When Ellie Grenfell’s fiancé, Deputy Sheriff Jack Mallory, is wounded in the line of duty, she does what she’s done her entire life—she sends for her older sister!
Widowed Verity Varner returns to Smoke River, Oregon, to help Ellie and serve as her chaperone until the wedding takes place. But shortly after Verity’s arrival, she realizes Jack’s wound has become infected, and he loses part of his arm.
Over the months of Jack’s recuperation and learning how to cope with his disability, Ellie reveals her selfishness and disinterest in Jack’s daily struggle. Verity understands the obstacles Jack faces, offering sympathy and encouragement—and she also understands something else: Ellie is not the person Verity thought she was.
All her life, Verity has been a surrogate mother to Ellie, putting her sister’s needs before her own. But, now, the unthinkable has happened—Verity and Jack have fallen in love, even as his wedding to Ellie draws ever closer. How can Verity choose between her love for Jack and her loyalty to Ellie? Will she risk her chance for true love to preserve the bond between SISTERS?
EXCERPT
Verity bent over the feverish
private, a soldier she did not recognize, and dipped the scrap of muslin into
the basin of water for what seemed like the hundredth time. An hour ago, the
post doctor had dug an arrowhead out of the boy’s back, but because he’d ridden
a day and a half before reaching the fort, his wound was now infected. She
squeezed out the excess water and again bathed his bare back, then slid the cloth
around to wipe the sweat from his forehead.
Just as she drew the cooling
fabric down his backbone, the door burst open and a burly orderly stepped
inside. “Telegram, Miz Varner.” He waved a folded piece of yellowed paper at
her.
“Thank you, Jasper.” She reached
her free hand to take it from the grey-bearded man, slid it into the pocket of
her canvas work apron, and continued sponging the boy’s back.
The orderly retreated and she
heard his boots clump on down the hallway. Who on earth would be sending her a
telegram? The only person who knew she was still here at Fort Hall was her
sister, Ellie, and—
Her heart dropped into her
stomach. Something has happened. She
dropped the cloth into the basin and hurriedly scrabbled in her apron pocket
for the telegram.
