A Hero from Her Past
If Kathleen OâBryan were capable of trusting any man, it might be someone like Luke Patterson. She never expected to be reunited with the man that rescued her last summer. But when she arrives at Mrs. Heatonâs boardinghouse, seeking refuge, itâs the handsome writer who greets her at the door.
Something about the lovely Irish immigrant stirs Lukeâs protective instincts. Life in New Yorkâs harsh tenements hasnât dimmed Kathleenâs tender spirit. Day by day, Luke feels the walls around his heart crumble. But it will take faith on Kathleenâs side, too, and the heartâs power to recognize a real home at lastâ¦.
Luke could see the wariness in Kathleenâs eyes, and something else that pulled him nearer.
His fingers grazed her cheek. âYou are the strongest woman Iâve ever met, Kate. Clancy is gone. Heâll never hurt you again.â
âNever again.â She closed her eyes and nodded. She reached up and covered his hand with hers. âThank you, Luke.â
âYouâre welcome.â He turned his hand over and captured hers. Heâd never wanted to kiss anyone more, and it was all he could do to keep from pulling her into his arms. But the wariness lingered in her eyes and he leaned his forehead against hers. âIf onlysâ whirled through his mind⦠If only she could trust again. If only he could, too.
He cleared his throat. âWeâd better go in beforeââ
âSomeone wonders where we are?â
No. Before he threw caution to the wind, pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
JANET LEE BARTON
was born in New Mexico and has lived all over the South, in Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas. She loves researching and writing heartwarming stories about faith, family, friends and love. Janet loves being able to share her faith and love of the Lord through her writing. Sheâs very happy that the kind of romances the Lord has called her to write can be read and shared with women of all ages.
Janet and her husband now live in Oklahoma, and are part of what they laughingly call their âGenerational Living Experimentâ with their daughter and her husband, two wonderful granddaughters and a shih tzu called Bella. The experiment has turned into quite an adventure and so far, they think itâs working out just fine. When Janet isnât writing or reading, she loves to travel, cook, work in the garden and sew.
You can visit Janet at www.janetleebarton.com.
Cause me to hear thy loving kindness in the morning;
For in thee do I trust: Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; For I lift up my soul unto thee.
âPsalms 143:8
To the family I was born into, and the one the Lord has given me, for always giving me their love and support.
And most of all, to my Lord and Savior, for showing me the way.
Chapter One
New York City
February 1896
A knock on the door this time of evening was never a good sign. Luke Patterson paused at the staircase and frowned, looking around for Mrs. Heaton, the owner of his boardinghouse. Neither she nor Gretchen, the maid, were anywhere to be seen and everyone else had scattered after dinner. The knock sounded once more and he took it on himself to answer the door.
âSir, Iâve a young woman in my hack and was told to bring her to this address.â The man at the door handed Luke a familiar-looking card. It was one of Mrs. Heatonâs, embellished simply with only Heaton House, then the address and telephone number underneath. She often gave the cards to young women she thought might be in need of a safe place to come.
âWhat is it, Luke?â Mrs. Heaton asked as she hurried out of her study.
âThis man has a young woman in his hack. He says he was told to bring her here.â He handed Mrs. Heaton her card.
âWell, tell her to come right in,â Mrs. Heaton said.
âSheâs in bad shape, maâam. She passed out on the way over. In fact I think sheâs more in need of the hospital right now than anythinâ. My wifeâs a friend of her sisterâs and they told me to bring her here, and thatâs what Iâve done. They told me youâd given her the card.â
Mrs. Heatonâs brow furrowed. âIâm sure I did. Luke, please help this young woman in.â
âOf course.â Luke didnât bother putting a coat on against the cold February night air. He hurried out to the hack alongside the driver. The man grabbed a small carpetbag, helped him get the young woman out of the hack, up to the front door and into the house.
âIâve got to get back to the family, sir. I hope sheâs all right.â He dropped the bag on the floor and let go of the woman, leaving her to slump against Luke.
Luke immediately lifted her into his arms as the man hurried out the door. She was light as a feather and when she moaned, he shifted her in his arms, hoping to make her more comfortable.