wrong? He had always been right before. Glancing above her desk, she took the time to count her blessings.
Most days, the montage of family pictures and her daughtersâ artwork inspired her. Including one photo with her and her mother bottle-feeding an injured fawn. It had been taken the week before her motherâs accident. Danica had been the same age her twins were now when she lost her mother.
Her sisters reassured her their mom would be one hundred percent on board with the sanctuary. Nikki, her oldest sister, told her to ignore her fatherâs grumbling. It was just his way of dealing with anxiety. With her history, he had a good reason to worry.
Scanning the happy memories and big life events, she realized one was missing. The only photo from her wedding. It was hidden away in her room, deep in her closet. Sheâd thought about burning it, but one day her twins might have questions.
Her daughters. Her fingertips brushed the rhinestone clusters along the edge of the frame the girls had made. They had their fatherâs beautiful eyes. As much as Reidâs abandonment had almost destroyed her, heâd also given her the greatest gift. Her five-year-old twins inspired her to be a fighter.
