Sanctuary

Sanctuary
Brenda Novak

Hope Tanner escaped from her polygamous community in Superior, Utah, ten years ago–pregnant and alone. She ended up at The Birth Place in Enchantment, New Mexico, where Lydia Kane, the clinic's founder, handled the private adoption of her baby. A baby Hope never held…and never stopped thinking about. Now Hope briefly returns to her hometown to help her pregnant younger sister, Faith, escape, too. They need somewhere to go, a sanctuary. Where but The Birth Place? Faith can have her baby in safety and Hope can revisit old friends.Like Lydia–and the handsome Parker Reynolds. But Parker, the birth center's administrator and a widowed single father, isn't pleased to see Hope back in Enchantment. He's even less pleased when Lydia offers her a job. Hope doesn't understand his animosity. In fact, she almost wonders if he has something to hide….

“What the hell did you just do?”

“Hope came here asking for a job, Parker, and I gave her one. Okay?” Lydia raised her brows. “We owe her that much, don’t you think?”

He scrubbed a hand over his face. “We might owe her,” he said. “But I’m pretty sure we can’t afford to give her anything.”

“You’re overreacting, Parker. She’s only going to work here. That doesn’t mean anything. We don’t even know how long she’s going to stay.”

“It means I’ll have to see her every day.”

“So will I.”

“She could destroy The Birth Place—destroy you.”

“I know.”

“She could take Dalton away from me,” he said, his voice gruff with emotion.

“She’s not going to take Dalton away. She doesn’t suspect anything. She just needs a break.”

“You’re a fool,” he said angrily, and walked out.

Lydia stared after him. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

Dear Reader,

The comment I received repeatedly from people who read this book when it was only in manuscript form was that it’s “compelling.” I hope that’s true, because as I wrote it, the characters seemed to come to life, and the choices they made truly moved me. They prompted me to take a closer look at issues that have always intrigued me—what makes some of us do the things we do, believe what we do, accept or reject what others tell us is “right”? I don’t pretend to have the answers to those questions. But I certainly enjoyed watching Hope draw her own conclusions.

The research for this story took me to Hillsdale and Colorado City, a small community straddling the Utah/Colorado border and inhabited by polygamists. Yes, as hard as it is to believe, they still exist. Many of them live there, in rambling houses that are purposely left unfinished. The only grocery store is a co-op, to discourage trade with outsiders. There is one gas station and a sprinkling of businesses. The people are unique, and I think visiting there added color to my story.

It was a pleasure to be able to work with such talented authors as the five who have written the rest of the books in THE BIRTH PLACE series—Darlene Graham, Roxanne Rustand, C.J. Carmichael, Kathleen O’Brien and Marisa Carroll. I hope you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy their books, too.

I’d love to hear what you think of Sanctuary or any of my other work. Please feel free to contact me at P.O. Box 3781, Citrus Heights, CA 95611. Or simply log on to my Web site at www.brendanovak.com to leave me an e-mail, check out my news and appearances page, win some great prizes or learn about my upcoming releases.

Best wishes,

Brenda Novak

Brenda Novak

Sanctuary

To Thad, the youngest in the family

and a little boy who’s larger than life. Thad, you might be

only six, but you already possess the heart of a lion.

The way you deal with the difficulties you face each day

leaves me shaking my head in wonder and admiration. You

go, sweetheart—nothing can ever stop a man with courage

like yours. If you forget everything I’ve ever taught you,

remember this: my love is everlasting.

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE

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

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN