A Cowboy for Christmas: A Contemporary Christian Romance NOVELLA by Debra Ullrick

Author:Debra Ullrick [Ullrick, Debra]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: holidays,christian romance,romance,western,contemporary
Publisher: Sweet Impressions Publishing
Published: 2014-11-05T05:00:00+00:00

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An ache sliced deeply through Callie’s heart, driving the pain into the middle of her being. The words she’d longed to hear, dreamt about hearing, had finally been spoken. And the love she longed for was finally hers for the taking. The only problem was, she couldn’t accept either one of them. Not anymore because now she knew what lie love really was. “Because, Dustin. Men leave. Dad left. You left. I can’t go through that again.”

“I didn’t have a choice, Callie, and you know that.” Hurt filled not only his voice but his eyes as his hands came off of hers.

How she wanted to reach out and to hold him, to snatch those hands back.

To remove the pain she had put there.

But she didn’t dare.

One touch and she’d be a goner.

She’d give into the love he was offering and she just couldn’t.

Love hurt way too much.

So instead, she pressed her shoulders back and looked him square in the eye. “Dad did,” she said, knowing he couldn’t refute that fact. “Men can’t be trusted.” With those words, she faced forward, put her truck in drive, and after checking to make sure no one was coming, she turned onto the highway and headed into town. She had to take it slow because the roads were coated with layers of ice and snow, just like her heart.

The silence in the cab screamed so loudly it was deafening. They had two more weeks together. How would she endure it, knowing he loved her and knowing she could never accept it? A tear slipped down her cheek. As discreetly as possible, she removed it.

“You aren’t the only one hurting, Callie.” Dustin’s husky voice drifted over to her. “Don’t think this means I’m giving up on us. I’m going to find a way for us to be together. I’m not losing or leaving you again.”

Oh, if only her heart could believe that. But it didn’t have the capacity to anymore.

About a mile out of town, Callie asked Dustin where he wanted to eat.

“I’m not hungry. So, wherever you want to eat, that’s fine. I’ll wait out in the truck until you’re finished.”

“You have to eat, Dustin. You haven’t had anything since this morning.”

“What about you?” His gaze shot to her. “You haven’t either.”

“I’m not hungry either.”

“Callie?”

She couldn’t look at him. “What?”

“What can I do to convince you I won’t leave you again? You name it, and I’ll do it?”

This time she looked over at him. “I’m not sure there is anything, Dustin. I can’t just wave a magic wand and make my fear of being abandoned again disappear.”

“You’re right, you can’t. But you can pray about it.” His eyes made his plea so softly, her resolve shook inside her. “Do you mind if we pray together?” he asked.

“Now?” she asked, glancing over at him, and then back at the road. This was crazy. How was he here? More importantly, how was he here asking that question?

“No. This evening. After dinner. Or, you know, better yet, now.

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