After the Storm

After the Storm
Lenora Worth

In the beautiful North Georgia mountains, blue spruce reach up to heaven. A sense of healing and communion draws Alisha Emerson there.She hopes that her unborn child can grow up in the promising new world she's begun for them both in the village of Dover Mountain. Then her labor begins unexpectedly, and only with the help of a stranger–entrepreneur Jared Murdock–is her son delivered safely.But is Dover Mountain really the sylvan sanctuary of Alisha's daydreams? For although Alisha and Jared appreciate the love of God and neighbor that village life embodies, Dover Mountain incorporates darker elements, as well. Elements such as unwanted pregnancy, drug abuse, violence and blackmail. Together, Alisha and Jared must brave the storm and seek the rainbow that follows, in this captivating story of love, loss and faith regained.

Praise for

LENORA WORTH

“Talented new writer Lenora Worth combines heart-stealing character and a tragic secret to make this page turner worth every reader’s while.”

—Romantic Times on The Wedding Quilt

“Ms. Worth puts a most unique spin on the secret baby theme to make this wonderful love story positively shine.”

—Romantic Times on Logan’s Child

“…will warm the cockles of every reader’s heart.”

—Romantic Times on I’ll Be Home for Christmas

“Lenora Worth orchestrates…romance in her classical, emotionally rich style.”

—Romantic Times on Wedding at Wildwood

“Lenora Worth creates another gem—a great, easy, entertaining read for everyone, inspirational or not.”

—Romantic Times on His Brother’s Wife

“Lenora Worth’s One Golden Christmas is another jewel shining like the brightest star atop the Christmas tree.”

—Romantic Times on One Golden Christmas

After the Storm

Lenora Worth

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

In Memory of Sandra Canfield

and Suzannah Davis.

I miss you both so much.

Contents

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

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter One

H e was lost.

Jared Murdock didn’t need a map to tell him that he’d been lost for a very long time. But sitting here on this steep, rain-drenched North Georgia mountain road brought it all tumbling toward him, like a mud slide unleashed.

“It wasn’t supposed to rain this hard,” he grumbled as he once again put his right foot on the gas pedal of the sleek black Escalade. Jared pressed firmly, but the big tires on the SUV kept right on spinning deeper and deeper into the mud hole in which he’d managed to get himself stuck.

“So much for four-wheel drive,” he said out loud, hitting his fist against the leather-encased steering wheel.