A Family for Luke

A Family for Luke
Carolyne Aarsen

Luke Harris grew up without family. Now, it's all he wants. More so when he and his friendly dog move next door to widowed mom Janie Corbett and her three kids. For the first time, he can imagine hearing the pitter-patter of little feet in his own home. Listening to their bedtime prayers. Having a wife and children to call his own.But once-burned/twice-shy Janie won't say yes–unless Luke acknowledges his troubled past. With the help of one stubborn woman, three smart kids and a cherished Labrador retriever, there might be a family for Luke, after all.

Possibilities and yearnings rose within his heart.

He’d known, since he was thirteen, what he wanted.

A home. A family.

Now he was thirty-five and staring at middle age, still single. And he was holding the sore ankle of a woman who was slowly, unwittingly, shifting into the emptiness of his life.

He pulled the wrapping snug and tacked the end of the bandage down. “That might not feel so good, but it will help,” Luke said, standing up. “So. Supper. Guess I’ll have to see what I can throw together.”

“I should stay here,” Janie sputtered. “I should supervise the kids.”

“You should relax.” Luke ignored her objections.

“But, Luke. The mess…” Janie’s protest died as Luke shot her a warning look.

“I’ll clean up,” he said.

“Just make sure you do,” she warned.

He saluted. “I’m a man of my word.”

“Then you’re a rare man indeed.”

CAROLYNE AARSEN

and her husband, Richard, live on a small ranch in Northern Alberta, where they have raised four children and numerous foster children, and are still raising cattle. Carolyne crafts her stories in her office with a large west-facing window, through which she can watch the changing seasons while struggling to make her words obey.

A Family for Luke

Carolyne Aarsen

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

—Matthew 6:14

To my brothers and sisters.

Thanks for the memories.

Contents

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

Epilogue

Questions for Discussion

Chapter One

“I don’t want to talk to her.” Luke moved his cell phone to his other ear as he stopped his truck in front of the derelict house. “Just transfer the money into her account like you always do.”

Through the open window of his truck, he heard the sounds of saws screaming from inside the house, his most recent investment, hammers pounding and money being made.

“She really wants to see you.” Uncle Chuck, his account manager, could be persistent when he thought Luke should do what he wanted. But Luke had lived around Uncle Chuck and his foster father, Al, long enough to pick up some of their quirks.

“You know, Uncle Chuck, when you see a dog and each time you try to pet it, it bites you, how quick are you going to be to pet it again?”

“But she says she’s changed.”

“Like all the other times she’s changed. Sorry, Uncle Chuck. Not happening and that topic is now closed.” Luke reached across the cab of the truck and pulled over a new cost estimate he had gotten from the foreman of the crew. “I’m gonna need more money in the building account. Push a few thousand in there, as well.”