Her heart told her to trust him. To throw herself into his arms. But her brain warned her that he’d once promised a future with her and then left her behind.

  What was it going to take to convince her to give him a chance? Could she even do so?

  “I want to but...” She felt the urging to give in but she held her ground.

  His smile vanished. “What’s it going to take for you to trust me again?”

  ‘I don’t know.”

  “But you do think you’ll get there, right?”

  “I don’t know that, either.”

  He took a long breath and blew it out, his gaze filled with angst that tore at her heart.

  “You know I’ll never give up until you, me and Adam are a family, don’t you?”

  “I know that’s what you want now, but will you still want it tomorrow? Or next year.”

  He pressed his forehead against hers and she was powerless to move.

  “I have never known anything was more right in my life and I will never leave you again. Never. You hear me, Lex. Never.”

  She wanted to melt closer. Fall into his arms. The pain of his abandonment was gone, but the fear of him going again had a strong grip on her and she couldn’t say yes.

  Adam stepped into the foyer, holding a basketball and keeping her from having to answer.

  He glanced between them. “She said no again, huh?”

  “Basically,” Gavin said, disappointment crowning in his voice. “But I still want to invite the two of you and Ruth to come to church with us tonight and then have a late supper with my family.”

  Adam faced her. “Can we go? Please?”

  She may not be ready to commit to Gavin, but Adam wanted Gavin in his life and she didn’t want to stand in his way. “I’ll think about it.”

  His happy expression fell and she almost caved on the spot, but she really did have to think about whether she was ready to be a part of the McKade family if only for a night.

  “C’mon, bud.” Gavin knuckled Adam’s head. “Time for me to skunk you in b-ball.”

  They departed, and as tears flooded Lexie’s eyes, she settled the ornament in the case. She ran her fingers over each one, thinking about what it meant to be someone’s true love. Gavin was hers. She knew that and wanted nothing more than to be with him forever. But...

  She closed the box and felt as if she was closing the door on their relationship. Tears started falling in earnest now. She heard footsteps behind her and turned to find Ruth.

  “The last ornament?” she asked.

  Lexie nodded.

  “And now you’re crying.” Ruth shook her head. “You know I’ve stayed out of this, but I can’t any longer. I understand your pain, and see how you can’t trust him. He hurt you, and you’ve gone through so much to get your life back. But, honestly, I don’t think you ever made it back to normal. You’ve been reliving the pain over and over, right?”

  Lexie nodded.

  “Then let me tell you what my daddy once told me. Bad things happen to good people. It’s a given. But it takes a smart person to know when and how to let it go. You’re smart, Lex. You have to see how Adam has blossomed with Gavin back in his life, and I know you can, too. Trust God. Let this go.”

  Her words hit Lexie in a way she hadn’t experienced so far. Even if she forgave Gavin, and he left her in torment again, she was already in torment without him, so why not give him a chance? Why not blossom as Ruth had said? Trust God to have her back in this. He’d been there for her at the oil tank. Saved her and put Dean behind bars to stand trial. God could handle this, too.

  “Gavin invited the three of us to go to church and have dinner with his family tonight. I’d like for us to go.”

  “Of course, sweetheart.” Ruth gathered Lexie in a hug. “I can think of no better way to spend Christmas Eve.”

  A huge burden lifted from Lexie’s shoulders and, later in the day, her heart filled to brimming when she told Adam they were going. She made him promise not to tell Gavin, as she wanted it to be a surprise. She spent the rest of the day choosing an outfit, taking a long bath and then dressing for the night.

  When they arrived at the small white church on a hill in the country, she was nearly breathless with excitement. The air still held a nip and her bare legs beneath the flowing skirt of her red dress were chilled, so she hurried up the steps.

  The pastor greeted them at the door and she eagerly stepped inside the foyer to inhale the fragrance of pine from strung garland and a towering tree with white decorations. She quickly spotted the McKade family settling into their usual pew at the front. Gavin, still standing, glanced back and caught sight of her, stilling in place.

  They stood there unmoving, locked in each other’s gazes. For how long, she didn’t know, but when his family members all turned to stare at her, she came to her senses. His mother reached up and clutched his arm, a wide smile crossing her face.

  He started down the aisle toward Lexie, but she couldn’t move.

  Ruth cleared her throat. “Adam and I’ll take a seat.”

  Gavin passed them in the aisle, his smile lighting up as he gave Adam a playful punch. Adam threw his arms around Gavin and hugged him.

  Tears came to Lexie’s eyes. Glorious, happy tears.

  They parted and Adam continued down the aisle.

  “You came,” he said gruffly.

  She nodded.

  “Does this mean—?”

  “I forgive you and want us to be together. Yes, that’s exactly what it means.”

  “I love you, Lexie.” He pulled her into his arms and twirled.

  “I love you, Gavin,” she whispered. “You’re my one true love, too.”

  He suddenly stopped and lowered his head. She knew he was going to kiss her, but then he tipped his head at his family. “We have quite the audience.”

  “I suspect we’re going to have the same audience in this very place when you kiss me on our big day.”

  “Yes, but I want privacy for this.” He clutched her hand and led her outside and around the building.

  His lips pressed against hers, the kiss urgent and fraught with emotion. She flung her arms around his neck to draw him closer and deepen the kiss, her heart bursting with happiness.

  Peace settled over her. God’s peace and peace in her core for the first time since her mother had died. Today was the beginning of a new life. She had her brother and Ruth, and now the entire McKade clan, to call family. What could be more right?

  Gavin lifted his head, his boyish grin on his face. “I can assure you that no matter the plans you, Ruth, Nana and Mom get up to, I’m putting my foot down now. Our big day won’t be in the distant future. Not distant at all.”

  “No worries, cowboy.” She ran her fingers over the solid planes of his face. “I’ve thought about our wedding so many times, I can plan it in my sleep and I’ll have you down that aisle before you know what hit you.”

  * * * * *

  If you enjoyed this story, don’t miss the action-packed books from Susan Sleeman’s most recent miniseries, FIRST RESPONDERS:

  SILENT NIGHT STANDOFF

  EXPLOSIVE ALLIANCE

  HIGH-CALIBER HOLIDAY

  EMERGENCY RESPONSE

  SILENT SABOTAGE

  CHRISTMAS CONSPIRACY

  Find more great reads at www.LoveInspired.com

  Keep reading for an excerpt from AMISH CHRISTMAS ABDUCTION by Dana R. Lynn.

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  Dear Reader,

  There’s nothing I like more than starting a new series and I hope you enjoyed the first book in my McKade Law miniseries. This family is like so many I met in the time I lived in Texas. Hardworking. Honest and God-fearing. And yet their lives are invaded with turmoil and challenges just like yours and mine, and their faith is tested.

  In this story, Lexie feels abandoned and unloved. Gavin feels misunderstood and guilty. Yet, through it all, they recognize the strength and compassion of the McKade family, and both long to be part of this strong family unit once again. I hope that you will enjoy getting to know the McKades and enjoy all four books with this family as much as I am enjoying writing them.

  If you’d like to learn more about my other books, please stop by my website at www.susansleeman.com. I also love hearing from readers, so please contact me via email at susan@susansleeman.com, on my Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/susansleemanbooks, or write to me c/o Love Inspired, HarperCollins 24th floor, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.

  Susan Sleeman

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  Amish Christmas Abduction

  by Dana R. Lynn

  ONE

  “Didn’t you see the sign? This is private property.”

  Irene Martello stepped back from the door, her raised hand falling to her side... The man who answered the door glared at her. It was the most vicious stare she’d ever encountered. Anger at being treated so rudely warred with apprehension. She was here alone...unprotected. Would this man turn violent?

  “I’m sorry to bother you,” she managed. “I was trying to find the Zilcher residence.”

  She shivered as he glowered, his heavy brows lowering over black eyes. It was difficult to see his mouth through the thick black beard, but she had the distinct impression he was scowling.

  “You have the wrong house. They live there.” He jerked his head sharply toward the house next door.

  “Sorry...” She opened her mouth to apologize for any inconvenience, but stopped when there was a movement behind Black Beard. A young woman, somewhere in her late teens or early twenties, stood in an open doorway deeper inside the house. As the man whirled around and speared her with a glance, she fled back out of sight. Was that a child crying? Irene leaned forward instinctively, straining to hear. He returned that glare to Irene, and she straightened again. It was none of her business if he had children, she chastised herself. He narrowed his eyes at her, and she felt true fear at the way his eyes blazed at her.

  Turning on her heel, she moved briskly back down the steps. Only the fact that the ground was covered with snow kept her from running as she hightailed it back to her SUV. After getting in, she started the engine with a shaking hand, then backed along the driveway and onto the dirt road. She drove past the mailboxes on the side of the road and realized that what she’d thought was a 1 had actually been a 7. A natural mistake to make.

  In no time, she was in the driveway of the correct house. She fumbled around for her purse and laptop bag, completely aware that the man had moved outside and was watching her from his porch.

  After pushing open the door of her SUV, Irene stepped from the vehicle, glad she’d opted for warmth rather than fashion as her heavy boots crunched the snow beneath them. Against her better judgment, she peeked at the man from house number seven. She instantly regretted it. His face had darkened even more. Turning quickly, her face heated as she felt his glare continuing to bore into her back. She took a deep breath, refusing to admit to herself how unsettling her encounter with the man had been.

  Trying to appear calm, she pulled her belongings from the dark red SUV and shut the door with her hip. Slammed it, actually. Even though she refused to look, she was aware that he was still there. Now she was getting mad. Why was he watching her like that? What did he expect? That she’d drive back over to chat? Not likely.

  Enough! She had a job to do. A job she loved, even though she’d only been working with the Early Intervention program for two months. Today she was meeting a new family. She shifted the red bag carrying both the laptop and her file of papers for the family to sign.

  Determined, she made her way up the narrow walkway to the small house, careful to avoid looking at the man on the porch. It didn’t help matters any that the family had requested a late meeting, due to the father’s work schedule. It was already going on four o’clock. By the time the meeting ended, it would be almost five. LaMar Pond started getting dark around that time in December. At least it was Friday. After this appointment, she could pick up her own kids and enjoy a quiet evening at home.

  Come on, Irene. One more home visit, then you’re all done.

  Once, only once, did she glance to the right. Her eyes switched targets as she became aware of movement from the side window. The same young woman she’d seen in the house was peering out of the blinds. She had the most hopeless face Irene had ever seen.

  Something wasn’t right.

  The door in front of Irene opened. Taking her eyes off the creepy house, she forced herself to smile at the young couple waiting anxiously. For now, she needed to focus on work. But as soon as she was done with the meeting, she had every intention of calling her brother, Lieutenant Jace Tucker, and filling him in on the house and the woman. If her instincts were correct—and they usually were—that was a woman who needed help.

  It might be nothing. But Irene knew she wouldn’t rest easy until she had called. Maybe Jace wouldn’t be able to do anything, but there was always the possibility that the police would keep a closer eye on the area.

  Irene was very familiar with the police. Not only was her older brother a lieutenant, but she’d been married to a cop for six years, six wonderful years, before he’d been killed in the line of duty a little over three years ago.

  The familiar ache in her chest when she thought of Tony was almost comforting.

  Once inside the warm house, she was escorted into the dining room. She focused on the young family. The little boy she was there to evaluate was adorable, his little head bald except for a light fuzz. He was almost two years old, and had just been diagnosed with a vision impairment. Irene’s job as the service coordinator was to decide if the child qualified for Early Intervention services. The meeting was merely a formality. Having a diagnosis almost always guaranteed that he would receive services.

  In less than an hour, the meeting was completed and Irene was pushing her feet back into her winter boots.

  “I will call you when I have the IFSP meeting scheduled,” she told the mother, referring to the Individualized Family Service Plan meeting with the family and the therapists who would become part of the little boy’s team.

  After bidding the Zilchers goodbye, she pulled the door open and stepped outside. It had started to snow while she was inside. She tried to keep her focus on her car, but it was no use. The other house drew her gaze like a magnet.

  The man was probably still home. There were three vehicles in the driveway—a truck, a Jeep and a small sedan. But no one was standing outside. The man must have gone inside.

  Relief coursed through her. And quite a bit of embarrassment. Imagine getting so upset because someone was watching her! What a goose she was! It wasn’t like he had threatened her or anything like that.

  Getting to her car, she frowned. Her door wasn’t locked. She must have been so rattled by that man that she’d forgotten to lock it. She shrugged. It wasn’t out of the norm to leave doors unlocked in LaMar Pond, especially out on the back roads. She had friends who didn’t even lock their house doors at night.

  She quickly climbed into the car and shut the door, making sure to lock it the moment she was inside. After starting the car, she turned up the heat to help rid herself of some of the chill, not all of which was from the weather. Lifting her head, she froze.

  There, in the Zilcher family’s front room window, a large Christmas tree sparkled and shimmered. The tree hadn’t been lit when she’d arrived or she would have noticed it, no matter how freaked-out she had been. It was probably on an automatic timer. It was beautiful, looking at it through the snow. She swallowed the lump in her throat. She wasn’t looking forward to Christmas, just a few weeks away. It would be the third since Tony’s death. Her boys would go through another holiday without their father. A father little Matthew hardly remembered. He’d only been two. Now he was five. Seven-year-old AJ had more memories, but had forgotten so many details. It broke her heart.

  A soft ping signaled an incoming text. Irene sighed. And this would be her mom, asking her to attend late-night services with her and the family on Christmas Eve. Just like Irene used to do every year before God abandoned her and her babies. She glanced at her phone. Oh, yeah. Just as she thought. She would hear about it later, but she was going to just ignore the text. For now.