Lorraine Beatty - Protecting the Widow's Heart

To Love and Protect

Ginger Sloan’s had enough of heartache. She just wants a peaceful place where she and her son can start over and feel safe. Getting stranded in a lakeside cabin outside Dover, Mississippi, isn’t part of her plan. Then again, neither is falling for the cabin’s handsome owner. Injured on the job, detective Tyler Durrant retreats to his cabin to heal. He’s shocked to find the single mom and her son there. And surprised at the way Ginger affects his heart. For the first time in years, he has hope for the future, but can he convince Ginger that she can find safe haven in his arms?

Home to Dover: A small town with a big heart

Ginger raced toward him, her

deep green eyes wide with worry.

“Ty! Are you all right?”

Words stuck in his throat. How did he answer that? “Yeah. I’m fine.”

Suddenly she was hugging him. He put his hands to her back, holding on. Somewhere deep inside he felt a seismic shift, a tilting of his once solid and level foundation.

“I was so worried.”

“Nothing to worry about. Everyone was out of the fire before I got there, but the cabin is probably a total loss.” He expected her to release him, but she clung to him tightly.

“I was afraid you wouldn’t come back.”

“You can’t get rid of me that easily.”

She pulled back then, her eyes locking with his. “But you’re my only friend. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

His heart raced erratically for a moment. “Are we friends?” He realized with a jolt that he wanted her as a friend, and more than that, as well. The thought scared him.

LORRAINE BEATTY

was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, but has been blessed to be able to live in Germany, Connecticut and Baton Rouge. She now calls Mississippi home. She and her husband, Joe, have two sons and six grandchildren. Lorraine started writing in junior high and has written for trade books, newspapers and company newsletters. She is a member of RWA and ACFW and is a charter member and past president of Magnolia State Romance Writers. In her spare time she likes to work in her garden, travel and spend time with her family.

Protecting the Widow’s Heart

Lorraine Beatty

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

—1 Peter 5:6–7

My Lord and Savior, who taught me a better way

to use the gifts he gave me.

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

Dear Reader

Questions for Discussion

Excerpt

Chapter One

Ginger Sloan kept one hand on her son’s shoulder and one on her small suitcase as they topped the wooden stairs hugging the side of the raised lakeside cabin and followed their benefactor, Mr. Nelson Cooper, across the wide deck. A patio table and chairs, two large rocking chairs and a big grill barely made a dent in the expansive space. All had been covered in heavy plastic to protect them from the weather. A quick glance past the railing revealed a large body of water sparkling in the moonlight. Its beauty escaped her. All she could think of was how isolated the place was, and what a fool she’d been to lose track of time.

Her seven-year-old son, Elliot, had begged for a break from the cross-country drive they were making from Shelton, Connecticut, to the small town of Spring Valley near Phoenix, Arizona. He’d been so good about being cooped up in the car for two days she’d wanted to reward him. So when they’d seen a sign for a Mississippi state park touting their expansive playground and a lake, she’d agreed to the small detour. But they’d lost track of time, and had made a wrong turn leaving the park, ending up on the far side of the lake after dark. Thankfully, she’d spotted some cabins and stopped to ask directions. But when she’d turned the key in the ignition, her car had refused to start, leaving them stranded and dependent upon the kindness of strangers for help and causing every nerve in her body to tighten in anxiety.

“I think you’ll find the place real cozy.” Cooper pushed open the door, smiling over his shoulder. “Let me get the lights for you.”

Mr. Cooper, the owner of the cabin next door where she’d sought help, had been more than kind. He and his wife, Mae, had drawn her a map to I-55 and then, after her car wouldn’t start, had offered to let her stay in the empty cabin next to them. While she was grateful, her fears far outweighed her gratitude.

“Mom, is that the same lake we saw before?” Elliot pointed to the water beyond the trees.

“Yes.” She steered him into the cabin, her eyes taking a moment to adjust to the light. The main room was open concept with an L-shaped kitchen along the back wall. A long island with bar stools separated it from the living area. A massive stone fireplace with raised hearth, perfect for cozying up to, dominated the far wall. Windows, rising to the rafters, afforded an unobstructed view of the lake from the front. At the moment, it only revealed darkness, but Ginger allowed a quick second of anticipation to override her fear. The view in the morning would be amazing.

Mr. Cooper had stepped from the room briefly, muttering something about a water valve. He returned with a broad smile on his dark face and rubbing his hands together in a gesture of accomplishment. “Well, I think you’re all set. The lights are working, the water is turned on, though I’d let it run a few minutes to clear out the pipes, and the pilot light is lit, so you should have heat soon.”

Ginger pulled Elliot against her chest, keeping her hands on his slender shoulders. Mr. Cooper seemed kind enough, but it paid to be cautious. “Thank you, but are you sure this will be all right with the owner? He might not appreciate strangers staying here without his permission.”

The man shook his head and smiled more broadly. “Don’t you worry none about that. I know Mr. Durrant, and he’d be the first one to offer you aid. Besides, he’s never here much. I take care of the place for him. Mae and I live out here full-time now that I’m retired.” He rested his hands on his hips and glanced around the large room. “Let’s see. I doubt if there’s any food in the place.” He walked to the fridge and pulled it open, then checked the cabinets, as well. “I’m going to go back to the house and gather up some things for you and your boy to eat. You get settled in, and I’ll be back in a jiffy.”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that. We’ll be fine. I appreciate all you’ve done, Mr. Cooper.”

He smiled and pointed a finger at her. “Now, no more of that Mr. Cooper stuff. You call me Nels. We’re friends now.”

His words eased some of her tension, but she kept her guard up. Over the years she’d been conditioned to expect the worst at any moment.

“Until we know what’s wrong with your vehicle, you need a safe place to stay and some food. But right now, you get yourselves settled in. We’ll get your car towed to Zeke’s in the morning, and let him take a look at it.”

Towed? “How much will that cost?” The seriousness of her situation slammed into her again. Money was tight. Really tight, and car repairs weren’t in the budget. Neither was lodging or unexpected delays.

“Don’t worry about that, either. Right now you and the boy get some rest. We’ll tackle the big problems when the sun rises. Things always look better under the Lord’s sunshine.”

After Mr. Cooper, Nels, left, Ginger made a quick tour of the rest of the cabin. A master bedroom with attached bath was on one side of the cabin, a smaller bedroom was across the narrow hall with a full bath and laundry area next to it. She noted with interest that the small storage space beside the washer was stuffed full of sports equipment, which might come in handy to entertain Elliot tomorrow.