Missionary Daddy

Missionary Daddy
Linda Goodnight

To: Ashley From: Samantha Re: Sis, I've seen him again! Remember the handsome missionary I met during the modeling shoot? Well, his name's Eric Pellegrino–he's the new assistant director at the adoption agency here in Chestnut Grove!He's trying to find homes for the world's orphans, including two he's crazy about. International adoption isn't easy, especially with Tiny Blessings rocked by scandal–something we Harcourts unfortunately know all about.Eric wants a house full of kids, only I'm afraid my secret will keep us apart. Maybe with faith and a couple of matchmaking teens, the four of us can become a family!

Missionary Daddy

Linda Goodnight

Special thanks and acknowledgment are given to

Linda Goodnight for her contribution to the

A TINY BLESSINGS TALE miniseries.

Contents

Acknowledgments

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Acknowledgments

A special thanks to my daughter, Sundy,

for sharing her experiences as a missionary

to Africa as well as her counseling expertise

with those suffering from anorexia and bulimia.

Also to fellow writer and former model

Terri Reed, and to another writing buddy,

Shirley Jump, whose years in the television

industry provided the finishing touches.

And as always, to the children of the world

who wait. I’m praying for you.

Chapter One

One year ago, Africa

“I’m going. Either with you or alone, but I’m going.”

A determined Samantha Harcourt ignored her driver’s coming protest and slipped into the back seat of the tiny European car. After three days on the South African coast, she’d seen nothing but the posh resort hotels along the ruggedly beautiful beaches. The real Africa was out there somewhere and she aimed to see it. Today.

Alfred, the ebony-faced driver, had driven her and the other models around the private beach areas rented by Sports Stuff Magazine for their annual swimsuit edition, but no one else had requested to go beyond the tourist areas. Even now, with the modeling shoot about to wrap and go back to America, the other models lounged on the white sand beaches, uninterested in the rest of the country.

“I may only be here once, Alfred. Please. I want to see the real Africa.”

The man sat like a stone at the wheel.

“I was instructed not to take you there,” he said, his accent an interesting mix of African dialect and clipped British tones.

Sam sighed and peeled off a hundred-rand note, offering it without further comment.

Alfred shook his head but took the money and cranked the engine.

Satisfied, Samantha sat back to enjoy the scenery, digital camera at ready. She wasn’t sure what to expect. Her life as a fashion model had taken her around the world and to many diverse places, but this was her first trip to Africa.

“Do you know a market where I can buy a ceremonial mask?” She collected masks of all kinds and would love one from this continent.

Alfred’s dark eyes flashed in the mirror. “I will get you a mask. The markets aren’t safe for tourists.”