Mail-Order Christmas Baby. Sherri Shackelford

      

      The Rancher’s Special Delivery

      The “package” is addressed to him, but rancher Sterling Blackwell certainly didn’t order a baby! More scandalous still, he and the town’s pretty teacher are named as parents. With gossip running wild, only a marriage of convenience can protect little Gracie and their reputations until her real family is found.

      Heather O’Connor is content to be the spinster schoolmarm of Valentine, Montana...until Gracie’s arrival stirs her heart. She can’t keep the adorable child without Sterling’s help, though she promises not to interfere with his life. But staying aloof from her handsome husband isn’t easy with a tiny matchmaker in tow. A mistake brought them together, but love might just make them a family by Christmas...

      Heather wasn’t playing fair, ambushing Sterling like this, but she’d run out of options.

      She’d been mulling the problem over for the past three days, and during that time, she’d fallen hopelessly in love with Gracie. She’d considered all her options and had come to the conclusion that Sterling was her only choice.

      While all of her reasons were sound, she recognized that Sterling didn’t have as much incentive for taking on the two of them. He didn’t know what it felt like to be unwanted.

      “I don’t...” He appeared to be struggling with some sort of internal battle. “I mean to say...” He tipped his head to one side. “Are you certain?”

      “Yes. I’m certain.”

      Gracie needed a home.

      Heather had an uneasy premonition she’d been thrown together with the one man who could break her heart, which meant extra vigilance was in order. Love was serious business, but as long as he stayed the same carefree man who made her laugh, they’d do fine together.

      She’d made a solemn vow that Gracie would never feel unwanted, and she meant to keep that vow, no matter the personal cost.

      Dear Reader,

      When the United States Post Office began delivering packages in 1913, there were few regulations on what folks could send through the mail. The postmaster general humorously (I assume) discussed the propriety of sending infants through the post. He concluded that babies did not fall into the category of bees and bugs, the only live things allowed in the mail delivery.

      Despite the postmaster’s declaration, there are a few instances of children being sent through the post. These were mostly publicity stunts staged by people sending children short distances. There are, however, a few documented cases of children being sent greater distances before the post office ended the practice. The regulations were rewritten to declare that children were not “harmless live animals which do not require food and water during transit.”

      I began this story with a simple premise: What if someone mailed a child through the post to an unsuspecting recipient?

      I hope you enjoyed Sterling and Heather’s story. I enjoyed writing about a new town in a new state. My husband spent part of his military career in the great state of Montana, and his admiration for the dauntless people who inhabit the beautiful land inspired me.

      I love connecting with readers and would enjoy hearing your thoughts on this story. If you’re interested in learning more about this book or others in my previous series, Prairie Courtships, visit my website at sherrishackelford.com, email me at [email protected], visit me on Facebook at Facebook.com/sherrishackelfordauthor or on twitter @smshackelford, or connect through my favorite mode of communication, old-fashioned snail mail, at PO Box 116, Elkhorn, NE 68022.

      Thanks for reading!

      Sherri Shackelford

      SHERRI SHACKELFORD is an award-winning author of inspirational books featuring ordinary people discovering extraordinary love. A reformed pessimist, Sherri has a passion for storytelling. Her books are fast-paced and heartfelt with a generous dose of humor. She loves to hear from readers at [email protected]. Visit her website at sherrishackelford.com.

      Mail-Order Christmas Baby

      Sherri Shackelford

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      MILLS & BOON

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      Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves,

       but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written,

       Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

      —Romans 12:19

      Early in my career, I was blessed with the friendship of two amazing authors. Thank you to Cheryl St.John and Victoria Alexander. These two amazing, talented authors were willing to take precious time out of their demanding schedules to help this (clueless) fledgling writer. Thank you for sharing your humor, wisdom and unflinching honesty with selfless grace. You set a standard to which many aspire, and very few achieve.

      Contents

       Cover

       Back Cover Text

       Introduction

       Dear Reader

       About the Author

       Title Page

       Bible Verse

       Dedication

       Chapter One

       Chapter Two

       Chapter