Excerpt from the Book
Issy walked into the shadowed interior of the cabin, her steps light and cautious. She opened the shutters on the nearest window, allowing in the late afternoon sunlight.
She would ride back in the dark, if she returned to the farm at all for the night. Fine. Nothing prevented her from making use of the old but comfortable bed on the other side of the curtain.
Her skirt pocket caught on the corner of the kitchen table, and she tugged it free. Trousers were better for sitting astride than the blue cotton she’d worn to town, and she preferred her boots to shoes for riding. Not changing her clothes before saddling Mischief and galloping away from the farm testified to the power of her mother’s words and the guilt of her own response.
Planks creaked with movement. She stilled.
The noise had come from behind the curtain dividing the main room from the sleeping area. The pulse in Issy’s neck throbbed as she listened.
An animal had entered the cabin. It was as simple as that. Oh, please don’t let it be a skunk.
She crept to a back window and opened another of the shutters. Either she or the stench may need a second way out.
Behind her, the curtain slid across the rope and revealed the source of the sound. “I figured you’d show up eventually.”
Issy gritted her teeth. Just as she had feared. A skunk.
Murphy moved closer with deliberate but gradual steps. Issy whirled, ready to rush out the door and away from her unwanted guest. His arm hooked around her waist. She wiggled and squirmed, fighting to break free. “Let me go!”
“Why do you keep running off? All I want to do is talk.”
“So you hid behind the curtain?”
Murphy tightened his hold, and her back slammed against his chest. Together they stumbled backward. He fell onto the seat of the rocker. Issy fell into his lap. The momentum and their weight tipped the chair until it threatened to overturn.
He released his hold on her and reached out to break the spill of the rocker. It kept the chair upright and prevented them from landing on the floor.
Stunned, she remained frozen on his lap for several seconds. Once she regained her senses, Issy scrambled to her feet and faced Murphy, her humiliation and fury gaining the upper hand. “And you call me crazy? What are you doing here?”
“I’ll ask you the same thing.” He rose from the rocker and towered over her. “This is Triple M property, but you seem to come and go like you own the place.”
She strode forward, ignoring his accusation and casting one of her own. “Were you trying to scare the wits out of me?”
He closed the gap until only inches separated them. Landing in his lap was bad enough, but he hadn’t been looking at her then. Now she could hardly breathe from his brash stare.
Want to know more about the book?
Outspoken and unconventional, Isabel Krueger determines to reclaim her lost independence and forgive her callous sister. But she can’t forgive Murphy MacMahon for the cruel words that broke her heart years ago. When Issy receives mysterious, romantic messages from the Song of Solomon, the words captivate her . . . until they take a menacing turn and accidents follow.
Murphy longs to establish a medical practice in town, but his bullying older brother uses their fragile mother to keep him tied to the ranch. His only distraction is exchanging barbs with the eccentric Issy Krueger. After learning she’s the target of an assailant, Murphy is torn. How does he safeguard the free-spirited, intriguing young woman while protecting his mother from her eldest son’s threats?
As danger mounts, Issy and Murphy confront an unnamed enemy as well as their past hurts. But will they ever grab hold of the forgiveness that will place them on the path to freedom and love?
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About the Author
As an author of heartwarming historical and contemporary romances, Sandra Ardoin engages readers with page-turning stories of love and faith. Rarely out of reach of a book, she’s also an armchair sports enthusiast, country music listener, and seldom says no to eating out.
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