"I found them," Lorri called, coming from upstairs, photo alb.u.ms in her arms. She joined her mother on the floor and took her daughter into her lap as soon as Josie reached for her.

"We're going to look at pictures, Jo," Lorri said to her daughter. "Look, this is your Aunt Josie. You were named after her."

"Isn't that a cute photo of the two of you," Ruth said, leaning close and remembering having a baby and a toddler who looked so much alike at that age that anyone could have picked them out of a crowd.

"Oh, and here's one of Max. Wasn't she adorable?"

"Where do you suppose they are right now?" Ruth asked, thinking of John and her youngest daughter on their honeymoon, a driving trip up the California coast.

"I don't know," Lorri said with a smile in her voice. "But something tells me they're having fun.

359.

359.

"Well, now," John said, looking down at the flat tire on their car. "This is fun."

His tone made his wife of three days laugh.

"You can laugh, Maxine King, but I'm the guy who's going to have to crawl around and get filthy in an attempt to fix this."

Still wanting to chuckle, Max offered, "Would a kiss help?"

"Just one?" John asked with a smile, already leaning toward her.

The flat tire forgotten for a time, the two stood next to the car and kissed. Not until a pa.s.sing motorist was heard did they break apart, only to discover that it was a truck, a gas station advertised on his door.

"Can I help you folks?" the man asked as he parked his vehicle. In very short time Mr. and Mrs. King were back on the road.

"I don't think you got dirty at all," Max told him, wind from the open window blowing her hair.

"Then why are you sitting all the way over there?" John asked.

Max slid across the seat, and settled right next to her husband, who smiled at her.

"My mother still sits next to my father in the car," John said, satisfaction filling his voice. "And they've been married for 24 years."

"Shall I plan to do that?"

"I think you should "

Sighing with contentment, Max snuggled a little closer, planning to run with that idea for the next 60 years.

360(foQJfoJi.

Lori Wfck is one of the most versatile Christian fiction writers in the market today. Her works include pioneer fiction, a series set in Victorian England, and contemporary novels. Lori's books (more than 4 million copies in print) continue to delight readers and top the Christian best-selling fiction list. Lori and her husband, Bob, live in Wisconsin with "the three coolest kids in the world."

361.

A Place Called Home Series.

A Place Called Home.

A Song for Silas The Long Road Home.

A Gathering of Memories.

The Californians.

Whatever Tomorrow Brings As Time Goes By.

Sean Donovan Donovan's Daughter English Garden Series The Proposal The Rescue The Visitor The Pursuit.

Kensington Chronicles.

The Hawk and the Jewel Wings of the Morning Who Brings Forth the Wind.

The Knight and the Dove Rocky Mountain Memories Where the Wild Rose Blooms Whispers of Moonlight To Know Her by Name Promise Me Tomorrow The Yellow Rose Trilogy Every Little Thing About You.

A Texas Sky City Girl Other Fiction Bamboo Lace.

Beyond the Picket Fence(Short Stories)Every Storm Pretense The Princess Sophie's Heart.

362Ji Wiffetent cKind of 3ieo.

Rigg thought about his ideals as he'd entered the war. He'd told the Lord he was up for anything. He told G.o.d and his family that if he had to lay down his life for his country, he was willing.

What he hadn't banked on was an island in the middle of the South Pacific and an American woman, the lone survivor of a plane crash, found nearly starved to death. He was supposed to be working alongside men. He was supposed to be commanding them, getting the war fought, and sending them all home alive.

He hadn't figured on a woman with huge brown eyes, probably close to his own age, whose family must be sick with worry for her and whose vulnerability was almost more than his heart could take.

He'd given everything to the war. Now, can he find a hidden gift in these desperate circ.u.mstances?.

end.