Keli Gwyn - Her Motherhood Wish

Building a Family

En route to the Double T Orphanage to work on its expansion, carpenter Chip Evans and Caroline Hunt discover two orphaned children—and become their caregivers. But Chip’s determined not to let himself get too attached to the children who just lost their widowed father...or to the lovely woman helping him care for them. Especially since Callie and the little ones just don’t fit into his detailed plans for the future.

Callie can’t help but fall in love with the orphans, and despite her better judgment, she’s falling for Chip, too. Her dreams of being a wife and mother were not quite like this. But Callie believes a plan bigger than Chip’s brought them all together...and now she just has to help him see it, too.

Dear Reader,

I hope you enjoyed Chip and Callie’s story. The idea for it came about as a result of two incidents from my own family that dealt with infertility and adoption. Callie’s accident is based on my great-aunt’s experience. She was kicked by a mule when she was very young. As a result, she was unable to bear children. I asked myself what it would have been like for a woman in the 1870s to deal with such a diagnosis.

Adoption has played an important role in my own life. My mother was already pregnant with me when she began dating the man I knew as my father. Although she was young and had been pressured to give me away, she’d chosen to raise me herself, for which I’m very grateful. Since my parents married when I was a baby, I don’t remember life without Dad. I never considered him my stepfather, although legally that’s what he was. Thirty years after he came into my life, we entered the historic courthouse in my Gold Rush–era town, where he adopted me. That was a milestone day!

As I created this story, I asked myself what would happen if a woman who was given the same diagnosis my great-aunt received, and who embraced adoption as a way to form a family, was to meet a man intent upon having children of his own. The possibilities were intriguing, and the story took shape. Setting the story at the Double T, where my first Love Inspired Historical, Family of Her Dreams, took place, was fun. I enjoyed revisiting Spencer, Tess and their children.

I love hearing from readers. You can contact me through my website at www.keligwyn.comor write to me at PO Box 1404, Placerville, CA 95667.

Warmly,

Keli Gwyn

“It’s your turn to fly the kite, Callie.” Chip left the children gripping the string together and sauntered over to her.

She took the hand he offered, and he pulled her to her feet. They stood inches apart, their hands still linked. His was warm and strong, his grip firm but gentle. She glanced up at him, hoping for a smile. Instead, his serious side had reappeared. His gaze swept over her face, coming to rest on...her mouth?

Was it possible Chip wanted to kiss her? What would she do if he tried? Part of her wondered what it would feel like to have his lips pressed to hers, but the more sensible part—

“Don’t you wanna do it, Miss Callie?” Jasper’s question shattered the moment, which was for the best. Chip wasn’t ready to court anyone.

The trouble was that the more time she spent with him, the more Callie found herself drawn to him.

Award-winning author KELI GWYN, a native Californian, transports readers to the early days of the Golden State. She and her husband live in the heart of California’s Gold Country. Her favorite places to visit are her fictional worlds, historical museums and other Gold Rush–era towns. Keli loves hearing from readers and invites you to visit her Victorian-style cyberhome at keligwyn.com, where you’ll find her contact information.

Her Motherhood Wish

Keli Gwyn

www.millsandboon.co.uk

For every house is builded by some man;

but he that built all things is God.

—Hebrews 3:4

In memory of my dad, Carl Lannon, who welcomed me into his heart and his life from the very start.

Acknowledgments

My heartfelt thanks to those who have made such valuable contributions to this story...

My perceptive editor, Emily Rodmell, who takes a rough version of a story and gives me insights into how to polish it until it shines.

My agent, Rachelle Gardner, who deals with all the publishing details and offers support and encouragement so I can devote myself to writing my stories.

My AAA Team: Adri, Amanda and Anne, who read the story at various stages and gave me excellent suggestions on how to make it even stronger.

My husband, Carl, who gives me the male perspective, fuels my creativity with delicious homemade scones, and listens to me go on and on and on about my stories.

My friend Jessica Scharffenberg, an ob-gyn nurse, who answered my medical questions.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Dear Reader

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

Acknowledgments

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

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

March 1875

The sight of the golden-haired beauty stopped Chip Evans in his tracks. He hadn’t seen the lovely Miss Caroline Hunt since he’d returned to Placerville. But there she stood, shielded from the California sunshine by the hotel’s balcony as she rummaged in the beaded handbag dangling from her wrist.

He drank in the vision with the eagerness of a man who’d been stranded in the desert for days. The Plan didn’t call for him to begin courting a lady for another three years, but a fellow couldn’t pass up the opportunity to feast his eyes on such a striking specimen of femininity, could he?

Callie, as everyone called the petite woman with the smile as warm as a spring day, could have walked out of the pages of one of those fashion magazines at the mercantile. Her light pink gown, with its form-fitting bodice, hugged her in all the right places. The rosiness in her cheeks added a nice splash of color, drawing his attention to her exquisite features—clear blue eyes, a pert nose and petal-soft lips. Or so he imagined.

He gave himself a mental kick. Although he’d welcome the opportunity to kiss Callie, he had no business thinking such a thing. Sure, she’d agreed to dine with him. Once. They’d enjoyed a delicious meal with delightful conversation, but that was the extent of it. Entertaining romantic notions could be a distraction and keep him from reaching his goals.

Why he’d asked her to join him in the first place remained a mystery. One minute she’d been seeing to his order at the Blair Brothers Lumber Company, where she worked as a clerk, and the next he’d issued the invitation. Giving in to an impulse wasn’t like him.

Callie snapped her reticule shut, spied him and started. She composed herself, lifted a gloved hand to shoulder level and gave a demure wave, appearing almost shy. Odd. The Callie he knew exuded confidence.

Chip sauntered across the wide main street to the Cary House, his boot heels thudding against the hard-packed earth. He stepped onto the plank walkway and struck a casual pose, leaning against one of the pillars supporting the balcony overhead. “Where are you off to all fancied up like that?”

She blinked in rapid succession. “Fancied up? If you intended to compliment me, that’s not the way to go about it.”

“No, but you look cute when you’re piqued.”