Laura L. Walker grew up in a large family in the beautiful Gila Valley of southern Arizona. From the time Laura was young, she spent hoursdrawing characters on paper and fantasizing about their adventures. Life became more serious, however, when Laura met her own hero and they eventually became the parents of six children. In between spurts of grocery shopping, sewing costumes or quilts, transporting kids to practices, and making dinner, Laura
still enjoys putting her imagination to good use. She is the author of four contemporary romances.
Connect with the Author here:
1890 Nebraska
For schoolmarm Amanda Cordell, Christmas Eve means getting through the special program she and her pupils have put together for the townsfolk in Langdon. And even though she has vowed to not set eyes on handsome Calvin Hunsaker, it becomes inevitable when his incorrigible son needs her
help. Everyone knows how bitter Calvin is over his wife's sudden death, and somehow Amanda senses that he sees her the same way, as the spineless, helpless socialite she used to be.
help. Everyone knows how bitter Calvin is over his wife's sudden death, and somehow Amanda senses that he sees her the same way, as the spineless, helpless socialite she used to be.
Calvin Hunsaker is determined to ignore the feeling of attraction stirring inside him for the new schoolmarm, even if she is the most
beautiful woman he's ever seen. But she's here to pick up the pieces after her brother and sister-in-law's untimely deaths and raise their two youngsters, not bedazzle him with the same charms his first wife possessed. Better to bundle up and head out of this one-room schoolhouse the second the program's ends.
beautiful woman he's ever seen. But she's here to pick up the pieces after her brother and sister-in-law's untimely deaths and raise their two youngsters, not bedazzle him with the same charms his first wife possessed. Better to bundle up and head out of this one-room schoolhouse the second the program's ends.
But a winter storm and two mischievous boys have other plans, and Amanda and Calvin's plans to avoid each other go awry when Calvin is stranded at Amanda's house over the Christmas holiday. Will there be joy and thanksgiving in their future or will the winter blues descend on them once
again?"
again?"
Snippet:
She had just finished conversing with Mrs. Winters when she came face to face with none other than Johnny’s taciturn father. Once again, those stark eyes of his bore down into hers, as if searching her innermost thoughts. Heat crawled up Rachel’s neck and she barely resisted the urge to tug her white collar with its tied bow away from her throat. “Mr. Hunsaker.” She nodded politely.
“Miss Ambry.” His responding nod was even shorter, and his deep voice carried a note of pride. Keeping one hand on his sidearm, he tipped his Stetson. “Mighty fine program. I’m obliged for your good care over Johnny these past months. I know he can be a handful.”
Rachel glanced over to the boy in question. He was currently entertaining a small group of children who, no doubt, had gathered around to listen to his tall tales. “He may be a bit more high-spirited than most children at times, but he has a good heart.”
A reluctant smile pulled at his lips. “Yes, I know what you mean. He has big ideas.”
“That will serve him well someday,” she countered.
When it seemed they had nothing more to offer each other, Calvin tipped his hat once again and back out of the way, calling out to his son, “Bundle up, Johnny. It’s time to go.”
Johnny’s animated face, which had been so terrified before, now contorted into a frown. “Ah, do we hafta, pa?”
“It’s Christmas Eve. Time to get you into bed if you want a certain visitor to come. And besides, I can hear a storm brewing outside. Let’s beat it home so we can feed the livestock.”
Johnny turned toward the others. “I hafta go. See you all later. Merry Christmas!”
“Merry Christmas, Johnny!”
Rachel caught her nephew’s eye and motioned for him to grab his heavy coat and scarf as well. Clark followed behind Johnny, absently noticing they both wore pants that were similar in style and color.
A few more parents called out to their children. In the flurry of buttoning coats and pulling on hats and scarves, followed by several adults bustling out the door, Rachel was waylaid by the last few parents who offered one final word of praise over the afternoon’s success. Struggling to remain calm on the outside while listening to the wind that had picked up, Rachel started to panic inwardly. She had felt the icy air through the doorway of the schoolhouse when some of the parents left. She, Clark, Abigail, and Genevieve lived two miles south of town. They needed to hurry and beat the storm or else they might get stuck along the way. She shuddered at the thought. No one should be stranded on Christmas Eve.
She couldn’t imagine a worse fate.
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