Love on a Frosty Morning: Honor Valley Holidays, #4

By Shanae Johnson

Two wounded hearts, one snowball fight, and a holiday season that changes everything.

 

Cin Evergreen was the hometown softball star whose dreams were frozen by a career-ending injury. Now she coaches middle-school kids and delights in spreading holiday cheer at her family's Christmas shop. But when it comes to love, she's always been more at home on the playing field than in the game of hearts.

 

Derek Matthews is an ex-military sniper grappling with a life that's gone off-target. Haunted by memories of a last deployment gone wrong and a shoulder injury that still nags him, Derek has returned to his small hometown seeking peace and a respite from the chaos of his past. But instead of tranquility, he finds himself unexpectedly in the line of fire when his sister drags him to Cin's Christmas tree lot. But it's not the holiday spirit that snags Derek's attention, it's the curvy shortstop.

 

When Cin organizes a town-wide snowball fight, it's Derek who ends up in her sights. Sparks fly as they're pitted against each other in a frosty battlefield, and soon neither can deny the growing heat between them. But just as they start to find their rhythm, life throws a curveball that puts both their hearts on the line.

Can Cin and Derek move past their injuries and insecurities to take a shot at love? Or will they be yet another casualty of the battles they've fought? Find out in this balling holiday battle where a Wounded Warrior and the town tomboy learn they don't have a snowball's chance of escaping the Christmas spirit!

Love on a Frosty Morning is a part of the Honor Valley Holiday romances; a heartwarming, small town, military romance series that explores the power of love, growth, and healing set during the most magical time of the year! These stories are short and sweet -the perfect length for an afternoon pick me up or an evening escape before bedtime!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Those Johnson Girls
• Release date: Dec 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223439790

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Cin Evergreen stood at the edge of the middle-school softball field, clipboard in hand, as she watched her young athletes scatter across the diamond. Her eyes narrowed, not in scrutiny but in discerning coaching wisdom. She tapped her pen against the clipboard as she studied the young girls' form, their spirit, their teamwork.

The thwack of a softball against a leather mitt reverberated in her ears. It was the best sound in the world. A sound that reminded Cin of her own dreams deferred but never forgotten.

Okay, focus, Haley, she called out, encouraging the girl at bat. Keep your eye on the ball. You've got this.

The young athlete lifted her eyes to meet Cin's. Haley nodded, then proceeded to swing… and miss. A few girls chuckled. Cin was quick to defuse the tension with a stern look over her shoulder. The girls instantly quieted.

Cin clapped her hands together, her fingers tingling from the cold air. It's okay, it's okay. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither were softball stars.

As softball coach of Honor Valley High School's Varsity girls’ softball team, Cin ran her members hard. But she was the only one allowed to offer criticism. And she never gave it harshly.

What did that solve? It didn't. It only produced more errors as the one criticized became so keyed up that they focused not on improving but on not being criticized again. For Cin, it was positive reinforcement all the way.

Cin began with a warm, reassuring smile. You've got the right instincts. Remember to keep your eye on the ball and trust your swing.

The next attempt was another swing and a miss.

Remember the drills. Steady stance, eye on the ball, and follow through.

With a nod, Haley took her position again, determination replacing the previous hesitation. As the next pitch came in, Haley swung with all her might, connecting solidly with the ball. It sailed into the outfield, and the team erupted in cheers.

Rounding first base, Haley's face was alight with pride and elation. And as she made her way back to the dugout, she was met with high-fives and congratulations from her teammates.

Cin beamed, clapping her on the back. Well done, Haley. Told you, just trust yourself and the training.

The smell of freshly cut grass mixed with a hint of impending snow filled the air, a strange but comforting blend that made Cin feel at home. She was aware of the dull ache in her knee, a lingering ghost of her past, but she didn't let it steal her focus. For her, this was more than just coaching; this was her way of passing on her love for the sport, despite the personal disappointments she'd had to swallow over the years.

All right, everyone, Cin called, her voice slicing through the crisp air. Let's wrap up with some ground-ball drills. Remember, stay low, glove on the ground, and watch the ball into your glove.

As the girls spread out, the thud of softballs against the earth and leather mitts punctuated her thoughts. Cin sensed their keen focus and budding passion for the game, and her heart soared. Her eyes roamed the field, her mind flicking through techniques, strategies, and drills. Her thoughts were distracted, however, by the scent of the earth beneath the girls' cleats, a damp aroma that always seemed to herald snowfall.

Coach Cin, do you think it's going to snow soon?

Cin grinned. The question was like an early Christmas present. Ah, the first snowfall. I've been watching the weather like a hawk. They say it's going to snow any day now.

Another girl, Emma, piped in. Are you going to organize the big town snowball fight again?

How could I not? It's practically a town tradition at this point, Cin replied, her voice tinged with glee. And let me tell you, if you can field a ground ball, you can throw a snowball. It's all in the wrist and follow-through.

The girls giggled, their faces lighting up at the thought of a spirited snowball fight. Cin shared their excitement. As much as she loved softball, the annual snowball fight was a slice of pure, unadulterated joy. No scores, no stats, just the thump of packed snow against coats and the laughter of a community coming together.

Who knows, maybe we can consider the snowball fight as additional practice. Cin winked. A lesson in agility and dodging.

The girls chuckled, their initial tension washed away by the promise of communal fun. They started to head off the field, already chattering about snowball strategies and loyalties.

As Cin gathered her own gear, her knee gave a gentle throb, a lingering reminder of dreams adjusted but never abandoned. She winced, then let it pass. It didn't.

She inhaled through the dull throb. When she did, the scent of the turned earth brought her back to that fateful day. The roar of the crowd, the anticipation in the air, and the sense of promise that had clung to every blade of grass on