The Gift of Love by Lori Foster

Author:Lori Foster [Foster, Lori]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Group US
Published: 2010-06-03T05:00:00+00:00

MAGGIE Stover Walls waited patiently as the guests in the little white church filed into the aisle to leave. Everyone in town had attended her brother’s wedding. A marriage between a Stover and a Grant was something to see. There had been bad blood between the families ever since Brodie had burned down the Stover’s barn, killing a bull that was worth a fortune. Leo had said he thought it was an accident, but that didn’t help things any.

The expensive incident almost cost her family everything they had. It had taken years for her father to save enough to buy the bull, and losing him before he’d sired a single calf had been devastating. Her pa had counted on that bull to produce the best breeding stock in Texas.

Because of Brodie’s malicious act, Maggie’s family struggled for years to regain their losses. Thank goodness he’d left the area the day after the fire and hadn’t returned. Being civil to him after what he did would have taxed every bit of Christian charity she had in her possession.

Standing, she brushed her hands down her bodice and turned to step into the aisle. From her position near the front of the sanctuary, she could see most of the people leaving for the reception, including the back of Sara’s mother and the large man escorting her. Maggie paused. A strange sense of familiarity washed through her. Could it be?

Nah, Brodie wasn’t nearly that tall and broad when he’d left ten years before. Besides, what were the chances he’d return after what he’d done? She leaned in an attempt to get a better view of the dark-haired man, but all she managed to do was step on Lenore Mills’s toes.

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Mills,” Maggie said, still straining to see the stranger.

“That’s all right, honey. I can’t blame you for trying to get a look at Brodie. He’s changed quite a bit, hasn’t he?”

Maggie hoped her face didn’t show the shock she felt. “Are you sure it’s Brodie?”

“Yep,” Lenore said. “He came home yesterday, just in time for the wedding.” Lenore then tipped her gray head toward Maggie and grinned. “He sure grew into a handsome man, didn’t he?”

Looks had never been Brodie’s problem. Even at nineteen, he’d been fine to look at, and Lord knew, Maggie had done her share of looking. To a twelve-year-old girl, Brodie Grant was just about perfect... until he ruined their lives. She slowed her step so she wouldn’t have to speak to him just yet. Seeing him unexpectedly had churned up feelings she’d tried to forget, and she needed a few moments to regain her composure.

Unfortunately, a few moments were all she had. The reception had been set up in the yard outside the church. Tables with food and drinks lined one side of the yard, and several chairs and benches lined the other; the center area had been left clear for dancing. Maggie glanced around the crowd until her gaze landed on Brodie. He stood, somber and quiet, leaning against a tree, watching the crowd as though daring someone to speak to him.

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