the whole town?” Cole’s eyebrows went sky-high.
“Nah. Only family. Just got a little carried away with the food. It’s not every day we have a new baby at Whisper Creek, after all. I was excited.”
Jenny came around the table to hug Cole and Jess, then picked up a frosting cone. “I couldn’t quite finish the cake because we didn’t know her name yet, but I’m ready!” She posed with the frosting tip over the blank spot on the cake. “Are you ready to tell us what you decided?”
Jess looked up at Cole, who reached out to take the baby from Ma. Everyone gathered close as he turned her around in his arms, and he cleared his throat carefully as he kissed the baby’s head.
“Before we formally introduce this little munchkin, Jess and I want to thank you all for—well, for going on this journey with us. Thanks for believing in us, for speaking for us to the adoption counselors, for filling in for us while we did eight miles of paperwork—”
His voice broke, but he took a deep breath, and Jess squeezed his hand. “Most of all, though—thanks for just being there every step of the way. There’ve been a lot of highs, and a lot of lows, but bringing this little one home today makes all of them worthwhile.”
“And speaking of this little one”—he took another deep breath, and Jess felt her own throat constrict as she watched the emotions play out over her husband’s face—“Jess and I are ecstatic to present Layla. Layla Emily Driscoll.”
Ma’s hands both went to her mouth, and Jess felt her own eyes well as Ma’s tears ran down her face. “You named her after your sister.” She pulled them both into a fierce hug, and didn’t let go.
Finally, she broke away, wiping her eyes. “You Driscoll boys keep making your old Ma cry, and your wives are gonna think I’m just a big ole pile of mush.”
Cole put his arm around her shoulders and hugged her hard. “Mush inside of steel, Ma. We all know that.”
“That’s right. Better. Okay, everybody eat up all this food.” She wiped her hands on her apron and reached out for Layla. “Now you give me that baby. I’ve been waiting for a lo-ong time for this one.”
Jess and Cole laughed as Ma scooped Layla into her arms and headed for the rocker by the fire. As the rest of the family started ladling food onto plates, Cole pulled Jess outside onto the porch, which was bathed in twilight.
“So, cowgirl.”
“So, cowboy.”
He gathered her into his arms, resting his chin on top of her head. “Once upon a time—”
Jess laughed. “There was a handsome cowboy prince named Cole.”
“Exactly. And he found his perfect princess in a faraway land called Bostonia.”
“And they lived happily ever after?” Jess turned to smile up at him.
He squeezed her gently. “They did. Because they had Whisper Creek magic, cowgirl. Whisper Creek magic.”
This one’s for my sweetheart. Your forever is my forever. Magic, indeed.
Acknowledgments
It’s been a whirlwind year, and I am more grateful than ever to be surrounded by people I cherish. Without them, I wouldn’t be who I am, I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing, and I most certainly wouldn’t be enjoying it as much as I do.
Huge, huge thanks go to my fabulous, tireless agent, Courtney Miller-Callihan. In a year full of excitement and possibilities, I’m ever-grateful for her calm, measured guidance.
To Sue Grimshaw—a monstrous thank you for falling in love with Whisper Creek, and especially with Jess and Cole’s story. I’m so honored to be part of your team!
To Jennifer Brodie, my critique partner and dear friend—your boundless optimism, keen eye, and any-time-of-day-or-night friendship keep me sane in a sea of crazy.
To the real Christyne, who is not a social worker or counselor, but has the grace, dignity, and chutzpah to be both. Thanks for inspiring me from the very first day of this journey.
To Stacey, Lynne, Paula, and Kris—who’ve taught me what forever-friends really are.
And lastly, but most importantly, to my girls—for their love, their support, and their pride. It means everything.
BY MAGGIE MCGINNIS
Whisper Creek
Accidental Cowgirl
A Cowboy’s Christmas Promise
Once Upon a Cowboy
PHOTO: GEOFF MCLOUGHLIN
MAGGIE MCGINNIS started writing when her twins were infants and she was desperately seeking sanity. The fact that she found it only with imaginary people makes her a bit concerned, but at least they do what she tells them to…usually.
She lives in New England, but spends an inordinate amount of time on Arizona real estate sites in