Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    A Bitter Creek Christmas
    A Bitter Creek Christmas
    A Bitter Creek Christmas
    Ebook66 pages1 hour

    A Bitter Creek Christmas

    By Joan Johnston

    3/5

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    Five couples celebrating the holidays at the Bitter Creek Ranch in Texas share stories of their most memorable Christmas gift while awaiting the arrival of a long-lost brother.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherJoan Johnston
    Release dateJun 3, 2014
    ISBN9780991250707
    A Bitter Creek Christmas
    Author

    Joan Johnston

    Joan Johnston is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 54 novels and novellas, with more than 10 million copies of her books in print. Joan lives in Colorado.

    Read more from Joan Johnston

    Related to A Bitter Creek Christmas

    Related ebooks

    Contemporary Romance For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Lisa Wilkinson For The Love Of Mum

      May 20, 2020

      Lisa Wilkinson For The Love Of Mum
      10 min read

    • Article

      Farmer’s Delight

      Dec 19, 2022

      It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but it certainly won’t be the quietest for Liz Fletcher, who is celebrating her first Christmas with actor husband Kelvin since welcoming twins in April. “They’re almost crawling so we’re probably going to be

      3 min read

    • Article

      Reunited With My 10 Lost Sisters

      Nov 14, 2023

      Clutching a posy of white roses, I felt beautiful gliding down the church aisle in my satin and lace wedding dress. Yet, my joy was tinged with sadness. It was 1970 and I was a shy 19-year-old, marrying my sweetheart James, also 19. But looking at ou

      4 min read

    • Article

      Rebecca Gibney

      Dec 28, 2023

      Rebecca Gibney
      10 min read

    • Article

      Joy After All The Heartache

      Mar 31, 2023

      Joy After All The Heartache
      7 min read

    • Article

      The Sisters Room

      Feb 25, 2023

      The Sisters Room
      3 min read

    • Article

      Old And New FLAMES

      Dec 1, 2020

      Old And New FLAMES
      6 min read

    • Article

      The JOY Of Connections

      Dec 2, 2021

      The JOY Of Connections
      3 min read

    • Article

      Secrets Of The South

      Nov 19, 2020

      Secrets Of The South
      3 min read

    • Article

      Disappearing Women

      Apr 20, 2023

      WORDS: LOUISE BATY. PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK Lady the Pomeranian pup was utterly devoted to Leah Ware, following her owner everywhere. And it was mutual. Leah, 33, adored Lady, her mastiff Duke and horse Bertie, and they'd helped her through tough times.

      3 min read

    • Article

      Rebecca Gibney

      Dec 28, 2023

      Rebecca Gibney
      10 min read

    • Article

      Just “Sister”

      Dec 31, 2023

      Just “Sister”
      4 min read

    • Article

      A Gift Horse...

      Dec 24, 2020

      A Gift Horse...
      6 min read

    • Article

      Needled

      Dec 27, 2019

      Needled
      5 min read

    • Article

      Welcome To The Baby Group

      Nov 9, 2020

      The meeting was being held in the back room of our local church. When I finally found the door, I pushed it open and saw a room full of strangers sat in a circle staring at me. “Hi,” I said, cringing inwardly as I realised I was interrupting the intr

      6 min read

    • Article

      Elise Juska on Finally Learning the True Story of Her Namesake

      Jun 12, 2019

      The novelist on her grandfather's very unusual relationship arrangement—a 52-year engagement—and how it led, in a roundabout way, to her own name. The post Elise Juska on Finally Learning the True Story of Her Namesake appeared first on The Millions.

      8 min read

    • Article

      Summer Reading Guide

      Jan 2, 2022

      Summer Reading Guide
      6 min read

    • Article

      Paul’s Pride Bella’s Fairytale Day

      Mar 15, 2020

      It may come as somewhat of a surprise to hear he’s a great fan of fairytales, Tinkerbell and magic dust, but indeed, one of the things that gives Paul Henry true joy is the enchanted world of Disney. Ultimately though, his three gorgeous grown-up dau

      7 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for A Bitter Creek Christmas

    3/5

    1 rating0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      A Bitter Creek Christmas - Joan Johnston

      A Bitter Creek Christmas

      A Novella

      Joan Johnston

      Copyright 2013 by Joan Mertens Johnston, Inc.

      All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Joan Mertens Johnston, Inc.

      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.

      Smashwords Edition

      Licensing Notes

      This e-book is licensed for your personal use and enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or if it was not purchased for your use only, please visit Smashwords.com and purchase a copy for yourself. Thank you for respecting this author’s work.

      Table of Contents

      A Bitter Creek Christmas

      Note to Reader

      The Cowboy Excerpt

      The Texan Excerpt

      The Loner Excerpt

      The Next Mrs. Blackthorne Excerpt

      The Rivals Excerpt

      Shattered Excerpt

      About Joan Johnston

      A Bitter Creek Christmas

      Libby Grayhawk Blackthorne lifted tear-filled eyes from the text message on her cell phone and surveyed the family members who’d gathered to celebrate the holidays at Bitter Creek. In a choked voice she said, Daddy found Matt. He’ll be here later tonight. He’s coming to celebrate Christmas with us.

      One of Libby’s brothers, Matt Grayhawk, had been missing for twenty years. He’d simply disappeared from the Grayhawks’ Wyoming ranch at seventeen and hadn’t been seen or heard from since, though Libby and her brother North had searched continuously for him. Libby could hardly contain her excitement at the prospect of seeing Matt again. She couldn’t wait to wrap her arms around him and hug him tight.

      From the look in your eyes, it’s true what they say about the prodigal son, her husband, Clay Blackthorne, said as he crossed to where Libby stood gazing out the frost-edged window. He is more precious because of his absence.

      I think it’s the mystery surrounding Matt’s disappearance that’s made his absence so hard to bear, Libby admitted. We knew he’d left on his own because he took some of his things with him. But he walked away without saying a word about where he was going or why.

      Frankly, I don’t believe he’ll show up, North said from his seat in a horn-and-hide chair beside the fire.

      Don’t be such a pessimist, North’s wife, Joss, chided from her perch on his lap. She laid a hand on his cheek and gently turned his face so she could look into ice-blue eyes that turned warm as the Caribbean when they met her gaze. She kissed him softly and said, Miracles happen at Christmas.

      It’ll take a miracle to get him here in this weather, Clay said as he slid his arms around Libby from behind and hugged her close.

      Libby couldn’t believe how bad the weather had gotten. The day had turned bitterly cold, and sleet spattered against the windowpanes. Snow at Christmas was almost unheard of in South Texas, but it seemed from the looming clouds that snow was a distinct possibility. She prayed it wouldn’t keep Matt away.

      Libby turned with Clay to survey the five couples who’d gathered around the crackling fire in the living room. The rich pine smell of the Christmas tree permeated the air, and twinkling colored lights made the room feel festive. Earlier in the evening they’d shared spiced eggnog, but cups had been set aside, and the room felt cozy and warm and full of family.

      Clay’s older brother, Trace, and his wife, Callie, had decided to spend Christmas at their cattle station in Australia, but everyone had joined in to Skype with them before attending the Christmas Eve candlelight service. They’d also spoken on the phone with Clay’s father, Jackson Blackthorne, better known as Blackjack, and his second wife, Ren, who were celebrating

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1