Ruth Herne - The Lawman's Yuletide Baby

Her Holiday Hero

Widow Corinne Gallagher’s plans for a peaceful Christmas with her kids go astray when longtime crush Gabe Cutler moves in next door. As if having the hunky state trooper in snowball-throwing distance isn’t distracting enough, Gabe suddenly has custody of an orphaned infant—and is in need of Corinne’s help! She agrees, but her heart draws a line—she can’t fall for another lawman. After a devastating loss, Gabe has avoided fatherhood and love. Yet filled with Corinne and the children, his new house is starting to feel like home. Will Gabe run again, or finally fulfill his secret Christmas wish for a family?

“She likes being snuggled,” Corinne whispered.

“I see that.” Gabe was whispering, too. “I think you’re both enjoying this.”

“Immensely.” She smiled. “The years are flying by with my kids. I miss this.”

Her sweet regret painted another picture for him.

Corinne.

A baby.

A child to raise together.

The thought held an appealing mix of hope for the future. And then panic. His palms went damp, and he backed off from the image instantly.

“Do you want me to take her?” Part of him wanted her to say no while another part longed to protect.

She nodded and handed him Jessie. He leaned back, almost loving the feel of her on his chest, scared about how easy it would be to fall into a trap he couldn’t afford—the trap of love.

He’d been there before and had nothing to show for it, but somehow holding Jessie made it feel almost possible...and that might be scarier yet.

Dear Reader,

I love writing holiday stories. I go a little crazy with twinkle lights, ornaments, heartwarming nativities and Christmas movies! I love the music, the warmth of hymns and carols. I have so much fun decorating and baking and getting together with family. I love the church services, filled with light and hope. I love all of it.

But people who’ve suffered loss may have a very different experience with holidays. The grief, guilt and sorrow can weigh heavily during the holiday season. That was Gabe Cutler’s life since losing his daughter and wife. He buried himself in work every November, and didn’t emerge until the New Year. In his heart, he couldn’t forgive himself for what happened that fateful day, years before.

Corinne blocked herself in a different way. Her loss made her a little control-crazy. She loves her children, but their growing independence rocks her world. She needs to adjust...and it takes a near-tragedy to show her the true lessons of life.

I’m always amazed by God’s timing, and I’m always blessed by the warm responses I get from readers. I love hearing from you! Feel free to friend me on Facebook, come by my website to see what’s happening in Ruthy’s world right now, and join me in Seekerville ( seekerville.blogspot.com) or the Yankee Belle Café ( yankeebellecafe.blogspot.com), where I partner with other delightful authors to talk about faith, family, food...and (of course!) romance!

God bless you and wishing you the very best holiday season ever!

Ruthy

Multipublished bestselling author RUTH LOGAN HERNE loves God, her country, her family, dogs, chocolate and coffee! Married to a very patient man, she lives in an old farmhouse in upstate New York and thinks possums should leave the cat food alone and snakes should always live outside. There are no exceptions to either rule! Visit Ruth at ruthloganherne.com.

The Lawman’s Yuletide Baby

Ruth Logan Herne

www.millsandboon.co.uk

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

—Psalms 34:18

This book marks my twentieth book with Love Inspired, and I am blessed to be part of their outstanding group of authors. I am offering huge thanks, not only for this particular story, but for all those that have come before and are yet to come, to Melissa Endlich, my editor, guide and mentor, the person who took a chance on me in 2009 and launched a beautiful career with a phone message I still have on my voice mail—a voice mail I have never deleted because it marked a bend in the road I longed for all my life. So, to Melissa I say thank you. Thank you so much. And may God bless you.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

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

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

This couldn’t be happening.

Corinne Gallagher watched as the Realtor tacked a Sold sign on the year-round lakefront home less than a hundred feet from hers.

It wasn’t the sign that made her heart take notice.

It was the man shaking the Realtor’s hand.

New York State Trooper Gabe Cutler stood facing the real estate salesperson as if he’d just clinched the deal of a lifetime.

She swallowed hard as his gaze shifted from the Realtor to her.

Her heart ground to a painful stop.

So did her breath.

He stared at her, then her house, then her again.

She stood rooted to the ground, unable or maybe just unwilling to move.

Her twelve-year-old daughter had no such qualms. “Coach!” Theresa, known to the world as “Tee” Gallagher, streaked across the yard beneath a canopy of late October color. The blend of breeze and tinted leaves signaled another change of seasons.

Corinne was determined to ignore the passage of time.

It’s what she did best.

Day by day, year by year, she looked forward, making sure her children were grounded, faithful, safe and kind. She purposely didn’t look right or left. It was a job she did well because Corinne Gallagher did everything well.

“Coach, are you moving into the Penskis’ house for real? Callan won’t believe it!” Tee leaped at him, hugging the man who’d been coaching her brother for the last three years. Three very long years for Corinne to pretend she wasn’t attracted to the decorated state trooper. Three years of watching him counsel and teach youngsters the rules of the game...and the rules of life. Three years of maintaining a distance because she would never willingly put herself in the position to bury another man in uniform.

He couldn’t be moving in next door.

He lived nearly fifteen miles away, toward the south end of Canandaigua Lake, surrounded by vineyards. She’d Googled him on purpose during a weak moment.

Look at you. Stalking the baseball coach.

She hadn’t stalked him. Not really. She’d just been curious. And lonely. And possibly wondering about the man behind the uniform, behind the stubborn set of his jaw as they met weekly to firm up the plans before the upcoming holiday-themed Christkindl festival.

And here he was, one arm around Tee, gazing her way.

This couldn’t be happening.

And yet...it was.

“Coach, is that you?” Fourteen-year-old Callan poked his head out from the sliding glass door leading to the deck. “Are you kidding me? You’re moving in next door? That’s awesome!” The high school freshman loped across the yard, all arms and legs, a boy in the thick of adolescence. He pumped Gabe’s hand, excited, then shoved his hands into his pockets as if unsure what to do with them.