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An Aspen Creek Christmas
Roxanne Rustand
Second Chance HolidayAll Hannah Dorchester wants is to give her orphaned niece and nephew a happy Christmas. She’s ready for anything—except their uncle Ethan Williams. Thirteen years ago she was planning their wedding and he was planning his escape—joining the military without even a goodbye. Ethan never meant to break Hannah’s heart, but now the recovering soldier's back and he wants his late brother's kids. He's got one month to prove he'll be the better parent. But as they start sharing in the joys of the season, he’s determined to show Hannah he’s also become a better man. Could this be their final chance at family—and their second chance for love?
Second Chance Holiday
All Hannah Dorchester wants is to give her orphaned niece and nephew a happy Christmas. She’s ready for anything—except their uncle Ethan Williams. Thirteen years ago she was planning their wedding and he was planning his escape—joining the military without even a goodbye. Ethan never meant to break Hannah’s heart, but now the recovering soldier’s back and he wants his late brother’s kids. He’s got one month to prove he’ll be the better parent. But as they start sharing in the joys of the season, he’s determined to show Hannah he’s also become a better man. Could this be their final chance at family—and their second chance for love?
“We have to think of the children.”
Ethan’s eyes narrowed. “I am.”
“I know you mean that, but—”
“There’s nothing that’ll prevent me from taking care of my brother’s kids.” He stood up. “And now I’m turning in. Good night.”
After he left, Hannah sat there, thinking over every minute since he’d arrived in town.
Years ago Ethan had been a handsome daredevil who could make a girl fall in love and want to take off on wild adventures with him.
But he was different now. A man seasoned by the military. A man with a good heart who could be kind and gentle with kids and animals, yet who still possessed that charisma that drew her as much now as it once had.
But he was not the one who should have custody of the children.
No matter how strong it was, she had to put aside her attraction and focus on getting her sister’s kids settled before the caseworker arrived.
And she had just thirty days to do it.
With Ethan watching every move.
Dear Reader (#uf348bec7-23e0-5c3e-8dd1-0b36010d3b55),
Welcome to Aspen Creek! I have so enjoyed writing about the folks in this quaint, fictitious town on the western edge of Wisconsin. If you enjoyed Hannah and Ethan’s story, there are three earlier books in the Aspen Creek Crossroads series: Winter Reunion, Second Chance Dad and A Single Dad’s Redemption.
I love small towns and country life. We live on a rural acreage with horses, two rescue dogs and an abundance of barn kitties—all neutered, friendly and well fed. It’s such fun setting books in this type of world...and I especially loved writing this story involving the reunion of a jilted bride and her handsome soldier, who have no intention of ever getting back together, but want only the best for two orphaned children.
This book involves Christmas and my holiday gift to you is my favorite Christmas cookie recipe—one my family has been making for over thirty years!
I love to connect with readers and to hear your comments.
You can find me at:
www.roxannerustand.com (http://www.roxannerustand.com)
@roxannerustand (https://twitter.com/roxannerustand) (Twitter)
www.Facebook.com/roxanne.rustand (https://www.facebook.com/roxanne.rustand)
www.Pinterest.com/roxannerustand (https://www.pinterest.com/roxannerustand)
Email: roxannerustandbooks@yahoo.com
Snail mail: Roxanne Rustand, PO Box 2550, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52406.
Blessings to you all,
Roxanne Rustand
A USA TODAY bestselling and award-winning author of over thirty-five novels, ROXANNE RUSTAND lives in the country with her husband and a menagerie of pets, including three horses, rescue dogs and cats. She has a master’s in nutrition and is a clinical dietitian. RT Book Reviews nominated her for a Career Achievement Award, two of her books won their annual Reviewers’ Choice Award and two others were nominees.
An Aspen Creek Christmas
Roxanne Rustand
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
And we know that in all things God works for
the good of those who love Him,
who have been called according to His purpose.
—Romans 8:28
To Danielle, Ben, Lilly, Violet and Finn,
with all my love.
Acknowledgments (#uf348bec7-23e0-5c3e-8dd1-0b36010d3b55)
Many thanks to Dr. Erin L. Garman, DVM, for her wonderful assistance with the veterinary details in this story. Any errors are mine alone!
And also, many thanks to Lisa Mondello for her research assistance on foster care and adoption.
Contents
Cover (#udc1aa86a-5a43-5e5e-a7a0-03b64215b722)
Back Cover Text (#u6d2b810d-685b-5653-b28e-7936a8be2f70)
Introduction (#u92c01b3f-d8ae-511c-9047-a54a68aab4f0)
Dear Reader (#u1c74a1f4-ac1e-5eb5-922d-012371e58521)
About the Author (#ue224110c-e335-5346-9ea5-f25bbe387e83)
Title Page (#u3fcb8458-f53c-5e40-aaf7-896329041e34)
Bible Verse (#u8e1d528a-4808-5c2d-ab72-61525dc2dfb0)
Dedication (#u632502d2-740f-559b-990d-f8243cfd9607)
Acknowledgments (#ua00832ba-318e-5d0b-9538-8117adf21343)
Chapter One (#u94e6350a-5f42-53fa-953e-f691bcaa5dfa)
Chapter Two (#uc6db7792-9f50-57ae-a399-bf705a168f6a)
Chapter Three (#ub6826815-aeb6-57d9-b50a-22b0061f4854)
Chapter Four (#uc23abdec-b5ca-58b9-ad5b-69d2eb0728c2)
Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seventeen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eighteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)
Recipe (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter One (#uf348bec7-23e0-5c3e-8dd1-0b36010d3b55)
Hannah Dorchester studied her travel-weary, disheveled niece and nephew sitting across from her in the McDonald’s booth.
Neither had spoken since she’d picked them up at the Minneapolis–St. Paul airport a half hour ago, except to refuse every restaurant she could think of that might be open on Thanksgiving evening—hence, the fast food.
Though even in this child-friendly atmosphere they hadn’t touched a bite of their meals. And no wonder. Today they’d faced yet another huge change in their young lives.
After they were orphaned seven months ago in Texas when their parents died in a head-on collision with a semi, their elderly great-aunt Cynthia in Dallas had been adamant about gaining custody.
But two weeks ago she’d tripped over a toy truck and broke her hip badly. She’d then informed Hannah she simply couldn’t handle the children any longer—not while facing a long and painful recuperation.
Hannah had immediately begun the process of gaining out-of-state custody of the children. With a family law attorney at her side, she’d then gone to court to gain temporary guardianship.
Given that there were no other options besides Hannah or long-term foster care, social services and the court—bless them all—had expedited the process.
Scowling, Molly poked at the paper wrapping of her cheeseburger, then shoved it aside. “I don’t even know why we had to come way up here. I don’t like Wisconsin.”
“You’ve never been here, honey.” Hannah chose her words carefully. “It takes a long time to recover from a broken hip, and now Aunt Cynthia realizes she can’t keep you and your brother any longer, because she...um...just isn’t young enough to raise two children. But I know you’re going to make some great friends here. And if you start missing her, maybe we can all go down for a visit—”
“She didn’t even like us,” Molly scoffed. “She was mean.”
Hannah blinked. Cynthia was an elegant, austere woman who had never been particularly friendly during the few times Hannah had seen her. But mean? “Maybe she just isn’t used to being around kids.”
“She kept saying our uncle Ethan would be coming to take us, and he’d make us behave or else. ’Cause he’s some kind of soldier.”
Ethan?
Hannah swallowed hard, willing away the painful memories of the man she hadn’t seen for thirteen years. A man she never, ever, wanted to see again. “I’m sure she didn’t really mean—”
“Why would he want us? We never even met him.” Molly angled an accusing glare at Hannah, then dropped her gaze to her lap. Her voice dropped to a whisper. “And even you didn’t want us till now.”
“I did, honey. Believe me. But Texas prefers to keep children in their home state, if possible, so they’ll face less disruption. The judge decided Cynthia could provide a good home and keep you in your same schools.”
Left unsaid was the fact that Cynthia, a wealthy widow who owned a major western wear company, kept a team of lawyers on retainer who had made very sure that her wishes were met. Hannah hadn’t stood a chance in family court back then.
But now Cynthia’s determination made more sense. Ethan was Cynthia’s nephew. She’d apparently wanted to keep the children in Dallas, so the transition to his guardianship would be easier.
He’d probably even insisted on it.
Yet, seven months after the car wreck, he’d never showed up—no surprise there—and Cynthia was no longer capable, so now Hannah finally had a chance to give these kids the stable, loving home they deserved.
“We’ve got an hour drive ahead of us. Would you like to bring your food along?” she asked gently, wishing she could reach through the wall of grief surrounding them both.
Cole, only six years old, lifted his teary gaze briefly, shook his head and then slumped lower in his seat. “My m-mommy always h-had turkey an’ everything on Thanksgiving.”
His voice was so soft, so broken, that Hannah’s heart clenched. “I know, sweetheart. But since you traveled today, I thought maybe we could have our big dinner tomorrow. Is that all right?”
The bleak expression in his eyes reaffirmed what she already knew.
This wasn’t about the pumpkin pie or the holiday feast. It was about memories of happier times...and about loss. He just wanted his parents back.
