No Direction Home (Sweet Home Colorado) (24 page)

“Yes, everything about you
. The way you sleep. That cute little snore, your smile, your laugh, the way you interact with the children. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”

“Marry you?
”  Was the man nuts? They were already married. And she was going to have his baby.

“Yes, I want us to renew our vows right down there in the gazebo in front of both our families and friends
. The last time you were forced into it. This time I want the world to know I love you and you love me. Everyone is down there waiting for us. Will you marry me?”

“Seth, there are things you need to know about me
. You know the problems with my health....

He put his fingers to her lips, silencing her
. “I know everything that matters. The house has been built with special needs in mind, wide doorways and all that, complete with a greenhouse for you to grow your flowers in. We’ll face what comes together, as a family.”  With a loving expression in his eyes he said, “I love you for what’s in your heart, not what you can do for me. We’ll deal with your health issues as they come. I want to love you and take care of you for the rest of our lives. I want us to grow old together.”

She broke down in tears and leaned against his chest
. This wonderful man did love her. He had built a home for her. Cindy was right. Cindy? She knew about this and didn’t tell her. “What does Cindy have to do with this?” she asked as she clung to Seth.

“She loves you, too
. She and Jenna took care of the details of getting ready for a second wedding. They have your dress and everything ready for you...if you say yes. My parents, Nana, the kids and our friends are there. Everyone is waiting for us. All we have to do is go down there and get all dressed up and say our vows."  He laughed. "It’s my dream to marry you at sunset with the sun glistening off the far peaks. We’ll ride into the sunset together...forever."

The last trace of her resistance vanished with his last words
. He loved her. He really cared. She had been such a fool thinking all those negative things. This afternoon there were no shadows across her heart. She had finally been able to put the hurts of the past behind her. But as Cindy had said, they needed to be completely honest. She had to tell him everything. “Seth, there’s something else I have to tell you. I found out last week and didn’t know how to tell you.”  She placed his hand on her stomach, not knowing how he would react to this last bit of information.

“You can tell me anything
. Whatever it is, we’ll work our way through it as a family.”She looked him in the eyes and swallowed hard. “We’re going to have a baby.”

“How
? When?”  Smiling her favorite cowboy grin, he grabbed her in his arms and kissed her to the depths of her soul. “That’s the best news anyone ever gave me,” he whispered in her ear. “Now, once and for all. Will you marry me?”

Her heart sang with delight
. She was blissfully happy, fully alive in his arms. Then she remembered seeing him at the lawyer’s office. “Tell me one thing, first.”

“What’s that?
”  He leaned away from her, wondering what else she had on her mind.

“What were you doing at the lawyer’s office yesterday?
”  His answer would help her make the decision whether to marry him or not.

“What were you doing?
”  His eyebrows raised in a slight frown. "Spying on me?"

“No
—I had some other news to tell you and I went looking for you and saw you there.

“What other news?
”

She grinned
. “I sold my book.”

“That’s wonderful
. I’m proud of you.”  He kissed her soundly on the mouth. “I always knew you could do it. I told you so.”  He laughed. “Well, to answer your question I was at the lawyer’s office to draw up papers to give my half of the ranch back to Nana today at the wedding.”  He cleared his throat. “That is, if there
Is
a wedding. Will you marry me?”

He was her knight in a Stetson
. He had slayed her dragons. “Yes, yes, yes. I love you. I’ll marry you.”  Sealing the bargain with a kiss, Grace realized she had come the long way home to the ranch to heal and had found life, love and a second chance at happiness with Seth. He was the man who could satisfy her soul—her true soul mate.

The End

Note to my readers:

Just saying
: Hello to my
Sweet Home Colorado
readers and fans. I hope you have enjoyed
No Direction Home,
Book One in the series.

And please share your love for
No Direction Home
, from my
Sweet Home Colorado
series! Word–of-mouth is vital for an author to succeed. If you enjoyed the book, please leave a review at www.Amazon.com even if it’s a sentence or two. That’s how other readers find my books! Your reviews make a ton of difference and are so appreciated.

For an update on the next book in my
Sweet Home Colorado
series and to be the first to hear about all of my Colorado quirky, fun books, please take the time to sign up for my newsletter at www.judewillhoff.com  (Note: Your email will never be shared and you can unsubscribe at anytime.)

Also, I wanted to add that like Grace in
No Direction Home
, there are a lot of people living in the world who have to deal with chronic pain on a daily basis. I am one of them and you may have chronic pain or know someone who does. Having chronic pain is forever. It never goes away. I have written the nonfiction book,
Living Well With Chronic Pain
as a way to help people suffering with this condition.

Because life won’t wait, instead of pain controlling you, learn how to control it with lifestyle changes and the use of Medtronic Advanced Pain Therapies
. Chronic pain disables more people than cancer or heart disease. More than eighty-six million patients have been diagnosed. One out of three have this condition.
Living Well With Chronic Pain
takes a no-nonsense approach that can be understood by chronic pain patients, families, friends and professionals alike. It is a practical guide describing lifestyle changes others can learn and us to take control of the pain.

“Chronic pain can cause patients to alienate those around them and often leads to drug addiction, irritability and depression. This book is a must have for patients who suffer with chronic pain. It could save your life.” 

~
Dr. Michael W. Brown, Neurosurgeon

If you are a chronic pain patient you are not alone. We’re all in this together. Bless you on your journey.

~ Jude Willhoff

Save an Author – Buy a Book

You may purchase
Living Well With Chronic Pain
,
Fly Away Home
, Book Two and
Home Sweet Home
, Book Three of the
Sweet Home Colorado
series at
www.Amazon.com
  or at
www.judewillhoff.com

T
hank you!

Also, feel free to email me at
[email protected]
I always answer each
and every email—unless you’re spamming me (lol!).

You can connect and hang with me in and on the
following places:

Website:
http://
www.judewillhoff.com

Facebook
: http://
www.facebook.com/judewillhoff

Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/JudeWillhoff@JudeWillhoff

A
bout The Author

Jude Willhoff is a bestselling and award-winning author in both romance and nonfiction genres.
No Direction Home
was written as a book of her heart because she has Aracknoiditis and a spinal cord implant and lives with chronic pain. She wants to help people living with this disease by letting them know that with pain management they can live well with their ongoing situation. This book,
No Direction Home
is dedicated to those suffering with Aracknoiditis and chronic pain.

Jude
is an avid reader and a believer in all things romance. By day, she works alongside her husband with their real estate investments. “Though I could always use more time to write, the hours spent working with real estate are never dull and are a constant source of ideas for plots and characters.”  By night, she writes her contemporary romance and nonfiction books.

To celebrate Jude’s official launch of the
Sweet Home Colorado
series
she has happily included the first chapter of Book Two,
Fly Away Home,
Cindy Dawson’s story for your enjoyment.  

~Sweet Home Colorado Book Two ~

"Great buns
. Muscular thighs...mum Baby, come to Mama." 

The dusky light of evening played along the Denver skyline, but Cindy Dawson could see enough of the nearly naked jogger to cause heart palpitations. The tight, skimpy shorts covering his backside brought a whistle to her lips
. For a split second, her eyes wandered from the road as she reached for her ringing cell phone. She glanced back to see the flash of red tail lights.

"Oh
, God." 

She swerved and stomped the brakes to the floor.

The sound of crunching metal and breaking glass drowned out her scream as the air bag exploded. Slamming into something solid, everything came to a halt. The noise of the accident reverberated into a million tiny white shooting stars pulsating in her head. A shiver of panic forced her brain to function. Over the deflating air bag the front of her red Jeep Cherokee curled around the back of a police cruiser. The clanking of the engine stopped as a last shuddering breath of white smoke puffed from the motor spraying water everywhere. "I'm so sorry, Matilda," she murmured and patted her dashboard with an unsteady hand.

The sound of a
distant siren pierced the silence. Her face tingled from the impact, but nothing seemed to be broken. In the glow of the early evening streetlight, her head tipped toward the jogger racing up to the passenger’s side of the car. Looking old and tired, he didn't seem to be as cute close up and personal. And to think she had whistled at
this
guy. Clearing vision brought a disturbing thought to the surface.
Leopard print Speedos on a pot belly old bald man—didn't do a thing for her.

Someone called from the driver's side of her car
. "Hey, are you all right?" 

More shaken than she cared to admit she glanced toward the voice
. "Yes, I'm okay."  A wave of apprehension swept away the brief calm as she wished to be anywhere else. A tall man stood outside the broken window. The sleeves of his shirt were tight against his swelling biceps. A thick shock of dark, wavy hair fell in careless disarray over his forehead. Blazing from a handsome face were his eyes—dark brown like melted chocolate. Their glint mirrored the shiny badge on his chest. He looked pissed.
Great...just great.

"Are you hurt?" he asked and quirked a brow.

She blinked and met his eyes without flinching. "No, I...I think I'm okay."  Guilt nearly caused the words to lodge in her throat. The smarting on her face from where she'd been smacked by the airbag was minor compared to what this man could do.  

She managed a tremulous smile and tried to size up the situation
. The man's brooding good looks made her stomach quiver but she hesitated at the spark of anger in his eyes.
I'm in so
much trouble.

She brushed a long strand of dark hair behind an ear and focused on him
. Noting the name on his badge, J. Riley, she said, "I'm so sorry Officer Riley. I only glanced away for a second and when I looked up there you were."  She cringed at the strained expression on his face. "I tried to stop." 

"I'm sure you did."  He lifted the radio unit from his shoulder and growled into it, then turned back
. "I'm Officer Jack Riley. I'll get you out."  He worked on the jammed car door. "The paramedics will be here in a few minutes."  Reaching through the window he pressed a handkerchief to a small scratch on her brow. "Keep pressure on it." 

She hadn't been aware she was bleeding
. "Thanks, but I don't need them."  He pushed the deflated air bag back and tugged the door open. She rubbed her face, stepped out of the wrecked auto and stood on jelly legs surveying the damage. Broken glass and pieces of twisted metal littered the roadway. The front of Matilda hugged the patrol car. "I...I have insurance." 

"Well, ma'am, that's a good thing
. Now, please go sit on that park bench."  He pointed to a spot near the street. "I have to direct traffic around the accident." 

"Okay."  

A slight grin crossed his face as he looked at his car and shook his head. Another police car pulled up with its lights flashing. Jack spoke to the policeman and came to stand by her. Just then an ambulance drove up with a tow truck close behind.

"I don't need an ambulance."  She tried to object.

"Just a precaution, they'll check you out."

Jack took in the mangled front-end of the jeep and his car.
"Looks like neither of us is going to drive too far tonight."  The other officer glared at her. "Lady, you about ran over him at a red stoplight. What were you thinking? Tell me what happened."

"I...I guess, I wasn't thinking
. I was just reaching across the seat for my cell phone." 
The police officer was right, she
had been a fool.
Unshed tears burned the back of her gritty eyelids at the thought. "I'm sorry."

The policeman nodded and penciled something on a notepad
. "I need your license, registration and insurance information."

Cindy crossed to the Jeep and reached in to grab papers from the side pocket on the door and handed them to him as Jack stood silently by
.

He returned the car registration and continued to write
. "Ms. Dawson, do I detect the presence of alcohol. Have you had anything to drink this evening?"

Her heart tumbled in overtime when she glanced at Jack
. As if to smell her breath, he moved closer to her side. His jaw clenched and his eyes narrowed while his friend continued the questioning.

Heat rose to her cheeks as she stood between the two policemen and glanced from one to the other
. "Just a couple of drinks with my friends, but I'm not intoxicated."  Folding arms across her chest, the rapid rhythm of her heartbeat matched the nervous ache swirling in her tummy. "It's my birthday," she muttered under her breath.

If looks could kill, she'd be on the ground twitching
. Jack hesitated for a second. "Ma'am, there are two kinds of drunks...those who are sorry and those who soon will be."

She cringed at his scathing words, but just then the yellow lights of the tow truck flashed down the street, hauling the damaged jeep off to the impound lot
. She sighed deeply. How could I have been so careless
?
She tossed a long braid over her shoulder in a gesture of defiance to keep from crying and waited for their next move.

***

Finally, she arrived by taxi at her downtown condo. All she wanted to do was take a shower, crawl into her pajamas and settle in with a hot cup of herbal tea to watch the latest episode of
Grey’s Anatomy
she'd recorded a few nights back and put this behind her.

She'd never been arrested for anything in her life
—until now. She always believed she could turn adversity into opportunity, but this time... Her car was trashed and she had a ticket for careless and reckless driving. She stared at the front of the towering downtown high rise and pulled out her security card. With the card clutched in her hand, she realized what a horrendous mistake she had made. She could have hurt someone. She shuddered at the thought.

The elevator door opened on the thirtieth floor
. Several people stood around the hallway holding drink cups and talking. Loud music poured out of her condo.
What now?
Puzzled, she stepped through the open doorway.

Samantha, Cindy's co-worker and new friend from down the block rushed toward her and shouted, "Surprise
! Happy Birthday." 

This explained why Sam had taken the day off, supposedly sick
. "You didn't have to."  Cindy groaned, not in the mood for a party. A few hours ago with the two policemen at precisely nine-thirty-eight p.m., she had turned thirty. She sighed. Tonight she wanted to put herself on hold and forget birthdays...especially this one.

"Yes, I did
. I read the Tarot cards and they said you would meet your soul mate today."

"My soul mate?"
  Cindy snorted. Normally fascinated by Sam's belief in the cards, crystals and strange exotic things, she wondered grumpily why Sam hadn't foreseen the accident and warned her. "Sorry. It didn't happen."  She'd only met the surly police officers. They certainly didn't count.

"That's why I threw this party," Sam explained
. "Look at the single men I found for you."  Sam's long blond hair bounced on her shoulders as she waved her hand around the room.

"I don't know what to say."  The number of men and women crammed into her condo astounded her
. People sat on her overstuffed floral sofa and loveseat. Some stood around the fireplace, deep in conversation, others in her open kitchen mixing drinks. Music blared from her stereo. One couple danced on her balcony. Cindy glanced around her home and wished they'd all disappear.
This is the last time I ever give anyone an extra key
to my place.
"Where did these people come from?"  She didn't know any of them, but it looked like everyone was having a great time—at her expense. Her home was a party zone.

Sam pulled her farther into the room
. "Where have you been? It's gotten so late. We expected you hours ago."

"It's a long story."  She craved peace and quiet
. How could she get everyone to go home, without offending them? She wanted to be alone with her misery.

Sam frowned and handed her a glass of champagne
. "Sure, tell me later. Here's to the birthday girl."  She toasted Cindy and sipped from her glass while scanning the room.

"Thanks."  Cindy grimaced
. After the accident, the last thing on earth she wanted was a drink. She cringed at the memory of being tested to see if she was over the drinking limit. She held the obnoxious glass at arm's length and watched Sam checking out the guys. Sam became a real trip when she went on the prowl for a new man. A sweetheart of a friend, but she would go after anything with tight pants and a big wallet. Cindy watched her drift from one guy to another to end up on the open balcony with an older man.

The chance to slip into her bedroom had arrived
. Sam had meant well, but the last few hours had taken their toll. Cindy worked her way around the room as her head pounded. The ticket stuffed in the bottom of her purse dominated her mind, absorbed her focus. The thought of what could have happened if someone had been sitting in the backseat of that car became unbearable. She could've killed someone. She shivered and set the untouched drink on the bookcase next to her bedroom door. Of course, her insurance would go up. And there went the new clothes she had been saving for.
Damn
.
She shouldn't have reached for her cell phone.    

"Oh, no you don't."  Returning from the balcony, Sam caught Cindy’s arm before she could make a clean get away
. Her friend grinned with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "I thought you were going to miss your own party."

"This is nice, Sam, but it's been a long day."

"Don't be a spoil sport. I have a surprise for you."  Sam laughed. "And you know every woman should have one, especially on her birthday."  She led Cindy into the kitchen.

There on the white porcelain tile floor lay a puppy with a huge red ribbon tied around his neck
. Part tan Shar-pei and part traveling salesman he was wrinkled like a raisin that had been left in the sun too long. "I present your very own Prince."

Cindy laughed and released some of the pent-up frustration from the past few hours
. It was love at first sight. "Oh, you did it. You found my soul mate."  She scooped him up and scratched behind his ears. "Hello little guy, how are you?"  The puppy licked her face with approval in his dark brown eyes. She hugged him to her chest. "Where did you get him?"

"Animal Rescue
. His owners were transferred overseas and they couldn't take him with them."

At last something good had come out of this day
. "Thank you. I've always wanted a dog."         

"If, for any reason, you change your mind, the agency will take him back
. And I checked with the management office. They don't have a problem with you having a pet."

Cindy rubbed his soft, furry head against her cheek, drawing some much needed comfort from the puppy
. Her heart hammered with happiness for the unconditional love the sweet animal offered as he sniffed her fingers. "Oh, I adore him. How did you arrange all this without me knowing?"  She swallowed hard and appreciated the warm friendship Sam had shown.

Sam laughed
. "I know how to be sneaky. Now, go mingle with these men. I had the girls bring a throw-away date."

"Huh
? A throw-away date, what's that?"

"You know
. A good guy you don't want for yourself."  She sighed. "We meet mostly women so this is a way we help each other out."  Sam grinned. "I thought about a theme party—come as your favorite condiment—but decided the throw-away party would be better for your birthday."  She winked at Cindy and wriggled her way back to the older man across the room.