Rachelle McCalla - Twin Threat Christmas - One Silent Night / Danger in the Manger

Separated twin sisters are reunited at Christmas in these two connected novellas

One Silent Night

Framed for murder and on the run from her kidnappers, Vanessa Jackson secretly hides her infant son in a safe place and flees for a wooded cabin. There she finds her childhood friend Eric Tomlin—a man she must trust with her life...and her family’s future.

The Danger in the Manger

Alyssa Jackson is shocked to find a baby in her Christmas manger. But the message on the infant’s T-shirt tells Alyssa the child must be her nephew. Alyssa believes her twin sister, presumed dead for years, is still alive. With the help of handsome police officer Chris Jensen, Alyssa goes on a dangerous search for the truth to reunite her family for Christmas.

Sammy was asleep when Vanessa placed his car seat in the concrete manger of the life-size nativity scene in front of her sister’s house.

She felt a pang of doubt. Was she right to leave the baby with her sister? It was going to be difficult enough to run with the girls. Sammy needed frequent feedings and diaper changes. The girls, at least, could stay quiet when they needed to.

He’d be safer with Alyssa. Wouldn’t he? Vanessa looked at the concrete sculptures of Mary and Joseph, poised protectively over the manger. Mary’s expression of love and concern seemed to say she’d look over the child.

Vanessa knew she didn’t dare linger, no matter how much she wished she could see her sister. She hadn’t laid eyes on her since she was kidnapped eight years ago. If Alyssa saw her, she’d have to take the time to explain, and that would endanger them all.

Twin Threat Christmas: Two novellas of twin sisters separated by danger who reunite and find their matches during a dangerous holiday season.

RACHELLE McCALLA

writes books with kissing, praying and dead bodies. She is a pastor’s wife, mother of four and holds a Master of Divinity degree. When she is not writing, she can be found sneaking vegetables into her kids’ food. Sometimes she even sneaks vegetables into her books. That may explain why her readers have such a healthy glow.

Twin Threat Christmas

One Silent Night

Danger in the Manger

Rachelle McCalla

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text Separated twin sisters are reunited at Christmas in these two connected novellas One Silent Night Framed for murder and on the run from her kidnappers, Vanessa Jackson secretly hides her infant son in a safe place and flees for a wooded cabin. There she finds her childhood friend Eric Tomlin—a man she must trust with her life...and her family’s future. The Danger in the Manger Alyssa Jackson is shocked to find a baby in her Christmas manger. But the message on the infant’s T-shirt tells Alyssa the child must be her nephew. Alyssa believes her twin sister, presumed dead for years, is still alive. With the help of handsome police officer Chris Jensen, Alyssa goes on a dangerous search for the truth to reunite her family for Christmas.

Introduction Sammy was asleep when Vanessa placed his car seat in the concrete manger of the life-size nativity scene in front of her sister’s house. She felt a pang of doubt. Was she right to leave the baby with her sister? It was going to be difficult enough to run with the girls. Sammy needed frequent feedings and diaper changes. The girls, at least, could stay quiet when they needed to. He’d be safer with Alyssa. Wouldn’t he? Vanessa looked at the concrete sculptures of Mary and Joseph, poised protectively over the manger. Mary’s expression of love and concern seemed to say she’d look over the child. Vanessa knew she didn’t dare linger, no matter how much she wished she could see her sister. She hadn’t laid eyes on her since she was kidnapped eight years ago. If Alyssa saw her, she’d have to take the time to explain, and that would endanger them all. Twin Threat Christmas: Two novellas of twin sisters separated by danger who reunite and find their matches during a dangerous holiday season.

About the Author RACHELLE McCALLA writes books with kissing, praying and dead bodies. She is a pastor’s wife, mother of four and holds a Master of Divinity degree. When she is not writing, she can be found sneaking vegetables into her kids’ food. Sometimes she even sneaks vegetables into her books. That may explain why her readers have such a healthy glow.

Title Page Twin Threat Christmas One Silent Night Danger in the Manger Rachelle McCalla www.millsandboon.co.uk

One Silent Night One Silent Night Rachelle McCalla

Dedication To all who have ever been lost. May you find your way home again.

Bible Verse Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. —Matthew 10:29–31

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

Danger in the Manger

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

EPILOGUE

Dear Reader

Questions for Discussion

Extract

Copyright

One Silent Night

Rachelle McCalla

To all who have ever been lost.

May you find your way home again.

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?

Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

—Matthew 10:29–31

ONE

She couldn’t breathe. Vanessa had feared this moment for years, envisioned it repeatedly over the past few months, watched it play out time after time in her nightmares. And yet, for all its familiarity, nothing could match the terror she felt now that it was actually happening.

It was worse than she’d imagined it.

The black Land Rover pulled into the middle of the driveway.

The middle! Why block the entire double-lane driveway? Why today?

Because they didn’t want anyone to get out alive, that was why.

“Mommy, Mommy!” Emma tugged at Vanessa’s shirt. “My apple juice!”

Vanessa sucked in enough air to speak. “Yes, Emma. I have your apple juice right here. You can drink it in the car. We’re going to do the quiet drill again. Remember the quiet drill?”

To Vanessa’s relief, her four-year-old’s eyes lit up. “The quiet drill. Yes! But Sammy is napping.”

“I know, sweetheart.” Vanessa handed her daughter the sippy cup of juice. “It will be okay. Can you get your jacket on? And tell Abby. Remember to whisper. Everything will be okay.” Vanessa spoke the last words as much for her own reassurance as for Emma’s. She gave her daughter an encouraging smile, then glanced back out the basement-level window in time to see an all-too-familiar pair of black shoes looking not too out of place in the quiet suburban cul-de-sac.

And boots. Two pairs. No, three.

Virgil had extra guns with him today.

Of course he did. He’d told Jeff on his last visit there wouldn’t be another warning. His money or his life...and the lives of Vanessa and the children.

As always, Jeff had made the deal without consulting her. Vanessa had no intention of letting him bargain with their lives. She’d been preparing ever since, hiding emergency supplies in the garage, ready to go. Drilling the children on a swift and silent evacuation. She was ready—as prepared as anyone ever could be.