The Return Of Chase Cordell
Chase Cordell Was Coming HomeLinese had long awaited her husband's homecoming, but the hero that returned from the war was not the dashing rogue that had captured her in a whirlwind courtship. Who was this man with haunted eyes who could still make her heart pound ceaselessly?His memory shattered by war, Chase Cordell vowed to keep the loss of his identity a secret - even from the beautiful stranger whose touch rekindled a long-forgotten flame. But time was running out, and the past that stalked him was taking on a sinister life of its own… .
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Table of Contents
Chase watched as the mayor brought forward the pretty blond woman.
He stared dumbly down at her upturned face.
“Go on, Linese, give your husband a proper reception,” the mayor urged.
“Welcome home— Chase.” She rose on tiptoe and touched her soft lips to the side of his face in a self-conscious greeting.
His heart slammed against his rib cage. Linese. This was Linese. This was his wife.
God, she was beautiful, and younger than his own twenty-one years, if he had his guess. She was the very image of what every soldier wished he had waiting for him at home.
Chase swallowed hard and beseeched God to let him remember her, but nothing happened. He remembered nothing about her.
He was doomed to play out this charade in a life he could not recollect. And this poor woman, who had done nothing to deserve this kind of punishment, was condemned to play it out with him.
Dear Reader,
The Return of Chase Cordell is a poignant new Western from Linda Castle, an author who is fast becoming one of our most popular writers. It’s a love story about a war hero with amnesia who is struggling to put his life back together, and rediscovering a forgotten passion for his young bride. Don’t miss this wonderful story.
Ana Seymour’s sequel to Gabriel’s Lady, Lucky Bride, is the delightful story of a ranch hand who joins forces with his beautiful boss to save her land from a dangerous con man. Elizabeth Mayne, a March Madness/Romance Writers of America RITA Award nominee author, is also out this month. Her book, Lord of the Isle, is a classic Elizabethan tale featuring an Irish nobleman who unwittingly falls in love with a rebel from an outlawed family.
And another RITA Award nominee, Gayle Wilson, is back with Raven’s Vow, a haunting Regency novel about a marriage of convenience between an American investor and an English heiress.
Whatever your taste in reading, we hope you’ll enjoy all four of these terrific stories. Please keep an eye out for them wherever Harlequin Historicals are sold.
Sincerely,
Tracy Farrell
Senior Editor
Please address questions and book requests to:
Silhouette Reader Service
U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave., P.O. Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
Canadian: P.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3
LINDA CASTLE
is the pseudonym of Linda L. Crockett, a third-generation native New Mexican. Linda started writing in March of 1992, and The Return of Chase Cordell is her third book from Harlequin Historicals.
When not penning novels, Linda divides her time between being a wife, mother and grandmother. She loves speaking, and teaching what she has learned to aspiring writers. Her best advice—write from the heart.
Linda believes one of the greatest benefits she has received from writing historical novels is the mail from the readers. She encourages and welcomes comments to be sent to: Linda Castle, #18, Road 5795, Farmington, NM 87401. Please include a SASE for a reply/bookmark.
As always, I thank God for my life and the people that love me; Bill, Billy, Liann, Brandon and Logan. They continue to show patience and understanding when none is earned or deserved. Hugs and kisses to Matt and Will, my grandsons.
There are many unsung heroes who cross my path each day—it is impossible to name all my friends, who read snippets of dialogue and listen to me whine, but please know I do appreciate you all.
Thanks to two extraordinary women I am proud to count as friends, and without whom this book would probably not exist—Margaret Marbury, my editor, and Pattie Steele-Perkins, my agent.
And last, a special note of gratitude to the people who really make this possible: the readers. Thanks to every person who has taken the time to read my books and write to tell me how my words made them feel—this one is for you!
Mainfield, TexasApril, 1864
Linese dipped the quill pen into the ink and tried to put her thoughts on paper before the rush of inspiration left her. Her lace cuff slipped down toward her wrist, and she im-patiently took the time to secure it with the stained black garter around her arm. She dared not show up at the train with ink on the sleeves of her frock.
“What time is it, Hezikiah?” She glanced up at the small man swathing ink on the big flat-head printer.
“About ten minutes later than the last time you asked me.” He swiped his hand across his face and turned his snowy beard a grizzled gray with a fresh smear of newspaper ink.
“I’m sorry. I hoped to get this editorial finished before the train pulls in.” Linese bit her lip and tried to concentrate on the paper in front of her. Chase’s homecoming kept intruding on her, leaching off her ability to make coherent thoughts. The war was over for Chase, even though the fighting continued over the question of secession. Linese wanted this editorial, more than any other before it, to be a testimonial to the courage and honor of both sides in the bitter conflict dividing the Union, particularly since she knew it would be the last she would ever write.
