Healing Hearts

Healing Hearts
Cheryl Wolverton

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.

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.

Healing Hearts

Cheryl Wolverton

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

…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