Her Old Kentucky Home: A Novella

By Lynette Sowell

There’s no place like home for the holidays—or so she’s told.

One last white Christmas on the horse farm is enough to make Isabella Tucker see red. Not that she had much of a choice in coming. Between her kid sister’s begging and her boyfriend sweet-talking her out of Chicago, Bella finds herself at her old Kentucky home, where the only skyscrapers are the Christmas trees.

At least decking the stalls is better than mucking them, and it’s not like she and David will stay forever, right? When Bella realizes wild reindeer couldn’t drag David back to the city, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas will be their last holiday together.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kregel Publications
• Release date: Oct 24, 2017
• ISBN: 9781683701446

Lynette Sowell

Lynette Sowell is the award-winning author of more than a dozen titles in the inspirational market. When Lynette's not writing, she chases down news stories for her local paper. Lynette was born in Massachusetts, raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, but makes her home on the doorstep of the Texas hill country with her husband and a herd of cats who have them well-trained. She loves reading, cooking, watching movies, and is always up for a Texas road trip.

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Her Old Kentucky Home

Written by Lynette Sowell, originally published as part of the novella Sleigh Bells Ring

Published by Gilead Publishing, Grand Rapids, MI

www.gileadpublishing.com

ISBN: 978-1-68370-144-6 (eBook)

Lynette Sowell is represented by MacGregor Literary, Inc.

Copyright © 2017. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage and retrieval system without prior written permission from the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, and/or events is purely coincidental.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Editors: Barbara J. Scott and Sandra D. Bricker

Cover and interior designer: Larry Taylor

Bella Baby,

I pray the investigators have found you well and happy. I’m sorry I’ve let so many years get away from us, and that we didn’t have the opportunity to spend some time together before my death. You were always my tough little cookie, so strong and determined. I’ve wondered often over the years about the woman you became, but I know this one thing for sure: you’ve made your own way. Even as a kid, you did that. I don’t really have much more in life than the ranch, and even that belonged more to your mom and you and your sisters than it ever did to me. It still holds my name though, and I’ve left it to you and the girls to do with whatever you choose. I’ll love you always, Bella. Be happy.

Tuck

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

—Proverbs 3:5

Chapter One

Bella Tucker had forgotten the scent of her sister Jo-Jo’s favorite perfume, but that all came rushing back as soon as she found herself in a rib-crushing hug.

You came! You really came! Beaming, Jo-Jo stepped back, her gaze flicking over Bella’s shoulder. I . . . I almost can’t believe it. You’re here. At home.

Bella nodded, then gazed at the giant, decked-out Christmas tree in the living room. The tree reminded her of Christmases past—happy days because of her mother. Bella had barely been back to the farm since college, save for grief-filled days after Mom’s sudden death during her sophomore year. During that haze she hadn’t noticed much about the place she swore she’d never return to. She snapped her focus back to the others.

Well, this guy over here— Bella nodded toward Jed, who’d contacted her last week, —I couldn’t tell him no. He was wonderfully persistent.

She wanted to say more about her job, about the whole mess she had left behind in Chicago. But the mess would still be there when she returned after Christmas. Instead, she took a deep breath and willed away the tears that pricked her eyelids. Bella Tucker never cried.

She sensed David’s presence at her elbow. The six hours on the road from Chicago had flown past. An easy trip, even if not carefree at the moment.

Jo-Jo’s grin widened at the sight of David. And David. Finally, I get to meet you at last, in the flesh.

Bella shook off the feelings that swirled below the surface of her own smile. Yes, this is David. David, my youngest sister, Joanna. We call her Jo-Jo. The two shook hands.

I feel like I know you already, David. You’re the other person responsible for making sure my sister came home. Jo-Jo’s grin hadn’t faded. If anything, she had an extra sparkle in her eye that she cast in Bella’s direction. Bella tried not to squirm under her sister’s scrutiny.

Instead, she let herself smile. Yes, and the fact that the bigwigs insisted I use my paid time off between now and the end of the year. You’re stuck with me till New Year’s. We’ll celebrate Christmas Eve with David’s parents in Louisville, then we’ll make the two-hour drive back here on Christmas Day.

Keeping her tone casual, Bella schooled her jumbled thoughts about being back at the farm. Today was a rare warm day for the second week of December, and the familiar scent of horses drifted on the breeze.

Lord, I’m not prepared for this. Not for the first time did Bella question her decision to come here.

I’ll get your bags, David offered, leaving her side and heading out the door to his car.

He’s not going to stay with us? We have the room. Jo-Jo gave her a quizzical look.

Bella shook her head. No, since his parents live in Louisville, he’s driving there to spend the night. He hasn’t seen them in a year or so. He’ll be back sometime tomorrow. We’ll have plenty of time together here.

Good. Jo-Jo linked her arm through hers and headed down the hallway. C’mon, I’ve got our old room set up for both of us. Won’t be quite like old times, but it still looks the same. It’s been good to be back. This is going to be the best Christmas ever.

David rolled her suitcase into the house and followed them.

Bella barely heard Jo-Jo’s chatter as they headed to their old bedroom—the keeper of all their secrets.

When they were kids, she never could have imagined they’d end up scattered all around the country. Thanks a lot, Tuck. She suppressed the recollection of her long-dead dream of her and her three sisters converging with spouses and children on their childhood home as their parents came out to meet them all.

A family Christmas on the farm.

Well, at least she and Jo-Jo would spend Christmas together this year.