Dixie's Gift

By Barbara Edwards

Ellen Carter deeply grieves for her husband Dan, but at least she still has Dixie, her beloved Malinois. However, soon Dixie leaves her too. But the faithful dog cannot rest easy in heaven while her mistress is unhappy. Dixie pleads with the Archangel Michael to let her send help, and intercedes for Ellen in the only way she can. But will Ellen get the message, and more importantly, will she accept Dixie's gift? Sexy newcomer Michael Burke can barely take enough time from his successful restaurant for a decent night's sleep, let alone romance. Still, he is intrigued by the beautiful widow and can't resist entering her shop. Sparks fly, and when Ellen has an accident in a snowstorm, he comes to her rescue. Trapped by a blizzard and aided by Dixie's Gift, Ellen and Michael find more than shelter--they find love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
• Release date: Dec 7, 2015
• ISBN: 9781509205226

Book preview

Inc.

He brushed a wisp of her hair from her cheek.

It clung like spider silk to his fingers.

He rubbed the strand and his heart raced. When her lips parted, he bent forward to taste their soft curve.

Sweet, so sweet, he thought as her mouth melded with his. His hands slowly slid from her slender shoulders to her waist. Soft as a feather, she sighed. Her curves fit against his hard chest like matching puzzle pieces.

The lights blinked, dimmed, and then flared back on.

Praise for Barbara Edwards

"DIXIE’S GIFT tugs at your heart, and though the snow threatens, you can’t help but be warmed by this sweet story. A must read!"

~Kara O’Neal, author

~*~

Dog lovers, do not read this book…without a box of tissues nearby. A touching story of love and compassion.

~Diane Burton, author of the Outer Rim series

~*~

Delightful…Barbara Edwards weaves a heartwarming holiday tale of rediscovering love after the death of a spouse and the loss of a beloved pet. It’s a refreshing story with a theme of joy and peace and filled with engaging characters. And who can resist a romantic winter setting with lots and lots of snow?

~Judy Ann Davis, author and educator

~*~

"DIXIE’S GIFT by Barbara Edwards is a gift of a read. Sweet, romantic, poignant, and touching, it will bring a lump to your throat and satisfaction to your heart. If you don’t shed a tear, you’re a robot."

~Award winning author Alicia Dean

Dixie’s Gift

by

Barbara Edwards

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

Dixie’s Gift

COPYRIGHT © 2015 by Barbara Edwards

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or The Wild Rose Press, Inc. except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Contact Information: [e-mail]

Cover Art by Debbie Taylor

The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

PO Box 708

Adams Basin, NY 14410-0708

Visit us at www.thewildrosepress.com

Publishing History

First Fantasy Rose Edition, 2015

Digital ISBN 978-1-5092-0522-6

Published in the United States of America

Dedication

Dedicated to Dixie,

my Belgian Malinois

A Note to the Reader

Dixie was a Belgian Malinois and my best friend for years. She died of cancer, and I miss her every day. This story is in her memory.

Belgian Malinois are wonderful dogs, loyal, intelligent and protective. Their only flaw is they need to be with their owner, not in a dog cage or kennel.

They are used by police departments, the Federal government, and the military for everything from drug dogs to bomb detection. They have saved lives across the world.

Many are available for adoption. I follow American Malinois Rescue on FaceBook at:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1389286684645077/

Prologue

Dixie’s Gift

If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.

~Will Rogers

Dixie sat inside heaven’s gate and stared down the long road to earth. If she inhaled deeply she could catch a hint of Ellen’s scent. Her pointed ears flattened against her head and she tucked her tail around her bottom. Her beloved Ellen was still alone and grieving.

It wasn’t fair. Ellen and Dan had rescued her from a cage. First Dan had been taken and Ellen kept Dixie at her side, the special place where she belonged. For nine years Dixie and Ellen had been together until death had taken Dixie from