A Texas Thanksgiving

A Texas Thanksgiving
Margaret Daley

A frozen turkey dinner is just fine for former soldier and widower Evan Paterson.But his five-year-old daughter deserves better. So when she invites her best friend and her single mother to the Double P ranch for the holiday meal, Evan agrees. But not to a fix-up.Social worker Julia Saunders knows as much about heartache as he does, but Evan isn't ready to love again. Until a duo of pint-sized matchmakers show two stubborn grown-ups what being thankful truly means.

“I want to make it clear that I will pay for my dinner and Ellie’s.”

Evan shook his head. “I invited you.”

“No, you didn’t,” Julia said. “Your daughter did.”

“That’s the same thing.” His sharp gaze drilled into her, his mouth firmed in a hard line.

“Sorry, I pay my own way.”

He smiled. “Did anyone ever tell you that you’re stubborn?”

“Oh, on a number of occasions.”

Evan glanced toward the doorway that led to the hall. “While the girls are still playing, I have a question. Why did you correct me earlier when I called you Mrs. Saunders?”

Homecoming Heroes: Saving children and finding love deep in the heart of Texas

Mission: Motherhood —Marta Perry

July 2008

Lone Star Secret —Lenora Worth

August 2008

At His Command —Brenda Coulter

September 2008

A Matter of the Heart —Patricia Davids

October 2008

A Texas Thanksgiving —Margaret Daley

November 2008

Homefront Holiday —Jillian Hart

December 2008

MARGARET DALEY

feels she has been blessed. She has been married more than thirty years to her husband, Mike, whom she met in college. He is a terrific support and her best friend. They have one son, Shaun. Margaret has been writing for many years and loves to tell a story. When she was a little girl, she would play with her dolls and make up stories about their lives. Now she writes these stories down. She especially enjoys weaving stories about families and how faith in God can sustain a person when things get tough. When she isn’t writing, she is fortunate to be a teacher for students with special needs. Margaret has taught for over twenty years and loves working with her students. She has also been a Special Olympics coach and participated in many sports with her students.

A Texas Thanksgiving

Margaret Daley

Special thanks and acknowledgment to Margaret Daley for her contribution to the Homecoming Heroes miniseries.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him and bless his name.

— Psalms 100:4

To three special girls,

Ashley, Alexa and Abbey

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

Epilogue

Questions for Discussion

Chapter One

“A m I glad you are finally here, Julia. I need help!”

Olga Terenkov, dressed in a jean skirt with a leather vest, cowboy boots and large pieces of turquoise jewelry, planted herself in front of Julia Saunders.