The banker isn’t good enough for you, he said, carefully inspecting one of Chloe’s china shepherdesses as he spoke. His blithe confidence nettled Emma, and so did the tantalizing scent of bay rum he’d...
That’s it, Johnny Reb, Caleb challenged. Turn tail and run. With a bellow Joss whirled and came at Caleb with all the restraint of a runaway freight train. His powerful fist caught Caleb squarely unde...
Steven maneuvered the horse among the cattle that strayed from the herd as easily as if Emma hadn’t been mounted in front of him, whistling and waving his hat at times. In calmer moments, he told Emma...
Steven cupped his hands behind his head and gazed up at the ceiling while he imagined how it would be if everything was all right in New Orleans, if he could take Emma to Fairhaven and make a life wit...
Sooner or later, given enough whiskey, hard work, and women, he’d have been able to put Emma Chalmers out of his mind. Now everything had changed. He couldn’t leave her to that fool of a hypocrite she...
She was standing there, naked as a Greek statue, when the door suddenly opened and a gust of cool night air raised goosebumps all over her body. I forgot my hat, Caleb announced flatly, but his amber...
She knelt and began gathering up the dirty cups, plates, and silverware she’d dropped with the tray. The movements of her hands were quick and jerky, but she went still when she saw a pair of scuffed...
Now, now, Emma, darlin’. You will bear it, because you have to. Your husband is depending on you. Emma nodded, but she couldn’t stop crying. I was real proud of you in there, Cyrus comforted. You did...
No matter what the future holds even if, God forbid, Conner dies in his prime, or leaves me, or whatever else that fates might throw at us it would be worth it because once you've loved someone the wa...
Lily didn’t move until much later, when he crossed the room to swat her lightly on her quilt-covered bottom. Your bath water is hot again, he said quietly. Lock the door when I go. Lily turned to look...
I’ll interfere with his concentration, Daisy muttered, mostly to herself, as she worked between the stove and the sink. Thump him up right ‘longside the head with my skillet— Emma nearly choked on her...
I’ll have you know I’ve spent the last three days in bed, he informed her, straightening his fashionable waistcoat, with ice packs on my—with ice packs on. Emma lowered her eyes and bit down hard on h...
He caught her cheeks in his hands and kissed her roughly, for they were both savages in those moments, and his tongue swept her mouth and her lips before he moaned, My beautiful, blue-eyed tigress— Em...
Fasten my buttons, please, she said, turning her back to Daisy. I’ll fasten your buttons, all right, Daisy muttered, but she couldn’t hide her amusement at Emma’s good mood. You just see that young co...
Everyone in Pennsylvania must know what you just did to me, she managed. Caleb chuckled. It would help if you didn’t carry on like a she-wolf, Mrs. Halliday. Lily laid her head on his bare shoulder. Y...
Don’t you want to know why I’m here? Emma made herself meet his eyes. No, she said. I do not. He chuckled, unmoved, as always, by her discourtesy. We’re going on a picnic Saturday, he announced. Emma...
Do I have your word? Steven demanded. You know you do, Cyrus replied. Macon won’t lay a hand on her. What did she say when you told her you didn’t want to be her husband anymore? Steven shoved a hand...
Come on a picnic with me, he said. It wasn’t an invitation, but an order. Color pulsed in Lily’s cheeks, and she blinked, astounded at the man’s arrogance. I don’t think that would be proper, she repl...
Cause I’m not a stray cat or something you found by the side of the road. Tully grinned. You mean like Kyle? Tully leaned over and said, His daddy don’t like to talk about it, but he picked Kyle up ov...
Caleb’s mind filled with an unbidden image of her in the parlor of the grand house in Fox Chapel, wearing silks and satins and graciously greeting his guests of an evening. He’d be the envy of every m...