The Lawman's Christmas Wish by Linda Goodnight Page A

troubling Delilah, she put Reed out of her mind and headed through the exit and down the long hallway toward the fellowship hall, which did double duty as an all-purpose room. Sammy and his faithful Puppy trailed along, holding her hand. She stopped at the children’s church and urged him to go inside. The noise and activity of half a dozen playing, laughing children drew him in, and before she closed the door, Amy saw the nursery worker lift Sammy onto her lap and open a book. Sammy loved stories. He would be okay for a while.
    Once inside the fellowship hall, Amy went to the counter that separated the kitchen from the dining area. “There’s hot cider and cocoa in packages. Coffee in the pot.”
    â€œCoffee’s okay with me.” Delilah sounded glum, as though nothing mattered, especially coffee.
    Comfortable in her childhood church, Amy took two disposable cups and handed one to her friend. Needing the buzz of energy from a good cup of chocolate and sugar, she said, “Cocoa for me.”
    The big room was amazingly empty, though Amy knew it would not remain that way long. Folks would meander in for refreshments soon, and many of the props were being created here. Even now, the smell of paint hung in the air and a cardboard camel, festooned with a braided turquoisehalter, leaned against one wall. Glittered stars were spread across another newspaper-covered table. And a pile of tools and lumber littered one corner.
    Silently, the women made their drinks and then settled at one of the empty folding tables. Amy’s shoulders relaxed in the familiar, homey setting. She had enjoyed many dinners and celebrations in this room, and the place never failed to evoke happy memories. Her wedding reception had been held here, and both her babies had been welcomed with showers in this very place. She was a blessed woman in so many ways.
    She looked across the table at Delilah, realizing that her friend had no such happy memories to sustain her through hard times. From their brief talks, she’d learned that Delilah had grown up in California, the child of low-budget actors whose focus had been on making it big and being seen, rather than making memories with their child. No wonder Delilah sometimes came on too strong.
    Amy sipped at her cocoa, then wrapped both hands around the warm cup and waited.
    Delilah stirred sweetener into her coffee, then lay the spoon aside. The metal clinked softly against the Formica tabletop. “You’re going to think I’m crazy.”
    â€œBetween the treasure, the engagements, the weddings and now Christmas, we’re all a little crazy. Join the crowd.”
    This at least got a smile out of the depressed Delilah.
    â€œWell, I’m crazier than most.” She sipped her coffee and Amy waited, knowing the conversation would come. “It’s the engagements that have me thinking. Everyone is finding Mr. Right, getting engaged or married. Sometimes I feel like such a fool. I came here dreaming of finding the perfect man and now…”
    Amy smiled against her cup. Delilah and plenty of others thought Treasure Creek, Alaska, was the answer to their romance problems. At the same time, she felt sorry for Delilahand the others who were lured by the promise of handsome men under their Christmas trees.
    â€œSometimes I wish I’d never given that magazine interview,” Amy admitted.
    Delilah looked stricken. “But then we’d never have met. And I’d never have found Christ.”
    Instantly repentant, Amy reached over and patted Delilah’s small hand. “I didn’t mean that. A lot of good has come out of that article.” If not for the influx of tourists, the town would be well on its way to becoming another of Alaska’s ghost towns. “I was just thinking how disappointed you and a few others have been. The magazine led you to believe something that wasn’t true.”
    â€œOh, but it is true. There are plenty