Linda Ford (19 page)

G
riff sat at the head of the long table set out under the clear blue sky. The boards literally sagged under the weight of all the food Inez had prepared. Family and near-family lined both sides.

Ruby sat to his right, glowing with happiness. He still couldn’t believe he’d almost let her get away from him. He wouldn’t make that mistake again. She’d agreed to marry him and as far as he was concerned, the sooner the better. His family had taken to her just as he’d known they would. Already she and Sadie and Josie were becoming fast friends.

Sadie and her family sat next to Ruby with little Susannah perched on his sister’s lap, happily shaking a silver rattle. When she wasn’t gumming it, anyway. Eli was whispering something in Sadie’s ear, while Penny leaned across the table, talking to Viola.

Ry sat to his left. Ry bounced baby Travis on his knee, trying to distract him from reaching down to grab Patience’s tail. Josie, not so hindered as her son,
had filched a bit of something from the table and was surreptitiously feeding it to the always-hungry feline. Viola’s cat, Daffy, caught sight of them and was making a beeline their way.

On the other end of the table, his Hawk’s Creek family, Inez, Red and the others, were just settling into their places.

Griff stood and immediately everyone quieted and gave him their attention. “God has been mighty good to me this year, as I’m sure He’s been to all of you, as well. Today being Thanksgiving, I thought it only right we all take turns in sharing some of the things we’re thankful for.”

He looked around the table. “The things I’m most thankful for are all of you gathered here. For my family, by both birth and marriage, whose love for each other and for me is a true blessing, and who have brought extra joy to all of us by ushering this new generation of cousins into the world. For Inez, who has been like a surrogate mother to us Lassiters, and who encouraged me to renew this tradition of gathering with family and friends to remember how truly blessed we are. May it be the first of many such gatherings to come.”

He waited for the general chorus of
Hear, hear!
to die down before he continued. “I’m also thankful for the rest of my Hawk’s Creek family, who have stood by me through times of plenty and of want, of drought and flood, ensuring that this place we all love remains strong.”

Then he turned to Ruby. “Last, but in no way least,
I will get down on my knees every morning and every night and thank God for sending Miss Ruby Anne Tuggle into my life.”

He tugged on her hand and drew her up beside him. “Just a few moments ago, Ruby and I had a little talk. We’d like you to all know that you are invited to return here for a Christmas Eve wedding.”

Cheers and exclamations erupted from those at the table and most everyone got to their feet to shake Griff’s hand and welcome Ruby into the family.

Through it all, Griff kept a firm hold on Ruby’s hand, loving the way it fit so perfectly in his. And he said a silent prayer of Thanksgiving, thanking God for sending him this amazing woman who so generously returned his love.

The two of them together, today and always, would see that their home at Hawk’s Creek would always be one of love and thanksgiving.

Dear Reader,

Griff is the final sibling in the Lassiters of Hawks’ Creek family to get a story of his own and in many ways his was the most difficult to write. Throughout the other books in this series, he remained enigmatic. Extremely taciturn, not only was he tight-lipped when it came to dialogue, but he was also very stubborn about letting me in on his thoughts and backstory. I knew Griff had some hurtful secrets in his past, but it wasn’t until I introduced him to Ruby Anne Tuggle that I began to get some idea as to just what those secrets might be.

As for Ruby, my goodness but that girl came bursting onto the scene with one of the most complex and interesting backstories of any character I’ve ever had the privilege to write about. And though she was young, a bit of a Pollyanna and as purposefully optimistic as Griff was dour, she proved to be his perfect match.

I hope you enjoyed reading about Griff and Ruby’s rocky journey to their happily-ever-after as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Wishing you much love and blessings in your life,

Winnie

1. Do you think Ruby initially approached Griff simply because he was her only choice of an escort, or was there more to it than that? Why do you think this?
   
2. Did Griff’s agreement to provide escort for a young woman who was a virtual stranger to him ring true to you? Why or why not?
   
3. Why do you think Ruby was so attached to her cat, Patience?
   
4. Do you think Griff was merely being stubborn by refusing to admit he was too sick for travel, or that he was truly unaware of how sick he was? What makes you feel that way?
   
5. What role do you think Inez played in helping Griff and Ruby work through their issues?
   
6. Given that she seemed eager to start living her new life, why do you think Ruby was willing to keep delaying her departure from Hawk’s Creek?
   
7. What changes did you note in Griff and in his feelings toward Ruby once he learned the truth of how she came to live in Cleebit Springs?
   
8. Did the conversation between Griff and his sister, Sadie, ring true to you? Have you ever had a similar conversation with a sibling or close friend that led to a radical shift in your understanding of a troubling situation?