Yuletide Cowboy (17 page)

Dear Reader,

Thank you for choosing to spend time with me and the Mule Hollow gang! I hope, as I always do, that you were able to put your feet up and relax while you visited my little town!

I loved writing the Men of Mule Hollow trilogy featuring the Turner men, and I couldn't wait all year long to get to Chance's book. Writing about a rodeo preacher appealed to me, and I could see Chance Turner was a cowboy preacher with a heart for God, winning souls of the rodeo cowboys to the Lord. But as always, I wondered what would shake him up…what would happen if circumstances changed and that way of life was taken from him. And also, what would happen when the right woman came along? Of course when questions like that hit my brain it means I have to write the story to get the answers. I hope you've enjoyed reading it as much as I did creating it.

People are always asking me how to get my earlier books, so I'm thrilled and excited that in March 2011 Love Inspired will be re-releasing my first two Mule Hollow books. They will be released together into a Love Inspired Classics two-in-one book.
The Trouble with Lacy Brown
and
And Baby Makes Five
are two of readers' all-time favorite Mule Hollow books. I hope if you haven't had the chance to visit Mule Hollow from its beginning that you'll pick one up. Or give it as a gift to a friend and introduce them to my stories.

Also, in May look for new Mule Hollow books as the fun continues!

And last but not least, as always, I love hearing from readers. You can reach me through my website, debraclopton.com, or my Facebook page or at P.O. Box 1125, Madisonville, Texas 77864.

Until next time, live, laugh and seek God with all your hearts.

1. I hope you enjoyed Chance and Lynn's story. If so, what about it did you enjoy the most? Why?
   
2. Lynn thought she was finally at peace with her life until Chance came crashing in. Why did his arrival open up all her old wounds and make her realize she was far from healed?
   
3. Chance had wounds of his own that he was trying to let heal. He thought coming to the solitude of the family ranch would be just what the doctor ordered…but God had different plans. Have you ever thought one thing was good for you and God showed you He had other plans for you? If so discuss this with the group.
   
4. Lynn couldn't trust men. And even though she knew Chance was an honorable, trustworthy man she still had a hard time. Even though she'd helped others move forward with their lives, she couldn't. Why?
   
5. Although Chance felt unworthy and deeply saddened, his life changed the moment he was run over by Lynn's twins, Gavin and Jack. There was no way he couldn't smile upon their first meeting. Do you ever feel sad and low and then God puts someone or something in your path that brightens
   your day or changes your life for the better even though you didn't feel you deserved it?
   
6. Chance made his first big impression on Lynn when he promised her boys he'd watch them on the swing and then he actually did it. Why was this so important to her? As Christians, don't you believe the small things—or the seemingly small things—matter?
   
7. Why was it so important to Stacy to be married to Emmett by a preacher?
   
8. Why was it so important to Lynn for Chance to step up and be that preacher? I love seeing how God works in real life and in my books to bring people together in just the right moments—moments I call “God moments.” Have you experienced “God moments?” Discuss these and their effects on you with the group.
   
9. Applegate and Stanley are pretty frank about the first preacher who came to preach at the church. What would you have done in their situation?
   
10. Chance was angry at God because he believed God should have given him one more chance to win Randy's soul. Then he remembered that God did give him that chance. When was it and what happened?
    
11. How did this help Chance?
    
12. What kind of life change do you think Chance will make in the lives of Lynn's twins?
    
13. The matchmakers saw the signs and pushed Lynn to bid on Chance in the auction. They wanted to make a difference in Lynn's and Chance's lives. Is there something you can do to help make a difference in someone's life?