Texas Miracle

She’s everything he didn’t want…and exactly what he needs

McCarthy Temple, the last unmarried Temple brother, was happy with his safe, predictable world. He had his family, his accounting business and his numbers. He didn’t need love. He already had it all…except an assistant. Jacqueline Aimes was the least likely candidate. She was overqualified, gorgeous and only staying in Kilgore long enough to sell her parents’ land.

But as Jacqueline starts to permeate every aspect of his life, Mac finds it harder and harder to imagine life without her. Jacqueline’s passion is her work for children in international war zones, though, not small-town living. So Mac has to find a Texas-size miracle to get her to stay…

“What are you afraid of, Mac?”

“I’m afraid of you leaving. I’m afraid of you not leaving. I’m afraid of you being bored with me, with Kilgore, with an ordinary life. I’m afraid of the ways I’m changing because of you. Afraid of being happy. Afraid of life’s possibilities. Afraid of bad things happening. I just don’t want any more pain. Not for me, or anyone I love.”

He bent toward her and kissed her gently. She inhaled the scent of leather. Mac moved to lie on his side, sandwiching his long frame between her and the couch. She turned to face him, and they lay like that for a long moment.

But eventually Mac rose from the couch and found his coat on the stand. He covered her with it and tucked it around her.

“Good night, Jacqueline.”

Dear Reader,

My friend Mae Nunn envisioned the Deep in the Heart series set in her beloved home state of Texas. It has been a privilege to collaborate with her on the third and fourth books in the series, and to tell the stories of the two oldest Temple brothers, Joiner and Mac.

Texas Miracle is the story of the eldest brother, Mac. He’s a guy I can relate to, as I’m the eldest in my family. He loves his brothers and would do anything to protect them. As a numbers person, Mac wants everything to make sense. He’s afraid of loss, afraid of being hurt, afraid to take much risk. Mac is a rock—strong and sturdy. He loves Texas as much as Mae does. But he’s also a little stuck.

Enter Jacqueline Aimes, who is more of a rolling stone. She has no deep connections in Texas. No reason to stay in one place. She goes where her work in social justice takes her. So it’s something of a miracle when she walks through Mac’s door in Kilgore, Texas. But that’s only the first miracle between these two.

One of the most special things about this book for me was drawing on the memory of my nephew Hunter’s birth and what a miraculous time that was for my own family. We learned, as Mac does, that sometimes the most beautiful things in life come out of the scariest, most difficult moments. I hope your heart is warmed as you watch Mac’s family witness their miracle. And I hope you are inspired as the miracle of true love unfolds under the Texas sky.

Thanks so much for reading! I’d love to know your thoughts by email, gfaulkenberry@hotmail.com, or on Facebook at Gwendolann Adell Ford Faulkenberry.

A Texas-sized hug,

Gwen Ford Faulkenberry

Texas Miracle

Mae Nunn and Gwen Ford Faulkenberry

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MAE NUNN grew up in Houston and graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in communications. When she fell for a transplanted Englishman living in Atlanta, she moved to Georgia and made an effort to behave like a Southern belle. But when she found that her husband was quite agreeable to life as a born-again Texan, Mae happily returned to her cowgirl roots and cowboy boots! In 2008 Mae retired from thirty years of corporate life to focus on her career as a full-time author.

GWEN FORD FAULKENBERRY lives and writes in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. She and her husband, Stone, have four children: Grace, Harper, Adelaide and Stella. Gwen is the author of three Christian romances, a book of prayers for couples and three devotional books. A professor of English at her local college, she holds a master’s degree in liberal arts.

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For Hunter James Ford, miracle baby

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

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

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

CHAPTER THIRTY

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

MCCARTHY TEMPLE SAT behind his mahogany desk and frowned over his glasses at the three stacks of unfinished paperwork. He straightened each one to make his desk tidier. It was fortunate his brothers got their tax documents to him early, as he requested, because their taxes were becoming more and more complicated to complete.

This was a good thing, of course. Joiner, who was the next oldest after Mac, was carving out a successful business with his wife, Stella. They owned Star Stables, which provided hippotherapy to special needs clients. There they also bred Joiner’s polo stallion, Pistol, a horse that seemed to be made of money. The business owned by McCarthy’s baby brother, Hunt, and his wife was also booming. As the famous Cowboy Chef, Hunt attracted more visitors every year to Temple Territory, their five-star resort. Hunt’s twin, Cullen, had the easiest taxes of the group. He was a university professor, and didn’t make much money. However, since his marriage to a sweet lady with three girls, his taxes had become more unpredictable, just like his life.

Mac pressed a button on his office phone.

“Yes, sir?”

“Ella, I’m going to work through lunch today. Will you hold all my calls?”

“Of course, sir. Can I bring you some fresh coffee?”

“That would be great.”

A few minutes later, a birdlike woman with short white hair and kind blue eyes appeared at his desk with a steaming cup. She placed it on a coaster shaped like a star and emblazoned with the words Lone Star Accounting, McCarthy Temple, CPA.

“Thank you, Ella.”

She nodded. “You’re welcome, sir.” Ella smiled at Mac, revealing perfect white teeth. Her skin was the color of peaches and cream, and her starched dress was tailored and classy, just like her matching jewelry.

His heart warmed at the sight of his longtime assistant, who had become something of a mother figure in the time they’d worked together. “You’re really leaving me, aren’t you?”

“Yes, sir. I am, in two weeks.” She averted her eyes. “I have to.”

“Ella, really, what are Alaskan cruises and grandchildren compared to working here?”

Her eyes crinkled in the corners. “I will miss you, sir, but I am ready. I am getting too old for this.”

Mac laughed. She was a mere seventy-three and sharper than a tack. “Ella, we both know you could run this place. And besides, you make a mean cup of coffee.”

“It is simple to make coffee with your fancy machine. I’ll be glad to teach your new assistant if you ever hire one.” She tapped on her gold Timex watch. “Time is ticking, sir.”

“I know, I know. I guess I am in denial.” Mac removed his glasses and set them on the desk, then reached for his coffee. “But you have to admit we haven’t had any good applicants.”

“Don’t forget you have an interview at two today.”

“Oh, I’m glad you reminded me. I’d forgotten.” Mac set down his coffee. “That’s only two hours.”

Ella nodded and turned to leave. He heard her short heels clicking on the polished wood floor as she made her way back to the front desk. It was a comforting sound. Truth be told, Mac didn’t want to interview anyone else, didn’t want things to change. He was perfectly happy with Ella.

* * *

THE TIME FLEW by as it often did when Mac immersed himself in numbers. There was nothing more fun than working with them, making them add up, solving problems that were black-and-white and coming to clear solutions. Numbers were his sweet spot. He was deep in the middle of Star Stables’ health insurance billing when Ella appeared at the door with a file.

“Just thought you might want to look over this. She should be here in about fifteen minutes.”

“Okay, thanks.”

Mac reluctantly set aside Joiner’s taxes and leaned back in his leather chair, propping his dark brown Ariats up on his desk. He opened the file Ella had given him to try to quickly familiarize himself with the applicant’s information. He wanted to ask good questions and get the information he needed. Ah, yes. Now he remembered whom he was interviewing and why. She was a hometown girl. And smart. Both of these things were valuable to Mac’s way of thinking.

Jacqueline Aimes had been a scrawny kid who’d gone to school in Kilgore, graduating with Joiner’s high school class. Her résumé said she graduated from college with a degree in communications and a minor in interdisciplinary studies. Probably way overqualified for a front-desk job. But like so many others he knew with those sorts of degrees, she was likely having a hard time finding a job.

If she was really good, he’d be willing to pay her enough to make it worth her while. Mac didn’t like turnover. After all, Ella had been with him since he opened his business. He really hated to see her go, which was maybe why he’d been so reluctant to replace her. But it was coming down to the wire, and tax season was upon them.

The phone on his desk lit up.

“Yes, Ella?”

“Miss Aimes is here to see you, sir.”

“Bring her on back.”

Ella appeared shortly in the doorway with a woman who looked like a model, and a barely suppressed smug expression.

“Holy cow, you are not the Jacqueline Aimes I remember!” Mac stood behind his desk and reached out his hand to shake the one that was offered. Her long fingers were warm, and she gripped his hand firmly. Color rose in her high cheekbones. “Have a seat!” He motioned to the chair across from him and sat back down.

Mac looked at Ella, who lingered in the doorway, eyebrows raised, a small smile on her face. She was obviously amused. Then he asked Jacqueline, “Would you care for some coffee?”

“I’d take some water, if you don’t mind.”

Ella exited and soon returned with a bottle of Evian.

“Thank you,” Jacqueline said.

“That will be all, Ella,” Mac said. She flashed him a mischievous look as she turned in the doorway, clacking her little bird feet as she headed back to her station.

The woman in front of him was a grown-up, filled-out version of the Jacqueline he remembered. Long dark hair hung in waves to the middle of her back. She wore little makeup, but huge eyes the color of dark-roasted coffee were defined by long, sweeping eyelashes. She wore an amethyst-colored swingy, flutter-sleeve dress with cascading ruffles at the neck, waist and back in a light-as-air feathery print. This was paired simply with amber-colored Covington boots and a leather wrap bracelet with sterling silver beads and semiprecious stones.

Jacqueline sat up straight on the edge of her seat and looked at Mac in a way that unnerved him, though he couldn’t say why. She had a penetrating gaze that seemed to see past the surface and into his soul. Was she bored? Mac didn’t know. But when she took a swallow of her water, he felt a stirring he hadn’t experienced in longer than he cared to remember. You are being ridiculous. Get it together! He shook his head as if to clear it and straightened his glasses. He picked up her résumé and searched it for something brilliant to say.

“Tell me a little bit about yourself, Jacqueline.”

“Well, after I graduated from high school here, I went to college in Arkansas.”

“I saw that on your résumé. Why Arkansas?”

“I was offered a scholarship at the University of Central Arkansas through their Honors Program.” Here she assumed a voice like Marlon Brando’s in The Godfather. “They made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.”

Mac chuckled, glad to feel more at ease. “Excellent. Did you like it there?”

“I did, very much. Like I wrote in my résumé, I earned my degree in communications and a minor in interdisciplinary studies. It was actually the Honors College at UCA that connected me with an international child-welfare organization called KARIS, where I’ve been working up till now.”

“Tell me about that.”

“I got a grant when I was a student to travel abroad. I did some extensive travel, first in Europe and then the Middle East. I wrote a big paper about my experiences, which I presented at the Honors College when I returned. My focus was on education for children—and specifically girls—in a hostile culture. Right out of college I accepted a lower-level position with KARIS, and have worked my way up to my current position, which, as you can see in my résumé, is chief of communications for the Middle East.”

“What prompted you to come back to Kilgore?” Mac couldn’t possibly imagine.

“We were evacuated. The situation in Afghanistan is just too dangerous right now. I am still doing some work for KARIS online, but it’s uncertain when we will be able to return.” Jacqueline looked down, brushing a few rogue hairs out of her eyes. “When I returned to the States, I went to my parents’ on the Atlantic Coast. They work for a foundation to protect wild horses there. They still own some acreage in Kilgore and asked me to come here and try to sell it for them—so here I am. When I saw your ad, I thought maybe I could make some extra money to support myself while I’m spending time in Kilgore.”

Mac set her résumé down on his desk and leaned forward. “That’s a pretty colorful story, Jacqueline. Frankly, I’m kind of amazed.”

It was her turn to laugh. “Why are you amazed?”

“Well, for one thing, you’ve been around the world. When I was younger, I went to Mexico on vacation with my parents and took a hunting trip to Canada with my dad and brothers, but that’s about the extent of my travel experience outside the United States.”

“Yes, but as I remember, you have roots here. A reason to stay put. I have no roots anywhere, never did. I guess you could call me a citizen of the world.” The way she said it sounded less glamorous than it did wistful, even a little sad.

“But, do you think you will be happy here?” Mac looked into her eyes as he asked the question, then glanced away. “I’m not looking for a temporary relationship. I need someone who is going to stay.”

Jacqueline fiddled with her hands and then clasped them in her lap. “I have no intentions of staying here permanently. That’s the honest answer. But I don’t know when, or even if, my job with KARIS will open back up.”

“To be honest, I need someone to start yesterday,” Mac said. “Ella wanted to be done by the end of the year—she’s had mercy on me by sticking around two extra weeks. But I haven’t gotten any applicants who seemed to fit. You’re definitely qualified—overqualified. I’m concerned it won’t be a fit for you, either.”

There was a long pause while they each studied the other.

“I’m good with numbers.” Jacqueline bounced a little on the edge of her seat.

“Really?”

“Yes. My ACT score was thirty-one in math. I just prefer words.”

Mac cringed. “Why? Why in the world?”

“Words have so many possibilities. I like to ‘dwell in possibility,’ like Emily Dickinson wrote. But I can also work with certainty, when I have to.” She grinned at him.

“Now I remember why you and Joiner were friends.” Mac snorted, thinking of his brother’s love of literature. “Emily Dickinson indeed.”

“I wonder if we could try it out. You said you need someone now. And I need a job. It might not work out, but it might turn out to be a great fit for both of us. We’ll never know unless we try.”

Clearly, she was good with small talk, which would be a plus with customers. Her computer skills were fine. An assistant who was good with numbers would be a big change from Ella, and Mac was pretty sure she could handle the coffee. As an added bonus, she was drop-dead gorgeous.

The only negative was she probably wouldn’t want to stay very long, and he’d have to go through the process of hiring all over again. But Mac was running low on other options. He shook her hand. “All right, Jacqueline. Let’s give it a try.”

CHAPTER TWO

BUDDY KING, THE real estate agent “King of Kilgore,” kicked a rock with the pointed toe of one of his snakeskin boots. He and Jacqueline stood on the site where Jacqueline’s parents’ school-bus-turned-camper used to be. “I’ll be honest with you. It’s a tough sell.”

“I know the land’s not great for farming,” she said. “My parents found that out. They bought it with plans to move here and live off the land. We nearly starved to death my last two years of high school.”

“Well, it’s a little hilly and rocky for crops or cattle. But someone who knew what they were doing might make it work.”

He seemed totally oblivious to the fact he had just insulted her parents.

“It would be fine for housing,” King continued, “but the market for that in Kilgore is rocky itself right now.”

“What do you suggest?”

He raised his eyebrows, which looked to Jacqueline like two fuzzy caterpillars. “Let’s put it out there at eight hundred dollars an acre and see what happens.”

“How long do you typically wait to see what happens?” Jacqueline wasn’t sure she liked the sound of that.

“As long as it takes, little lady.”

No way was Jacqueline committing to this indefinitely. “I’d like to list it with you for three months and then we’ll reevaluate.”

He smiled, revealing a gold crown on one of his front teeth. “Whatever floats your boat.”

Jacqueline called her mother on the way to Mac’s office. “Mom?”

“Hi, honey!”

“I just met with the real estate agent.”

“Oh. How did it go?”

“He wants to list it at eight hundred an acre.”

“Wow. That’s a lot.”

“It is?”

“Well, compared to what we paid for it.”

“Okay. So you’d be happy with that.” Jacqueline exhaled.

“Yeah, sure. Does he think he can get it?”

“I don’t know. He’s a little weird.”

Her mom chuckled. “What do you mean?”

“Oh, you know, he had on a polyester suit, and wears a toupee, and has a gold tooth.”

“Jacqueline! I can’t believe you’re judging someone by appearance like that. That’s not like you.”

“Oh, Mom. I’m not—I’m just telling you he totally looks the part of some sleazy real estate agent from a small town in Texas.”

“Well, he is from a small town in Texas.”

“I know.” Jacqueline bit her lip. “He also called me little lady.”

“That’s kind of sweet, except that you’re five-ten.”

“I know, right?”

“Why did you choose him?”

“He’s supposed to be the best in town.” Jacqueline exaggerated her words: “The King of Kilgore Real Estate Sales.”

“Sounds like you’re reading a billboard.”

“I could be. That’s what his billboard says.”

“What bothers you about him?”

“He didn’t seem very positive about the land. He was like, ‘We’ll try this and see what happens.’”

“That sounds better to me than someone who overpromises and underdelivers.”

“I guess you’re right. I just hope I can get it sold for you. I know you and Dad need the money.”

“We’re okay.” Her mother sighed. “I appreciate you working on it for us. How are things going for you in your new job?”

“I’m driving there now. And it’s going well. Ella, the lady who is leaving, has been so sweet to me the past two weeks. Today is her last day.”

“Oh. So you’re on your own after this.”

“Yes. But I’m ready. I feel bad getting paid for not doing much of anything but watching her.”

“And how do you like the boss?”

“He’s nice.” Jacqueline blushed at the mention of Mac.

“Jacqueline? You still there?”

“Yes. I was just saying he’s nice. Very professional. Smart.”

“Have you seen his brother, the one you were friends with in high school?”

“Joiner. No, not yet.”

“That might be fun, if you guys could get reacquainted.”

“Yes, I’d like to see him again. But he is married now, so...”

“Oh. I see. Well, maybe his wife would be a good person for you to meet, too.”

“I’m sure she is. I probably won’t be here long enough to really make friends, though.”

Her mother laughed. “How long does it take to make friends?”

“Oh, Mom, you know what I mean.”

“No, I don’t, really.”

Jacqueline sighed. “I don’t want to make a big investment in people I’ll probably never see again once the land sells.”

“I see.” Her mother cleared her throat. “I think I’ll let that one go for right now, but it’s a subject we might need to come back to.”

“It will definitely have to be later, because I’m pulling up at work.” She was glad there wasn’t time to address the subject. It had never been easy for her to make friends as it was for her gregarious mother. She’d always wished she could be more like her mom in that way. But now that Jacqueline was an adult, she’d come to terms that it probably wouldn’t happen, and that was okay.

“All right, sweetie. I love you!”

“Love you, too.”

Jacqueline wheeled her brother’s silver Prius into the parking lot at Lone Star Accounting. He had left it with her parents when he sold all of his other belongings and moved to Kona, Hawaii, to become a part of Youth with a Mission the previous year. It worked out nicely for Jacqueline that she could use it for her time in the States. Checking her appearance in the rearview mirror, she decided she looked presentable enough, even though her hair was a little windblown from walking around on the land. She pulled her camel knit moto jacket around her, adjusted her blue-and-white bandanna scarf and stepped out into the brisk January air.