GABRIEL'S GIFT: A Lost Hearts Christmas Story Read Free Page A

know.
    That helps.
    Gabriel sensed sarcasm.
    Teague: Okay, missing 12-yr-old girl. I'll search local first, then widen the net. See you tonight. AND TAKE A PICTURE OF HER!
    Gabriel looked up at Arabella.
    Her wide-eyed terror was back.
    "We're coordinating all the food for Christmas, which is no small task. Seven families, five with two or more children, and a couple of those with kids of their own, and some friends who are visiting…" He was babbling, so he changed the subject. "I don't understand why you didn't eat stuff out of the freezer. We always keep great soups and stews and stuff in there."
    "My mother taught me never to take anything I can't pay for. I figured the canned soup was, you know, less important. Less expensive. "
    So Arabella had a mama with strict morals. More and more interesting.
    She looked into her bowl like it was tea leaves and she was seeing his future. "I used the shower, but I cleaned up after myself." She took a long breath. "And I broke the latch on a window to get in. I'll pay you back for that, I swear I will. Some day."
    "Okay, I'll hold you to that."
    She shot him a mutinous glance.
    He pretended not to see it. "Do you mind if I take your picture?"
    "Why?" Smart kid. Instantly suspicious.
    "Hannah likes a picture of all our guests." He pointed at the wall. "I'll take your picture, print it, we'll hang it up and you can sign the wall. You've been here what? A couple of days? You owe us. I think you could do that for Hannah."
    "I suppose I could."
    "Stand over there by the stove. Pick up the lid off the pot of chili and pretend like you're stirring it. And smile. It's my chili, so it's important that you smile."
    The kid got up, went over to her backpack, and dug out a brush. She brushed her hair, then braided it into a smooth braid and pulled it over her shoulder. Then, by God, she went over, lifted the heavy orange lid off the broad cooking pot, leaned over the chili and took a deep breath.
    But when she tried to smile, her mouth crumpled. "If you don't mind, Mr. Prescott, I don't feel like smiling."
    He hesitated, then nodded. "I don't suppose you do." In fact, in her eyes he saw defiance and fear … and sadness. She had good reason; she had run away, it was the day before Christmas, and she was alone.
    "I could rub my stomach so everyone would know that it's yummy," she suggested.
    "No, then everyone will think you feel sick. Let's just assume the people who see this wall will know that you love my chili." He snapped photos, then showed them to her. Together they decided which one was the best, and he stood with her and sent it to the Wi-Fi printer upstairs. "Let me go get it," he said. "We'll put it in a frame — Hannah has extra frames in the pantry — and you can sign the wall. While I'm gone, would you load the dishwasher?"
    She looked at him.
    "I made dinner," he reminded her. "That's fair."
    "My mom says the same thing." She picked up her bowl and rinsed it.
    "I'll be right back." He headed upstairs to the office.
    The photo was printed and waiting for him.
    He attached a digital copy of the photo and texted it to Teague. Here's the current. Hope that helps.
    He got back a text applauding him, but Teague warned, I can't find her in Austin or San Antonio. Widening my search, but — find out where she's from!
    Easy for you to say , Gabriel texted back, and headed downstairs.
    He was relieved to find Arabella still in the kitchen, cleaning the stove. "You made a mess," she said accusingly.
    "No one will let me cook unless I'm the only one here and have to clean up after myself. You should stick around, though. Nessa and Mac are driving in from New Orleans, and they'll bring pralines. Have you ever had genuine New Orleans pralines?"
    Arabella watched him as if he was Willy Wonka. "No, but I bet I would like them."
    "The best sugary candy with pecans ever." She wasn't from New Orleans, probably not from anywhere in the South.
    He stuck the photo into a black-rimmed frame. He showed