Aimee Thurlo - Homespun Christmas

“Do you know what I see when I look at you?”

Myka shook her head and waited, almost holding her breath.

“I see a woman who’s done her best for everyone, and who never hesitates to lend a helping hand.”

She smiled. “I appreciate you saying that, but that’s not what I’m going to see until I find Bear.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less from you,” he said, then kissed her on the forehead. “My dad was very lucky to have a friend like you.”

As she looked up, the tenderness in Joshua’s gaze took her breath away. Her heart ached to feel his arms around her, to feel safe and protected again.

Almost as if he’d read her mind, he pulled her to him. She didn’t resist. It was too tempting, and even if it was only for a moment, she needed to feel loved for who she was….

Dear Reader,

Many years ago, my grandmother taught me how to crochet and knit. At the time, I’m sure it was simply a way of keeping me busy while she worked on her projects, but her passion became my own. In her way, she inspired this book.

I was crocheting and watching a football game with my husband when I saw a commercial about the plight of small company towns all over the U.S. Due to the recession, many were at a crossroads—having to reinvent themselves or face extinction. That’s when the idea for Homespun Christmas was born. It’s a story about the strength our country shows when the chips are down and a community that comes together to survive, finding blessings far beyond economic relief.

Myka Solis and Joshua Nez saw their dreams fall by the wayside, yet they work to rebuild their lives, finding strength in each other and daring to dream again. Christmas is a time filled with traditions large and small. In this season of love and renewal, come and join us in celebrating a true New Mexico style Christmas.

Aimée

Homespun Christmas

Aimée Thurlo

www.millsandboon.co.uk

AIMÉE THURLOAimée Thurlo is an internationally known bestselling author of mystery and romantic suspense novels. She’s the winner of a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews, a New Mexico Book Award in contemporary fiction and a Willa Cather Award in the same category.

Aimée was born in Havana, Cuba, and lives with her husband of forty-three years in Corrales, New Mexico, in a rural neighborhood filled with horses, alpacas, camels and other assorted livestock. Her husband, David, was raised on the Navajo Indian Nation. His background and cultural knowledge inspire many of her stories.

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Dedication

With special thanks to Sydney Abernathy for her help. You’re a terrific assistant!

Acknowledgments

To Michele Kiser, who helped me by sharing her knowledge of Churro Sheep. Also to State Senator Steve Komadina, M.D., who allowed me to get to know his camels and learn about their wool. You guys were terrific!

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

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER ONE

INDEPENDENCE, NEW MEXICO, was buzzing with the news. The bad boy was back in town.

Joshua Nez had captured the hearts of half the girls in high school. She hadn’t been immune, even though they’d run in different circles. Myka Solis smiled, thinking of those carefree days. She’d been head cheerleader, the quarterback’s girlfriend, and a straight-A student. Joshua had been trouble with a capital T.

Although her parents hadn’t approved of Joshua, living next door to each other had made avoiding him almost impossible. She’d soon learned that just being around Joshua added a high voltage charge to everything. He’d followed no one’s rules except his own.

Sophie Boyer, her neighbor from across the street, called out to her as she hurried up the driveway.

“I understand he’s coming in with a rental van,” she said, catching her breath.

No need to ask who she meant.

Like Myka, Sophie was dark haired, petite and twenty-eight years old.

“Makes sense,” Myka said. “He’ll have to sort through his dad’s things and pack up everything he doesn’t want to keep. Considering Adam had a lot of stuff, that’s going to be a tough job. I thought I’d offer to help.”

Sophie smiled.

“No, don’t go there, Sophie. It’s just the right thing to do. From what I’ve heard, Navajos don’t like being around the personal possessions of someone who has passed on. I figured I could help him box the stuff he doesn’t want and give it to the church.”

“Yeah, a number of people around here could use the donations,” Sophie said, nodding somberly. “You and I are the lucky ones, despite the fact that my only job is nursing Mom. At least you have your online business while you take care of your parents’ home.”

Sophie’s mother, Millie Boyer, had just turned sixty-seven. She’d broken her hip after a fall last winter and Sophie came home from Albuquerque. As her mom’s primary caregiver, Sophie was paid a small sum by the state, and between that and her mother’s social security, they got by.

Myka suspected there was a lot more to Sophie’s story, but she hadn’t pried. For now, the details of Sophie’s life in the city remained a mystery.

“Did you get a chance to talk to Joshua at Adam’s—I was going to say graveside service, but it was a burial, right?”

Myka nodded. “When his grandfather died years ago, Joshua told me burials take place as quickly as possible. It’s like the belongings of the deceased, a lot of Navajos believe it’s dangerous to be around the body, too.”

“How come?”

“Something about the person’s ghost, I think,” Myka said, bunching the edge of her shirt and tugging nervously at it. Seeing Sophie glance down and taking note of it, she stopped instantly.

“I’m sorry, Myka. I shouldn’t have brought it up. I’m sure this brings back all kinds of memories for you. Losing your husband so young...”

“Tanner’s been gone two years.” Myka took a deep, shaky breath. “It doesn’t hurt as much as it used to, but I try to avoid things that remind me so directly...of what happened.”

“I understand,” her neighbor said softly.

Once again, there was that haunting undertone in Sophie’s voice. Myka suspected that life hadn’t been particularly kind to Sophie, either.

“Everything is so different these days,” Sophie added. “An entire generation is disappearing. Mom warned me that things were going downhill here, but I didn’t realize the magnitude of it until I saw the town for myself.”

Their town, Independence, was dying, and too many of their residents had left already. For the past half century, theirs had been a company town. Independence Vehicle Accessories, IVA, hadn’t been the only domestic supplier of steering wheels and other vehicle interior “hardware” in the nation—far from it—but the plant’s employees had taken special pride in their work. Then, eighteen months ago, the economy took a nose dive, and IVA shut down.