Deb Kastner - Yuletide Baby

A Christmas Surprise

Shawn O’Riley is shocked to find a baby girl abandoned at his church on Christmas Eve. He’s a pastor and a cowboy—not a daddy! Haunted by family tragedy, he’s not sure he can risk his heart to baby Noelle—or to anyone else. But he needs help. Experienced foster mom Heather Lewis was anticipating a quiet holiday. When Shawn pops up at her door, she’s happy to show him the ropes of baby care—but isn’t prepared for the way he melts the walls around her heart. Can Shawn and Heather give each other the best Christmas gift of all—family and love?

Cowboy Country: Surprise babies lead to unexpected love in Texas

“What are we going to do with an abandoned baby on Christmas Eve?”

“I suppose one of us could drive her to San Antonio,” suggested the police officer who’d come to the scene.

“And do what with her once you get there?” Heather asked.

Shawn thought he detected an edge of panic in her voice and discreetly narrowed his eyes on the local foster mother.

Yes, there it was. She was afraid for this baby. So was Shawn.

“I just can’t help but feel this baby was sent to us, to our town, to this church,” he said.

To me. He wasn’t about to say those words out loud, but he was certainly thinking about them.

“If we’re not going to take Noelle to San Antonio tonight,” the officer said, “then what are we going to do with her?”

Shawn took a deep breath and stepped out onto the high wire, knowing there was no net below him. He stared into the stormy blue-eyed gaze of baby Noelle.

“I’ll take care of her.”

DEB KASTNER

lives and writes in colorful Colorado with the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains for inspiration. She loves writing for Love Inspired Books, where she can write about her two favorite things—faith and love. Her characters range from upbeat and humorous to (her favorite) dark and broody heroes. Her plots fall anywhere in between, from a playful romp to the deeply emotional. Deb’s books have been twice nominated for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Book of the Year for Love Inspired. Deb and her husband share their home with their two youngest daughters. Deb is thrilled about the newest member of the family—her first granddaughter, Isabella. What fun to be a granny! Deb loves to hear from her readers. You can contact her by email at DEBWRTR@aol.com, or on her MySpace or Facebook pages.

Yuletide Baby

Deb Kastner

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,

Because His compassions fail not.

They are new every morning,

Great is Your faithfulness,

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,

Therefore I hope in Him.

—Lamentations 3:22–24

To Alex and Annie Baer.

May God bless your marriage in every way,

and may your love for one another grow stronger

every day. Love to you both, and Izzie, too!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text A Christmas Surprise Shawn O’Riley is shocked to find a baby girl abandoned at his church on Christmas Eve. He’s a pastor and a cowboy—not a daddy! Haunted by family tragedy, he’s not sure he can risk his heart to baby Noelle—or to anyone else. But he needs help. Experienced foster mom Heather Lewis was anticipating a quiet holiday. When Shawn pops up at her door, she’s happy to show him the ropes of baby care—but isn’t prepared for the way he melts the walls around her heart. Can Shawn and Heather give each other the best Christmas gift of all—family and love? Cowboy Country: Surprise babies lead to unexpected love in Texas

Introduction “What are we going to do with an abandoned baby on Christmas Eve?” “I suppose one of us could drive her to San Antonio,” suggested the police officer who’d come to the scene. “And do what with her once you get there?” Heather asked. Shawn thought he detected an edge of panic in her voice and discreetly narrowed his eyes on the local foster mother. Yes, there it was. She was afraid for this baby. So was Shawn. “I just can’t help but feel this baby was sent to us, to our town, to this church,” he said. To me. He wasn’t about to say those words out loud, but he was certainly thinking about them. “If we’re not going to take Noelle to San Antonio tonight,” the officer said, “then what are we going to do with her?” Shawn took a deep breath and stepped out onto the high wire, knowing there was no net below him. He stared into the stormy blue-eyed gaze of baby Noelle. “I’ll take care of her.”

About the Author DEB KASTNER lives and writes in colorful Colorado with the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains for inspiration. She loves writing for Love Inspired Books, where she can write about her two favorite things—faith and love. Her characters range from upbeat and humorous to (her favorite) dark and broody heroes. Her plots fall anywhere in between, from a playful romp to the deeply emotional. Deb’s books have been twice nominated for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Book of the Year for Love Inspired. Deb and her husband share their home with their two youngest daughters. Deb is thrilled about the newest member of the family—her first granddaughter, Isabella. What fun to be a granny! Deb loves to hear from her readers. You can contact her by email at DEBWRTR@aol.com, or on her MySpace or Facebook pages.

Title Page Yuletide Baby Deb Kastner www.millsandboon.co.uk

Bible Verse Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning, Great is Your faithfulness, “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, Therefore I hope in Him. —Lamentations 3:22–24

Dedication To Alex and Annie Baer. May God bless your marriage in every way, and may your love for one another grow stronger every day. Love to you both, and Izzie, too!

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Questions for Discussion

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

S ilent night. Holy night.

Pastor Shawn O’Riley pulled in a deep breath, savoring the rich combination of scents. Poinsettias and evergreens.

Christmas.

He relished the deep peace of the now-empty chapel and was grateful for the blessed evening, although he was equally glad it was finished. Christmas Eve for a pastor could be rather stressful, especially for a simple cowboy preacher who worked on the land for a living and pastored the little church part-time. He’d mended as many literal fences for the neighbors as he had spiritual ones, but he loved every second of it—all of it. Especially, on a night like tonight.

Not many knew of all the behind-the-scenes effort needed to pull the more complicated church services together. The children’s nativity pageant had gone off without a hitch—give or take a few easily distracted preschool-aged angels and a donkey who couldn’t stand still long enough to recite his single line. The parents had loved it and the children had enjoyed performing, and that was all that really mattered to Shawn.

Following that had been the Christmas Eve midnight service, which was one of his favorites, starting with beloved carols and ending in the tranquility of candlelight.

All is calm. All is bright.

And it was. The atmosphere couldn’t be more silent and serene. So why did he have a niggling deep in his gut that something was wrong?