A Texas Thanksgiving. Margaret Daley

      

       “I want to make it clear that I will pay for my dinner and Ellie’s.”

      Evan shook his head. “I invited you.”

      “No, you didn’t,” Julia said. “Your daughter did.”

      “That’s the same thing.” His sharp gaze drilled into her, his mouth firmed in a hard line.

      “Sorry, I pay my own way.”

      He smiled. “Did anyone ever tell you that you’re stubborn?”

      “Oh, on a number of occasions.”

      Evan glanced toward the doorway that led to the hall. “While the girls are still playing, I have a question. Why did you correct me earlier when I called you Mrs. Saunders?”

       Homecoming Heroes: Saving children and finding love deep in the heart of Texas

       Mission: Motherhood —Marta Perry

       July 2008

       Lone Star Secret —Lenora Worth

       August 2008

       At His Command —Brenda Coulter

       September 2008

       A Matter of the Heart —Patricia Davids

       October 2008

       A Texas Thanksgiving —Margaret Daley

       November 2008

       Homefront Holiday —Jillian Hart

       December 2008

       MARGARET DALEY

      feels she has been blessed. She has been married more than thirty years to her husband, Mike, whom she met in college. He is a terrific support and her best friend. They have one son, Shaun. Margaret has been writing for many years and loves to tell a story. When she was a little girl, she would play with her dolls and make up stories about their lives. Now she writes these stories down. She especially enjoys weaving stories about families and how faith in God can sustain a person when things get tough. When she isn’t writing, she is fortunate to be a teacher for students with special needs. Margaret has taught for over twenty years and loves working with her students. She has also been a Special Olympics coach and participated in many sports with her students.

       A Texas Thanksgiving

       Margaret Daley

      Special thanks and acknowledgment to Margaret Daley for her contribution to the Homecoming Heroes miniseries.

      Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him and bless his name.

      — Psalms 100:4

      To three special girls,

       Ashley, Alexa and Abbey

      Contents

       Chapter One

       Chapter Two

       Chapter Three

       Chapter Four

       Chapter Five

       Chapter Six

       Chapter Seven

       Chapter Eight

       Chapter Nine

       Chapter Ten

       Chapter Eleven

       Chapter Twelve

       Epilogue

       Questions for Discussion

       Chapter One

       “A m I glad you are finally here, Julia. I need help!”

      Olga Terenkov, dressed in a jean skirt with a leather vest, cowboy boots and large pieces of turquoise jewelry, planted herself in front of Julia Saunders.

      “What’s the problem?” Julia asked and placed her cherry pie on the dessert table.

      “Too many pets. When I decided to have Show and Pet for the children, I never thought they would bring everything from a boa to a pig! Those are not pets!” In her exasperation, Olga’s Russian accent became heavier.

      “And my daughter just brought a goldfish,” Julia said and peered around the grief counselor to search for Ellie among the crowd of parishioners at the church picnic. Her daughter had raced toward her friends the second she’d climbed from the car. Ellie stood in the middle of a group of children showing them her new and only pet swimming in its plastic bowl.

      Leading a pony, a little girl with light brown shoulder-length hair joined the group of kids. Her daughter immediately latched on to the cute animal, holding her small fishbowl in one hand and stroking the pony with the other. Ellie, even though she was only five, wanted to learn to ride ever since they had arrived at Prairie Springs from Chicago four months ago. Julia was sure she would hear about her daughter’s renewed longing later that night.

      Olga gestured toward the newest arrival. “See? Next someone will bring a rat.”

      “What can I do to help?”

      “I need someone to get the Show and Pet organized, to be in charge. I thought all we would have were a few cats and dogs. Where are the normal pets?” The older woman threw her arms up in the air. “I’ve got Paige’s dad to help, too. I need all the animals moved over there.” Olga pointed toward an area roped off with a few temporary pens set up. “Can you do that for me?”

      “I was supposed to help Anna with the food.”

      “Oh, she’s got more than enough with David, Caitlyn and Steve. See?” Olga fluttered her hand toward the end of the long tables.

      “Then, sure. I’d be happy to help with the pets.” This from a woman who had never owned a pet, except now—a low-maintenance goldfish. Julia spied her friend Anna giving instructions to a small army of volunteers and wished she could take back her words. She would be better handling the food.

      “Who’s Paige’s dad?” Julia asked, still learning all the children’s names. This was only her third Sunday attending Prairie Springs Christian Church.

      “You see that handsome cowboy over there?” Olga nodded her head in the direction of the group of children Ellie was in the midst of. “That’s Paige’s dad, Evan Paterson.”

      Julia found the man Olga indicated. He was the picture of a quintessential Texan cowboy one would see in an ad campaign. His image had plagued her dreams since her first glimpse of him from across the room at Ellie’s elementary school. Her daughter had talked about Paige, but Julia hadn’t realized the connection between Ellie’s classmate and the tall, lean man with sandy brown hair and the bluest eyes she’d ever seen.

      “I’m surprised you don’t know him. Paige and Ellie are in the same kindergarten class. That’s Paige with your daughter. She brought the pony.”

      For a few seconds Julia studied the little girl, who had befriended her daughter, before she again found herself zeroing in on the Texan cowboy. “I saw him at Back to School Night a few weeks ago, but we didn’t meet. I didn’t realize he went to this church.”

      “He goes to the early service, and don’t you attend the late one?”

      “Yes.”

      “Well, then I will introduce you two, and you can start getting that menagerie under control.” Olga spun around and moved toward the group of children.

      Julia heaved a sigh and followed. Every alarm in her body went off the closer she came to the kids and Evan Paterson. There was something about the man that reminded her of—

      “Evan, I want you to meet Julia Saunders. I’ve talked