Tom Cavanaugh may think he wants a traditional woman, but in Virgin River, the greatest tradition is falling in love unexpectedlyâ¦
Former marine Tom Cavanaughâs come home to Virgin River, ready to take over his familyâs apple orchard and settle down. He knows just what the perfect woman will be like: sweet, decent, maybe a little naive. The marrying kind.
Nothing like Nora Crane. So why canât he keep his eyes off the striking single mother?
Nora may not have finished college, but she graduated with honors from the school of hard knocks. Sheâs been through tough times and sheâll do whatever it takes to support her family, including helping with harvest time at the Cavanaughsâ orchard. Sheâs always kept a single-minded focus on staying afloatâ¦but suddenly her thoughts keep drifting back to rugged, opinionated Tom Cavanaugh.
Both Nora and Tom have their own ideas of what family means. But theyâre about to prove each other completely wrong.â¦
Praise for #1 New York Times bestselling author and USA TODAY bestselling author
âThis book is an utter delight.â
âRT Book Reviews on Moonlight Road
âStrong conflict, humor and well-written characters are Carrâs calling cards, and theyâre all present here.⦠You wonât want to put this one down.â
âRT Book Reviews on Angelâs Peak
âThis story has everything: a courageous, outspoken heroine, a to-die-for hero and a plot that will touch readersâ hearts on several different levels. Truly excellent.â
âRT Book Reviews on Forbidden Falls
âAn intensely satisfying read.
By turns humorous and gut-wrenchingly emotional, it wonât soon be forgotten.â âRT Book Reviews on Paradise Valley
âCarr has hit her stride with this captivating series.â
âLibrary Journal on the Virgin River series
âThe Virgin River books are so compellingâ I connected instantly with the characters and just wanted more and more and more.â
â#1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber
Chapter One
There was a small note on the bulletin board at the Virgin River Presbyterian Church. Apple harvest to begin at Cavanaugh Orchard. Apply in person.
Virgin River newcomer Nora Crane studied the board regularly and, when she saw the notice, asked Reverend Kincaid what he knew about the job. âVery little,â he answered. âItâs a fairly long harvesting season and the Cavanaughs like to add a few full-time workers to their staff. Not many, though. I hear they pay pretty well, itâs very demanding work and itâs all over in a few months.â
Pay pretty well stuck. She was holding her two-year-old daughterâs hand and carried nine-month-old Fay in her backpack.
âCan you give me directions to the orchard?â she asked.
He wrinkled his brow. âNora, itâs a few miles away. You donât have a car.â
âIâll have to go there, find out what the pay and hours are. If itâs a good job with good pay, I bet I can afford day care at the new school. That would be so good for Berry,â she said of her two-year-old. âSheâs almost never with other children and needs socialization. Sheâs so shy. And Iâm not afraid of walking. Iâm not afraid to hitch a ride around here, eitherâpeople are generous. And a few milesâthatâs really nothing. Iâll get some exercise.â
Noah Kincaidâs frown just deepened. âWalking home could be tough after a long day of physical labor. Picking apples is hard work.â
âSo is being broke,â she said with a smile. âI bet Adie would love a little babysitting money to add to her budget. She barely squeaks by. And sheâs so wonderful with the girls.â Adie Clemens was Noraâs neighbor and friend. Although Adie was elderly, she managed the girls very well because two-year-old Berry was so well behaved and Fay didnât get around much yet. Fay had just started crawling. Adie loved taking care of them, even though she couldnât take them on full-time.
âWhat about your job at the clinic?â Noah asked.
âI think Mel gave me that job more out of kindness than necessity, but of course Iâll talk to her. Noah, there isnât that much work available. I have to try anything that comes along. Are you going to tell me how to get there?â
âIâm going to drive you,â he said. âWeâre going to log the miles and get an accurate distance reading. Iâm not sure this is a good idea.â
âHow long has that notice been up?â Nora asked.
âTom Cavanaugh put it up this morning.â
âGood! That means not too many people have seen it.â
âNora, think of the little girls,â he said. âYou donât want to be too tired to take care of them.â
âOh, Noah. Itâs nice of you to be concerned. Iâll go ask Adie if she can watch them for a little while so I can go to the orchard to apply. She always says yes, she loves them so much. Iâll be back in ten minutes. If youâre sure you donât mind giving me a lift⦠I donât want to take advantage.â