Tessa met his eyes.

In Drake’s eyes was not only intelligence but gentleness and need. She wasn’t sure what he needed, but it was there in his eyes. Without another word, she held out her pet parrot, which transferred itself onto his shoulder. She silently vowed at that moment to stop staring at this man.

His voice interrupted her thoughts. “Wow.”

Her gaze went to him. His eyes sparkled with pleasure and his teeth showed when he smiled. Grinning up at her, he winked. “Pirate.”

She returned his grin, then turned to go back up the ramp. Even with her back to Drake, the spell over her emotions was still in full force. She wondered if there was such a thing as meeting someone that you just knew was going to play an important part in your life—like God saying, “Look here, don’t miss this. He’s important to you.”

If so, then Tessa was certain that was what had just happened to her.

CHERYL WOLVERTON

grew up in a military town, though her father was no longer in the service when she was born. She attended Tomlinson Junior High School and Lawton High School, and was attending Cameron when she met her husband, Steve. After a whirlwind courtship of two weeks they became engaged. Four months later they were married, and that was over seventeen years ago.

Cheryl and Steve have two wonderful children, Christina, sixteen, and Jeremiah, thirteen. Cheryl loves having two teenagers in the house.

As for books, Cheryl has written nine novels for the Steeple Hill Love Inspired line and is currently working on new novels. You can contact Cheryl at P.O. Box 207, Slaughter, LA 70777. She loves to hear from readers.

Healing Hearts
Cheryl Wolverton

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MILLS & BOON

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…we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are

wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed

day by day. For our light and momentary troubles

are achieving for us an eternal glory that far

outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what

is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is

temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

—II Corinthians 4:16-18

In the good times, in the bad times, in all times give

thanks—to paraphrase a Bible verse. And that’s

what I want to do here—give thanks to my family

for their love and their long-suffering patience.

A writer who works at home could not succeed if

their family did not support him or her.

Thank you, dear ones, with the love in my heart.

Pam Schlutt, who has taken over my mailing lists,

etc…. Pam, you are such a lifesaver. I would not

have finished this book if you hadn’t assisted me.

Thank you, dear one.

And finally, to my Heavenly Father.

Through the ups and downs, triumphs,

disappointments, my Father is always there,

my best friend, my confidant, my Father who

laughs with me, holds me when I cry, but especially

who died for me. Without Your love, Father,

I would not know love. Thank You.

Contents

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

Letter to Reader

Chapter One

“T essa? Tessa?”

Tessa Stanridge heard her name and turned on her knees to locate her visitor. The soft ground, still slightly damp in the early morning hours, gave her easy access to pivot. She’d been watching her turtle build a nest for her soon-to-be eggs in her little fenced-in area. She loved to spend mornings outside. And her friend knew that well. That was obviously why she’d come to the backyard. “Back here, Dr. McCade,” Tessa said.

She had taken quite nicely to the offbeat woman—a woman who reminded Tessa of herself in some ways. Except that she wasn’t a doctor like Susan “Freckles” McCade, nor was she married. She was simply a school-teacher working to eke out a living in the town of Hill Creek, Texas. A peaceful town, quiet, a place to heal and recover.

Freckles McCade came around the corner, hands curled in the pockets of her sweater which she held against her body to fight off the chill of the windy, late springlike weather they were experiencing. Her red curls bounced and her freckles—where she’d gotten her nickname from—stood out against her pale skin. A huge grin spread across her face when she spotted Tessa. “I’m so glad I found you. I just might have some information for you about a summer job.”

That was Freckles. She always spoke what was on her mind. Tessa smiled. “Good morning to you too, Susan.” After pushing herself up from the ground, Tessa stood and brushed off her hands. Her turtle would be all right for now. She’d check on her again later. “Come in and have some tea.”

Freckles chuckled, her cheeks turning pink. “Don’t mind if I do.”

Tessa started toward the back door. “Careful of your step,” she warned. “We don’t want you falling in your condition.”

Freckles sighed dramatically. “I’m only a few weeks pregnant, Tessa. And stop referring to my pregnancy,” she chided with a chuckle. “If you keep treating me differently, everyone is going to figure it out.”

Tessa hurried up the wooden steps and pulled open the creaking door. She shoved it back, giving Freckles time to catch it as she entered the kitchen. Crossing the dark wooden floor she paused to rinse her hands at the old-fashioned porcelain sink.

Sam the parrot waddled over, his toenails clicking, his green and red feathers flapping as he perched himself upon the nozzle of running water. Moving the parrot to the side, Tessa paused to give him fresh water and peel a banana for him. After cutting it up, she slipped it into the holder on the large wooden table that was set up with perches and ropes and all kinds of paraphernalia just for Sam.

She then put on water to boil. “I’m not treating you differently,” Tessa said lightly to Freckles.

Seeing Freckles attempting to warn off a rabbit that was insistent on nibbling at her toes where she sat, she chuckled. Going over, she seated herself at the rickety wooden table and nudged the rabbit’s chew toy toward it. The rabbit promptly gave up Freckles’s toes and happily went to work on his toy. “I treat all women in your condition the same.”

Freckles sighed loudly. “Okay, Tessa. You win.”

Tessa breathed a sigh of relief. Everyone knew how clumsy Freckles could be. The only one who would be surprised that Freckles was pregnant would be Freckles herself when she told everyone. It was obvious that Freckles carried a child. The woman glowed and her hand kept going to her abdomen. Her husband, Julian, walked around like the baby had already been born, pride shining off his face and his gaze constantly on his wife. And he was so careful with her it wasn’t even laughable. If he could get away with packing her away in a padded room for her entire pregnancy, Tessa wouldn’t doubt that Julian would do it.

Envy touched Tessa’s heart. How she wanted children. How she wanted to care for someone, to nurture, to love. But she never would have a tiny one to hold.

Freckles touched a letter lying on her table. “Another one from Stan?”

Tessa glanced down at the letter. “Yeah. He has sent me a card weekly since Christmas.”

“And you’re just friends?” Freckles asked, amused.

The sound of the whistle from the teapot turned Tessa’s attention to the stove. Tessa rose and crossed back to finish the tea. The echoing sound of her feet on the wooden floor made the room seem hollow and lonely. But that was how things were. She thought about Stan, how much he reminded her of someone else she’d known from her past. Just not really her type. “Yeah, just friends,” she murmured to Freckles.

“Is he still threatening to come out here one day and sweep you off on a date?”

Pouring two cups of tea, she listened as Freckles paused to talk to the horned toad in a cage near the kitchen table.

While Tessa added sugar to the tea, the parrot, Sam, came to examine what she was doing before returning to his perch. “He tells me that every three or four weeks.”

“He just doesn’t let go, does he?” Freckles asked, then chuckled.

Carrying the two cups, Tessa went to the table and seated herself, handing a cup to Freckles. “Evidently not. But Freckles, no ideas of romanticism, please. He seems like a nice person but I’m just not interested in dating anyone. Now, how can I help you?” Freckles thought everyone should be married since she’d married. She was a matchmaker. Tessa didn’t have the courage to tell Freckles she had been engaged to someone like Stan a long time ago, before the earthquake, before the accident… She was still healing emotionally from that.

Freckles took a slow sip of tea. “This herbal blend is wonderful,” she said. Closing her eyes, she smiled and inhaled the scent before taking another sip. Finally, she set her cup aside and met Tessa’s gaze.

“I like my herbal teas,” Tessa murmured dryly, knowing the townsfolk couldn’t understand her desire for herbal tea and the fact that she didn’t eat meat. Except for Freckles. Freckles had never questioned her eating habits or drinking habits—or lack thereof. Freckles was a dear friend she could trust with almost anything.

“I like your herbal teas now—especially now! Now, about that job.”

Tessa listened. She had no choice. She was desperate for a job though no one except Freckles and maybe her past friends from California knew—those that still knew she was on this earth, that was. She hadn’t told Leah about it, though. And Leah was one of her closest friends here in Hill Creek. Fellow teacher at the local elementary school, she and Leah both taught the children during the year and found other work during the summer. Usually they held tutoring jobs.

“Have you found anything major yet to help your situation?”

“I have one or two people that are interested in hiring me to work with their children.”

Freckles shook her head. “They wouldn’t bring in enough for you to survive. You are way in debt from moving out here. You need cash and you need it fast to save this house. And I think I’ve found the answer.”

Tessa perked up. Money to save the house? Just this morning, watching her turtles out back, Tessa was sure that by August she would be moving back to California where she could find a better-paying job. Old friends had offered several times to find her a job back in California if she ever came back. But God had led her here for a reason and she really didn’t want to go back. For several reasons, including there were too many earthquakes, too many people and too many dark memories. She was happy here—except for the massive medical bills she had. It had gotten to the point that if she didn’t get more money soon, she was going to lose everything. She wouldn’t allow that, which meant moving back to where she knew there was a job waiting for her—a well-paying job.

Anything would be better right now than considering that. “Go on, Freckles, I’m listening.”

Freckles grinned at Tessa. Then she sobered. “There is a man that needs tutoring. It’s a rather private thing. His family doesn’t want the town to know about his reading problem.”

Tessa nodded. She well understood male pride and illiteracy. “What made him come to you?” she asked, curious.

The wind ruffled the bright yellow curtains, bringing in the morning smell of dew and lilacs. The parrot squawked and moved closer to the window, bobbing at the curtains. Absently, Tessa snapped her fingers and motioned for Sam to settle back on his perch.

Missy, her cat, wandered in and wove in and out of Tessa’s legs before jumping into her lap and stretching. Tessa shifted, adjusting herself so Missy had the room she sought. Stretching her paws, she finally settled into Tessa’s lap.

“He didn’t come to me, actually. He’s a patient and he’s currently in occupational therapy.”

“Therapy?”

Tessa stroked Missy, tapping her nose when she eyed the parrot. The cat objected by flexing her claws in Tessa’s leg then relaxed for petting.

“He’s had symptoms that indicate he has had a minor cerebral hemorrhage.”

“Oh dear,” Tessa’s brow furrowed. She knew all about strokes, from her mother. “How bad is it?”

“To put it simply, he’s working on relearning to talk right now. He came into the hospital in critical condition and needed emergency surgery. I’m sure you heard the story of the accident.” Freckles waved a hand indicating that this wasn’t what she wanted to discuss. “Suffice it to say, during the surgery, the doctors were unable to repair everything. While they had him on the table working on him the cerebral hemorrhaging caused some damage. This has resulted in the trouble reading. Actually,” Freckles said, picking up the spoon and absently stirring her tea, “it’s a miracle he lived at all. He had so many problems. He’s doing marvelous considering what shape he was in when he was brought into the E.R.”

“Really? Thank God,” Tessa said simply.

Freckles nodded. “And God alone. Hope went out the window when he came through that emergency room door. We were working on him, but it was just so bad.” Freckles leaned forward, her earnest look burning into Tessa. “Someone wouldn’t give up on him though. Someone stayed in the prayer closet because the man made it and he’s healing at a phenomenal rate.”

Freckles paused to sip her tea. As silence fell, Tessa wondered if that was why she hadn’t died when she’d been hurt. Had God simply been watching out for her? Had someone been praying, seeking God on her behalf? She was curious, which surprised her. It had been so long since she’d really shown interest in anything except her kids and animals.

“When he first started showing signs of improvement,” Freckles continued now, “we thought it’d be months of therapy to see any progress, let alone to see him progress this far.”

Freckles shook her head. “We were wrong, Tessa. He’s proven that. It’s hard to believe, but the patient is even talking already, though he still slurs his words a bit—especially if he gets stressed or upset.”

Again Freckles leaned forward, her intense stare indicating how much this meant to her. “He’s trying to read on his own, Tessa. He is doing more than any patient I’ve ever seen. But he needs help. You see—” Freckles reached down to pet the puppy that came trotting in to his water dish “—it’s time for him to be dismissed but he lives too far outside of town for that. You know we don’t have a rest home or a rehabilitation type place here in Hill Creek. There’s no one near the hospital to take care of him. We want to keep him close by in case of developments….”

“I’m not really a nurse,” Tessa began, stroking her cat.

“You don’t have to be one,” Freckles explained. Clasping her hands, she leaned forward eagerly. “You see, his brother has hired an occupational therapist. He needs a teacher.”

“You said there was no one to take care of him though?” Tessa cut in, confused.

Freckles smiled. “There’s no one to care for him. He needs someone to care while they teach him. Someone to be patient. Right now his younger brother is running the ranch and running scared if you ask me. Anyway, Liam loves Drake but just doesn’t have enough time in the day to do everything. He needs someone who cares about what they do, Tessa, and that’s you. His brother is really hoping to find someone who is compassionate to help him in the daytime and evenings. He’ll have someone come out every morning to do Drake’s therapy.”

“The Slaters?” Shocked, Tessa stared. She had heard of the Slaters’s place outside of town. They were big ranchers in these parts. They worked hard though rarely came into town, if rumors could be counted. It was a long way out to their ranch though—almost to the other county! “I can’t go all the way over there. It’s nearly a two-hour drive.”

“I realize that. So does Liam. He’s offered to pay you rent if you allow Drake to move into your guestroom over on the side of the house here.”

“The guestroom!” Tessa gulped. “But—in my house? Wait a minute…” Tessa tried to make sense of what Freckles had just asked her. True, this was an older house that had a guestroom built on the outside of the house for travelers that might need somewhere to stay. She’d even used it for that once or twice.

But…wow, this was certainly a lot to take in. Just this morning she was certain she was going to be saying goodbye to Hill Creek if something didn’t turn up soon. Then this dropped in her lap. All of it. Like a ton of bricks.

She had to hand it to Freckles. Tessa had watched her bowl over other people before, but this was the first time she’d shocked Tessa.

“He’s in a wheelchair,” Freckles whispered, low.

“But…but…he can’t move in here! I’m single.” She could only imagine her neighbors and… Wheelchair? That gave her pause. The poor man was in a chair and needing assistance. He needed to be close to the hospital. A wheelchair.

“Even if you have a live-in chaperone?” Freckles said in her oh-so-tempting voice, her eyes dancing with mischief.

“Chaperone?” Tessa asked warily. She didn’t like it when Freckles turned that mischievous look on her like that.

Freckles smiled. “Let me finish explaining.”

Tessa felt the dark shock recede as Freckles’s reassuring voice soothed her, but how could she convince her to take this job? “I’m not sure what you can add to what you’ve said already—”

“How about a thousand dollars a week and a live-in cook?” Freckles asked.

Tessa gaped as she listened to the details of just what the pay would be for and the extra allotments for the cook. She couldn’t help but shake her head when Freckles finished the list of payments. That was more than she made as a teacher each month, that was for certain. “Why so much?” she asked, dumbfounded. That was all she asked because that was all she could get out. As a matter of fact, Tessa was suddenly sure she hadn’t heard the woman in front of her correctly. Maybe she was dreaming and this was all simply a wishful, wonderful fantasy.

Freckles shoved Tessa’s cup at her, bumping her hand. Tessa realized she was gripping the rim of the table—a very telling sign—and immediately released it.

“Drink this before you pass out.”

Tessa didn’t argue. She captured the cup and gulped it down. A thousand dollars plus expenses… Mentally she started tabulating the doctor’s, radiologist’s, and surgeon’s bills that were awaiting her payments. “This is some kind of mistake,” she whispered. “They don’t pay that much for tutoring.”

“No, but I’ve talked with Liam. I told you, Drake is a special case. He needs to get out of the hospital, but we, the team who has been working on his case, don’t want him that far away from emergency treatment. Not yet, at least. Still, he’s too well to stay in a bed at the hospital. Drake doesn’t like the accommodations and is more than ready to leave. His brother’s certain it’s affecting him adversely to stay there when he is determined to progress.

“You live right here in town, near enough that if an emergency happens he could be to the hospital in five minutes. I happen to know you nursed your mother when she had a stroke and that, at one time, you had considered going into nursing.”

“That’s what I get for telling you all of my secrets,” Tessa muttered. What Freckles said was true. But after all that had happened with her mother, then her own injuries…

Unable to sit still a moment longer, she stood and settled the cat in her chair. The cat protested.

The bird squawked at the cat and danced back and forth on his wooden perch. The puppy had finished drinking and now sniffed the floor, a sure indication he needed out. Tessa picked him up and took him out back to do his business. While she stood at the door she said, “What else?” Evidently Liam had thought of everything.

“Liam wanted to send a cook to make sure his brother got the right meals. The person would prepare all of the meals while here and either live in, if you wanted, or stay in someone else’s house. However, Liam said that if the cook didn’t live in then he would subtract that weekly allotment. But, I thought, since you might want a chaperone and all…”

Absently Tessa nodded. A thousand a week. A thousand dollars. She wouldn’t have to go back to California. She could stay here in her house. She’d be in control of the situation. Control was very important to Tessa, especially in circumstances like this.

But the Slaters? She’d seen Liam—once. They were big men. Huge men. Living out here in Hill Creek, Texas, she had to wonder if all the men grew that big. Running her hands through her brown hair she twisted it into a knot, defying the morning wind to tear it loose again. Playing with her hair was a nervous habit of hers. She knew that. She tried not to do it, but the habit still surfaced—occasionally.

She heard Freckles stand, heard her move up behind her, making her way around the many creatures that occupied Tessa’s house. Once by her side, Freckles stared out the screen door as well.

“It would be an answer to your financial problems, Tessa. God still does answer prayers, you know.”

“Yes. It would help.” That was easy to admit. “But does God answer a prayer by sending a man to live in my house? By sending me a cook? By paying me an outrageous sum just to play baby-sitter and tutor?”

Freckles smiled. “It looks like this time He does.”

Tessa simply shook her head. “I just can’t believe it.”

“He’s going to pay a month’s salary in advance, Tessa. If you decide you can’t handle it at the end of eight weeks, you’ll get the full payment and Liam will find someone else.”

“Why?”

“Liam is desperate to help his brother. When I told him you might be interested in the job he jumped at the chance, working to make the offer too good to refuse.”

“It is that, I’ll admit,” Tessa murmured. She’d finally have the last of her medical bills paid off. There would be no more threatening letters from creditors, no more worries of losing everything, watching her credit die a certain death, losing everything because of the mountain of debt she’d been working to slowly pay off for three years now.

Tessa felt for the first time in a long time as if she was seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. “Is Liam willing to draw up a contract?”

Freckles grinned. Reaching in her pocket, she pulled out a folded document. “Already done.”

Tessa laughed. She couldn’t help it. “Awful arrogant of him, wouldn’t you say?”

Freckles giggled. “No. He’s just really hopeful. He wants his brother home. The sooner, the better.”

Tessa took the contract and then hesitated as she stared at it.

“Come on, Tessa, what have you got to lose?” Freckles encouraged.

Tessa thought about the outside guestroom with its own private entrance, the lockable door between the outside and inside part of the kitchen. She thought about the cook moving in. She could put the woman in the extra room that she never used.

She thought about teaching someone to read and with third-graders knew she could do that easily. What did she have to lose?

Looking at Freckles she felt hope rise. Should she? Or should she not?

She might…

A wheelchair.

She could…

A chaperone.

Going over to a drawer in her kitchen, she opened it and pulled out a pen. With a quick read over the contract, she nodded and signed it. “You’re right. I haven’t a thing to lose.”

Chapter Two

E xcept her mind. This was insane. “What is that?” Tessa demanded of the newest men coming in her door, hefting a huge box. Once she quickly dropped her letter in the mailbox, she stepped back out of the way.

“Freezer, ma’am.” The man promptly bumped into the side of the door, grunting and shuffling his feet to keep from dropping the front end of his load.

“But why?” she cried, grabbing at the barking puppy who came into the kitchen and ran around their feet, nearly tripping an older round man.

“For the food,” a younger man behind the two moving men informed her.

Sam squawked and flapped his wings. Heaven knew where her cat or any of her other animals were. Hiding most likely.

“Where’d you like it?”

“What?” she asked glancing back at the man with gray hair.

“The freezer, ma’am.”

“Um, I—I…” Taking stock of her kitchen, she stroked the wiggling puppy. When Hubert the puppy wouldn’t calm down, she went to the side room just off the kitchen and put him into the room before pulling the door closed. She heard the whining but did her best to block it from her mind.

Turning her attention back to the kitchen, she finally pointed to the parrot’s perch. “We can put it there in front of the window and move Sam over here.”

She started toward the parrot. “We’ll get that ma’am,” the older man broke in.

Sam protested their approach, hopping to the floor and waddling his way over to Tessa. She picked him up, and put him on her shoulder. She then quickly moved the stepping stool and smaller birdcage—for her toad—into the living room.

Why in the world was the man sending in a freezer? It had to be the Slaters. “I really don’t need this,” she told the men as they positioned the freezer.

“Orders, ma’am.”

Tessa wondered if that was all the older man could say. She wanted to tell him her name was Tessa. She didn’t. Instead, she opened her mouth to explain that her guest would only be here a short time when the phone rang.

“We’ll put the food in the freezer, if that’s okay with you, Miss Stanridge,” the young delivery boy said, motioning to boxes of…something he’d brought with him.

Tessa didn’t argue. She nodded and grabbed the ringing phone. “Hello?” After all, nothing could be worse than the disaster they were making of her kitchen.

“Tessa, guess who?”

Tessa paused at the deep voice on the other end of the phone line. Memories of her past, of what seemed to her like eons ago, flooded her mind. They were memories of a different time when she felt she had the world by the tail and anything she might want was hers for the asking, a time of false illusions of safety and control. “Stan?” she asked, forcing herself to come back to the present.

“That’s right. It’s been a while since we talked, hasn’t it?”

Tessa thought two weeks but she didn’t voice her thoughts aloud. “So what’s up?” she asked instead. How did you find my phone number? she thought actually. Her phone number was unlisted. He’d certainly never called her before.

“Surprised, Tessa? I was looking over your therapy chart from last year when that leg started acting up again and thought I’d give you a call.”

Of course, the chart. Her phone number was on that. “So what’s—be careful,” she called out to the freezer men who were now moving her table to make more room. Good heavens!

“Careful?” Stan’s voice came across the line confused before his rich chuckle sounded. “That’s Tessa.”

With a chuckle, he continued speaking. “I wanted to tell you, I just moved to Hill Creek.” She heard someone in the background say something to Stan. He paused and replied. Then he was back talking to her. “We’ll talk when I get over there.”

Tessa, who had been shifting from foot to foot with worry over the way the beefy men had handled her table, became suddenly alert at Stan’s words. “I’m sorry?” Here? she thought.

Moving around the corner of the doorway, blocking out the disaster going on in her kitchen, she tuned all of her energy to the man on the phone. “Run that by me again, Stan?”

“I moved to Hill Creek. And since I come so highly qualified, the attending physician has assigned me as nurse to the man moving into your house. I’ll be seeing you every morning.”

Stunned, Tessa sank to a footstool in front of a recliner chair in her living room. “You’re here, in Hill Creek?”

“That’s right. Isn’t it great?”

Tessa simply shook her head. Five years ago she’d been in love with a man named Michael—or she thought she’d been in love with him. He’d been so upbeat just like Stan, so outgoing, so forward in his pursuit. Then the earthquake had come, her injuries had come, and they’d broken up. She’d broken up. He’d broken up with her. It was all too much to think about right now. He’d sworn he still cared for her and just needed time to adjust to their new circumstances. But it hadn’t been the truth. It’d been her, the emptiness that had run him off.

He didn’t want her. She couldn’t live with all of the pain that had been running through her after the horrible earthquake and loss. The only good thing that had happened during that time was that she’d rededicated herself to God. That had changed her life. She had wanted to put all of the past behind her. She’d tried to put the past behind her. She had realized after rededicating her heart to God that she couldn’t stay there and watch her former fiancé marry and set up practice in her town of Brea.

So she’d packed up and left. She’d tried once or twice to date. She’d met Stan, who had seemed like such a nice man. Kind, gentle, funny…but she just hadn’t been able to risk it.

“Tessa, you still there?”

But if she read this one right, he was interested in more than therapy. Tessa nodded, then realizing he couldn’t see her answered, “Yes. That’s um, great, Stan, that you’re here.”

Stan chuckled. “I’ve been in town two weeks now. I live out west, on the other side of the hospital, but I saw you at the school, just before it let out. And you wouldn’t believe the way small towns are. I think I’ve heard everything about you and every other single person that lives in this Podunk town in those two weeks. I’d been waiting to contact you… Anyway, we’ll catch up later. I just thought I’d call and let you know I’m back.”

“Thanks, Stan. It’s good to hear your voice.” She meant that, in a way. In another way she didn’t. She wasn’t sure what to say to him. She remembered in the hospital when he’d worked on the therapy, the lasting result from the earthquake that flared up occasionally. She’d really enjoyed his company, maybe because he was so nice, did most of the talking, and showed such enthusiasm.

But when he’d wanted to walk her home and then sent her those cards…it was too reminiscent of her past with Michael.

He hung up.

Tessa replaced the receiver as well. Stan now lived in town.

What was she going to do? She toyed with the idea of dating him. He certainly was persistent. And he even attended the same church she did when he was in town on a Sunday—which wasn’t often. He had the time to spend with her.

She’d spent weeks in the hospital five years earlier when the earthquake had collapsed the building she was in. It was during that time she’d been told she would never have children—it was impossible from all the damage. That had devastated her, but Michael… Michael hadn’t been able to handle it at all.

After Michael broke off their engagement Tessa headed east, stopping in Hill Creek, Texas, where they had been seeking teachers. She had not kept in touch with many people—only one or two through occasional letters.

She hadn’t been able to date since. Twice men had found out about her infertility and had stopped calling. Stan was the first man who had shown an interest in her since then. Oh, she’d gone out with Mitch, entertaining the idea of maybe marrying the nice man. He was a sheriff and would provide safety. He was nice, quiet. But on that one date they hadn’t clicked. She’d actually wanted to leave from the time they’d entered the restaurant. It had been more than obvious to her that their waitress, Suzi, was in love with Mitch.

After that, she had resigned herself to being an old maid. But Stan was in town now. How interesting.

Worry made her bite her lip. She realized she was being silly since he probably only wanted to be a friend.

She stood and moved to go check on the puppy, wishing she could just forget the past and go on with the life she’d started here. She’d only taken two steps when she noticed her kitchen. Her mind went absolutely blank with shock. “Oh good heavens!”

Not only had a freezer been moved into her abode but they had totally reworked the stairs out back and they were just finishing the door. “What are you doing?”

“Wheelchair accessible, ma’am,” a new person said.

“This is my house!” she protested.

The ramp had obviously already been built and was simply being laid over her stairs and secured with railing. It was a long, slow incline, which meant it took up a large part of her walk. “Orders—”

“—ma’am,” she finished, then gasped when she realized they must have moved things around out back as well so they could put up the ramp. “I have turtles mating out there!”

“We moved them,” the carpenter said as if that answered everything.

“Where?” she asked, counting to ten. What had she let Freckles get her into? Her animals were in utter chaos. Her life was suddenly in utter chaos!

“Over in that round pond thing you have.”

Groaning she scooted past the men and hurried outside and down the ramp. She snatched up the turtles from the pond and set them out in another part of the yard. “This just isn’t going to do. What do they think they’re doing? Why are they destroying my house like this?” Tessa leaned down to retrieve another turtle.

“Do you always talk to yourself?”

The slightly slurred words caught Tessa’s attention. Peeking between her knees she saw a wheelchair and two sets of boots behind her. The feet in the chair had on dead snake boots, she noted distastefully, and a dark pair of jeans.

Realizing she was in shorts and giving the man a good view of her behind she dropped the turtles. Whirling, she met the gaze of the man in the wheelchair.

So this was Drake Slater. The man was thin, very thin—too thin for a person of his height. His face was white, indicating it’d been a while since he’d been out in the sun. His head had a huge scar on it, the hair just starting to grow out over the ugly pink-and-white spot. Down the entire right side of his face and neck, disappearing into his striped blue shirt, was a mass of thin, healing scars.

“Barbed wire.”

Realizing she was staring, she again met the gaze of the man in the chair. Deep green eyes filled with intelligence, though his right eye and a small bit of the right side of his mouth drooped, stared steadily back. She found she couldn’t break eye contact.

It wasn’t until one of the men dropped a hammer that she realized she was staring utterly dumbfounded. Those eyes had such a…strength…a…a… “Hello…Mr. Slater?”

The mouth stretched into a caricature of a grin. “You always have men coming to your door in chairs?”

She blushed furiously. Why she wasn’t sure. This man was in a wheelchair, for pity’s sake. She was in charge of this situation, not him. So why did his words have her blushing like he was the first man she’d met? But those eyes…a wealth of emotion shone in them. It was like he looked in her and knew what she was thinking.

No one had ever done that before.

“Ahem.”

Glancing past the ruffling black hair, Tessa realized the second set of boots belonged to a younger version of the man in the chair. Black hair, green eyes but instead of thin and emaciated, this man looked strong, ready to take on what life handed him—including her if his look of disapproval was any indication.

“Do you always walk around looking like a pirate, Miss Stanridge?”

She blinked at the younger Slater brother. “Excuse me?”

“Thaaat’s enough, Le-um,” Drake warned his brother mildly. Tessa remembered Freckles saying when he was upset or nervous he slurred his words. Her gaze snapped to his. His look traveled over her briefly, the corners of his mouth twitching just before he burst out laughing.

Liam gaped. So did Tessa for that matter.

“I like your bird,” Drake finally said.

Oh good heavens, Tessa thought, her cheeks heating up again.

Sam squawked.

She’d forgotten the bird was on her shoulder. Weakly she smiled. “They’re rearranging my kitchen. Sam was upset and wanted to be held.”

“Can I?”

Tessa hesitated, then thought she might as well let him try. Lifting her forearm, she signaled Sam with her index and middle fingers. The bird obediently stepped up onto the back of her hand. “He really doesn’t like other people, Mr. Slater….”

“Draeg…”

“Drake,” she nodded.

“Please.”

She met his eyes. In those eyes were not only intelligence but gentleness and need. She wasn’t sure what he needed but it was there in his eyes. Without another word, she held out the bird, which transferred itself onto his shoulder. She silently vowed at that moment to stop staring at this man. She was certain she wasn’t making a good impression with Liam. Look at the sky, she told herself, then argued that’d be rude.

His words interrupted her thoughts.

“Wow.”

Her gaze went to him. His eyes sparkled with pleasure and his teeth showed when he smiled. Grinning devilishly up at her, he winked. “Pirate.”

She found herself returning his grin. “Sam doesn’t take to others well.”

His gaze met hers. “He must like me.”

Tessa thought this man was reading her thoughts again.

“You really shouldn’t do that, Drake,” Liam cut in, spoiling the smile on Drake’s face. “What if he bites those scars or scratches you up more?”

Drake sighed impatiently.

The bird, picking up Drake’s sudden tension, squawked and started dancing.

Tessa scooped up the bird, wincing when he dug in his claws.

“Thank you—” Liam began.

“Why don’t we go inside,” Tessa offered. “Your brother is looking tired.”

Drake scowled at them both. What had happened to the smile the man had just worn? Where had it gone?

“Which way?” Liam asked.

Tessa took that as her cue and went back up the ramp, which the carpenter was just finishing. Even with her back to Drake, the spell over her emotions was still in full force. She wondered if there was such a thing as meeting someone who you just knew was going to play an important part of your life—like God saying, look here, don’t miss this. He’s important to you.

If so, then Tessa was certain that was what just happened to her. She didn’t know how or why but this man… She had met her destiny in some way or another.

In Your hands, Father, she silently prayed, giving Him control in this situation. She had learned what she didn’t understand and couldn’t control she had to allow God to control. She saw a young woman come out of her kitchen and head toward a gray van on the side of the house, in which Liam must have just arrived.

“That’s Kellie, the cook. She’s a great girl. She cooks for us out at the ranch. Her mother cooked there before she did,” Liam said.

Tessa nodded at his words. The young Hispanic woman was beautiful, Tessa thought, but didn’t say so. Instead, she continued up the ramp and into the house.

“We’re worried about infection so I hope you keep a clean house,” Liam said now.

Tessa glanced around, surprised. “I would think you’d have checked all of that out before you agreed to let me be a keeper.”

Drake growled. It startled Tessa. She thought at first he was choking, until she caught the anger in his eyes. “I don’t need a keeper.”

Liam scowled at her then tried to soothe his brother. “Yes. You do. You still aren’t well enough to come home. Tessa will be working with you as will your nurse, and Kellie will be here to cook for you. Soon, Drake, you’ll be well enough to boss me around again.” To Tessa’s ears Liam didn’t sound like he really believed that, though.

Drake shoved at his brother’s hand, his look downright dark.

Oh dear. She couldn’t help but feel she was back in the schoolroom with a group of rowdy third graders as she watched the two brothers interact. Taking a breath she decided it might be best to break up the tension before it got any worse.

Crossing the kitchen she reached for the door to the bedroom. In a bright voice, she said, much like a Realtor trying to sell a man seeking a simple abode the house of his dreams, “This room right here is where Drake will be staying. It has its own facilities. There’s an outside door.” She paused, listening. “As a matter of fact, I think I hear the carpenter working on the entrance right now.”

Glancing around she realized suddenly that Drake’s chair wouldn’t fit through the area between the sink and the table. “I see we’re going to have to make some adjustments,” she said, laughing nervously when she realized the way the table was positioned wouldn’t allow him to get into the living room. “We’ll work all of this out. Let’s look at your room first, shall we?” she continued, simply wanting the tension in the room to ease.

She pushed the door open, smiling at them. Instead of smiles, however, the two gaped past her. Slowly, in unison, two green-eyed stares turned to her, tension still very evident in the stunned looks.

“What?” she asked. Surely they didn’t hate the room. This was one of her favorite rooms. It was like a playroom for her. She had decorated it herself. Hardly anyone ever stayed in it so time and again she found herself going by an antique store and picking up some cute piece of furniture or knickknack to add. It was quite a nice room.

Or it had been. When she turned her head to point out the features she found herself gaping, too, just before she burst out with, “Oh my heavens!”

Disaster had struck the formally picturesque room. The beautiful blue, green and yellow quilt, which had covered the bed, straggled off the end of the four-poster at an odd angle, trailing onto the floor. The tiny lace pillows, which had lain on top, now decorated the braided carpet. The small throw rug she had positioned in front of the dresser was no longer there. Instead, it curled up crazily against the far, papered wall. But the worst thing she could see that had happened to the room was the toilet paper. It adorned everything. At least everything that was within leaping distance for a small puppy. The chair, the small nightstand, the bed all had their share of adornment.

And where was the perpetrator of the mess?

In the middle of a box of tissues was Hubert, his tongue lolling out. He yipped at the new arrivals and then went back to tearing up the carton.

The loud burst of laughter from Drake encouraged her, until she heard him say, “Great going, brother. I have a keeper, all right. A zoo keeper.”

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