The Texan's Twin Blessings (Love Inspired Historical), by Rhonda Gibson
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The Texan's Twin Blessings (Love Inspired Historical), by Rhonda Gibson
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Stand-In Father
As temporary guardian to his twin baby nieces, William Barns barely knows a diaper from a burp cloth. The well-meaning but meddling neighbor ladies suggest a wife—namely Emily Jane Rodgers. Although William isn't in the market for a bride, he needs a loving woman to watch over the children, and Emily Jane fits the bill nicely.
Emily Jane agrees to care for William's nieces—not become his betrothed. Fully determined to find her own way in life and to open her own bakery, Emily Jane isn't looking for a husband. But no matter how hard she resists, Emily Jane is roped in by the twins' little hugs and William's tender regard. And soon she longs to be a permanent part of this ready-made family…
The Texan's Twin Blessings (Love Inspired Historical), by Rhonda Gibson - Amazon Sales Rank: #478012 in eBooks
- Published on: 2015-06-01
- Released on: 2015-06-01
- Format: Kindle eBook
The Texan's Twin Blessings (Love Inspired Historical), by Rhonda Gibson About the Author Rhonda Gibson lives in New Mexico with her husband James. She has two children and three beautiful grandchildren. Reading is something she has enjoyed her whole life and writing stemmed from that love. When she isn’t writing or reading, she enjoys gardening, beading and playing with her dog, Sheba. You can visit her at www.rhondagibson.net Rhonda hopes her writing will entertain, encourage and bring others closer to God.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Granite, Texas Late Spring 1887Hot, aggravated and about at the end of his rope, William Barns stood on his grandmother's porch juggling his year-and-a-half-old nieces, Rose and Ruby. The little girls squalled louder."Eat!" Rose twisted sideways, her little voice pleading.They were hungry, so was he, and as soon as his grandmother opened the door from the other side, she'd help feed them. Of that he had no doubt. He shifted the twins higher on his chest. Today they'd had milk and bread in their diets and little else.The heat was getting to them and making the girls cranky; him, too, if he was honest about it. Colorado springtime and Texas springtime were very different in the way of weather, and the effects on him and the girls were going from poor to bad fast.Why was his grandmother taking so long? If he remembered correctly, the house was not that big. He'd been a kid the last time he'd stood on this porch, and even then it had seemed small. William clinched his jaw in an effort not to get impatient with the girls and his grandmother. Surely she'd heard him knocking.The trip from Denver, Colorado, had been exhausting. Rose and Ruby demanded his undivided attention. He'd had no idea how much was required of his late sister, until she'd been killed and he'd taken over the twins' care. What a load she had carried and carried well.His heart ached at the loss of his sister, Mary. If only he'd gone to the bank that day, instead of her. The throbbing in his ankle reminded him why he'd stayed with the napping twins while his sister had gone to town and faced down two bank robbers. If only he hadn't slipped on the frozen snow and broken his ankle after the last ice storm they'd had, he would have been the one at the bank.Rose, apparently tired of the juggling, chose that moment to throw up sour milk all over his shirtsleeve. Ruby, spying her sister's distress, let out a wail that pierced his eardrums.As the curdled milk scent reached his nostrils, he briefly wondered how his delicate, prim sister had managed to take care of his darling nieces with the ease that she had. They burped putrid liquids, and the diapers, well, he'd almost taken to wearing a clothespin on his nose while changing them.Exhausted, Rose laid her head upon his shoulder and shuddered her unhappiness. Mirroring her sister's actions, Ruby did the same. Regardless of their disgusting smells and loud crying, William loved his nieces with all his heart."I'm sorry, baby girls. I know you're hot and tired, and sick of me pouring liquid into you." He kept his voice soothing and calm. "Just hang on a few more seconds. Grandma's on the way, and she'll have something good for us to eat."His chest ached with the sorrow weighing down upon him. He felt as if the responsibilities of the girls might be more than he could take. Why did everything have to change?Memories flooded his tired mind. On the fateful morning he'd lost his sister, his brother-in-law and town sheriff, Josiah, had been out of town but was to return later in the day. William later learned that Josiah had been lured away by fake information that the robbers were in the town next to theirs. He'd hurried off to help the sheriff there, and while he'd been gone the criminals had robbed their bank.Three rough-looking men had arrived in town shortly after the bank opened. They'd entered the bank, threatening those inside if the teller didn't turn over the money. When they'd escaped in a blaze of gunfire, they left Mary lifeless and the bank teller wounded.Witnesses had whispered that it had all happened so suddenly. The bank robbers had taken Mary's money and left her for dead. She had stumbled out of the bank, clutching the morning's mail to her wounded chest. It was when she fell in a heap of petticoats that everyone realized she'd been hit by the gunfire. His sister had died on the dirty street, leaving behind an angry, grieving husband and two beautiful, motherless little girls. And him.A piercing cry sounded within his left ear, pulling William from the painful memory. "Ruby, please don't scream." He looked to the dark window on his left. Where was his grandmother? Why hadn't she answered? He turned and pounded on the door with his elbow.Aggravation at the delay crept up his spine and into his already pounding head. The longer he stood there, the worse he felt. William refused to give in to the irritation at having to wait for his grandmother; one angry man in the family was enough.The memories he'd been shoving away flooded in once more. Josiah had allowed his rage and grief over the murder of his wife to run so deep he'd practically forgotten his daughters. William had been left with no choice but to take over the care of the girls. Once his sister had been put to rest, Josiah had gone after the murderers with the promise to come back for the girls, but William wasn't holding his breath.Even though Josiah was a good lawman, William worried about his brother-in-law's state of mind. Josiah blamed himself for his wife's death. He'd even made the statement he wasn't sure he was a fit father and that if he couldn't protect Mary, what made him think he could protect his girls? William had tried to talk to him, offer comfort, but in the end, Josiah had left a bitter and angry man.After three months of waiting, William couldn't stand living in the same town that his sister had died in. He'd left word with Josiah's neighbor that he was moving to Granite, Texas, and that Rose and Ruby would be waiting there for Josiah when he'd finished his business with the bank robbers. He worried Josiah might never come for his daughters—the man had been so resentful—and Josiah had probably taken risks that could end his life, leaving the girls orphans.Rose trembled, and one look at her white face reminded William that he needed to focus on her and her sister instead of rehashing what had happened or worrying about what might have happened to their father. Until he heard from Josiah, he was responsible for the little girls, and right now they needed real food and a place to rest. He reached for the door handle and found it locked. William sighed. She wasn't home."Excuse me."He turned to the soft voice that had managed to be heard over the little girls' cries. A young woman stood behind him in the yard. Her red hair blazed under the sun, and light freckles crossed her nose as if she'd too often forgotten to wear her bonnet. Green eyes filled with sadness looked up at him. The freckles across her nose and cheeks gave her the appearance of being very young, but the depth of emotion in her eyes made him think she might be older than she looked. Realizing he was staring, William responded. "Yes?""My name is Emily Jane Rodgers. I'm Mrs. Barns's neighbor." She pointed to the house across the street, then turned to face him once more. "Mrs. Barns no longer lives here." Her sweet voice seemed to drip with warmth and deep sorrow.William shifted the girls, who had quieted down at the sound of the female voice. "Nice to meet you, Miss Rodgers. I'm William Barns. Where has my grandmother moved?"Renewed sorrow seemed to fill her pretty green eyes. "I have a key to the house. Let's go inside, so that I can explain." She brushed past him, and scents of cinnamon and sugar filled his nostrils.The girls stared at the redheaded woman. Ruby stretched out a chubby hand to grasp a strand of her hair as she worked the key into the lock. Thankfully, the little girl couldn't reach Miss Rodgers, but her failed attempt had her leaning farther, straining against his arm till he thought he might drop her. He tightened his hold on Ruby, turning aside from the temptation.Finally the woman opened the door and stepped within the cooler interior. William followed as questions regarding his grandmother bombarded his tired mind. They stood in the sitting room, where all the furniture was covered with fabric of various colors. His hopes sank in his chest as he realized that if his grandmother had moved, she would have taken her things with her. He used his boot to shut the door.Miss Rodgers dropped the key into the pocket of her apron that hung about her small waist and then moved to the window. She pulled back the heavy curtain to allow sunshine into the room before she turned to face him. Dust particles swirled in the air around them. "I'm sorry I have to be the one to tell you this, but Mabel passed away last month from a cold that had moved into her chest." Sorrow filled her voice.He gasped. A new sharp pain pricked his heart. A stinging dryness scalded the backs of his eyes. William looked about for a place to set the squirming twins, who wanted to get down and explore this new place. William realized he didn't dare put them in the layer of dust that covered the floor. He shifted their weight and held them close to his aching chest.He'd lost his sister and now his grandmother. Who was next? One of the twins? His brother-in-law? He'd also lost his fiancée, Charlotte, thankfully not by death, but she'd been clear that having children or taking care of someone else's was not a part of her future with him. They'd parted ways since he wanted children and intended to protect and keep his nieces until their father's return.The questions returned once more. How much more could he take? And how was he going to care for the girls by himself until his brother-in-law returned? This was not how he had pictured his life. Doubt rose in multiples. Why was the Lord testing him? Had he offended Him in some way? He loved the fellowship with his Lord and tried to honor and please Him above all others. But his load seemed to get heavier every day. As if the Lord had heard his thoughts, William's troubled spirit quieted, and he forced his lips to part in a curved, stiff smile at the woman staring solemnly back at him.Emily Jane watched the emotions cross the handsome face of the man in front of her. William Barns wore a dark brown cowboy hat. Wavy black hair peeked out from under the brim and curled about his collar. It was his sapphire-blue eyes that held her attention; they told a story of their own. From the depth of sorrow staring back at her, Emily Jane read that this wasn't the first time death had recently broken his heart.Without giving her actions much thought, she reached for one of the babies, who had resumed kicking and crying. "Here, let me take one of them." Poor little mites needed their mother. Emily Jane felt sure that Mr. Barns mourned her death as well as his grandmother's; why else would he show up alone with the two little girls?He placed the little child into her outstretched arms. "Shhhh, it will be all right." Emily Jane rocked from side to side as she held the small one against her shoulder.The child settled down and sniffled but no longer cried as if she were being tortured. Emily Jane looked to Mr. Barns and saw that he copied her actions. She offered him what she hoped was an encouraging smile. "Do you have fresh diapers for these sweet girls?" Emily Jane asked, as she continued to rock and pat the small back in her arms."Out in the wagon." He spun on his booted heels and limped away. "I'll be right back," Mr. Barns called over his shoulder."Go!" The little girl in her arms tugged in the direction that Mr. Barns had left. She cried in earnest when he and her sister continued out the door.Emily Jane pulled the darling close and patted her back some more. "He'll be right back." Emily Jane looked about the room during his absence. In the short time Mabel Barns had been gone, the house had become quite dirty.Would William Barns stay here now that he knew his grandmother had died? Or would he take his daughters and go to other family members for help with the children? She assumed the need for help with the girls had been what prompted him to visit his grandmother.She refocused on the room as she jiggled the sobbing little girl in her arms. Dust covered every inch of the furniture, fireplace mantel and floors. If he stayed, it would take him a few hours to clean up the mess. Mabel had died a little over a month ago. Dusting was a daily job if you lived in Texas, especially Granite, a task Mabel had seemed to enjoy.Emily Jane's throat closed. Fresh waves of sadness rolled over her as she mourned the loss of her friend. The child in her arms began to twitch and quiet down as if she sensed Emily Jane's sorrow."Let's get this wet diaper off of you, little one." Emily Jane walked to the sofa and pulled the dust-covered protective sheet off of it. To keep the sofa from getting wet, she took off her apron and laid it on the cushion. Then Emily Jane sat down and began to unpin the soiled cloth diaper.She guessed that the child was about a year old, maybe a little older. Twins were often smaller than other children. Her black wavy hair matched the color of her father's, and brilliant blue eyes shone from her face. A frayed yellow ribbon had been tied in her hair. "You sure are a pretty little girl," Emily Jane said in a soft voice, happy the child was no longer screaming and crying. The tot looked like her handsome father.Emily Jane shook her head to erase the memory of melancholy within his eyes. She didn't want to focus on William Barns's good looks, either. No, she wasn't interested in handsome men. She had a new life ahead of her. One of independence with no controlling husband or demanding children to steal her joy of baking.The little girl looked up at Emily Jane and sucked her thumb while Emily Jane pulled the wet cloth from under her. As soon as she was free of the sodden diaper, she pulled her thumb from between her lips and said, "Shew wee."Boot steps clacked against the wood floor. Then Mr. Barns handed her a leather pouch that resembled a saddlebag. "Shew wee is right." His warm voice brought a grin to the child's face. Emily experienced an unusual feeling in the pit of her stomach. What would it feel like to have someone's happiness within your power? She'd probably never know since she had chosen another direction for her life. One where she decided which path to take instead of a man doing it for her.Emily Jane took the bag and found the clean diapers. As soon as she got the cloth pinned into place, she handed the first little girl over to Mr. Barns and took the second child."Thank you, miss, but you really don't have to do that." He moved as if to change places with her.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Twins Capture Hearts! By Bonnie M. McKee To begin this post, I have to mention that covers usually do not capture my attention beyond a passing glance and a thought as to whether I like it or not. However, historical fiction book covers always garner a longer look because of my love and interest in history and almost all things connected to history, including clothing. The great cover for Rhonda Gibson's most recent release, The Texan's Twin Blessings, is one of the rare ones that caught my attention. I LOVE it! This illustration and these darling girls could almost be an authentic photograph from the time of the setting of the story. This cover so much appeals to me that, in spite of the slight fudging on dresses, shoes and bows, this imagine stayed with me as I read the story and until even now as I think about the book and write this review. Now, to this wonderful story between this darling cover. I enjoy historical fiction, and, in fact, it is almost the only genre that I read for just sheer pleasure. I especially enjoy those books that respect the real history of the era and location in which the story is set. While I realize that this genre is not intended to teach history, that seems to frequently be the result so I find that I read with a 'real history' perspective. I was not disappointed with this book; Rhonda very fairly presented life during the late 1880s. William Barns and Emily Jane Rodgers were plausible characters, yet sometimes frustrating people, representative of those traveling their roads of life during that time. William was certainly challenged by being the guardian and caretaker of toddler twin nieces, Rose and Roby, even though he was not married and had never cared for children at all. Emily Jane, the oldest sibling in a large family, dreamed of being free to pursue her dream of having her own bakery. How can two people with very defined plans for their individual futures compromise to insure those precious girls are cared for and loved? Is compromise even an option? Is Emily Jane's dream in God's plan, or is it an all-consuming desire that she holds onto - a dream that would facilitate her need to be responsible for only herself? William's experience in the past has caused him to lack trusting others. How can he reconcile that past with the potential to have his deepest dream become reality? Rhonda's 'people' were well-developed, faced decisions that must be made, experienced devastating, unexpected events which sorely tested their strengths and faith and struggled to meet the needs of others without losing themselves in the process. The themes of forgiveness, faith, God's plan and His will, are intricately woven into this wonderful little book that reminded me that God's plan is ultimately the one that fulfills our hopes and dreams for the future. These themes resonate to the depth of my yearnings to follow Jesus' footsteps and it was easy to connect with both William and Emily. The Texan's Twin Blessings is one of those books that lands softly on my heart. These folks became 'friends' and garnered my admiration as they made tough decisions guided with setting priorities. I suppose I noticed this because during that time in our past, people were faced with those same kinds of realities everyday, just as we are today. This reminds me that God is always the same God! Having said this, Rhonda does not preach or hammer; rather these lessons of life are the 'spirit' that guides the story. I recommend this book without reservation. I believe those who love historical fiction, Christian or not, set in the 1880s on the American West will enjoy allowing these precious little girls, and the ones who love them, a place in their hearts. The book was given to me by the author. This review is my honest and candid opinion.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Adorable! By Books And Spoons Blog Such a heartwarming and adorable story.First, Rose and Ruby are just cute, those twins would steal anyone's heart.Emily Jane was hurt deeply by her parents' behavior, by burdening her with the household work at an early age, and then sending her off as a mail-order-bride. She has dreams and ambitions, she wants to have her own opinion, be independent, own a bakery, and be free of a husband and children. At times she comes off stubborn, so focused only on her goal, but her background explains that reaction.William is goodhearted, generous, and caring. The way he took the responsibility of the two year old twin nieces, is admirable.I loved how William and Emily Jane had such a strong connection, and bond. They seemed to constantly end up in situations, that for the rest of the town would have seemed inappropriate. The warmth, love, and affection between them grows over time, while taking care of the twins, and sharing their everyday life. They both have strong faith in God, and it is natural, and essential to their lives.The whole town comes together after a tornado hit the town. How everyone pulled together, and did what they could to help, was lovely to see. The devastation the tornado leaves behind changes lots of things in the town. How William is willing to use his fortune to help others and the town is commendable.This story made me smile, it is heartfelt and inspiring. The strong faith the characters have is uplifting and refreshing, it was also very naturally twined into the story.~ Four Spoons
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Charming romance By Rhonda 4 STARSThis is a charming story. I had to smile a lot while reading The Texan's Twin Blessings. The characters are cute especially the twins. There was plenty of drama, community that pulls you into wanting to see more. It does mention God, prayer and church but in a total part of the story, not preaching. It is a clean read too.William Barns has his hands full with crying babies when he gets to his Grandmothers home. The twins are hungry, wet and tired. They have come from Denver, CO to Granite, TX.Emily Jane Rodgers.is single and works at the bakery. She and a friend Anna Mae live across the street from Williams late grandmother. She opens the house for him and tells him that she died a month ago.Emily and Anna Mae help clean the house so he and the twins can stay there. Emily also agrees to watch the girls while he works till he can find someone else.Rose and Ruby are one year old twin girls. There mother was killed in a bank robbery. There father the sheriff took off after the crooks. There Uncle William has been trying to take care of them but needed more help.I really liked this story and would like to read the next book which tells Anna Mae's story next. See all the changes that have taken place in Granite.The setting is Granite, TX Late Spring 1887I was given this ebook to read by Net Galley and Harlequin. In return I agreed to give a honest review of The Texan's Twin Blessings.
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The Texan's Twin Blessings (Love Inspired Historical), by Rhonda Gibson
