Loveâs Duty
As assistant police chief, Heath Monroe never expected heâd ever need rescuing. But thatâs exactly what Cassie Blackwell does when she pulls him out of a car wreckage. Heâs surprised at the beautiful widowâs strength and joyous spirit. But heâs been burned before and is cautious to get involved. Especially since his investigation into the townâs drug operation might implicate Cassieâs ex-husband! Yet the more time he spends with her, the deeper he falls. Will he have to choose between duty and his growing loveâor is there a way he can have both?
Whisper Falls: Where every prayer is answeredâ¦
Cassie didnât know what had come over her but being in Heathâs embrace was amazing.
She was a little embarrassed by her behavior, but by the time sheâd regained her wits and backed away, word came that the newborn was in the nursery. She dragged Heath out of the waiting room and rushed down the hall to the wide glass panes. Sheâd worry about the hug later.
A row of tiny swaddled babies lined the nursery. âOh, my goodness.â Cassie pressed closer to the pane, snapping photos with her cell phone. âHeâs beautiful. Look at him, Heath. Heâs wonderful. So tiny and tough and precious.â
âYour brother is a blessed man.â
âBlessed,â Cassie murmured, thinking Heath used exactly the right word. With uncharacteristic neediness, she battled the urge to lean her head on the lawmanâs sturdy, dependable shoulder.
Something powerful turned over in her chest.
LINDA GOODNIGHT
Winner of a RITA® Award for excellence in inspirational fiction, Linda Goodnight has also won a Booksellersâ Best Award, an ACFW Book of the Year award and a Reviewersâ Choice Award from RT Book Reviews. Linda has appeared on the Christian bestseller list and her romance novels have been translated into more than a dozen languages. Active in orphan ministry, this former nurse and teacher enjoys writing fiction that carries a message of hope and light in a sometimes dark world. She and her husband live in Oklahoma. Visit her website at www.lindagoodnight.com. To browse a current listing of Linda Goodnightâs titles, please visit www.Harlequin.com.
Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contraryâ¦. And they cried out for fear.
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, âBe of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.â
âMatthew 14:22â27
The entire Whisper Falls series is dedicated
to the memory of my brother, Stan Case.
Rumor says that if a prayer is murmured beneath
Whisper Falls, God will hear and answer. Some folks think itâs superstitious nonsense. Some think itâs a clever ploy to attract tourists. Others believe that God works in mysterious ways, and prayers, no matter where whispered, are always heard.
Prologue
She was probably crazy for doing this. As a local, she should know better. Climbing Whisper Falls to pray was a rumor, a myth, a publicity stunt. But for reasons she couldnât explain or deny, Cassie Blackwell felt the need to do it anyway. Her sister-in-law had prayed here and look how well that had turned out.
Sticking one boot against the wall of slippery rocks, Cassie started the ascent. Whisper Falls sprayed water against the side of her face as it tumbled to the pool below. Spring was here and with it the Blackberry River rushing wildly to embrace the sea like a long lost love.
Feeling self-conscious, Cassie glanced belowâand promptly wished she hadnât. Her stomach rose into her throat, shortening her breath. The top was a long way from the bottom, the roar of the falls a deafening threat to safety.
With a firm admonishment not to look down again, she turned her gaze to the cliff top. No one else was here in the remote wooded area. Thank goodness. No one would ever know the ridiculous thing sheâd done. Clinging now to the dampness, digging in with her fingers and toes, she clambered up and, with heart banging against her rib cage, Cassie catapulted onto the narrow ledge behind the cascade of magnificent white foam.
The inner sanctum behind the falls was stunningly quiet. She took a minute to catch her breath and soak up the atmosphere. It was beautiful, peaceful and private as though the world below was another universe.
âWill Heaven be like this, Lord?â she asked, awed, for she knew in that moment what others before her had discovered. God was here. Oh, sure, she believed He was everywhere, but something about this place seemed spiritual.