Free A Texas Legacy Christmas by DiAnn Mills Page B

look like them.”
    Zack smiled at her. She knew exactly what to say.
    He studied Piney Woods Church. Many memories lived within those walls. As always, it glistened with the newest coat of paint. The stained-glass windows were intact, a gift to the church from his uncle Morgan and uncle Grant some years before. The church members never found out who had financed them, but Zack had overheard the conversation with his dad. Dad said the hymnals had recently been replaced, and he was proud of them. To the left of the church stood the old parsonage. It too sparkled with a new coat of paint. The church had sold it to one of the deacons under the condition that it would always be kept up. This was the church where his parents had been married and his father had been buried. This was also where Mama and Dad had married and where his grandparents’ funerals had been held. Life and death. All a part of each person’s journey to eternity. To Zack, this church represented all those things that had molded him into a man and set him on the right road.
    Once inside, folks nodded and welcomed him and the twins. Zack held his breath each time someone spoke to them, but the children remembered their manners. He introduced Curly and Charlie to so many people that he began to wonder if he’d remember everyone who had met his children.
    “Mornin’, Miss Chloe,” many said. “Good to see you helping Zack.”
    She responded to each of them graciously. As soon as Mama spied them, she snatched up the twins for her class. Poor Mama. Hopefully, she could keep the two in their seats. Zack and Chloe sat together for Sunday school, but he was so worried about the twins’ behavior that he only half listened. Next week he’d do better. He suddenly remembered family devotions and memorizing scripture. Another thing to add to his list of fatherhood responsibilities.
    When his cousin Rebecca started playing the piano as a sign that church was ready to begin, he gathered up his charges, who still looked fairly presentable. For a moment he counted the family members who had not met Curly and Charlie. The upcoming holidays would take care of that. He glanced down the aisle to where his dad stood ready to start the service. The front pew was full with Mama, Lydia Anne, Stuart, and friends, so he took the pew behind them.
    “Did you like your lesson?” Zack said to Charlie.
    “Grandma told us a story about a giant, a bad man.”
    He kissed her forehead. “Wonderful. What happened to him?”
    “A boy killed him with a slingshot ’cause God said so.”
    Zack smiled. “Wonderful. We’ll talk later.”
    Chloe had pulled Curly onto her lap, so he did the same with Charlie. Now didn’t they look like the perfect family? His thoughts collided inside his mind. What in the world was he thinking? Women were bad news—like a story that didn’t make the front page. And he wasn’t the least bit interested in Chloe.
    Midway through the sermon, Charlie whispered that she needed to go to the outhouse. Great. He’d have to take her outside in front of all these people. He lifted her up into his arms and excused himself as he stepped by Chloe.
    “Where are you going?” Curly’s words were much too loud.
    “Hush, Curly,” Charlie said. “You’re in church, even if there aren’t any sisters or a priest.”
    “But why are you leaving?”
    “We’re going to the outhouse.”
    A snicker rose in the crowd. Zack wanted to sink through the floor. His face grew warm. Not knowing what to say to either twin, he looked to Chloe for help.
    “It’s all right,” she whispered. “They’re just children.”
    He didn’t feel any better as he hurried down the aisle to the back door and attempted to ignore the amused congregation. Once church ended, Mama cornered him.
    “Zack, why don’t you, Chloe, and my precious grandchildren come on out to the ranch? Juanita and I will have fried chicken ready in no time at all.”
    It did sound good, and the twins had talked