Healing Hearts
Fun-loving schoolteacher Tessa Stanridge needed a way to stay in Hill Creek–fast! Suddenly, like a gift from God, a white knight in the form of accident victim Drake Slater came to her rescue. The moment she saw the handsome rancher, she knew he was a man desperately in need of her loving care–just as she knew her life would never be the same.Drake was out to prove he was every bit the same rugged loner he had been before his accident. Trouble was, with Tessa around, even that wouldn't be enough. Now, it wasn't just that he wanted to learn to walk again–Tessa was the kind of woman who made a man want to be better than he was. And for this man, Tessa was turning out to be the best medicine of all.
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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.
…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.
